The 2024 World Youth Research Conference (WYRC) marked a significant achievement for two Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) students, who secured two prestigious awards. Venny Pramudita Rahayu and Syafaat Angger Fadhilah, members of Team Vortex, were joined by Salwa Azzahra Kurniawan from Universitas Negeri Surabaya in representing their team.
The team earned accolades for their research paper, which introduced an innovative product called QUBICS. QUBICS is a tattoo-patch sensor based on Carbon Quantum Dots (CQD) designed to monitor blood glucose levels and is integrated with Smart Health-Care systems. This innovation garnered them the Gold Medal and the Most Impactful Solution Award.
Participants from several countries, including Liberia, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia, took part in the highly competitive conference. Despite the tough competition, Team Vortex managed to secure the awards. Rahayu, the team leader, reflected on the experience: “The Research Conference was an extraordinary opportunity for us. It allowed us to present and exchange innovations with students from around the world.”
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals
QUBICS not only represents a technological innovation but also contributes to key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
“QUBICS provides a practical solution for non-invasive blood glucose detection and monitoring, which is critical for improving the quality of life for people with diabetes, especially in regions with limited access to healthcare services,” Rahayu noted.
One of the judges, Dr. Norngainy Binti Mohd Tawil, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, praised Team Vortex’s innovation. “QUBICS is one of the most cutting-edge innovations I’ve seen in this competition. It holds immense potential to bring about transformative change in the medical field,” she commented.
Though the team’s success is remarkable, the other team member, Kurniawan emphasized the challenges they faced along the way. “This victory reflects our hard work and dedication. It’s also a major step forward for global health. Our goal is to help people, especially in areas with limited access to medical care,” Kurniawan stated.
Author: Venny Pramudita Rahayu
