This year's competition carried the theme “Rare Earth Elements: Essential Resources for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Goals.” One of the featured events was the Paper and Poster Competition, which provided participants with an opportunity to present their research related to Rare Earth Elements (REE).

The team presented a study entitled “Geological and Geochemical Controls on Rare Earth Element Distribution in Hydrothermal and Alluvial Systems of Bangka S-Type Granite.” The research focused on analyzing REE enrichment patterns within hydrothermal systems in Central Bangka and comparing them with secondary systems located in West Bangka and South Bangka. Through this study, the team successfully developed a geological model explaining the distribution of rare earth elements within these geological environments.

According to Wenny, their decision to participate in the competition was motivated by the strong relevance between the competition theme and the research field they had been pursuing for approximately one year. During this period, both students actively conducted research on rare earth elements for scientific publications, competitions, and their undergraduate thesis projects.

The collaboration between the two team members began in 2025 through various research and competition activities. Their partnership started with primary data collection in Bangka Island and continued through several academic endeavors related to economic geology. Throughout the project, responsibilities were assigned flexibly based on each member’s expertise. Zaky focused primarily on rare earth elements and the geochemistry of Bangka granite, while Wenny specialized in the hydrothermal system aspects of the research.

One of the greatest challenges faced by the team during the competition was time management. The competition coincided with their undergraduate thesis activities, requiring both students to balance academic responsibilities with competition preparation. Nevertheless, they successfully overcame these challenges through effective communication, adaptive task allocation, and strong mutual support.

A key strength of the team's research was the use of primary data obtained directly from field mapping and sampling activities. The data were collected through their research in Central Bangka, providing a significant advantage compared to many participants who relied primarily on secondary data sources.

“The judges appreciated the use of primary data in our research. In addition, our presentation skills were highlighted as one of the strengths of our work,” said Wenny.

The team's achievement was also supported by various parties. Throughout the research process, they received supervision from their undergraduate thesis advisors, Dr. Idham Andri Kurniawan, S.T., M.T., and Astin Nurdiana, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. Furthermore, they were supported by geologists from PT Timah Tbk and received research funding through the MGEI Student Research Funding 2025 program.

As a closing message, they encouraged fellow students not to hesitate in participating in competitions, even if success does not come immediately. According to them, joining competitions since their early years at university has provided valuable experiences that enhanced their research, communication, and teamwork skills.

“Do not be afraid to explore specific topics that genuinely interest you. We have been focusing on tin and rare earth element research for about a year. Concentrating on a particular field allows us to develop deeper expertise while continuously gaining new insights that strengthen the quality of our research,” Wenny concluded.

Reporter: Indah Marcelinawati (Urban and Regional Planning, 2022)