Institute of Nuclear Technology opened
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)