The content in this program booklet has been written by students in the Catalyst Project as an introduction to their work.
Catalyst project?
There is plenty that sets an SAS high school education apart from that of other international schools, and certainly, from that of other US high schools. One of the most notable is the Catalyst project, an in-depth personalized learning experience.
The Catalyst project is a cultural as well as instructional self-study project where students work with a mentor on a self-directed learning experience. Each project is aimed at a specific and strategic, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound goal. Students demonstrate their competency in the Catalyst project’s standards, centered around character, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and cultural competence, also known as the school’s learning aspirations, in addition to self-awareness and application.
According to the latest research in education, learning is at its greatest, most relevant, and most meaningful when it is student-initiated and student-led. Ask adults today what they remember learning in high school, and their answer will often involve a learning opportunity where they were able to dive deep into an area of interest, often applying what they were learning in an authentic context. Colleges also recognize students who have the opportunity to dive deep, overcome challenges, and find meaning in their learning as stronger candidates for admission and success in college. This reality is the foundation and rationale for the Catalyst project course.
This innovative and engaging approach to education challenges high school juniors and seniors to embark upon a culminating final project in an area of their particular passion and interest.
Similar to other academic offerings, the Catalyst project course includes a set of desired learning outcomes. The objective of the course is to harness students’ core knowledge, develop their character, and hone their skills in collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation, critical thinking, and cultural competence. All these values will help ensure success when they go on to pursue bachelor’s degrees at colleges and universities all over the world and in life beyond.
The Catalyst project gives students the opportunity to pursue their own paths of exploration in an academic setting, while demonstrating their readiness for university learning to the fullest extent of their enthusiasm, autonomy, capacity, and complexity. A student may conduct university laboratory research into autoimmunity treatment, or establish their own cosmetics company. They might want to conduct an extended service learning project, or perhaps spend a semester as an intern in a working art studio. There are no limits to what a student can do in Catalyst.
The Catalyst Project is a rite of passage for every SAS High School Student to take in their Senior or Junior year. Ultimately, Catalyst represents a formidable feature of the SAS high school education, one that sets SAS high school graduates apart, differentiates them from their peers across the globe, and proves their unique abilities, capacity for excellence, and readiness for achievement at the university level.
Thank YOU
The Catalyst program is supported in part by the SAS Foundations. We thank you, the donor community, for your generosity which makes these projects possible.
Kai Adkison Mannat Anvekar
Evil Wizard of Capitalism song
Your home is destroyed, pillaged, great trees fallen to fire, ancient shores smothered in dark magic. The green wizard sinks his fingers into our earth. In 2024, the richest one percent had more wealth than the bottom ninety-five percent of the world’s population put together. In 2025, our coral reefs came to a point of no return. Phones are destroying social relations, the world is ending, and we talk about it as casually as dinner. I created a song that points capitalism as said green wizard, that puts the blame where it’s due, through music that fuels anger and lyrics that strike truth.
The
Beauty of Artistic Perseverance
Art, an expression of human creativity, is difficult and requires practice, patience, and persistence. These are struggles I see often online, frequently leading artists to give up and non-artists not even to pursue art. By posting my digital art online, I hope to create a safe space for digital artists— empowering them to persevere and develop personal skills—and I aim to create a page where even non-artists can enjoy what digital art has to offer.
Elias Baggett Adi Bajaj
Developing a Voice through Self-Publication
My project centers on writing and publishing a short story to enhance my communication skills and inspire others by sharing personal perspectives through fiction. My project explores the art of authentic storytelling across each stage of the writing process —from ideation and drafting to revision and self-publication. By learning the process of self-publication, the project supports my growth as a writer and allows me to appreciate narrative craft. Ultimately, my project aims to contribute to the broader literary tradition of fostering conversations and inspiring imagination within the community.
The Sport With No Gatekeepers
Most people assume running is only for the “fast,” the “fit,” or the naturally athletic, yet I’ve discovered the opposite—running truly belongs to everyone. It has connected me with people from all backgrounds and become a universal hobby that many embrace once they try it. For my project, I am working with the ParkRun organization to design a more inclusive ParkRun experience that welcomes participants of all ages, abilities, and physical disabilities. My goal is to ensure that the joy, community, and confidence running can bring are genuinely accessible to all.
Making Waves Together: An Exploration of Autism and Communication in Swimming
How can volunteers build stronger connections with swimmers who have mild to moderate Autism? Through a case study approach, this project explores how effective communication unfolds between volunteers and swimmers in aquatic environments. By studying the biological background of Autism, researching communication techniques such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and interviewing parents, experts, & experienced volunteers, this study aims to identify practices that improve understanding, engagement, and foster smoother interaction. The findings will culminate in a research paper and presentation to promote more inclusive and supportive swimming programs.
Through My Iphone
My goal for this Catalyst project was to learn the fundamentals of iPhone photography and develop the ability to capture high-quality images using the iPhone camera app. I applied these skills by creating a website to showcase my final photographs, featuring images of food I’ve cooked to blend two creative passions—culinary arts and photography. This project allowed me to explore composition, lighting, and editing techniques while building confidence in using accessible technology to express creativity and tell visual stories.
Alvin Cao Mieka Carpenter
Outbound
What does loneliness look like millions of miles from home? Outbound is a hand-drawn captain’s logbook featuring graphite illustrations of cosmic phenomena —from binary stars to black holes —viewed through the eyes of a solo astronaut and ORBIT, their robot companion. The physical notebook holds not just finished illustrations but also the visible process of learning. You will see failed attempts, smudged stars, and evolving techniques. It is a document of both cosmic observation and the quieter journey of an artist learning to see.
Confession: Expressing Emotion Through Music
This Catalyst project takes the form of an original love song, written, composed, and performed by the author using guitar and voice. The piece captures personal emotion through melody and lyric, reflecting how music can communicate feelings words alone cannot. By experimenting with songwriting, composition, and performance, the project explores the creative process behind translating emotion into sound. The final song is available on the author’s YouTube channel for listeners who wish to experience the project firsthand.
