MEDAN – Students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) have once again achieved national recognition. Team IONEX won Third Place in the National Student Palm Oil Research Competition and received the Best Poster Award in the Bioenergy category at the 2026 Palm Oil Research Week (PERISAI), organized by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP Sawit) at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on 20–21 July 2026.

 

The achievement was earned after a highly competitive selection process. Out of 1,433 research proposals submitted by students from universities across Indonesia, only 40 proposals were selected to receive research funding. Team FMIPA USU successfully advanced to the Top 10 national finalists before ultimately securing Third Place.

 

Team IONEX is led by Desti Damai Hati Gea (Undergraduate Chemistry, Class of 2023), with members Fairutzh Divhany Akbar (Chemistry 2023), Khalya Rosida Amri (Chemistry 2023), and Tio Roito Siregar (Chemistry 2022). The team was supervised by Dr. Ir. Zikri Noer, S.Si., M.Si., a lecturer in the Physics Study Program at FMIPA USU.

 

In the competition, Team IONEX presented a research project entitled "Synthesis of Empty Fruit Bunch-Based Graphene Quantum Dots (GQD) as Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes to Enhance Electrochemical Performance." The study explores the conversion of oil palm empty fruit bunch waste into Graphene Quantum Dots (GQD) for use as lithium-ion battery anode material, offering the potential to improve electrochemical performance while adding value to palm oil industry waste.

 

In addition to winning Third Place nationally, the team also received the Best Poster Award in the Bioenergy category. The award recognized the quality of the team's research presentation, the novelty of its innovation, and its contribution to the development of renewable energy based on local resources.

 

Team leader Desti Damai Hati Gea expressed gratitude for the achievement, noting that the accomplishment was the result of the team's dedication throughout the research process, scientific paper preparation, and final presentation before the panel of judges.

"We are grateful for this achievement. We hope our research can contribute to the advancement of energy technology in Indonesia while inspiring more students to pursue research and innovation," she said.

 

The team's supervisor, Dr. Ir. Zikri Noer, S.Si., M.Si., commended the students for their dedication in competing against hundreds of participants from universities across Indonesia. He expressed hope that this accomplishment would mark the beginning of even more impactful research innovations from FMIPA USU that benefit both society and industry.

 

This achievement further reinforces FMIPA USU's commitment to fostering a strong culture of research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The success of Team IONEX at PERISAI 2026 is expected to inspire more students to produce high-quality research that offers practical solutions to challenges in the fields of energy and the environment.