Young Indonesian scientists bagged medals — two gold, three silver and four bronze — and awards at the Asia-Pacific Conference of Young Scientists (APCYS) in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Sept
oung Indonesian scientists bagged medals — two gold, three silver and four bronze — and awards at the Asia-Pacific Conference of Young Scientists (APCYS) in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Sept. 2–7.
The team’s gold champion from Yogyakarta, young researcher Melody Grace Natalie, also won the Best Female Researcher award from the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies as well as the Nicest Poster Award.
“These winnings are just bonuses. What matters most for me is my process in conducting the research,” said Grace from SMA Stella Duce I Yogyakarta, who is among 10 Indonesian junior and senior high school students who won medals and awards.
They include Andre Pratama from SMAN 1 Sampit, who won the Governor of Central Kalimantan Award and the gold medal for environmental science, and silver medalists Veronica Swasti Paramita from SMAN 6 Yogyakarta, Steven Sinatra from SMA Chandra Kusuma, Gusti Ayu Indah Lestari and her schoolmates from SMAN 3 Denpasar.
Meanwhile, bronze medals were won by Yonathan Esli from SMP St. Maria Palangkaraya, Zuzan Cyrstaria from SMAN 3 Jayapura, Heru Pralambang from SMKN Kecil 1 Palangkaraya and Jackie Harry from SMP Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Darius Christian from SMAN 3 Jayapura also received a special award for best prospect for practical application.
As many as 71 students in 50 research teams from 12 Asia-Pacific countries — Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Nepal, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Guam, Brunei Darussalam, Taiwan and Indonesia — participated in the event.
The competition was divided into five categories: physics, mathematics, computer science, life science and environmental science, according to APCYS 2012 organizing committee chairman Syailendra Harahap.
“The APCYS aims at encouraging the birth of more young researchers from Asia, because currently there are too few Asian participants at the International Conferences of Young Scientists [ICYS],” said APCYS president Monika Raharti.
“All research presented at APCYS is unique due to the local content,” said Monika.
One APCYS finalist from Bali, Putu Ayu Suastidewi, for example, combined the subject of math and Balinese Hindu culture in her scientific research.
“Math becomes more fun this way, because we study it not only in the form of a formula but also linking it with the traditional Balinese aspect,” said Suastidewi, whose research was titled “Does the Balinese Hindu’s Symbol of God Acintya follow the Golden Ratio?”
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