ITS Campus, ITS News — An achievement of pride from the academic community of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has once again earned recognition on the international stage. This time, a lecturer from the ITS Department of Chemistry, Sri Fatmawati Ssi MSc PhD, has successfully become the first Indonesian scientist elected as an International Science Council (ISC) Fellow 2026.
The ISC, or International Science Council, is a global science organization that brings together approximately 250 scientific organizations from various countries. One form of its recognition is the ISC Fellowship, the highest award given to scientists and engineers for their outstanding contributions in connecting science with society.
The woman affectionately known as Fatma revealed that this award is the result of a long journey involving fundamental research, collaboration, innovation, and community service. Starting from Indonesia’s rich biodiversity potential, she has sought to process this wealth into scientific knowledge capable of gaining international recognition. “We do not have to abandon our local roots to be globally relevant,” she emphasized.
Building on these efforts, Fatma has focused her research on natural materials, bioactive compounds, traditional medicine, and medicinal chemistry, which has resulted in international publications and various intellectual properties. She believes this award is the fruit of her consistency in processing Indonesia’s biological wealth and traditional knowledge into scientific evidence and innovation. “The success of research is not only measured by publications, but by its benefits to society,” stated the woman born in 1980.
As the Director of the Indonesian Herbal and Horticultural Science Technology Park (TSTH2), Fatma sees this achievement as an opportunity to expand collaboration in biodiversity research, genomics, metabolomics, and the development of herbal and horticultural products. She also hopes that such collaboration can drive the development of Indonesia’s biodiversity wealth while strengthening the capacity of young researchers.
The election of Fatma as a 2026 ISC Fellow is expected to open doors to expand ITS’s role in the international science network. She hopes the ISC Fellowship network can open opportunities for research collaboration, researcher and student exchanges, and cross-country projects that strengthen Indonesia’s role in global science discussions. “I hope more of our scientists will be present to provide perspectives and contribute to global science,” hoped the doctoral alumna of Kyushu University, Japan.
The woman from Madura firmly holds the principle “Science is a way of humanity,” in which science is not only about progress, but also about benefits and collaboration to grow together. Fatma’s perseverance in developing this research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly point 4 on Quality Education and point 17 on Partnerships for the Goals. (ITS Public Relation)
Reporter: Nailah Rifdah Zakiyah