The top five student teams that pitched the most innovative solutions to the country’s food, water, and energy issues won in the recently held NXplorers: The Bright Ideas Challenge 2021.
The winners topped 301 other students from 14 high schools across the country.
The grand prize winner, Team Agriserve from the Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley, devised an online platform that will help farmers connect with each other and their customers and enable them to increase their produce.
Another runner-up also came from Cagayan Valley, while the remaining three were based in schools located in Metro Manila, Mimaropa, and Bicol regions.
“Having seen the quality of our entries this year, it is clear that no pandemic can crush the creativity and ingenuity of our youth in coming up with solutions designed to ensure food, water, and energy security,” said Lorelei Quiambao-Osial, the newly appointed country chairperson of the Shell Companies in the Philippines.
NXplorers was launched by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation to increase awareness for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) among young Filipino talents and inspire them to come up with products that can improve people’s essential needs.
Since its inception in 2019, some 39 schools, 1238 students and 203 teachers have been trained by the Shell NXplorers program.
Pilipinas Shell Vice President for Corporate Relations Serge Bernal acknowledged the “creativity and ingenuity that our participants have displayed in finding solutions for the Philippines’ food, water, and energy issues.”
“We are pleased that we continue to draw the best of the best, and since 2019, we have cultivated bright minds through the Shell NXplorers program,” Bernal added.
Team Agriserve’s Smart AGRIHUB is a multipurpose website and data server that introduces farmers into the digital space where they can promote their produce, find customers, and link up with other agribusiness partners.
The 1st runner up, Team El Terratix from the Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus, came up with their PagSOILbok project, a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly soil-testing machine to determine the health of any crops that will be grown in it.
The 2nd runner-up, Team Shellamat from the Philippine Science High School – Main Campus, presented their Project Simoy, a self-powered utility model that collects, extracts, and converts carbon dioxide from air.
The 3rd runner-up, Team Danum of Bansud Regional Science High School, was chosen because of their wastewater treatment which can improve the traditional crop watering system.
The 4th runner-up, Team Aces, from Ateneo De Naga University, came up with their AuREUS-Integrated ParaSolar Generator, a device that functions as both a parasol and a solar-powered electric generator.
“This year is yet another testimony to the unlimited potential of each and every child,” said Shell Global STEM Education Theme Lead Tariq Hussain.
“Through Shell NXplorers, we hope the youth of today can reach new heights. It is our hope to keep pushing the boundaries so that these amazing minds can have more room to grow,” Hussain said.