Young Balinese scientists shine in national contests<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
SINGARAJA, North Bali (JP): Fourteen-year-old I Komang Adi
\nAswantara from the small town of Singaraja startled judges
\nat the National Youth Science Contest in Jakarta with his simple
\nyet brilliant scientific project -- a tool to control sea
\nerosion.<\/p>\n
In front of noted scholars such as Andi Hakim Nasution, a
\nprofessor at the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), Komang
\neloquently explained how the tool works.<\/p>\n
The tool is a one-by-one meter corrugated iron wall that is
\nplaced at a 30 degree angle along coastal areas.<\/p>\n
Unlike stone walls which are easily worn away by the sea
\nwaves, iron is resistant to the water.<\/p>\n
Komang thought this metal wall was much more effective in
\npreventing sea water from eroding the coastal areas, as compared
\nto the existing stone walls.<\/p>\n
He boldly explained his finding before the judges, who were
\nmoved to select him as the winner of the contest.<\/p>\n
\"It was a three-month trial-and-error experiment. I kept
\nmaking improvement here and there to create this effective
\nequipment,\" said the shy Komang while showing his creation at his
\nschool's library.<\/p>\n
The third-year student at SMP 1 junior high school spends his
\ntime after school at Kampung Tinggi village, formerly Singaraja
\nsea harbor, watching the waves in the sea.<\/p>\n
He noticed that the present sea erosion control project along
\nSingaraja beach was not working very well.<\/p>\n
Driven by curiosity, Komang set out to create a better system.
\nWith the support of his parents, friends and teachers, Komang
\ntook part in the contest, held last August by the Ministry of
\nNational Education in cooperation with the Indonesian Institute
\nof Sciences (LIPI).<\/p>\n
\"I never thought that my project would impress the jury.
\nI was so nervous because all the participants were very clever
\nand creative,\" Komang said recently at his school in Singaraja.<\/p>\n
Komang said he was very happy to receive a computer as part of
\nhis prize for winning. \"I am able to learn how to use the
\ncomputer, to surf the Internet and play various computer games,\"
\nKomang said happily.<\/p>\n
The youngest son of two teachers, he hopes to continue his
\nstudies in science.<\/p>\n
\"I want to become a great scientist like Albert Einstein,\"
\nKomang said.<\/p>\n
Professor Andi Hakim, who delivered the prize to Komang, was
\npleased to see so many young talents.<\/p>\n
Gifted Scientists<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia needs so many other Komangs, to educate them to
\nbecome gifted scientists,\" Andi commented.<\/p>\n
The contest, held annually in conjunction with the
\nIndependence Day, is aimed mainly at encouraging young students
\nto explore and experiment.<\/p>\n
Sofar Silaen, head of the young scientist program at LIPI,
\nsaid that such contests provided a forum for the youth to
\nshowcase their ideas and to test their writing and communication
\nskills.<\/p>\n
\"If we want to build an intellectual society, we should start
\nin the early years,\" said Sofar.<\/p>\n
He also said that this year's contest was dominated by
\nparticipants from outside Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"This year's contest belonged to Bali. Both of the winners
\nfrom the contests organized by LIPI and Mendiknas were students
\nfrom Singaraja,\" Sofar said.<\/p>\n
The winner of LIPI's science contest in August 2000 was Ni
\nNyoman Metri Agustini, 15, a student at SMAN I high school in
\nSingaraja.<\/p>\n
Metri conducted research on banana fibers and developed the
\nfibers as textile and handicraft materials.<\/p>\n
\"The jury included Dr. Pratiwi Sudharmono, Indonesia's
\nastronaut candidate, and many other prominent figures. I felt so
\npessimistic,\" said Metri, who was accompanied at the interview by
\nher school principal I Made Sudjana.<\/p>\n
Before the interview, Metri presented her findings to small-
\nscale entrepreneurs in Singaraja.<\/p>\n
\"Bali has abundant banana trees. We can use banana fiber for
\nvarious purposes and create high-quality and export-oriented
\nshoes, handicrafts and textiles to give more value-added and
\nfinancial benefit to local artisans,\" said Metri.<\/p>\n
In l999, Metri also grabbed second place at LIPI's science
\ncontest, when she was still in junior high school.<\/p>\n
\"My mother, who is a teacher here, always encourages me to
\nexplore more subjects,\" said Metri, who dreams of becoming a
\ndoctor.<\/p>\n
The principal said he was very proud of his students's
\nacademic achievements.<\/p>\n
The principal also said the school boasted some other fine
\nbudding academics. One of these students, Putu Wardika, will
\nrepresent Indonesia at the International Mathematics Olympics in
\nthe United States next month (November).<\/p>\n
\"Singaraja has so many promising young scientists, but we
\ndon't have the facilities or money to fully support their
\nenthusiasm,\" Sudjana said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/young-balinese-scientists-shine-in-national-contests-1447893297",
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