THEIR ability to deliver innovative solutions for accessible recycling, animal conservation, environmental protection, renewable energy and waste reduction proved to be rewarding for five secondary school teams.
As winners of the sixth edition of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2024 competition, they took home prizes worth up to RM80,000, earning bragging rights over 110 other participating teams.
Emerging as champions was Team Terralnnovators from Johor, who developed Eco Pulse, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven image recognition app designed to streamline the recycling process.
Powered by advanced data science and algorithms, the app estimates the value and weight of recyclable items with precision.
The team, comprising a trio of 15-year-olds from SMK Sultan Ismail, received products worth RM28,000 from the organiser for their innovation.
Open to students aged 13 to 15, the SFT 2024 programme, themed “Start with Can” and held in partnership with Universiti Malaya (UM), challenged participants to tackle pressing local issues through innovative solutions that drive positive change in their communities.
It also provided a platform for students to apply their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) knowledge, along with critical and creative thinking skills.
The four-month-long competition, which began on Aug 12, culminated in a finale on Dec 7 last year, where the five finalist teams, selected from a pool of more than 300 students, presented their prototypes to a panel of judges before the winners were announced.
Coming in second was Team A Miso Soup from Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, who devised an elephant-friendly farm alarm system.
Equipped with motion sensors powered by Arduino or Raspberry Pi, the system detects nearby elephants or trespassers, protecting the endangered Borneo pygmy elephants.
Third place went to Team Eagle Young Innovators from St. John’s Institution, Kuala Lumpur, who derived bioethanol from cassava roots. Their solution offers an eco-friendly alternative for conventional cleaning, agriculture, and medical products, promoting a healthier environment and improved human care.
In fourth place, Team The Visionaries from Sabah’s Vision Secondary School Tawau were recognised for their Piezoelectric Tiles, which harness piezoelectricity to generate clean energy from the kinetic energy of moving vehicles.
Rounding off the top five, Team Renew Shield from SMK Sungai Tapang, Sarawak, created a biodegradable membrane made from eco-friendly kitchen ingredients and natural wax, designed to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
These teams received Samsung products worth RM24,000, RM19,000, RM6,000 and RM3,000, respectively, for their efforts.
Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) chief marketing officer Elaine Soh praised the participating teams for applying their STEM skills to tackle real-world challenges.
“The SFT isn’t just a STEM competition; it’s a catalyst for innovation.
“The students’ dedication to creating a sustainable future aligns with our mission to drive positive change.
“They represent the future, demonstrating the right mindset to drive the changes we aspire to see in our society today,” she said in a recent press release.
The SFT competition has been an integral part of SME’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of leaders in STEM fields.
UM’s involvement as a partner has been instrumental in nurturing and guiding these young talents, the press release added.