YOGYAKARTA – Rector Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D. officially opened the kick off of Research Week UGM 2011, Monday (21/3), at the Main Conference Room LPPM UGM, marked by clicking the official website of the Research Week, http://lppm4.ugm.ac.id/researchweek. The opening was witnessed by Chairman of LPPM UGM, Prof. Dr. Ir. Danang Parikesit, M.Sc., and Committe Chairman of Research Week 2011, Prof. Ir. Ambar Pertiwiningrum, M.Si., Ph.D.
In his speech the Rector said that the annual Research Week was expected to be able to bridge research cooperation opportunities with the industry and community. The Rector emphasized not only on win-win solution, but also useful research for the community for the interest and prosperity of the nation.
"Actually, Indonesia does not lack in knowledge, but is still weak in the implementation of knowledge in the community and has not given additional value," he said.
The Rector said the research at higher learning should take side with the underprivileged and givie additional value for the product they produced. "Knowledge should take side (with the underprivileged groups). Research implementation should also be strong and firm for the knowledge to be on the same side with the less privileged."
Committee Chairman of Research Week, Ambar Pertiwiningrum, said that the event initiated by LPPM UGM was started in 2006. This is a communication media for research and use of research findings from UGM to wider public and partners. "It is a media for sharing knowledge, experience, and technology for improving the interest of the public, society and students in knowledge,” she said.
Ambar said the Research Week from 20 April to 18 Desember 2011 has targetted 50 thousand of visitors. In 2008, Research Week was visited by 13,571, reduced to 12.264 in 2009. "In 2010 visitors increased to 16.065," she said.
Research Week 2011 covers dialogue, Open Campus, and analytic competitions. Dialog events consist of open lecture, seminar, workshop and talkshow. The target is students, academicians, researchers, industry and business, regional and central governments, as well as international community. "For the international community, we expect to gain research development of student exchange and science and technology transfer,” she concluded.