Interview with Ms. Clara Y. Yatini, LAPAN, Indonesia, December 2011, APRSAF-18 in Singapore
Ms. Clara Y. Yatini, a scientist from LAPAN, National Institute of Aeronautics and Space of Indonesia, carried out the "Space Seeds for Asian Future (SSAF)" program in cooperation with other APRSAF countries as a program conducted by the Space Environment Utilization Working Group of APRSAF. This year, she participated in the APRSAF annual meeting for the first time, and she talked about her experience in her first microgravity experiment.
Q: You worked as a researcher of solar physics at LAPAN. How do you find the microgravity experiment for the first time?
Q: What is your role in the SSAF project?
A: As mentioned in my presentation at the Working Group, the Space Science Festival is one example of how it was promoted. This annual festival has a different theme every year, and this year it was the Space Seed.
Q: How did you promote this project?
A: As mentioned in my presentation at the Working Group, the Space Science Festival is one example of how it was promoted. This annual festival has a different theme every year, and this year it was the Space Seed.
Q: According to your presentation at the Working Group, you will have another opportunity to work in SSAF, with support from a cosmetic company, L'Oreal, and you are also studying the "Space Fruit."
Ms. Yatini during her presentation at SEUWG
A: Yes. For the Space Seed, we used tomato seeds from Indonesia and garden balsam seeds from Japan. But the seeds from Japan actually arrived on the day before the Science Festival, and we didn't have enough time to prepare. So, we will repeat the study next time with support from L'Oreal, on the occasion of its Girls Science Camp. And, we propose the "Space Fruit," along with ITB and JAXA. Now, we are studying it.
Q: Apart from the Space Seed, how do you find your first APRSAF meeting?
A: This is important for us because we can exchange information here for our future plans. I already had much information. So, this meeting is important for Indonesia and LAPAN.
Q: Did you benefit from participating in the SSAF project, and is there anything you would like to tell your colleagues in Asia-Pacific countries?
A: Space is a very large field of investigation. And, the Earth is influenced by what happens in space, so it has to be studied extensively. It is a very good opportunity to collaborate with other countries. Now, we are in the "Space Era," and knowledge of space is very important for the students. As for Indonesia, it is a large country and students are spread over a wide area. They have more information in big cities in Java Island and less in Papua or Borneo. Sharing information is hard work here.
For further understanding:Ms. Yatini's Presentation at SEUWG
http://www.aprsaf.org/data/aprsaf18_data/seu/4_bring%20space%20down%20to%20the%20earth.pdf
ITB Presentation on the "Space Fruit"
http://www.aprsaf.org/data/aprsaf18_data/seu/8_space%20fruit_itb.pdf