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Tag: Indonesia

Students of Communications Science Program, FISIP USU Promote Importance of Digital Media Literacy in Schools

Posted on by taichi

It is widely known that the advent of social media offers numerous benefits to human life. The quick, easy, and cheap access offered by social media in spreading various types of information is the key reason why this technology is favoured by many, including students. However, this ease of access also poses new challenges for social media users, such as difficulties in distinguishing between facts and fictions and the dangers of photo manipulation, which make individuals susceptible to fake news (hoaxes).

Acknowledging the importance of digital media literacy and the skills needed to minimize the spread of fake news, students from the Communications Science program at the Faculty of Social and Politics, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), held an educational socialization event on May 15 and 18, 2024, addressing two interesting topics: “Differentiating Facts and Opinions and Identifying Photo Manipulation on Social Media” and “Fighting Fake News on Social Media”.

The event, which was held at SMA Negeri 15 Medan and SMP Negeri 10 Medan, was attended by 66 students and supervised by Yovita Sabarina Sitepu as the co-lecturer of the Digital Media Literacy course in the Communications Science program at USU.

This socialization event is equipped with pre-test and post-test designed to measure students’ understanding of the topics before and after the material was presented. These tests revealed that this event significantly enhanced the students’ knowledge and comprehension of the discussed topics. To further develop students’ skills, various online tools that can be used to identify fake news were also introduced. Additionally, the students were tested on their ability to distinguish between authentic and manipulated photos through interactive games. The students actively participated and showed their enthusiasm throughout the whole event.

Through this socialization event, it is hoped that students will become more critical in receiving information—either online or offline—, more active in fighting the spread of fake news, and capable of addressing photo or video manipulation. This socialization also aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a wiser and more responsible social media user.

Tackling the Brantas River crisis, UNAIR and TU Delft empower women

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) is committed to addressing environmental issues. Its Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) has forged collaborations with Technische Universiteit (TU) Delft in the Netherlands, environmental activists and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to tackle the crisis facing the Brantas River.

Stretching 120 kilometers and coursing through 16 regencies and cities, The Brantas River plays a pivotal role in the lives of surrounding communities. It serves as a crucial water source for agriculture, livestock farming, residential areas, and industries. However, the river is currently confronted with environmental challenges, including water pollution.

This international and inter-institutional collaboration aims to address the crisis concerning the water quality of the Brantas River. TU Delft in the Netherlands initiated this program back in 2018. The water crisis in the Brantas River has been under scrutiny for the past five years. The year 2024 marks the dissemination phase of the ongoing program.

Other than UNAIR, three other universities are involved: Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Universitas Merdeka, and the National Institute of Technology in Malang. This collaboration is also supported by the Environmental Agency (DLH), Regional Development Agency (Bappeda), and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) of East Java.

They have launched initiatives such as developing a website and application for monitoring the river, conducting water patrols, and providing education alongside relevant agencies to improve water quality and address illegal structures.

The program, “Brantas Harmony,” aims to reduce pollution and control industrial waste contamination. This endeavor utilizes the pentahelix collaboration method, which involves five key pillars: businesses, practitioners, communities, academics, government, and media.

To keep stakeholders informed about the program’s progress, UNAIR’s FST organized a one-day Water Quality Seminar at the Brantas Watershed Management Unit on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Majapahit Hotel in Surabaya. During her address, Dr. Fatmawati, Vice Dean III of FST UNAIR, emphasized the vital importance of preserving natural resources for human life, including rivers.

“However, we fail to realize that our rivers face various challenges and problems related to pollution. All parties must collaborate continuously to maintain the ecological balance of water systems, especially the Brantas River,” she stated.

Furthermore, Fauzy Nasruddin MSc, Acting Governor of East Java, emphasized the significance of sustained collaboration in his speech. He also highlighted the need for various efforts, including innovative strategies, to preserve the Brantas River. It includes raising awareness and prompt reporting to government agencies to facilitate swift intervention.

Empowering women

During the event, Prof. Emy Susanti of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNAIR highlighted the empowerment of women in the Brantas River area. Based on her research and studies, women have minimal knowledge of environmental pollution.

“The participation of women in the empowerment of the Brantas River is not as expected. They are unaware that the river is polluted. Many do not agree that the river is contaminated by factories,” she added.

