Their team, “REGETUS”, not only won the prestigious gold medal but also clinched the best invention and innovation award, securing a spot in the top 11 teams globally.
Nicson Yap and his teammate, Ray Shaman, both form five students, have been working together since 2022, building a strong partnership through various competitions.
“I got interested in STEM during lower secondary school. I enjoyed figuring out how things worked and liked designing small projects” Yap said regarding the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The students first heard about this competition through their teacher-advisor, Gan Bin Hoon, who encouraged them to explore opportunities beyond the classroom.
In fact, this isn’t their first international venture – they’ve even travelled to Korea to showcase their work.
“The one thing that sparked my interest is that there’s no end to innovation. There’s always a problem, and there’s always a need for a solution,” Ray remarked.
Their award-winning invention presented at the competition in February is “ENVIROGARD”, an Environmental Air Risk Guidance and Alert Device designed to monitor air quality, collect data, and provide real-time alerts.
“The inspiration first came when we were brainstorming problems that impact people on a global scale. When we looked at the leading causes of death worldwide, air pollution stood out,” Ray explained.
“While air purifiers and ventilators exist, we saw a gap – there wasn’t a comprehensive system to monitor, display, collect data, and alert people with safety precautions to prevent air pollution-related diseases,” Ray added.
Developing “ENVIROGARD” took the duo over three months. From designing and 3D-printing the casing, to wiring and assembling, building the prototype was no easy task.
Their work was supported by their school and the Parents and Teachers’ Association (PIBG), which helped them to secure funding. Ray and Yap also consulted academic experts from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to refine their invention.
“After that, we programmed the prototype and simulated its functionality in high-pollution scenarios, like outside factories, to test the sensors and alerts. Finally, we deployed it in six different locations to collect real-world data,” said Ray.
Yep, you read that right – these are high school students.
According to Yap, the competition itself was an intense experience. “The event had teams from nine countries, and our category – Computer Science – was one of the toughest. The projects presented by the other teams were on par with ours, so the competition was really challenging.”
Winning was a surreal moment for both students.
“That moment was really something we didn’t expect. There were so many teams with incredible innovations, but making it into the top 11 globally, and winning the best invention and innovation award was the highlight of our year,” said Ray.
“We’re ending our high school journey with a life-changing experience and a forward-thinking mindset,” Ray added.
Yap added: “Being recognised on such an international platform is something I will never forget. To think that an idea we started from scratch has reached this level – it’s truly amazing.”
While the competition may be over, the duo has no plans of stopping.
“This invention will be very helpful once it goes into production. ENVIROGARD is just the beginning. We envision a future where air quality data is more accessible and predictive,” Ray revealed, even adding that they’re looking forward to starting a company together someday.
Looking at the bigger picture, Yap said: “I hope our achievement shows other students that you don’t need a perfect idea or all the answers to make an impact. What matters most is the willingness to try and learn,” he said.
Meanwhile Gan, couldn’t be prouder. “These students’ achievements have definitely inspired others in the school to explore STEM beyond the classroom,” she said.
Looking ahead, Gan said she hoped Malaysia would continue to nurture young innovators.
“I hope the government invests in more resources and programmes to strengthen STEM education. More collaboration between Malaysian students and international counterparts for joint competitions would also be beneficial,” she added.