Program Kemiraan Masyarakat: Pelatihan Aplikasi Soapcalculator untuk Meningkatkan Kreativitas Mahasiswa dalam Merancang Formulasi Sabun Alami - Sukarma, I Ketut; Prayogi, Saiful; Suryati, Suryati; Fitriani, Herdiyana; Hunaepi, Hunaepi; Hulyadi, Hulyadi; Muzaki, Ahmad; Bayani, Faizul; Syarifuddin, Syarifuddin; Marjan, Marjan; Sukriyadi, Sukriyadi; Alaydrus, Kadir Alpan; et al. (Lumbung Inovasi: Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat, 2025)
Kegiatan pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kreativitas mahasiswa dalam merancang formulasi sabun alami berbasis teknologi digital menggunakan aplikasi soapcalculator. Sebanyak 20 mahasiswa semester dua dari Fakultas Sains Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika dilibatkan sebagai mitra dalam pelatihan yang mengintegrasikan teori kimia dengan praktik langsung pembuatan sabun. Metode yang digunakan adalah pelatihan aplikatif dengan pendekatan learning by doing, yang mencakup tahap sosialisasi, simulasi formulasi, hingga praktik laboratorium menggunakan bahan premium seperti minyak zaitun, kelapa, sawit, dan ekstrak bunga sepatu (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). Hasil observasi menunjukkan peningkatan signifikan dalam kemampuan mahasiswa menggunakan soapcalculator, memahami parameter kualitas sabun (cleansing, conditioning, bubbly, creamy), serta menyusun formulasi secara mandiri. Produk sabun yang dihasilkan memiliki kualitas tinggi, di antaranya: sabun dengan kombinasi minyak zaitun dan ekstrak bunga sepatu menunjukkan sifat lembut dan antimikroba, sedangkan formulasi minyak kelapa memberikan daya pembersih dan busa yang tinggi. Kendati demikian, ditemukan kendala teknis pada keseimbangan kadar superfat dan air yang mempengaruhi durabilitas sabun. Kegiatan ini menegaskan pentingnya sinergi antara bahan alami, teknologi digital, dan inovasi produk dalam mendukung pendidikan abad-21 dan pencapaian SDGs. Community Empowerment Program: Soapcalculator Application Training to Improve Student Creativity in Designing Natural Soap Formulations Abstract This community service activity aims to improve students’ creativity in designing natural soap formulations based on digital technology using the soapcalculator application. A total of 20 second-semester students from the Faculty of Science, Mandalika University of Education were involved as partners in the training that integrated chemical theory with direct practice of soap making. The method used was application training with a learning by doing approach, which included the stages of socialization, formulation simulation, to laboratory practice using premium ingredients such as olive oil, coconut, palm, and hibiscus extract (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). The results of the observation showed a significant increase in students’ ability to use the soapcalculator, understand soap quality parameters (cleansing, conditioning, bubbly, creamy), and formulate independently. The resulting soap products are of high quality, including: soap with a combination of olive oil and hibiscus extract shows gentle and antimicrobial properties, while the coconut oil formulation provides high cleaning and foaming power. However, technical constraints were found in the balance of superfat and water levels that affected the durability of the soap. This activity emphasizes the importance of synergy between natural ingredients, digital technology, and product innovation in supporting 21st-century education and achieving the SDGs.