Students from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), achieved a remarkable achievement by winning third place in the UBIQUINON 2024 Scientific Writing Competition. This prestigious event, themed “The INCREDIBLE of Biochemistry: INtelligent, CREative, and DIstant Beyond the Limit of Biochemistry,” was organized by the Community of Research and Education in Biochemistry (CREBs) at Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) on September 21–22, 2024.
The UGM team, consisting of Nisa Abidah and Almas Lathifatul Ula, class of 2021, presented their scientific work titled “Future Therapeutic Development Based on Mutation Trend Analysis and Design of Antibiotic Resistance Detection to Prevent the Superbug Gonorrhea Phenomenon.” The research, supervised by Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, S.Si., M.S., Ph.D., addresses the critical challenge of antibiotic resistance, focused on gonorrhea, one of the most dangerous superbugs. The study proposes innovative future solutions through the development of diagnostic tools for detecting antibiotic resistance.
UBIQUINON 2024 aimed to enhance understanding of biochemistry’s pivotal role as a foundational science for numerous applied disciplines. The event consisted of two main segments: Competitions in three categories—Scientific Writing, Essay, and Infographics and UBITALK, a seminar discussing cutting-edge issues in applied biochemistry.
The competition attracted dozens of submissions, with only 15 finalists selected from leading universities across Indonesia, including Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Universitas Hang Tuah, and Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP).
The competition attracted dozens of submissions, with only 15 finalists selected from leading universities across Indonesia, including Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Universitas Hang Tuah, and Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP).
The overarching theme of UBIQUINON 2024 explored sub themes such as Renewable Energy Applications, Biotechnology, and Medicine. The UGM team’s work fell under the medical subtheme, showcasing a groundbreaking approach to combating antibiotic resistance.
This achievement highlights not only the innovative capacity of UGM’s Faculty of Biology students but also their commitment to advancing impactful scientific knowledge, particularly in addressing global health challenges. The success reinforces UGM’s dedication to supporting the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting health and fostering sustainable scientific advancements.
[Author: Nisa Abidah]