LIPI scientific contest reaps young researchers

LIPI scientific contest reaps young researchers

P.C. Naommy
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

The National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) initiated a scientific
contest years ago to raise public awareness of the work of young
researchers.

"Through the contest, people learn to appreciate scientific
work and we can also discover bright and talented youths who are
an asset to our country," said head of LIPI Umar Anggara Jenie,
on the sidelines of the announcement of scientific contest
winners, broadcast by state-run TVRI on Friday.

In this year's contest it was difficult for the panel of
judges to decide which finalist came second, a situation
completely different from previous years.

The panel of judges had to decide on three first-place winners
from among contestants in the Teenage Research Competition
(PPRI).

"We have three winners for social sciences and human rights.
It's a great surprise for us," said Wahyuddin Latunreng, head of
the organizing committee of the contest.

He added that it might be common in international contests,
but it was great news for Indonesia.

"This is proof that young Indonesians have increased their
passion for research and are ready to commit to the challenge of
the future."

According to Wahyuddin, the judges based their decision on
three substantial basics: performance, idea and original
material, which had not been covered before.

The winners and runners-up in all categories received trophies
and certificates from LIPI.

The winners of the Best Research category for the Young
Scientific Researcher Competition (PPMI) pocketed Rp 20 million
(US$2,353) in cash from Bank Mandiri.

Winners and runners-up in the PPRI bagged between Rp 2 million
and Rp 5 million in cash.

Daud Samsudewa, the winner in the teen category for
technology, told The Jakarta Post that his victory would
encourage him to be more serious and creative in the future.

"I want to be a researcher, as it is my calling. I have the
dream of boosting Indonesia's farming," said Daud, who had
researched fenol compounds used to detect pregnancy in cattle.

He said that many animal breeders, specially the poor, could
not afford to buy the substances that cost Rp 20,000 per test to
detect pregnancy in their livestock, not to mention the fee of
the veterinarian.

His research shows that using fenol technology in detecting
pregnancy in cattle would be a lot cheaper, costing about Rp 300
per test, and the farmers could do the process themselves.

All finalists presented their research papers through an
assessment process held by the panel of judges on Thursday.

I-box

Winners of 2003 National Youth Research Contest)

Best Researcher, Social Science and Culture:
Mohammad Zulfan Tadjoeddin
The anatomy of social violence in the context of transition:
Cases in Indonesia, 1990 to 2001

Best Researcher, Economic Science and Management:
Zulkieflimansyah
Developing the capability of national technology industry: "The
long, winding, and ascending road"

Best Researcher, Natural Science and Environment:
Anto Tri Sugiarto
Plasma in water and its usage in liquid waste management

Best Researcher, Technology and Engineering:
Agus Haryono
The development of polymerization in the activity of oxygen
molecules
Suryadi Ismadji
Desorption of Isotherm in super-critical condition from several
ester compounds on active carbon

Best Researcher, Medical and Health Science:
Dr. Yanri Wijayanti Subroto
Imunopatogenesist and antigen introduction to tuberculosis

Winners of 2003 National Student Research Contest (PPRI)

Winners, Social Science and Human Rights (no runner-ups):
Charles
Jakartans' access to wheat flour

Muhammad Zainal Arifin
A truth and reconciliation commission as an alternative solution
for serious human rights offenses in Indonesia, 1965 to 1968

Priyo Handoko
Analysis of the establishment of new provinces and their impact
on the development of regional autonomy

Winner, Natural Science:
Noviyan Darmawan
Bioinformatical Study: The structural-based searching of the
dehidrogenese biosensor glucose enzyme on microbium genome

Winner, Technological Science:
Daud Samsudewa
The identification of fenol ions in the urine as an alternative
detection method in cattle pregnancy