Make the Future Singapore this year will be represented by seven Malaysian teams comprising 115 students from six universities. Last year, team UiTM Eco-Sprint from UiTM Shah Alam emerged as champions for the fourth year in a row. This year, the team is passing the torch to Team UiTM Eco -Planet who will be competing in the Hydrogen category.
Make the Future Singapore, is a free festival celebrating bright energy ideas and innovations from across Asia. The festival’s focus is to offer virtual reality and hands-on experiences to understand what is happening currently when we power our world as well as a glimpse of what the future of energy might look like. Headlining the festival is Shell Eco-marathon Asia, where over 120 student teams from 18 countries across Asia Pacific and the Middle East will put their self-built energy-efficient cars to the test. One of the world’s longest-running student competitions, Shell Eco-marathon is a global programme that challenges bright student minds to design and build ultra-energy-efficient cars, and then put them to the test in competition.
Representing Malaysia this year are seven teams from six universities: –
- Monash University Malaysia (two teams);
- Multimedia University Melaka Campus;
- Universiti Malaya;
- Universiti Teknologi MARA;
- Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
- University Malaysia Pahang;
“Shell Eco Marathon (SEM) Asia is a key platform for developing and nurturing youths in the areas of science, technology, engineering and energy fields. It also serves as an avenue for our Malaysian bright and future talents to discover ways of bringing their ideas to life by challenging their young minds to innovate and embrace a smart sustainable future.Shell Malaysia is proud to be partnering the students and universities to showcase Malaysian ideas and capabilities at this platform” explained Nimmi Kamal, Country Head, External Relations, Shell Malaysia.
SEM plays a major role in developing the students’ ability to integrate knowledge across subjects by incorporating flipped learning and encouraging them to think in a more logical and holistic way.To participate in SEM, each team will design and test their energy efficient vehicles, therefore, exposing them to the investigative skills of science, analytical skills of mathematics and inventive skills of engineering. This is very much taking the principles of STEM which is designed to provide students with the opportunity to investigate information provided to them in order to understand it based on their own experiences; also known as contextual learning.
“Thus, SEM designed to push the boundaries makes learning more relevant as students learn based on current and real-world situations.”continued Nimmi.
This is also in line with the Malaysian government’s aspiration for Transformasi National 2050 (TN50), driving Malaysia’s vision to be amongst the top 20 nations recognised for creativity and innovation.
