This event, organized by the Semarang City Office of Communication, Informatics, Statistics, and Encryption, was part of the 53rd KORPRI Anniversary celebrations. 

The festival featured two main activities: an ICT innovation competition based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Vocational High Schools and Universities in Semarang City and an ICT innovation exhibition. 

UGM, as one of the guests, also attended to showcase its leading innovations.

On this occasion, DTETI presented a technology developed by final-year students through their Capstone Project, the Zenith B-08, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) mechanism. 

Dean FT UGM and DTETI lecturer Professor Selo revealed that the Zenith B-08 could take off and land vertically anywhere without requiring a runway to deliver medical supplies to hard-to-reach locations. 

“The tilt mechanism on the Zenith B-08 is specially designed, allowing the aircraft to transition from hover mode to forward flight mode directly in the air. This is one of the key advantages this project offers,” Dean Selo explained.

The public’s enthusiasm for visiting the UGM booth encouraged the DTETI team to enthusiastically serve and explain each question. 

The Zenith B-08 team occasionally demonstrated the prototype’s performance to help visitors better understand the drone’s capabilities. Professor Selo hopes this event will bring DTETI closer to people from various backgrounds. 

“We also hope that after this, more friends from high schools and vocational schools will be interested in joining and learning at UGM, especially in DTETI,” he concluded.

The ICT Innovation Exhibition became a showcase for technological achievements from various prestigious institutions besides UGM, such as the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA), and several Regional Government Organizations (OPD) in Semarang City. 

This event embraced the spirit of collaboration and innovation in supporting sustainable digital transformation in Semarang City. 

Through this festival, the Semarang City Office of Communication, Informatics, Statistics, and Encryption hopes to inspire the younger generation to innovate in technology. Digital transformation is a key factor in realizing the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045.

Author: Triya Andriyani

Photo: DTETI

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

Artikel UGM Showcases Zenith B-08 Drone at Semarang City Information and Communication Technology Festival pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Now ready for mass production, this innovation is set to support healthcare services, particularly in medical screenings, medical check-ups (MCUs), emergency services (extremities), and diagnostics. 

Professor Suparta has been researching RSFD since 1990, even before the rapid advancement of computer and internet technologies. 

With funding from various research schemes supported by the Ministry of Research and Technology, intensive RSFD research began in 2000 at the Department of Physics, FMIPA UGM, involving students and research partners.  

“Hopefully, this tool can inspire UGM researchers because the process of commercializing research results is incredibly challenging, costly, time-consuming, and exhausting,” he reflected on Monday (Nov. 28).  

The RSFD technology, now branded as DDR Madeena, stands for Direct Digital Radiography, with “Madeena” representing the spirit of Made-in-Indonesia. 

Professor Suparta recounted the licensing challenges during DDR Madeena’s commercialization process amid the COVID-19 pandemic through the TFRIC-19 program in 2021. 

“In 2020, RSFD was included among 40 technologies to mitigate COVID-19 risks. However, its downstream process was delayed when BPPT merged into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in 2022,” he explained.  

Since 2022, DDR Madeena’s commercialization has been continued by PT Madeena Karya Indonesia, which secured a distribution permit as a domestic medical device (AKD) from the Ministry of Health (No. 21501220581, issued on Nov. 17, 2022) for its Medical Image Digitizer (MMD) product, under the trade name Madeena X-Ray Medical Diagnostic Equipment. 

Additionally, DDR Madeena has earned a Domestic Content Level (TKDN) certificate with a score of 57.62% and is listed in the national e-catalog. Thus, government-funded procurements (APBN, APBD, or other public funds) are mandated to purchase this product.  

“With this achievement, my duty as an academic and researcher to oversee the commercialization of research results is complete,” Professor Suparta remarked.  

To enhance user confidence, beta testing, and teleradiology were conducted to validate the quality of the domestically produced device against international standards. 

PT Madeena Karya Indonesia facilitated beta testing involving human volunteers at the Pratama Clinic, managed by the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (FK Undiksha), Singaraja, Bali. 

Results confirmed that DDR Madeena successfully generated readable thorax and extremities radiographic images, earning FK Undiksha’s recommendation for safe use in hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and clinics.  

The DDR Madeena’s comprehensive features include lead knock-down room radiation protection, a DICOM viewer, a PACS archiving system, and teleradiology capabilities. These enable radiologists to transmit and read radiographic images remotely. 

