eXtensions - Tuesday 20 February 2024

Invent for the Planet: A Weekend of Discovery and Hard Work for Mahidol University Students

By Graham K. Rogers

Each year, students at some 20 or more universities round the world are engaged in a weekend workshop in which groups try to come up with solutions to problems highlighted in Needs Statements. Students from Mahidol University have taken part for several years, with 2 groups being invited to the finals in Texas (2022 and 2023). This year the finals will be held in Europe.

In the last few years, Mahidol and the Faculty of Engineering has been one of a group of universities hosting Invent for the Planet, an event organized by Texas A&M University. This is a weekend event that is run at each of the participating universities at which students in groups analyze problems that affect areas of the world and try to come up with viable solutions. For Mahidol students, the event starts at 4pm on Friday, and ends 48 hours later on Sunday with awards to winning groups. This year, it took place from 16-18 February.

Every student who walks through the door on Friday afternoon is already a winner. The next couple of days provide each of the students with practical learning that the curriculum and established theoretical courses cannot provide - analysis, teamwork, problem-solving, discussion, mentoring, prototype design, thinking and (above all) pressure - as they work through to their potential solutions.

The Faculty of Engineering has become more supportive and the Dean, Dr. Thanaphat Vanichanon, officially opened the event. Despite this and the heavy lifting by members of the Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments, as well as outside mentors, the Faculty administration moved at a glacial pace; and several academics mentioned the sparse publicity.

Invent for the Planet kicked off late Friday afternoon at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, at the Innogineer Studio, with the first day ending around 10:30pm. Early on, the mentors outlined the ideas behind the problems to be tackled. The five Need Statements [sic] were explained to those taking part. Over dinner, students stated their project preferences with sticky notes on a glass wall. The groups were set up with a little persuasion and then the task began. They worked hard on their solutions before outline presentations the first evening. Students, mentors and the hard-working support staff went home for a few hours of well-earned rest.

I am always impressed at these events the way these young people, with little real knowledge in the specific areas to be addressed - particularly with regard to the wider impacts - are able to sit down with students they hardly know and work through to a potentially viable solution in the few hours available over the weekend. These out-of-curriculum events are so valuable to the long-term learning of these students. Even if they are not winners, the benefits of such teamwork are immense.

Saturday officially began at 8am. Although a few drowsy students were there at the Off, most wandered in over the next hour or so then began work. As well as the operation of the hardware, students had to come up with the systems that would make them work, as well as economic plans for establishment and support: a steep learning curve. As part of the integration of the tasks, students in all the participating universities also had to produce a 90-second video to pitch the ideas, followed by a presentation: 10 minutes in all.

On Saturday afternoon, these visual media were shown to a panel who made wide-ranging suggestions aimed at helping each group improve the output: technical, social, and their use of English, particularly as used in the video and on the slides. The groups worked on, with a brief oral progress report just before the end of the day, at 10:30pm.

Sunday morning left only a few hours to bring the work to a focus. The morning saw a rush of consultations, with groups developing prototypes: Computer-aided design (CAD), 3D-printed, and cardboard constructions, to help each group make its case and impress the judges. A further run-through of the presentations saw marked improvements, but there was still work to be done before the presentations were submitted on flash drives. While finishing touches were still being made to the projects, the judges - some of whom were Alumni of the Faculty - began to arrive and attended their own briefing. Everything stopped. The room was cleared. Staff removed the tables. Chairs were rearranged.

The judges were introduced and the student began their presentations in random order. I was reminded of the movie, Shakespeare in Love: "It will be all right on the night. It always is." The final presentations brought together everything the groups had been working towards. They were not perfect - technology and nerves saw to that - but the students presented solutions that had been developed in under 48 hours. I am always suitably impressed.

List of Topics, Groups and members (in order of presentation):

1. Empowering Communities with sustainable Energy Solutions

   Marisa
   Sirada
   Nattawat
   Petchpearploy

   
   

   
   

2. Preserving the Seas: Innovating to Reduce Bycatch and Safeguard Marine Life (2nd place)

   Angelina
   Nitiwadee
   Nutthamon
   Porames

   
   

   
   

3. Building Tomorrow

   Piminya
   Nannapat
   Pakkanut
   Pacharaphon
   Wasan

   
   

   
   

4. Empowering Communities with sustainable Energy Solutions (Overall winner)

   Yatipat
   Jiruschai
   Pisit
   Kroekpol
   Pornphipat

   
   

   
   

5. Cow Catcher: A Sustainable Approach to Clean water in Papua New Guinea (3rd place)

   Thanawan
   Napat
   Komkanin
   Sitthanan
   Patcharapon
   Narita

   
   

   
   

The prizes were presented in reverse order:

• Third was awarded to, "Cow Catcher: A Sustainable Approach to Clean water in Papua New Guinea" (3,000 baht).

• Second place was given to, "Preserving the Seas: Innovating to Reduce Bycatch and Safeguard Marine Life" (5,000 baht)

• The first prize was for "Empowering Communities with sustainable Energy Solutions" (10,000 baht).

All that was left after the groups and the other contestants celebrated the results was to reorganize the seating once again for the group photograph session. While the mood was still positive, students, helpers and all those involved began slowly to drift away: a job well done.

As well as the Faculty of Engineering, the organizers are grateful to senior alumni who also provided support:

1. Mr. Thamrongkiat Uthaisang, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Class 2, on behalf of eTax Thailand .com
2. Mr. Prayut Chokasut, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Class 1, on behalf of Phoenix Steel Works Company Limited.
3. Mr. Thanat Sarutiankun, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Class 1, on behalf of Kastel Hotel Group
4. Mr. Rit Kovitwarangkun, Department of Electrical Engineering, Class 2, on behalf of Vinci Tech Company Limited.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. After 3 years writing a column in the Life supplement, he is now no longer associated with the Bangkok Post. He can be followed on Twitter (@extensions_th)

Enter your search terms Submit search form

For further information, e-mail to

Back to eXtensions
Back to Home Page