YOGYAKARTA – Hydrology and Water Quality Laboratory of the UGM Faculty of Geography received the ISO 17025:2005 accreditation certificate. The certificate was presented by the Chairman of the National Accreditation Committee (KAN), Dr. Bambang Setiadi, to the Dean of the Faculty of Geography, Prof. Dr. Suratman, M.Sc., Wednesday (9/2). Present at the event was Vice Chancellor of Alumni Affairs and Business Development, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D.
Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Quality is one of the testing laboratories belonging to the Faculty of Geography. This lab was established on December 18, 1987, which aims to conduct research and development service of science and technology. The testing services include water quality testing consisting of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. In addition, the lab also serves air and soil quality testing through physical, chemistry and microbiology parameters. With the certificate of ISO accreditation, the lab is expected to be able to carry out the quality management system of the testing based on the ISO/IEC 17025:2005.
Suratman said that the certificate of international standardization that is achieved by Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Quality of the Faculty of Geography is the first obtained by UGM laboratories. Previously, UGM LPPT earned the same accreditation certificate. "(Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Quality is) the only Faculty’s lab at UGM that received international accreditation. Hopefully it could encourage other labs to get the same accreditation," he said.
He added that with the accreditation, UGM students can use the results of laboratory tests because the results of tests can be applied internationally. " Ph.D. (doctorate) candidates from India and China who are studying at UGM don’t need to go home to their country and use this lab instead," he said.
Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil, Ph.D expected the laboratory to be beneficial, both for UGM internal and international needs. He admitted that the international certification is one form of internationalization program endorsed by the UGM. In addition, UGM is currently conducting service standardization in the field of academic, curriculum, and organization. "There are five study program at UGM that have been certified by international accreditation agencies," he said.
Bambang Setiadi conveys that this certification is the 12th done by KAN. "Actually, there are 4 other laboratories at four universities having been accredited, but they have been revoked because they did not extend them," he said.
Laboratory for water quality testing is needed by the community to produce potable water quality standards based on levels of total bacteria contained. "Just like the finding of YLKI (Indonesian Consumers Foundation) last October, that 11 out of 21 brands of bottled mineral water contain harmful bacteria," he explained.
Modern Puppet Show
The certificate presentation ceremony started with a modern puppet performance, displaying the story ‘Geger Banyu Telogo’ performed by Student Activity Unit of Geography Workshop Arts. In this story, the angels in heaven are running out of domestic water supplies. Then, they fell to earth in search of water. Arriving at the earth, the angels are flying looking for the lake. Unfortunately, of all the lakes only one contains water, Lake Towet.
With a barrel, the angel intended to bring back the water. Seeing the water was crystal clear, the angel wanted to bathe in the lake, not expect ing that the water contains germs and dirt. The water damaged the face. The angel screamed and cried as she flew to heaven. Her cry caused the guard of the lake, Jaka Tarub, awakened from his sleep. He was surprised that the lake’s water has made the angel ugly. Jake Tarub fetched the water from the abandoned barrel to be tested in Ki Semar’s hermitage. In the hermitage. Semar and his three staff, Gareng, Petruk and Bagong were seeking for accreditation certificate.