bio.undip.ac.id. Two undergraduate students from the Department of Biology, Universitas Diponegoro, Chafni Zakia Siregar and Hanum Salsabila, secured a Bronze Medal at the 5th International Youth Summit, held on 30 –31 May 2026 in Malaysia. The event was organized by Universiti Putra Malaysia in partnership with the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability, drawing student innovators from across the globe.
The award-winning entry, titled “Adaptive Chitosan-Based Universal Fixation System for Microbial Pigments in Sustainable Textile Dyeing,” presents a novel approach to one of the textile industry’s most pressing environmental challenges. The research proposes chitosan, a biopolymer derived from crustacean shells, as a universal fixation agent for microbial pigments, offering a viable alternative to conventional synthetic mordants and chemical fixatives commonly associated with hazardous effluent generation.
The textile industry remains one of the most ecologically burdensome sectors globally, accounting for significant volumes of chemical waste and freshwater contamination during the dyeing process. Chafni and Hanum’s work addresses this systemic issue by developing a fixation system that enhances pigment adherence while substantially reducing reliance on hazardous chemical inputs, thereby advancing the scientific foundation for greener dyeing technologies.
The recognition at an international competitive forum reflects the growing capacity of Indonesian undergraduate researchers to engage with global discourse on sustainability and industrial ecology. Their achievement underscores the potential of interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on microbiology, materials science, and environmental chemistry, to generate solutions relevant to contemporary industrial challenges.
The Department of Biology, Universitas Diponegoro, extends its congratulations to Chafni Zakia Siregar and Hanum Salsabila on this distinguished accomplishment, and anticipates that their work will serve as a catalyst for continued research in sustainable biomaterial applications.