Muhammad Fauzan Syahbana, a graduate of the Physics undergraduate study program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, became the only undergraduate graduate at UI who obtained the highest GPA, namely 3.99 with cum laude predicate.
This was announced by the MC at the Graduation and Welcoming Ceremony for New Undergraduate Students held on Friday, September 22, 2023.
When the MC announced the GPA, the graduation hall, the UI Hall on the Depok campus, erupted in applause. Sabana said that while grateful, he was also somewhat dismayed by his final GPA.
“Can you do 4?” he said, laughing.
Sabana explained that her grade point average dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the learning process shifted from offline to online. She experienced some difficulty adjusting. However, despite the obstacles, Sabana remained steadfast in her determination to continue learning.
During his studies at UI, Sabana felt greatly helped by the supportive lecturers in the Physics Department. He stated that they were dedicated to teaching students.
“In Physics, there are several specializations, and I chose Nuclear Physics and Theoretical Particles. Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Terry Mart, I researched mesons, tiny particles that could significantly impact technological development, especially for the next hundreds to thousands of years,” Sabana said.
Research on meson particles is crucial in nuclear studies. According to Sabana, nuclear development is necessary because humanity cannot avoid using energy. Currently, 70–80% of global energy consumption is still driven by fossil fuels.
In Indonesia itself, the use of fossil energy reaches 91%, consisting of oil, natural gas, and coal. Meanwhile, the other 9% is controlled by new renewable energy such as hydropower, wind energy, and so on.
Sabana’s commitment to research stems from a love of physics that she developed in junior high school. Her greatest motivation at the time was participating in the National Science Olympiad (OSN). She demonstrated her passion by winning a gold medal at the 2018 OSN.
Sabana’s achievements in the National Science Olympiad (OSN) secured her admission to the University of Indonesia (UI) through the merit pathway. Even while studying, she continued to participate in various competitions and olympiads. This time, she participated in the National Mathematics and Natural Sciences Olympiad (ONMIPA) in 2020 and 2021, winning silver and gold medals, respectively.
Sabana hopes to continue her education in plasma physics in the future, as this field is not widely studied in Indonesia. Plasma physics can be used to develop nuclear fusion reactors that fuse atoms like those in the sun.
“Fusion reactors will emerge as one of the cleanest, safest, and most affordable energy sources, requiring only water as the primary ingredient. This reactor is expected to provide significant benefits while maintaining environmental sustainability. Therefore, I hope to gain this knowledge abroad and then return to Indonesia to develop it, so that Indonesia can create its first fusion nuclear reactor,” said Sabana.
