To provide an alternative source of light to the citizens of Pinamalayan, high school students James Darren Magboo, Ayen Denisse Rodriguez, Shennon Kate Deogracias, and Caryl Joy Atienza of Bansud National High School – Regional Science High School for MIMAROPA developed AQUASTELLAR, a low-cost, portable lamp designed to illuminate areas in Pinamalayan with unreliable or insufficient electrical infrastructure.
Through the use of detachable electrolyte cells, metal-metal electrodes, a 3D-printed chassis, and an Arduino Nano for intelligent control, AQUASTELLAR is engineered to be a convenient alternative source of light in both upland and lowland regions in the municipality.
By measuring the electrical output of different samples of fruit juices, saline water, and salt water that they gathered, the students discovered that lemon juice produces the longest-lasting and highest voltage among the samples. “When the energy from the solutions runs out, it’s stored in the battery, which then powers the light,” the students said.
Their group was among the Youth Innovation Prize awardees at the 7th imake.wemake: create.innovate.collaborate competition of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).
“We were planning whether to continue competing in the imake.wemake or not because we thought we might not be able to handle it,” the students shared. “Then we were surprised to find out that we were selected as one of the 20 out of 98 schools that were chosen.”
Among the four, Shennon Kate P. Deogracias was one of the 2024 recipients of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation’s Young Scientists Award, a prestigious recognition and scholarship grant for outstanding student innovators.
“We made this not just for ourselves, but for the people who need it,” they concluded. “We thought to ourselves, ‘we have this responsibility to do it now because who else will?’”
Through the GBF Young Scientists Awards and its other programs, GBF continues to support students whose exceptional talents not just benefit themselves, but also their communities.
