Building an Invention that Serves
Oct 11, 2017
Southeast Asia鈥檚 brightest minds returned for another year of Young Inventors Challenge 2017 (YIC). Themed 鈥業nventions to Serve鈥�, this year鈥檚 competition united 117 teams of secondary schoolers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines to create an invention that serves the wellbeing and welfare of humans, animals and the environment.
Nexus鈥� secondary school teacher and YIC mentor, Mr Lloyd Adam Johnson, believes that our participation at the YIC allows our learners to express their ideas and overcome everyday problems in the most creative way. 鈥淲e saw YIC as an opportunity to put our scientific minds together and produce a product that can help others,鈥� Mr Johnson says. 鈥淲e started off looking at personal and everyday problems. A lot of ideas were thrown together, but everybody is passionate about reducing and reusing waste in an environmental-friendly way鈥�.
Learners Jing Hui Tan, Samson Yi Lai, YuanSheng Goh, Caylyn Pooler and Audrey Low came together to contribute an invention in this year鈥檚 YIC. After a series of brainstorming sessions, our learners invented 鈥楨co Pro鈥� that functions as an everyday mechanism that turns everyday waste into compost. 鈥淲e created a special organic trash bin that makes compost,鈥� the team begins. 鈥淲e incorporated a shredder on top of the bin to shred any organic matter until it becomes small enough to be composted鈥�. The goal of their invention is to improve the state of our environment and the world at large. 鈥淲ith Eco Pro, we want to stop the devastating effects of greenhouse gases through a simple yet effective method,鈥� they explain. 鈥淚t would not only serve and encourage botany and gardening but also decrease the use of landfills鈥�.
Aside from encouraging our learners to make a significant contribution to science and innovation, the YIC also provides a platform to meet and network with other young inventors who share similar interests. 鈥淚t was very interesting and exciting, seeing other schools with their amazing inventions,鈥� the team shares. 鈥淪ome inventions shocked us as they were extremely creative and innovative鈥�.
For Mr Johnson, the YIC also gave a positive space for learners to cultivate their interests in learning and growing as an individual. 鈥淭he learners gained a lot from this experience,鈥� he shares. 鈥淭hey grasped the value of teamwork and collaboration and improve their communication skills when presenting and sharing their ideas鈥�.
There鈥檚 no rest for Mr Johnson as plans are underway to make next year鈥檚 YIC participation a success. 鈥淚 have learned a lot about the competition and what is required to be successful,鈥� he shares. 鈥淧utting the invention together took longer than anticipated, so creating a timeline and planning forward will be the two points to improve. Additionally, this year鈥檚 team will serve as ambassadors for the next year鈥檚 group, so they can give advice on inventions to come鈥�.
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Nexus鈥� secondary school teacher and YIC mentor, Mr Lloyd Adam Johnson, believes that our participation at the YIC allows our learners to express their ideas and overcome everyday problems in the most creative way. 鈥淲e saw YIC as an opportunity to put our scientific minds together and produce a product that can help others,鈥� Mr Johnson says. 鈥淲e started off looking at personal and everyday problems. A lot of ideas were thrown together, but everybody is passionate about reducing and reusing waste in an environmental-friendly way鈥�.
Learners Jing Hui Tan, Samson Yi Lai, YuanSheng Goh, Caylyn Pooler and Audrey Low came together to contribute an invention in this year鈥檚 YIC. After a series of brainstorming sessions, our learners invented 鈥楨co Pro鈥� that functions as an everyday mechanism that turns everyday waste into compost. 鈥淲e created a special organic trash bin that makes compost,鈥� the team begins. 鈥淲e incorporated a shredder on top of the bin to shred any organic matter until it becomes small enough to be composted鈥�. The goal of their invention is to improve the state of our environment and the world at large. 鈥淲ith Eco Pro, we want to stop the devastating effects of greenhouse gases through a simple yet effective method,鈥� they explain. 鈥淚t would not only serve and encourage botany and gardening but also decrease the use of landfills鈥�.
Aside from encouraging our learners to make a significant contribution to science and innovation, the YIC also provides a platform to meet and network with other young inventors who share similar interests. 鈥淚t was very interesting and exciting, seeing other schools with their amazing inventions,鈥� the team shares. 鈥淪ome inventions shocked us as they were extremely creative and innovative鈥�.
For Mr Johnson, the YIC also gave a positive space for learners to cultivate their interests in learning and growing as an individual. 鈥淭he learners gained a lot from this experience,鈥� he shares. 鈥淭hey grasped the value of teamwork and collaboration and improve their communication skills when presenting and sharing their ideas鈥�.
There鈥檚 no rest for Mr Johnson as plans are underway to make next year鈥檚 YIC participation a success. 鈥淚 have learned a lot about the competition and what is required to be successful,鈥� he shares. 鈥淧utting the invention together took longer than anticipated, so creating a timeline and planning forward will be the two points to improve. Additionally, this year鈥檚 team will serve as ambassadors for the next year鈥檚 group, so they can give advice on inventions to come鈥�.