Nami Chan Tessa Chang
Aurum (Junqi) Chen
Beyond Butterflies: A Psychological Guide to Understanding
and Overcoming Performance Anxiety
Performance anxiety can affect all kinds of people across fields such as athletics, music, and academics. It is more than the “butterflies” people describe, but instead a level of nervousness and fear that can actually interfere with your ability to perform at your optimal level. I aim to create a website that will deepen my peers’ understanding of this phenomenon as well as strategies to help us overcome it. I will use psychological research to explain the reasons behind performance anxiety, and use a combination of data from students, personal experiences, and tips from the PAC counselors to help my peers manage this anxiety.
Vincent Chen
Starting Early: Understanding Why Young Adults Delay Investing
My project examines why some young adults begin investing early while others delay, focusing on differences in financial literacy, risk perception, and access to guidance. Through surveys and interviews with peers, I identified common misconceptions about investing and the psychological barriers that prevent students from getting started. In response, I created a simple, practical framework that teaches essential principles such as diversification, long-term thinking, and risk management. This project aims to help young adults build confidence, overcome hesitation, and develop healthier financial habits early in life.
Diya Chopra Athalie Christanto
A Platform for Student Voice
What began as a small curiosity in psychology has now turned into a deeper exploration of how learning support students at SAS often feel misunderstood by their teachers. After surveying these students, I found that many don’t feel fully seen for their strengths and interests. My project, A Platform for Student Voice, proposes a digital platform where students can introduce themselves in their own words, helping teachers understand how each student learns best. This idea aims to foster stronger teacher-student relationships and create a greater sense of belonging in the classroom.
The Way Back to Me - A Poetry Book
My catalyst project is a poetry book about helping and inspiring youth to get help, help them know they’re not alone and truly connect to others with my personal experience through writing.
Rayaan Chulani
Clear Skies, Clear Communication: Making Aviation Travel Safer
Aviation has been a lifelong passion of mine, and a personal flight experience inspired this project. During one flight, unclear radio calls led to confusion about aircraft positions in the traffic pattern, highlighting how vital clear communication is for safety. My website, Clear Skies, Clear Communication, allows student pilots to listen to real and simulated radio calls to build confidence and accuracy. The project aims to help aspiring pilots develop strong communication habits and recognize how clarity over the radio contributes to safer, more efficient skies.
Charlie Clark
Drumming from Scratch: Learning Enter Sandman
This project explores whether a beginner can learn to play a full song on the drums—*Enter Sandman* by Metallica—within three months. Through consistent practice, research, and reflection, I developed skills in rhythm, coordination, and technique while tracking my progress from basic drumming fundamentals to full-song performance. By combining online tutorials, self-directed learning, and feedback, I built discipline and musical understanding, demonstrating how structured practice and persistence can transform an unfamiliar skill into a confident performance
VIkram Cortez Rohan Craig
Relearning the Keys: A Journey to Master Typing
This project explores the process of retraining myself to type efficiently using all my fingers after years of relying on just my index fingers and thumbs. Through consistent practice, research, and reflection, I aimed to rebuild my muscle memory, improve accuracy and speed, and document the journey in a video that’s both educational and personal. Along the way, I learned about the psychology of habit change, the role of persistence in skill development, and how documenting growth can make learning more meaningful. Ultimately, this project became less about typing itself and more about understanding how we learn and improve.
Casting Craft: Building a Handmade Fishing Rod from Scratch
My project focuses on designing and crafting a handmade fishing rod, creating as many components as possible in-house. Fishing has always been a meaningful part of my life—a way to relax, connect with family, and appreciate patience and craft. Through this project, I explored the materials and mechanics behind rod-making while deepening my understanding of the components that make fishing possible. Catalyst’s mentorship allowed me to experiment, make mistakes, and grow outside the traditional classroom as I pursued a project that connects passion, skill, and personal memory.
Play by Play: SAS Edition
This project aims to develop a free, entertaining podcast for high school and middle school SAS students that showcases various aspects of different varsity sports. Questions centered on time management, mental health, and behindthe-scenes insights that outsiders might not know were asked of athletes to gain a fuller understanding of how each sport works. By combining storytelling with thoughtful questions, the podcast helps students gain a deeper understanding of the dedication behind each sport and encourages them to explore new athletic opportunities that align with their interests and strengths.
Through Our Eyes
My Catalyst project focuses on finding new ways to make the SAS yearbook feel more creative and meaningful for students. I experimented with different design ideas that connect visuals with storytelling, emotion, and identity. Throughout the process, I learned how layout and theme choices can shape how people remember their school experiences. My goal was to make the yearbook feel more like a story about us, not just a record of events.
Nishka Dembla Claire Dimmock
Sohil Dorle Jude Eide-Scott
Wind Power Generator Diet and Lifestyle: Maximizing Sports Performance
The Wind Power Generator is a prototype windmill designed to produce energy using environmentally friendly methods. The rotation of lightweight blades drives a motor that generates electrical power. Centered on engineering and design, this project allowed me to develop technical and problem-solving skills while learning independently. My goal was to create a functional model of a clean energy windmill and document the process through a final presentation. The project reflects both my commitment to sustainability and my growth as a self-directed learner in engineering design.
As a competitive swimmer, I understand how challenging it can be to improve in a demanding athletic environment. To explore ways to enhance performance, I researched how high school athletes manage their diet and sleep schedules and compared these habits with those of elite athletes. My findings highlight key differences and suggest practical improvements to help student-athletes better meet the physical and mental demands of training. I hope this project inspires other athletes to adopt healthier routines and reach their full potential.
Johnny Fan Kaidan Ferrell
Bringing Chinese Cuisine to the World: A TikTok Cooking Project
This project explores how digital media can be used to share Chinese cuisine and culture through short-form videos on TikTok. By combining skills in video filming, editing, and cooking, I created a series of cooking videos that teach traditional Chinese dishes while highlighting their cultural significance. Through online courses, observation of successful creators, and feedback from peers, I developed both technical and culinary skills. The project demonstrates how creativity and cultural storytelling can connect audiences globally through food.