Prof. Emy also pointed out that, on average, women do not understand the connection between environmental pollution and resulting illnesses, such as skin diseases or gastrointestinal disorders.

According to Prof. Emy, raising women’s awareness about the importance of environmental and water conservation is essential. This effort also aims to empower women.

“Focusing on empowering women is crucial. Many women cadres can be at the forefront in providing knowledge that the river is polluted. All agencies must be involved, such as providing training and directly engaging in fieldwork to provide education, not just empty talk,” she emphasized. (*)

USU Students Hone Social Sensitivity at Special Needs School

Posted on by Fotarisman Zaluchu

A group of students from the Social Anthropology at Universitas Sumatera Utara engaged in activities at the Taman Pendidikan Islam (TPI) Special Needs School in Medan, North Sumatra. There, they provided creative lessons to children with intellectual disabilities. The students participated in various activities, including playing games, storytelling, and teaching the children how to make pencil holders from popsicle sticks, which were then decorated according to the children’s imaginations. All participating students displayed great enthusiasm from the start of the activities to the presentation of their creations.

This initiative serves as a project for a leadership course. Dr. Fotarisman Zaluchu, a member of the teaching team for the course (with Dr. Irfan dan M. Rifa’i, MSc), explained that the project aims to cultivate social sensitivity among students through self-chosen and self-directed projects. This experience is intended to lay a moral foundation for their future roles as community leaders.

The involved students expressed a strong interest in participating in similar activities in the future. Nadya Fortuna Gunawan, one of the students, mentioned an increased awareness of the importance of recognizing the needs of others and expressed a hope to engage with more special needs children in interactive activities along with her peers.

Prior to the event, the students developed their own action plans. Dr. Zaluchu emphasized that leadership involves not only designing plans but also executing them, making these activities valuable learning and reflective experiences.

Muammar Rifqi, another student participant, remarked that social sensitivity is an essential skill for students, applicable in their future roles as community leaders. Reflecting the leadership course’s motto, student today, leader tomorrow, he expressed a desire to help build communities that greatly need their support

UNAIR researcher receives award for discovering potential cancer cell inhibitor

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

A remarkable achievement made by a young researcher Muhammad Ikhlas Abdjan, a doctoral student at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). Ikhlas has made his mark on the international stage by receiving the best paper award from a well-known journal “Engineered Science” at the International Conference on Innovative Discoveries and Advancements in Applied Sciences iDEAAS 2024 at Mahsa University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Appreciation was given for his research in discovering medicinal compounds to prevent the growth of cancer cells.

His research has been selected as one of the papers out of hundreds of researchers worldwide. Ikhlas was the only student participating in the event. The participants were mostly senior researchers and professors.

Furthermore, the research supervised by Prof Dr Nanik Siti Aminah M Si and Prof Dr Alfinda Novi Kristanti DEA added this to its list of achievements. Previously, it has been included in popular chemistry in 2022, and hot article collections in 2021 by a well-known publisher Royal Society of Chemistry.

Compound discovery

His research entitled “Pharmacokinetic, DFT Modeling, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approaches: Diptoindonesin A as a Potential Inhibitor of Sirtuin-1” has caught the world’s attention because it is a new finding of a compound called Diptoindonesin A which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

“This compound was discovered by my mentor, Prof. Nanik Siti Aminah. However, it has never been tested on the sirtuin-1 enzyme. Therefore, I continued this research to find innovations to inhibit cancer cell growth by testing Diptoindonesin A with the sirtuin-1 enzyme,” he said.

The Diptoindonesin A compound can be found in the Shorea seminis plant which grows on the island of Kalimantan. Sirtuin-1 is one of the sirtuin enzyme classes that causes cancer. Ikhlas admitted that the research focused on sirtuin-1 because almost all types of cancer have activity from this enzyme.

“This research focuses on sirtuin-1 because this enzyme is major and its activity can be seen in most types of cancer such as cervical, breast, prostate and so on. Sirtuin-1 regulates cancer cells so that they continue to grow uncontrollably,” he said.

Ikhlas also added that previously he had carried out calculation simulation trials in the laboratory. From several enzyme compounds tested using computational calculation methods at the molecular level, Diptoindonesin A showed good inhibitory effects on sirtuin-1. The research used computational studies. It includes pharmacokinetic methods, DFT modelling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation.

