Leave a Nest Malaysia Marks Historic Milestone with Science Castle Asia 2025, the Largest Youth Research Conference in Asia

CYBERJAYA, 19 OCTOBER 2025 — Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. successfully organised Science Castle Asia 2025 (SCAsia2025) at Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya, gathering more than 2,000 participants including students, educators, researchers, and industry partners. The event brought together 321 student research teams from 10 countries in a celebration of youth-led science, technology, and innovation. Endorsed by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), the conference served as a dynamic platform for secondary school students across Asia to present their research addressing global and community challenges through poster, oral, and splash presentations. This year’s opening ceremony was graced by H.E. Noriyuki Shikata, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia and H.E. Maria Angela A. Ponce, Ambassador of the Philippines to Malaysia, whose presence highlighted the growing international collaboration and recognition of Science Castle as a key platform for nurturing young innovators in Asia.

Since its establishment in Japan in 2012 and expansion to Malaysia in 2017, Science Castle has become Asia’s leading youth research conference, fostering creativity, collaboration, and real-world problem solving among young scientists. Building on the success of Science Castle Malaysia 2024 in Sarawak, this year’s Asia-level edition marked a milestone in strengthening regional collaboration among students from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Russia, and Myanmar.

The first day of the conference began with an inspiring keynote session by Dr. Joe Inoue, Chief Culture Officer of Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. Dr. Inoue, who holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacy, shared his journey in immunology and his contributions to research that were part of a Nobel Prize–winning discovery.

One of the highlights of this year’s event was the Science Castle Grant, supported by Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad, which mentored 10 Malaysian schools over five months in research projects focused on nutrition, food sustainability, and community wellbeing. The programme culminated in the students’ final presentations at SCAsia2025, reflecting Ajinomoto’s commitment to the Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value (ASV) philosophy nurturing young innovators who apply science for positive social impact. A total of 22 teams from across Asia presented their research on the main stage, while the remaining teams took part in the poster presentation sessions. Their research was evaluated by esteemed judges from renowned universities, institutes, and industry players across Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam

The success of SCAsia2025 was made possible through collaborations with key partners including Multimedia University (MMU), Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad, Focus Systems Co., Ltd. (Japan), Leave a Nest Capital (Japan), Cyberview Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Kyowa Leather Cloth Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Malaysia Berhad, Sumitomo Corporation Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Group, MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd, Humanome Lab (Japan), Innoqua Asia Sdn. Bhd., Sustainable Food Asia (Japan), Tenchijin Inc. (Japan), University of Tsukuba Malaysia (UTMy), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), IR Academy, and SugarBomb.

As Science Castle 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 2026, 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 April. These events will culminate in Science Castle Asia in August 2026, 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!

 

Co Organizer

Multimedia University, (MMU)

Main Partner

• Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad
• Focus Systems Co., Ltd., Japan
• Leave a Nest Capital, Japan

 

Supporting Partner

• Cyberview Sdn Bhd
• Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
• Kyowa Leather Cloth Co., Ltd.
• Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Malaysia Berhad
• SumitomoCorporation Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
• Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Group
• MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd
• Humoname Lab, Japan
• Innoqua Asia Sdn. Bhd.
• Sustainable Food Asia, Japan
• Tenchijin inc., Japan
• University of Tsukuba, Malaysia (UTMy)

 

Ecosystem Partner

• Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation
• IR Academy 
• SugarBomb

---

Announcement of Official Award Winners for Science Castle Asia 2025

Leave a Nest Grand Award

(Exclusive invitation to join Science Castle World 2025 in Tokyo this December, with return flight and accommodation fully covered*)

• O8 – Cavite National High School (Philippines)
  SoPoMo-Fish: A Solar-Powered Remote-Kraft Linked with Fish Finding System for Sustainable Aquatic Navigation

 

Leave a Nest Special Poster Award 

(Exclusive invitation to join Science Castle World 2025 in Tokyo this December, with return flight and accommodation fully covered*)

• P228 – SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 (Malaysia)
  CuraLeaf: An AI-Enhanced Phytosensor for Real-Time Nutrient Diagnostics

 

*Subject to terms and conditions

---

Special Oral Awards

Science Castle Grant Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Special Oral Awards

(Exclusive invitation to join Science Castle World 2025 in Tokyo this December, with return flight and accommodation fully covered*)

• OA4 – SM St. Michael Penampang (Sabah, Malaysia)
  GlycoSmart Rice: A Revolutionary Innovation Enhanced with Saba Green Banana Resistant Starch

