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tudents and young adults gathered at the Jakarta International Expo in Central Jakarta for an educational creative technology event, the popularity of which highlighted increased public interest in the creative economy.

This year’s Bekraf Habibie Festival, a technological festival held by the Creative Economy Agency, will run until Sunday, showcasing hundreds of communities, universities, hobbyists, projects and programs, ranging from famous self-sustaining hobbyists and prize-winning technologists to fashion designers and experienced curriculum trainers.

Central Jakarta resident Linda Sjukri brought her 9-year-old son to the event after he enjoyed last year’s festival.

“He is very into science [...] He likes new technology, especially aviation and VR [virtual reality],” she said.

Linda said she was glad the festival was held so that she could actively support her son’s interests and help him develop skills for the future by allowing him to have a hands-on approach.

Computer science student Imam was at the event to attend a workshop after finding out about it from his lecturers.

Imam expressed his excitement at learning how to code a microprocessor at the workshop. “I love coding, it’s why I decided to study computer science.”

Many innovators attended the exhibition to show off their latest creations, such as Singaporeans Bartholomew Ting and Gerald Chan. The two hobbyists-turned-professionals presented their project #butterNmilk, which showcases various animals and objects made of cardboard.

Visitors can make cardboard animals and also participate in a game where they can shoot targets using laser guns installed on a large dome-like cardboard spider.

One of the positives of the event was that schools allowed their students to be exposed to technology, so they could experience how it is actually creative and fun, Ting said.

The two exhibitors emphasized the simplicity of coding technology, which students can start to learn. Ting said, “In learning how to code a simple microprocessor, you can create a lot of different things.”

Meanwhile, the festival’s Zero2Maker event, organized by the Malaysia-based Asia School of Business in collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management, was the festival favorite. High school students worked together with the end goal of creating an instrument out of trash found in the home.

The school’s innovation and entrepreneurship center director, Rajesh Nair, who managed the event, said the activity was important for the development of young adults and future entrepreneurs. “As young adults they are more focused on their studies and lose their creativity. The idea is to make them interested in designing and creating something.” (acr)