IPB University ITK Department Invites Foreign Students to Study Tropical Marine Ecosystems in Indonesia
Clear skies and breezy sea breezes welcomed the Marine Tropical Ecology Summer Course participants. This activity, initiated by the Department of Marine Science and Technology (ITK), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) IPB University, took place on Pramuka Island. This island is the capital of Seribu Islands Regency, DKI Jakarta and is known as a protected area for mangroves, coral reefs and hawksbill turtles.
The activity with the theme ‘Expanding Horizons: Indonesian Marine Tropical Ecology and the Ocean Resilience on Small Islands’ was attended by students from Myanmar, Malaysia, France and Indonesia. Dr Beginer Subhan as ITK 2023 Summer Course Coordinator welcomed all participants warmly to Pramuka Island.
“Hopefully friends can broaden their understanding of the marine biodiversity of small islands in tropical regions like Indonesia by directly observing the condition of the coastal ecosystem on Pramuka Island. Have fun exploring,” he said.
High curiosity was also seen among IPB University international students who were involved in this activity. For them, this visit really provided knowledge and information to the summer course participants.
“This activity gave us an unforgettable experience in exploring the diverse and very beautiful natural riches and ecosystems of Indonesia’s small islands,” said Thida Swe Zin, a participant from Myanmar.
On the first day, the activity began with island hopping, where participants had the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Pramuka Island. While exploring the island, participants were taught how drone technology can be used in monitoring coastal ecosystems on Pramuka Island. They were also given the opportunity to operate drones. Followed by snorkeling activities around Pramuka Island to observe the condition of the coral reef ecosystem.
On the second day, participants were invited to visit the Turtle Sanctuary on Pramuka Island. They were given information about turtle conservation activities. Participants also jointly release small hatchlings into the sea. The activity continued with mangrove planting as well as providing education about the existence of mangroves on Pramuka Island as a form of coastal protection and a source of life for the community.
Lastly, the participants were involved in coral transplantation. They learned about the condition of coral reefs on Pramuka Island from time to time, the dangers that lurk, including coral bleaching due to climate change and efforts to restore coral reefs. With their own hands, they made a transplant module that would be placed on Pramuka Island.
Chairman of the IPB University ITK Department, Dr Syamsul Bahri Agus, said that this activity was an effort to promote environmental awareness and sustainability, while building strong relationships between students and lecturers.
“We hope that this experience will provide inspiration for the participants to contribute to increasing the resilience of small islands, in line with the theme we are promoting,” he added (RAT/Rz) (IAAS/RZL)
