Visit Itera, IPB University Master of PSL Students Want to See Natural Resources and Environmental Governance

Students of the Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Management Study Programme (PSL) of the Graduate School (SPs) of IPB University conducted a field visit to the Sumatra Institute of Technology (Itera), 6/5. The aim was to see firsthand the management of natural resources and the environment of Itera's 275-hectare campus. The field trip was attended by 53 students of the master programme, 6 lecturers and 3 education staff (tendik) of PSL IPB University.

Prof Hadi Susilo Arifin, Head of PSL SPs IPB University Master Programme expressed his gratitude for Itera's warm welcome. He said, currently various departments at IPB University are always involved in the development of education at Itera, especially those related to life sciences and natural resources.

"On the other hand, in this field study we get quite a lot of experience from Itera, related to the management of natural resources and the environment. Although it has only been established for eight years, Itera's development is extraordinary," he said.

Dr Syartinilia, Secretary of the Master of PSL SPs IPB University revealed, the purpose of this visit to Itera was to add to the learning process, add insight and knowledge of students and lecturers to the problems of natural resource management and the environment and also the solution.

"With this visit, students are expected to learn, especially the scope of biodiversity management," he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Muhammad Saddam Ali as the Coordinator of the Itera Landscape Architecture Study Program explained the Observatory Center, one of the objects of the visit of IPB University PSL S2 students at Itera. Known as the Itera Lampung Astronomical Observatory (OAIL), this place provides astronomy tourism education as a flagship programme.

"The goal is to introduce the public to astronomy in an impressive and fun way," explained the graduate of S3 PSL IPB IPB University.

Dr Saddam added that Itera has seven ponds named alphabetically and one of them has a monument in the shape of the island of Sumatra. The campus also has the Itera Botanical Garden which stands on an area of 75.52 hectares. It has several supporting facilities for plant conservation, such as nursery greenhouses, nursery paranets and nursery warehouses.

"Hopefully in the future, Itera can collaborate with IPB University, especially with PSL Study Programme which is a multidisciplinary study programme in environmental studies. It is hoped that we can support each other and also collaborate in research activities," explained Dr Saddam who also graduated from S1 and S2 from IPB University Landscape Architecture. (HBL/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)