The student group "Just in Case," consisting of Jakob (22), Giovanni (22), Oscar (22), and Anna Regine (22), won the Sustainability Award 2024 during the Your Extreme competition in Kongsberg.
- Jakob Thygesen Saur, from Grimstad, has a bachelor's degree in Mechatronics and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Mechatronics at UiA.
- Giovanni Harald Croatto, originally from Italy but raised in Stavanger, is also in his first semester of the master's program in Mechatronics at UiA after completing his bachelor's degree in Mechatronics.
- Oscar Hulsbeek, born in the Netherlands and raised in Iveland, also holds a bachelor's degree in Mechatronics from the University of Agder and has started the same master's program in Mechatronics as Jakob and Giovanni.
- Anna Regine Handaa, from Grimstad, has completed a one-year study in Political Science at the University of Agder, one year in Business Administration at Copenhagen Business School, and is now in her first semester of the bachelor's program in Economics and Business Administration at NHH.
Minimizing food waste with AI
The student project focused on an AI solution to minimize food waste by optimizing crop yields and reducing the risk of crop loss under extreme climate conditions, such as a nuclear winter. The system analyzes historical data, real-time weather data, and soil measurements to adapt crop strategies.
The Sustainability Award they won recognizes both their hard work and potential to contribute to national food security. The project supports several sustainability goals, particularly related to food security and responsible resource management.
What is Your Extreme?
Your Extreme is an annual case competition organized by Kongsberg Gruppen, USN, and NTNU. Students from all over the country participate in groups and have 48 hours to solve and deliver the project.
The group joined the competition to challenge themselves both academically and mentally within a limited time frame. Jakob and Giovanni also participated last year and were among the nominees for the main prize in Kongsberg 2023, which motivated them to participate again and work towards winning a prize this year.
Experiences and learnings
"Academically, we have learned a lot about how AI can be applied for crisis management and resource optimization, as well as the challenges associated with data integration under uncertain conditions," says Jakob Thygesen Saur.
"We have also experienced the importance of working in an interdisciplinary team, where we all contribute with our strengths to achieve a complete and holistic solution. Additionally, we have learned a lot about how the effects of a nuclear war can impact the earth and global food security," emphasizes Oscar Hulsbeek.
Photo: Your Extreme 2024
The key to success
"The collaboration has been excellent, and one of the keys to success was our ability to leverage each other's skills. With open dialogue throughout, everyone was able to contribute and discuss ideas freely. We believe that trust and respect for each other's professional perspectives are crucial in such a competition. It is also very important to delegate tasks so that one can achieve what they want within such a short time frame," says Giovanni Harald Croatto.
Support from UiA
"As Mechatronics students in our fourth year at UiA, we can confidently say that UiA has contributed with lots of relevant and exciting knowledge from completed courses. We think that Mechatronics is an incredibly exciting field of study, so it's very fun to participate in competitions like Your Extreme where we are allowed to let our imaginations run wild," says Jakob Thygesen Saur.
"This, in combination with Anna Regine from NHH, who assisted in areas we lack knowledge in, has been important for the success of this project," adds Oscar Hulsbeek.
Advice for other students
"Our advice is to focus on collaboration and interdisciplinary integration. Use each other's unique skills and work as a team. Also, make sure you understand both the technological and societal significance of the project, so that you can explain why exactly your solution is the most innovative, best, or sustainable," concludes Anna Regine Handaa.