Bulaksumur (KU) - Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Executive Committee of WISDOM 2010 announced the delay of international event “World Conference on Science, Education, & Culture-WISDOM 2010” which is supposedly to take place from 8 to 11 November 2010 in Yogyakarta. "The delay of WISDOM 2010 was a form of concern and our solidarity to the public related to the eruption of Mount Merapi which is still ongoing. UGM as the main organizer hopes that the condition will return to normal immediately in order that all community activities around Yogyakarta can resume," said UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi. M. Eng., Ph.D., in a press release sent on Friday (5/11).
WISDOM 2010 is postponed until December this year. The detail will be announced further. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil,. Ph.D., sent an apology for the delay of this WISDOM 2010 to the relevant organizations. But the decision had been taken considering the condition of Mt. Merapi and Yogyakarta that is currently vulnerable to the impact of the eruption.
In connection with possible impacts of the increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons, UGM has set up three IDP camps. Those are Student Center, Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri Cultural Center, and indoor tennis court, which are all located in the UGM compound.
Regarding the logistical needs of the IDPs, the Head of Public Relations and Protocol of UGM, Drs. Suryo Baskoro, MS, said that the university does have the budget for social activities. In addition, UGM will coordinate with the National Agency for Amil Zakat and the National Committee for Disaster Management. For the record, UGM campus is located about 25-26 km from Mt. Merapi while the city center (around Sultan Palace) is about 30 km.