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For the competition, the team presented a work titled: “Marinickel Shield: Biofloat Carpet Innovation for Marine Conservation in North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi from Nickel Waste Pollution.” The biofloat carpet is designed to absorb nickel waste using environmentally friendly materials like woven water hyacinth and coconut fiber, inoculated with heavy metal-absorbing microbes such as Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida. This innovation is also equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors that detect the saturation level of the carpet in absorbing heavy metals. The sensors are connected to the cloud, enabling real-time monitoring, with data sent to users to help determine when the carpet needs to be replaced for optimal performance.

The idea behind the biofloat carpet was born out of the team’s concern about nickel waste pollution in North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, which has had serious effects on the balance of marine ecosystems and the local community’s well-being.

To date, technologies such as IoT sensors for detecting heavy metals and specific microbes for marine bioremediation have been available—but these are typically used separately. They had not been integrated into a single, complementary system. The Marinickel Shield team’s innovation merges these two technologies specifically to tackle nickel pollution, a major contaminant in the region.

The biofloat carpet is designed to be installed below industrial waste disposal channels or pipes to reduce the heavy metal content entering the open ocean. Before deployment, the carpet undergoes microbial inoculation in a biofilm pond to ensure the microbes adapt well to the aquatic environment where the carpet will be placed.

Biofloat Carpet's Potential for Industry

The biofloat carpet innovation is seen as having strong potential for industrial application, particularly in the nickel mining sector. Beyond nickel waste, the carpet could also be adapted for other types of heavy metal pollution by adjusting its material composition accordingly.

The team hopes that more tech-based innovations will be developed in the future to support marine conservation efforts in Indonesia. For them, this achievement is proof that students can actively contribute to addressing environmental issues.

“We hope this innovation can undergo further field testing to assess its real-world effectiveness. We also aim to raise public awareness about the importance of marine conservation,” said Kevin.

This success serves as a reminder that environmental protection requires long-term commitment, not just from individuals or specific groups, but from all layers of society. Innovation and research must continue to be given space to grow, to meet the increasingly complex challenges of the future. A spirit of collaboration, sustainability awareness, and continuous learning are crucial to creating meaningful, lasting change for the preservation of nature.