BatStateU students 3rd in World Engineering Day Hackathon
THREE sanitary engineering students of the Batangas State University (BatStateU) raised the flag of the Philippines by securing third place at the World Engineering Day (WED) Hackathon as streamed live from THE United Nations Educational, Scientific And Cultural Organization World Federation of Engineering Organizations (Unesco WFEO) event in Lisbon, Portugal, on Monday, March 4.
Guided by Prof. Mark Sibag, Team AdventURINE, composed of Jose Luis Valencia, Nathaniel Regodon and Maureen Fadullo, showcased its innovative design, “Green Sustainable Phyto-fence Assembled using Cured Sourcecollected Urine for Urban Environmental Balance (Space).”
The students competed against 2,500 engineering talents representing 35 countries worldwide. Their solution, a sustainable phyto-fence constructed from treated source-collected urine, addresses Challenge 3: Protecting the Most Vulnerable from Extreme Heat in Refugee Camps and Temporary Shelters.
The project addresses the vital need for cooling in temporary settlements and improving hygiene and sanitation. By encouraging the use of designated urinals and treating collected urine for microalgae cultivation, they create a closedloop system that promotes both urban living needs and ecological balance.
The solution is powered entirely by solar energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and enhancing climate-friendly initiatives. Through their approach, Team AdventURINE demonstrates the power of innovation to address complex challenges while prioritizing sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The winners were broadcast during a 24-hour global stream hosted by emcees in Australia and Portugal, boosting the international acknowledgment of their impressive feat.
Organized annually by Unesco, in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders International (EWB-I) and The Big Creative, the WED Hackathon represents a global initiative for cooperation and innovation in engineering.
The hackathon focused on Climate Action this year, resonating with Sustainable Development Goal 12. The challenges were designed to stimulate inventive solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
“The dedication and creativity exhibited by Team AdventURINE exemplify the spirit of innovation and problem-solving that we strive to cultivate at Batangas State University. Their success on the global stage upholds our commitment to nurturing excellence in engineering education and research,” BatStateU President Tirso Ronquillo said.
The top prize was claimed by Team Somiant from Yachay Tech University of Ecuador. Team EcoCool, comprising scholars from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Rice University (US), secured second place.
Team AdventURINE was awarded a prize of 1,000 euros.
BatStateU is the Philippines’ National Engineering University by virtue of Republic Act 11694. The Level 4 state university has produced over 180 engineering board topnotchers, cementing its position as the country’s largest engineering university.
BATSTATEU IS THE fiRST AND, THUS far, the only state university in the Philippines with engineering and computing programs accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission and Computing Accreditation Commission.
It has earned three stars in the QS Stars Rating and was ranked as the 300th World’s Most Sustainable University in the 2023 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. It is also recognized as the 90th most innovative university globally in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2023 and secured a notable ranking between 601st-800th among 1,591 universities from 112 countries/regions in the THE Impact Rankings 2023.
Visit https://worldengineeringday.net/hackathon/ for more information.