2023

4 Sep

UCSI’s TikTok Science Challenge inspires two students from Sarawak to minimise traffic injuries with STEM-concept innovation

Toh Su Kai (first from right) and Cassandra Ma Jun Chi (second from right), winners of first prize received their RM5,000 award from Assoc Prof Dr Mogana Sundari Rajagopal (second from left), Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

KUALA LUMPUR - An upsurge of road accidents around their school motivated Toh Su Kai and Cassandra Ma Jun Chi to develop a traffic signalling device that is controlled by gestures.

Named the STC (Stop-the-Car) Kit, the device turns a traffic light signboard and safety vest red or green after receiving inputs from a microcontroller.

For their efforts, the duo from SMK Tiong Hin emerged as the grand winner at UCSI University’s TikTok Innovation Challenge 2023.

“We highlighted this issue as we noticed that this is a common problem that happens around our school. So, from this creation, we hope it could lessen cases of students being hit by the car,” said Toh at the award ceremony.

“We both love science and are happy that this kit can help the security guards and teachers on duty,” added Cassandra.

Toh and Cassandra walked away with a RM5,000 cash prize and a full tuition waiver to continue their studies at UCSI.

The TikTok challenge is timely as there is an urgent need to have a paradigm shift in STEM education in Malaysia.

Despite having set goals to achieve the 60:40 ratio for STEM education in Malaysia’s educational policy, Malaysia has not been able to achieve the targeted 60% STEM students for the past 20 years.

A total of RM10,000 cash prize and RM76,000 tuition fee waiver were awarded to the winners of this competition during the faculty’s World Pharmacists Day and Formulation Scientists Celebration 2023.

Prof Ir Dr Jimmy Mok Vee Hoong, Pro-vice-chancellor of UCSI University Springhill Campus said that the award ceremony aimed at aspiring and encouraging future game-changing leaders.

“I look forward to seeing future pharmacists who will impact the global healthcare system and revolutionise the rational use of medicine by patients,” he said.

Organised by UCSI University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in collaboration with the National Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Association Malaysia and Viatris Malaysia, the competition required contestants to upload a TikTok video showcasing their application of STEM concepts to solve real-world problems.

UCSI University stands out as one of Asia’s top private universities in the QS World University Rankings 2024. It is classified in the world’s top 1%, by virtue of its rank of 300 and also ranked Top 300 in the subject ranking for Pharmacy and Pharmacology.