Science Castle in Asia 2024 Unites Over 1000 Young Researchers from 9 Countries

CYBERJAYA, MALAYSIA, October 21, 2024 – The Science Castle in Asia 2024, a premier event fostering innovation and scientific curiosity among youth, successfully concluded its two-day conference on October 20, 2024, at Dewan Tun Canselor, Multimedia University (MMU) Cyberjaya. The event drew an impressive attendance of over 1,500 students, parents, and teachers from nine different countries, marking it as the largest Science Castle event to date.

The conference was officiated by YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Malaysia, underscoring the government's commitment to fostering scientific innovation among youth. The opening ceremony also featured a captivating performance by the Tunku Kurshiah Wind Orchestra, comprising 50 talented students. This was followed by an inspiring keynote session from Kapten Kehormat James Anthony Tan, a Guinness World Record holder, who shared his extraordinary experiences, motivating students to push their boundaries in academic pursuits.

Strategic partnerships were pivotal to the event’s success. Multimedia University (MMU) served as the Strategic Partner, while Ajinomoto Malaysia Berhad, Focus System, and Rohto Pharmaceutical played key roles as Main Partners. Supporting Partners included Cyberview, FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV), Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU), and Yamaha. Additionally, the event ecosystem was bolstered by IR Academy, the National STEM Association (NSA), SugarBomb, and Yakult, with Edukuri serving as the official Media Partner.

 

“Science Castle in Asia 2024 has exceeded our expectations in terms of scale and impact,” said Dr. Ezral Ghazali, Project Leader of the event. “The enthusiasm and innovative spirit displayed by young minds from across Asia have been truly inspiring. This event not only showcases the bright future of STEM in our region but also fosters invaluable cross-cultural collaborations.”

The first day of the conference was packed with enriching activities. Students participated in a vibrant networking session, connecting with fellow researchers from over 100 participating schools. This was followed by the Young Science Bridge Communication Summit, which featured four distinguished panellists and moderators from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The moderators, alumni of Science Castle in Asia 2023, included Raja Khadeejah and Khor Sue Qing from Malaysia, Hawin Mufidah El Haq from the Indonesian School of Kuala Lumpur (also a recipient of the Science Castle Grant in Malaysia), and Reiven L. Estrada and Hermonie Zycho Prijoles from the Philippines.

The afternoon offered a diverse array of hands-on workshops across various scientific disciplines. These workshops, collaboratively organized by Leave a Nest Singapore, Yamaha, and ZUS Coffee, allowed students to gain practical insights into cutting-edge scientific fields. Additional workshops were conducted by the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Creative Multimedia from MMU, Tokyo Metropolitan University, IR Academy, and SugarBomb. Topics ranged from neurology, perfume and alcohol production, to sustainability practices, all designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of current scientific advancements.

The second day of Science Castle in Asia 2024 began with a series of oral presentations featuring 17 schools, including 12 participants from Science Castle Asia and 5 from the Science Castle Grant awardees. These young researchers showcased innovative and impactful projects, each aiming to address real-world problems through science and technology.

The participating schools and their research topics were as follows:

O1 Kamiyama Marugoto College of Design, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, Japan – The Research and Development of a Small, Low-Cost Aquaculture Underwater Drone

O2 Bansud National High School-Regional Science High School for MIMAROPA, The Philippines – Novel Biocomposite Scaffold Mimicking Cancellous Bone from Philippine Telescopium telescopium (Bagongon) Hydroxyapatite (HAp), Azolla pinnata (Azolla) Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)

O3 Central Mindanao University Laboratory High School, The Philippines – Isolation and Antibiotic Sensitivity of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from Retailed Raw Chicken Meat Sold in Selected Supermarkets in Valencia City, Bukidnon

O4 Kolej PERMATA INSAN, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia – Innovative Mathematical Learning: 3D Printed Braille-Tangible Geoboards for Visually Impaired Students

O5 MRSM Muar, Malaysia – Seaweed-Based Bioplastic

O6 Nexus International School, Singapore – Remoulding Plastic at a Lower Temperature in an Attempt to Reduce Toxic Gas Emissions

O7 Nguyen An Ninh Secondary High School, Vietnam – Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Tea Leaves (Camellia sinensis) and Its Potential Application as a Fruit Preservative

O8 Philippine Science High School Cordillera Administrative Region Campus, The Philippines – Quantification and Characterization of Microplastics in Water and Freshwater Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Ambuklao Dam, Bokod Benguet, Philippines

O10 SMA Progresif Bumi Shalawat, Indonesia – Glucose Oxide Encapsulation Integrated Gold Nanoparticles in Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) as a Glucose Responsive Drug Delivery System for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

O11 SMK Kolombong, Malaysia – LDTec (Landslide Detection Technology)

O12 SMK Tengku Intan Zaharah, Malaysia – Study the Effect of Nepetalactone in the Root of the Acalypha indica Tree on the Emotions and Behavior of Cats

