Iqbal, Daniella, and Raudah Win National Essay Competition for Indonesian Aquaculture Week
Banjarmasin – Three students from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) have successfully brought honor to the university at the national level. The team, consisting of Iqbal Prayoga Anggara, Daniella Deandra Keisha, and Raudhah, achieved outstanding results in the National Essay Competition, part of the Indonesian Aquaculture Week series at Brawijaya University, Malang.
The competition was organized by the Aquaculture Student Association of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Brawijaya University. The series of activities began with the registration stage and ended with the final round, with live presentations by the finalists on May 11, 2025, at Brawijaya University.
In the competition, the FPIK ULM team submitted an essay on the theme “Fish Disease Prevention,” focusing on research related to the use of mahogany seed extract to combat Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria. This topic was chosen because of its relevance to sustainable aquaculture issues, while also offering innovative solutions for preventing fish diseases that frequently affect the aquaculture sector.
The team’s preparation took approximately three weeks, starting with topic selection, gathering references, developing an outline, and writing the entire essay. The biggest challenge was simplifying scientific language to make it easier to understand in essay format, while still maintaining academic credibility.
Throughout the process, the ULM FPIK team received academic mentoring from their supervisor, who provided guidance on the scientific substance and feedback to ensure their submission was more mature and competitive.
“The most memorable experience was when the small research we conducted in the campus laboratory was developed into an idea that was recognized at the national level. I feel very proud to represent ULM and prove that students from the regions are also capable of competing,” said Iqbal on behalf of the team.
In addition to the achievement, this activity also provided many valuable lessons. The ULM team gained new insights from the other participants’ creative ideas regarding sustainable aquaculture, while also expanding their network with students from various universities across Indonesia.
This success is clear evidence that ULM students are able to demonstrate their scientific role and contribution in the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector at the national level.