Driving Change: My Journey to Better Golf
Have you ever embarked on a learning journey to master something completely new? That is exactly what I set out to do for my Catalyst Project. I chose to take on the challenge of golfing—focusing on improving my putting and driving skills to lower my handicap. Come along on this learning journey with me, and see if you can create your own path to discover and develop a new skill too!
Leon Fu Aakash Ganeshram
On the Compositeness of Certain Fermat-Type Numbers for Distinct Bases
This paper explores a generalization of the classical Fermat numbers $2^{2^n} + 1$ to arbitrary integer bases $p$, and examines the compositeness behavior of pairs of such numbers generated from distinct bases. We show that if $p$ and $q$ are distinct positive integers satisfying $\log_p q \neq 2^a$ for any integer $a$, then for infinitely many $n$, at least one of $p^{2^n} + 1$ or $q^{2^n} + 1$ must be composite. The argument generalizes the known coprimality properties of Fermat-type sequences and provides a more elementary & self-contained proof of Fermat-type sequences compared to conventional proofs.
An Exploration of Student Stress at SAS
Students throughout the word are stressed at historic levels, and SAS students are no exception, but what are the root causes of this stress? Is stress a bad thing? I investigated the causes of student stress through research, and interviews with SAS admin and students, and hope to give students & parents valuable insights on how they can manage the high school experience and how they might need to flip their perspective on stress.
The Filipino diaspora reaches every corner of the globe, but that connection to home may gradually fade. As a young Filipino living abroad, I have asked numerous questions about my culture, my values, and my national identity. This project explores various Filipino values that reveal the community and the connections between individuals — the kapwa, which is the core of a shared identity. Follow @projectkapwapilipino on Instagram, where I share my learning with others who aim to reconnect with their Filipino identity.
Have you ever thought about how AI can help you be more creative? My project combines art, travel, and AI to inspire curiosity and imagination in young minds. I am developing a coloring book that showcases hidden destinations around the world, helping children discover new places through color. As I work on each illustration, I will also be teaching myself how to draw, use the latest AI tools, and express creativity more confidently. This project encourages exploration, imagination, and selfgrowth, showing that the world can be explored one page at a time.
Lucas John Garcia Miraya Goel
Project Kapwa Pilipino: Rediscover the Filipino Identity
Passport to Imagination
Daniel Guo Vivaan Gupta
Does money grow on trees? No, it doesn’t.
Eighty two percent of Singapore’s millionaires actively engage in investing. This is no coincidence. Starting off with no experience and little knowledge on the topic, I was able to explore my passions, receive guidance from my mentor, and educate myself through consistent research. The purpose of the digital product I have curated is to equip younger students with knowledge regarding the fundamentals of investing. By sharing what I have learned, I hope to spark new passions and help students build healthy financial habits that will empower them later in life.
From Code to Coordination: Teaching Robots to Move Like Us
While robotics offers a promising future, current robots are specialized and cannot perform tasks requiring fluidity and dexterity. In contrast, the human body is an engineering masterpiece capable of performing almost any and all tasks. Using my passion for engineering and programming, I set out to solve the issue of modern robotics by taking inspiration from humans. In this project, I engineered a robotic arm that mimics a human arm. Furthermore, utilizing a smartphone for intuitive remote control, I successfully taught the arm to replicate the smooth movements needed to perform complex, everyday tasks just as a human would.
Nandini Gupta Mariska Hadiwidjaja
Cortex and Cleats
Cortex and Cleats bridges neuroscience and sports policy to make youth soccer safer. Motivated by rising concussion rates, especially among young female athletes, I conducted a comprehensive review of over twenty studies in neuroimaging, biomechanics, and epidemiology, later published in the Curieux Academic Journal. I then analyzed FIFA and SAS safety frameworks and interviewed coaches and athletic trainers to identify where research fails to translate into practice. From these insights, I developed a prevention program centered on neck and upperbody strengthening to reduce brain strain during headers. The project demonstrates how scientific evidence can inform scalable, real-world solutions to protect athletes while preserving the game’s integrity.
Flavors of heritage
Have you ever wondered why people enjoy eating so much? It isn’t just about the taste. The real meaning behind food carries stories, memories, and identity. In my documentary, I explore how food brings people together while reconnecting with my Chinese Indonesian roots. Through cooking with my family and capturing our moments together, I discovered that food is more than a meal. I realized that food is a bridge between cultures and generations. This project not only deepened my understanding of my heritage, but it also aims to inspire others to find connection and belonging through the foods that shape who we are.
Writing Human Stories Through Japan’s Railways
I was first introduced to rural Japanese railway systems when travelling to my grandparents’ house as a child. Over time, I grew to love riding old, local trains through the countryside alone, watching the scenery drift by as I read my favorite book. This love for trains, combined with my passion for writing, led to my Catalyst project: a collection of stories exploring how Japan’s railway system connects people, memories, and places. Each story focuses on human experiences tied to specific train lines I’ve ridden—or want to ride—as I aim to understand how trains shape people and generational ties.
For my Catalyst project, I set out to combine my passion for woodworking and tennis by creating a wooden tennis racket from scratch. This project allowed me to deepen my woodworking skills while exploring tennis beyond the court. I also aimed to help others learn how to use workshop tools to craft a racket of their own. I am grateful to Mr. Williams and Mr. Harvey for their guidance and support throughout the process, which made this hands-on and creative journey especially meaningful.
Tsubasa Hashimoto Stella Holland
Wooden Tennis Racket Build
Yue Jhen Hsiao Kaveeya Jadhav
Meal Prepping: A Guide to Eating Well on a Busy Schedule
Cooking has always been one of my favorite activities, but as I began prioritizing healthier eating, I found it difficult to prepare nutritious meals while managing the busy life of a high school student. My project grew from this challenge. I designed a meal prep system to help myself and others balance health and time. After researching nutrition, experimenting with recipes, and testing different planning methods, I created a website that shares simple, healthy meal prep ideas to make nutritious eating more accessible for everyone.
