Mataram, 16 September 2024 – Chemistry Education students of FKIP Universitas Mataram (Unram) won first place in the PRISMA 12 National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN) organized by the Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Malang, in 2024. The competition was attended by various well-known universities in Indonesia, but the Unram team managed to prove their superiority through their innovation entitled ECOFIPRO: Smart Packaging Biodegradable Based on pH Sensor from Anthocyanin of Shallot Skin to Detect the Freshness of Taliwang Chicken Products. In an exclusive interview, one of the team members revealed how well-prepared they were. “Our preparation starts from the maturation of the ECOFIPRO innovation concept, which includes in-depth research on bioplastics and pH sensor technology. We divide the tasks in the team according to their respective expertise, from research on bioplastic materials, applications, to presentation preparation,” he said. He also added that their team received a lot of support, both from more experienced seniors and from UKM Prima. “We also asked for an assessment of the papers we made to seniors who are more experienced in their fields and did several simulations to prepare ourselves to face the jury and predict various critical questions that might arise. The support of our supervisor, Mrs. Ermia Hidayati, M.Pd., was also very helpful in facing this challenge.”
Environmentally Friendly Innovations that Make a Difference
ECOFIPRO, the innovation promoted by the Unram team, is a bioplastic-based environmentally friendly packaging solution equipped with a pH sensor. This technology allows consumers to easily detect the freshness level of Taliwang Chicken products. "We hope that this ECOFIPRO innovation can be applied commercially and provide real benefits, both for producers and consumers. In addition, we want to encourage public awareness of the importance of environmentally friendly packaging that also provides a solution to the problem of plastic waste," added one of the team members excitedly. They also hope that ECOFIPRO can inspire the development of other sustainable technologies, especially those that support the local economy. "In addition, we want ECOFIPRO to inspire the development of other sustainable technologies that support the local economy," he added.
Message to Other Students
Closing the interview, the winning team gave a very inspiring message to fellow students. "Our message to fellow students is to never be afraid to innovate and try new things. This process is not easy, but with hard work, good team collaboration, advice and guidance from people around us, and of course the blessing of Allah SWT, we can achieve extraordinary results," said the team representative with confidence. According to them, innovation is born from the courage to think differently and take a step forward. "The important thing is to stay enthusiastic and believe in the ideas we have, because innovation is born from the courage to think differently and take steps forward. Don't hesitate to keep learning and competing, because there we can find opportunities to develop," he concluded. With this victory, the FETT Unram Chemistry Education student team not only brought home the trophy, but also made the university proud and paved the way for more sustainable innovations in the future.(foe)