UNAIR NEWS – The students of Universitas Airlangga continue to make remarkable achievements, exemplified by their recent gold medal win in the Student Creativity Program for Exact Sciences (PKM RE) at the 36th National Student Science Week (PIMNAS). The annual competition was hosted by the National Achievement Center at the Universitas Padjadjaran.
The team from the Faculty of Pharmacy (FF) UNAIR are Shavira Priyantika Putri, Fany Zumrotul Faizah, M. Rofiqi Azmi, and Zavirah Silalahi. They initiated the concept of “Hybrid Combination of Chitosan-Banana Peel with Gotu Kola Extract as a Modern Herbal Biomaterial Wound Dressing in Diabetes Wound Healing”.
The innovation addresses the susceptibility of diabetes wounds to bacteria and their slow healing process. Shavira and her team proposed a modern wound dressing rich in asiaticoside to accelerate healing.
The journey to PIMNAS was no easy feat. Interestingly, both proposals they submitted made it to PIMNAS, requiring them to divide their focus.
“Based on our lecturer’s recommendation, we divided into two sub-teams, which posed its own challenge. Alhamdulillah, we managed to achieve a gold medal,” Shavira proudly stated.
Despite feeling nervous about their first competition at PIMNAS, her team stayed focused and calm. They remained enthusiastic while waiting for the announcement of the winners, even amidst heavy rainfall at the venue.
In addition to the university’s rewards, the team was motivated to bring home the gold medal and the Adhikarta trophy to UNAIR. She also hoped that this success would be a victory for the entire UNAIR community.
“With PIMNAS’ gold medal, we are proud to revive the reputation of the Faculty of Pharmacy in an event that experienced a downturn due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Shavira said.
“May this achievement encourage the Faculty of Pharmacy and Universitas Airlangga to continue their success at PIMNAS and bring home the Adhikarta trophy to Universitas Airlangga in the following years.”
Author: Aidatul Fitriyah
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
