Pinoy Teen Geniuses Shine in Malaysia With Solar Ideas That Actually Solve Problems

Two groups of Filipino high school students brought home top honors from a Southeast Asian science competition in Malaysia, proving once again na kayang makipagsabayan ng young Pinoy researchers when it comes to practical innovation.

Rappler reported that standouts from Tarlac National High School and Cataingan National High School in Masbate won the Most Promising Young Scientists honors during the 14th Regional Congress of the SEAMEO Young Scientists program held in Penang from February 9 to 12.

The Tarlac team topped the upper secondary category with a project that turns mango leaves into solar panels, an idea aimed at giving communities with limited electricity a more workable alternative source of power.

In the lower secondary category, the Masbate team won with SolarisAgriTech, a solar-powered smart greenhouse that used artificial intelligence and reportedly helped tomato seedlings grow faster and taller than those raised through traditional methods over a 28-day trial.

The winners received cash prizes and seed funding, while the larger congress gathered 475 student researchers from eight countries who presented 174 projects. The result gave the Philippines a strong showing in a contest focused on solving urgent regional problems through science and STEM creativity.

Source: Rappler