Three sisters from Ipoh, Perak have made Malaysia proud by securing a gold medal at the World Youth Science Innovation Competition (WYSII STEM 2025) in Medan, Indonesia. Ushaitha Rajendran, Ushana Rajendran and Taniya Rajendran, students of Methodist Girls Secondary School, represented Malaysia under the selection of the Malaysian Young Scientist Organization (MYSO) and earned international recognition for their groundbreaking innovation.
The competition, witnessed participation from 589 contestants across nine countries, brought together young minds from primary and secondary schools, universities and even industry professionals. The sisters award winning project was titled as “Ayothi Smart Solar Powered Mitin Gas Detector”, was designed to detect toxic gases in schools. This is a safety measure often lacking in educational institutions despite its critical importance.
Their father, Mr. Rajendran explained that the motivation behind this entire project was the 2018 Pasir Gudang toxic gas incident that affected many lives. He then further explained by saying,
“Most factories have machines to detect toxic gases but schools do not have such devices. This innovation aims to bridge the gap and ensure student safety”.
Beyond their recent victory, the sisters have previously participated in huge competition internationally in London and Italy. Mr Rajendran, emphasized the importance of time management, research skills and analytical thinking in their journey. He then encouraged more Indian students from Malaysia to take part in these global competitions to gain exposure, develop innovative strategies and build confidence.
Adding to their family achievements, the three sisters’ mother, Mrs Thilagavathi also competed in the lecturer category of WYSII STEM 2025 and also secured a gold medal, making it a double celebration for the household.
The sister’s supervisor, Suriyaprakash Vijayasuriya acknowledged that their talents had been nurtured from a very young age, contributing to their success now.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian student, Shaamalan Sathiya Seelan from SMK St Michael Ipoh, also shined brightly in the competition. His “Solar Powered Intelligent Irrigation System” project won a gold medal along with a special sustainability award, further solidifying Malaysia’s presence on the huge international stage.
What is the World Youth Science Innovation Competition?
The WYSII STEM is an international platform that brings together young scientists, innovators and researchers from all around the world to one room. The competition focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), encouraging participants to develop innovative solutions to real world issues. It provides students with opportunities to showcase their problem solving skills, creativity, and research capabilities. Participants are ranged from primary to secondary students and even university students and industry professionals, making it a diverse competition event. Recently, the competition has also won the Malaysia Book Of Records for “Most Participants in an International Youth STEM Competition”.
These remarkable achievements highlight the growing prominence of Malaysian students in STEM-based competition and serve as an inspiration to many youngsters across the nation.
Sources: Bernama
