I.D. Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Sun, 03/23/2008 3:05 PM | Discover
Math and science majors do not always scare elementary school students. This was proven by the 90 primary school students who enthusiastically took part in the Science for Kids program, held March 11 at the 10 November Institute of Technology Surabaya (ITS).
In Science for Kids, the ITS students presented math and science to elementary school students as real-life applications.
For example, the university students showed their juniors several magic tricks and explained them from a scientific angle. One such trick was pulling a tablecloth off a table without spilling the plates and cups atop it.
"Wow, it's like magic," said Ahmad Zulkarnain of Mabadiul Ulum elementary school, after watching an interactive video presentation on the application of Newton's Law.
The young students' enthusiastic responses did not dim throughout the video presentation on resonance, expanding objects and electricity, which included a story on fluorescent bulbs.
"These (fluorscent) bulbs can light up because they are filled with the gas krypton, but they are brighter than neon bulbs," said Nailul Hasan, a Physics major who explained the application of this science to daily life.
While the majority of elementary school students admitted that science and mathematics were not their favorite subjects, they still listened keenly to the explanations on statistics. This science of calculation, which is reputed to be difficult and complex, was made easier to understand through games and quizzes.
"Statistics is a close friend of numbers and a cousin of mathematics," explained Statistics major Novita.
Providing a simple, introductory approach to math and science to elementary-level students is the primary objective of Science for Kids, and its target, the grade-5 students who sat in neat rows in a room at the ITS rector's building.
These young students hailed from Raden Patah Islamic elementary school as well as the Menur Prumpungan, Mabadiul Ulum, Yapita and Klampis Ngasem I elementary schools.
"We're really excited about introducing mathematics and the natural sciences as basic science for elementary kids," related third-year ITS math and science student Bandung Arisanjoyo, who began the session with math, then went on to cover biology, physics, chemistry and statistics.
In general, math and science subjects are considered "monsters" among school students. According to Bandung, however, elementary school students are able to grasp the concepts if they are delivered in a simple, understandable manner.
"This is an opportunity to make kids like math and science," added Bandung, who explained to the young students the importance of the subjects to their futures.
"You cannot ignore the role of mathematics and the sciences in the development of science and technology," he said, urging the children to study math and science diligently, and not give up.
Parties recruit NU figures as vote getters in East Java
ID Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Mon, 03/24/2008 11:47 AM | The Archipelago
Political parties in East Java have recruited members from a dominant local Muslim organization in an apparent strategy to win the province's first-ever gubernatorial election in July.
The Golkar Party, which holds 15 of the 100 seats in the provincial legislature, has nominated chairman of the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) provincial chapter, Ali Maschan Moesa, as running mate of incumbent vice governor Soenaryo.
The coalition of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Democratic Party (PD) nominated chairman of the NU-affiliated youth organization, Ansor Syaifullah Yusuf, as running mate of the secretary of the provincial government, Soekarwo.
The NU-affiliated National Awakening Party (PKB), which formed a coalition with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), has decided to nominate influential NU figure Achmady as a candidate for governor and is seeking a suitable figure to run alongside him. PKB holds 31 seats in the provincial legislature.
Minority parties have approached female NU member Khofifah Inda Parawansa to be running mate of their governor hopeful Djoko Subroto, former chief of the Brawijaya Military Command overseeing security in the province.
Political scientist Kacung Marijan of Airlangga University said it was a clever political strategy but it would not guarantee victory in the July 23 election.
"The race will ultimately show which of the NU figures wins the hearts of the people," he said.
Kacung warned political parties not to misinterpret the changing political culture in the province, saying since NU returned to its 1926 nonpolitical khittah (principle) in 1984, NU members have not heeded their leaders in political matters.
"Nahdliyin (NU members) have become politically literate since this large Muslim organization pulled out of politics, because they have been able to separate religious matters from political ones. They know who they will vote for," he said.
According to Machmud Djujono, chairman of the Soenaryo-Ali campaign team, Ali will pick up votes in the governor race because he has a good track record in the province's politics, in addition to his influence among NU members.
Machmud said the pair made a suitable combination of nationalist-religious ideologies representing laymen and clerics.
Golkar hopes Ali will win a majority of votes from both party supporters and NU members, he said.
According to data from the local NU office, 40 percent of the province's 33 million residents are NU members.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which holds 25 seats in the provincial legislature, has not adopted this strategy. PDI-P has decided to nominate influential PDI-P figure Sutjipto, with Ridwan Hisyam, a local Golkar figure, as his running mate.
Sutjipto, who is a member of the home affairs commission at the House of Representatives and a senior figure loyal to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, is favorite to win the governor race. If so, the victory is expected to pave the way for the party to have Megawati win the 2009 presidential election.
Major political parties have been in fierce competition to win local elections in Java, home to almost 63 percent of the national population.
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