DITMAWALUMNI USU – Siti Maryani Saragi, a student of the Political Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), won first place in the NUNI Student Camp 2026 presentation competition through the CocoShield innovation. The event was held from October 10–13, 2026, at Universitas Surabaya (UBAYA), Surabaya, East Java.
Siti Maryani Saragi, who also serves as Vice President of the USU Student Executive Board (BEM USU) for the 2026–2027 term, participated in the event as a USU representative and was assigned to Group 1 alongside students from various universities that are members of the Nationwide University Network in Indonesia (NUNI).
In the competition, her team presented an idea entitled “CocoShield: Coconut Husk-Based Embankment Protection and Community Participation for Flood Risk Mitigation in Aceh Tamiang Regency.” The innovation was inspired by concerns over flooding in Aceh Tamiang and proposes using discarded coconut husks as an alternative material to help reinforce sections of embankments that are vulnerable to erosion caused by water flow.
CocoShield was developed using a Bio-Geogrid concept, a mesh-like material designed from coconut husk fibers. Its development process includes drying the coconut husks, separating and processing the fibers, spinning them into yarn, and weaving them into a prototype. Beyond the material itself, the concept emphasizes community participation in embankment inspection and maintenance, as well as an assessment of its potential social benefits using a Social Return on Investment (SROI) approach.
The initial CocoShield idea was proposed by Siti Maryani based on her concern about flooding in Aceh Tamiang. The concept was subsequently developed with her group members through discussions, concept refinement, and preparation of presentation materials, ultimately leading to their first-place finish in the competition.
Participating in NUNI Student Camp 2026 was also a valuable experience for Siti Maryani, as it brought her together with students from various higher education institutions across Indonesia. Their diverse backgrounds and perspectives encouraged the team to exchange ideas, build collaborations, and formulate innovative concepts aimed at addressing community challenges.
Siti Maryani hopes that CocoShield will not remain merely a competition concept but will attract the attention of the government and other stakeholders for further study, testing, and development as an alternative approach to disaster mitigation in Aceh Tamiang.
According to her, challenges faced by a region can serve as a starting point for beneficial innovations when developed through collaboration, openness to different perspectives, and a commitment to continuously improving solutions.
This achievement is a source of pride for Universitas Sumatera Utara and demonstrates the contribution of its students in developing innovative ideas that integrate local potential, environmental sustainability, and community participation to address disaster-related challenges.