Faculty of Geography UGM again will hold the National Olympiad for High School Students 2011. The event entitled Contribution of Geography in Disaster Mitigation Effort and Sustainable Environmental Management in Indonesia will last for three days from 4-6 February 2011 at the Faculty.
As many as 86 high schools in Indonesia and one student from Indonesian International School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are scheduled to follow the olympiad. The participants will compete for a trophy from Minister of National Education and several trophies from Provincial Government of Yogyakarta and UGM.
There will also be geographic skill championship for junior students in Yogyakara and Central Java and a workshop entitled “Analysis of Disaster Impact and Its Management through SIG Application”, on Friday (4/2). Furthermore, there will be a general lecture presenting Subandrio, Head of BPPTK of Yogyakarta and Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (National Agency of Disaster Management) and a seminar entitled “Reconstruction of Disaster Areas based on Geographical Approach on Saturday (5/2). In addition, there will be earth science expo entitled “Earthernal Fair” from 5-6 February 2011.
Deputy Dean of Student Affairs of the Faculty, Dr. Luthfi Muta’ali, mentioned that this Olympiad is the fifth times held by Faculty of Geography. The theme of event was chosen based on the concern on the weak understanding of community in disaster mitigation which causes many casualties and long recovery process. This Olympiad is expected to improve understanding and skill in understanding geography and its application in disaster mitigation.
Luthfi added that the Olympiad also aims to inject values of disaster response since early age particularly to students of Junior and Senior High Schools.