Under the guidance of Dian Aruni Kumalawati, M.Sc. (Lecturer in the Biology Program), a team from UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, led by Aldy Rahman Dharma Putra Sanjaya (Bio20), Nur Maulidah Rahmah (Bio20), and Yan Nurrezkytaku A (Tin18), clinched the Gold Medal and received the Indonesian Young Scientist Association (IYSA) Special Awards. Their project was titled “BETLEGUM: Jelly-Based Chewing Gum with the Addition of Betel Leaf Extract (Piper betle L.) as an Anti-Streptococcus Mutans Agent Preventing Tooth Decay.”

This international event took place at Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta from August 22 to 26, 2022, and saw participation from 254 teams representing 26 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Montenegro, India, Mexico, Qatar, and South Africa.

The Indonesian Young Scientist Association (IYSA) is an organization dedicated to nurturing the potential, talent, and creativity of Indonesian students. It provides opportunities for both competitive and non-competitive scientific competitions, as well as activities within and outside the country. The IYSA aims to empower Indonesian students, particularly in the fields of science and technology, fostering a spirit of competition to maximize their inherent potential.