UNS – Students from the Chemical Engineering Study Program (PSTK) at the Faculty of Engineering (FT), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, have once again achieved international accomplishments. Muhammad Yazid Ar-Rasyid and Evelyne Patricia Ngandiri, members of the Zivel Team, secured the Bronze Medal and the Favorite Booth Award at the prestigious International Essay Competition Global Insight.
The competition began with a preliminary selection stage where participants submitted essay titles. The Zivel Team’s proposal, titled “Designing a Hybrid Public Transportation System Powered by Solar Energy and Lithium Polymer Batteries,” captivated the judges and earned them a spot in the finals. In the final round, the team presented their ideas to a panel of judges, competing against top teams from other universities.
“The journey was full of challenges, from the selection stage to the final presentation. However, all the hard work paid off with these achievements. The competition took place on November 16-17, 2024, at Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya,” Yazid shared, as quoted from ft.uns.ac.id on Thursday (12/5/2024).
Their essay presented a creative solution to the global issue of greenhouse gas emissions. By proposing a public transportation system powered by solar energy and Lithium Polymer batteries, the innovation offers a fully fossil-fuel-free system. The concept aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action).
“We hope this idea can inspire the development of more environmentally friendly transportation technologies,” Yazid added.
The accomplishment was met with enthusiasm by FT UNS. Faculty members, including the dean, lecturers, and the academic community, expressed their appreciation for the Zivel Team’s success in bringing international recognition to the university. The faculty honored the team with a special award during the Engineering Appreciation Night.
Participating in the competition left a lasting impression on both students. After discovering the event through Instagram, they devoted significant effort to refining their ideas for the competition.
“It was an exciting and memorable experience. We gained many new insights, particularly on developing ideas and building the confidence to present them,” Yazid said.
They also encouraged their fellow students to take the initiative in creating and innovating. “Courage to start is the key to achieving success,” Yazid remarked.
With this achievement, FT UNS once again demonstrates its prominence on the international stage, inspiring other students to continue innovating and excelling. HUMAS UNS
