Tech for Impact: STEM Entrepreneurial Stewardship
Tech for Impact: STEM Entrepreneurial Stewardship
In collaboration with the Hong Kong Science Park (HKSTP), this unique two‑week stewardship programme for 17‑year‑olds or older offers a hands‑on experience in biotech, AI, and social innovation surrounding the creation of a sanitary pad vending machine.Through laboratory testing, product design and loT system application, students engage in collaborative STEM learning focused on product safety and social impact, developing and deploying innovative menstrual health solutions while gaining first‑hand experience of leadership and real‑world impact. Students will receive a personal reference letter from the WomenX femtech founder, Dr. Pui-Wah Choi, and a certificate jointly awarded by HKSTP.
Description
Learning Outcomes
For over seven years, our company has proudly welcomed more than 50 exceptional interns from some of the world’s most respected institutions, including King’s College London, Johns Hopkins University, University College London (UCL), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), as well as leading international schools.
This flagship internship programme continues that tradition of excellence — combining rigorous scientific enquiry, hands‑on engineering, and meaningful social impact.
At its heart lies a simple yet powerful ambition: to show students how technology, when thoughtfully applied, can genuinely improve lives. Through real‑world experimentation and collaborative problem‑solving, interns are inspired not only to learn, but to lead — emerging as the next generation of scientists, engineers and socially responsible innovators.
A Job That Makes Schools More Gender‑Friendly
This internship offers students a rare opportunity to tackle an issue that matters deeply to young people today: menstrual health, safety and dignity in schools. Blending laboratory science, product design, smart technology and impact measurement, students do not merely study innovation — they create it.
What Students Will Do
1. Laboratory Testing & Scientific AnalysisStudents step into the laboratory to conduct professional‑grade testing on sanitary products, analysing:
- Migratable fluorescence
- Formaldehyde levels
- Bacterial content
Through this process, interns develop a strong understanding of health risks, quality control and scientific integrity, learning how data informs safer product design.
2. Product Design & Development
Innovation moves from theory to practice as students:
- Design and prototype their own sanitary pads
- Apply ultrasound welding techniques
- Experiment with different shapes, materials and lengths
This module blends engineering precision with creative problem‑solving, encouraging students to think like designers and manufacturers.
3. Smart Technology Application
Students then bring technology to life by constructing an IoT‑enabled mini sanitary pad vending machine, applying:
- Practical engineering skills
- Digital systems thinking
- User‑centred design principles
This experience demonstrates how smart technology can be deployed thoughtfully within school environments.
4. Impact Measurement & Innovative Business Models
Innovation is only meaningful when its impact can be measured. Students learn how to:
- Track usage rates
- Assess behavioural and social impact
- Explore sustainable and innovative impact‑driven business models
This module introduces students to the principles of social entrepreneurship and responsible innovation.
5. Real‑World Installation & School Deployment
The programme culminates in the installation of the sanitary pad machine within a school setting, allowing students to:
- Observe real‑world usage
- Gather data
- Reflect on the tangible impact of their work
Few internships offer such a direct connection between learning and lived experience.
Objectives of the Internship
Understanding the Problem & Opportunity Around Us
Students gain a deep understanding of the health, social, and systemic challenges surrounding menstrual access in schools — and the opportunity for technology to address these challenges.
Addressing Health Risks
Many menstrual products contain potentially harmful chemicals, posing health risks to young women. This internship equips students with the knowledge and tools to evaluate product safety and advocate for safer, higher‑quality alternatives.
Empowering Students as Changemakers
By engaging directly in testing, design and implementation, students:
- Build confidence and technical competence
- Develop a strong sense of ownership
- Contribute to creating a more inclusive and gender‑friendly campus culture
Target Students
Engaging 17‑Year‑Old Students
This programme is designed for 17‑year‑old students from international schools in Hong Kong, providing hands‑on experience in biotech and social innovation within a collaborative setting.
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Hong Kong Science Park
Cohort Size: 6-8 people
Location: Hong Kong Science Park
Cohort Size: 6-8 people
Schedule & Timetable (Tentative)
| Day 1 | Orientation & Lab Safety Training
|
| Day 2 |
Biomed Lab Tests
|
| Day 3 |
Biomed Lab Tests
|
| Day 4 |
Biomed Lab Tests
|
| Day 5 |
Ultrasound Welding
|
| Day 6 |
IoT Vending Machine
|
| Day 7 |
IoT Vending Machine
|
| Day 8 |
IoT Vending Machine
|
| Day 9 |
Marketing & Impact
|
| Day 10 |
Final Presentation
|
After the Stewardship
- Installation of the Sanitary Pad Vending Machine
The student‑designed sanitary pad vending machine will be installed at the school. Operational costs will be discussed and agreed with the school, with installation offered at no cost.
- Impact Measurement and Evaluation
One year following installation, the impact of the project will be evaluated by measuring usage to run for a year as real impact business case, where they will operate, rate and assess the social and well-being outcomes created by the students’ work.
Honourable Mentioned
- Judy Wong – AI & STEM trainer, HKUST lecturer, former world Robocon champion, Women Techmakers Ambassador.
- Dr. Pui-Wah Choi – Founder & CEO, Harvard Postdoc, CUHK lecturer, biomedical scientist & femtech pioneer.
- Dr. Rebecca Lee – PhD in Basic Biology (Japan), 15+ years in medical diagnostics & rare diseases.
- Michelle Chan – 10+ years in PR & Marketing, from in-house to consultant for Hong Kong’s startups.
In partnership with