Tide Turners - Ocean Generation Project
Developed in collaboration with Ocean Generation, a UK-based organization dedicated to promoting ocean literacy and sustainable living, this program strives to inspire, educate, and empower students across Singapore to become active guardians of the ocean. By integrating scientific learning, creative advocacy, and community action, it fosters experiential education and ongoing engagement. The initiative seeks to cultivate a lasting culture of environmental stewardship, equipping young people with the knowledge, mindset, and leadership skills needed to protect marine ecosystems and advance sustainable change.
Aiden Jean Surya Jha
Traffic: Improving the Flow
It is a problem that is well integrated into people’s lives. In Singapore, several days are semi-consciously wasted and lost due to traffic. This project focuses on the drivers, rather than the government, to utilize the existing traffic systems to minimize this lost time. It breaks down the systems in place to help Singapore drivers leverage them for a smoother ride. With the creation of a well-formatted writing piece, the different systems and their utilization will be clearly outlined.
New Gen Orthotics
My project focuses on redesigning ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to improve mobility, comfort, and energy efficiency for users with lower-limb impairments. Traditional AFOs often restrict natural motion and cause discomfort during extended use. By studying biomechanics, materials engineering, and gait dynamics, I aim to develop a lightweight, adaptive design that enhances propulsion and energy return while remaining affordable. The goal is to create an orthotic that not only supports movement but actively empowers it which will bridge the gap between functionality and freedom for users who rely on assistive technology every day. In Catalyst, I will use my time to write a thorough research paper on the evolution and development throughout AFO history to understand how and WHY things changed in order to figure out how I can take new steps in the designing process.
Gabriel Jiao Yuyeon Jung
The Iceberg of Making a Game
My ambition to create a game revealed that coding mastery is merely the tip of the developmental iceberg; a diverse team is essential. To preserve a personal vision, dedicated leadership is required. This project details the formation and management of a development team, exploring the practical steps taken to align different skills toward a unified goal. The process transformed an individual concept into a shared project, demonstrating how effective leadership can bridge the gap between personal ambition and collaborative execution.
Science Communication: Synthetic Blood Research
The world faces a perpetual, critical shortage of transfusable blood—a silent crisis largely unknown to the public. To bridge this knowledge gap, the project utilizes platforms such as Medium and Instagram to provide people with easily accessible information about blood transfusion. From digging into the complex operational principles to discussing the fundamentals and future developments, the project illuminates cutting-edge research into blood substitutes. Take a deep dive into the indispensable science that makes life possible and the future solutions that will redefine it.
Evan Kimm Angie Kittismidh
Ardmore Investment Group: Proprietary Investments & Research
As investing becomes increasingly accessible— now practiced by 62% of adults in the United States—it is essential for students to develop sound financial decision-making skills. Throughout this project, I applied quantitative tools such as Hidden Markov Models and Laplacian Eigenmaps to analyze market behavior and identify key macroeconomic indicators. Using Ardmore Investment Group, the student-run investment club I founded, I translated these findings into accessible, student-focused articles. By integrating concepts from multiple disciplines, this project aims to equip students with analytical and practical foundations to make informed investment decisions in uncertain markets.
The Scientific Afterlife
Medicine is a broad field, with numerous branches and specialties—some are wellknown and widely acclaimed, while others don’t always get the chance to be in the limelight, sustaining strong roles behind the scenes. Forensic medicine is an example of the latter, unfortunately. The branch that is stereotyped with “dirty work” and “reclusive creepiness,” is the same branch that supplies some of the most substantial evidence in court, providing families with closure and preventing false accusations. I published informational articles exploring the topic of forensic pathology, hoping to bring more acknowledgement to the bridge between medicine and justice.
Alex Koh Ann Kuo
Read This (And Other Things)
This project aims to help people reconnect with the joy of reading and writing amid a sharp and concerning decline in literacy rates. To re-engage individuals with these essential skills, I created a series of videos that address common struggles people face today—such as low motivation, difficulty focusing, and anxiety around reading or writing for leisure. By offering practical strategies and relatable insights, the project encourages viewers to rediscover reading and writing as meaningful, enjoyable parts of their everyday lives.
Stress vs SAS Female Basketball Athletes
As a student-athlete, I understand the challenge of balancing sports, academics, and social life. This project examines how female basketball players manage stress compared to non-athlete peers. Through interviews and surveys, I identified key stressors such as time management, performance pressure, and academic workload. By analyzing these findings, I aim to highlight how these factors impact mental well-being and propose ways SAS can better support student-athletes. Ultimately, this project promotes balance, awareness, and healthier strategies for managing stress within our school community.
Nick Lai Anaya Lall
Connecting the Dots: Teachers to Students
Do you ever wonder who your teachers are—like, really are? Outside of class, they have stories that might surprise you. I talked to teachers across subjects—science, humanities, arts, languages— and turned their stories into short narratives. Learning their stories, you might find that you have more in common than you think. I hope this will help students see their teachers in a new light and build more meaningful connections.
Secured Journeys: Safer Rides for Migrant Workers
Every day, thousands of migrant workers in Singapore commute to construction sites on open lorries, often without basic safety measures such as seatbelts. Secured Journeys explores how awareness, research, and advocacy can inspire change for safer transportation. Through outreach to the Land Transport Authority, Ministry of Manpower, and non-profits like HOME, I analyzed policies, gathered community feedback, and designed educational materials to raise public understanding. While technical and legal barriers currently make seatbelt design in lorries unfeasible, my project aims to bridge empathy and evidence, laying the groundwork for future safety innovations and a more dignified journey for every worker.
DK Lam Colin Landon
Bridging Generations Through the Joy of Music
Amid Singapore’s rapidly aging population, music remains one of the most powerful ways to rekindle joy and memory. My project brings genre-diverse violin micro-concerts—ranging from pop classics to traditional folk tunes—to nursing homes and care centers. Through presenting each piece’s background in Mandarin and designing interactive moments like sing-alongs and clapping, I aim to brighten seniors’ lives while growing as a more confident, empathetic musician who bridges generations through sound.
