From 1-10 August 2017, there were 30 chosen teachers and education personnel coming to Marbella Suites Hotel, Bandung, Indonesia to attend the Training Course on Earth and Space Science. The participants coming from 8 countries in Southeast Asia were so excited to enhance their knowledge in earth and space science field. The countries that sent their teachers and education personnel were Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste and of course Indonesia.
In this training course, the participants got new knowledge about earth and space science that could be implemented in their teaching. The resource persons in this training course were Prof Triyanta as the Director of SEAQIS, Prof Ismunandar, former Director of SEAQIS, as the Education and Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Indonesia in Washington DC, Prof Rizaldi Boer as the Executive Director of CCROM SEAP of Bogor Agricultural University, Prof Bambang Hidayat and other outstanding speakers from Bandung Institute of Technology and Indonesia University of Education.
Besides learning in the class, the participants also visited the Geology Museum and the Bosscha Observatory. In the Geology Museum, they observed the historical view of Indonesia, fossils, rocks, as well as simulated an earthquake. Then in their visit to the oldest observatory in Indonesia, the Bosscha Observatory, they got the chance not only to look around but also to get into the observatory. There, the observatory staff explained how to observe stars using the famous double telescope in Indonesia, the Zeiss telescope.
Moreover, they visited the earth and space science laboratoty at Indonesia University of Education too. In the laboratory, they were taught how to use earth and space science instruments. Interestingly, at night they also had the opportunity to observe sky objects using telescopes. They were also presented by the diversity of culture of Indonesia through the cultural and art performance at the Saung Angklung Mang Udjo.
Finally before they departed to their homelands, they arranged a cultural night. They performed traditional cultures of each country and invited other participants to join their performances. The participants were also delighted as they all got a gift from other participants. The night was full of joy and everyone would miss the moment.
The participant from Myanmar, Ms Yu Mon Thaw, said that it was a great opportunity for her to join such valuable training. She was also grateful to meet new friends from other countries especially the ones from Indonesia that made Indonesia felt like new home for her. She could not be more pleased since after attending this training course she would be promoted to principal.
Written by Amalia Dwi Utami
I love earth and space scence