Climate change brings students together to focus on mobility solutions for the future

• Winning schools earn grants as part of Made to Move Communities Global Student Challenge sponsored by Otis Worldwide.

BANGKOK, May 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Four student teams around the world won their respective regional competitions aimed at developing unique mobility solutions to offset the challenges brought on by climate change in their local communities. The third annual Made to Move Communities™ Student Challenge from Otis Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: OTIS), paired volunteer mentors from the vertical mobility leader with 230 students across 15 countries and territories.

With the guidance of their Otis mentors, students developed innovative solutions based on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) that they believe can mitigate some of the obstacles to real-world mobility issues.

In the Asia Pacific region, students from the Kamnoetvidya Science Academy (KVIS), Wangchan District, Thailand, came in first and second.

"Due to climate change, sea levels in Southeast Asia are rising faster than elsewhere in the world. In Thailand, heavy rains and tropical storms often cause large-scale flooding in the provinces, damaging homes and affecting livelihoods," said Trakan Dankul, Managing Director for Otis Thailand. "We want to congratulate the students from KVIS for winning the challenge with their innovative solutions that can help to predict and overcome challenges caused by flooding."

First place: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Flood Forecasting Website

• Utilizing AI, a website was created that shows real-time flood data with push alerts, to help drivers avoid dangerous and/or impassable areas.

Second place: Semi-Autonomous Flood Delivery Robot

• Incorporating STEM solutions, a semi-autonomous delivery robot was created for goods including medical supplies to be delivered promptly during floods

"We truly appreciate the opportunity for KVIS to participate in the Made to Move Communities challenge. Throughout the eight weeks, employee mentors from Otis encouraged our students to apply their STEM knowledge in their projects and coached them on their presentation and project management skills," said Associate Professor Dr. Boonchoat Paosawatyanyong, Principal of KVIS. "We are so proud of our students' achievements which demonstrate how the next generation of innovators play a vital role in shaping our communities for the better while improving our world for the future."

For winners of other Otis regions, please refer to the announcement of Made to Move Communities.

Student teams spent up to eight weeks working with Otis mentors to identify, research and develop solutions to eliminate mobility barriers caused by climate change - each with the goal to create more sustainable and inclusive communities. Teams virtually presented their ideas to a panel of regional Otis leaders who carefully evaluated their projects. Winning teams earned grants for their respective schools to further STEM programming and benefit even more students.

The program is also driving progress toward three of Otis' ESG targets: impacting 15,000 students globally through STEM and vocational training, directing 50% of giving to STEM programs and dedicating 500,000 colleague volunteer hours by 2030. Read more about the company's performance in the 2022 ESG Report.

The announcement of the Made to Move Communities winning schools is part of Otis' annual Lift Our Communities Month celebration. Throughout the month of April, the company celebrates its ongoing commitment to support the communities where its colleagues live and work.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move more than 2 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.2 million customer units worldwide – the industry's largest Service portfolio. You'll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 69,000 people strong, including 41,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @OtisElevatorCo.

SOURCE Otis