The Iguana: A Funk-Inspired Exploration for Saxophone Quartet
Iguana is an original composition for SATB saxophone quartet inspired by Herbie Hancock’s Chameleon. The piece blends jazz and funk elements through syncopated rhythms, rich harmonies, and groove-based interplay between parts. Composing it allowed me to explore theory and arrangement techniques such as voicing, transposition, and balance across the ensemble. Through the process, I learned how to write idiomatically for different saxophones and how subtle harmonic choices shape a piece’s character. The project deepened my understanding of composition while giving me space to experiment creatively with jazz influences.
Lau Kai Jie Joseph Lee
Moral Philosophy in the Modern Day
In 1971, Peter Singer wrote a famous essay titled “Famine, Affluence, and Morality.” In it, he argued that it should be considered morally wrong, not morally neutral, not to donate to charity. The essay became foundational to the modern effective altruism movement. However, even within that paper, Singer’s definitions of morality allow exceptions to when something should be judged immoral. I wanted to explore to what extent his argument could be challenged through using his own definitions, instead of through challenging his premises. I aim to write a response essay that sparks more discussion on the topic.
Quick Lessons from Real Startups: BizBits
BizBits’s goal is to educate and inspire aspiring entrepreneurs by breaking down real-world startup successes and failures, highlighting what worked, what did not, and why. Each short-form video delivers three actionable takeaways. By combining business insight with engaging content, BizBit aims to demystify entrepreneurship, helping audiences build confidence and take their first steps.
When Unconventional Superconductors Meet Maxwell’s Equations
Quantum materials, such as 2D superconductors, have extraordinary applications across fields, including quantum computing and medical sensing. In my research, I explored the use of terahertz and split-ring resonators to study the properties of quantum materials interacting with electromagnetic fields at the microscopic level. I designed and simulated the resonant responses of these resonators for architectures compatible with transmission lines, using both fullwave simulations and circuit models to capture energy flow through the devices. This work lays the foundation for developing on-chip terahertz spectroscopy to probe hidden properties of quantum materials beyond what optical light could detect.
Material Memory: Architectural Analysis of a Portuguese Colonial Residence
History often hides in the small design choices no one notices. Through rebuilding my grandmother’s house, I explore the Portuguese colonial style and how it embodies the cultural synthesis between European design and tropical adaptation. By creating a detailed architectural model, I aim to analyze how material, proportion, and ornament express identity and climate response. The final model serves as both a study of heritage and a tangible exploration of how colonial architecture continues to shape modern architectural language.
Yvonne Li Gabriel Lima
Aiden Liu Rohan Malhotra
QuizBot: Personalized Quiz Bowl Training
Recipe Ro: Nutrition for Athletes
How do you study for Quiz Bowl? When I was new to Quiz, that was one of the biggest questions I grappled with. My project aims to provide an accessible, practical solution to this problem by offering new quiz players both problems to practice with and various resources for further study. I fine-tuned AI Agents to power a website that creates and explains Quiz Bowl questions in real time, enabling an interactive learning experience where students can practice problems and access curated study resources. Through this project, I hope to make studying for Quiz Bowl more efficient and accessible to everyone.
Your body is a machine, and it needs the right fuel to function properly. Often, athletes get tired easily and do not gain muscle or lose weight as much as they would like. This is because of the unhealthy food they consume. It is a common misconception that unhealthy food is not very tasty. I want to change that narrative and show that eating healthy does not mean eating boring food. I created a social media page, recipe_ro, to teach athletes quick and easy nutritional recipes.
Akshay Misra Kabir Nott
Motorized Bicyle
This project focuses on modifying a standard bicycle by integrating a small engine. The work involves designing and mounting a compact engine, connecting a drive system, and ensuring proper alignment. Through this process, mechanical principles, fabrication techniques, and system integration are applied to create the motorized bicycle. The project emphasizes practical learning, critical thinking, and the development of engineering insight through realworld application.
Harnessing Human Motion: Prototyping a Kinetic Pavement Tile
Kinetic pavement epitomizes the innovative potential of clean energy technology. My project explored how this emerging field can contribute to a more sustainable, energy-efficient future. To investigate its possibilities and limitations, I designed and built a functional prototype of a kinetic pavement tile and supported it with a research paper analyzing its feasibility. Through this process, I developed key skills in CAD modeling, technical research, academic writing, and prototyping. This project demonstrates how small-scale innovation can contribute to the global pursuit of renewable energy solutions.
Yura Oh Ashima Oza
Project Euphoria Beyond Comparison: Student Voices on SelfWorth
What began as a small idea, a calendar of daily inspiration, has grown into a movement to power our campus with the sun. After selling 300 calendars to raise funds, Project Euphoria is ready to shine brighter. This semester, I teamed up with school leaders and facilities staff to bring solar garden lights to life at Singapore American School. With guidance from my father, who first sparked my curiosity about solar energy, I hope to prove that one student’s idea can light up more than a garden, it can ignite a culture of sustainability.
Hundreds of millions of students go to school and experience what I have: not feeling good enough in academics, whether due to the constant comparison atmosphere or other reasons. For my project, I am focusing on the psychological mechanisms at play in relationships and interactions between individuals that fuel this kind of thinking and sentiment. I want to hold individual conversations with students to understand precisely what makes them feel this way and to find solutions they can use to dampen the effects of comparative culture.
Ethan Paik Anthony Park
Stories in designs
I am a student designer exploring how visual storytelling can inspire and connect people through sports. In this project, I’ve used Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create expressive graphics of basketball players that capture emotion, movement, and narrative. Each piece investigates a guiding question focused on key design elements: how typography, color, composition, and effects shape meaning, evoke different moods, and add depth and energy. Through this creative process, I aim to understand how design choices influence perception and storytelling. My goal is to develop both technical skill and artistic voice, using visual design as a language to convey stories.
