Who says Junior High school teachers cannot participate in scientific research and thrive at an international conference? We broke the stigma. We were the only Junior High school teachers to participate and present our research paper at the International Conference on Exercise, Health & Physiology, held in conjunction with the Indonesian Physiology Society 19th Annual Meeting. The event took place on July 2–3, 2026, in Bandung, jointly hosted by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI).
The conference featured 10 keynote speakers from Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Participants from more than 20 universities across Indonesia attended, and over 50 research papers were presented, providing a platform to share scientific knowledge and innovation in technology, exercise science, health, and physiology. The conference carried the theme “Integrating Exercise Science and Health Innovation for Global Wellbeing”. It highlighted the role of exercise science and health in improving the quality of life globally, which aligns with the BEST profile that BPK PENABUR promotes.
At this conference, our school sent three representatives: Ms. Tasya Rosalina Handoko, Global Perspectives and Research teacher, as the first author; Mr. Bagus Winata, Physical Exercise teacher, as the second author; and Ms. Sherly Kalatting, the school principal, as the supervisor. Despite having little time to prepare, we managed to surpass competitors from other institutions and won First Place in the Best Presentation category. This achievement is especially remarkable because our school was the only non-university institution participating in the conference. Our success demonstrated that school teachers are capable of conducting quality research and delivering excellent scientific presentations at national and international academic forums.
It is hoped that this achievement will serve as an inspiration and a benchmark for the entire academic community of BPK PENABUR Junior College Tanjung Duren to further develop a strong research culture, encourage innovative research, and actively participate in national and international scientific conferences. Moreover, it also reflects the school’s strong commitment to promoting research, innovation, and academic excellence. Through these
efforts, the school aims to foster continuous academic growth and make meaningful contributions to the advancement of science and society.
Author:
Tasya Rosalina Handoko, MA and Bagus Winata, M.Or,
PENABUR Intercultural Secondary & Junior College Tanjung Duren