YOGYAKARTA (KU) – As many as 115 students from 11 universities in Yogyakarta and Central Java follow the study, training, and dissemination of appropriate technologies that are useful for society, organized by the Study Club Community Forum (SCCF) UGM and Indonesian Scientist and Technologist Community (MITI) – Student, held from 9 to 10 October 2010. Some participants are from UGM (Universitas Gadjah Mada), UNY (Yogyakarta State University), UII (Islamic University of Indonesia), UIN Sunan Kalijaga (Islamic State University), UAD (Ahmad Dahlan University), Amikom, Diponegoro University, Unes (Semarang State University), Unisula (Sultan Agung University), Unsoed (General Soedirman State University), and UNS (Sebelas Maret State University).
Adhita Sri Prabakusuma, chief of the organizing committee, said that the research training is intended to raise students’ motivation in the development of appropriate technology for the community. "This is to provide an understanding among students that research on campus needs to be disseminated to the community," the student of Faculty of Agriculture UGM said on Monday (11/10).
According to Praba, development of science and technology should be able to support increasing welfare and dignity of human life. However, the low contribution of technology to the development is often associated with small allocation of state budget in supporting research activities. "Not surprisingly, many researches are done only to answer curiosity and not carefully designed to deliver technology solutions for various problems in society," he said.
He said that academic research still needs to be more directed to provide foundation for the development of technology. The sensitivity of academicians and researchers that is focused on real issues is needed. "Academic world should not be isolated from the real world. Higher education and research institutions should not be an ‘ivory tower’ because the problems faced by the people and the nation at this moment are too large to be ignored by everyone, especially by intelligent communities at universities and research institutions," he added.
The event has the theme Building Synergy between Students and Society in the Optimization of Local Wisdom through Appropriate Technology Application. The activities implemented include indoor training that is presented in three sessions by UGM experts.
On the second day they carried out field visit. Participants were asked to directly review the activities of appropriate technology-based community development in Turi, Sleman, Yogyakarta, which is research application of salak (snake fruit) waste that is processed into bioethanol and organic fertilizer; this is the result of UGM student’s research.
Tri Hanifawati from Research Department of MITI-Student said that the students were very enthusiastic in following the series of events. This is indicated by the number of questions and responses from them regarding the materials and simulations that are presented by the speakers. "The research training of community development is expected to increase students’ understanding of appropriate technology research in the community that helps improve people’s welfare," she concluded.