Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has initiated a large-scale international research collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China (SIO), and the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China (SCSIO). The partnership aims to conduct a deep-sea survey in Indonesia’s southern subduction zone, particularly in the waters south of Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara.
This survey is a strategic step in understanding the collision processes between the Java Plate and the Australian Plate, as well as their implications for potential earthquakes and tsunamis in the region.
The activities will involve marine geophysical exploration using seismic (active and passive) and electromagnetic methods, along with deep-sea sediment sampling.
Director of Partnerships and Global Relations, Professor Puji Astuti, stated that this initiative reflects UGM’s commitment to supporting disaster risk reduction through science and technology.
“This collaboration will not only enhance research capacity in marine science but also serve as a vital bridge for technology transfer and the development of Indonesia’s human resources,” she said.
The survey is scheduled for 10-26 August 2025, using the Chinese research vessel RV Jiageng (Tan Kah Kee).
More than 50 researchers from Indonesia and China will participate, including from UGM, led by Professor Wahyu Wilopo with the expedition team consisting of Dr. Muhammad Haikal Razi (Faculty of Engineering) and Roma Widiyansari, (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), as well as representatives from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Universitas Indonesia, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
In addition to research, the program includes human resource training in marine science in both Indonesia and China, as well as the development of a marine geophysics laboratory in Indonesia.
The collaboration is expected to produce joint publications, technological innovations for disaster mitigation, and maps of deep-sea resource potential beneficial to Indonesia.
The UGM-BRIN-SIO-SCSIO partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening Indonesia-China relations in science, technology, and disaster risk reduction, while also supporting Indonesia’s vision of becoming a resilient and competitive maritime nation.
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