This aligns with Indonesia’s digital health transformation goals outlined in Health Law No. 17 of 2023 and Government Regulation No. 24 of 2024.  

“This tool significantly enhances accessible healthcare services across the country, provided there is internet and cloud data storage connectivity,” Professor Suparta stated.  

The system, developed by PT Madeena Karya Indonesia and branded as the Madeena Health Care System (MHCS), aims to optimize Indonesia’s limited 2,200 radiologists. The MHCS system could eventually adopt AI-based diagnostic tools. 

Professor Suparta expressed hope for the government’s commitment to supporting domestic products like DDR Madeena through gradual production, continuous monitoring, and improvements.  

“The device supports health screenings, MCUs, emergency services, and diagnoses of TB, chronic pulmonary diseases (COPD), and cancer. It may also be used for pediatric examinations, such as assessing physical growth in stunted children,” he explained.  

Professor Suparta encouraged companies and organizations concerned with public health to participate in DDR Madeena’s production and installation through health-focused Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs or joint radiography service ventures in clinics and hospitals. 

“Hopefully, UGM can develop more progressive and disruptive strategies to ensure academic research translates into societal applications, driving the national economy,” he concluded.  

Author: Triya Andriyani  

Artikel DDR Madeena: UGM Researchers’ Digital Radiography Innovation Ready for Mass Production pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

This research was conducted under the Student Creativity Program in Exact Science Research (PKM-RE).

The PKM-RE team consists of Chenaniah, Muhammad Fathur Rohman, Prima Nafisman, Habib Fabian Fahlesi (Faculty of Engineering/FT UGM), and Dheandy Keriswasiat (Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing/FK-KMK UGM). Guided by Dr. Ridwan Wicaksono and funded by the Ministry of Education, this team named themselves GASTREIT.

“Through our research titled ‘Real-Time Stomach Acidity Monitoring System for GERD Patients Based on Electrical Impedance Tomography Integrated with Mobile Apps,’ GASTREIT aims to monitor the stomach acidity of GERD patients comfortably without inserting instruments into the body,” said Chenaniah, the research coordinator for GASTREIT, at UGM campus on Wednesday (Jul. 17).

Chenaniah explained that GASTREIT’s research is a significant step forward in telemedicine. With a real-time monitoring system integrated with a mobile app, patients can monitor their stomach acidity levels non-invasively and take necessary preventive actions more quickly and easily.

“This solution offers more comfort and efficiency than traditional invasive methods,” she explained.

She also mentioned that GASTREIT was developed in response to concerns from GERD patients. GERD is a medical condition characterized by repeated reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. Data from 2023 shows that around 27.4 percent of Indonesians have experienced GERD, with cases increasing by 4 percent annually.

According to Chenaniah, there is no effective early screening method for detecting GERD symptoms, so invasive methods remain the gold standard for GERD diagnosis. These methods offer accurate diagnosis and direct visualization of the esophagus.

“Unfortunately, these methods often cause discomfort or complications such as esophageal strictures,” she said.

With the advent of GASTREIT, there is now an alternative solution that detects stomach acidity through changes in electrical impedance sensors outside the body. This system eliminates the need for inserting instruments into the body, reducing the risk of discomfort and complications often associated with invasive methods.

Chenaniah added that the current research is focused on stomach phantoms (models), hoping it can soon be implemented directly on patients. This will allow patients to feel safe and comfortable when checking their stomach acidity levels, a key early risk factor for GERD.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Artikel UGM Students Develop GASTREIT for GERD Patients pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

This exhibition of various innovative products is the result of the Kedaireka program from the participants of the 2023 Dana Padanan Program (PDP), which has been curated.

From these eighteen innovation products funded by the Kedaireka matching fund, four of them feature innovations by UGM lecturers, including:

• Biodegradable Polypropylene Product: This is an alternative material to conventional plastic for food packaging and plastic bags. Dr. Yuni Kusumastuti, a lecturer in Chemical Engineering at FT UGM, developed this innovation. The advantage of this product is its increased degradation rate, allowing it to break down more quickly than conventional plastic.
• Immunobooster for Livestock: Developed by Professor Ali Agus from the Faculty of Animal Science, this product is a supplement to enhance the productivity and health of cattle and sheep. It contains ingredients such as corn, copra, palm kernel meal, corn gluten meal, cassava flour, wheat bran, molasses, palm oil, mineral premix, and vitamin premix.
• Toxin Binder: Created by Dr. Musin Al Anas from the Faculty of Animal Science, this innovation reduces toxins in poultry feed contaminated by Aspergillus flavus mold. Mold can easily affect feed, typically corn and grains with high moisture content. This additional product is intended to reduce toxin levels, with 2 kg per ton mixed into the feed.