Pharmacokinetic study predicts drug candidate criteria for the two compounds, diptoindonesin A and viniferin. It is also used to predict ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity). Based on ADMET, Diptoindonesin A can be absorbed into the small intestine. And, based on the distribution of BBB permeability, it does not directly affect brain cells. This compound also does not affect the body’s metabolic system.

DFT Modeling is used to describe the properties of compounds at the molecular to atomistic level. The goal is to know whether this molecule is stable, or whether it is reactive. From all property calculations, Diptoindonesin A and viniferin are stable. In that description, the structure between Diptoindonesin A and viniferin is the same. However, the differentiating factor is the presence of a glucose unit in the molecular structure of Diptoindonesin A.

“Even though the structure is the same, the glucose content in Diptoindonesin A influences the activity of the sirtuin-1 enzyme. Diptoindonesin A will interact with 21 amino acid residues in the sirtuin-1 enzyme which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells,” said Ikhlas.

Molecular docking is a method for studying drug and enzyme interactions at the molecular level. Docking is used to search for initial coordinates and molecular dynamics simulations comprehensively evaluate the overall stabilization of drug molecular bonds and interactions. The test showed good interaction stabilization of Diptoindonesin A with sirtuin 1 during the simulation.

Based on several testing methods, Diptoindonesin A is worthy of consideration as a cancer cell growth inhibitor drug. However, the drawback of this compound is that it is difficult to obtain because it is isolated from plants. To address this issue, further studies are expected to be conducted.

International collaboration

The discovery and research took almost a year. Ikhlas admitted to encountering obstacles related to research and laboratory facilities. To help with his research, Ikhlas even conducted research in two countries the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences Pakistan and Chulalongkorn University Thailand. The collaboration was vital in conducting his research. To develop his research, Ikhlas collaborates with the University of Malaya, Malaysia, regarding drug encapsulation in isolated compounds through computational and experimental approaches as anticancer agents.

“I hope this research can be sustainable, excellent research is research that never stops. It is always sustainable, focused on one field and developed continuously,” he concluded.

UNAIR alumni business wins international pitching competition

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Three Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) alumni who developed the Markas Walet (lit: Swallow Headquarter) business, M Fairuzzuddin Zuhair CEO of Lentera Alam Nusantara or Markas Walet and two co-founders Maulana Satria Aji and M Taufiqul Yakin won an international business pitch competition. They achieved a proud feat as the best presenter in a pitching competition at the National University of Singapore (NUS) last March.

Fairuz, representing the team, explained that Markas Walet is a company engaged in manufacturing and agro-technology. Specifically, in the swallow’s nest ecosystem. “We are engaged in manufacturing and agrotechnology, especially in the swallow nest ecosystem. We manage the swallow nest so that it can be more optimal in terms of quality and quantity,” M Fairuzzuddin Zuhair told UNAIR NEWS on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Furthermore, Fairuz also explained that the Markas Walet business is a “huge opportunity” as research on swallow cultivation is quite limited, so there is no specific guide to optimize the management of the swallow nest ecosystem. “So far, they mostly base it on myths like others’ statements. In fact, to improve the quantity, it should not only be based on mythical aspects, but also scientific aspects,” he explained.

Fairuz said that the huge market opportunity was the team’s strong reason for developing the Markas Walet business. In his opinion, there is a great need to develop education in swallow nest ecosystem management. Furthermore, based on agricultural data, there are hundreds of thousands of swallow nest in Indonesia, but only about three thousand can be accounted for. “So we need to improve the registration of the swallow nests so that the export quota approved by the destination country can be higher,” he added.

In developing the business, Fairuz and his team also integrated artificial intelligence into the swallow nest management system. This makes the company the only swallow nest management company developed in Indonesia. Fairuz and his team also saw that the market size of swallow nests is relatively large. “So the market is very big, and the demand is increasing by about 10-15 percent every year,” he said.

In terms of target market, the company plans to enter the Chinese market. Another effort he has made in managing his own company, Markas Walet, is to unite the views and contributions of each founder and focus on this business opportunity.

“Maybe for the BPBRIN Incubator start-up team, we need to look and capture with our helicopter view, we don’t need to look at the short term of our business journey. With a helicopter view, we can assess the extent of our business potential. We can anticipate this by actively playing, participating and expanding our knowledge on the national and international stage,” he concluded.

