Today's Miscellany informs you about Indonesia's international achievement. The Anargya Team from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), Surabaya, East Java has again made history at the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) Japan 2024. They successfully defended their title in the Presentation Event category and entered the Top 10 in the electric vehicle (EV) class. This achievement is clear evidence that the innovation of young Indonesians is able to compete on the global stage.
FSAE Japan is one of the most prestigious automotive competitions in the world, where students from various countries compete to design electric formula cars. The ITS Anargya Team, which is the only Indonesian representative, faced 75 teams from other Asian countries. In this competition, they were faced with challenges not only in terms of technical design, but also business and marketing strategies that had to be presented in detail. With creativity and a deep understanding of digital technology and the environment, the Anargya Team managed to stand out and win third place in the presentation category.
Not only that, in the FSAE event, the Anargya EV Mark 4.0 car made by ITS students had to pass various strict technical tests, including slope tests and rain tests. In this competition, the Anargya Car was able to show extraordinary performance, passing all challenges well. The technology they developed, such as the use of recycled semiconductors and a waterproof protection system, is one of the innovations that makes them worthy of competing at the international level. All of this is the result of the team's hard work and dedication in preparing themselves during the competition. This achievement proves that young Indonesians have extraordinary potential in the fields of technology and innovation.
Bali in Indonesia is not only known as a center of tourism that offers fascinating nature but also as a place rich in Balinese culture that can be enjoyed by anyone visiting the island. Despite outside and modern influences, Bali maintains its thick traditional roots, especially through its cuisine, which continues to tempt the appetite of tourists. One notable dish is Lawar, a traditional Balinese culinary delight.
Lawar is a typical Balinese dish made from a mixture of vegetables and minced meat, seasoned with various spices. Initially, Lawar was served only at traditional and religious ceremonies, but now it has become a common dish in Balinese households and is widely available in restaurants under the name Balinese Lawar.
The naming of Lawar varies depending on the type of meat or vegetables used. For example, if chicken is used, it is called Chicken Lawar; if jackfruit is the main ingredient, it is named Jackfruit Lawar. The name can also be based on the dish's color, such as Red Lawar for red-colored Lawar or White Lawar if it appears white. There is also a type called Padamare Lawar, which is a mixture of several kinds of Lawar.
Making Balinese Lawar is relatively simple. Start by slicing long beans into approximately 1 cm pieces and set aside. Then add bean sprouts and remove the roots. Grind or pound together shallots, garlic, large red chilies, ginger, galangal, kencur, roasted candlenuts, pepper, coriander, roasted shrimp paste, and salt. Heat some oil, then sauté the ground spices until fragrant and cooked. Add minced meat and stir until slightly dry. After that, add grated coconut and stir over low heat until the coconut becomes dry and brownish, then set it aside to cool. Finally, mix the long beans, bean sprouts, other vegetables, and the chicken-coconut stir-fry. Add lime juice, stir until evenly mixed, and serve.
Due to its mostly vegetable-based ingredients such as starfruit, jackfruit, young coconut, and young papaya mixed with Balinese spices, Lawar is best enjoyed fresh as it does not last long.
The annual creative industry festival "Evoria M Bloc Fest 2024" was held at M Bloc Space, Jakarta on 27 September until 6 October 2024. The festival showcased subcultures of music, arts, designs, films, and fashions in one area. One of the founder and Program Director of M Bloc Fest Wendi Putranto said the Bloc Fest strengthened its position as a national creative industry festival that is open for newcomers from various creative scenes. Evoria M Bloc Fest 2024 is an umbrella for some festivals with different activities, shows, and exhibitions namely M Bloc Design Week (MBDW) (27 September – 6 October 2024), M Bloc Music Festival (27, 28, 29 September 2024), X Short, X Fashion, and X OpenLab (27, 28, 29 September 2024).
There are six locations for the M Bloc Fest 2024 namely M Bloc Live House, Creative Hall, Mini Gallery, Bloc Bar, LRS Stage, and M Bloc Market. The curation process, talent and new work hunt at M Bloc Fest has been running since early this year though the Evoria Festival 2024 held on 26 May until 2 June at M Bloc Space. Besides music and fashion shows, there are also incubation of music, film, fashion, art & design in workshow, talkshow, and consultation with professionals of each field.
Some 907 musicians or bands from across Indonesia joined Evoria this year. The incubation program combines creativity with mentoring from experts in the creative industry. This program also presents some famous artists as speakers namely Ryan Geraldin, Anindito Wisnu, Alain Gunawan, Rifqi Zarkasih, Faza Meonk, and others.
Today's Miscellany presents the amazing story of Indonesian students from the Faculty of Medicine, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta University, who won silver medals in the "World Invention Competition and Exhibition" (WICE) 2024 in Selangor, Malaysia. They not only competed on the international stage, but also showed that Indonesia has young talents who are ready to lead in the fields of science and technology.
The students presented research that examines the potential of propolis as an immunostimulant, using pharmacodynamic and acute toxicity study methods in mice. Through acute toxicity tests, the results of the study prove that propolis is safe to use in the right doses, adding scientific evidence regarding the benefits of propolis in improving the immune system and opening up opportunities for further development in its use as evidence-based health therapy. The success of the Medical Faculty team of UIN Jakarta University proves that collaboration and perseverance in scientific research can bring about major changes, both in the academic realm and for the advancement of the health sector globally.
The WICE competition itself was attended by 585 teams from 15 countries, making the achievements of UIN Jakarta students even more meaningful, due to the tight competition. The enthusiasm and hard work shown by these students are an inspiration to other young generations. They have proven that with good support, the dream of innovating at the world level is possible. Innovation in science and technology is the key to a better future, and the achievement of these UIN Jakarta students is a real step towards that hope. Let's continue to support and encourage the birth of new innovations from the nation's children! from Indonesia to the world.