Students win Silicon Valley invention awards as HK PolyU admits esports athlete

Students from the National Taiwan Normal University Affiliated Senior High School Robotics Research Club won both a Gold Medal and the Young Innovator Award at the 5th Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF). Their winning project, titled ‘VISIBLE KNOWLEDGE – MARBLE-RUN STEM LEARNING PLATFORM’, uses mechanical modules and marble paths to demonstrate complex scientific concepts such as AI gesture recognition, PID control, and gear transmission, making abstract principles tangible for learners.

In a separate development, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has become the first institution to admit a full-time esports athlete through its ‘Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme’. Chan Pak-yin, a professional Street Fighter 6 player and recent Asian Youth Games gold medalist, will study Management and Marketing. The university has admitted 10 elite athletes this year, including football and badminton players, providing them with flexible academic arrangements to balance professional competition and studies.