Medan, North Sumatra, September 15, 2026 — STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics ) learning doesn't always begin in a laboratory with sophisticated equipment. At UPT SMP Negeri 1 Medan, STEM learning actually grows from students' awareness of environmental issues and then transforming those insights into ideas and works.

This enthusiasm led to the scientific work of students from UPT SMP Negeri 1 Medan winning a Gold Medal at the 2026 Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) with the Durabata project, an innovative brick made from durian skin and rice husk ash, and a certificate of appreciation at the 2026 10th World Young Inventors Exhibition for a project developed from the potential of mangrove fruit in the surrounding area. Both events were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Aira Haryono, a member of the youth scientific project team at UPT SMP Negeri 1 Medan, explained that Durabata originated from the problem of durian peel waste, which is abundant in Indonesia. "We created a project called Durabata, a durian peel-based brick made from durian peel waste and rice husk ash. Our goal in creating this product is to reduce the durian peel waste that is scattered around, especially in Indonesia," Aira said when met at her school on Monday (September 14).

Aira explained that the team developed the idea by looking at durian skin, which has been mostly discarded as waste, and trying to find a way to process it into a product with utility value.

"With Durabata, we're creating environmentally friendly concrete blocks and addressing many issues, particularly in Indonesia. In Indonesia, people love durian, and the durian skins end up as waste and aren't used for innovation," he said.

She explained that durian skin is then processed into concrete blocks, which function similarly to conventional concrete blocks. For Aira, the process of developing Durabata has been a hands-on experience in applying STEM. Students not only learn concepts but also identify problems, find solutions, conduct experiments, and develop a product. "STEM is necessary because we need to continue to innovate to solve the problems that surround us every day," Aira said.

The same spirit is evident in the team named Milea because of its association with mangroves and milk tea. The team saw the potential of materials in the surrounding environment that were not being optimally utilized, especially in coastal areas, then tried to process them into a more practical and useful product. Raisya Aurellia, one of the Milea team members, said the idea arose from observing the environmental potential that was still underutilized. "Because the pedada fruit produced by the mangrove tree is underutilized. So we created this innovation to make it more useful and marketable," said Raisya.

She explained that the Milea Team then carried out several processing steps. "It's easy to make. First, we peel the skin of the pedada fruit, which we obtain from vendors. After that, we wash it, cut it into pieces, and boil it. After boiling, it's filtered to extract the juice. The extract is then processed by adding soy milk as a fat source, pandan leaves as a natural coloring, and stevia as a sweetener, resulting in a drink that tastes like milk tea," Raisya explained.

Furthermore, Raisya also sees the potential for this innovation to be developed as a product that can support the economic activities of coastal communities. "Perhaps we'll make it into a powder for greater convenience, and then it could also be used as a product for coastal MSMEs," she added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen), Abdul Mu'ti, appreciated the students' creativity and courage in developing STEM-based works that stemmed from real issues in their environment.

"The achievements of students at UPT SMP Negeri 1 Medan demonstrate that life-like learning can foster creativity and innovation. Through STEM, students learn to see the problems around them, conduct research, try various solutions, and produce useful work. This is the spirit of learning we want to foster, so that students become critical and creative learners who are able to provide solutions for the environment and society," said Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti.

Schools Provide Space for Experimentation

The development of students' scientific work is inseparable from school support. Malahayati, a social studies teacher and student research assistant at the UPT SMP Negeri 1 Medan, said the school provides time and space for students to develop research activities. "The school supports this scientific work by providing time for the children to carry out activities at school by providing space. Furthermore, the school also collaborates with parents," Mala said.

She hopes STEM can become an increasingly strong part of school learning. She believes that STEM is not only about mastering knowledge, but also about encouraging students to think critically and apply that knowledge to their lives. "We hope that in the future, STEM will be a part of schools. Because it's related to critical thinking and can be applied in their lives. So, we hope that STEM can be developed more optimally in schools," Mala said.*** (Writer: Ririn/Photographer: Raja/Editor: Uly)

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Source: Siaran Pers Kementerian Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah Nomor: 806/sipers/A6/IX/2026

Writer: Ririn Ramandani

Editor: Denty Anugrahmawaty

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