Elizabeth A. Widjaja facts for kids
Dr. Elizabeth Anita Widjaja was born in 1951. She is a very important researcher who studies different types of bamboo. She works at the Herbarium Bogoriense, which is part of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences in Bogor, Indonesia.
Dr. Widjaja loves to study bamboo, especially the kinds found in Indonesia and the wider Malesia region. She also teaches people how to grow bamboo to help stop erosion. Erosion happens when soil is washed away by rain or wind, and bamboo roots can help hold the soil in place.
Dr. Widjaja has also talked about how bamboo can be used to make biofuel, which is a type of fuel made from plants. She said that bamboo is a huge source for this, and it's easy to work with, which makes research into bamboo-based biofuel cheaper.
One of her big achievements was in 1997. She studied a type of bamboo called Bambusa lako, also known as Timor black bamboo. She realized it was different from another Indonesian black bamboo, Gigantochloa atroviolacea, because of how it looked. So, she officially described it as a new species.
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Dr. Widjaja's Discoveries and Work
Dr. Elizabeth Widjaja has spent many years learning about bamboo. Her work helps us understand the many different kinds of bamboo that grow around the world, especially in Southeast Asia.
What is Bamboo Taxonomy?
Taxonomy is like being a detective for plants! It's the science of finding, naming, and classifying different types of living things. Dr. Widjaja's job as a bamboo taxonomist means she identifies new bamboo species, gives them scientific names, and figures out how they are related to each other. This helps scientists and people who grow bamboo understand them better.
Why is Bamboo Important?
Bamboo is an amazing plant! It grows very fast and can be used for many things. People use it for building houses, making furniture, and even for food. As Dr. Widjaja mentioned, it's also great for preventing soil erosion because its roots hold the ground firmly. It can even be a source of clean energy like biofuel.
Dr. Widjaja's Books
Dr. Widjaja has written books to share her knowledge about bamboo. These books help others identify different bamboo types.
- Identikit jenis-jenis bambu di Jawa (Bamboo varieties found on Java) with S. N. Kartikasari, 2001, ISBN: 979-579-035-8
- Identikit jenis-jenis bambu di Kepulauan Sunda Kecil (Bamboo varieties of the Lesser Sunda Islands) with S. N. Kartikasari, 2001, ISBN: 979-579-034-X
Dr. Widjaja's Awards
Dr. Widjaja has received several important awards for her hard work and contributions to science.
- World Biodiversity Day Award, 1999, from the Indonesian State Ministry of Environment. This award recognized her efforts in protecting the variety of life on Earth.
- Indonesian President Award, 2000. This is a very high honor given by the President of Indonesia.
- Harsberger Medal, 2001, for her studies in ethnobotany. Ethnobotany is the study of how people use plants in their culture. This award was given by the Society of the Ethnobotanist in India.
See also
In Spanish: Elizabeth Anita Widjaja para niños
