Medan, August 26, 2026 — The Applied Bachelor’s Degree Program in Chemistry, Faculty of Vocational Education, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), held the Workshop Chemistry: Transforming Chemistry Ideas into Economically Valuable Products on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Faculty of Vocational Education USU Hall. The activity provided students with an opportunity to broaden their knowledge while gaining practical experience in processing organic waste into products with health and economic value.
The workshop was attended by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Vocational Education, speakers, lecturers, the Head of Subdivision, and students of the Applied Bachelor’s Degree Program in Chemistry. The event opened with remarks from Junedi Ginting, S.Si., M.Si., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of developing an innovative and productive mindset among students, particularly in applying chemistry to create tangible benefits for society.
The event continued with remarks from Agung Pratama, S.Si., M.Si., Head of the Applied Bachelor’s Degree Program in Chemistry, who highlighted the importance of workshops as a means of connecting academic knowledge with practical applications in the field.
The first session featured Adrian Hilman, S.TP., M.Sc., Ph.D., a lecturer in the Undergraduate Program in Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, USU, who delivered a presentation entitled “A Practical Guide to Turning Kitchen Waste into Healthy Beverages with Economic Value (Tepache).”
In his presentation, Adrian explained the potential of kitchen waste, which is often considered to have little value, to be processed into beverages with health benefits and economic potential. Students not only gained theoretical knowledge but were also able to observe the processing firsthand through a demonstration of Tepache production conducted by the speaker.
The second session featured Dr. Dimas Frananta S., M.Sc., a lecturer in the Chemistry Program at the Medan Polytechnic of Industrial Chemical Technology. He presented material on the utilization of organic waste to produce eco-enzyme (EE) and MES-EE liquid soap.
Through this session, students were introduced to the concept of utilizing organic waste through a more environmentally friendly approach while exploring its potential to be developed into useful and economically valuable products. The session was further enhanced by demonstrations of eco-enzyme and MES-EE liquid soap production, allowing participants to directly understand the processing stages and their applications.
The Chemistry Workshop not only enriched students’ understanding of the practical applications of chemistry but also encouraged the development of creative and innovative ideas for transforming waste into useful and economically valuable products. The activity further strengthened the spirit of vocational education, which emphasizes practical skills, innovation, and students’ readiness to create solutions relevant to community needs.
Through this activity, the Applied Bachelor’s Degree Program in Chemistry, Faculty of Vocational Education, USU, continues to encourage students to go beyond mastering theoretical knowledge and transform their knowledge and ideas into tangible, impactful work while creating opportunities for product development and entrepreneurship based on chemistry.