International Student Team in the Graduate School of Chemical Engineering and Technology Wins Bronze Medal at the 9th European Congress of Chemical Engineering (ECCE9)
Chaniago (4th term in PhD program) and Andika (2nd term in Combined Master's & PhD program) from Indonesia
[May 9, 2013]

 From front left counter-clockwise, Andika, Chaniago, Professor Lee, Moon Yong

 A team of international students currently enrolled in the graduate school of chemical engineering and technology participated in an international academic contest held in the Hague, Netherlands and won the bronze medal defeating competitors.

 The winners were Yus Donarld Chaniago (32, 4th term in PhD program) and Riezqa Andika (24, 2nd term in Combined Master's & PhD program) who are both in the graduate school of chemical engineering and technology. The two came in third place in the Huntsman Design Contest that was held at the World Forum Center in the Hague on the 25th of last month as part of the 9th European Congress of Chemical Engineers. They also received a cash price of 1,000 euros.

 Preliminaries for this contest was held from December of last year until the end of February in which the teams to compete in the finals were confirmed and announced through the design reports submitted by students from Europe, USA and Asia. In result, a total of 5 teams - 3 from the Netherlands, 1 from Germany, and the only Asian team of Chaniago and Andika competed in the finals. They were invited to the finals receiving round-trip airfare and all expenses paid during their stay there.

 With 5 judges watching on, the two made a 10 minute presentation in English and had a five-minute Q&A session. They made a presentation on plans of aniline separation process designs that can reduce energy usage by 60% compared to current processes by using MVR (mechanical vapor recompression) technologies. They were judged to have given an epochal idea that can reduce on-site difficulties of Huntsman Company.

 The two, who are currently conducting research at the 'Process System Design and Control Research Lab' (academic advisor Professor Lee, Moon Yong), are both from Indonesia. Chaniago enrolled in the YU PhD program in September 2011 after receiving a master's degree at Universitas Sriwijaya located in Palembang, and Andika enrolled in the YU combined master's & PhD program in September 2012 after graduating from Universitas Indonesia, the most prestigious university of Indonesia.

 Mr. Andika was especially happy as this was a great achievement reaped in 8 months of studying abroad. He said, "I'm really glad that I came to Korea. Thanks to being able to work with outstanding researchers in a great educational environment, I was able to receive such a big award in just a year since coming to Korea. I cannot express my thanks enough to my professor and colleagues in the lab."

 Mr. Chaniago, who said that after receiving his PhD, he wants to return home and teach students, said, "Above all else, I'm happy to have been able to take a shot at the international arena and be recognized for my abilities. I would like more opportunities to test my potentials by participating in more international conferences. I think it will help me teach students later in the future."

 Andika (left) and Chaniago making a presentation at the contest held in the Hague

 Meanwhile, the Department of Chemical Engineering 'Process System Design and Control Research Lab' is a multi-cultural lab in which 10 of the 17 graduate school students are foreigners. Naturally, all classes and discussions are in English and every Saturday morning, English seminars are held. Thanks to this, it has demonstrated considerable research performance producing over 10 SCI-level theses every year.

 Professor Lee, Moon Yong (54) who leads the research lab said, "The first international graduate from our lab has been appointed as a professor in the Saudi Arabia King Saud University and are being recognized for their talents in the international stage," while adding, "Through good-hearted competition among excellent students with diverse nationalities, we are creating a synergy effect."