State champions, Team Luminaries from SM All Saints, with Soong (far left), as well as Wong, Lopez and Vivienne (back row).
AGAINST a backdrop of accelerating global complexity, where the interconnected challenges of energy stability, food security and climate adaptation loom large, the development of tomorrow’s solutions requires more than just textbook knowledge.
The Shell NXplorers programme, championed by Shell Malaysia, aims to prove that radical solutions are within reach by inspiring the next generation of brilliant minds.
This global education initiative empowers secondary school students to confront real-world issues within the critical food-water-energy nexus, solidifying the role of the next generation as crucial agents of change for a sustainable future.
At the Shell NXplorers Malaysia 2025 Sabah Challenge, students didn’t just compete — they harnessed the power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to build prototypes that could transform communities.
This year, Team Luminaries from SM All Saints were crowned state champions, with SM Sung Siew’s Team Triangle taking the first runner-up spot.
Team Plecasso from SMK Tamparuli bagged the Most Innovative Award for their invention, PortaLab. This mobile chemical box is a portable solution that provides a safe learning space in instances when the school laboratory is unsafe to use, ensuring secure chemical storage and mobility for students and teachers.
Proactive safety
State champions Team Luminaries, comprising Clarissa Ruth Manji, Olivia Lee Ya Chen and Enzo Armadini, earned top honours with LookCar, an innovative system designed to prevent children from being accidentally left unattended in vehicles.
The idea was sparked by a heartbreaking tragedy in Peninsular Malaysia, which drove the students to focus on preventing future fatalities.
“Clarissa’s mother introduced us to the problem after reading an article about a child being left in the backseat for eight hours, leading to the child’s tragic death. Deeply moved by the story, she asked if we could create something to help prevent such tragedies from ever happening again,” they said.
LookCar uses motion and human presence sensors to detect movement inside a car. If a child is left inside once the driver leaves, the safety system immediately triggers an audible buzzer and an LCD warning, simultaneously alerting parents via Telegram.
If the parent fails to respond, LookCar uses GSM mobile communication to transmit the vehicle’s GPS location directly to firefighters, ensuring rapid intervention.
“We believe LookCar can benefit the community by raising awareness and saving lives, giving parents peace of mind while preventing tragedies before they happen,” the team explained.
“Shell NXplorers gave us the platform to turn awareness into action, and in the future, we hope it can also protect senior citizens and prevent car theft, making every car a safer space for everyone.”
Team Luminaries also gave words of encouragement to other future changemakers, stating: “Every big change begins with curiosity and courage. Even if your idea feels small or uncertain, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because that’s how you learn and grow. When you truly care about what you’re creating, the impact will follow.”
Team Triangle from SM Sung Siew with the judges and Lopez (left).
Affordable, eco-friendly protection
First runner-up, Team Triangle, consisting of Ivan Lam Jun Yin, Alan Romeo Roy Joseph Boguli and Izz Iqbal Rizqin Mohd Shamsul, impressed judges with their focus on affordable, practical home security.
Their project, LaserShield, is a solar-powered home security system inspired by the increasing number of home break-ins in urban areas.
The device uses lasers, mirrors and LDR sensors that, when triggered by an intrusion, activate an alarm and instantly send an alert to the homeowner. It is designed to make reliable, real-time protection accessible to lower-income families.
“When the beam is interrupted, the system automatically triggers an alarm and sends an instant alert through Telegram,” they explained.
The students added that they gained valuable technical skills and life lessons during the competition.
“It was an exciting but challenging journey. At first, we struggled with the wiring connections and Telegram bot setup. Sometimes our ESP32 microcontroller wouldn’t respond, or the laser alignment would fail. But every mistake taught us something new,” they said.
Shell NXplorers Sabah
Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Limited (SSPC) general manager Wong Kim Mun said that the company is committed to nurturing Sabahan youth by equipping them with the skills and mindset to tackle complex challenges and lead the way towards a more sustainable future.
“It’s truly enriching to watch our young minds come alive with ideas that matter. Their creativity and teamwork show us what’s possible when students are given the space to think boldly and work together,” he said.
This year, eight schools competed in the Sabah challenge, comprising SM St Peter Telipok, SM All Saints, SMK SANZAC, SMK Tamparuli, SMK Pekan Telipok, SM St Michael, SMK Petagas and SM Sung Siew.
The judges consisted of Wong, SMJ Sdn Bhd legal and commercial director Samantha Soong and Sabah State Education Department Learning Sector assistant director Vivienne Imee Samuil. Also in attendance was Shell Malaysia corporate relations general manager Cindy Lopez.
With support from the Education Ministry, Shell NXplorers Malaysia engaged over 318 secondary school students from 29 schools nationwide.
In Sabah, 111 students were selected, and a peer-to-peer sharing initiative was introduced to spread knowledge across a wider community of around 1,000 students from all participating schools.