O13 Tokyo Metropolitan Kokubunji High School, Japan – Explore the Behavior of the “Japanese Wood Pigeon” using GPS and Audio Data

OA1 Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, Malaysia – Cornwaste To Cornkies

OA2 SMK Convent Jalan Peel, Malaysia – Enhancing Rice Preservation and Quality Through Saccharified Enzymes Activity from Sugarcane Bagasse and Rice Husk: An Innovative Approach

OA3 SMK Sultan Ismail, Malaysia – EcoGuard: Exploring the Thermal and Cushioning Properties of Luffa Gourd, Coconut Husks, Newspaper and Its Application in Food Packaging

OA4 Indonesian School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Utilization of Rastrelliger sp and Durio zibethinus Seeds to Make Nutritious and Delicious Lekor Biduan

OA5 Tunku Kurshiah College, Malaysia – Turning Fruit Waste into Sugar: A New Alternative to Reduce Malaysia’s Sugarcane Production

Following the oral presentations, participants transitioned to the poster presentations, evaluated by a panel of 50 distinguished judges, including university lecturers and partners from Science Castle. The diverse backgrounds of the judges ensured a holistic evaluation of the students' projects.

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List of Awardees 

Grand and Special Awards

Science Castle in Asia 2024 Grand Award

Nexus International School, Singapore –Remoulding Plastic at a Lower Temperature in an Attempt to Reduce Toxic Gas Emissions.

Focus System Special Award

University of the Philippines Visayas – High School in Iloilo – Carbon Capture and Selectivity Capacities of Aerocellulose Monolith from Cocoa Pod Husks

Rohto Pharmaceutical Special Award

MRSM Muar, Malaysia – Seaweed-Based Bioplastic

All recipients of the grand and special awards will receive a fully paid study trip to Japan

 

Oral Awards

Tokyo Metropolitan University Oral Award

Philippine Science High School Cordillera Administrative Region Campus – Quantification and Characterization of Microplastics in Water and Freshwater Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Ambuklao Dam, Bokod Benguet, Philippines

Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Oral Award

Indonesian School of Kuala Lumpur – Utilization of Rastrelliger sp and Durio Zibethinus Seeds to Make Nutritious and Delicious Lekor Biduan.

YSBC Oral Award

Kamiyama Marugoto College of Design, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, Japan – The Research and Development of a Small, Low-Cost Aquaculture Underwater Drone

 

Poster Awards

• • Leave a Nest Poster Awards

P81: SMAN 7 Banda Aceh, Indonesia – Effectiveness of Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Preparation from Gotu Kola Extract (Centella Asiatica) with Honey

P178: Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science, The Philippines – The Utilization of EcoPeel as a Renewable Source of Energy

• • Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Poster Awards

P78: SMA Progresif Bumi Shalawat, Indonesia – Micro-OPS: Microplastic Detection and Monitoring System Based on Photodiode and Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Sensors

P174: University of the Philippines Visayas – High School in Iloilo – Efficacy of Green Mussel (Perna viridis) Shell Scraps as an Adsorbent in Crude Coconut Oil Refinement

• • Rohto Poster Awards

P3: Cavite National High School, The Philippines – Auto SPoTS: Automated Solar Power Tracking System

P39: Nexus International School, Singapore – How can Machine Learning be Used to Distinguish Between Pulsar Radiation, Star Radiation, and Cosmic Background Radiation

• • FGV Holdings Poster Awards

P43: Philippine Science High School – MR MapCo: Marine Robot for Macroplastic Collection

P164: Tzu Chi International School Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Palm Oil Fiber and Its Limitless Potential

• • IR Academy Poster Awards

P104: SMK Kota Kemuning – LuminaFlora: Bioluminescent Street Lighting

P119: SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 – Jr.Secure (Kids Away Detection)

• • SugarBomb Poster Awards

P37: MRSM Muar – Kiambang Soapaholic

P132: SMK Ulu Tiram – ECO FARM GUARD: A Plant-Based Insecticide

• • Edukuri Poster Awards

P10: Gov. Efren B. Pascual Sr. Orani Integrated Central School – Crab Shell-Dling Tray: A Seedling Tray Made from Pounded Crab Shells

P22: Mariveles National High School – Cabcaben – Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) as Metal Polish

• Malaysian Society for Microbiology

P109: SMK Puncak Alam – Nemoralin Medkit: Antimicrobial properties of Kylingga nemoralis against Staphylococcus aureus

Congratulations to all winners.

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As Science Castle in Asia continues to grow, it remains committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators, contributing to the advancement of STEM education and research across the Asian continent. In 2025, we are excited to continue this journey with a series of Science Castle conferences: Science Castle Philippines in January, Science Castle Singapore in April, and Science Castle Malaysia in July. These events will culminate in Science Castle Asia in October 2025, bringing together brilliant young minds and industry leaders from across the region. We invite you to join us and be part of the future of STEM in Asia!