Dover Court Students Present Sustainable Aviation Solution at Singapore Airshow

Year 12 students from Dover Court International School (DCIS) recently took part in the British High Commission’s student pitching competition at the Singapore Airshow, presenting an innovative, sustainability-focused solution to reduce food waste in aviation. The event was a proud moment for the school, made even more special with Year 12 student Annasophia being awarded Best Individual Speaker for her confident, articulate, and insightful delivery.

Competing in front of industry experts and members of the public, the students represented DCIS with professionalism, teamwork, and a genuine commitment to solving real world challenges.

Tackling Aviation Waste: A Practical Student Led Solution

For their pitch, the DCIS team focused on a pressing issue within the aviation sector: how to make flying more sustainable without compromising the passenger experience. In their research, students discovered that each airline passenger generates over 1 kg of waste per flight, most of it due to uneaten or discarded food.

Their proposed solution – introducing a pre-order meal system across all flights that would help airlines significantly reduce food waste, cut carbon emissions across supply chains, and improve operational efficiency. A simple shift, they argued, could lead to meaningful environmental impact.

Best Individual Speaker: Celebrating Annasophia (Year 12)

Among many strong presentations from participating schools, DCIS student Annasophia stood out and was recognised as Best Individual Speaker. Judges praised her clarity, composure, and ability to communicate complex ideas with confidence.

Reflecting on the experience, she shared: “One of the most exciting moments… was seeing other schools' ideas and people our age who were just as invested in their idea as we were. Their ideas were very creative… I admired their originality and knowledge.”

Researching the topic also opened her eyes to the scale of the problem: “We discovered that around 1kg of waste is accumulated per passenger. When you think about the millions of flights that occur annually, it’s such a large volume of waste, which is largely underestimated.”

How DCIS Students Prepared for the Singapore Airshow Pitch

The students dedicated considerable time to refining their pitch with support from their teacher. Regular practice sessions helped build confidence, improve clarity, and ensure their presentation flowed smoothly as a team.

A piece of advice stuck with Annasophia:

“No one knew who we were, and the chances of seeing them again were minimal — we had nothing to lose, so there was no reason to be so nervous.” Even with that mindset, she admitted, “That didn’t stop my heart from beating unnecessarily fast when presenting.”

Facing Aviation Experts: A Real World Challenge

Presenting to representatives from organisations such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Boeing, ST Engineering, the Singapore Air Force, and CAAS was both thrilling and intimidating. During the Q&A, Annasophia tackled a challenging question about how their solution might affect airline caterers – a moment she handled with poise thanks to thoughtful preparation.

She explained how better forecasting would help caterers avoid growing or preparing food that ultimately goes unused, enabling greater efficiency and sustainability across the supply chain.

“It was an incredible experience… one which will definitely stay with me for a long time,” she reflected.

Real World Learning Opportunities for DCIS Students

Throughout the competition, students engaged directly with engineers, researchers, pilots, and industry leaders, gaining invaluable insight into the aviation sector and the future of sustainable travel. Opportunities like these highlight the DCIS’s commitment to nurturing students who are curious, globally‑minded, and unafraid to tackle complex challenges.

A Proud Moment for DCIS

We are incredibly proud of all our Year 12 students who took part in this memorable event, and especially of Annasophia for her outstanding achievement. Congratulations to the British High Commission for creating such a meaningful platform, and thank you for inviting Dover Court International School to participate.