Article for University of the Ryukyus

well well well
Finally, I have to share about my the very first article for my University.
I am not that confidence actually, but I tried my best, hopefully this is a great article and could be a new motivation to the readers. Have fun reading guys,

From Small Marine Organism to the World

1^st year of Master of Science, University of the Ryukyus

Do you know stars? Although they appear very small when we look at them from earth, they paint the darkness of the night with their bright light and therefore create a beautiful painting in the sky. My dream is to be one of these stars. I want to be a part in this painting, contributing to illuminate the darkness and in the same time remaining relatively small.

I consider myself as a chemist who specializes in marine natural product. During my undergraduate studies I fell in love with two important things:　“The marine world and Japan.” I would like to thank my previous supervisor, Dr. Andi Setiawan, who introduced me first to the ocean world and its implication to chemistry, and second to another country, Japan, through scientific collaboration. Since then, Scientists from Japan, especially in field of marine natural products, have been my source of inspiration.

Finally, after my graduation I was really eager to continue my studies and reasearch. Naturally, for the reasons mentioned above, I looked for Japanese universities which carry a marine science program. I learnt that University of the Ryukyus was going to accept new students with scholarships. I immediately sent my application, few months later here I was, ready to start a new chapter of my life in Okinawa, JAPAN.

My former supervisor is an inspiration for me and so is my actual supervisor, Prof. Junichi Tanaka. Day in, day out, he keeps on teaching me, from, of course, chemistry to life. I knew Prof. Tanaka through his publications, I had never known how he was, but now, I have the privilege to communicate and receive countless advises on a daily basis, how lucky I am.

In Tanaka’s Lab, we are interested in new bioactive compounds from marine organisms. What I have been doing here is extraction for many samples and screening with their cytotoxicity and other biological activities, then by checking NMR spectrum we can elucidate what the interesting molecule is. The problem that we face is not only finding an interesting compound with bioactivity in a hundreds of samples but also other reaserch groups, as we know, there are so many marine natural product researchers in this world. But, if I could, I would like to be one of them. Nice put is enjoying your work, be brave to dream, work and study hard, as my Professor advises me as always.

The important thing that I want to say is, by doing research hopefully it can be very useful for science world, people, at least people around us. So, do our best, seize the day to reach our dream, then let the results come to us, and cheers.