YIC 2015 Report
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Young Inventors Challenge 2015 Report Compiled by: YIC 2015 Working Group Committee and ASTI R&D Department Design, Layout & Editing: Ragavan Pandian (Freelance Designer) Printed By: Firdaus Press Sdn.Bhd. No.28, Jalan PBS 14/4, Taman Perindustrian Bukit Serdang 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Tel/Fax: 03-8940 5595 i | REPORT Young Inventors Challenge 2015 Our Heartfelt Thanks! Ministry Of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Sunway University Jeffrey Cheah Foundation Malaysian Flying Academy Yayasan Hasanah SME Corp Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia Vijiyaratnam Foundation Malaysian Community & Education Foundation (MCEF) ASTRO Vaanavil Thinakural And To all Mentors, Judges, Volunteers and Event Committee Members Young Inventors Challenge 2014 REPORT |ii Working Group Committee of YIC 2015 Project Advisor Dr. Mohamed Yunus Bin Mohamed Yasin Project Director Mr. Anandan Shanmugam Chief Judge 1 Dr. Ewe Chun Te Chief Judge 2 Mr. Faizal Noor Batcha ASTI Secretariat Representative Ms. Vanitha Vasu Training and Event Committee Head Mr. Jegatheswaran Panderengan iii | REPORT Young Inventors Challenge 2015 Table of Content Executive Summary 1 1.0 About ASTI 2 2.0 Introduction 3 3.0 Mode Of Implementation 6 4.0 Training for YIC Participants 8 5.0 Event Day 13 6.0 Video Log Competition 25 7.0 Project Paper Writing Competition 27 8.0 ASTI - YIM Innovation Awards 2015 28 9.0 Public Relations 30 10.0 Assessment Evaluation for YIC 2015 31 11.0 Judging 41 12.0 Volunteers Management 43 13.0 Funding and Budget 45 14.0 Achivement of the Project 47 15.0 Recommendations for the future 49 16.0 Conclusion 53 Young Inventors Challenge 2015 REPORT | iv Executive Summary Young Inventors Challenge 2015 is an ‘inventive’ competition organised by Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) annually since 2013. We have held this event for the 3 years consecutively. The Young Inventors Challenge (YIC) is one of ASTI’s projects to promote science, technology and innovation among secondary school students. This year’s theme is Inventions to Help a Million: To Make the World a Better Place. YIC 2015 was publicized by sending out flyers, follow-up phone calls, publicity through “word of mouth” and an interview with one of the local radio stations. We have received a total of 191 teams application of which 63 teams were shortlisted based on their proposal. The shortlisted teams were given training prior to the event. A total 52 teams participated in the grand finale. Prizes were given out in 4 categories, namely Overall YIC Champion, Video Log Competition, Project Paper Writing Competition and ASTI – YIM Inclusive Innovation Award 2015. Additionally, for the Overall YIC 2015 Champion winning team, Sunway agreed to pay them a bursary of RM100,000 for their Pre-university or A-Levels studies. A number of 40 judges have agreed to assist and 25 judges attended the Judges Training before the final event. The judging team for YIC 2015 was headed by Dr. Ewe Chun Te. In conclusion, YIC 2015 was a success with more schools showing an interest in YIC and it can be seen in the increased number of applications that we have received in 2015. The students came with various inventions and were excited to participate in the YIC 2015 Grand Finale. 1 | REPORT Young Inventors Challenge 2015 About ASTI The Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) is an association of educators, scientists, industry representatives and individuals who are committed to advancing the role of the scientific community in inspiring the youth of the nation to join and excel in the world of science. The members aim to help revolutionalise the teaching, understanding, and awareness of the vital role of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) plays in fulfilling the economic, health and environmental requirements of the world’s population. ASTI was set up by the founders of Science Fair for Young Children (SFYC) on 25th October 2012. ASTI’s Vision: To be the premier Malaysian Association for the promotion of education & understanding in scientific knowledge, Technological advancement and Innovational projects in both Malaysia and the World. ASTI’s Mission: To provide leadership in scientific education and technical support to improve and grow awareness in all areas of science through generation, dissemination and exchange of information & services. ASTI’s Objectives: We provide encouragement & support to the young generation through a variety of activities that are able to develop & help creativity, invention & innovative results in science, technology & innovation. Young Inventors Challenge 2014 REPORT |2 Introduction The Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working towards empowering young children through various projects such as Science Fair for Young Children (SFYC), Young Inventors Challenge (YIC), and Creative and Critical Thinking Camp (CCTC). Science Fair for Young Children (SFYC) is a project designed for primary school students, and about 200,000 participants have taken part