Bogor, 8 October 2024. SEAMEO BIOTROP officially opened the 2nd Capstone Internship Program for the October - December 2024 period on October 8, 2024, at the Jati Room, SEAMEO BIOTROP headquarters. The program, which aims to provide hands-on experience in tropical biology, welcomed participants from various universities across Indonesia.

The opening ceremony began with remarks from the Acting Director of SEAMEO BIOTROP, Ms. Sri Widayanti. She emphasized the importance of the program in providing students with practical experience in tropical biology while encouraging them to implement their academic knowledge. She highlighted the additional benefits of the program, stating, "You will gain knowledge, learning, and practice in various fields of tropical biology. You will be able to apply the knowledge you've acquired during your studies at SEAMEO BIOTROP." Beyond biology, participants are also expected to gain insights into soft skills, work ethics, and the latest technologies, including AI applications.

Following her speech, Ms. Tenni, the Manager of the Human Resource and Administration Department, guided the session and allowed each intern to introduce themselves and share their motivations. One of the interns, Dahlia Mukti Cahyani from Universitas Gadjah Mada, shared her excitement, saying, "I want to gain new experiences, apply the knowledge I have learned, and collaborate with others."

This batch of 27 participants is composed of students from prestigious universities, including Universitas Gadjah Mada, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Hasanuddin, and Universitas Mulawarman. The interns will engage in diverse projects ranging from plant biotechnology, DNA barcoding, and fingerprinting, to essential oil production, and the application of GIS and remote sensing for land capacity calculations. Other focus areas include hydroponics, environmental technology, and organic compost development.

The event also included a campus tour and a session on SEAMEO BIOTROP's organizational vision and mission. The internship program will run until December 2024, providing students with a platform to apply their academic knowledge while gaining valuable industry experience.