In addition to innovations from UGM researchers, innovations from other universities were also showcased, such as:

• Canker Sore Plaster: Developed by Professor Nasrul Wathoni from Universitas Padjajaran, this product uses natural polysaccharide-based technology (chitosan and alginate) and has the potential to help treat canker sores.
• Anti-Aging Skincare: Developed by Professor I Ketut Adnyana from Bandung Institute of Technology, this product uses a hydrolyzed eggshell membrane as an anti-aging serum ingredient.

In the RekaTalks talk show, Professor Nizam of FT UGM and former Director General of Higher Education stated that the matching fund program, now renamed PDP, originated from industries’ low commitment to collaboration with universities in research and development.

Professor Nizam expressed gratitude that Indonesia’s ranking has improved significantly since the program began. According to the 2023 Global Innovation Index report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Indonesia ranks 5th globally in university-industry collaboration out of 132 countries. 

“In 2020, we were still ranked 35th in the world,” he explained.

The improved index of innovation collaboration between campuses and industries domestically has also boosted Indonesia’s ranking from 85th in 2020 to 61st in 2023.

According to Professor Nizam, this increase in ranking is closely related to the hard work of campuses in establishing collaborations with industries through the Kedaireka program, which funds industry partnerships. 

“Each year, the ministry funds 1,000 campus-industry collaborations, in addition to promoting Science Techno Parks at several campuses,” he said.

Professor Nizam emphasized that this improved ranking must be maintained and enhanced through extensive collaboration to build innovations through research and development programs. 

“I think this momentum must continue. If we cannot sustain it, the ranking may drop again,” the professor asserted.

He believes that if Indonesia wants to become a developed country, it must strengthen its human resources to be competitive, excellent, and innovation-based. Therefore, universities must work together and build an innovation climate supported by industry, trade, and SMEs.

Professor Basarudin, a member of the PDP expert Team, stated that the PDP has raised campus awareness about building collaborations with industries. 

“Such collaborations are becoming institutionalized, which is encouraging and should be appreciated,” Professor Basarudin said.

However, he believes that building promising innovations through interdisciplinary cooperation is equally important, as innovation users and industries always utilize innovations from research activities involving interdisciplinary research.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Artikel 18 Innovation Products from Various Campuses Displayed at RekaTalks UGM pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Both UAVs can be operated remotely and range from 50 to 300 kilometers, making them suitable for mapping, disaster monitoring, and surveillance activities.

These UAVs are the innovative work of Dr. Gesang Nugroho, a Mechanical Engineering lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), who was recently inaugurated as a professor. 

After 12 years of developing UAVs, Professor Nugroho achieved a professorship and secured two patents related to composite molding using balloon pressure, named Bladder Compression Moulding (BCM).

In his statement to reporters, Professor Nugroho explained that the UAVs, measuring 2 meters and 3.3 meters, respectively, are equipped with autopilot systems and can navigate according to set coordinates. 

“During flight, they can capture photos and videos sent to the ground control station. The Palapa S-1 can fly for 6 hours nonstop, while the Palapa S-2 can fly for 10 hours nonstop,” he said.

Professor Nugroho noted that the Palapa S-1 uses Wi-Fi telemetry with a range of up to 50 kilometers. 

Although it has a flight range capability of up to 300 kilometers, photos and videos can only be communicated over shorter distances. In contrast, the Palapa S-2 uses satellite telemetry and offers unlimited capabilities, although it is still in development. 

“The Palapa S-2 is not yet finished; it will be equipped with an autopilot system and satellite telemetry communication for unlimited range. Currently, we are still in the phase of building its body,” he explained.

Despite currently using 25-30% domestic components, Professor Nugroho is optimistic about the future development of UAVs in Indonesia. These UAVs are essential not only for military purposes but also for mapping, surveillance, disaster monitoring, and agricultural and plantation maintenance. 

“We are encouraging the growth of the aircraft component industry and the manufacture of aircraft bodies from composites,” he emphasized.