For the record, Fairuz has also won the LPDP Business Growth Plan 2023 event. As a result of this achievement, Fairuz had the opportunity to attend a short course in Singapore, and this pitching competition was the main event of the course.

3 FISIP study programs at Universitas AIrlangga gain FIBAA international accreditation

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga has achieved another commendable milestone. Three study programs from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at UNAIR have officially attained international recognition. The Sociology, Political Science, and Anthropology programs have gained international accreditation by FIBAA.

FIBAA, Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation, is an international accreditation body that ensures the quality of education according to the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) criteria. FIBAA has globally recognized assessment standards, making it prestigious.

Accreditation process

The accreditation journey with FIBAA for these three programs has been quite extensive. Numerous stages and adjustments were carried out by the teams at FISIP UNAIR. Collaboration has involved all academics in the programs, including students and alumni.

Kalimah Wasis, S.IP., M.Sc., the FIBAA Accreditation Manager for the Political Science study program, explained efforts were made to conduct a workload study survey among students to ensure FIBAA standards are met. It is aimed to measure the students’ study loads.

Furthermore, a tracer study of alumni experiences during their studies was conducted, along with surveys involving stakeholders and alumni who are now employed.

“Students were involved in the preparation for FIBAA accreditation. Student assessments are crucial in this accreditation,” she explained.

After submitting curriculum documents, Semester Learning Plan (RPS) documents, Self Evaluation Report (SER), appendices, and other supporting documents, the next stage involved the three departments undergoing accreditation visits by FIBAA assessors and report evaluations.

Commitment to quality

One of the lecturers in the Department of Sociology, Ratna Azis Prasetyo, S.Sos., M.Sosio, explained that the main supporting factor for the success of FIBAA accreditation is the collective determination and commitment to improvement. Commitment to educational quality through national and international accreditation is crucial.

“So far, the Sociology national accreditation has been excellent, supplemented by previous accreditation by the international Accreditation Service for International Schools (ASIC). With FIBAA’s accreditation, it will undoubtedly strengthen the study program’s position both nationally and internationally,” she elaborated.

On the other hand, the Head of the Anthropology Department, Pudjio Santoso, Drs., M.Sosio, is highly optimistic that this FIBAA accreditation will give a positive impression. “The Anthropology program at FISIP UNAIR is the only anthropology study program in Indonesia specializing in socio-cultural and physical anthropology. That’s what impresses them (the FIBAA assessors),” he stated.

With this achievement, the three study programs remain committed to enhancing quality and welcome feedback from various stakeholders, including students and alumni.

The study program managements extend gratitude to all those who have assisted in the accreditation process. Without such assistance, the international accreditation process would not have proceeded smoothly.

Pesticides as “Medicine”, Investigating Pesticide Use Among Farmers by USU Student

Posted on by Fotarisman Zaluchu

The escalating use of pesticides has become a cause for concern. In just the past decade, pesticide usage has surpassed previous levels, raising significant alarm due to its impacts not only on the environment but also on farmers, with further implications extending to consumers. Clearly, this situation is quite worrisome.

Novi Fitriani Nazara, a student of the Social Anthropology Department at Universitas Sumatera Utara, conducted research to delve into pesticide usage in one of the largest agricultural areas in North Sumatra. “Indonesia’s position is alarming as it ranks among the top five countries in the world in terms of pesticide usage,” stated Novi, the researcher. “This is based on data from the FAO in 2024. However, we acknowledge that the actual data may be much larger”.

After conducting research for four months in the Karo Regency using a live-experienced approach, Novi elucidated, “I found that pesticide usage is intertwined with local perceptions. Farmers express that pesticides are their only option. They are facing changing climates, and they do not want to fail in their harvests. “Ironically even though they are aware of the health impacts of pesticides, they overlook them. They view pesticides as medicine for their plants, similar to how humans need treatment when they are sick.”

The research supervisor, Dr. Fotarisman Zaluchu, revealed that this study employs a structural violence approach. By utilizing the concept of structural violence, we reflect on the vulnerable position of farmers exposed to pesticides, while they are far from accessing health empowerment. This research demonstrates that farmers do not receive adequate protection to prevent continuous exposure to pesticides. “Thus, the use of pesticides by farmers is a long-standing consequence of human-nonhuman relations, leading to dependency effects. This cannot be severed as the government plays a limited role in protecting farmers, instead allowing these incidents to persist.”

