ITB Student Team Wins Gold Medal and Best Young Inventor at WYIE 2025 International Event
By Rafsan Abdillah - Mahasiswa Teknik Geodesi dan Geomatika, 2022
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
KUALA LUMPUR, itb.ac.id – Seven students from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), competing as Team “Enviromix,” have won the Gold Medal and Best Young Inventor for Tertiary Category at the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE) 2025. The team consists of five students from the Geodetic and Geomatics Engineering program, class of 2022—Putu Wahyu Tegar Suryananda, Muhammad Ariq Billah, Wildan Febryan, Ichsan Fachri Siroj, and Aldy Rafi Fernaldy—alongside two students from the Water Resources Engineering and Management program, class of 2022—Anuraga Bagaskara Putra Prayoga and Enjelly Florecyta Asthavelia.
The World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE) 2025 is an international innovation exhibition and competition organized by the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS). With a primary focus on innovation and discoveries across various fields, this prestigious global event brought together around 700 teams from 15 countries around the world.
At the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE) 2025, Team Enviromix presented an eco-friendly concrete innovation by reducing the use of cement and fine aggregate—two major components in conventional concrete production. In their project, the team utilized four alternative materials: pineapple leaf fiber and coconut shell as partial substitutes for fine aggregate, as well as silica fume and fly ash derived from rice husk ash to reduce cement usage.
The innovation stemmed from the environmental theme of the competition. Team Enviromix aimed to highlight a critical message: cement is currently one of the largest contributors to global CO? emissions. With rapid infrastructure development, the unchecked rise in CO? emissions poses a serious threat to global warming.
Through their innovation, the team hopes construction activities can continue while still considering sustainability aspects. Their developed concrete not only aims to reduce carbon emissions but also maintains optimal structural quality.
Fueled by high spirits, Team Enviromix succeeded in earning recognition despite facing several challenges—including scheduling difficulties due to being from two different academic departments, and technical obstacles during the concrete mix design process. Their innovation integrated several concepts from previous organic concrete research, making the composition of organic materials particularly complex and requiring adjustments to ensure it still met construction standards.
This competition was an incredibly meaningful and eye-opening experience for Team Enviromix. They were inspired by the many outstanding innovations presented by other participants and were grateful for the opportunity to build connections on an international stage—with both fellow students and global companies in attendance.
The team expressed their heartfelt gratitude to God Almighty, their academic supervisors, and peers who had supported them from the very beginning. They encouraged fellow students to stay motivated in bringing pride to the university—especially on an international level. For with every achievement, not only does it elevate the name of the campus, but it also becomes a source of pride for oneself, one’s family, and one’s community.
Translator: Indira Akmalia Hendri
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