Seaweed Biotechnology Expertise Needed by Maritime Countries

Dr. Maria Dyah Nur Meinita, S.Pi., M. Sc. was born in Semarang in May 1980. She completed her bachelor's degree in Aquatic Resources Management at Diponegoro University, and her master's degree in Marine Biology at Norwegian University of Science. She continued her doctoral program in Marine Biotechnology at Pukyong National University, South Korea.

Since 2002 Dr. Maria Dyah Nur Meinita, S.Pi., M. Sc. has been a lecturer at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. During her service at Unsoed, she has conducted many researches, including with the titles "A concise review of the potential utilization based on bioactivity and pharmacological properties of the genus Gelidium (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta)", "Seaweed Exhibits Therapeutic Properties Against Chronic Diseases: An Overview", "Evaluation of Toxicity of Crude Phlorotannins and Phloroglucinol Using Different Model Organisms", and "The Production of Levulinic Acid and Formic Acid from Red Macroalga Kappaphycus alvarezii Using Methanesulfonic Acid".

Dr. Maria Dyah Nur Meinita, S.Pi., M. Sc. took the theme of research on seaweed biotechnology because Indonesia is a maritime country that has seaweed resources that are very potential to be developed. "Based on the FAO report, seaweed production in the world is 36 million tons, and Indonesia is the second largest seaweed producer in the world after China. Our country is rich in seaweed both cultivated and growing in nature," she said.

Her research in the field of seaweed biotechnology was awarded as the best presenting researcher in the Ristekdikti Basic Research Results Seminar organized by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DP2M), Directorate General of Strengthening Research and Development, Kemenristekdikti. Not only domestic awards, she also made Unsoed proud at the international level with international publications in international journals which brought her into the top 15 most productive young Indonesian researchers in the Marine field based on Thomson Reuters assessment (2015).

In downstreaming research, Dr. Maria has collaborated with the Korean Samsung company in the field of Bioenergy from seaweed ethanol.  This outstanding lecturer who has a research spirit from an early age has received many research grants including from the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DRPM) and Unsoed BLU research. Currently, she is also conducting research for the development of seaweed towards cosmetics as UV-protector and photoaging.

Research Profiles

1. Entrepreneurship, Cooperation, and MSMEs
2. Fundamental Science and Fabrication Engineering
3. New and Renewable Energy
4. Tropical Biodiversity and Bioprospection
5. Food, Nutrition, and Health
6. Marine, Coastal, and Inland Area Management
7. Social Engineering and Rural Development

Dr. Norman Arie Prayogo, S.Pi, M.Si., was born in Banyumas, September 7, 1982. He completed the S1 program in Aquatic Resources Management at Jenderal Soedirman University, the S2 Biology program at Jenderal Soedirman University, and continued his education with the S3 Biotechnology program at Gadjah Mada University.

Dr. Norman Arie Prayogo, S.Pi, M.Si., conducted many studies, including Gene Expression of Kisspeptin receptor and vitellogenin Receptor Activity in Hard Lipped Barb (Osteohillus hasseltii CV) using Photoperiods for Reproduction Intensification. Then research in 2018 entitled Gene expression of Kisspeptin and GnRH Gouramy activity (Osphronemus Gouramy) using Photoperiods for Reproduction Intensification. Research on Gene expression of GnRH receptor, GtH receptor and vitellogenin receptor activity in Gouramy (Osphronemus Gouramy) using Photoperiods for Reproduction Intensification and Disruptive Effects of Cadmium on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Activity in Nilem Fish (Osteochilus Hasselti C.V.): 2nd year Cellular and Molecular Studies.

There are publications of scientific articles with the titles Identification and expression of gonadotropin hormones in gouramy (Osphronemous gouramy, Lacepède, 1801) under photoperiod manipulations, The effect of endosulfan in gnrh and gth genes expression of male hard-lipped barb (Osteochilus vittatus c. v.), Heavy metal contamination in water, sediments and Planiliza subviridis tissue in the Donan River, Indonesia and Genetics identification of sea holly (Acanthus dicifolius) through DNA barcoding from coastal Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia.

Other scientific article publications titled The Disruptive Effect of Mercurychloride (HgCl) on Gene Expression of cGnRH-II, sGnRH, and Estradiol Level in Silver Sharkminnow (Osteochillus hasseltii C.V.) in Turkish Journal of Fishery and Aquatic Science, SCOPUS q3. Second, Identification and expression of two types of chicken GnRH -II genes in mature hard lipped barb, Osteochilus hasselti in Biodiversity, SCOPUS q4. Third, Effect of Photoperiods on Melatonin Levels, Estradiols Levels and the Expression of cGnRH-II and sGnRH genes, in Hard-lipped Barb (Osteochilus hasselti C.V.) in Journal of Global Veterinaria SCOPUS q3. And fourth, Structure and Phylogenetics of GnRH Genes of Hard-lipped Barb (Osteochilus hasselti C.V). in Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research SCOPUS q4.

Prof. Ir. Purnama Sukardi, Ph.D is a Professor of Jenderal Soedirman University from the Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science. Born in Temanggung, October 10th, 1956, he completed his undergraduate education from Diponegoro University, Semarang and continued his master and doctoral programs from the University of New South Wales, Sidney, Australia.

            With a Research Focus in Nutritional Physiology, Prof. Ir. Purnama Sukardi, Ph.D's latest research is entitled: "Maggot-based Microcapsules with Different Matrices for the Production of Indigenous Species Larvae, Osteochillus hasseltii C.V" on Microencapsulation as a technology for making micro-sized feed that is adjusted to the size of the mouth opening of fish larvae.

            The main ingredients were maggot from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as the capsule core and albumin as the matrix. The indigeneous species used as the test fish was nilem, Osteochillus hasseltii C.V., which has a limited distribution (endemic).