Jason Kristiano is a 2015 undergraduate physics student at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI), who broke the record for graduating in just three years in the Department of Physics.
At the UI Undergraduate Graduation Ceremony held on Friday (August 31st) at the UI Hall in Depok, Jason was inaugurated by UI Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Muhammad Anis, M.Met., as the best graduate, earning Cum Laude honors with a near-perfect Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.96.
Furthermore, while still a student at FMIPA UI, Jason, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Terry Mart, Professor of Physics at FMIPA UI, published his thesis research in the journal Physical Review C, the most prestigious international journal published by the American Physical Society. Even a doctoral dissertation isn't guaranteed to be accepted for publication in this world-renowned journal.
Previously, no UI graduate had achieved the same level of success as Jason. With these achievements, Jason is now the youngest and best graduate of UI.
In his publication, Jason refined the theory of fermion particle spin, assisted by his senior, Samson Clymton. Samson, who was then a master's student in Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UI, assisted Jason in the formulation.
Samson had previously written two papers in the same journal, and the third paper was written with Jason. Samson not only cross-checked and corrected Jason's formula, but also served as a discussion partner for Jason.
As his advisor, Terry Mart stated that in physics, a theory like this cannot be solved alone.
Jason's passion for physics has resulted in victories in physics competitions, both national and international. Thus, achieving brilliant achievements seems to be commonplace for this 21-year-old.
He has achieved a number of achievements, including a gold medal at the 2014 National Science Olympiad (OSN) in Physics, an Honorable Mention at the 2015 Asian Physics Olympiad, and first place in the Theory Category of Physics at the 2015 Pertamina OSN.
So, what are Jason's aspirations for his knowledge of physics?
Jason revealed that he wants to become a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. Although he admits the chances are slim, he is optimistic.
"Especially since there haven't been any Nobel Prize winners from Indonesia," he said.
Furthermore, he also hopes to pursue a Master's and PhD in the United States, the country where many Nobel laureates were born.
Motivation and Study Tips
Many people admire his abilities in physics. When asked what motivates Jason to study physics so deeply and what his study tips are, Jason replied that he has loved physics since high school, initially wanting to participate in physics competitions. For him, participating in a physics competition and winning is the most prestigious achievement among students.
Many people admire his abilities in physics. When asked what motivates Jason to study physics so deeply and what his study tips are, Jason replied that he has loved physics since high school, initially wanting to participate in physics competitions. For him, participating in a physics competition and winning is the most prestigious achievement among students.
For him, the most important thing is understanding the concepts of the material he's studying. Once he understands the concepts, he can then practice with example problems.
Jason isn't entirely wrong about the belief that many people aren't easy to learn physics. However, he believes that everything can be learned.
"Many people assume that I can just get the hang of physics, just a little bit of college and I'll understand. But those who think that don't see the bottom line: How did I learn? I set aside time to study physics every day, regularly read books, and practice problems from them," he said.
Jason also offered a few tips for physics enthusiasts to persevere and consistently study and develop their knowledge of physics.
"So, if you want to learn physics well, read the books and not just read them; understand the concepts, learn the formulas, and don't forget to practice the problems," Jason said.
