Geological Engineering students from the Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, continue their track record of achieving national success. This time, the ALUNITE Team, consisting of Alief Azhar Abdillah, Saffo Rycard Windrawan, and Iza Muzakky Ahmad from the Geological Engineering class of 2022, won second place in the 2025 Geology Open Challenge Earth Map competition. Organized by the “dr. Bumi” Student Association (HMTG) at Jenderal Soedirman University, the competition tested geology students’ knowledge and skills in geological mapping. The competition took place in Purbalingga and Kebumen Regencies, Central Java, from August 5 to 10, 2024. The opening ceremony, data processing, presentations, and closing ceremonies took place on the Purbalingga campus of the Faculty of Engineering, while the mapping activities took place in Kebumen Regency.
This year’s Geology Open Challenge Earth Map focused on mapping activities related to mineral resource exploration, particularly gold deposits. The mapping plot for the competition is located in Jintung Village, Banjararjo, and its surrounding areas, Ayah District, Kebumen Regency. During the mapping activity, the participants’ sense of geology was tested to identify and analyze field conditions ranging from geomorphology, lithology, structure, to the alteration processes that occur. In addition to direct data collection in the field, this competition was also equipped with secondary data analysis in the laboratory in the form of petrography, mineragraphy, AAS, and X-Ray Diffraction analysis. From these data, participants were required to be critical of the existing conditions, so they could identify potential zones of economic mineral deposits from the correlation of all characteristics in the field and supporting secondary data. The results of the participants’ mapping were then compiled into a research poster which was then presented to the panel of judges. This presentation also tested the participants’ skills in understanding and conveying the results of their research in a relatively short time, namely within three days. This year, the judges who assessed the participants’ work consisted of three people: a lecturer in Geological Engineering at Gadjah Mada University, a lecturer in Geological Engineering at Jenderal Soedirman University, and the Manager of Exploration Geology at J Resources Nusantara. In a post-judging review session, the panel of judges stated that this competition was an excellent opportunity to prepare geology students for the world of work after graduation. This competition taught students to directly confront potential challenges they might encounter in the workplace as geologists. Therefore, regardless of the outcome, the most important thing was the new insights and experience gained from participating.
The ALUNITE team’s second-place finish was certainly not easy; the participants never expected to place in the top three. The ALUNITE team had to overcome numerous challenges and difficulties, but thanks to their hard work, carefully formulated strategies, and the guidance of their supervisors, their hard work ultimately paid off, securing them second place in the competition. This success was due in no small part to the support of the department, particularly Anita Galih Ringga Jayanti, S.T., M.T., the team’s supervisor, who provided guidance and direction to the ALUNITE team before the competition. Hopefully, this achievement will continue to inspire Geological Engineering students at Diponegoro University to continue achieving success on the national and international stage.
Article by: Alief Azhar A (Class 2022 Geological Engineering Department)
