Institute of Nuclear Technology opened
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Research and Technology M. Hatta Rajasa officially opened the Yogyakarta-based Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology (POINT/STTN) here on Friday, and also took the opportunity to launch two new rice varieties called Krueng Woyla and Meraoke which were developed by the National Nuclear Energy Institute (Batan).
The new Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology (POINT/STTN) will open its doors next month with 20 places for the first-year students which will be divided into three majors: electromechanical, electronic-instrumentation, and techno- chemistry.
The institute is in fact an offshoot of the existing Diploma-3 Program Nuclear Technology Academy (PATN), which was founded in 1985.
"The challenges in nuclear research convinced us that PATN's Diploma-3 Program must be expanded into a Diploma-4 program under the new name of STTN," Hatta said.
The establishment of the new state educational institute was based on Presidential Decree No 71/2001 dated June 8, 2001, he said.
"It (the institute) will carry out nuclear science and technological through carefully designed four-year courses of study," he said.
Coordinator of Batan's Reactor Physics Laboratory Syarip told journalists here that the STTN students would utilize Batan's research facilities.
"The new polytechnic will be under the auspices of Batan's director and will become the main educational institute for Indonesian nuclear scientists," he said, adding that STTN graduates would also be allowed to work in private companies.
Before being transformed into STTN, PATN had graduated 301 alumni since its establishment in 1985.
New varieties
On the same occasion Minister Hatta also launched two new rice varieties named Krueng Woyla and Meraoke after rivers in Aceh and Irian Jaya provinces.
The Krueng Woyla variety was developed from Gamma-ray irradiation in a particular dosage of a hybrid seed from Atomita- 2 rice and IR-64. Meanwhile, the Meraoke variety was obtained from irradiated Atomita-4 rice and IR-64's hybrid seed.
"I hope the new varieties, which have bigger seeds and are more resistant to pests, will be accepted by the Ministry of Agriculture. Hopefully, the new rice varieties will improve farmers' production and earning capacities," said Hatta.
Hatta also expressed his hope that Batan researchers would engage in more relevant research so as to accelerate economic recovery and empower the popular economy.
"I call on Batan's researchers to conduct more pragmatic research and improve the development and research division for the benefit of the people," he said.
According to Hatta, Batan -- with more than 3,800 employers -- also has the obligation to help solve the nation's problems, especially as regards the development of technology. He also called on the researchers not to ignore Batan's long term strategic program, including the development of cheaper, cleaner and safer energy.
"Batan has to continue its mission to develop cheaper, cleaner and safer energy. It must also develop new materials through radiation technology, and produce instruments and tools for the industry and medical purposes," he said.
Hatta stressed that Indonesian nuclear research faced major challenges in meeting international standards of nuclear technology.
"Indonesian nuclear researchers have strategic value in implementing and transforming nuclear science and technology into better qualified products that meet international standards," he said. (23)