 

Focus Systems Special Oral Awards 

(Exclusive invitation to join Science Castle World 2025 in Tokyo this December, with return flight and accommodation fully covered*)

• O5 – Samar National School (Philippines) – Protocol TRASH: Transforming Refuse into Affordable Sustainable Energy for Homes and Future

 

*Subject to terms and conditions

---

 

Oral Awards

MMU Oral Award (worth RM500 each)

• O11 – SM Imtiaz Yayasan Terengganu Kemaman (Malaysia)
  Physio-Finger Device for Physical Hand Exercise (Phy-Fin)

 

---

 

Special Poster Awards 

Sumitomo Group Special Poster Awards 

(Exclusive invitation to participate in a Workshop Session with Sumitomo Group)

• P46 – Maktab Tentera Diraja (Malaysia)
  PaddyGami: Rice Straw-Based Kirigami Structure for Heavy Metal Filtration and Passive Water Quality Monitoring

 

• P160 – SM Sains Seri Puteri (Malaysia)
  Biodegradable self-healing food packaging

 

• P276 – Tzu Chi International School Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
  3-layer biodegradable water filter paper

 

---

 

Poster Awards 

(Each team awarded a Poster Award will receive a monetary prize of RM250, generously sponsored by their respective partners.)

Leave a Nest Capital Poster Awards

• P99 – Samar National School (Philippines)
  GlucoScoop: Development of a Diabetic-Friendly Full-Meal Ice Cream Enriched with Asuhos, Brown Rice, Malunggay, and Kalabasa

 

• P267 – The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas (Philippines)
  BeeSPECT: An Arduino-based Beehive Monitoring System with Automated Nebulization for Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Stress Mitigation

 

• P280 – Tzu Chi International School Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
  From Waste to Worth: Exploring the Potential of EPOFB Fibres

 

• P287 – Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School Petra Jaya (Malaysia)
  Durian Pith Fibers as a Potential Raw Material for Kraft Paper

 

Multimedia University (MMU) Poster Awards

• P19 – Eastern Visayas Regional Science High School (Philippines)
  Analyzing the Structural Integrity and Load-Bearing Capacity of Polyethylene Chairs

 

• P138 – Al Azhar Syifa Budi Solo (Indonesia)
  EcoShort (Ecological sorting bins help sort waste into different categories to make waste management and recycling easier and more efficient)

 

• P258 – SMK Tengku Intan Zaharah (Malaysia)
  Development of ReBit: Reinforced Bitumen Using Waste Plastic and Coconut Shell Powder for Sustainable Pavement

 

• P191 – SMK Bandar Puchong Jaya (A) (Malaysia)
  Gamification as a Tool to Help Weak Students Master Mental Arithmetic in Basic Mathematics

 

Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad Poster Awards

• P44 – Maktab Tentera Diraja (Malaysia)
  Cinnabits: Cinnamon-Based Preservative to Slow the Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Seafood

 

• P215 – SMK Dato’ Sulaiman (Malaysia)
  MIFUSION SIPOOT

 

• P221 – SMK Landas (Malaysia)
  Formulation of Healthier Meatballs: Utilization of Pumpkin Seed Powder as a Fat Replacement

 

• P262 – SMKA Sheikh Haji Mohd Said (Malaysia)
  Sustainable Biowrap from Fruit Waste

 

Focus Systems Awards

• P21 – Ikeda Senior High School Attached to Osaka Kyoiku University (Japan) Diagnosis of coral health condition by battery mechanism

 

• P57 – Mariveles National High School – Poblacion (Philippines)
  AVOPERTO (Persea Americana) Oil: Unlocking Nature’s Shield Against Extreme Heat in Plants

 

• P77 – MRSM Kuala Klawang (Malaysia)
  MYCOBRICKS

 

• P270 – Trece Martires City National High School (Philippines)
  AFLOACC: Autonomous Float for Litter Oil Absorption using Coconut Coir

 

Cyberview Poster Awards

• P10 – Cavite National High School (Philippines)
  VISIONAID: Versatile Integration of Sensing Innovations for Obstacle Navigation and Assistance to Individuals with visual Disabilities

 

• P20 – Gov. Efren B. Pascual Sr Orani Integrated Central School (Philippines) CleanHusk: Sustainable Air Conditioning Filters Crafted from Corn Husk

 

