Yogyakarta, 5-12-2005

Remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd International Junior Science Olympiad

 

TRANSCRIPT
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF
THE 2nd INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
YOGYAKARTA, 5 DECEMBER 2005


Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Prof. Dr. Bambang Sudibyo, Minister for Education,
Excellencies Ministers and Ambassadors,
The Honorable of Governor of Yogyakarta,
Head of Universities,
Distinguished Guests,
All Participants of 2nd International Junior Science Olympiad,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, welcome to Indonesia and welcome to the city of Yogyakarta. I will echo what has been said by the Governor of Yogyakarta, that you could spend your time after this competition, to see around, to see the beauty of Yogyakarta and the surrounding.

My name is Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. I am the President of the Indonesia, just in case you don’t know exactly what that’s mean, well, it is more or less like a headmaster, except that instead of looking after student in a school, I look after people in this country. I am glad to meet you all this morning. Exactly a year ago, I open the 1st International Junior Science Olympiad. So, this time is my second opportunity to meet with another groups of the best and d brightest students, you all.

You know, seeing all of you, remain me of the movie Harry Potter. Youth spirit full of curiosity each with his honor own special, competing against one another. But, while Harry Potter is a fantasy, you are all real. Your are all here because you are all very talented. You represent the best mind of your country, competing against the best and the brightest in the world of science. We are also proud of you, and we know that your parents and your teachers are also very proud of you.

You know, about 45 minutes drive from here, you will find one of the world seven wonders, the magnificent Borobudur Temple. I would recommend you to see it, because you will never, ever forget the amazing feeling of standing at the top of this magnificent temple, over looking a wide valley and surrounding mountain, that’s beautiful. What is interesting is that the civilization that Borobudur is gone and the temple was lost for 800 years, stored underneath volcanic math, until it was British covered in 18th century. It was a great city, technology, the culture, the civilization and know how that tales this magnificent temple was lost, an no pass on to future generation. When Borobudur was discovered by archeologist, even the local people had no knowledge and no trash about the temple. I like this Borobudur story, because it tells us that science is to be found, set, develop and pass on to generations. This is why you are so important. Because while science is recorded in printed books, it is cooked and process inside your wonderers mind.

Someday, you will discover and invent many great things. Who knows, the match fully functional and affordable hydrogen car which does not need gasoline, think about that. Wouldn’t that be cool? Or health about a cure of cancer, that’s our challenge. Or a super fast airplane that move as the speed of light, like light, so we can travel from Yogyakarta to Los Angeles in just a few minute. The possibility are endless, which bring you to my point, no matter how much your master science and technology, never forget what Albert Einstein said that imagination is more important than knowledge, I say again, imagination is more important than knowledge. Yes, imagination is more important than knowledge and this coming from the best scientist in history.

You are at the age where your imagination is searching knowledge. You will know more and more about things. But do not overlap surface imagination. In fact, let your knowledge be a fuel that load the power of your dream and your imagination to come out. This is how you become Leonardo da Vinci, a Galileo, a Copernicus, a Thomas Alfa Edison, and Einstein. And when you succeed in doing this, I hope you remember this, the purpose of science of technology is quite simple, to help people, to help others, to save our world. It is to have make life easier, to have make life longer, more enjoyable, more civilized. Science and technology is very powerful tools that can do a lot of good in your life, to well being of your family and friends and your country.

There is one more thing that I want to remind you, and I never get tired of reminding children this. Why do discover the one of the world of science, there are another world of equal wonders to discover. And I hope you can discover it here, while staying in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is a world of friendship. … friendship and … it can be your life great a future. Believe me, friend can open up a whole new universe, just as science open up a whole new universe to you.

Here, you are meeting students from all over the world who share your passion for science. You will compete with term in science, but I hope you will join each other in friendship. And who knows, may be, the friendship you make here will someday be the answer to world peace. We are all life to building a better world in the future. The world that is more peaceful, more just, more democratic, and more prosperous, where to move further, we can use science and technology including information in communication and technology to advance our world, our mankind, and our civilization.

Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen,
All Participants of the Olympiad,
Finally, by saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I therefore please to declare the 2nd International Junior Science Olympiad open. You are already know that we are all so proud of you. Good luck everybody, and have a great Olympiad.

Thank you,
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

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Bureau for Press and Media Affairs
The Presidential Household