From problem to prize
Students, who invent cardboard microscope to solve lab equipment shortage, snag the grand prize.
THE team that designed a portable microscope made from cardboard nabbed the top prize worth RM20,000 at the Sime Darby Young Innovators Challenge 2017.
The Afa Arduino team – made up of Nor Asikin Zulkefli and Nur Anis Suratiman, both 17, and Ainurania Azzahra Zulkifli, 16 – chose cardboard to keep the cost low and also because it’s environmentally friendly. Surprisingly, the students are from the Arts stream in Sekolah Agama Menengah Jeram (Selangor).
“Our school doesn’t have a Science stream but we do have a basic science syllabus for Form One to Form Five which requires students to conduct experiments,” said Nur Asikin.
“We came up with this idea of a portable, affordable microscope out of frustration. We have two science labs in our school but each lab only has one microscope.”
“It’s especially hard when one of the microscopes is not working, as we will have to ‘fight’ with other students.”
The team’s grand prize includes an Ultimate 2.0 robot kit and a day trip to Universal Studios Singapore.
Team Komoku Card from Sekolah Menengah Islam Hira’ Jeram (Selangor) emerged as the runner up for its smart card for the disabled people.
When the card is swiped before boarding, the buzzer and light at the dedicated priority seats in LRTs will go off to alert other passengers to make space.
The third prize went to Team Life Saviours from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Lembah Bidong (Terengganu) for its smoke detector which will automatically unlock windows and doors to help residents escape during a fire.
The championship, held for the second year running, was organised by Sime Darby Foundation, social business startup Chumbaka, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and youth volunteer community iM4U.