UII’s Chemical Engineering Students Win Gold Medal from International Competition

Semarang—A team of five students from the Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Study Program of Universitas Islam Indonesia’s (UII) Faculty of Industrial Engineering (FTI) took home a gold medal from the 4th ASEAN Innovative Science, Environment, and Entrepreneurship Fair (AISEEF).

The five students were Yosef Budiman, Muhammad Wisnu Prasetio, Niti Bagus Wirotomo, Diah Ayu Setianingrum and Diya Ayu Putri Utami. The prestigious international competition took place at Diponegoro University in Semarang from 10 to 14 February 2023.

The five students’ Biolenue Team (Biosorbent for Methylene Blue) competed with 368 teams from 15 countries. The UII team won the gold medal for the Environmental Science category for their work on Composite Material Design Base on Chitosan and Cellulose as a Biosorbent for Methylene Blue Textile Waste.

Muhammad Wisnu Prasetio, one of team members, said the topic was crucial to increase awareness on the dangers of textile industrial waste to the environment. “Our choice of this topic was due to our concern of environmental destruction by textile industrial waste. Methylene blue is a dye used widely in various industries but is hazardous to the environment,” he said.

On the preparation leading to the competition, Wisnu explained that the team faced technical challenges but was thankful for the outcome and said that every competition he participated in had always provided him with benefits, especially experience.

“We had to carry out additional research to complete our dataset, produce banners, posters, product designs and videos,” he said. “In addition, we had to prepare a booth for our presentation on top of rehearsing our presentation in English.”

“But these competitions serve as a form of self-actualization, to test the knowledge we have been learning, help show our potentials, and give rise to a collaborative spirit and the ability to work well together,” he added.

Another team member, Diah Ayu Setianingrum, said the team prepared well for this competition. “Our preparation for AISEEF included collection of data, administrative preparations and other stuff we required to participate in this event offline, and rehearsing our presentation,” she said. “And of course, we don’t forget to pray.”

Diah encouraged other students and the nation’s future generation to keep trying and never give up in any process. “When you fall, that’s the best time to learn how to get up. But if we fall and give up, that’s when we truly lose,” she said.

In line with his teammates, Niti Bagus Wirotomo also hoped that students can channel their talents and knowledge through competitions. “UII’s younger students, especially those in the Chemical Engineering Study Program, can continue gaining achievements on the international stage and should have the courage to try difficult things” he said.

“For example, try public speaking or any other competition. Keep competing until you win,” he added. (VIP Magazine Vol 10)