International Presentation on Torbangun (Coleus amboinicus Lour)
At the beginning of November 2016, Prof. DVM. Rizal Damanik, MRepSc, PhD, faculty member of the Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Human Ecology of Bogor Agricultural University (FEMA IPB), made an official trip to visit the Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam in Potsdam, and the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany. His official trip was to implement the invitations of those two universities to be the guest lecture and to explore research programs to be carried out jointly between the Department of Community Nutrition of FEMA IPB with those two universities.
Topics of discussion and his lecture had been on the utilization Torbangun (Coleus amboinicus Lour} as a typical nutritious crop of Indonesia. The visit to Germany was also to expand the international network of IPB partnership programs and also to explore possibility to have collaborative research program on Torbangun. Earlier in 2015, Prof. Rizal Damanik went to Tsukuba, Japan, to similar activities he had in Germany and the follow-up action IPB and Tsukuba University had carried research program on Torbangun.
The Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Potsdam University was the first itinerary of his official trip to Germany. The University of Potsdam is a public university in the Berlin-Brandenburg region of Germany. It is situated across four campuses in Potsdam and Brandenburg, and is known as one of the leading education and research locations in Germany and Europe. More than eight thousand scientists working for this university are under the scholarships plans. Some faculty buildings are part of the New Palace of Sanssouci which is known for its UNESCO World Heritage status.
In this university Professor Rizal Damanik was received by Prof. Dr. Burkhard Kleuser, Director of the Institute, Chairman of Toxicology, Institute of Nutritional Science. His lecture and scientific discussions on Torbangun were well-implemented and in a very conducive atmosphere. In addition to these activities, campus tour see the various laboratories and its facilities at the institute were also provided for Prof. Rizal Damanik. During which he was also given opportunity to discuss with the scientists of the institute on his research program on the use of herbs to treat Diabetes Mellitus.
The second itinerary of his visit was to Institute of Nutrition, Biologisch-Pharmazeutische Fakulta?t, Friedrich–Schiller–Universita?t Jena. Jena University is a public research university located in Jena, Thuringia, Germany. The University was founded in 1558 and is one of the 10 (ten) oldest university in Germany. In addition, the University of Jena is known for its 6 (six) Nobel laureates. At present Jena University has about 19.000 (nineteen thousand) students, and 375 (three hundred seventy five) professors. Mr. Volker Böhm, PhD as Head of Department welcome Professor Rizal Damanik with enthusiasm on this visit. Similar to the previous visit to Potsdam University, in Jena University he was also given opportunity present his special lectures and scientific discussions on Torbangun plant. Both of these activities were participated by graduate students and professors of the faculty. Fiinally, at the end the of his visit the Jena University was also had campus tour for him. The visit to Jena University had been successful, plenty of scientists welcome him with enthusiasm. (Wied)
