Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continues to show its commitment to promoting Indonesia’s participation on the global stage.
This is exemplified by the achievements of two of its alumni, Gerry Utama and Dr. Nugroho Imam Setiawan, who successfully explored Antarctica for international research missions.
UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia praised the two researchers’ accomplishments during a meeting on Monday (Feb. 2).
She believes that the work of Dr. Nugroho and Gerry, as they are commonly called, will motivate other scientists in Indonesia.
Professor Emilia stated that their success proves that Indonesia, particularly UGM, possesses human resources that are on par with those of other developed nations. She promised to encourage UGM’s involvement in further research and policies related to Antarctica.
“Research is always dynamic. I think there will be a need for a laboratory or an Antarctic Study Center that we can develop because there’s great potential in this field. If we can contribute positively to the nation and the world, UGM will support it,” said Professor Emilia.
Regarding the Antarctic Treaty System, which 58 countries have signed, Professor Emilia acknowledged that much coordination is still required with the Indonesian government officials.
The Antarctic Treaty is an important instrument for a country to actively participate in extensive exploration of Antarctica.
Although Indonesia has yet to declare its readiness to sign the Antarctic Treaty, Professor Emilia stated that UGM is always prepared to support the process.
“We need to speak directly with the government, and we will present the good points, what UGM has already done, and what needs to be prepared,” explained the rector.
Professor Emilia highlighted that UGM’s commitment to the Antarctic Treaty is part of the university’s effort to continuously contribute to global research that directly impacts environmental sustainability and climate change.
By supporting the participation of Indonesian students and researchers in international scientific expeditions, UGM plays a crucial role in strengthening Indonesia’s position in managing the Antarctic region.
“We want to raise awareness about the importance of Antarctica as an area that requires serious attention from the entire international community,” she concluded.
Gerry, an alumnus of UGM’s Faculty of Geography, became the first Indonesian and ASEAN citizen to participate in the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE) from February to July 2024 while pursuing his Master’s in Paleogeography at Saint Petersburg State University, Russia.
During the expedition, Gerry researched geomorphology and paleogeography to reconstruct a new atlas of Russia’s King George Island. Gerry’s research is particularly significant in the context of global climate change, which is currently a major concern worldwide.
“Aside from wood fossils, I also mapped moss with varying colors. This serves as an important indicator in understanding the climate dynamics in Antarctica and the world,” he emphasized.
Gerry (31), who became the youngest researcher in Indonesia’s mission to Antarctica, recounted that he and his team discovered a massive iceberg three days after the ship landed.
If reconstructed, the release of such a large iceberg from the ice sheet also indicates faster ice melt, which could disrupt the balance of marine ecosystems and pose greater threats to coastal habitats.
“Indonesia should be more aware of this phenomenon since our country is largely composed of seas. Therefore, signing the Antarctic Treaty should be a priority,” he added.
Dr. Nugroho Imam Setiawan (43), a lecturer from the Department of Geological Engineering at the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), participated in the Japan Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) from 2016 to 2017.
During the expedition, he conducted research on the evolution of the Antarctic continent through the petrology study of methanol rocks, which are aged between 2.5 billion and 500 million years.
Dr. Nugroho successfully published seven international journals from his Antarctic mission, contributing to the global development of geological studies.
Dr. Nugroho also brought home rock samples with a honeycomb structure, which he found in Antarctica, and has donated them to the UGM Biology Museum and the Bandung Geological Museum.
The first Indonesian geologist to research the Antarctic continent explained that Antarctica is a terra incognita, or land largely unknown to humans, so the research conducted there will undoubtedly provide important insights, especially in earth sciences.
Echoing Gerry, Dr. Nugroho hopes the Indonesian government will pay more attention to natural phenomena occurring in Antarctica.
“We must remember that Indonesia and Antarctica are not separate; we share the same summit ground. So, I believe it’s quite important for Indonesia to get involved in strategic issues like geopolitics and climate change to prepare for potential future scenarios,” he emphasized.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Firsto