UNAIR NEWS – Knights of Airlangga continuously makes achievements. This time Universitas Airlangga delegation succeeded in winning the scientific writing competition held by Universitas Brawijaya on 3-5 August. The delegation was membered by Indria Dwi Saraswati, Muhammad Wahyu Syafi’ul Mubarok, and Prisma Andita Pebriani.
“The 7th Student Scientific Research Week (PRISMA 7)” is a national level writing competition attended by two categories of participants, high school students and college students throughout Indonesia.
The paper entitled Air Quality Early Detection with AQUWAS Media (Air Quality Awarning System) was presented in the final round with the other nine finalists selected. In the paper, they studied health problems caused by air pollution that occurred in Surabaya. As a solution, Indria and her friends tried to design a device that was able to detect the content of Particular Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) in polluted air.
PM 2.5 is air particle smaller than 2.5 micrometers. The particles are found in polluted air such as smoke from motor vehicle exhaust, cigarette and industrial complex.
PM 2.5 can easily enter the human respiratory system. The PM 2.5 in the lungs may cause respiratory diseases, heart disease, even death.
“So, we make a laser that can detect PM 2.5 which has the potential to cause respiratory disease. Then it will be translated into a programming language and applied to the gadget. So, the air condition can be monitored directly, “said Indria.
Indria as the team leader said that she was pessimistic as the other teams’ performances were good. She did not think that her team would come out as the first winner.
As a result, they won the trophy for the writing competition. The team which also in UNAIR Reasoning club also managed to win the best poster category. In the end, Indria encouraged all students to have the spirit to write and not afraid to try new opportunities.
“Don’t give up even if you fail because there will be next opportunity is if we believe and willing to try, ” she concluded. (*)
Author: Zanna Afia Deswari
Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
