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Seminar “The International Conference and Workshop in Conjunction with the 8th Indonesia Biotechnology Conference (IBC)” was held at Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur, Bali (16-18 May 2023) with the theme “Crossroad of Biodiversity, Biotechnology, and Health for Enhancing Sustainable Development”. This activity consisted of keynotes and invited speakers from various institutions and universities, such as the Indonesian Biotechnology Consortium, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Rutgers University, Universitas Nasional (UNAS), City University New York, Kyoto University, National University of Natural Medicine, Udayana University, Louisiana State University, and Tajik National Medical University. This conference provided a forum for exchanging information on bioscience and biotechnology to address the challenges of sustainable development.

The materials presented during the conference were regarding biodiversity and its relationship or use with bioscience and biotechnology, and how the relationship between mass extinction events that are currently taking place due to global climate change, especially in plants that contain bioactive compounds that can be utilized. On this occasion, CSERM UNAS participated in the symposium through a presentation of the results of the Blue Community project entitled “Biodiversity and Community Structure of Seaweed and Seagrass, and Their Potential Uses in Transition Zone of Takabonerate Selayar Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, Indonesia” presented by Dr. Tatang Mitra Setia. The material presented was about the diversity of macroalgae and seagrass in the transition zone of the Takabonerate Biosphere Reserve and its benefits for the community, especially in the health sector.

The seagrass ecosystem in the Selayar Island can become a habitat for various marine biota, including sea cucumbers. Efforts to cultivate sea cucumbers and protect seagrass habitat will help reduce the loss of biodiversity and global climate change and contribute to the welfare of the local people of Selayar Island. At this conference, CSERM UNAS also introduced its newest program, Developing Sustainable Near-shore Sea Cucumber Aquaculture on Selayar Island, Indonesia, with support from the Biodiversity Challenge Fund, Darwin Initiative. This program will empower women in the economic development of local communities of Selayar Islands District.

The initiation of the sea cucumber cultivation program on Selayar Island by CSERM UNAS aimed to obtain initial information regarding the location of two sub-districts as the pilot locations, Bontoharu and Bontosikuyu Sub-districts, that will be the location for rearing sea cucumbers, and consolidation with key stakeholders in locations such as Bappelitbangda Selayar and the Selayar Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service and the community leaders. Both sub-districts are located in the central, western and southern Selayar Island, including several small islands around it.

The visit to Bontosikuyu Sub-district (10 May 2023) covered three villages: Tile-tile Village, Lantibongang Village, and Patikarya Village. These villages were chosen as representatives in this preliminary study due to the condition of the seagrass ecosystem and the experience of the community who had cultivated marine resources, including sea cucumber. The local community in Patikarya Village had bred sea cucumbers whose seeds were taken from nature, and the sea pens were located on the coast behind the local community’s houses. However, this activity had not been successful because the sea pens construction was destroyed and disappeared during the west monsoon in early 2022.

The visit to Bontoharu Sub-district (11 May 2023) covered three villages: Bontolebang Village, Kahu Kahu Village, and Bontosunggu Village. Communities in these villages also have experience growing sea cucumbers with natural seeds and also collecting sea cucumbers for resale. Sea cucumber cultivation activities have become very challenging in Bontosunggu Village because of the activities that were carried out, sea cucumbers disappeared when they were about to be harvested.

Interview with local community in Bontoharu Sub-district

Sea cucumber in Selayar in drying process

Sea cucumber in Selayar, in salt curing process

Selayar Island has high potential for sea cucumber cultivation because the ecosystem supports the growth of sea cucumbers. The types of sea cucumbers commonly found are sandfish, gamat, dongnga, the elephant trunkfish, and black teatfish. However, seasonal changes are a challenge for sea cucumber cultivators. The right method is needed so the enlargement of sea cucumbers can be successful in a sustainable manner. CSERM UNAS emphasizes the focus on sustainable sea cucumber rearing activities, using the right methods and supporting contributions to community welfare and women’s empowerment. This activity also received full support from Bappelitbangda and the Maritime and Fisheries Service, with the hope of empowering the local community, especially women, in maintaining the resilience of their households.

