"Indonesia is important to IAEA as it is one of the countries that is successfully applying nuclear science and technology, especially in the agricultural and food sectors," Daud told newsmen at the National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan) office here on Monday.
Daud Mohammad , who is IAEA deputy director general for nuclear science and technology application, arrived here accompanied by director of IAEA`s health division Rethy Chhem and director of the agency`s food division Qu Liang. They are scheduled to be in Indonesia until Wednesday to observe what Indonesia`s National Atomic Energy Agency (Batan) has achieved in the application of nuclear science and technology.
The IEAE officials would also review and give their views on Indonesia`s plan to set up a Medical Physics Center at the University of Indonesia (UI)`s complex in Depok, West Java, by 2012.
The Medical Physics Center, according to Batan chief Hudi Hastowo, would be an educational hub for medical practitioners using nuclear physics such as radiology and was expected to become a medical physics center for Asia.
"With the establishment of the medical physics center, the University of Indonesia will also open an educational hospital in Depok. This requires cooperation between UI, the Directorate General of for Higher Learning Institutes, the ministry of health, the ministry of research and technology, Batan and Bapeten (nuclear energy supervisory agency)," Hudi said.
Indonesia, he said, would also set up an International Center for Theoretical Physics for Asia some time in the next few years.
Head of the Physics Department of the University of Indonesia`s Faculty of Mathematics and Science Dr Santoso Sukirno meanwhile said it was important for Indonesia to have a Medical Physics Center as it would thereby no longer be short of medical physics practitioners.
"The medical physics personnel that we have at present are not experts and their competence is still below international standards. The project is also needed to reduce the number of Indonesian cancer patients who seek treatment abroad," he said.
He said the project`s financing plan was still awaiting the government`s approval.
Two Batan experts, Prof. Dr. Suranto Human and Dr. Zubaidah Irawati, had been invited by IAEA to become expert consultants for the formulation of new directives for research and development in and the application of nuclear science and technology.
(T.D009/H-YH/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
