In an impressive display of the younger generation’s flair for innovation and engineering, Team Cambodia has secured silver in the Zhang Heng Award for Engineering Design at this year’s First Global Challenge. 

“The 2024 First Global Challenge, held from September 26 to 29 in Athens, Greece, brought together students from over 190 countries to tackle this year’s theme, ‘Feeding the Future’,” explained a First Global press release.

The competition focused on sustainable food production and security, encouraging participants to design and build robots to address these global challenges. 

The award recognises teams that excel in merging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to develop robots that are not only practical and functional but also elegant in design.

It is named after renowned Chinese scientist, engineer and astronomer Zhang Heng, who was known for creating innovative engineering devices during the Han dynasty.

“In this year’s competition, announced on September 29, the gold medal for the Zhang Heng Award went to Sri Lanka, while Cambodia claimed silver, and the Netherlands took bronze,” said the release.

The Cambodian team’s robot demonstrated a robust and efficient design, impressing judges with its ability to perform complex tasks while maintaining elegance and durability on the field, it explained.

Judges evaluated the robots based on their ability to withstand the challenges posed by the competition, their high functionality, and how well teams could communicate their design process. 

Team Cambodia’s robot performed exceptionally, meeting all criteria with precision and creativity.

“Team Cambodia 2024 consists of 10 students from seven different high schools in Phnom Penh, united by their passion for robotics and STEM education,” added the release.

Despite their diverse backgrounds, the team collaborated effectively, showcasing their strong problem-solving skills and technical expertise.

Reflecting on their achievement, team mentor Cheang Thornsopanha expressed his pride and gratitude for the opportunity to guide the team. 

“First of all, I want to say that I am deeply grateful for the journey from being a student to becoming a mentor for Team Cambodia,” he shared. 

“Guiding the team to two significant milestones at First Global, including winning two awards – Engineering Design and Finalist Alliance Match #2 in the world – has been incredibly fulfilling. Throughout our matches, we upheld our core values, and I feel honoured to support and inspire the next generation,” he added.

Thornsopanha also expressed his appreciation for the others who contributed to the team’s success, including their coach from E2STEM Education and the mentors from previous years, who shared their knowledge and experience. 

“I am very thankful to Teacher Lim Tou Boon for giving me the opportunity to be part of the team, our coach from E2STEM Education, and Chhay Kimeng, the team lead of Makerspace105, who provided us with space to work,” he added.

The First Global Challenge is an annual event that brings together high school students from around the world to participate in a robotics competition aimed at addressing global issues through STEM. 

This year’s theme, “Feeding the Future,” focused on sustainable food systems, highlighting the importance of food security in an ever-growing global population. 

The competition not only fosters technical skills but also promotes international collaboration and cultural exchange, as teams work together to find innovative solutions to real-world problems.

In addition to the Zhang Heng Award, the competition featured a wide array of other prestigious awards, including the Albert Einstein Award for International Excellence, the Ustad Ahmad Lahori Award for Innovation and the Dr. Mae Jemison Award for Unity, among others. 

The event served as a platform for the next generation of STEM leaders to showcase their talents and build lasting connections with peers from across the globe.