Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) students secured third place at the Animal Science Paper Competition (ASPC) 2026, organized by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, on November 1, 2026. The national competition provided a platform for university students to develop innovative ideas and scientific solutions to challenges in animal health, livestock, and food through a multidisciplinary approach.
The UGM team comprised Prima Cendekia Nirmala Afiatri, Bangkit Setiyoko, and Nattaya Ashri Syahrazad, students from the Faculty of Animal Science and the Faculty of Agricultural Technology. The team developed a scientific idea by integrating perspectives from animal science and related fields under the guidance of Galuh Adi Insani.
The team proposed an innovation using eggshells combined with butterfly pea flower extract as an edible coating and a natural indicator of meat freshness. The idea was further supported by a machine learning-based application and a QR code to provide product information, material traceability, and quality monitoring.
The team’s advisor, Galuh Adi Insani, explained that the achievement resulted from a lengthy process involving problem identification, scientific literature review, innovative solution development, paper preparation, and preparation for presenting the idea before the judges.
Through the competition, students were challenged to develop novel ideas, build scientific arguments, consider potential benefits, and formulate possible implementation strategies.
Meanwhile, team leader Prima Cendekia Nirmala Afiatri expressed her appreciation for the achievement.
“Winning third place in the Animal Science Paper Competition 2026 was a very valuable experience for us. The competition not only gave us an opportunity to develop our critical thinking skills and present scientific ideas, but also taught us the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in formulating solutions to challenges in livestock, animal health, and food. We hope that the idea we have developed will not stop as a competition entry, but can continue to be refined and have the potential to be implemented so that it can provide tangible benefits to society,” she said on Monday (Nov. 2).
The team’s achievement demonstrates UGM students’ contribution to academic culture, scientific competition, and innovation in higher education. It also highlights students’ strategic role in developing science-based ideas with potential contributions to the livestock sector, animal health, and food security.
Through this achievement, the team hopes to continue developing its academic capacity, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, and encourage innovations that are not only conceptually strong but also relevant to community needs.
The achievement is also expected to inspire other UGM students to continue developing ideas, participating in competitions, and representing UGM in national-level scientific competitions.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-Editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Team Documentation