Turning code into community impact

From artificial intelligence projects to a Polynesian-inspired smart boat, this NUS scholar applies her skills to solve real-world challenges

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Quieter waters, cleaner air and boats that coastal communities can rely on without paying the price of pollution.

This is what a group of National University of Singapore (NUS) students envisions for Southeast Asian coastal communities.

Among the team is Lim Jia Yi who is leading the fundraising efforts for Project Roti Proa II.

Inspired by traditional Polynesian proas, the second version of the hybrid windand solar-powered sailboat is being designed to move efficiently while gathering real-time data on speed, endurance and energy use.

Being part of the nine-month, first-of-its-kind sustainability project to develop low-cost, carbon-neutral water vessels has been eyeopening for Jia Yi.

"It reminded me of my passion to use tech to create real, positive impact," says the 21-year-old student who is in her second year at the NUS School of Computing.

Her interest in technology was ignited when she picked up coding while taking computing as an additional O-level subject in secondary school.

"Solving problems through code was something I genuinely enjoyed," she recalls.