MALAYSIA – Students from the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro (FK Undip) have once again brought pride to the institution on the international stage. A team comprising M. Umar Dani, Fadhil Raihan Akbar, and Ihsan Shafiyyur Rahman won the Bronze Medal in the Environment Topic category at the prestigious International Youth Summit (IYS) 2026. The competition, organized by Sentosa Foundation in collaboration with the Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability (CEM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), was held on May 30–31, 2026.
In the competition, the team presented a project titled “Planetary Health on Post-Disaster Restoration.” They selected this theme to address a common dilemma frequently encountered during post-disaster recovery efforts.
“Planetary Health is an interdisciplinary concept that focuses on the well-being of human civilization and natural systems. In post-disaster restoration, we cannot focus solely on humans while neglecting nature, or vice versa. Both must be balanced to prevent future disasters,” said Fadhil Raihan Akbar in an interview with the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro on Friday, June 5, 2026.
The team’s primary solution was a community empowerment–based restoration approach. They proposed the establishment of “local environmental stewards,” leveraging the knowledge and experience of local residents to restore ecosystems with scientific support from the team and Universitas Diponegoro partners. In addition, the team introduced the idea of converting carbon credits into land-use rights. Under this scheme, land could be managed either as protected forests for ecosystem restoration or as productive forests capable of generating income for affected communities, enabling them to recover economically.
This achievement was made possible with the guidance of Ns. Nur Hafizhah Widyaningtyas, S.Kep., M.Kep., who served as the team’s academic supervisor. She praised the students’ courage in addressing an interdisciplinary issue.
“The students deserve recognition for their willingness to explore an interdisciplinary topic by combining environmental issues with post-disaster recovery. This demonstrates their awareness of society’s needs and their responsiveness to current challenges,” said Nur Hafizhah.
The team also expressed appreciation for the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro, which provided mentorship throughout the process, from idea development to the finalization of the project. They highlighted the valuable insights shared by faculty members, drawing on their experiences as researchers and humanitarian volunteers.
Reflecting on their accomplishment, the team encouraged fellow students at the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro to pursue ambitious goals without hesitation.
“International achievements are not solely about being the smartest. They are the result of consistency, hard work, and the courage to keep learning. Take advantage of the extraordinary environment at FK Undip to collaborate, innovate, and bring pride to Universitas Diponegoro on the international stage,” concluded Fadhil Raihan Akbar. (Public Relations Office, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro/Saradita/Erman)
