Team LilyKhor, comprising Siti Nur Shahirah Ahmad Tajudin, Afiqah Qaisara Mohd Afizi, and Nik Sofea Deliesha Nik Mohd Suhaimi, and their teacher from SMK Taman Seri Rampai with representatives from Shell Malaysia.
FROM climate change to food insecurity, the world’s biggest challenges need fresh thinking – something the next generation brought to the forefront at the Shell NXplorers 2025 Peninsular Malaysia Challenge.
This dynamic global education initiative by Shell Malaysia is where students tackle real-life issues in food, water, and energy through innovative science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) solutions, with guidance from Shell professionals.
Three regional competitions are organised in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak, with winning teams from each region then competing in the national Shell NXplorers Malaysia Challenge next month.
The Shell NXplorers 2025 Peninsular Malaysia Challenge winners in this year’s competition were Team LilyKhor from SMK Taman Seri Rampai, while The 3 Mechanics from SMK Bandar Puncak Jalil earned the first runner-up spot.
Meanwhile, the Most Innovative Award was presented to Omnitechnicians from SMK Vivekananda for Omnitrak – a smartwatch and mobile app system designed to prevent truancy through real-time GPS tracking, timed check-ins, and alert notifications.
Team LilyKhor
Rising to victory in the Peninsular Malaysia leg of the Shell NXplorers 2025 Challenge, Team LilyKhor, comprising Siti Nur Shahirah Ahmad Tajudin, Afiqah Qaisara Mohd Afizi, and Nik Sofea Deliesha Nik Mohd Suhaimi secured top honours with their innovation, Fresh Sense, which demonstrated strong problem-solving and practical application.
Fresh Sense is a smart food storage system that uses Arduino sensors and a mobile app to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels. Designed for use in school canteens, cafés, and restaurants, the system helps prevent food spoilage, reduce waste, and improve hygiene.
The idea came about after the team, who serve as school prefects, noticed a troubling pattern in their school canteen.
“We have been receiving complaints from students since last year about the quality of food sold in the canteen, often being spoiled or close to expiring. Many students even experienced vomiting and food poisoning as a result,” the team shared.
Motivated to take action, the girls designed a solution that could help canteen operators store food safely while also raising awareness of proper food handling.
“Our system uses sensors connected to an Arduino to monitor conditions, and users are alerted through sound and a connected mobile app if any compartment goes beyond the safe range,” explained Afiqah.
Despite their passion, the team faced multiple challenges, including technical failures and sleepless nights troubleshooting their prototype.
“A day before the competition, we faced a major setback when three out of four compartments of our project stopped functioning, all their components failed to work.
“It was an incredibly stressful moment, but instead of giving up, we stayed calm, worked together, and did our best to repair and rebuild everything in time,” recalled Team LilyKhor.
Besides learning the technical side, the project also taught the students about collaboration.
“We often found ourselves in conflict due to differing opinions. But through open discussions, we learned to listen, compromise, and prioritise what was best for the team rather than our individual perspectives,” said Shahirah, adding that the team learned to trust in each other’s strengths.
Throughout the challenge, the students were supported by teachers, parents, and Shell mentors. They even walked long distances to source components when parts failed. Yet, everything was well worth it.
“Students who aspire to be changemakers and join programmes like NXplorers or other STEM initiatives should always stay curious, open-minded, and passionate about learning.
“Every great innovation begins with a small idea, so never underestimate the power of your creativity. Be brave to explore new possibilities, ask questions, and find solutions to problems that truly matter in your community,” said Sofea.
The team now hopes Fresh Sense will be adopted in more schools and community settings to improve food safety and reduce waste.
“This project has shown us that innovation doesn’t always have to start big. Even simple ideas, when applied with passion and purpose, can create lasting positive change.
“Our hope is that this project will not only benefit our community today but also inspire future generations to build a more sustainable and responsible world,” said the elated team.
The 3 Mechanics, comprising Yap Zen Ferng, Teo Xin Le, and Phoon Sze San – impressed judges with The Lightbringer, an innovative safety system designed to illuminate and protect dark, high-risk roads.
The 3 Mechanics
First runner-up, The 3 Mechanics, including Yap Zen Ferng, Teo Xin Le, and Phoon Sze San impressed judges with The Lightbringer, an innovative safety system designed to illuminate and protect dark, high-risk roads.
The Lightbringer functions as a multi-layered safety net. “When a streetlight fails, a backup light activates instantly, while an alert is sent to authorities through our app. If an accident occurs, the AI-powered CCTV detects it in real time, turns on an indicator light to warn passing drivers, and notifies nearby hospitals for faster rescue,” the team shared.
Teo noted that the inspiration behind Lightbringer began during the Chinese New Year holidays.
“The roads were dark, silent, and uncertain. With each turn, we wondered how many others felt the same fear driving at night. That quiet journey made us realise how fragile safety becomes when the lights go out, sparking the idea to bring light, safety, and peace of mind back to every road,” he explained.
Reflecting on the development journey, Yap likened it to a long road trip that was filled with obstacles, lessons, and moments of growth.
He shared that the initial challenge was identifying the right problem statement, which set the direction for everything that followed. As the team progressed through prototyping, Arduino coding, and data collection, the process remained demanding, but giving up was never an option.
Instead of avoiding challenges, they sought guidance from teachers and mentors, learning to stay proactive. Their proudest moment came during the school-level competition.
“When the results were announced, tears filled our eyes,” Yap said.
From this journey, the team learned to embrace feedback as a tool for growth. “We understood the concept of being better rather than the best,” they shared.
Offering advice to aspiring innovators, Phoon said: “Every meaningful success is built through consistent effort and time. As Lao Tzu wisely stated, ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’”
Shell NXplorers Malaysia
Shell Malaysia and Indonesia Downstream, Renewables and Energy Solutions Managing Counsel Sirajudeen Abu Haniffa says the company aims to ignite curiosity and empower students by providing meaningful exposure to engineering, IT, and automation - equipping them with the skills and support needed to thrive.
“Science and engineering form the backbone of our operations, driving innovation, economic resilience, and societal progress. At Shell, we are deeply invested in inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers, young minds who will confront global challenges and lead the transition to a sustainable future,” he said.
Seven schools competed in the Shell NXplorers Peninsular Malaysia 2025 Challenge: SMK Orkid Desa, SMK Vivekananda, SMK Taman Seri Rampai, SMJK Chong Hwa, SMK Bandar Sunway, SMK Bandar Puncak Jalil, and SMK Tengku Idris Shah.
Backed by the Education Ministry, Shell NXplorers engaged 318 students from 29 schools nationwide in hands-on STEM learning. In Peninsular Malaysia, 96 students took part, with peer-to-peer sharing reaching around 1,000 students across all schools.
To learn more about Shell NXplorers Malaysia, click here.
