A student of Faculty of Biology UGM, Matin Nuhamunada, has been entitled to represent Southeast Asia in the final round of The 3rd Annual Research Poster Competition for Undergraduates, hosted by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, from 19-24 January 2014. Up to 50 best research works by undergraduate students from various countries will be displayed in this event.
There he will compete with undergraduates from renowned universities in the world, including California Institute of Technology, Mc Gill University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Matin has researched microalga explorations on the south coast of Yogyakarta province as a source of biomass production in the barren coastlines. According to Matin, microalga is photosynthetic microorganism that is able to absorp CO2 emissions in the air into biomass. As the centre of world biodiversity, Indonesia has superior microalga strains that have been unexplored.
“The superior strains found in this research hopefully can be applied together by the people on the shores to produce renewable fuels,” said Martin on Thursday (23/1).
The research is a follow-up to the Student Creativity Programme done by four other students M. Zusron, Alfian Bani K., Emma Permata H., and Sri Rahayu. Under the supervision of Eko Agus Suyono, M. App. Sc., the team hoped to be able to develop local microalgal technology and production in Indonesia.
Separately, Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., Deputy Dean of Faculty of Biology, said that stemming from their interest in Indonesian biodiversity and marine resources, the UGM students are expected to be able to compete in the world. To support this, UGM will encourage and facilitate them in research projects.