Novi presented her research findings in a seminar organized by the Social Anthropology Department at the end of April 2024. It is hoped that this research will produce a policy brief that will benefit stakeholders.

An Oud to Paradise: The Quest for the Perfect Cup of Agarwood Tea

Posted on by Editorial Team

Gaharu, agarwood, or oud, also known as the Wood of Gods, is one of the most expensive woods in the world. Its high price is due to the scarcity of agarwood trees and the lack of cultivation, and it has been listed for conservation because of habitat loss and overlogging. In Indonesia, designated conservation areas are home to the primary source of agarwood, the Aquilaria malaccensis. The hardwood tree can grow up to 40 meters with a 40-60 cm trunk diameter; its wood is straight with whitish brown bark and delicate texture, while the inner part of the wood before the core or the sapwood is uniformly black and exudes a fragrant aroma when cut. This part of the sapwood determines the quality of the agarwood.

The fragrant aroma of agarwood is caused by the fungus Fusarium sp, which attacks the sapwood but also causes changes in its chemical composition for which the agarwood is sought; the fragrance for perfume and incense, and the anti-bacterial, anti-fungal capabilities for cough medicine and insecticide. Its high resin content makes it widely used in the perfume industry.

This particularity of the agarwood plant attracted Ridwanti Batubara, S.Hut, MP, a lecturer at the Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, to research other benefits and uses of agarwood. Her previous studies focused on medicinal plant research; Ridwanti began conducting a series of research in 2012 with assistance from The Wikstea Instant Prastartup Team consisting of Sri Megawati Lubis (CEO), Rizki Hambali Harahap, Adrian Anshori Hasibuan, Karina Aulia, and Ilfa Nindita Harahap for research development.

The process was carried out through an extended period from 2012 to 2021. It began in 2012-2014 with initial product development, chemical content, potential anti-oxidant research, consumer testing (hedonic test), and comparison tests with other herbal teas. They continued testing in 2015-2016 on the safety of agarwood leaf tea non-clinically, then on the availability of raw agarwood leaf tea resources and shelf life in 2017-2019. In 2020, the development of products made from agarwood leaf extract and instant agarwood tea began. In 2021, a shelf-life test and microbial contamination were carried out, and the “Instant Wikstea” pre-startup was pioneered.

Ridwanti states that agarwood leaves are rich in benefits and anti-oxidants. Although the tree has begun to be widely planted and cultivated in recent years, its leaves are rarely used. She sees this as an untapped potential for research into agarwood leaf tea, although with some reservations.

Many people complain about agarwood tea because it has a tart and unpleasant taste due to the presence of tannins. Thankfully, rigorous three-year safety tests reveal that the tea is safe for consumption and possesses beneficial properties for the skin. Both natural and cultivated agarwood are rich in benefits and anti-oxidants.

Ridwanti revealed that she tried the agarwood tea processing technology with a simple drying method. The leaves are dried, brewed, dried in the sun, in the oven, then roasted. This process determines the optimum longevity of the anti-oxidants after the tea has been packaged. Ridwanti emphasizes that she wanted to avoid using various additives to increase shelf life and recommends three months at a cooler temperature for display storage.

Regarding its taste, Ridwanti also experimented with natural flavorings for those who don’t like the tea’s bitter taste. Through some consumer testing, the most favored ones are the original agarwood, ginger, and lemongrass flavors.

Ridwanti intends to explore further uses for the efficacy of agarwood tea on health, such as for COVID-19 patients, considering that one of its benefits is to increase stamina and immunity. In cooking, dishes can also be mixed with agarwood leaves, and if mixed in while cooking rice, it can also slow down its staleness.

For its many benefits and valuable properties, Ridwanti still hopes that the government can further strengthen the conservation of Indonesian agarwood forests while wisely controlling the utilization of raw agarwood materials for various industries. She explained that natural agarwood and cultivated agarwood are strongly influenced by soil quality. Agarwood can grow in the lowlands to the highlands. Common on the banks of rivers and in rubber tree forests. Its symbiosis with rubber plants suggests a healthy ecosystem is needed if this tree of paradise has a hope of continuing to grace the earth with its divine aroma.

