Yogyakarta – As many as five grantee teams of I-MHERE (Indonesia Managing Higher Education for Relevance and Efficiency) project of Faculty of Biology UGM, today (5/7) presented temporary research reports in monitoring and evaluation in front of reviewers at Lower Conference Room of the Faculty. The five teams were coordinated by Tri Joko, S.P., M.Sc. (Faculty of Agriculture), Ardaning Nuriliani, S.Si., M.Kes. (Faculty of Biology), Dr. L. Hartanto Nugroho, M.Agr. (Faculty of Biology), Dr.rer.nat. Ari Indrianto, S.U. (Faculty of Biology), and Dr. Kumala Dewi, M.Sc.St. (Faculty of Biology). Attending as reviewers were Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc., Dr. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., and Dr. Tjut Sugandawaty Djohan, M.Sc.
Dr. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., PIC of I-MHERE program activity 2.1.2-II of Faculty of Biology UGM, explained that the research conducted by the grantees focus on orchids. He explained that currently more than 5,000 species of orchids grow in Indonesia. Unfortunately, many of them are almost or even have already been extinct, particularly due to illegal logging. “We still want to be the Center of Excellence for development and cultivation of orchids,” Budi said.
He added that the number of I-MHERE grantees year 2011 is 100 people. This number increased than previous year which was only six grantees. Of ten grantees, five are from UGM and the rest are from universities outside Java, namely Hasanuddin University, Lambung Mangkurat University, Tanjungpura University and Udayana University.
On the occasion, Budi also explained that the output of I-MHERE 2010 had been disseminated in international seminar in the 15th Congress on Virology at Sapporo, Japan, and the latest is the 4th International Conference on Orchid Conservation in Czechoslovakia, which was followed by one lecturer of Faculty of Biology, Dr. Kumala Dewi, M.Sc.St. “Besides, there is the research finding in I-MHERE program that has been published in Jurnal Flora of Malaysiana,” Budi added.
For I-MHERE program year 2011, it is planned to publish a book about Indonesian orchids and video of conservation which will be sent to UNESCO.
In her opening speech, Dean of Faculty of Biology UGM, Dr. Retno Peni Sancayaningsih, M.Sc., expected that researchers work in accordance with the schedules in the proposal. Besides, they are expected to consult with the reviewers on all difficulties and obstacles they are facing. “Hopefully, new scientists who can contribute in Biology science as well as journal and scientific publications will emerge,” Retno Peni expressed her hope.