Yohanes Surya makes science fun<\/p>\n
Rita A.Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
When five Indonesian high school students triumphed at the
\n33rd World Physics Olympiad, nobody felt happier than Yohanes
\nSurya, the team's physics trainer.<\/p>\n
\"This is the first time Indonesia has achieved such a high
\naccolade since the country took part at the International Physics
\nOlympiad in l996,\" smiled Yohanes, who could not hide his
\nhappiness.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian team, comprising five high school students --
\nAgustinus Peter Sahanggamu, Widagdo Setiawan, Fajar Ardian, who
\nwon three gold medals, Christopher Hendriks received a silver
\nmedal while Evelyn Mintarno got the bronze.<\/p>\n
\"I feel extremely happy to see their hard work bearing sweet
\nfruit. Their achievements have proven to the world that
\nIndonesian students are as intelligent and skillful as their
\ncounterparts from developed countries,\" Yohanes.<\/p>\n
These students have done their very best, assisted by Yohanes
\nand his team of trainers who had contributed a lot to their
\nsuccess.<\/p>\n
\"We spent almost a year training these five students to
\nprepare for the Asian and International Physics Olympiad,\" said
\nthe chairman of the Indonesian team.<\/p>\n
It was Yohanes who first opened the door for Indonesian
\nstudents to take part in the International Physics Olympiad. He
\nwas a Phd candidate at the College of William Mary in Virginia,
\nthe United States in l993 when the College held the World
\nPhysics Competition.<\/p>\n
\"I asked my professor whether I could invite Indonesian
\nstudents to take part in that event, and he nodded,\" Yohanes
\nrecalled.<\/p>\n
Thanks to his efforts, Indonesian students have since carved
\ntheir names at every international physics competition.<\/p>\n
Earlier, when he got his Phd degree, Yohanes was accepted as a
\nscientist at the World's Largest Nuclear Physics Center in
\nVirginia. \"I worked there for only six months. It was a boring
\nlife,\" Yohanes recalled.<\/p>\n
He later decided to return to Indonesia and set up a team to
\ntrain Indonesian students who would compete at various physics
\ncompetitions, including the International Physics Olympiad.<\/p>\n
\"Many people, including my family and close friends, thought I
\nwas crazy, leaving my secure job in the United States only to
\nbecome a trainer for these students,\" Yohanes said.<\/p>\n
But for this man, there are more important things in life than
\njust gaining financial security and fame.<\/p>\n
\"Since I was a child, I wanted to do something good for
\nIndonesia. This is probably my small contribution to the country,
\nhelping these talented students thrive on the international
\nstage,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Since l994, Yohanes and his colleagues have been assigned by
\nthe National Committee to give physics training to the 10
\nbrightest students selected through a annual national physics
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
\"The first thing we had to do was convince both students and
\nteachers that science, especially physics, is not a terrifying
\nand difficult subject,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During 10 months of training, these students were encouraged
\nto carry out various scientific experiments and went through
\nplenty of exams at graduate level.<\/p>\n
\"Although the materials were quite difficult, we tried to
\npresent them in fascinating and attractive ways so they would
\nbecome curious to learn and explore more,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The present education system in Indonesian does not give much
\nspace for students or teachers to give inspiring science lessons
\nin classes.<\/p>\n
\"Science is about everyday things and the revelation of the
\nuniverse's many natural secrets. It is important not to make it
\ntoo complicated, especially to young students,\" Yohanes said.<\/p>\n
And the man, who loves to read during his leisure time, has
\nmade it his obsession to make science a fascinating subject a
\nreality by writing interesting science books. So far, he has
\nwritten 68 science books like Fisika Itu Asik (Physics is Fun)
\nand Fisika Itu Mudah (Physics in Easy).<\/p>\n
\"By the end of this year, I will publish a stimulating science
\nbook for elementary school students. I am glad that many local
\nschools have ordered this upcoming book,\" Yohanes said.<\/p>\n
Born into a modest family in a slum area in East Jakarta 39
\nyears ago, little Yohanes was always known as a kind, diligent
\nand bright kid.<\/p>\n
\"I was just like the other village children playing soccer in
\na dirty field and helping my mother make traditional cookies at 3
\na.m. before going to school,\" he recalled.<\/p>\n
Still, he was already fond of reading and learning science
\nduring his childhood.<\/p>\n
\"I had a good and smart teacher who aroused my interest in
\nscience. But I fell in love with physics when I was a student at
\nthe University of Indonesia,\" said the father of two.<\/p>\n
Teachers, he said, play very crucial roles in arousing
\nchildren's interest in science. \"I have trained thousands of
\njunior and high school students across the country on how to
\nteach physics in an enjoyable learning atmosphere.\"<\/p>\n
Hopefully, gone are the days when teachers tightened their
\nfaces and wrinkled their eyebrows when teaching science.<\/p>\n
The five students' achievement at the International Physics
\nOlympiad, which ended on Monday at the Nusa Dua resort complex in
\nBali, will inspire their fellow students here.<\/p>\n
\"Our country has ample clever and talented students. We will
\nbe wasting our great potential if they are not properly trained
\nand taken care of,\" Yohanes said.<\/p>\n
The event, he said, is a window to the world for Indonesian
\nstudents. Winning this prestigious competition will help improve
\nthe country's pride and image of poor human resources.<\/p>\n
\"It is satisfying for me to see how Indonesian students will
\nbe recognized worldwide,\" Yohanes said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yohanes-surya-makes-science-fun-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}