JAKARTA – Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro (FK UNDIP) student Aqsa Aufa Syauqi Sadana won Second Place in the B-CREATIVE IRIFair BRIN 2026 in the Natural and Life Sciences category on Thursday (24 September 2026) in Jakarta.
The achievement was earned through research examining the relationship between GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism and mercury exposure among pregnant women, obstetric complications, and birth outcomes. Aqsa was the only Universitas Diponegoro representative in the B-CREATIVE category, a thesis competition for master’s students.
B-CREATIVE, or BRIN Competition for Advanced Research and Innovation, is a final research competition for master’s students held as part of the Indonesia Research and Innovation Fair (IRIFair) 2026. The competition provides a platform for students to present their research findings while communicating scientific ideas through various presentation formats.
In the competition, Aqsa took part in a series of assessments, including a research presentation before the judging panel, a 3-Minute Research (3MR) Pitch, and a scientific poster exhibition. Through her research, Aqsa examined the relationship between GSTP1 genetic variation and mercury exposure among pregnant women, as well as its association with obstetric complications and birth outcomes.
“The topic is part of an effort to understand the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in maternal and child health,” Aqsa said.
According to Aqsa, the achievement represents an important milestone in her academic and research journey. Participating in B-CREATIVE not only gave her competition experience but also provided an opportunity to receive feedback from the judges and engage in discussions with researchers from various fields.
“Alhamdulillah, I am very grateful for this achievement. For me, the competition process was about much more than pursuing a position. The opportunity to present my research, receive feedback from the judges, and engage in discussions with many researchers was a very valuable experience,” Aqsa said.
Aqsa’s research addresses issues at the intersection of maternal and child health and environmental health, particularly in understanding how genetic factors and environmental exposure may be associated with pregnancy conditions and birth outcomes.
Participation in B-CREATIVE also contributed to Aqsa’s research capacity development. The IRIFair 2026 series was organized by BRIN and its partners to connect research talent with mentorship, research networks, facilities, and opportunities for further education and career development in research and innovation.
Following the achievement, Aqsa is committed to advancing her research in biomedicine, maternal and child health, and environmental health. She also views the achievement as an opportunity to expand her professional network and develop research collaborations in the future. (Humas FK UNDIP)
