The science and technology exhibition center (PP-IPTEK) – owned by the ministry of research, technology and higher education – held between March 21 and 23 an event called “Discovery Camp” at its building within the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) complex, Jakarta.

 

The event was a science skill competition combined with camping. It was themed “The role of youth in communicating science for sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Indonesia” – inspired by the grand theme of the 2019 Junior Science Odysses (JSO).

 

The event in TMII was joined by 75 high school students in Greater Jakarta region aged 13-15. They were divided into 25 groups, each consisted of three pupils. The participants were students who are creative, actively use English and socially active.

 

PP-IPTEK director M. Syachrial Annas said the event served as a selection process for JSO that would be held in Thailand and would be joined by 13 ASEAN Plus Three countries as well as three invited states: Sweden, Australia and Nigeria.

 

JSO gathered students to compete in solving scientific problems through presentation using posters. It would also become an event where students could network with their foreign counterparts.

 

PP-IPTEK head of program and education Putu Lia Suryaningsih said the discovery camp event taught participants about what she called “skill process”, which referenced steps in conducting simple research based on scientific thinking method. There, participants also attended a science workshop titled “Introduction of science for sustainable development goals (SDGs)” and presented by Dr. Mutia Delina, M.Si, a physics lecturer with the Jakarta State University (UNJ). Other activities included scientific visits and group projects.

 

The visits took place on the event’s second day. The students went to the center for science and technology research (PUSPIPTEK) in Serpong to visit its center for defense and security industry technology (PTIPK), biotechnology agency, energy conversion technology agency and the weather modification technology agency (BBTMC). All the four are laboratories owned by the agency for assessment and application of technology (BPPT).

 

On the visit, Putu Lia said: “We hope to enable the students to know that Indonesia has many centers for science to support the development of science in Indonesia.”

 

On the last day, all groups presented their works in the “group project” segment of the event. Below are the winners of the 2019 discovery camp as decided by the board of jury on March 23:

 

Gold:

SMP Brighton (Group 7)

Ertara Alya Vin

Azalia Cinta Zahirah Putri

Aurelia Maharani Putri

 

Silver:

SMP Brighton (Group 2)

Steven Karlisius Silaban

Nakeshia Angela Valentina Situmorang

Cindy Evani

 

Silver:

SMP Islam Tugasku (Group 2)

Fellyssya Faradila Hiko

Mushtafa Hafizh Ismarrahman

Nasya Nur Azizah

 

Bronze:

MTS Istiqlal (Group 1)

Asti Azalia

Indria Zahidah

Nuha Nazeeha

 

Bronze:

SMP Brighton (Group 8)

Diffie Alfierie Iswanto

Regina Rachel Sheerya Butarbutar

Nayyara Azzahra Mahdani

 

Bronze:

SMPN 115

Isabel Angelina Sianturi

Axel Manuel Bisuk Raja Mangatur Manurung

Sirhan Zafirah

 

The group that medalled gold would represent Indonesia in the JSO, to be held June 9-15 in Thailand’s National Science Museum.