Semarang (29/09). Diponegoro University (Undip) Semarang, Central Java students made achievements in the 2021 National Level Achievement Student Selection (Pilmapres) which was held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbud Ristek).
This achievement was made by Ni Putu Adeyani, a Vocational School Chemical Engineering Industrial Technology STr student who won 3rd place in the National Pilmapres Diploma Program. Meanwhile, Afriza Ni’matus Sa’adah, a student of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, was ranked 5th in the National Pilmapres Undergraduate Program.
For this notch, Undip Chancellor Prof. Dr. Yos Johan Utama, SH, M. Hum., said he was proud of the achievements of Undip students in the midst of the difficult situation of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Congratulations on being the national champion of the 2021 Presidential Election,” said the Undip Chancellor, who is often called Prof. Yos this.
He added that the work of Undip students in this event is also expected to be useful for the community and be an encouragement for other students to excel and also contribute to the surrounding environment.
Ni Putu Adeyani’s achievement was obtained for her work on Improving the Quality of Natural Food Preservation Using Sheca-Edible Spray Based on a Combination of Pectin and Chitin to Achieve Sustainable Development Targets.
“The background of the theme is the utilization of green shells and cocoa shells, which are very common in several areas, causing accumulations that have not been processed optimally, resulting in an increase in the number of wastes and the effects of burning them can increase CO2 gas emissions which affect environmental, air and water pollution in the area. around,” said Ni Putu Adeyani on a separate occasion.
He hopes that this work can provide a solution to turn waste into a new product called Sheca-Edible Spray, which is a naturally biodegradable preservative for fruit and food derived from cocoa shell pectin and green mussel shell chitin. So it can indeed be applied to the community and will be useful to reduce the use of harmful preservatives such as formalin or borax,” added Ni Putu Adeyani.
Meanwhile, Afriza Ni’matus Sa’adah raised the topic of Circular Economy Implementation through Utilization of Plastic Waste as Cellulose Fiber Impregnated Particle Board.
“I have actually prepared the creative ideas that I put forward in the Pilmapres for 6 months, starting from January to September. The idea is very complicated, starting from the engineering aspect, economics, law, and humanity are also there. The idea that I compiled is the implementation of a circular economy through particle board products from waste in the city of Semarang. There are 3 types of waste that I use, namely plastic waste, paper and used vegetable oil waste. This idea also supports the SDGs and the 4.0 industrial revolution,” said Afriza.
“The idea that I brought up was about the environment, where since semester 1 I have been interested in the environment, for example, I made a reactor that can degrade hazardous substances in the wastes in the batik, clothing and so on industry”, Afriza added.
Along with the achievements and nicks that have been achieved by Undip students, Dr. Agus Suherman, S.Pi., M.Sc., as the Head of the Undip Secretariat and Protocol Office stated that his party will continue to encourage and facilitate students to excel at national and international levels.
“Undip through the Chancellor has committed to encourage and facilitate Undip students to excel and contribute to society through academic and non-academic programs that he has designed,” said Agus.
Source: Universitas Diponegoro