UGM Nature Lovers Student Team (Mapagama) conducted UGM Research Expedition II to Piliana Village, Maluku. A total of 13 members of Mapagama with various disciplines undertook the expedition. The expedition, which lasted for approximately one month, brought the theme “Binaiya in Tradition and Modernization”. Alamsyah Prabayu, Chairman of Mapagama who is also the coordinator of the expedition, said that the theme was chosen because they see Piliana Village has a society that still maintains tradition, but does not reject the times.
“The transition between a completely traditional circumstances to a society that is beginning to modernize for us is interesting to discuss. In addition, the theme also includes the titles of research that we raise in general”. He explained at the welcoming reception at the Student Hall on Thursday (26-07). In this research expedition, Team Mapagama UGM raised eight research titles taken from three topics: abiotic, biotic, and culture. In the abiotic theme there are research topics about custom homes and geo sites or objects of unique rocks and that tourist values. “There is a uniqueness on the traditional house of the community there, which does not use nails in the making,” said Sitaresmi, one of the members of this research expedition. In addition, Team Mapagama UGM also conducted a search and mapping of caves in Piliana Village.
Then, other research topics taken from the theme of biotics are about waste processing, observation of trash conditions in the path of climbing, and the pattern of food consumption. According Sitaresmi, Piliana villagers still lack of understanding about the waste. Related to the consumption of food, he said that people in Piliana Village are different from people in Java who use rice as staple food. “There are so many sago that they use it as daily staple food. People there only cook rice when they have guests at home, just like when the Team come, “he said.
Finally, the research topic of a cultural theme consisting of leadership patterns and sustainable living of the Piliana Village community. Sitaresmi said that the leadership system in Piliana Village is very unique considering there is still adat interference in its government. Alamsyah said that the results obtained during this research expedition will be made in a report which contains eight published topics of research.
For approximately one month on an expedition in Piliana Village, members of Team Mapagama UGM said that they have many joys and sorrows. They meet new people who enable them to inspire different people. However, language differences carry a barrier in communication, for instance a mistake in interpreting statements by local residents. In addition to language barriers, lack of access to electricity is also a challenge and learning for this team. Dimas Satria Wicaksono as a representative of Mapagama said that this research expedition is not something that is easy to implement. “For students who are of the second and fourth semesters, doing this research is not easy,” he said. Dimas also hopes this research expedition can be done not only by the students of nature lovers, but also other students who are competent in the related fields.
Dr. M. Pramono Hadi, M. Sc., as a Mapagama coach approved Dimas’ statement. For him this activity is very good to be implemented by students at UGM. “I hope this activity can be transmitted not only to members of Mapagama but also other students. This kind of activity is very helpful in developing the students’ soft skill “he said.
Appreciation of this activity was also presented by Dr. Sindung Tjahyadi as Head of Sub-directorate of Organization and Student Facilities, Directorate of Student Affairs UGM. For him, what Team Mapagama does is something that should be developed on a regular basis. “Activities like this and other activities in Student Activity Units sharpen students’ social awareness and soft skills needed in the working life,” he said.