Surabaya, May 8, 2025 — Universitas Airlangga (Unair) has officially inaugurated five new professors, all hailing from the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST). These professors have presented a range of innovations rooted in Indonesia’s abundant natural resources.

The five newly appointed professors are Hery Suwito, Muji Harsini, and Sri Sumarsih from the Department of Chemistry; Prihartini Widiyanti from the Biomedical Engineering Program; and Salamun from the Department of Biology.

Unair Rector, Prof. Mohammad Nasih, stated that this inauguration serves as a profound reflection of Indonesia’s vast natural wealth—spanning land, sea, and air. However, he emphasized that such resources have yet to be utilized to their fullest potential. The appointed professors are expected to develop impactful research that translates into real-world benefits for society.

One such example is Prof. Hery Suwito’s research conducted in Balikpapan National Park and the future capital city Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), where he discovered 18 bioactive compounds from various plants. These compounds exhibit promising properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and complication-preventing effects.

“These products may become tangible contributions from Unair to society,” said Prof. Nasih during a media briefing.

Prof. Salamun, meanwhile, highlighted the potential of native plants, shells, and other natural resources as raw materials for industries such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. His research specifically identifies several plant species with properties that make them suitable as eco-friendly insecticides.

“There are many natural compounds that can be harnessed for diverse purposes when in the hands of capable scientists,” Nasih explained.

He further stressed that research must go beyond academic output and advance into technology readiness levels (TRL) 8 or 9—meaning near-commercial or fully operational solutions. This aligns with Unair’s policy to promote research integration, especially in areas that offer the greatest benefit to humanity such as medical treatment, disease prevention, and environmental preservation.

“Our aspiration is for Universitas Airlangga to continue making meaningful contributions to scientific advancement and environmental sustainability,” concluded Prof. Nasih.

Reposted by admin from source: “Unair Kukuhkan Lima Guru Besar Bidang Sains” | Unair Kukuhkan Lima Guru Besar Bidang Sains | tempo.co