Cool! UGM Lecturer Enters List 2 Percent Of The World's Most Influenced Scientists Thanks To Paper-Based Detection Research

UGM Lecturer Enters List 2 Percent Of The World's Most Influenced Scientists (Web. UGM)

JAKARTA Lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), apt. Eka Noviana, Ph.D., is included in the World's Top 2 Percent Scientists 2025 list released by Stanford University last September. As a young lecturer, Eka was born in 1991, which means she was 34 years old when the list was released, admitting that the assessment was a big motivation for her to continue producing research that had a real impact on the community.

Reporting from the official UGM website, Eka said, his achievements did not come suddenly. He was included in the list of influential scientists thanks to his doctoral research in analytics at Colorado State University, United States. There, he developed a paper-based detection method (paper-based analytical device) "a simple but effective technology that is now being confiscated by many world researchers."

Our research on detection methods using paper kits has received a lot of satiation. From there, we were finally able to enter the Top 2% Scientist list," he said as quoted from the UGM website, Thursday, October 16.

He then developed the innovation in the laboratory of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM. The focus is: detecting dangerous materials such as bolax, textile dyes, to drug levels in the blood. "Just one drop of the sample, then you can immediately know the results without large equipment or electricity," he explained.

For Eka, this research is not just technological advances, but also solutions for remote areas. The paper-based method is environmentally friendly, uses small sample volume, and produces minimal chemical waste. The material is easily decomposed and can be used in the field. This is important for Indonesia, which has a large area and many regions do not yet have a complete laboratory," he said.

Constraints have actually become fuel for his research. According to Eka, the lack of laboratory funds and instruments in Indonesia encourages researchers to be more creative. We develop simple tools, but the results can still have an impact and benefit for the community," he said.

To the younger generation, Eka advised not to hesitate to pursue the world of science. "Science is interesting because it can solve many problems around us. The important thing is to first identify self-interest so as not to get the wrong direction," he said.

With that spirit, Eka Noviana is not only a name on the list of world scientists, but also an inspiration on how limitations can be a source of innovation.