On Monday, July 29, 2024, the Geosciences Expertise Group (KBK) of the Department of Physics carried out one of the pillars of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, namely Community Service (PkM). This event took place at SMAN 1 Sanden, Bantul, and was attended by lecturers, academic staff, and students from the Geophysics study program at UGM, as well as teachers and 12th-grade students of SMAN 1 Sanden..
This Geosciences PkM was held in collaboration with the Geophysics Expedition (GE) x Outreach activities organized by the Geophysics Student Association of UGM (HMGF) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Student Chapter (SEG UGM SC). Besides introducing UGM’s Geophysics Study Program and Laboratory, this PkM also aimed to raise community awareness of environmental issues in the Sanden District, particularly seawater intrusion. The PkM activities consisted of two main sessions: classroom sessions and a joint session with all 12th-grade students in the hall.
The classroom session was led by Geophysics lecturers and academic staff appointed as resource persons. In this session, the selected speakers were divided into six different classrooms to deliver material on geophysics science and study programs. This opportunity was expected to serve as a reference for 12th-grade students in choosing their study program at university.
Introduction of UGM Geophysics study program and laboratory by Dr. Theodorus Permana
The event continued with a joint session in the hall. Geophysics students presented material on seawater intrusion, which was the main topic of the GE x Outreach activities. Seawater intrusion can reduce the quality of groundwater, making it unsuitable for daily use. In this session, several geophysical methods that can be used to detect the spread of seawater intrusion were explained, including the Induced Polarization (IP) method and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES). Students also had the opportunity to see and learn directly about the instruments used in these methods. Appreciation gifts were given to students who actively participated in the session, either by asking questions or answering them.
Grade 12 students of SMAN 1 Sanden listen to the opening of the second session
The Community Service activity focused on introducing geophysical methods for detecting seawater intrusion, with the hope of broadening the horizons of the community, especially students at SMAN 1 Sanden, regarding seawater intrusion prevention. Dr. rer. nat. Ade Anggraini, S.Si., M.T., the coordinator of KBK Geosciences, stated, “When students understand the real-world contributions and benefits of a field of science, they can be motivated to learn that field. In this case, geophysics can contribute to identifying the spread of seawater intrusion in the coastal area of Sanden. It is also hoped that SMAN 1 Sanden students will be interested in studying geophysics at university, particularly in the undergraduate Geophysics program at Universitas Gadjah Mada.”
The PkM concluded with the presentation of a memento from the Geophysics Study Program/Laboratory, followed by a group photo session. Through this activity, students at SMAN 1 Sanden gained references for their future studies while also seeing the direct application of geophysical methods in preventing seawater intrusion in their area. This supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4: Quality Education, and point 17: Partnerships for the Goals in terms of enhancing knowledge and technology.
Handover of memento by Dr. Eddy Hartantyo to the representative of SMAN 1 Sanden
Contributor: Dr. rer. Nat. Ade Anggraini, Shellya Dewi A
Photo : Shellya Dewi A