Unsyiah Mathematics and Natural Sciences Students Release Hatchlings to the Sea

Syiah Kuala University (Unsyiah) students who are members of the Biology Student Association (HMB) Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) Unsyiah released 120 hatchlings, or baby turtles into the open sea. This event took place in Lampaya Village, Pasie Jaya Beach, Lhoknga District, Aceh Besar on Tuesday (20/2) afternoon. This activity is one of the main agendas of a series of events at the 2018 Natural Resources Conservation Week (PKSDA). The turtle release activity has the theme “Save Turtles, Save Marine Ecosystems”. This event was attended by around 30 participants consisting of students, lecturers and representatives of environmental activists. Chairman of the 2018 PKSDA committee, Muhammad Firhan Al-Azhar, said that this event was a way to convey to the public about the importance of nature conservation, so that in the future ideas will emerge from the community to protect nature. “We chose turtles to voice this conservation action because turtles are still relatively widely hunted today,” said Firhan. Meanwhile, the Deputy Dean for Student Affairs and FMIPA Alumni, Dr. Ilham Maulana, said that extra-curricular activities like this were being promoted at Unsyiah. Students will even be given a Diploma Companion Certificate (SKPI) when they graduate, as proof of their activeness in activities like this. And according to survey results, it is precisely activities like this that make it easier for graduates to find work later. Apart from this action of releasing hatchlings, PKSDA also held mangrove planting in Rukoh village, a coloring competition at kindergarten and elementary school levels, a conservation seminar, and also an expo involving twelve stands. This event, which took place from 20-26 February, is HMB’s annual agenda. This year, this event is the 14th. In the FMIPA Unsyiah Biology Study Program, where HMB is based, conservation is one of the focuses of study in the field of Ecology and Biodiversity. Many FMIPA Biology alumni work in the conservation field to this day, including Rudi Putra, winner of the 2014 Goldman Price, the highest award in the field of conservation in the world. (i’m)   ]]>