Exploration of Airflow through Visualisation
In F1, we are often told that the difference between the cars is the aerodynamics, but truthfully, how does that work? This project explores Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to help the user visualize airflow around objects. The goal is to design a user-friendly CFD program that allows users to simulate and visualize the flow of air and water. By illustrating how airflow works around objects, I aim to help them understand that F1 and other aero-related machines are more than just things, but showcase a dynamic, intricate way of moving air.
Jam Parpia Claire Peng
Fighting Against Frustration
Many students experience constant stress from academics and extracurricular commitments, often without a healthy outlet to release it. To address this issue, I designed small, deskmounted punching bags that provide a safe and effective way to relieve tension. Similar to stress balls, these punching bags encourage physical expression as a form of stress management. My goal is to introduce them into classrooms across campus to promote student well-being, reduce burnout, and support a healthier approach to coping with the pressures of modern school life.
Narrating Power, Silencing Women: The Cultural Roots of the Glass Ceiling
This project explores how male-dominated narratives—from Homer’s portrayal of Penelope to Confucian historians’ depictions of Wu Zetian to modern media discourse—have shaped and constrained perceptions of women’s power. By analyzing recurring archetypes of devotion, deceit, and silence, it reveals how patriarchal storytelling continues to reinforce the modern glass ceiling. The final product includes a research paper presenting a detailed crosscultural analysis, accompanied by a short video that visually demonstrates these findings in an accessible, narrative-driven format to highlight the enduring impact of gendered storytelling on women’s representation and leadership.
Sienna Perry Esha Phadnis
Less Money, More Travel: The Best Way to Explore the Seven Wonders
Traveling is always going to be expensive, but why travel later when you can travel now! I remember when I was younger, going to my first world wonder, and that feeling of seeing the ancient paradise that sparked my interest. The seven wonders of the world have always been infamous for their ancient history and hardto-reach locations. Through my travel guide, I learned to travel safely and affordably, conquering each of the world’s wonders the right way.
Tiny dancers, Big dreams.
As a dancer, stepping into the role of choreographer for children for the first time was both exciting and challenging. Unlike performing or learning choreography created by others, this experience required me to guide, inspire, and adapt to the energy, interests, and abilities of young learners. Through teaching and creating movement for children, I learned to communicate clearly, plan effectively, and respond to their needs in the moment. This project allowed me to put my dance skills into practice in a new way while growing as a leader and mentor.
Kaegan Powell Arnav Rajadhyax
Beneath the Surface: Diving into Safety
Scuba diving has always been my passion, but training to become a Rescue Diver for my Catalyst project transformed the way I see the ocean. I learned to stay calm under pressure, assess risks, and take decisive action when others might freeze. From towing tired divers to underwater rescues, I realized that leadership begins with awareness and preparation. These lessons extend far beyond diving; they’ve taught me empathy, teamwork, and the value of readiness in any situation. I hope to share these skills with the SAS diving community by promoting safety and helping other students gain the confidence to explore the underwater world responsibly.
World on Film: Understanding Humanity Through Cinema
To me, cinema is more than entertainment—it is a reflection of who we are as people. World on Film explores how movies from around the world reveal the historical, political, and philosophical realities of their time and place. From Roma’s quiet meditation on class and care in 1970s Mexico to Parasite’s piercing critique of capitalism, each video essay examines how film deepens our understanding of humanity. Through this series, I aim to use global storytelling as a lens for empathy, awareness, and meaningful learning.
Meal Prep Playbook
Sixty eight percent of Singaporeans use a food delivery service daily, because cooking takes too much time or effort. How many of these people would eat healthier and save money, time, and energy if they meal prepped? I created an instagram account showcasing the tastiest yet simple recipes that will take your meal prepping game to a whole new level. You will see breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the whole week ready in half an hour—and I have posted every step of the process on my instagram combined with my own personal experience and commentary.
Sid Ray
Becoming a Producer!
In a world where millions of songs are instantly accessible, it’s easy to overlook the complexity behind their creation. Modern songs can include up to 64 individual tracks of instruments, vocals, and harmonies. In this project, I explored the full production process by attempting to recreate a popular song entirely from scratch—from recording vocals to layering each instrument. Through this experience, I aimed to understand the intricacies of music production and discover whether a beginner producer can successfully craft a professionalsounding cover.
Keegan Ratner
Zakaria Saadullah Vidhur Sashidharan
Building SAS’s Favorite Snack: Brownies
Solar-Powered Plant Irrigator
Have you ever tasted something so good you wanted everyone to know about it? For my Catalyst project, I partnered with mm… by Miss Muffet, the company behind the SAS Booster’s brownies, to explore how marketing can transform a small business into a schoolwide favourite. By collecting testimonials from varsity athletes and posting them on Instagram, I aim to connect good food with good community and turn mm… by Miss Muffet into a brand everyone at SAS recognises.
To help address the problem of people not planting enough plants, I made a Solar-Powered device that monitors your plant’s condition and waters it while you are away or occupied. Using Fusion 360, arduino, and programming I designed and built this product. This Item will encourage people to grow more plants at home as they only have to fill up a bottle once every other week, instead of watering every day
Rohaan Sethi Tenne Sheikh
Waveform:
Eco-Friendly Athletic Wear for Teens Scams Go Away
This project explores how a teen-led brand can create athletic wear that is comfortable, affordable, and environmentally responsible. Inspired by an oceanic theme, I designed dry-fit gym shirts made from eco-friendly materials for teenage athletes. Through research on fabric options, customer interviews, and collaboration with a supplier, I produced a functional prototype. Wear tests and feedback sessions informed further refinements and guided plans for an initial small product release.
Approximately twenty-five percent of all scams are through SMS apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. The real question is, how can we get people to stop falling for these scams? Through my website, I used machine learning in order to detect these scam and spam messages. In addition to detecting scams, I improved my programming skills and learned about machine learning.
