Wearing traditional attire, Indonesian Students Research Olympics (OPSI) finalists from SMAS Raudhatul Fuqara Paya Bakong in North Aceh regency, Aceh, gather near their booth at the Malang Muhammadiyah University Dome in East Java, Wednesday (11/10). Ninety papers in the three categories of science and technology, mathematics and engineering, and social sciences and humanities are the finalists of this year’s OPSI.
The millennial generation is not only into selfies and hanging out in cafes. Some of them are also interested in the world of research, which requires perseverance. The innovative work of youngsters is proven by the Indonesian Students Research Olympics (OPSI) 2017 in Malang, East Java, which took place last week.
In the last few months, Muhammad Luthfi, 16, has been busy surfing the internet. The tips of his fingers have become an expert at tweaking his Android device and laptop to learn the language of programming. The grade 12 science (IPA) focus student at state high school SMAN 1 Lamongan, East Java, is conducting a research on how to make a chicken coop that can increase the productivity of hens and be “safe” for farmers.
Together with his schoolmate, Hariza Rahmah, 17, Luthfi eventually managed to finish the research. The pair submitted a scientific paper titled “The Implementation of the Internet of Things in Designing Smart Chicken Coop System Using Android Application” in the Indonesian Students Research Olympics 2017 based in Malang.
The result of the research by the teenager from Sumberjo village, Sarirejo district, Lamongan, made it through to the final round of OPSI and was presented on Oct. 9-14. Luthfi and Hariza made it through along with 89 other finalists from numerous regions in Indonesia. The two ended up winning the gold medal.
This is not the first time Luthfi has delved into the world of research. He previously conducted research that was then submitted to the Indonesian Science Project Olympics (ISPO). “Alhamdulillah, at the time I also won gold in the field of computers,” he said.
In the ISPO held a few months ago, Luthfi, together with his friend Shylvia C. Sholihah, also conducted research on waste bins that are connected to an Android app. They then represented Indonesia in an international event in Romania.
Even though he has won gold medals on multiple occasions, Luthfi said he does not have a special method of studying. He studies every day like other students.
Luthfi also said that the inspiration to carry out research came from his teachers in school. It did not come from his family members or neighbors. His father is “only” a water seller. The idea of conducting research on chicken coops using the eChick application he made was inspired by the miscarriage experienced by his aunt, which was (supposedly) caused by entering the chicken coop too often.
Furthermore, the unpredictable price of eggs and hens’ egg productivity, which is apparently greatly affected by disturbances from human activity inside the coop, has also sparked a passion in him to research that subject.
Writing difficulty
Hariza, who comes from a family of chicken farmers, said that she faced difficulty in the process of writing the scientific paper. This task was assisted by their tutor Retno Suprihjatiningsih.
“From the start, the research was done by the two of us. I was responsible for the paper, while Luthfi was responsible for making the application,” Hariza said.
Other teenagers who spared some of their time to conduct research is I Dewa Gede Wicaksana P, 17, and Yuan Dwi Kurniawan, 16, from state high school SMAN Bali Mandara, Bali. The pair made a tool to detect a cow’s estrus period by making use of communication technology. Dewa and Yuan grabbed the gold medal in the field of science and technology at this year’s OPSI.
Together with their tutor Kadek Yuli Artama, Dewa and Yuan had to work hard. They not only had to find a sensor and the tools that were needed, but also collect data from the field, including from cattle farmers.
The detector tool was made by Dewa and Yuan to predict the estrus or heat cycle of a female cow based on four indicators: body temperature, breath frequency, heartbeat and cattle movement. Farmers in Bali are used to only carrying out physical observations to find out whether their cattle are in their estrus period.
Such observations are often inaccurate. Sometimes the farmers would end up suffering losses as each mating process would cost them between Rp 100,000 (US$7.40) and Rp 150,000.
Dozens of other works also deserves praise. Ignatius Vito WPH and Attar Husna F from state high school SMAN 8 Yogyakarta, for example, conducted a research titled “Distance Meter Laser Application on Motorcycle Automatic Brakes to Overcome Road Accidents.”
Meanwhile, Haidar Azzamuddin and Riska Fajriana PR from SMAN 3 Malang carried out research on the “Efficacy of Papaya in End-Stage Malaria Treatment.” These two pairs also won gold medals.
These achievements show that research among teenagers in the country is still very much alive in the digital era. The Education and Culture Ministry records that, every year, the number of OPSI participants has continued to rise. Research is no longer dominated by students from big cities. This year’s OPSI, for example, was participated by 2,902 students, including from Papua and East Nusa Tenggara.
The Education and Culture Ministry’s director for senior high school development, Purwadi Sutanto, explained that the government has tried to provide many platforms to accommodate the achievement of students, whether they are intellectual, emotional or sports related.
