Gold award winners: Yuvika, Kailesh and Kavisha (left to right) clinched gold in the preliminary round of the iCAN 2020.
MALAYSIANS have done it again.
Three primary school pupils from SJK(T) Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, clinched gold in the preliminary round of the International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN) 2020.
Year Four pupil Yuvika Mahaganapathy, and Year Five pupils Kailesh Saravana and Kavisha Nagarajan, won the award for their innovation called ‘My Soil My Plant’ which incorporates computing, agriculture and environmental elements.
‘My Soil My Plant’ was one of 500 innovations from 50 countries that were presented during the competition.
The team will be competing in the finals on Aug 29.
Toronto International Society of Innovation and Advanced Skills chairman and chief exhibition officer Moonsuk Chang said in a statement that due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the fifth edition of iCAN will be held online for long-distance participants, and there will be no physical functions for exhibition, seminar and award ceremony.
“I am excited and happy with our win!
“Despite the challenges we faced, especially due to the movement control order (MCO), we dedicated ourselves to the project and competed on an international platform,” Yuvika said.
Team leader Kavisha said the three communicated through Google Meet every day to discuss and coordinate preparations and research information.
The MCO, however, taught Kailesh the importance of Internet of Things (IoT).
“It has made me realise how it plays a role in every aspect of our project.
“We were able to create technological applications through Internet infrastructures and our Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills.
“This was the secret to our success,” he shared.
Dr Mahaganapathy Dass, Yuvika’s father, said nurturing and cultivating ICT skills in children is vital.
The proud father said he has registered their innovation with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia.
“This is five months worth of hard work they have invested in.
“It’s the first achievement in the 100-year history of the establishment of the school that a team of young scientists has won gold medals from the American continent,” he added.
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