UNAIR NEWS – At the end of January, Biology Student Association or commonly known as HIMBIO, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga conducted Training and Development Field Research (P3L).

The annual activities that have been held since the 80’s are aimed to train students toward real research. P3L used to be conducted in three National Parks in East Java but it is different for this year.

“This is the second time P3L has been done in West Bali National Park (TNBB) from 1993 since the first HIMBIO. Before going there we were asked to do a seminar proposal first, “said Azizah Kusumadewi one of the students who participated in research.

Dewi explained that the research site cannot be done arbitrarily because Biology has 7 Study Groups (KS). The place of research should be able to accommodate the ideas of all the KPs in the research. After a long discussion TNBB was chosen because it meets the requirements.

“Every KP has ​​different ideas or activities there. Some go to the beach for sampling benthic macrofauna, into the mangrove forest for plant identification and function study, butterfly sampling, while my group watches birds and many others. On the last day, the results will be presented, ” she explained.

The presentation was witnessed by TNBB, other study groups and also a field supervisor. There are six lecturers as mentors in the field in each activity, Prof. Dr. Bambang Irawan, M.Sc., Sugiharto, S.Si., M.Si., Drs. H. Moch. Affandi, M.Si., M. Hilman Fuadil A., S.Si., M.Si., Dwi Kusuma W., S.Si., M.Si., and Intan Ayu Pratiwi, S.Si., M.Si.

From the many activities held, Dewi claimed that finding a rare and endemic species and capturing it with the camera makes her so happy. It leaves a distinct impression for Dewi who is also a member of the Bird Study Group.

“I would be very happy if I can capture it and certainly each group has a different impression,” she said.

The 5-day event really demands cooperation, exchange of thoughts, patience, and a good attitude towards nature. Everything that happens at the research site encourages every individual to get out into their comfort zone.

“Although tired, P3L is cool, exciting, and gives many benefits,” she said on her second year P3L.

Author: Hilmi Putra Pradana

Editor: Nuri Hermawan