Bali to host int’l science competition

Indonesia will host the International Conference of Young Scientists (ICYS) this April after grabbing a string of medals at last year’s event.

The conference, including competitions in subjects of physics, mathematics, ecology and computer science, will involve at least 160 students from 19 countries.

Monika Raharti, Young Researcher Development program director at Surya Institute, helping to facilitate this year’s event and Indonesia participant preparation, said that the country’s success last year helped to secure the role as host in 2010.

“We suggested [last year] that the next conference be held in Indonesia,” she said.

“After our victories, the decision became clearer.”

At the 16th ICYS held in Poland last year, the country’s young researchers received six gold medals, one silver, three bronze and gained the overall champion title.

This year, 12 students from Indonesia are candidates for the ICYS, to be held in Sanur from April 12 to 17.

Monika said that there were two ways Indonesian students could participate in the event: one was through the Indonesian Research Olympics (OPSI) held by the National Education Ministry and another through a competition held by the Surya Institute.

The OPSI replaced the decade-long Youth Scientific Research Competition, she said.

Monika added that it was only last year that the institute cooperated with the ministry to attract participants.

“By cooperating with the ministry, we can reach more areas, such as regions in Bangka, Sumatra, and Manado, Sulawesi,” she said.

Monika added that Indonesia had experienced increasing success since it first participated in 2005.

The ICYS was first held in 1993 in Belarus.

Several success stories for Indonesia include research on developing batik patterns using a computer program and a traditional Indonesian instrument, the suling bambu (bamboo flute), known for its variability in dimension and pitch.

Monika said that in the future the young scientists might achieve greater success with their research, possibly by cooperating with the Research and Technology Ministry.

“Their projects can be further developed with senior scientists,” she said.

Nada DS Marsudi, the assistant deputy for international research in science and technology at the ministry, said that there might be a possible cooperation between junior and senior researchers to strengthen support for the amateurs.

Indonesian scientists abroad have been claimed to say they find it difficult to develop projects in their home country. (dis)