Achmad Solihin, Student of Doctoral Degree Program of Bogor Agricultural University Won 2017 Schweighofer Prize Award

Achmad Solikhin, student of Doctoral Degree Program in the Department of Forest Product Technology, of Faculty of Forestry of Bogor Agricultural University's (FAHUTAN IPB), won the Student Award of Schweighofer Prize 2017, in Austria. The prestigious award of the European Forestry sector is intended for young world innovators, and was participated by students and businessmen of forestry.  The event involved 44 countries with world renowned wood forestry entrepreneurs and for student award 36 universities around the world. However, only representatives from six universities were nominated for potential winners.

Achmad admitted that he was feeling inferior because he understood that his rivals were from world renowned campuses, namely ETH Zurich, Pennsylvania; University of British Columbia; Tokyo University; NCSU; And Toronto University. In the awards ceremony, Achmad submitted his research project on  superhydrophobic wood, such as lotus and taro. In his research Achmad tried to strengthen the wood with impreganansi process using nano material.

"Actually it was a research idea, it has not been implemented before. It  was part of proposed dissertation, but was deleted during the final session on the commission meeting, I just added superhydrophobic information in it. Alhamdulillah it was considered scientifically  applicable for the world's forestry industry in the future, delivered by European expert juries, "He stated when he explained his research project.

This superhidrophobic wooden idea is backed by wood situation in Indonesia. Currently most woods are s fast growing, and have inferior properties so they need to be strengthen by using nanotechnology. Superhydrophobic wood has more than 150 degree contact angle characterization (receding and advancing contact angle), hysteresis angle of less than 10 degrees, has surface roughness of nanoscale and invisible microstructure, and low surface energy so that when water is dropped onto wood it will roll.

Achmad Solikhin said, that he is eager to do the project due to the  spirit of innovation and develop science and technology. "In addition, as forestry students, forests need to be managed and conserved for altruistic purposes, in addition to climate change issues, and others," he said. (Wied)