Teens strike gold in STEM

The Star

25-04-2025

SMK King George V, Seremban, recently made the nation proud by securing top honours at the World Youth STEM Invention Innovation (WYSII) 2025 competition in Medan, Indonesia.
Team Regetus, comprising Nicson Yap Yong Ze and Ray Shaman Kelvin Shaman, clinched the Gold Medal in the Computer Science Category and the Best Invention & Innovation Award. They were among the Top 11 finalists at the prestigious international competition.
Held from Feb 23 to 27, the competition, themed 'Pioneering Solutions, Shaping the Future', gathered young innovators from across the globe to tackle pressing challenges through science and technology.
Their winning invention, Envirogard – short for Environmental Air Risk Guidance and Alert Device – is an air quality monitoring and alert system designed to combat rising air pollution concerns.
Unlike existing inventions such as air purifiers and ventilators, Envirogard provides real-time data, alerts and predictive insights to help individuals take preventive measures against air pollution-related health risks.
'Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental and health threats in the world today.
'We wanted to create a system that not only monitors air quality but also provides real-time alerts and safety precautions to prevent diseases,' Nicson said.
Nicson led the 3D design and manufacturing of the prototype, while Ray Shaman handled the coding to bring their vision to life.
They supported each other every step of the way, said Nicson, but the journey to perfecting Envirogard was anything but smooth.
Securing a location for real-world testing proved to be a major hurdle, as many factories denied them access.
'In the end, we had to gather data outside factory premises to do further analysis,' Nicson shared.
Good job: Nicson (left) and Ray Shaman posing for a photo after their WYSII win.
Despite the challenges, their hard work paid off, culminating in an unexpected moment of triumph.
'I never imagined that an idea we started from scratch would receive recognition on an international platform,' said Nicson.
Echoing his sentiment, Ray Shaman described the win as 'truly unexpected', especially with so many other teams showcasing strong innovation ideas.
'We put in a lot of effort, working right up until the final hour to deliver our best presentation,' he said.
Their success was also shaped by the guidance of their teacher adviser Gan Bin Hoon, and lecturers from Universiti Putra Malaysia.
'Madam Gan not only supervised our project but also trained us in presentation skills. Her encouragement pushed us to refine our ideas,' Nicson said.
For aspiring young innovators, the duo offered words of advice: 'Start small, believe in yourself, and never be afraid to try.
'Always have a clear aim, be eager to learn and gain hands-on experience.'
Meanwhile, nine students from SMK Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur, demonstrated their school's commitment to nurturing young scientists by winning three gold medals at the WYSII.
The three teams, comprising Dishha Palanivello, Arvind Arumugam, Shazrina Shereen Mohd Sazri, Shazrina Shayla Mohd Sazri, Vedashrii Sai Gopinath Rao, Kristen Kok Ren Ee, Praveen Karthigeyan Sivadason, Selvarishikeshan Nadar Selvaganapathy, and Muhammad Rayyan Irsyad Mohd Hafidzi, won top honours in their respective categories.
Their winning projects were Smart Pantry, a food management system, and Solemate, an in-sole tracking and SOS alert (Applied Science Category); and Fibronium, a biodegradable alternative to plastic (Environmental Science Category).
Expressing their pride, teachers Siti Nazila Raihan Othman and Iylia Nadhirah Md Nadzri commended the students for their dedication, creativity and commitment.
'This victory not only highlights their individual talents but also underscores the strength of our school's STEM education programme,' they said.