Young scientist hopes to contribute

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Giving herself the moniker "Chubby Scientist", 14-year-old Stephanie Senna showed that she was a real scientist after winning the Best Experiment trophy during the First International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) on Monday, Dec. 13.

Using fermented snakefruit in an experimental test, Stephanie drew out the elements of the fruit, measured the pressure of the gas produced through the fermentation process and classified what kind of gas was produced.

"It was quite tough. We finished 45 minutes before the three- and-a-half hours allotted. But then I took a look at the papers we finished, and we'd made a mistake! The graphics were all wrong," she told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

However, Senna, which is what her friends call her, said they had been coached on a similar experiment during the 10-month "training camp" where the students all stayed together and studied intensively together with their teachers.

The training camp itself was very useful in preparing the 12 Indonesian students to become overall winners at the competition, she said.

"We had been told by our mentors to become the overall winners and win gold medals," said Senna laughing, while adding that her parents simply asked her to benefit from the experience in the competition and pray a lot.

"I missed my parents and friends very much during the training camp. However, it was lucky for me that I could still see my parents on weekends, unlike colleagues from other provinces, who could not meet their parents at all," said Senna.

Students selected for the competition came from several provinces throughout the country, including Papua, Lampung, South Sumatra, West Java and South Sulawesi.

"The few first weeks were the toughest. Our lives were organized for us, as we were so far away from our parents and friends," she explained.

Study time was from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Chemistry, biology and physics lessons each day.

However, Senna said all the hard work was worthwhile after they were awarded their medals. "I felt all my tears and hard work during those months had paid off. It was a great moment!"

As the intensive academic camp included the transition from one semester to another, Senna's marks on her report card were adjusted to the results she got the previous semester.

Senna believed that success was 99 percent hard work and one percent talent. "And, I might add, prayers made it complete."

After the Olympiad, Senna won money, education insurance and a personal computer. State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom also promised it would carry the IJSO winner on a procession along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin.

Indonesia's new rising scientist, who was born in Jakarta on Feb. 9, said she preferred biology as it was all about living creatures.

In 2003, she won a bronze medal in biology at the National Olympiad in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

However, she did not want to be a physician. "There are too many doctors nowadays," she said.

"But I started to enjoy physics too after the training. I think physics is quite fun; everything that happens in life has an explanation in terms of physics," said Senna.

"Perhaps I want to be scientist who can bring Indonesia some positive international attention. I want the world to know my country for positive things, not just for being poor," she said.

The daughter of Husen Chandra and Aliana said she enjoyed reading story books and singing in the bathroom. "My favorite author is Enid Blyton; however, I do not have a favorite singer as I enjoy more the songs themselves," said the teenage prodigy.

Her favorites were soundtracks from Disney movies, such as The Whole New World (Aladdin) and Reflection (Mulan).

Senna has studied English since elementary school and is fluent. During the IJSO she was able to meet a lot of participants from other countries, because of her language skill.

In 2003, she won first prize in an interschool English debating competition.

Despite all her activities, Senna said she still enjoyed shopping with her friends at Taman Anggrek Mal on weekends, as well as singing in her church choir.

"My friends were very happy when I returned to school. All my teachers were very proud too," she said. She is a student at the private Christian school, IPEKA, in West Jakarta.

She is currently in junior high at IPEKA, but said she might continue her studies through high school there as well. "My mom wanted me to finish high school here, but I might go abroad for my bachelor's degree (university)," said Senna.

However, she has not yet decided on the university at which she would like to study.