Combining Computer Science with Agricultural Technology
If you talk about IPB University, you must be familiar with the name Prof. Dr. Ir. Kudang Boro Seminar, M. Sc. He is the Professor of Computer Technology at IPB University who succeeded in combining computer science with agricultural technology.
"I have to make computer science applicable in agriculture. I started with the development of research on the application of computer technology that can do agricultural product sorting, microclimate control such as temperature, humidity, light intensity in green houses and animal houses, as well as prediction and analysis of land suitability for cultivation of certain plants in a certain area,” said Prof. Kundang.
The man who was born on November 18, 1959 has aspired to be a teacher since he was in junior high school. Seeing his father who was also a lecturer, made him want to become a lecturer too. As the saying goes "the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree", he now serves as a Lecturer at the Department of Mechanical and Biosystem Engineering, as well as a Professor at IPB University.
Since college, Prof. Kudang has been invited by his supervisor to teach. Because being a teacher has been his passion and dream since long ago, he took the offer without hesitation.
“I enjoy teaching and explaining science. Sometimes even the pain is not felt and instead feels healed when teaching. Hopefully teaching is part of the alms of knowledge," he said in an interview at the Fateta Cyber Center (CCF) IPB University.
Prof. Kudang started his undergraduate education majoring in Agricultural Mechanization, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, IPB University and graduated in 1979. After that, he received a scholarship to continue the Master of Computer Science program at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. Doctorate degree was also taken at the University of New Brunswick in the field of Computer Science.
After completing his studies in Canada in 1993, Prof. Kudang was worried that he would not be accepted at IPB, because at that time IPB University did not yet have Computer Science as a study program.
However, fate said otherwise. Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Sitanala Arsjad stated that the knowledge studied by Prof. Kudang in Canada is needed for scientific development at IPB University.
Even so, he won the title of Professor in the field of Computer Technology at Fateta, IPB University. Prof. Kudang also started to develop things related to intelligent agriculture andprecision agriculture.
Prof. Kudang got his first assignment as Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and continued as Head of the Department. He has also been the Head of the IPB University Library, Secretary of the Academic Senate, Director of Communication and Information Systems (DKSI), Head of the Bio-informatics Lab, and Head of the Faculty Senate.
In addition, he was also involved in the team forming the Computer Science study program at IPB University, both undergraduate and postgraduate. He has also been the Head of the Strategic Planning Team (Renstra) of IPB University, and participated in developing the Strategic Planning of Fateta IPB University and the Strategic Planning of the Department of Mechanical and Biosystem Engineering (TMB).
Prof. Kudang was once the President of AFITA (Asian Federation of Information Technology for Agriculture). In 2015 he was elected as the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology IPB University for the 2015-2020 period.
His vision in leading Fateta is to make Fateta IPB University a faculty that can bring agriculture forward by developing good technology and keeping up with the times. In addition, he is an observer of the Islamic world and a hafiz or memorizer of the Koran 30 juz.
His hard work and relentless spirit succeeded in giving birth to a new breath in the world of education. His journey is also a motivation for young people who are struggling in the world of education. He advised students about readiness to face a change. Like it or not, ready or not, the change will definitely happen. "And when the change occurs, we must be ready with all the anticipation," concluded Prof. Kundang.
