The opening ceremony of the 38th Indonesian National Student Science Competition (PIMNAS) was held at Baruga Andi Pangerang Pettarani, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, on Monday (Nov. 24).
2025 marks the edition with the highest number of participating universities in history, with 170 universities and 420 student teams.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participated as one of the contingents, sending 13 teams from the Student Creativity Program (PKM) that successfully advanced to the national final stage. All participants attended an opening series that was lively and full of collaborative spirit.
On this occasion, UGM sent teams across various PKM schemes, namely PKM-K (Entrepreneurship), PKM-KC (Intellectual Creation), PKM-KI (Innovative Work), PKM-PI (Application of Science and Technology), PKM-RE (Exact Science Research), PKM-RSH (Social Sciences and Humanities Research), PKM-VGK (Constructive Idea Videos), and PKM-GFT (Written Futuristic Ideas).
Each PKM scheme brought a development focus that ranged from technology, social issues, environment, and health to disaster mitigation. The cross-disciplinary participation reflects the broad scope of UGM students’ creativity in formulating research-based ideas. The presence of these 13 teams represents the diversity of innovations developed on campus.
During the defile session, UGM appointed two students as the university’s flag bearers. Ata Beckham De Porras from PKM-KI represented the team developing Inkupets, a smart Internet-of-Things-based intensive care incubator for pets.
Meanwhile, Maureen Arsa Sanda Cantika from PKM-K carried WormiBox, an innovation in earthworm cultivation equipped with sensors and digital monitoring. Both students represented UGM in the opening ceremony, which was attended by hundreds of contingents from various universities.
This year, UGM teams presented a wide range of innovations addressing current issues and community needs. These innovations include health technologies such as a pre-cancer lesion detector and a wearable device for cardiac arrest detection.
There are also solutions in energy and environment, including a portable waste incinerator and a solar-powered aeration system for catfish farming. In addition, UGM students explored topics related to governance, digital social spaces, ruminant livestock, forestry, and disaster management.
The opening series of the 38th PIMNAS showcased strong togetherness among all participants. Students from various regions gathered in one space to strengthen academic networks and expand research collaborations.
The UGM contingent took part in all opening sessions, hoping to once again bring home the Adikarta Kertawidya Trophy through the works they presented.
The Rector of Universitas Hasanuddin, Professor Jamaluddin Jompa, expressed his appreciation to the participants and emphasized that PIMNAS is an important part of the national research ecosystem.
Professor Jompa highlighted that students are presenting strong ideas that are highly relevant to society’s challenges. He also hoped that innovations emerging from PIMNAS continue to grow and contribute to long-term research. His remarks underscored Universitas Hasanuddin’s commitment to strengthening a cross-campus research culture.
At the end of his address, Professor Jompa delivered a philosophical message underscoring the importance of perseverance in pursuing knowledge. This message drew on Makassar philosophy regarding determination in facing challenges. He emphasized that mastery of science and technology is essential for global competitiveness.
“Once the sail is set, the boat must never retreat to shore,” he said.
A representative from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Dr. Beni Bandanadjaja, expressed his appreciation for the organization of PIMNAS and for students’ achievements across Indonesia.
He emphasized that PIMNAS is a competitive intellectual forum deserving of academic recognition equivalent to course credits. He expressed his support for the credit conversion policy for students who advance to PIMNAS or win medals.
“PIMNAS can be even more challenging than a thesis or final project, so I wish you the best in competing, give your strongest performance,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: UGM Directorate of Student Affairs