Sri Fatmawati

Indonesian biotechnologist revolutionizing traditional medicine through modern research on medicinal plants.

Dr. Sri Fatmawati (b. 1978), a professor at Indonesia’s Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, has bridged the gap between indigenous wisdom and cutting-edge biotechnology. Her groundbreaking work on anti-cancer compounds in Southeast Asian flora has positioned her as a trailblazer in ethnopharmacology.

Raised in rural East Java, Fatmawati documented over 200 medicinal plants used by local healers, later isolating bioactive molecules like calophyllolide from Bintangur trees. Her 2017 study published in Science Advances revealed how these compounds inhibit tumor growth, attracting partnerships with the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Programme.

Beyond labs, Fatmawati launched the ‘Bio-Cultural Heritage Database’, preserving indigenous knowledge while ensuring equitable benefit-sharing with communities. She also co-founded Women in STEM Indonesia, mentoring 1,200+ young female scientists. Her 2022 UNESCO Prize for Sustainable Development underscores how blending tradition and innovation creates paradigm-shifting science.