Kelantan Ecohealth Innovation Fair 2024 (KEIF 2024)

25-26 October 2024

Dewan Nurani, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

Dr. Nurhidanatasha Abu Bakar from the Biomedical Science Programme, PPSK, USM, has once again captured national attention by winning not one, but two awards at KEIF 2024 held on October 25-26 at Dewan Nurani, USM: the Gold Medal Award and the Platinum Award — a special honor given only to the event’s most impactful innovation!

Leading the charge in eco-friendly innovation, Dr. Nurhidanatasha, alongside Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Dasuki Sul'ain and their collaborators from Universitas Andalas (UNAND) — Dr. Ir. Eka Candra Lina, Prof. Dr. Novri Nelly, Agnest Andini, and Rahyan Fadhlurrahman — unveiled a pioneering nanoemulsion formulation blending Piper aduncum (sireh hutan) essential oil and Melaleuca cajuputi hydrosol. This natural bioinsecticide was crafted with advanced nanotechnology to protect its active ingredients from environmental degradation by sunlight and microorganisms. The result is a potent, sustainable solution that lasts longer, resists breakdown, and is already making a significant impact across Indonesia as a game-changing eco-friendly pest control option.

The KEIF 2024 awards further underscore USM’s role as a national leader in sustainable innovation and health sciences, marking a bold step forward in ecohealth solutions that offer a safer, environmentally responsible alternative to conventional insecticides.