Regarding the cost, Professor Nugroho mentioned that the UAVs he developed are much cheaper compared to foreign UAVs. Maintenance and repairs can also be done domestically. 

“The price is much more economical. Similar UAVs are sold in Indonesia for up to Rp 3 billion. Our UAVs can be priced below Rp 1 billion,” he revealed.

In his inaugural speech, “Building Indonesia’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry,” Professor Nugroho highlighted the rapid advancement of UAV technology. 

UAVs are no longer just sophisticated technological devices but revolutionary tools that change our perspective on the world. From military uses to various civil applications, UAVs are penetrating every aspect of society at an astounding rate.

He urged the public and government to support and use domestically researched products. Effective collaboration will ensure the continuous implementation of the Invention, Application, and Utilization (IAU) concept, fostering growth and development in the domestic manufacturing industry.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Artikel Dr. Gesang Nugroho Earns Professorship for Developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Integrating self-management becomes more accessible with the DiaRIn App, which can improve self-management and glycemic control in patients with T2DM.

“Users are satisfied, and the DiaRIn Android application is recommended for general use by patients with T2DM,” stated Dewi Murdiyanti Prihatin Putri during her doctoral defense at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), on Thursday (21/3).

On that occasion, Dr. Putri defended her dissertation, Implementation of Integrated Diabetes Self-Management Based on the Android Application (DiaRIn App) in Improving Self-Management and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

Based on her research, the DiaRIn Android application was developed based on user needs and then tested using the Heuristic Evaluation method. 

Most of the issues that arose were minor usability problems, so overall, the Android application can be easily used. The Think Aloud method also revealed that users are satisfied with using the DiaRIn application, finding it easy, effective, and efficient.

“There are many benefits that patients with T2DM experience in guiding self-management using the DiaRIn application, so self-awareness and commitment are needed in its implementation,” she added.

Families can continue to monitor and remind patients of their self-management activities through the DiaRIn application so that patients can carry out their self-management regularly and orderly.

Healthcare professionals responsible for the Prolanis program can introduce the DiaRIn application to patients and families and use it in healthcare services to monitor self-management implementation in patients with T2DM. 

They can also provide education and a means for health consultations, making it easier to monitor the health conditions of patients with T2DM.

Author: Satria

Photo: FK-KMK UGM

Artikel DiaRIn App Empowers Patients with Type 2 Diabetes for Self-Management pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The inauguration ceremony on Thursday (Feb. 29) at the UGM Senate Hall officially recognized his exceptional contributions. During this significant event, he delivered an inaugural speech titled “Authentication for Data Security in Contemporary Communication and Information Technologies.”

Professor Hidayat embarked on a journey through the evolution of data communication across generations in cellular telecommunications and the historical progression of internet communication. 

He underscored the exponential rise in global internet usage, which has witnessed a surge in cybercrimes. Consequently, he emphasized the critical necessity of cybersecurity to safeguard the digital realm. Protecting sensitive data such as personal identities and intellectual property rights is paramount in the modern era.

“In the vast landscape of the internet, cybercriminals lurk, continuously evolving their tactics to outsmart conventional cyber defenses. Comprehensive cybersecurity measures are imperative to ensure robust protection,” he elucidated.

Highlighting authentication as a critical aspect in combating various forms of internet crimes, Professor Hidayat emphasized its importance. Robust authentication mechanisms are necessary to uphold security and authenticity while thwarting unauthorized access attempts.

“Among authentication methods, biometric authentication stands out due to its inherent superiority over conventional methods like passwords and digital certificates,” he added.

“Biometric technology leverages unique user features such as fingerprints, voice, or facial characteristics, rendering it significantly more resistant to forgery. Furthermore, it eliminates the risk of password theft or loss.”

Professor Hidayat also shed light on the promising realm of multimodal biometrics, exemplified by the integration of fingerprints and facial recognition deployed in international airports. Current research explores gesture-based authentication, harnessing distinctive physical movements or patterns unique to each individual. 

This innovative approach bolsters security against identity theft. It enhances user convenience and is applicable across diverse devices and platforms, mitigating the risks of phishing attacks.

“By using characteristic movements by the user, gesture authentication provides protection against identity theft, offers user convenience, and can be used in various devices and applications. This reduces the risk of phishing, and its widespread use makes gesture authentication an important choice in maintaining system and information security,” he explained.

