Sri Fatmawati SSi MSc PhD (left) with her husband Prof. Adi Setyo Purnomo SSi MSc PhD while conducting research in one of the laboratories at Kyushu University, Japan

ITS Campus, ITS News — An extraordinary achievement was again made by Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) academician Sri Fatmawati SSi MSc PhD. This time, the ITS Chemistry Department lecturer was selected in the top 100 scientists in Asia according to Asian Scientist Magazine 2024 through her natural and medicinal chemistry research.

Since 2016, Asian Scientist Magazine has published an annual list of the 100 best researchers, scientists, and innovators in Asia under the title The Asian Scientist 100. The individuals included are researchers with significant scientific, technological, and scholarship contributions. Based in Singapore, the recipients of this award are considered to have gained national and international scientific recognition and created innovations that significantly impact society.

In her latest release, the lecturer, who is familiarly called Fatma, managed to become one of the scientists from Indonesia who was honored to be included in this prestigious list. Fatma revealed that her consistent research and myriad tangible contributions to society were the main ticket to this achievement. “Since the beginning, my research journey in the field of natural material chemistry has never been cut off,” she said.

Sri Fatmawati SSi MSc PhD (white shirt) with her students during the 130th ITS Graduation Ceremony

Specifically, explained the Deputy Head of the ITS Agricultural-Food and Biotechnology Research Center, her research centers on analyzing the medical potential of endemic plants in Indonesia, especially those used as herbal medicines. Not only that, Fatma provides a lot of evidence and scientific facts related to plants that can be used as traditional medicines by residents in remote areas of the country. “Undoubtedly, people will be wiser in utilizing herbal plants,” she said optimistically.

One of the results of her research was implemented with the presence of ITS Djamoe, which was launched in 2022. As the person in charge at that time, Fatma revealed that her team had distributed 10,000 packages of ITS Djamoe herbs to COVID-19 patients to boost the body’s immunity. “Until now, ITS Djamoe products can be enjoyed by the public with a more mature formulation,” continued the President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Indonesia.

Sri Fatmawati SSi MSc PhD (wearing hijab) when receiving the Wilmar Schwabe Award in Poland, one of several other awards she received in the field of research

Not limited to products, Fatma explained that her research also has an impact on the preservation of biodiversity in Indonesia. By involving communities in the interior, she believes that her study can create sustainability from the surrounding nature while empowering the community at large. “So drinking herbal medicine is not just a culture, but there is science behind it that brings more benefits,” she explained.

Fatma’s track record in research has led her to more than 30 national and international awards. According to her, several achievements, such as winning the International L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science (FWIS) and Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World, also factor into her name’s presence among the best researchers in the world.

Sri Fatmawati SSi MSc PhD in ITS Community Service activities to promote science to remote children in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara

Through The Asian Scientist 100 award, Fatma is grateful because, after this, more opportunities will open up to support her research work in the global arena. She added that this achievement also honored ITS in the eyes of the world. “My message is, be a brave and progressive researcher because science is the path to humanity,” she said meaningfully. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Putu Calista Arthanti Dewi
Translator: Lael Soebakir