BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi Students Reveal Eco-Friendly Water Filtration Concept Using Biomimicry at YDC 2025

BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi students shone at the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge 2025, snatching both second and third place. Through the innovative concept of a water filtration system, the LabSis team presented an ingenious technology to solve a vital need: access to drinking water. Taking their inspiration from reptiles, sea animals, and common plants, the team achieved third place and made their school proud.

Youth Innovation for Drinking Water Access

Lack of access to drinking water remains a major problem in many areas of Indonesia, especially remote ones. This problem drives the innovative design concept by LabSis members: Anabelle, Sandy, Felicia, Jannina, and Valinka. Under the guidance of our exceptional teachers, Mr. Edo, Mr. Nunu, and Mr. Syakti, the team Designed a water filtration design called H2GO.

The students took inspiration from natural filtration systems in different animals and plants, translating the natural designs into their own water filtration design concept. Their nature’s muse included the gills of the shark, the water-repellent skin of the horned lizard, the layers of aloe vera, and the geometric form of Alcantarea imperialis. Using these natural designs, LabSis members created a water filtration system that can be deployed in remote areas.

This exceptional concept earned the team third place at the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge 2025 in the clean water and sanitation category.

Biomimicry Innovation for Local Communities

The biomimicry curriculum seeks to address various pressing problems by drawing on what nature offers. By learning about nature designs, we can find solutions that are truly effective and sustainable. Nature-inspired solutions can also be easily applied in less developed or remote areas.

LabSis’ design innovation showcased their ability to utilise biomimicry to solve problems faced by local communities in Indonesia. The Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge aims to enable students to become future problem solvers through creative innovation inspired by their surroundings.

By creating a nature-inspired filtration system, BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi students proved that there are innovative yet tangible solutions for environmental and sustainability issues. It also shows that they can help solve problems in local communities through modern innovation and forward thinking.

Biomimicry Innovation and the #SchoolOfResearch

The third-place achievement of BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi students, closely trailing the second-place team, exemplifies not only the school’s vision of becoming a premier School of Research but also highlights the collaborative spirit that drives this success. This victory is a testament to the collective efforts of students, teachers, and the wider community working together to create an enriching educational environment.

Through these accomplishments, we showcase how our research-based curriculum fosters essential skills and traits in students. The program encourages curiosity, observational skills, and a genuine interest in research, empowering students to tackle real-life challenges. Importantly, this journey is not the school’s win alone; it reflects the support and engagement of parents, local organizations, and community mentors, all of whom play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of problem solvers.

By encouraging students to participate in competitions like the Youth Design Challenge, BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi challenges, and teaching students to develop research-oriented traits, such as:

Tangible Problem Solving

The LabSis’ design concept demonstrated a tangible problem-solving skill. Their idea can be easily applied in remote areas, with low maintenance and low cost. This is an example of using problem-solving skills to answer fundamental problems in an achievable way.

Creative Innovation

The LabSis studied plants and animals such as aloe vera, horned lizard, and shark to solve real-life problems: access to filtered water for drinking and sanitation. This approach demonstrated creativity and the ability to think outside the box, drawing on multiple perspectives and yielding tangible results. This is a strong foundation for innovations in various fields.

Local and Global Perspectives

BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi is a research-based school with an international curriculum. However, competitions like the Youth Design Challenge encouraged students to develop local perspectives. Their design and innovation must be applied locally, for local communities.

Collaboration in Research and Innovation

Research and innovation work require collaboration and partnerships, so students need to learn how to collaborate on a project to achieve results. Competing as a team and earning victory will lay a strong foundation for these students to become involved in future research across various fields.

The LabSis’ third-place win at the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge 2025 is a source of pride for BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi. A proof that the school has a strong commitment to building a vision as the School of Research.

In this collaborative atmosphere, BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi is unwavering in its mission to provide the best international learning environment in Bekasi, offering a high-quality curriculum and internationally qualified teachers from Early Years to the Secondary Programme. The school empowers the future by emphasizing digital excellence, ensuring a strong focus on student well-being, and crafting learner-centered experiences. By intertwining these elements with community support, BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi positions itself as a beacon of innovation and research, dedicated to nurturing the skills and traits essential for students to thrive in a constantly evolving world.