Banda Aceh, December 3, 2025 — The Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala received an official visit from the Metallurgy Research Center Team, Nanotechnology and Materials Research Organization, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in the context of conducting scientific activities entitled Visiting Laboratory and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). This activity is part of the follow-up to the implementation of a cooperation agreement between the two institutions in strengthening research capacity and material technology development.
The BRIN delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Ika Kartika, Head of the Metallurgy Research Center, along with Dr. Albertus Deny Heri Setyawan, Dr. Latifa Hanum Lalasari, and Ariyo Suharyanto, M.T. The visit began with a meeting with the leadership of FMIPA USK, including the Dean of FMIPA and the Physics Department, to discuss opportunities for research synergy, utilization of laboratory facilities, and collaboration agendas that can be followed up in the future.
Following the meeting, the visit continued with a tour of several laboratories, particularly the Wave, Optics, and Laser Applications Laboratory (GOALs). During this visit, the BRIN team inspected the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LiBS) equipment, which serves as the primary instrument in the collaborative testing of critical mineral samples. This inspection also provided an opportunity for discussion on strengthening instrumentation capacity and joint research strategies.
An FGD was then held as a forum for scientific information exchange between BRIN and the USK Department of Physics. Prof. Dr. Ika Kartika presented BRIN’s profile and an overview of the Metallurgy Research Center’s activities, while Dr. Latifa Hanum Lalasari and Ariyo Suharyanto, M.T. presented research developments in the Metallurgical Process Research Group. Dr. Albertus Deny Heri Setyawan explained the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) scheme that had been drafted, and Dr. Saumi Syahreza, S.Si., M.Si, together with the USK Physics Department team, presented the use of LiBS and the department’s leading research projects.
This intensive discussion resulted in a number of follow-up plans, including collaboration in critical mineral testing, the development of laser-based material analysis methods, as well as opportunities for joint research and the opening of access to doctoral scholarships through the BRIN-USK collaboration. This activity is expected to further strengthen the research collaboration network between FMIPA USK and BRIN, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, material technology, and laser spectroscopy applications, thereby having a significant impact on the development of science and future industrial needs.