in this initiative at the school, regional and national levels. As a follow up to the SFYC, a competition at a more advanced level for the secondary school was proposed in the form of the Young Inventors Challenge (YIC). It requires teams of up to 5 members each to put their minds together and come up with an invention. This kicks started with the theme “GREEN INVENTIONS: IDEAS ON SUSTAINABILITY”. A total of 12 teams from all over the country participated in this pilot project, showcasing their green inventions. In 2014, the Young Inventors Challenge competition was open once again to secondary school students aged 13 to 17 years old and we encouraged the teams to be in groups of 3-5 students of different races to come together in an inventive process. The purpose of the programme is to encourage the creative and inventive capability of young people. The theme for YIC 2014 was kept the same; GREEN INVENTIONS: IDEAS ON SUSTAINABILITY. In 2015, we planned to expand the challenge with the Theme Inventions to Help a Million: To Make the World a Better Place”. After the initial publicity and acceptance of statement of interest from teams, the students were given the proposal writing manual to assist them to write a proposal. The project was then implemented in 3 phases comprising of: Phase One: The student’s proposal submission, 145 proposals with various teams were received and 63 teams were shortlisted to participate in the Grand Finale. Phase Two: Workshop session for selected participants and their mentors. The shortlisted teams were given training in 7 locations across the country, which took part in Penang, Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, KL& Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak. Phase Three: Final Competition. The final competition held in Sunway University on 19 September 2015. All together 52 teams from all over the country took part in the Grand Finale. 3 | REPORT Young Inventors Challenge 2015 2.1 Objectives of YIC 2015 Among the main objectives of YIC are: • To give an opportunity to young and future inventors to develop and showcase their inventions in the area of “helping many people”. • To help young inventors to experience the inventive cycle, from conceptualisation to product/prototype. • To introduce the idea of “using inventions to make a positive change in society” to the participants. • To give opportunities to young adults who are inventive to promote their ideas to the outside world. By participating in YIC, the participants would also: • Produce an original invention and receive recognition for participating in the event. • Meet and network with other inventors who share similar passion. • Develop creative and innovative thinking skills. • Develop teamwork dynamics to solve problems. • Use resources such as the internet, library and experts to hone their research skills. • Learn to document their invention ideas. • Enhance self-esteem and confidence. • Acquire public presentation and writing skills. 2.2 Target Group • Young people aged between 13 to 17 (Form 1 to Form 5) • A team of 4- 5 young people • Multi-racial teams are encouraged • Able to write proposals and presentations in English 2.3 Preferred Output and Outcome Preferred Output Preferred Outcome Creation of a network of young Understand the invention process inventors Creation of caring Inventors with their Understand the Theme own IPs Learn to communicate invention Young People with confidence to think/ process via video log act outside the box A community of young thinkers who Learn to communicate invention would benefit their community and through project paper writing nation 5 | REPORT Young Inventors Challenge 2015 Mode of Implementation a. Publicity – Sending Out Letters • During the month of January and February of 2015, information flyers on YIC 2015 with a cover letter have been send to randomly selected 2000 secondary schools. • We managed to send flyers and letters to the following category of Schools: o Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) o Sekolah Berasrama Penuh o Sekolah Bestari o Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi o Sekolah Kluster Kecemerlangan o International Schools o Private Schools • Some follow-up with phone calls and ‘’word of mouth’’ publicity was also done. b. Event Promotion • The Traxx FM interview was attended by Dr.Mohamed Yunus Yasin and Mr.Faizal Noor Batcha. c. Participants Application • Interested students were requested to form a team of 3-5 people. • Each team is required to have at least one Mentor, and submit their application to ASTI. • As of 2nd March 2015, ASTI had received a total of 191 applications. • Once the applications were received, the teams were emailed with the Students Manual as a guideline for them to prepare the Invention proposals. They were given 15 days to submit their proposals. • Please refer to Table 1 for the breakdown of applications received according to state. d. Proposal Submission by Participants • As of 30th March 2015, ASTI had received a total of 145 proposals with a broad range of ideas related to the helping a million theme to be marked by a panel of judges.