The Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu held a Public Lecture on Strengthening Student Research on Friday, September 18, 2026. The activity with the theme “Exploration of Agroindustry Research Opportunities, Research Gap Identification, Utilization of the Latest Technology, and Development of Local Commodity Potential” was carried out in a hybrid manner, namely offline in the Dean’s Room of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu and online through Zoom Meeting.

The activity was attended by 201 participants, consisting of 63 participants offline and 138 participants via Zoom Meeting. This public lecture is a learning and discussion space for students to strengthen their ability to find research ideas, understand technological developments, and identify research opportunities that are relevant to the needs of agroindustry and the potential of local commodities.

The public lecture presented two speakers who have academic and research backgrounds in the fields of technology and agroindustry, namely Dr. M. Syukur Sarfat, S.T.P., M.Si., Lecturer of the Agricultural Industrial Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, IPB University, and Dr. Waryat, S.Pt., M.P., BRIN Researcher in the Research Group on Process Technology Engineering for Diversification of Agricultural Products.

Different from the participants who attended offline, the two speakers delivered material online via Zoom Meeting. The presence of academics and researchers from IPB University and BRIN provided an opportunity for University of Bengkulu students to gain direct insight into the development of agroindustrial research and the direction of technology-based research development.

The activity began with an opening, then continued with remarks by the Head of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Dr. Yessy Rosalina, S.TP., M.Si. In his remarks, public lecture activities are an important part of supporting students to be more able to develop research ideas that are relevant, innovative, and related to the development of science and industrial needs. Furthermore, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, Prof. Dr. Ir. Suharyanto, S.Pt., M.Si., delivered a speech and officially opened the activity. This opening marked the beginning of a series of materials and discussions in the Public Lecture on Strengthening Student Research.

In the main session, students gained various insights on how to explore research opportunities in the field of agroindustry, determine problems that have research value, and understand research gaps as the basis for formulating research novelties. In addition, participants were also invited to see the latest technological developments that can be used in agroindustry research and development.

The topic of the potential of local commodities is also an important part of the activity. Local commodities can be a source of research ideas that not only have academic value, but also have the potential to be developed into product innovations, processes, and technologies that provide added value to society and industry.

Through this activity, students are expected to not only be able to find research topics, but also to build a scientific mindset in identifying problems, reviewing previous research, finding research gaps, and designing research that contributes to the development of agroindustry.

The series of activities was then ended with a closing by the Chairman of the Public Lecture Committee, Firmansyah, S.T., M.Sc. The activity took place interactively by involving participants who attended offline and online.

This Public Lecture on Strengthening Student Research is expected to be one of the steps of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu in strengthening student research culture, expanding insights into technological developments, and encouraging the birth of innovative research ideas based on the potential of local resources.