Geography professor from UGM who is known as disaster expert, Prof. Dr. Sudibyakto, M.S., passed away on Wednesday (27/6) at 16.45 hours in Dr. Sardjito General Hospital at the age of 61 years old. He is survived by his wife and three children.
He was advisor to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency(BNPB) since 2009. Member of the steering committee of the Agency, Prof. Sarwidi, MSCE, Ph.D, felt the loss of Sudibyakto. “On behalf of the Agency, I wish to extend our condolences to the family,” said Sarwidi in a speech, representing the organisation during a funeral ceremony in Balairung UGM on Thursday (28/6).
Sarwidi said the deceased had been involved actively in disaster mitigation and humanitarian works. “The late Sudibyakto had been involved in BNPB with humanitarian work and disaster mitigation since the start of the organisation establishment as steering committee from professional society,” he said. Sudibyakto gave considerable ideas and input to national disaster mitigation policy. “His thoughts have been much adopted at the local, national and international scales,” he said.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., said UGM was at loss following the death of Sudibyakto. The deceased had high commitment in disaster areas. “His role in various disaster organisations reflected his high commitment in disaster risk reduction,” said the Rector.
According to the Rector, Sudibyakto during his life was an excellent disaster expert that was respected both nationally and internationally.
“His passing is a great loss to all members of UGM academic community, but his contribution shall become an invaluable legacy for us all,” he said.
Dean of Faculty of Geography, Prof. Dr. Muh. Aris Marfai, M.S.Si., M.Sc., read out the biography of Sudibyakto who was born in Yogyakarta on 5 August 1956. He earned his Hydrology degree from Faculty of Geography UGM in 1981, master in Agrometeorology from IPB Bogor in 1983 and doctorate in natural resource and environment management in 1991.
Throughout his career as a lecturer of UGM since 1983, Sudibyakto chaired the UGM Centre for Natural Disaster Studies from 1996-2001, expert in Bakornas from 2001-2004, Head of Environmental Science in UGM Graduate School from 2004-2008, and member of Board of Trustees from 2007-2012. In addition, he became Chairman of Indonesian Disaster Experts (IABI) from 2014-2017 as well as IABI’s chief governing officers from 2017-2020.