I Made Andi Arsana, S.T., M.Eng., lecturer of Geodetic and Geomatic Engineering of UGM, has gained success in Innovative Writing Olympics held by the Association of Indonesian Students in France.
Arsana has won the grand prize for social, political, legal and economic categories and won some €750 in cash.
The Innovative Writing Olympics is a scientific forum that was held for the first time in Paris, France, between 10-11 October 2009. The theme was "the Contribution of Indonesian Students to Meet Current and Future Challenges."
The Chairperson of the Association in France, Endra Saleh Atmawidjaja, as quoted by Antara and Rakyat Merdeka Online, said that the event was held to bring together original, innovative and up-to-date ideas of all Indonesian students across the world in applied science and technology as well as social, legal, political and economic sciences. Later, those innovative and up-to-date researches will make the basis of the formulation of recommendation that will be submitted to the Indonesian Government. Also, the Association has the aim to establish scientific networking among Indonesian students around the world, who are potential Indonesian leaders in the future. Â
Arsana is a doctoral candidate at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia, and is currently the President of the Association of Indonesian Students in Wollongong. After a tight selection, 45 members of judges from various disciplines decided that Arsana has won over all 16 finalists. On the whole, he won over 54 scientific reports from 16 Indonesian Student Associations in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Russia, Italy, Sweden, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia. Â