Thirteen Young Indonesian Scientists To Compete In Moscow

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Thirteen shortlisted students will  represent Indonesia at the 2011 International Conference of Young Scientists (ICYS) due to be held in Moscow, Russia, on April 24-29, a government official said.

Among them were two Balinese students, Jessica Ikhwan (SMA CHIS, Denpasar) and Luh Laksmi Dharayanti Satria (SMAN 1 Singaraja), Head of Bali province's education, youth and sports office, I Wayan Suasta, said here Wednesday.

Jessica and Luh Laksmi were successful in a very tight national selection process recently held in Bandung, West Java province, along with 11 other junior and high school students, he said.

"They will defend Indonesia's honor at the ICYS along with eleven other students who are successfully shortlisted in the national test in Bandung," he said.

The other students consisted of Arief Ridho Kusuma (SMAN 1 Samarinda), Sallie Naomi (SMP St. Laurensia, Tangerang), Michael Sunarto (SMP Chandra Kusuma, Medan), Christa Lorenzia Soesanto (SMA St. Laurensia, Tangerang) and Reza Abdurahman (SMA Taruna Nusantara, Magelang).

Then Ganang Albryansah (SMPN 1 Bontang), Dwiky Rendra Graha Subekti (SMA Theresiana 1 Semarang), Fialdy Josua Pattirajawane (SMP Chandra Kusuma Medan), Luthfi Mu'awan (SMAN 1 Purwareja), Luh Laksmi Dharayanti Satria (SMAN 1 Singaraja), Jessica Ikhwan (SMA CHIS Denpasar), Jessica Lo (SMA Kristen Cita Hati Surabaya) and Christy Hong (SMA St. Laurensia Tangerang).

"At the conference, students from various countries will compete in four research fields, namely physics, math, computer and ecology sciences," Suasta said.

Luh Laksmi Dharayanti herself would compete in ecology science by presenting her research outcome entitiled "The Utilization of Tea Warte (Camellia synensis) As Natural Marine Fish".

Her colleague, Jessica Ikhwan, would also compete in the same research topic by presenting her report titled "The Making of Artificial Reef".

"This is the first time for Bali to be able to send its students to this world's young scientist conference," he said.

At the 2009 ICYS, held in Bali provincial capital of Denpasar, none of Balinese students was in the Indonesian team despite the fact that Bali was chosen by the central government as the host, he said.

"We hope our two students will be able to do their best at the prestigious conference," he said.(*)