ConnectHigh: A Smart Mentorship Platform for Freshman Success
The Grasp Project: A Claw for Hard-to-Reach Spaces
ConnectHigh is a mentor–mentee pairing platform designed to help freshmen navigate high school by connecting them with experienced upperclassmen through an intelligent matching algorithm. The app features four main tabs: Home for scheduling meetings, Chat for communication, Feedback for weekly reflections, and Board for community questions. Matches are generated based on shared courses, clubs, and interests to build meaningful relationships. By automating mentorship logistics and promoting consistent connection, ConnectHigh empowers students to find guidance, build confidence, and strengthen the school community through personalized, recurring mentorship.
This project combines my passion for engineering with a desire to create something useful for others. I designed and built a mechanical claw capable of grabbing objects in tight or hard-to-reach spaces. Through multiple design iterations and experimentation with different mechanisms, I refined my concept and produced a functional prototype using VEX components. The project strengthened my problem-solving and prototyping skills while helping me explore how engineering design can make everyday tasks more efficient and accessible.
Agastya Sidher Jasraj Singh
Atiksh Sinha Lakindhu Somarathne
What Makes Singapore Special?
This project is a children’s picture book that weaves together four perspectives of Singapore— Indian, Malay, Chinese, and a unifying view that celebrates the nation as a whole. Through colorful storytelling and illustration, the book aims to help young readers understand and appreciate Singapore’s cultural diversity. Its goal is to promote social cohesion, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging by showing how different traditions and identities come together to form a shared community. The final product is both educational and joyful, inspiring unity through story.
From Watching to Playing: My Golf Journey
It all started when Tiger Woods hit that unforgettable hole-in-one at a PGA tournament — I was hooked. Golf slowly turned from something I watched into a passion I live for. Starting out wasn’t easy, though — figuring out the rules, techniques, and where to begin took time. That’s why I’m here now: to share my experience and make it easier for new golfers to fall in love with the game too.
Irving Stewart Mina Sun
Understanding Australian University Applications
As an Australian citizen, I discovered that applying to universities in Australia as a domestic student is a confusing and often overlooked process. My Catalyst Project aims to make this pathway clearer and more accessible for future students. Through a combination of a live presentation for Australian families and an online resource called UniMate, I provide step-by-step guidance on domestic applications, including state-based platforms, entry requirements, timelines, and residential college options. By sharing what I’ve learned from navigating the process myself, I hope to help other students feel more confident, informed, and prepared when applying to Australian universities.
Forecast: The Pedagogy of Atmospheric Interactions
Forecast: The Pedagogy of Atmospheric Interactions reimagines how middle school students learn about interacting air masses. Recognizing the challenges teachers face in conveying these invisible processes, I designed an interactive model that makes atmospheric dynamics tangible and visible. By simulating the interacting between warm and cold air masses, the model transforms abstract weather principles into something observable and hands-on. This project demonstrates how accessible design and experiential learning can close gaps between scientific complexity and student comprehension.
konnor swainon
vex c channel organizer
There are about 60 people in vex. My goal is to find and fix one of the most time-eating tasks. What is that task? It is finding parts, especially the c channels because every one needs different lengths. Let us just say it is not the most organized, so I am making a shelf system to fix it all. The Robotics team and students who use the lab will benefit by finding tools and materials faster. The new organization system will also assist in lab safety.
Mixing
My long time passion for music pushed me into the world of production. My project helped me discover my specific tastes in music. Through consistent trial and error, I invested in learning the technical aspects of making music. By using social media platforms, I was able to develop a workflow and discovered new ways for sharing my sound. Ultimately leading to the making of a YouTube channel. My focused interest and a set deadline ultimately allowed me to complete a signature production project that reflects my growth and dedication.
Kenshin Takihi
Aahan Talwar Ryker Tan
Supporting the Homefront Hustle: Digitally Empowering Small Business Owners
Entrepreneurship extends far beyond Silicon Valley—it lives in the countless small, homebased businesses that form the backbone of local economies and communities. Yet, many of these low-income micro-entrepreneurs face barriers in managing and promoting their homebased businesses effectively due to limited time, resources, and digital fluency. This project aims to design an accessible, tech-driven solution that streamlines key business processes. My final tool, MarketMate, supports home-based entrepreneurs through digital content generation, inspiration, and tracking, helping them operate more efficiently as they balance personal responsibilities and limited time with business growth.
Coming from a golfing family, I always felt encouraged to learn the sport, but I never had the genuine interest to pursue it. Recently, after becoming fascinated by golf videos on Instagram and TikTok, I decided to give it a try and use social media as a learning journal to document my progress. This project not only allowed me to explore a new passion but also helped me build stronger connections with my family and give back to the community by sharing the mental and technical tips that improved my swing.
Golf with R
Liam Tremarco Quinten Van der Horst
Kitchen Confidence: High-Schoolers
Cooking is one of the most important skills to learn as an adult or in college, but how many high schoolers really know how or even want to learn how to cook? My project shows high schoolers that cooking can be easy, simple, and rewarding, and I demonstrate this through my cooking, anecdotes, and advice. Through my videos, high schoolers will learn different recipes, strategies to stay motivated, and eventually enjoy cooking and see all its benefits the same way I do.
Harnessing Lightning: Exploring the Feasibility of Capturing Extreme Energy
Building on a previous project that explored generating green electricity from gym bikes, this Catalyst project investigates a far more powerful and unconventional energy source—lightning. While using real lightning was impossible due to safety and cost constraints, the goal was to create a proof of principle demonstrating whether usable electricity could theoretically be generated and stored. Through research and modeling, I analyzed the efficiency and practicality of lightning-based energy systems and shared my findings on student publishing platforms to evaluate their real-world feasibility.
Taco van Eldik Laya Vijayanand
Inside Shoulder Science: Rebuilding Strength and Confidence
Have you ever been injured and felt stuck, unsure if you’d ever get back to normal? I created this project to inspire anyone going through recovery from a shoulder injury. My social media page documents my rehab journey, sharing exercises, progress, and lessons I have learned along the way. It is meant to motivate people to remain patient, consistent, and positive in the face of setbacks. By showing both the physical and mental sides of healing, I hope to build a community that encourages one another to keep pushing forward and come back stronger.
