EMBRYO 2014 Boosts Studies of Indonesian Marine Biodiversity

Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), through the Directorate of Research and Innovation and the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) held EMBRYO 2014 (Enhancing Marine Biodiversity Research in Indonesia), the 1st International Workshop at the Assessment Center of Coastal and Marine Resources (PKSPL), Baranangsiang Campus of IPB on 6-7 March 2014, Thursday. This event raises the theme “Understanding, Protecting/ Rehabilitating and Sustainable Use of Indonesian Marine Biodiversity.

Director of Research and Innovation IPB, Prof. Dr. Iskandar Z. Siregar, M.For.Sc said, this activity is a new multidisciplinary initiative in IPB, involving a number of units, researchers and stakeholders from outside. IPB acts as a leading institute associated with Enhancing Marine Biodiversity Research in Indonesia. In IPB’s vision of 2045, marine becomes a keyword in addition to agriculture and tropical biosciences. This is consistent with our country as an archipelago, where the marine wealth is not optimally studied, understood and utilized.

"So far we have focused more on the terrestrial ecosystem. Marine ecosystems are also keeping secrets that need to be studied, so it is expected from this initiative we could gather what are already done by IPB and other institutions, and then we map and study what the gaps are and next we would connect them," added Prof. Dr. Iskandar Z. Siregar, M.For.Sc.

Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Yonny Koesmaryono, MS said, "In 2013, IPB formally introduced marine science as one of the three areas of focus in the Statute of IPB (Government Regulation No 66/2013) which is accompanied by a Presidential Decree. In response to this, Vice Rector for Research and Cooperation of IPB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Anas Miftah Fauzi, M. Eng initiated to develop EMBRYO. This program is to promote marine biodiversity research in Indonesia. To follow up this program, Prof. Dr. Ir. Anas Miftah Fauzi, M. Eng proposed a task force to develop a roadmap for marine biodiversity research strategies of IPB for the future."

Dean of Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of IPB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Indrajaya, M.Sc said, "Indonesia’s marine biodiversity is important for a variety of reasons. It can be used to provide goods and services for the public such as the main food supplies, medicine resources, fisheries, water resources and millions of jobs in industries. Marine biodiversity is important to protect water resources, nutrient supplies, pollution disturbance and absorption, and to contribute to climate stability." Director of Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) of Regional Jakarta, Dr. Irene Jansen said, "I believe that the German scientists who have a long history of marine research and short coastline can join with the scientists from the largest archipelago in the world and try to establish a good relationship in the future." (Mtd)