Another prideful achievement has been made by a member of UGM academic community, Dr. Ahmad Agus Setiawan, S.T., M.Sc., Secretary of Physics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, was selected as one of reciepients of awards from Associaton of Indonesian Engineers (PII) together with other 19 recipients. He earned the Adhicipta Pratama Emas in the selection of outstanding people and institutions in technology and engineering.
The award was presented on 22 December 2010 in Jakarta. PII Award is the highest award in technology and engineering from PII to several individuals and institutions that are seen as outstanding in technology and engineering in Indonesia. This started in 1990. This year PII Award is presented to 13 individuals and 7 institutions in four categories, namely Life Time Achievement, Engineering, Sustainable Engineering, and Coorporate Technology Achievement.
Ahmad Agus earned the Adhicipta Pratama Emas, an award in Engineering category, which is given to individuals aged below 35 for their achievement in technology that is useful for the development of the nation and state. He succeeded in developing water elevation system using solar energy or is populary called as solar watering pumping system. “PII saw that the technology innovation in solar watering pumping system proved to be benefit the people,” he explained recently.
The water pumping system has been enjoyed by the people of Banyumeneng I hamlet, Giriharjo village, Panggang sub-district, Gunung Kidul regency, since 2009. The Banyumeneng I is one of areas in the regency lacking of water. There is only one water resource for the people, which is in Kaligede, located in in cave’s cavity. It is far from the residential areas.
To fetch water from Kaligede, people have to walk on unasphalted road as long as 4 km. “Due to the water pumping system, difficulties to get water are no longer there,” said the man born in Yogyakarta, 16 Augusts 1975.
The system developed by the graduate from Curtain University involved community service students (KKN) UGM as well as the people of Banyumeneng I. Ahmad Agus said that the idea emerged in 2006, as part of his thesis. This concept has won an international competition in Mondialogo Engineering Award (MEA) 2007 in India. With a capital of 250 in fund which was the prize in MEA 2007,his students and the people built the installation. “The water pumping system is able to supply 7,800 liter pf water per day and meets the need of 118 families,” said Ahmad Agus.
When reminded about the award, Ahmad Agus gave his reply. “Alhamdulillah, I’ve been trusted to receive the PII Award. For me, this is not my personal achievement only, but for students, departm,ent and faculty. Without their help, I’m nothing,” he said humbly.