The Villain’s Side: Encouraging Empathy Through Storytelling
Since children have only limited experiences of the world, it can be challenging for them to understand and consider others’ perspectives in moments of conflict. This project explores empathy development through storytelling, presenting a reimagined version of Cinderella told from the villain’s point of view. By examining the stepsisters’ actions through family dynamics and emotional context, the story encourages young readers to question assumptions and understand that behavior is often shaped by circumstance. The goal of this project is to promote empathy and critical thinking in children through a narrative that challenges traditional notions of good and evil.
Brian Vo Elan Wang
Project Telecaster Environmental Spending Across Asia
This project brings the custom Telecaster guitar to life, chiseled from a block of wood and soldered with electronics. This chiseled guitar body was painstakingly formed and etched into a recognizable shape with minimal room for error. Each component of the guitar was individually assembled from the hardware to the body and was carefully chosen to unify the rough beginnings. This build explores the detailed process of turning bare, raw materials into a fullyfledged guitar.
In today’s age of industrial development, higher populations, and increases in consumption, it’s no surprise that environmental impacts have also increased. In my project, I collected data on the environmental spending data of Asian countries from 2018-2021. I grouped the countries based on spending into categories of High, Medium, and Low. In a poster-style report, I analyzed the meanings of these categories when reflecting realities and priorities within these countries. Together, we can look at these findings, which can help us better understand what environmental policies may be beneficial moving forward.
AI and Us: Helping Students Use Artificial Intelligence Responsibly
My project investigates the growing influence of artificial intelligence on student learning and explores how students can use AI more effectively and responsibly. Through research on current AI tools, surveys on student usage habits, and discussions with teachers, I examined both the benefits and limitations of AI in academic settings. The goal of this project is to help students understand how AI can support their learning while still promoting critical thinking, integrity, and independence. My final product provides clear guidelines to help students use AI as a thoughtful and ethical learning companion.
Coaching grassroots Soccer
Soccer has always been my passion, and I wanted to find new ways to engage with the sport beyond playing. Through my Catalyst project, I discovered that coaching grassroots soccer within the SAS community allowed me to share that passion in meaningful ways. My goal was to help younger players develop both their love for the game and their technical skills while fostering teamwork and sportsmanship. By serving as a coach and team manager, I aimed to build strong team morale and promote playing good, simple, and enjoyable football.
Domi Wang Adrian Wee
Sophie White Zhengqi Ye
Would You Help Someone in Public? What Everyday Behavior Reveals About Human Nature
My project investigates how people respond when they see someone in need in everyday situations. Driven by my interest in psychology and human behavior, I designed a social experiment inspired by research on prosocial actions. In the experiment, a grocery bag was “accidentally” dropped in both high- and low-density areas to observe differences in how people reacted. Analyzing these responses allowed me to explore how context influences empathy and willingness to help, revealing meaningful connections between small acts of kindness and broader social behavior.
Strings of Joy: Sharing Music with Seniors
Bringing joy and liveliness to the daily lives of seniors in nursing homes through music is the heart of my project. Over the past few months, I have learned and practiced five songs on the guitar to share with them. By combining my passion for music and guitar with community service, I hope to entertain the seniors, brighten their days, and create moments of connection and happiness that they—and I—will cherish for a long time.
Cason Yee josh zeng
Badminton racket charity
Smashaid aims to promote youth sports and sustainability across Southeast Asia by collecting pre-loved badminton rackets from donors in Singapore and redistributing them to underresourced schools. By giving each racket a second life, the project reduces waste while empowering students to pursue active lifestyles and teamwork through badminton. Partnering with schools and community organizations, the initiative bridges privilege gaps and fosters regional connection through sport.
Beyond
the
Lens: Rediscovering My Fascination with Space
Since childhood, I’ve been captivated by the mysteries of space. Recently, that fascination reignited as I explored new discoveries and the technology behind modern telescopes. To channel this curiosity, I decided to create a short video that delves into some of the most awe-inspiring aspects of our universe. This project allowed me to deepen my understanding of astronomy while sharing my passion with others—no matter how small the audience. Through this creative journey, I rediscovered the joy of learning simply for curiosity’s sake.
Lucas Dulat Warren Tan
Redefining my Game: Developing myself as a Kicking Center Sub 18:00
My Catalyst project focuses on developing my kicking ability as a rugby center, after switching positions from second row last season. In rugby, the second row plays a power-based role in the forwards, while the center is part of the backs and relies more on speed, skill, and game vision. Making that transition meant learning new techniques, especially kicking, which can change the flow of a game. With help from my coach, I designed a training plan to improve my accuracy, consistency, and confidence. Through injuries and setbacks, I learned discipline, adaptability, and how to take ownership of my growth.
Have you ever wanted to improve your 5k running time? My catalyst project is about documenting my running journey to lower my 5k time below 18 minutes in 5 months. You can imagine this took quite some time and perseverance to accomplish.
Mia Rodocker Howard Zhou
The Anatomy of a Character Clutch Mindset: The Psychology of Performing Under Pressure in Basketball
I sat in that rigid plastic seat, staring at the clock for what felt like hours. My English teacher strutted up to the board and wrote one word in big bold letters: C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R-I-Z-A-T-I-O-N. My thoughts were spinning. What exactly makes characterization good or bad? That was the spark that set my mind ablaze. After the lecture was done, I was unsatisfied. I wanted to go further. I wanted to help others. I wanted to spread my knowledge, and that is what I did. I crafted a writer’s guide surrounding characterization, transforming my curiosity into a tool for fellow storytellers.
This project investigates the psychology of clutch performance in basketball, examining the mental, emotional, and physiological factors that help athletes excel under highpressure situations. I explored how routines, visualization, and focus influence performance through academic research, interviews with varsity athletes, and my own experiments with progressive relaxation techniques. Along the way, the project revealed deeper personal insights into how basketball has shaped my resilience, confidence, discipline, and friendships. This talk highlights both the science behind clutch performance and practical strategies that show how mental preparation and self-awareness can enhance performance on the court and beyond.