International Exhibition for Young Inventors (IEYI) was founded in 2004 by Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JIII). IEYI has subsequently been hosted by different countries. It is the intention of educators to provide students with design knowledge and skills needed for their future careers. IEYI is open to elementary, junior high and senior high school level participants internationally; it is designed to trigger scientific thinking and promote learning of core concepts in science to fuel their understanding of the world around them. In addition, IEYI aims to develop applicable skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and communication in students.
For this year, 2017, there are 15 countries that joined in this competition, including China, Russia, Singapore, Italy, Japan, India and Korea. The competition was held in Nagoya, Japan; 25-31 July 2017. As one of five delegation teams of Indonesia, Arfan Khairul Wibisono (grade 12 student of Sampoerna Academy Jakarta) won the silver medal. Arfan’s invention is a portable Floating Hydro, which aims to help villages and houses generate electricity. The goal is to make a portable floating hydro because it could be very helpful for villages or houses that are unable to make watermills. They can just get one of these, put it in the river, and generate electricity.
Arfan qualified to join the international competition because he was selected as a top five from more than 540 contestants in National Young Inventors Award (NYIA) 2016. NYIA is a scientific competition for teenagers in innovation and held by LIPI (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia). NYIA aims to enhance creativity, appreciation and explore the potential of students in technology, science and engineering.
ARFAN SHARING IN JAKARTA
Last August 3, 2017, Arfan, a Grade 12 student shared with the whole secondary unit his interesting and victorious experience in Japan. Students in the Multi-Purpose Room on the 5th Floor were all ears listening to his experience from Day 1 to Day 6. Majority of the students picked up many life skills from Arfan’s sharing. He made the students realized three important things from his experience; learn to adjust to your new environment even to the people, master your content for your own confidence to share, and take some time to appreciate whatever is in front of you. Indeed, Arfan proved to be so deserving of the award that he had received. Congratulations again, Arfan!
