Research is an initial investment towards World Class Research University (WCRU). Such research is both that has been published in national/ international journals or that has been patented. This is asserted by the Executive Director of UGM I-MHERE program, Dr. Ir. Cahyono Agus Dwi Koranto, M.Agr.Sc., at the opening of the Research Result Seminar on Integrated -Collaborative Research to Strengthen Faculty of Biology as a Center of Excellence on Tropical Orchids, I-MHERE Project Sub-Activity 2.1.2, in the Lower Assembly Room of Faculty of Biology on Tuesday (29/11).
"For UGM lecturers themselves, of about 30% of research which are considered good, only 10-20% have been published," Cahyono explained.
Furthermore, Cahyono said the research at UGM would also be an added value. These opportunities need to be followed by all UGM faculty members considering the commencement of research decentralization in universities. Particularly, for the I-MHERE research programs, according to Cahyono, in the last two years it has indeed exceeded the target. Cahyono is confident that research in orchids as one of the tropical biodiversity has been recognized worldwide.
“Faculty of Biology with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Forestry as the recipient of I-MHERE project in the future will be the world's Center of Excellence for orchid biodiversity," he explained.
Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Dr. Retno Peni Sancayaningsih, M.Sc., said orchids conservation still has to prioritize the three pillars, namely economic, ecological, and community empowerment. Peni hoped that with the presence of the I-MHERE collaborative research program involving some universities, many types of orchid research in areas such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua will emerge.
"Of course, not only for export but also for the protection and conservation," said Peni.
Previously, the person in charge (PIC) for I-MHERE Project program Faculty of Biology, Dr. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., explained that the seminar involved 10 grant receipients from the Faculty of Biology and Hasanuddin University, University of Lambung Mangkurat, Udayana University and Tanjungpura University.
"Particularly, the recipients from UGM are a person from the Faculty of Agriculture and 4 people from Faculty of Biology," said Budi.
The research results seminar also involves three reviewers who focus on the orchid’s research, namely Dr. Irawati, M.Sc. (Bogor Botanical Gardens), Dr. Didik Widyatmoko, M.Sc. (Head of Cibodas Botanical Garden), and Dr. Ir. Aziz Purwantoro, M.Sc. (UGM Faculty of Agriculture).
Research findings in 2010 and 2011 from the I-MHERE project, said Budi, will be summarized and published in a book on the Biodiversity of Tropical Orchids in Indonesia. He hoped the research can be improved, in particular that in the year 2012 there will be incubation grant to make orchid-related production units.
"Research continues to proceed and would not stop at this point so the output can provide benefits," said Budi.
Budi also explained the output of the program also had been disseminated in international level seminars, such as in the 15th Congress on Virology at Sapporo, Japan, and the 4th International Conference on Orchid Conservation in Czechoslovakia, which was followed by lecturer at the Faculty of Biology, Dr. Kumala Dewi, M.Sc.St.