“Advancing research in amalgamating diverse authentication features to achieve heightened accuracy, swifter processing speeds, and enhanced resistance to interference holds immense promise for real-world applications.”

Author: Gloria

Photographer: Donnie

Artikel UGM Appoints New Professor in Signal Processing pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The Tekari team, a group of talented UGM students, has achieved a prestigious milestone by securing the silver award in the Asian Youth Innovation Award category for Agriculture, Livestock, Horticulture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries at the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE).

The UGM team comprises a dynamic lineup of students, including Nadya Aji Salsabila, Ali Mochtar Ahdina Sabilarrosyad (Biomedical Engineering), Eblin Alle Azarya (Mechanical Engineering), Nur Fitriana Wulandari, Akyas Kalis Rubedo, Laylaturrohmah, and Reza Ananta Putra Rizky (Animal Science). 

Under the expert guidance of Dr. Ahmad Ataka Awwalur Rizki, a dedicated lecturer at the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, UGM Faculty of Engineering, the team soared to new heights of success.

“We received the award on Feb. 24 during the exhibition hosted at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, spanning from Feb. 22 to 24, 2024,” shared Nadya Aji Salsabila on Thursday (Feb. 29).

Delving into the event, Salsabila revealed that the team faced off against stiff competition from 12 other countries, including China, Iran, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Poland, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan ROC, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yemen. 

“Tekari represents a cutting-edge livestock technology infused with smart tech integration and backed by big data,” she elaborated.

Salsabila further explained that Tekari introduced its flagship product, SS-23, a smart scale driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This revolutionary product addresses the longstanding challenge of inaccuracies in livestock measurement results.

Equipped with the capability to analyze the temperature, weight, height, length, and abdominal circumference of livestock, Tekari ensures precise and reliable measurements. 

The analytical insights provided by Tekari are then meticulously compared against the established standards for each type of animal.

“With Tekari, we aim to empower farmers by offering tailored feed and livestock care recommendations. Our ultimate goal is to streamline livestock management practices and enhance the well-being of farmers,” she emphasized.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Artikel Students of UGM Engineering & Animal Science Faculties Achieve Success at Malaysia Technology Expo pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The Smart Agri Plant Factory, an innovative endeavor spearheaded by the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering within the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, heralds a new era of modern, intelligent, and sustainable agriculture. 

This cutting-edge facility is meticulously designed to meet the evolving demands for innovative and adaptable agricultural solutions. 

Armed with state-of-the-art soilless technology, including automated nutrient delivery systems, real-time water and air quality monitoring, precision lighting control, hydroponics, and artificial intelligence, the factory enables plant cultivation in a meticulously controlled environment.

“This setup enables agriculture to thrive indoors, shielded from the vagaries of weather and external environmental adversities,” explained Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, the research coordinator at Smart Agriculture Research, during the inauguration of the Smart Agri Plant Factory at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology on Friday (Feb. 23).

The development of this groundbreaking technology, he continued, serves as a pivotal platform for advancing research and development in agricultural technology. 

Moreover, it offers a viable alternative to boost crop productivity, ensuring sustainable food security while concurrently curbing pesticide and water usage, thus minimizing the carbon footprint of agricultural practices.

Dr. Nugroho underscored that the research endeavors are centered on optimizing environmental parameters for diverse crop varieties, elucidating growth responses and plant behavior to tailor the Smart Agri Plant Factory to suit the specific requirements of varying ecosystems and geographical conditions. 

Employing non-contact and non-destructive plant growth observation technologies, encompassing both 2D and 3D methods, alongside studies on plant movement behavior, enables the assessment of plant conditions during cultivation in a controlled environment. 

“Armed with insights into optimal conditions and plant responses, diverse input parameters within agricultural ecosystems can be effectively implemented,” he elaborated.

This pioneering innovation is envisioned as a solution for global challenges like climate change, food security, and the imperative for land use efficiency. 

By amalgamating cutting-edge technology with sustainable agriculture principles, the Smart Agri Plant Factory aims to revolutionize the food production paradigm, rendering it more efficient, environmentally conscious, modern, and sustainable.

Professor Lilik Sutiarso, Chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, emphasized that the Smart Agri Plant Factory represents not merely an innovation but a paradigm shift in perceiving and managing food production in the foreseeable future.

“By offering intelligent and sustainable solutions, we aspire to make a tangible contribution to addressing the pressing global issue of food security and mitigating climate change,” Professor Sutiarso asserted.

Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Professor Eni Harmayani, expressed her profound appreciation for the inauguration of the Smart Agri Plant Factory, attributing it to the diligence and dedication of a multidisciplinary team comprising students, lecturers, and researchers at Smart Agriculture Research. 

This initiative was developed through interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, the Agricultural Energy and Machinery Laboratory (EMP), and the Environmental and Agricultural Building Engineering Laboratory (TLBP) and fortified by the support of an industry partner PT Inamas Technology Synthesis (INASTEK).

“The advent of the Smart Agri Plant Factory is poised to catalyze further research endeavors in mitigating climate change. Moreover, it serves as a blueprint for intelligent and sustainable agro-industrial systems that can incorporate indigenous wisdom,” she elucidated.

UGM Director of Research, Professor Mirwan Ushada, expressed optimism regarding the role of the Smart Agri Plant Factory in advancing future flagship research at UGM. Professor Ushada delineated five translational and transdisciplinary flagship research areas, emphasizing food self-sufficiency, climate change, and environmental adaptation.

“The university is poised to bolster the development of the Smart Agri Plant Factory as a research and demonstration facility,” he affirmed.

Simultaneously, UGM showcased many other avant-garde agricultural innovations during the launch event. 

Dr. Radi, head of the Agricultural Energy and Machinery Laboratory, introduced cutting-edge technologies such as specialized agricultural drones for land monitoring and management, mapping drones facilitating topographic analysis and natural resource management, and 6-axis robotic arms offering automation solutions in harvesting. 

Furthermore, autonomous tractor technology facilitates highly efficient and accurate land processing, while various innovative prototypes stemming from research collaborations between lecturers and students were also unveiled. 

This concerted effort underscores the collaborative endeavors of research teams within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, with a vision to position the department as a nexus of excellence in modern agricultural technology development. 

By introducing these technologies, UGM is unwavering in its commitment to spearhead the transformation of agriculture into a more innovative, efficient, and sustainable epoch.

Author: Ika

Photographer: Donnie

Artikel UGM Launches Smart Agri Plant Factory to Propel Modern Sustainable Agriculture pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The use of doping has tarnished the titles of many athletes, leading to sanctions like the Indonesian team’s flag prohibition at the 2021 Thomas Cup because the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned the Indonesian team from hoisting the flag as a sanction for inadequate efforts to prevent doping use among Indonesian athletes. 

Similarly, at the 2022 National Sports Week (PON) in Papua, several medalists (three gold medalists, one silver medalist, and one bronze medalist) were stripped of their titles due to doping.

Dr. Arko Jatmiko Wicaksono, a researcher at the Herbal Medicine Center and lecturer at UGM’s Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, alongside his team, discovered over 2,500 BPOM (Indonesian Food and Drug Administration) registered medications and supplements suspected of containing doping substances. 

“Additionally, unregistered supplements are readily available, especially through online shops,” Dr. Wicaksono informed journalists on Friday (Feb. 16).

He highlighted pseudoephedrine, found in common flu medications, as a doping substance. This alkaloid and sympathomimetic agent, present in at least 318 registered BPOM medications since January 2024, is used to relieve nasal congestion but is strictly regulated and prohibited by WADA for athletes.

“For non-athletes, this compound may be consumed to alleviate flu symptoms. However, for athletes, such medications are heavily regulated and even prohibited by WADA,” Dr. Wicaksono said.

More than 400 doping substances are listed as prohibited by WADA, potentially present in dozens to hundreds of medications each. 

“For each type of doping substance, it can be contained in dozens to hundreds of medications,” he added.

Dr. Wicaksono and undergraduate students Santi Andriyani and Christopher William from the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing compiled a list of medications and supplements containing doping substances circulating in Indonesia to address this. This comprehensive list was then transformed into an online search catalog on a website.

He collaborated with the National Sports Committee of Indonesia in Yogyakarta (KONI DIY) and Indonesian Digital Technology University (UTDI) students to develop the Doping Screening application. 

Supported by the Indonesian Anti-Doping Organization (IADO) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, this app aims to aid athletes, coaches, medical teams, and healthcare professionals determine whether a medication or supplement is safe for athletes. 

“Our goal is to prevent athletes from unintentionally consuming doping substances,” Dr. Wicaksono emphasized.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Photo: Freepik

Artikel UGM Lecturer Creates Doping Screening App for Athletes pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.