UNS – Novi Nur Priyanti, a student from the Chemistry Program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, has won an award at the International Youth Conference (IYC) 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from August 10-12, 2024. Novi, along with her team, secured two awards: a bronze medal in the health sub-theme category and the best paper award in the general category.
IYC 2024 is an international scientific essay competition organized by the Sentosa Foundation in collaboration with the Nusantara Muda Community, Setara Prisma Nusantara, and the Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability at Universiti Putra Malaysia. The event aims to showcase the creativity and innovation of students in the fields of science and technology in the era of Society 5.0.
More than 50 educational institutions from various countries participated in the competition, making the rivalry not just among Indonesian students, but also with students from countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and others.
Novi Nur Priyanti, along with three others—Dofito Hanifah Kusindarto, Latifah Nuraeni, and Syamsul Huda, all of whom are Chemistry students—presented an essay discussing hydrogel for diabetic wounds. The essay’s novelty lies in using hydrogel infused with antibacterial properties derived from natural materials, specifically extracts of the Madagascar periwinkle leaf. As explained by Novi, the hydrogel is also modified to possess thermosensitive and self-healing capabilities.
“Most hydrogels typically have either self-healing or thermosensitive properties. So, we came up with combining both features in our hydrogel product,” Novi explained on Thursday (29/8/2024).
In simple terms, thermosensitivity ensures that the wound stays moist despite temperature changes, while self-healing allows the material to return to its original shape after bending.
Prof. Venty Suryanti, S.Si., M.Phil., Ph.D., Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Research, and Student Affairs at FMIPA UNS, expressed her appreciation for Novi and her team’s achievement. “We are extremely proud of the international success achieved by Novi Nur Priyanti and her team. This accomplishment demonstrates that FMIPA students can compete on a global level,” Prof. Venty Suryanti said.
Prof. Venty Suryanti also hopes that this achievement will inspire other students to continue innovating and excelling, both nationally and internationally.
HUMAS UNS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
