2015 Report(GMU)

It was very nice that, I was invited to join the 2016 International Symposium toward the Future of Advanced Researches in Shizuoka University. At this occasion, I had opportunity to present my latest research work on “Serine Protease DegP from Chromohalobacter salexigens BKL5: Cloning and Expression”. A serine protease DegP belongs to the group of HtrA proteins that has important role for protein quality control. In this presentation I had reported that we had been successfully to clone and overexpressed the recombinant DegP from halophilic bacterium Chromohalobacter salexigens BKL5. So far there is no report regarding the DegP rom halophilic bacteria, thus our work will be the first report on DegP from halophilic bacteria.

Although I have visited several universities in Japan, I think Shizuoka University is very unique especially for its location that situated just beneath of the mount Fuji. As the national university, Shizuoka University offers numerous high quality and advanced research areas. Shizuoka University has several graduate schools and advanced research institutes. Therefore, Shizuoka University will be a recommending for those who wants to pursue an advanced studies and researches, either in engineering and biological sciences.

I am so grateful that I have an opportunity to attend the Internationa symposium in Shizuoka University where I can share my research with the title “Influence of Pandan Leaves Extract in Antioxidant Properties of Selected Vegetable Oils” This research performed how far the natural antioxidant from native plant from Indonesia, Pandan Leaves can affect to prolong the shelf life of oil and also the antioxidant activities in selected vegetable oils. As we know oxidized oils or rancid oils contain high amount of acrylamide which is very harmful to our health. Acrylamide causes a broad range of diseases e.g. cancer, anemia, joint diseases, etc. Commonly we added the antioxidant to the oil. Unfortunately many synthetic antioxidants can cause bad effect also to our health. So that, nowadays there are several investigations to investigate the influence of natural antioxidant as natural antioxidant in oil which can contribute also to human health. I am working in the area of Food Science. As a developing country we are facing several problems like food safety and food security. I hope that my research can give a contribution to solve the food safety and food security.

I studied in Shizuoka University for my research student and master student periods (2007-2010). I am so grateful that I have a chance to study in Shizuoka University. Shizuoka University offers the great time for doing study research and also. As a foreign student with limitation in Japanese language, I was so grateful that I have a chance studied Japanese language in International Center of with the lecturer, colleguages, lab mates during my study in Shizuoka University. After 6 years, I am so grateful that I can be in Shizuoka University again to give a presentation in International Symposium. This really a great honor for me. I am really acknowledge Shizuoka University for this opportunity. Thank you to Prof. Park, Prof. Watanabe and Shziuoka University.

Japan is a great country. I come from Indonesia where we just have two season which are rainy and dry seasons. In Japan I can see the beautiful seasons of spring, autumn, summer and winter. Japan also a really safe country. I am so grateful that I have an opportunity to study in Japan. When I was attending the International Symposium, I really grateful that I can see the beauty of japan nature. I always miss the beauty of spring season.

In my first time visiting Japan, I felt honored to attend and participate at International Symposium held by Shizuoka University. I met so many enthusiastic and expert people came from different field of studies. They shared and exchanged their immense knowledge each other throughout the symposium. Discussion was very valuable and stimulating. It helped me gain new perspective and ideas on my own research. I learned a lot about advanced science. Furthermore, the organizers were very kind and helpful. They gave me a warm welcome and hospitality.

Shizuoka University is a beautiful campus. On a clear day, I could see the magnificent Mount Fuji. It is a nice place to study where nature and campus life blend so well. The environment here is great for doing research. There are many active young researchers. They have welcomed to many international students and researchers into the laboratory and committed to establish and strengthen collaboration on research. I was glad to know that this university provide muslim friendly facilities, such as prayer room and halal foods. Japanese are very tolerant toward different religions. During the symposium and party, they served and offered some foods which were permitted to eat for muslim participants. I am impressed the way they cater to the dietary restriction of muslim.

As the one who live in a tropical country, I was excited to visit Japan in winter season. Although it was very cold, warm people were always around. I could see cherry blossom starting to bloom early in Shizuoka and I could witness the snow falling in Tokyo at the time. I greatly enjoyed staying in Japan, as this country is very clean, safe, fantastic public fasilities and services. It is a comfortable place to live. I would definitely love to visit Japan again in the future.

After a short visit, I have learned new and many things from different academic and cultural backgrounds. Japan would be my top choice to pursue my doctoral degree in the near future, since I love the academic atmosphere, people and environment here.