The Mandalika Essay Competition 3 (MEC) has just completed their exciting competition, with student teams having registered since August 10. The team with members Abdil Farras Hadi Pranaya (Electrical Engineering), Pria Akbar Maulana (Electrical Engineering), Laila Fatima Rahmanida (PWK Engineering), Rifdah Aulia Andini (Architectural Engineering), and Fitriana Nurhaliza (PWK Engineering) as the chairperson, started their journey by registering on August 10. On August 19, the MEC finalists were announced, and the team made it as finalists. They were then given the opportunity to present their essays in Lombok on September 16, 2023. After the successful presentation, the event continued with a field trip and volunteer activities that took place on September 17-18, 2023.

The team took an interesting essay title, namely “SMUCH: Smart Public Space For Childhoods – Child-Friendly Public Space Based on Piezoelectric Technology Integrated with IoT to Support National Energy Independence.” This essay carries the concept of developing child-friendly public spaces and aims to have a positive influence on the development of children. In addition, the essay also highlighted the issue of increased use of gadgets in children and the contribution to increased energy consumption. The essay won 3 awards, namely Gold medal in the energy and technology category, Best paper in the general category of Mandalika Essay Competition 3, 1st runner-up in the general category of Mandalika Essay Competition 3.

One of the Electrical Engineering students who is a member of this team, Pria Akbar Maulana, said that his team managed to complete their essay without significant difficulties, thanks to the support and compact teamwork. They supported each other in every stage of the competition. Pria Akbar Maulana also expressed his positive impression of this experience. Apart from succeeding in the competition, they also had the opportunity to interact with students from various top universities in Indonesia and explore the beauty of tourism in Lombok.