Turning rice husks into hope: Minh Phuoc wins Gold at WICO Korea 2025

Winning a Gold Medal at an international science competition is no small feat. For Minh Phuoc (12B), it was the result of months of dedication, persistence and research: turning everyday waste into a tool for cleaner water. His team’s project won the Gold Medal at the World Invention Creative Olympic (WICO) Korea 2025. 

“When I found out that we had won the Gold Award, I was really surprised and happy. It felt like all my team and my effort had paid off. I’m proud to represent Brighton College Vietnam,” Phuoc recalls. 

Phuoc’s inspiration came from a problem close to home: Vietnam’s struggle with water pollution, especially from dyes used in industry. He wondered if one of Vietnam’s most abundant resources, rice husk, could be turned into a solution.

His project explored how nanosilica extracted from rice husk and lysozyme protein from egg white could capture and remove harmful dyes such as New Coccine, a synthetic colouring that does not break down naturally. Left untreated, this dye can contaminate waterways, harming both people and aquatic life. 

“Since we have so much rice husk here in Vietnam, I wanted to explore a way to turn it into something useful that would help make Vietnam less polluted and more sustainable. By using this method, I hoped to make a contribution toward safer, cleaner water,” Phuoc explains.

Behind his achievement is also the support of his teachers. “Mr Vimpany and Mr Liu at Brighton College Vietnam helped me realise my love for science, which gave me the confidence to participate in this competition and develop an idea that could help make our world a better place,” he adds.

For Phuoc, the Gold Medal is more than just an award, it’s proof that young people in Vietnam can take on global challenges with creativity and determination. At Brighton College Vietnam, we couldn’t be prouder of Phuoc, not just for his medal, but for his vision of a cleaner, more sustainable future.