The Field Training for Advanced Education of the Seventeenth Diksar Generation BiOSC in 2023 is an annual agenda organized by the Biology Orchid Study Club (BiOSC). The main focus of this activity is to enhance the skills and knowledge related to the research, cultivation, and conservation of orchids for prospective members of the BiOSC. This activity took place in person at the Faculty of Biology and the Greenhouse in Karanggayam on August 19, 2023, and at the Balelawang Orchid Species located at Tegalsan, Umbulharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman on August 20, 2023.There were 42 participants in the 2023 Field Training activity from the seventeenth Diksar generation.
The activity ran smoothly for two days. On the first day, it began with an opening ceremony followed by a welcome address from the BiOSC supervisor, Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc. Before starting the practical sessions, an initial briefing was conducted by the Coordinator of the Research and Cultivation Division of the Biology Orchid Study Club. The research practice involved creating a wet herbarium using orchid fruits (Rynchostilis retusa, Arundina graminifolia, and Cymbidium encifolium) as preserved objects at the Faculty of Biology, UGM. The research field practice concluded with a trip to the Greenhouse in Karanggayam. There, the cultivation practice of acclimatizing Dendrobium hybrid orchids took place. The activities of the first day ended with participants returning to their respective homes.
On the second day, the participants and organizers departed for the Balelawang Orchid Species. Mr. Anton, the manager of Balelawang Orchid Species, gave a welcome address. Participants engaged in conservation practices, which included identifying wild orchids and measuring physicochemical parameters. The measured parameters included air temperature, light intensity, air humidity, soil humidity, and soil temperature. The second day of field training concluded with a lunch event and group documentation.
The designation of the seventeenth generation as members of the division did not end there. On Saturday, September 3, 2023, participants presented their research proposal, cultivation practices, and identification along with the measurement of physicochemical parameters. This activity aimed to train communication skills and inform the audience about the orchids they had successfully identified. Orchid species successfully identified included Dendrobium crumenatum, Dendrobium mutabile, Acriopsis, Vanda tricolor, and many more. The event continued with the announcement of graduation and the induction of the seventeenth generation as division members, followed by a division discussion. The series of activities concluded with awards given to the top participants and a collective documentation as a form of appreciation for entering the division in BiOSC.