• P116 – SMK Pengalat Papar (Malaysia)
  SproutHusk: Development and Characterisation of Plantable Corn-Husk Biocomposite Egg Trays for Sustainable Packaging and Seedling Propagation

 

• P164 – SM Sains Seri Puteri (Malaysia)
  PHYLLA- turning dry leaves into an ecofriendly tile for pathway

 

MDEC Poster Awards

• P142 – SM Imtiaz Yayasan Terengganu Kemaman (Malaysia) Bascilla

 

• P151 – SM Sains Hulu Selangor (Malaysia) Organic Roach Repellent

 

• P193 – SMK Bandar Seri Putra (Malaysia)
  Implementation Of Piezoelectric Energy In Train Station

 

• P216 – SMK King George V (Malaysia)
  Turtle Friendly Lighting

 

Kyowa Leather Poster Award

• P154 – SM Sains Hulu Selangor (Malaysia)
  Terra Leather

 

HumanomeLab Poster Awards

• P87 – Nanyang Girls High School (Singapore)
  Hydrosmart Patch: Developing a patch that provides real time hydration advice

 

• P120 – Sekolah Indonesia Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
  Development of an Autonomous Mobile Robot Integrating YOLOv5 and Google Gemini AI for Intelligent Coastal Waste Detection and Recycling Guidance.

 

• P136 – Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (Malaysia)
  MethanoX: Efficiently Discover a Novel Antimicrobial Extract via Machine Learning to inhibit Methanogen Archaea in paddy plant fields

 

• P260 – SMK Tun Hussein Onn ( Malaysia)
  AI-Powered Assessment of Oil Palm Fruit Bunch Damage

 

Innoqua Poster Awards

• P21 – Ikeda Senior High School Attached to Osaka Kyoiku University (Japan) Diagnosis of coral health condition by battery mechanism

 

• P36 – Kong Hua School (Philippines)
  Utilization of Luffa cylindrica and Pinus spp. Leaves as Eco-Friendly Filtration Media for Pollutant Removal in Freshwater Aquarium

 

• P188 – SMK Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi (Malaysia)
  Living BioPaste Wall

 

• P257 – SMK Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat (Malaysia)
  Badang Biru: Intergrating Advanced Silvofishery for Sustainable Aquaculture, Mangrove Ecosystem Resilience and Biodiversity Preservation through Interactive Minecraft Simulation for Environmental Awareness

 

Sustainable Food Asia Poster Award

• P41 – Lead International Secondary School (Malaysia)
  Development of a Home-Based Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Larvae Decomposer Bin for Efficient Organic Waste Recycling

 

Tenchijin Poster Awards

• P6 – Cavite National High School (Philippines)
  InSolar: Converting Thermal Radiation into Cool Air

 

• P40 – Kumamoto Prefectural Kamoto High School (Japan)
  New possibilities of the troublesome “Hydrocotyle ranunculoides” – Research into its ability to absorb heavy metals

 

• P56 – Mariveles National High School – Poblacion (Philippines)
  Assessing the Potential of Lanzones (Lansium domesticum) Peel-Based Tablets as a Natural Antibacterial and Coagulant Agent for Water Purification

 

• P81 – MTSN 6 Malang (Indonesia)
  COCOTAKE: Ecologically Sustainable Bioplastic Derived from Coconut Dregs to Mitigate Microplastic Exposure

 

IR Academy Poster Awards

• P133 – SEKOLAH RENDAH ISLAM AL AMIN KERAMAT
  SHINE: Solar Harnessing for Instant Natural Energy – A portable solar charger

 

• P159 – SM SAINS PASIR PUTEH How Social Media Algorithms Shape Teenagers’ Identity and Beliefs: A Path to Self-Awareness and Reclaiming Control

 

• P177 – SMA Progresif Bumi Shalawat (Indonesia)
  Design and Optimization of Sustainable Piezoelectric Paving Blocks Using Recycled Plastic Composites: lnfluence of Composition Ratio on Mechanical Strength and Energy Harvesting Performance

 

• P209 – SMK Convent Jalan Peel (Malaysia)
  NADD Emo – A Sustainable Visual Signaling Device to Support Emotional Well-Being in Classroom

 

All results are final and official. Decisions of the oral and poster judges are not subject to appeal. All winners will be contacted soon to proceed with the award disbursement process.

---

Please find the live broadcast links for each day of Science Castle Asia 2025

Day 1 Broadcast powered Multimedia University (MMU)

Day 2 Broadcast powered by Multimedia University (MMU)