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Indonesian – German Network for Teaching, Training and Research Collaborations (IGN-TTRC)

Following a conference and workshop in Manado, North Sulawesi, a group of enthusiastic scientists initiated the preparation for a network to improve teaching, training and research collaborations. We believe that Science Bridge can substantially contribute to this project and that the Indonesian as well as the German participants can benefit from the interactions.

Background

In August 2008, Science Bridge was invited to carry out a course on PCR applications in the frame of a DAAD alumni workshop in Manado, North Sulawesi. The meeting was organized by Trina Tallei from the University Sam Ratulangi, Wolfgang Nellen agreed to participate in the conference and to conduct the course.

During preparations, Sita Ismangil, the Indostaff country coordinator visited Kassel and suggested to offer the same course at the University of Indonesia in Depok.

With more than 120 participants, the conference in Manado was a great success and provided insights into Indonesian science. The lab course was overbooked and could not accommodate all interested applicants. 24 participants carried out the genetic fingerprint experiment using the Science Bridge protocols that had been translated to Indonesian. Trina Tallei and her assistant Beivy Kolondam had managed an efficient setup of the laboratory though the molecular biology equipment and the infrastructure were limited and barely sufficient.

As an example for PCR applications, the participants of the course in Manado isolated DNA from epithelial cells and performed a genetic fingerprint by PCR on the D1S80 Locus. The results provided an overview on the distribution of homo- and heterozygosity and an estimate on allele frequency.

The social program of the meeting offered an excursion to the Isle of Bunaken and the nature reserve Tangkoko. Both trips provided impressive insights into the beauty of the country and the striking biological multitude in the coral reef and the rain forest.


A more detailed report on the conference can be found at UNSRAT

Current Status
By now, the group consisting of Trina Tallei, Sita Ismagil, Apriliana Laily Fitri, Saroyo Sumatro and Wolfgang Nellen is actively pursueing the project. In this section you will find updates of the project and advances as they occur.

Phase 1 Contacts and preparations
We are preparing a “fact finding mission” grant application to the DAAD to go to Indonesia in Spring 2009. The purpose is to define the sites where to start the project, identify lecturers and researchers who are interested in collaboration and to learn about the chances to establish a MSc program on biodiversity. During this visit we will also explore the possibilities to initiate teaching programs at high schools/secondary schools and we will try to organize two courses at selected schools.

We have set up a teaching forum at Nature Network dedicated to “Basic Genetics” (undergraduate course). The forum is a closed one and students have to apply with Trina Tallei or Wolfgang Nellen to get in. We expect mainly German students from the Kassel University Basic Genetics lecture and from our partners in Indonesia. But everybody is welcome to apply by mail to one of the above. We have chosen this way in order not to scare students away who may be reluctant to post in public. 

We have set up the IGN-TTRC forum to facilitate communication within the network and to enhance the exchange of information (see forum on this site). Interested scientists, lectureres and students are invited to register and to make use of this communication platform.
WUSKI/CIM will support the network by substantially subsidizing salaries of young scientists who have completed their training (e.g. PhD) in Germany and return to institutions in Indonesia. The returning experts are expected to establish a competitive research program in collaboration with other faculty members at their university and preferably also with their mentors in Germany. In addition they should set up a Science Bridge laboratory for teaching and training in secondary school and undergraduate education. Science Bridge Germany will provide logistic, scientific and administrative support (see download at the end of the page and job opportunities in the forum).
We collaborate with the Goethe Institut in Jakarta on their program “Schools: partners for the future” and will establish bilingual courses for secondary schools in cooperation with our Indonesian university partners.

For fall 2009 we plan a Summer School in Indonesia that will include a practical workshop on state-of-the-art molecular biology and a conference to bring together researchers on classical, molecular and biochemical biodiversity research.

update December 2008
The team for the fact finding mission is established and consists of Jens Gebauer (Faculty of Agriculture, Kassel University), Wolfgang Nellen (Dep. of Genetics, Kassel University), Susanne Junk (Science Bridge instructor) and Doreen Meier (Science Bridge instructor).

The preliminary date for the fact finding mission is set to March 2009.

The visiting sites for the fact finding mission have been determind. These are UNSRAT (Manado), Andalas (Padang), UMG (Yogyakarta), IPB (Bogor), UI (Jakarta) and UNJ (Jakarta).

Partial funding for the fact finding mission has been obtained by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (Susanne Junk).
The Lieberum Foundation will generously cover the travel expenses for Doreen Meier.
We have also received support from the Goethe Institut Jakarta and from Kassel University.
The DAAD is generously funding the basic fact finding mission.
Check the forum for further details that will be posted by our Indonesian partners!

The schedule for the fact finding mission is now set. Though the dates are set, minor changes may still occur at the different sites.

Schedule for Fact Finding Mission

March 11: Arrival Meier, Junk, Nellen in Manado
March 12: International seminar “Impact of climate change on biodiversity”
March 13: PCR workshop for high school students. Meeting with North Sulawesi Government officials.
March 14: Visit to Tangkoko Nature Reserve
March 15: Visit to Nani Warta Bone National Park
March 15: Arrival Gebauer Yogyakarta
March 16: Arrival Junk in Yogyakarta. Meeting with University officials of UGM
March 16: Arrival Meier, Nellen in Padang
March 17: International Seminar in Padang
March 17: Seminar in Yogyakarta for sec. School, undergrad. and grad. Students
March 18: Visit to Mount Merapi National Park, Borobudur and Prambanan (from Yogyakarta)
March 18: Visit to Taman Nasional Kerinci Seblat (from Padang)
March 19: Visit to Wanagama education forest. Departure Gebauer, Junk from Yogyakarta to Jakarta
March 19: Meeting with university officials and stakeholders, workshop with high school and university students
March 20: Meeting with UNJ officials and stakeholders in Jakarta
March 20: Arrival Meier, Nellen from Padang in Jakarta/Depok
March 21: Meeting with faculty in Bogor
March 22: free day
March 23: Meeting with government officials and agencies. Preparation of workshop
March 24: workshop for students and teachers at UI Depok
March 25: continue workshop. Meeting with UI officials
March 26: Departure Gebauer, Nellen, Junk, Meier from Jakarta to Kassel.

Material

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