With its potential and opportunities, UGM continues to innovate learning activity. The innovation for students and researchers are expected to support the UGM purpose in creating World Class Research University. With these efforts, UGM lecturers and researchers continue to be encouraged to be proactive in developing research in terms of research material, location, and cooperation partner.
To develop the Student Centered Learning (SCL), research that involves students has been initiated through the Research Based Learning. According to Bambang Suwignyo, Ph.D., Manager of Planning and Development of LPPM, this method prioritizes learning activity that aims to build student’s understanding.
This method is done by developing a pre-knowledge, i.e. learning as a process of social interaction through real experience. "The section of Livestock Nutrition and Food (NMT), UGM Faculty of Animal Science, was also called to develop such a method by conducting field laboratory or nature laboratory research," said Bambang Suwignyo at UGM on Tuesday (14/6).
As a concrete step to develop a field laboratory, the NMT section has worked with an NGO, YAPERINDO, to work on the sand area of Kulon Progo’s south beach. Right in the area of Congot Beach, Jangkaran Village in Temon, field laboratory was built using the concept of integrated farming systems (agro-forestry). "In addition to utilize the land of sand as the location of field research (on farm), the area is also used for field work for students. This effort has actually started since 2005. At that time, I was appointed Head of Department’s Program Development (SP4), together with Prof. Dr. Ir. Ali Agus, D.E.A, D.A.A, Prof. Dr. Soemitro Padmowijoto, M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Ir. Ristianto Utomo, and Ir. Bambang Suhartanto, D.E.A,” said Bambang.
Through field work, the students are expected to get more familiar with the object and subject of research. Several things associated with the subject and object of research so far have only been studied through literature and lectures. On-farm learning in field laboratory will get students closer to the object of observation and encourage them to understand the concept of learning by doing. "Interaction of students with nature and the local farmers is also expected to be able to strengthen their knowledge of local wisdom and to read the situation (character building), giving knowledge to them if one day they become leaders of the nation," said the Secretary of NMT Section. For the lecturers, the existence of a field laboratory with its various facilities can also be utilized in conducting on-farm research. For an educator, the presence of a field laboratory will enrich the scientific horizon, service of science and technology to the community. Through this medium, various researches that are yielded are expected to be able to respond to community problems.
Bambang explained to develop a field laboratory does not need high cost thanks to financial support from partner agencies. Up until now, there were 12 students of S-1 with the major topic of forage pastures have successfully graduated with a degree in animal science by utilizing the Congot Field Laboratory.
Therefore, Bambang hoped that research activities at the Congot Field Laboratory will continue to run. By cooperating with Post-Merapi Eruption Recovery Program and Indonesian Association of Animal Science Graduates (ISPI), Yogyakarta, NMT section plans to develop a field laboratory in Tlogolele, Boyolali, with a focus on the material object of a pet (small ruminants). "The team from the Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Forage Pastures, NMT Section is currently developing research on the topic of Brown Midrib Resistance Type of Maize," he concluded