Surabaya’s Youth Lead the Way at EcoHack 2024:
A Journey Towards Sustainability
Wednesday, 9 October 2024.
In the heart of Surabaya, Indonesia, 108 young innovators gathered with one common goal: to shape a sustainable future.
This year’s hackathon, ‘EcoHack: Innovating for a Sustainable Tomorrow’, hosted by Western Sydney University International and Launch Pad, invited high school students to tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. It wasn’t just a competition—it was a journey of creativity, collaboration, and transformation.
Innovating for a Sustainable Tomorrow
At its core, the EcoHack Innovation Challenge was about more than just finding sustainable solutions—it was about empowering the next generation to take ownership of the planet’s future. Western Sydney University, ranked first in the world for its social, economic, and environmental contributions for the past three years*, hosted the event with a clear mission: to inspire sustainable innovation that transcends borders.
The Desire to Change the World
From the moment EcoHack began, there was an electric energy in the room. Led by Inu Rana, Launch Pad’s Senior Manager, Global Entrepreneurship and Launch Pad’s Adeline Chu, Entrepreneur in Residence, students weren’t just competing—they were problem-solving for a better future.
They had been tasked with developing solutions to environmental problems that impact everyone, from deforestation to the global waste crisis. The desire to leave the world better than they found it was palpable.
For many of these students, this was more than just a challenge. It was an opportunity to step outside the confines of textbooks and traditional learning. It was a chance to push their imaginations to the limit and discover what they were capable of when the stakes were real.
“I liked how this challenge let us brainstorm ideas on sustainability so we can live a better life.”
Student, EcoHack Participant
A New Way of Thinking
The pivotal moment for many students came during the pitching competition, where they presented their solutions to a panel of judges. Each solution, whether focused on adaptive traffic systems or renewable construction materials, sparked conversations about what the future could look like.
“The pitching session demonstrated the students’ impressive creativity and critical thinking skills.”
Professor Amir Mahmood, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Surabaya campus
From Students to Innovators
Students entered the EcoHack as high schoolers, and by the end of the day, they left as innovators. For some, the journey went beyond just winning. The experience of working in a dynamic, collaborative environment equipped them with lifelong skills. As one participant reflected:
“This challenge has opened my eyes to the opportunities and solutions we, as Gen Z, can offer. We don’t need to wait for older generations to solve our problems.”
Challenge Winners
1st Place
STEMinators
Members:
Carlisa Regina Crystal, Ethan Isaac Silfanus, Richie Frederico Anwar, Travis Chioe, Alexander Budihartono
Team STEMinators from Elyon Christian School, channeled this desire into a radical idea: a floating dome to grow palm oil trees on the ocean, reducing the need for deforestation. Their innovation aimed to protect inland biodiversity while offering a sustainable and futuristic approach to agriculture.
Runner Up
Wamen
Members:
Michelle Valencia, Vanessa Shannon Suryandi, Bianca Dominique Budiawan, Rebecca Fileani Tedjasukmana, Alicia Faith Riwong
Team Wamen from Mawar Sharon Christian School, their discovery lay in converting food waste oil into biodiesel, presenting a way to reduce waste and power transportation in a greener way.
People's Choice
Guns and Roses
Members:
Joscelyn Eudora Budiono, Felicia Bella, Gabriella Putri Atmaja Adi, Jeriel Evander Ali Budiman, Arvind Dharma Dwiadmodjo
Team Guns and Roses from Petra 1 Christian High School, an AI-based app that provides personalised eco-friendly habit suggestions and tracks carbon usage, incorporating a rewards system that converts carbon savings into cash or vouchers, while fostering partnerships with NGOs and governments for sustainability initiatives and potential carbon tax incentives.
