DOUBLE GOLD! Sekolah Global Mandiri Primary Stuns the World Stage at Thailand’s TISIIF 2026
Two young research teams just brought home international glory — one turning humble bilimbi fruit into a pain-relief breakthrough for children’s mouth ulcers, the other transforming recycled paper into a bacteria-fighting antiseptic soap. Two categories, two gold medals, one proud nation.
Research teams from Sekolah Global Mandiri Primary have won gold medals at the Thailand International Science, Invention and Innovation Fair (TISIIF) 2026, organized by the Indonesian Young Scientists Association (IYSA) and Next Generation Knowledge (NGK). The first team took gold in the Environment, Agriculture & Food Science category, while the second claimed gold in Life Sciences, Translational Medicine, and Health.
The first team tackled the issue of mouth ulcers in children, a condition that causes pain and disrupts daily activities. Through their research, they developed a solution in the form of effervescent tablets made from bilimbi (belimbing wuluh) flowers and fruit.
The second team focused on bacteria-related skin irritation in children. Their research led to the development of an antiseptic paper soap made from recycled paper and a natural soap formula — the recycled paper sourced from teak leaf waste, and the soap itself derived from bilimbi leaves.
The research spanned roughly three months, from April through June 2026, and was carried out at Sekolah Global Mandiri and IPB University.
According to Mr. Aldi, the supervising teacher for both teams, the students faced several challenges along the way: research time cut short by school holidays, the complexity of the products they were developing, and the lengthy experimentation process. Despite these hurdles, every team member gave their best, gaining a deep and meaningful learning experience. “Through this learning process, the students have begun developing a number of important competencies,” he said, “including independence, responsibility, care for others, honesty, and self-confidence.”
TISIIF is an annual competition held with participation from numerous countries — this year, more than a dozen nations took part. For the Sekolah Global Mandiri Primary teams, the gold medals earned are a source of pride not only for the school, but for Indonesia on the world stage. (AY)
