Muhammad Rafi Gunadi, a student from the Bachelor Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program (2023) at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM (Faperta UGM), has brought pride to the Faculty of Agriculture UGM on the international stage. Rafi, along with his colleague Khansa Eka Maulana (Geographic Information Systems 2024), won a gold medal in the Research for College Students category at the 3rd International Conference of Biological Science (ICoBioS) X OBC 2024 held at Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, on 28-29 September 2024.
This prestigious competition, themed “Recent Updates in Bioinformatics, Synthetic Biology, and Nanobio Science for a Better Future,” brought together researchers, academics, practitioners, students, and pupils from various countries. The event focused on exploring the latest innovations in bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and nanobio science as part of efforts to create a better and more sustainable future.
Rafi and his team presented research titled “Scoby-Do Organic Media Engineering: Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast in Optimizing Bioplastic Production with Batch Fermentation.” This innovative project explores bioplastic production using a synthetic biology approach, utilizing symbiosis between bacteria and yeast to enhance bioplastic production efficiency through batch fermentation methods with organic waste substrates.
Rafi expressed his gratitude and pride for his achievement at the international conference.
“Alhamdulillah, I’m proud to represent UGM, especially the Faculty of Agriculture, at this International Conference. Even though the conference’s theme was biology, it didn’t stop me as a BAEC student from trying something new. I hope my fellow students can also achieve similar success,” said Rafi.
The achievement of Rafi Gunadi and his team not only brings pride to the Faculty of Agriculture UGM but also serves as tangible proof of UGM students’ contribution to the advancement of science on the international stage. This accomplishment aligns with the Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s efforts to achieve the SDGs, including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Writer: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Documentation: Rafi Gunadi