At the APEC Youth STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Competition, the 'Grovengers' team—mentored by Dr. Jong Ahn Chun, Head of Climate Change Analysis Department at the APEC Climate Center (APCC)—was selected as the Best Team and awarded the Minister of Science and ICT Prize.

The team was composed of Isabelle Atherton from Australia and Lee Jing Jing from Brunei. The Grovengers gained recognition for designing a framework to assess the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of mangrove-based coastal defense systems. During the research presentation held on the morning of August 7, 2025, the team delivered their findings in a conversational format, showcasing the depth and insight of their work.

The 2025 APEC Youth STEM Competition, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and organized by the APEC Mentoring Center for Gifted in Science, was held from August 6 to 9, 2025. Notably, this year marked the competition’s first-ever implementation in a contest format, aiming to strengthen scientific collaboration and nurture next-generation talent among APEC member economies.

Under the theme “Youth-Led STEM Solutions: Strengthening Climate Resilience for APEC’s Prosperity and Connectivity,” 127 students from 14 APEC member economies formed multinational teams and engaged in approximately six months of online collaborative research. The top 10 teams (28 students) were invited to present their work and showcase research booths at the Korea Science Academy of KAIST in Busan from August 6 to 7.