UNAIR signs MoA with National Dong Hwa University Taiwan on research, mobility, and community service

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga has partnered with another international university to expand its collaboration network. Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Bali Room, ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa B Campus, UNAIR. The MoA focuses on future collaborations, including joint classes, student exchanges, and community development initiatives, particularly for the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) and the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline (FTMM).

The signing ceremony was attended by the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Prof. Wu-Yuin Hwang Ph.D., along with his team; the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Prof. Miratul Khasanah M.Si., and her team; the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline (FTMM), Prof. Dr. Retna Apsari M.Si., and her team; as well as the Vice Director of Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE), Dr. Dina Septiani Ph.D.

“I am aware of the exceptional quality of Universitas Airlangga’s medical school. Also the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline, which is new. I am delighted to explore opportunities for further collaboration as the prospects are indeed vast,” said Prof. Hwang.

Invitation for student exchange

Prof. Dr. Retna hoped that these discussions would pave the way for collaborations in community service, joint classes, and collaborative research endeavors. “We have five study programs: Data Science Technology, Nanotechnology Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, as well as Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Engineering. We envision potential collaborations, starting from joint classes, joint research, and community service that we can discuss further in the future,” she said.

“The joint classes facilitated by Airlangga Global Engagement are still open for consideration. If there is interest, further discussions can be arranged,” she added.

Prof. Hwang also agreed on student exchange between both universities. Moreover, CSAE already has an international program, so exchange students do not need to learn Mandarin beforehand.

“Currently, 39 Indonesian students are studying at CSAE, and regarding expenses, there is no need to worry. Because we provide scholarships, especially for excellent students,” he emphasized.

Co-supervising opportunity

The meeting also resulted in a discussion on the realization of student co-supervising between the two universities. “Considering our mutual research interests, we aspire to embark on co-supervision initiatives, especially in areas where our research intersects. Perhaps lecturers from CSAE could visit Indonesia, or our students could go to Taiwan,” concluded Prof. Dr. Retna.

Estimating Ship-hull Roughness Using Laser-based Flow Diagnostics

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

Biofouling refers to the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, and animals on submerged surfaces, particularly in aquatic environments. In the context of ships, biofouling occurs when these organisms adhere to the hull and other submerged structures, forming a layer of marine growth. This accumulation can have significant adverse effects on a ship’s performance and efficiency. Biofouling increases drag, resulting in higher fuel consumption and operational costs. Additionally, it can reduce the vessel’s speed, maneuverability, and overall hydrodynamic efficiency.

After obtaining a small funding from the Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC) in 2014, to get to know each other and seek the potential of joint research, Prof. I Ketut Aria Pria Utama from ITS and Prof Jason Monty together with Prof Nick Hutchins from Melbourne University decided to continue the collaboration. Acknowledging the crucial importance of energy conservation in ships and the concept of understanding the growth of boundary layer, Prof Utama, Prof Monty and Prof Hutchins together with Prof Barathram Ganapathisubramani from Southampton University UK submitted a proposal and later received a two-year funding from the Newton Fund in 2015. All of them have similar interest and strong background in fluid mechanics.

The research required a ship for experimentation, and PT. Dharma Lautan Utama, a company owned by an ITS alumnus, generously provided one. During the experiments, the ship’s bottom part was replaced with glass and subjected to laser scans to examine the growth of boundary layer. The movements of the ship were meticulously recorded. The outcomes of this research garnered attention, including coverage by Australian television and the publication of several significant papers, prompting its continuation. This part of research finally ended in 2018.

However, due to the Newton Fund’s one-time funding policy for research on the same topic, Prof. Hutchins as the team leader has seeked further support and finally secured additional funding from the Australian Research Council, covering the period from 2021 to 2025. This time, PT Samudra Indonesia provides a ship to support the research; the current ship sails even farther to the ocean hence the results will be more interesting. The involvement of PT Samudera Indonesia is (by accident) in correlation with the recent MoU between ITS and the biggest shipping companies in the country. Luckily, some of the managers involving in the project, were ITS students in naval architecture. In addition, the project includes a PhD student from Indonesia and funded by LPDP.

As in the first part, the research team has presented the work in prestigious conferences of fluid mechanics in Madrid (Spain) and Washington DC (USA) and received considerable attention because of the use of commercial vessel, which is very unlikely so far. Whilst the research is still progressing, the team is preparing to publish the work to high-ranked journal such as Nature and Physics of Fluid, and other flagship conferences.