KBRN, Jakarta: A student team from the Faculty of Medicine at Padjadjaran University has won second place and a Special Prize at the Global HackAtom 2025 competition. The international finals were held in Russia from September 23 to 26, 2025.

The event took place at the Atom Museum (VDNKh) in Moscow and featured teams from ten countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Hungary, Namibia, Rwanda, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Indonesia, and host Russia.

Global HackAtom is an international innovation competition focused on nuclear technology, encouraging creative, solution-driven ideas. It emphasizes scientific rigor, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and youth innovation.

Indonesia’s national selection was organized by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Yogyakarta on July 17–18, 2025. The winner of HackAtom Indonesia earned the right to represent the country at the global finals.

The 2025 finals coincided with World Atomic Week, marking the 80th anniversary of Russia’s nuclear industry. The four-day event included the competition, public lectures, cultural activities, and international networking sessions. 

Participants gained technical experience and a deeper appreciation of global cultural diversity.

Representing Indonesia, the team “Tahu Sumedang” consisted of Marsha Aziza Wardhana, Fathi Ghifari Muhammad, Krisi Nohan, Frederick Suhamdy, and Richard Christophorus Kurniawan. 

The name playfully references They tahu Sumedang, a popular Indonesian fried tofu snack originating from Sumedang, West Java, known for its crisp texture and humble appeal. 

They presented a concept titled Stage IV: No Return – An Educational Escape Room for Nuclear Medicine.

The project introduced an interactive learning space that combines gamification, through an escape room format, with education on nuclear medicine. The innovation was praised for making science engaging while improving public understanding of nuclear technology.

The team’s success was supported by mentoring from BRIN researchers and Padjadjaran University lecturers, including Muhayatun, Efrizon Umar, and Mohammad Ghozali, who helped refine the concept and presentation strategy.

Edy Giri Rachman Putra, Deputy for Science and Technology Human Resources at BRIN, emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent. He reaffirmed BRIN’s commitment to developing nuclear innovation that is safe, beneficial, and sustainable for society.

“BRIN supports national talent management by cultivating the younger generation early on for global achievement,” Edy said on Friday, September 26, during the Global HackAtom 2025.

He hope that similar initiatives will continue to foster outstanding talent in science and technology. The event also served as a follow-up to BRIN’s human resource development partnership with Russia’s Rosatom, a state-owned corporation specializing in nuclear energy and technology.

This achievement highlights the ability of Indonesian students to compete globally with innovative, solution-oriented ideas. The success of the Padjadjaran University team is expected to inspire other young talents to elevate Indonesia’s name on the world stage.​

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Translator: Annaila Syafa Azzahra
Editor: Lasti Martina