RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is investing in young scientific talent after a 14‑year‑old student gained international recognition for identifying a security vulnerability in a NASA system.

National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Head Arif Satria awarded junior high school student Firoos Ghatfaan Ramadhan a premium iPad Pro and pledged to fund his future research projects.

The award was presented at the BRIN BJ Habibie Administrative Office in Jakarta on Monday, May 4, 2026, marking Arif’s second meeting with Firoos after his earlier visit to Subang, West Java. Firoos attended the event with his family, teachers, and representatives from Aalamy Islamic Junior High School (SMP IT) Subang.

During the meeting, Arif learned that the eighth‑grade student has multiple research ideas beyond information technology. He encouraged Firoos to submit formal proposals.

“Insya Allah, BRIN will support and fund his research once the proposals are prepared,” Arif said, as quoted on BRIN’s official website.

He also urged the school to help guide the proposals and confirmed that Firoos would be connected with top BRIN researchers to further develop his skills. “From the school side, guide the research direction. BRIN will prepare the funding and connect him with top researchers so he can learn directly and improve,” he added.

Firoos, who has received recognition from NASA, encouraged his peers to stay motivated in learning and to use free time productively.

“It’s better to sleep than play, because during sleep your brain repairs itself, like resetting a computer,” he said.

Arif had previously presented the award at Firoos’s school in Subang on April 30, 2026, recognizing his achievement in cybersecurity.

Firoos was listed in NASA’s Hall of Fame after responsibly reporting a vulnerability in an external link, contributing to system improvement rather than exploiting it.

The recognition and support highlight Indonesia’s commitment to nurturing young talent in science and technology. ***