East Kalimantan's 'Garuda School' Living Lab Produces Impactful Eco-Innovations

SMA Nasional KPS in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, which has now been designated a ‘Sekolah Unggul Garuda Transformasi’ (Garuda Transformation School of Excellence), is building a research-based ecosystem through a ‘living laboratory’ concept to produce a range of environmentally friendly technological innovations that benefit the community. “We consistently train all students’ critical reasoning by requiring them to write scientific papers in Year 11 and present them at national and international seminars when they reach Year 12,” said Noor Yanti Aziza, Head of SMA Nasional KPS Balikpapan, on Monday. The implementation of the living lab programme at the school has spurred students to create a microplastic filter for washing machines made from coconut coir and to produce a therapeutic herbal shampoo from the Karamunting plant. “Our students also process used cooking oil waste into small-scale B100 biodiesel, sharing the knowledge with other schools while also helping seaweed farmers in the Manggar area of Balikpapan with their operations,” Noor Yanti Aziza added. Other innovative works include a low-cost, IoT-based flood detection device, a wave protection device for seaweed cultivation, and an educational solar power installation for traditional fishing boat lights. In an effort to preserve local biodiversity, the school’s researchers and students have also studied ten rare plant species from the Balikpapan Botanical Garden, with sample preparations stored neatly in the school’s science laboratory. All these cutting-edge discoveries are then exhibited to the public through a special event called ‘Innovation Day’ as a form of appreciation. The school’s achievement in breaking into the top 30 national educational institutions has been warmly welcomed and fully supported by the East Kalimantan Provincial Government. East Kalimantan now has two ‘Garuda Schools’ after SMA Nasional KPS Balikpapan was designated a 2026 Garuda Transformation School of Excellence, following a similar achievement by SMA Negeri 10 Samarinda in 2025. “We congratulate them on this extraordinary achievement and hope the trust from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology will motivate this institution to act as a centre of excellence in accelerating regional educational transformation,” said Armin, Acting Head of the East Kalimantan Education and Culture Office.