(From left) Law, Jolly, SMK Lutong’s team Hopecore and Prof Vu.
A RISING tide of global issues, from chronic food waste to unsustainable energy consumption, demands more than just an incremental change, it requires a seismic shift in thinking.
Understanding this urgency, Shell Malaysia strives to empower the nation’s youth to be architects of change through its Shell NXplorers programme.
The programme is a global education initiative that cultivates young minds to tackle the complex challenges of today’s world, centred on the food-water-energy nexus, through innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) solutions, while being guided by Shell professionals.
Three regional legs are held in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, with winning teams progressing to compete in the national Shell NXplorers Malaysia Challenge next month.
This year’s Shell NXplorers Malaysia 2025 Sarawak Challenge winners were Team Hopecore from SMK Lutong, with Team Theory from SMK Bandar Bintulu as the first runner-up.
A special shoutout was given to Team IOT (Intelligence of Technology) from SMK Baru Bintulu, which received the Most Innovative Award. Their invention, Aware Baby, introduces a smart safety device to prevent toddlers from being accidentally left in vehicles, which can be linked to a smartwatch and a connected mobile app.
Bridging the communication gap
Emerging as state champions in Sarawak, Team Hopecore, comprising Lee Sun, Leann Yii Zhen and Lukesh Murugayah, developed Signify to enhance communication between deaf students and the hearing community in local schools.
Recognising the severe shortage of certified sign language interpreters in the country, the team focused their efforts on creating an accessible, scalable and sustainable solution.
“We have special needs students in our school, so we wanted to come up with a project to help them,” the team shared.
“After conducting research, we discovered that communication difficulty is the main problem faced by all special needs children, especially those who are deaf. That’s how we decided to create Signify.
Their invention is a web-based application built using Shell’s NXthinking tools that translates Malaysian Sign Language (Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia, or BIM) into text and speech, and vice versa.
“Signify uses artificial intelligence (AI) and cameras to provide live translation of sign language to help the deaf communicate with the world,” said Lee.
Lukesh added that the app also has potential use outside of school, which could enable easier communication for the deaf community, especially in terms of securing jobs and handling daily tasks.
“Our country still has to progress to be fully inclusive of those with special needs, and I believe our project could ensure that everyone can communicate with one another and express themselves. Communication is not a privilege but a basic right that people require to connect,” said Leann.
Looking ahead, the team aspires to continue refining Signify, to facilitate easy communication for the deaf community.
“We hope that we’ll be able to further improve and develop our project to stay true to our principle of efficient communication. Perhaps we could also make a hybrid software and hardware to provide a variety of platforms for users to use,” said Team Hopecore.
First runner-up, team Theory came up with the idea for their smart flood monitoring system, Flood Eye, after seeing firsthand the effect of natural disasters in their home town, Bintulu.
Protecting lives with smart tech
First runner-up, team Theory, comprising Chloe Wong Shi Yi, Jordan Tieh Sieng Tai and Ephraim Wong Kung Xin, tackled an urgent environmental challenge of flooding with their innovation, Flood Eye.
The team shared that the inspiration for their smart flood monitoring system was deeply personal, after the flood crisis that plagued Bintulu earlier this year.
“In February, a severe flood hit Bintulu, and one of our aunt’s houses was among those affected. We witnessed how quickly the water rose, damaging her belongings and cutting off access to basic needs,” the team said.
“That moment made us realise how unpredictable floods can be and how unprepared many residents are when they occur.”
This inspired them to design a flood monitoring and early warning system that could alert communities before floods reach dangerous levels. The goal was to create a sustainable, affordable and practical home-based solution that protects people’s safety, raises awareness and supports local resilience during natural disasters.
They explained that Flood Eye uses an ESP32 microcontroller with sensors to detect rainfall intensity and measure real-time water levels in drains and rivers. When water levels rise above the danger threshold, LEDs and a buzzer are activated, and an ESP32-CAM streams live video for residents and authorities to remotely monitor the situation.
“With GPS-based monitoring and real-time updates, residents can prepare in advance, reduce property loss and stay safe,” said Team Theory.
They also shared some valuable advice for other aspiring innovators, encouraging them to push through hardships, even when it may seem too difficult.
“Along the journey, there will be failures, doubts and challenges, but never let them stop you. Each mistake is a lesson that brings you closer to success,” they said.
Both Team Hopecore and Team Theory will now go on to represent Sarawak at the national Shell NXplorers Malaysia challenge next month.
Shell NXplorers Sarawak
Shell Malaysia corporate relations general manager – East Malaysia, Jonathan Jolly, said the company remains steadfast in investing in youth and equipping them with the skills, tools and opportunities they need to grow as future innovators, engineers and sustainability changemakers.
“I’m truly inspired by the creativity and ingenuity shown by all our dynamic finalists. Their solutions are a powerful reminder of how early exposure to STEM can shape the next generation of leaders who are not only innovative but deeply committed to building a more sustainable future,” he said.
This year, eight schools competed in Shell NXplorers Malaysia’s Sarawak challenge, comprising SMK Bau, SMK Bandar Bintulu, SMK Baru Bintulu, SMK Bintulu, SMK Kemena, SMK Lutong, SMK Pujut and SMK Taman Tunku.
The judges were Jolly, Curtin University Malaysia School of Engineering and Science dean
Professor Dr Tuong-Thuy Vu and Miri Education Office SISC+ officer (Maths and Science) Law Sie Siek.
With the backing of the Education Ministry, Shell NXplorers Malaysia has engaged over 318 secondary school students from 29 schools nationwide.
Participating students delved into hands-on STEM learning, with a strong emphasis on technology.
In Sarawak alone, 111 students were selected, and a peer-to-peer sharing initiative was introduced to spread knowledge across a wider community of around 1000 students from all participating schools.
To learn more about Shell NXplorers Malaysia, click here
