HUMAS FMIPA – Dr. Muhammad Taufik, S.Si., M.Si., a lecturer in the Chemistry Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), won two medals at the 2026 Impactful Student Program: Community Empowerment for Post-Disaster Recovery in Sumatra.
The awards consisted of a Silver Medal in the Community Empowerment Impact and Best Innovation Technology Implementation category and a Bronze Medal in the Best Impactful Student Program category.
The awards were presented directly by the Director General of Research and Development, Dr. Mohammad Fauzan Adziman, S.T., M.Eng. The medals recognize the contributions of academics and students in delivering innovations that create tangible benefits for communities, particularly in post-disaster recovery efforts.
The achievement was earned through a project entitled "Restoring Fish Pond Water Quality After Flooding Through the Implementation of an IoT-Based Smart Water System in the Impactful Student Program." The community service project was supported by the Directorate of Research, Technology, and Community Service (DRTPM), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, under the 2026 funding scheme.
The program involved five student organizations: the Chemistry Student Association (IMK) as the lead implementing organization, together with HIMABIO, FORMILTAN, HIMATIF, and PSMKGI USU.
As part of the project, Dr. Muhammad Taufik and his team implemented the AQUA-SMART FISH IoT and FILTRA-KOLAM CARE technologies at two partner sites: Pak Bangun Fish Farm and UNCU Fishing Pond, both located in Klambir Lima Kebun Village, Hamparan Perak District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra.
The initiative was developed in response to challenges faced by fish farmers following flooding, including increased water turbidity, low dissolved oxygen levels, unstable water pH, and the absence of a real-time water quality monitoring system.
The implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) technology provides a solution that enables fish farmers to monitor pond water conditions more quickly, accurately, and based on real-time data.
"Through this system, water quality can be monitored in real time, allowing our partners to move beyond relying solely on visual observation. The data generated supports more accurate and informed decision-making," Dr. Muhammad Taufik explained.
The project produced significant improvements. Water turbidity decreased from approximately 70 NTU to 40–45 NTU, dissolved oxygen levels increased from around 4.0 mg/L to 4.8–5.0 mg/L, and water pH stabilized within the range of 6.8–6.9. The real-time water quality monitoring system now operates with an interval of approximately 10 minutes.
At Pak Bangun Fish Farm, fish production increased from approximately 25–30 kilograms per production cycle to 50–60 kilograms, while fish survival rates improved from around 40–50 percent to 70–80 percent. Meanwhile, at UNCU Fishing Pond, post-flood recovery time was reduced from 4–5 days to 2–3 days, accompanied by a 20–30 percent increase in visitor numbers.
Overall, the program has generated benefits beyond environmental restoration and increased production. It has also strengthened business management, marketing strategies, and the partners' capacity to manage their fish ponds independently and sustainably.
Dr. Muhammad Taufik stated that receiving the two medals serves as motivation to continue developing practical innovations that provide meaningful benefits to society.
"This award demonstrates that collaboration among lecturers, students, universities, and communities can produce tangible solutions. We hope this technology can continue to be developed and replicated in other regions facing similar challenges," he said.
This achievement further reinforces Universitas Sumatera Utara's commitment to community engagement, research commercialization, and the application of appropriate technologies that generate direct and sustainable benefits for society.
HUMAS FMIPA