Indonesian Students to Compete in International Science and Engineering Fair

Indonesian students are going to compete in the world's biggest science championship, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2011 in Los Angeles, United States, 8-13 May, 2011. Approximately 1,500 students from more than 60 countries are going to present their shopisticated research and discovery in this event. The winners will receive scholarships and awards from Intel Foundation.

Indonesian delegation consists of 6 students are going to present their expertise in the field of social science, engineering, and nature. The six students are Pebrian and Alanikika Pratyaksa from SMAN 1 Malingping, Yan Restu Freski and Darmadi from Taman Pintar Yogyakarta, and Andrey Irawan Halim and Reyner Jong from SMA Santa Laurensia. They departed for United States today, Saturday, May 7, 2011.

The team is divided into three groups. Each group are going to present their research with the topic 30 Hari Menjadi Anak Nelayan: Studi Kehidupan Sosial Budaya dan Ekonomi dari Keluarga Nelayan di Muara Binangun, Wanassalam, Lebak, Banten (literally means "30 Days Being Little Fishermen: Studi of Cultural, Social, and Economic Life of Fishermen Families in Muara Binangun, Wanassalam, Lebak, Banten"), Hilir Sungai Opak (literally means "Downstream of Opak River: Unique Deflection"), and Bambu sebagai Bahan Bangunan (literally means "Bamboo as Building Material"). Hopefully, the Indonesian team will be able to present their research well and come out as champions.

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Post - kompas.com, May 6, 2011.

2:33 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Unikom's Ribbon Climber Robot Won Gold Medal

Two students from Unikom Robotics Division were directing flashlights to a arificial-light-powered robot . Solar-powered robot which can climb a ribbon like this robot can be applied in space to move between planes.

Every year, robot contests among university students always challenge the participants to design fire extinguisher robots. This type of robot is a standard for robot competition for years. However, not only this category that makes robot competition becomes interesting. At the 8th Annual Robogames helf in San Mateo, California, United States, on 15-17 April, 2011. There were five categories contested namely "Mech Wars," "Sumo 3 kg", "Ribbon Climber", "Fire Fighting", and "Maze/Micro Mouse".

Robotic team from Indonesian Computer University (Unikom) Bandung won two gold medals in this world level competition. Gold medals achieved were from the category "Fire Fighting" and "Ribbon Climber". Last year Unikom's team only took part in "Fire Figting" category and won a gold medal. This team consists of three students namely Hari Saffarudin Ariyani, Taufiq Nuzwir Nizar, and Ridyan Ardiyan, accompanied by their mentor, Yusrila Yeka Korlooza. Previously, this team won Trinity College Fire Fighting Home Robot in Hartford, Connecticut, United States on 9-10 April, 2011. Three robots created by this team became the first winner in category "RoboWaiter", first winner in advanced level and standard level.  

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Picture & Post, kompas.com

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Titan Arum (Corpse Flower) Re-blooms in Cibodas

Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanium Becc.) is an endemic plant from Sumatra, Indonesia, known as the plant with the biggest flowers in the world. Indonesian people call titan arum as corpse flower or bunga bangkai (bunga means flower, while bangkai means corpse or cadaver; for the same reason, the same title is also attributed to Rafflesia which, like the titan arum, also grows in the rainforests of Sumatra). This plant called the corpse flower because the flowers smell like rotting carcass. The smell is meant to attract beetles and flies as pollinators. People often mistake and couldn’t distinguish between titan arum and Rafflesia arnoldii, probably because both of them have got gigantic size.

Titan arum is now spread in various places in the world, especially in botanical gardens. Titan arum at Cibodas Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Cibodas), Indonesia, has previously bloomed twice in 2004 and 2007. This year, it’s predicted that the flower will re-bloom in May 2011.

This flower usually grows in the open and relatively oblique space with much sunlight. This flower grows in loose and fertile soil with good aeration. Titan arum at Cibodas Botanical Garden was taken from Kerinci Seblat National Park in 2000 at the altitude of 680 meters above sea level.

Titan arum has three growth phases, vegetative (leafy), generative (flowering), and dormant (resting). This flower usually blooms once every four years. That’s why this flower’s blossom becomes a special moment that will always be awaited and attract attention from visitors.

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Post - Kompas.com, April 28, 2011, en.wikipedia.org, id.wikipedia.org

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CCAI Employees Wear Recycled Uniform

Coca Cola Amatil Indonesia (CCAI) celebrated Earth Day in a unique way. This company made a breakthrough in supporting the preservation of the environment, all Coca Cola employees has been wearing Eco Uniform since the beginning of April.

CCAI President Director Peter Kelly expressed, Eco Uniform is made from recycled PET plastic material and organic cotton. By using uniform made from recycled materials, the company is applying the principles of reduce (reduction of new plastic), recycle (recycle PET plastic), and reuse.

“The uniform can be used comfortably and trendily, although made from recycled materials. CCAI employees throughout Indonesia, about 10 thousand people, for the first step this year received three pieces of uniform each,” said Kelly.

Kelly explains, the idea is no other than to minimize the use of PET plastic material. In the world of textile, known as PET polyester and is widely used for garment production. So, recycling this material is very relevant to reduce the use of PET or new resin of polyester.

“We are proud of our environmentally friendly initiatives. Hopefully, our latest innovation with Eco Uniform can be followed by other organizations. So, we can provide a more tangible impact for our environment through recycling plastic waste,” he concluded.

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Post - Lampung.tribunnews.com, April 23, 2011.

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Indonesian Researcher Found Eco Friendly Coal

The need for cheap, efficient, and more eco friendly energy sources is increasing. Researcher from Indonesia, Ir. Harsudi Supandi successfully developed Geo Coal technology. Technology that is now in process of obtaining patent rights was launched on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Jakarta.

Harsudi who is also the President Director of Total Synergy International (TSI) revealed that there are two types of coal. The first type is the high rank coal. This type of coal has got a low water and a high energy content, high calorie and more efficient. This type of coal is widely used.

The second type is the low rank coal. This type of coal has got a high water content (nearly 80 percent), low energy content and calorie, and less efficient. This type of coal is usually soft, easily broken or fractured, and easy to burn out of control. However, this type of coal turned out to have advantages, which are abundant in number and the low content of sulfur and ash.

Harsudi developed the technology to increase the calorie of the low rank coal. The process is conducted through several phases namely, preparation, demolition of the coal, drying, setting, and cooling. The process is able to increase the calorie of coal by 50 to 100 percent. This process can maintain the levels of sulfur and ash remain low so that the resulting product is more environmentally friendly. Last but not least, this coal upgrading process is more cost efficient.

Currently, TSI have signed an agreement with PLN to use Geo Coal in one of the power stations in Tamiang Layang, Central Kalimantan in June 2011. Among the amid fears of decreasing oil reserves and the impacts of nuclear energy, hopefully Geo Coal technology become the cheap, reliable, and environmentally alternative energy resource. For Indonesia, this cheap energy resource can certainly spur economic growth.

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Post - Kompas.com, April 20, 2011.

5:04 PM | 1 komentar | Read More