CSERM-UNAS is collaborating with Bangor University, UK, in a workshop program entitled “Addressing Marine Plastic Waste as a Climate Change Adaptation Priority in Indonesia”, which is funded by the Newton Fund – British Council. Initially, the program was developed by Dr. Tara Smith^[[1]], a lecturer at Bangor University, UK, and Dr. Asep Adhikerana, a research fellow at the Centre of Sustainable Energy and Resources Management (CSERM), Universitas Nasional (UNAS). Aquatera UK was also involved in the proposal development, which in the workshop, it played a crucial role as the facilitator. The aims of this Workshop Program are as follows:

1. To develop an evidence base connecting the problems of marine plastic waste and climate change adaptation in Indonesia
2. To stimulate research between the UK and Indonesia which examines the causes as well as the consequences of the combined problems of marine plastic waste and climate change adaptation in Indonesia
3. To catalyse interdisciplinary research projects that integrate scientific knowledge with an understanding of national and international development processes related to climate change and plastic waste
4. To develop the capacity of early career researchers to build and lead interdisciplinary and gender-balanced research teams
5. To support early career researchers to develop fundable project proposals that provide an evidence-base for policy making and action
6. To create a dynamic and responsive network of researchers in the UK and Indonesia who have the capacity to become mentors of future early-career researchers responding to complex and inter-connected global challenges.

As stated above in the program’s aims, this is not just an ordinary workshop, but it is also an opportunity for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to apply for “Challenge Prizes” that is provided by this program. In general, the program consists of the following sequences: (a) Online workshop – 3 days; (b) Challenge Prizes’ proposal submission, selection, and award (3 weeks), (c) Challenge Prizes’ research implementation carried out by ECRs, who receive the prizes (4 months), and (d) program conclusion: (a) reports of Challenge Prizes’ researches, and (b) a final report to the British Council.

By the time of program implementation, Bangor University assigned Dr. Tara Smith for another task, and assigned Dr. Peter Robins – who would previously play a role as a mentor in the workshop – to lead the program, along with Dr. Asep Adhikerana as a co-leader.

As per September 8, 2021, the program is still ongoing, and right now it is at the Challenge Prizes’ proposal writing and submission. While, the details of a three day workshop is presented as follows.

Due to the global outbreak of Covid-19, the workshop was done virtually, from Agustus, 31 to September 2, 2021, using MS Teams as the platform. As mentioned above, this workshop was facilitated by Aquatera UK, and participated by: (a) ECRs from a variety of background and disciplines (27 persons – see Figure 1 for the composition); (b) resource persons from academics, researchers, representatives of GoI, and NGO representatives (42 persons); and (c) observers from various organizations and government officials. In order for ECRs  to understand how to develop a collaborative multi-discipline research, the workshop provided two mentors, namely: Dr Jito Sugardjito, Director of the Centre of Sustainable Energy and Resources Management (CSERM) – Universitas Nasional (UNAS), and Dr Morwenna Spear, a Research Officer at the Department BioComposites Centre, Bangor University, UK.

Figure 1. The composition of participating ECRs at the workshop

The three-day workshop agenda is briefly described as follows.

Day 1 was initiated with a welcome and introduction to present the aims and objectives of the workshop. This was followed up with Panel Discussion 1 on the UNFCC, COP26, and the Development of Indonesia’s National Adaptation Plan, where the resource persons presented their respective topics. The resource persons were: (1) Dr Haley Roberts, Senior Lecturer in International Law, Bangor University, (2) Dr. Nadia Amelia Ridwan (Former National Project Coordinator of Japan International Cooperation Agency and Ministry of Environment Japan ) and Ms. Kazuki Matsuura Morimoto (PhD Student, Faculty of Sustainability Studies, Hosei University / Former Project Specialist/Coordinator of Japan International Cooperation Agency and Ministry of Environment Japan); and (3) Dr. Retno Sulastri, Ministry of Environment and Forestry on The Development of Indonesia’s National Adaptation Plan. The presentations were followed up with panel discussion.

After a break, the Panel Discussion 2 was conducted with a topic of Developing Collaborative Research Projects, and lead by Dr Jito Sugardjito (CSERM – UNAS), Dr Morwenna Spear (Bangor University), and Dr Peter Robins (Bangor University). Here Dr. Robins stimulated the participants to express their thoughts about the climate change and plastic waste problems, using the google jamboard platform.

Afterward, another panel was undertaken to discuss the involvement of multidisciplinary and multi-sector groups in researches, where participants were stimulated to create a collaborative research based on this ABCG (Academic, Business, Community, Government) principle.

Later, the participants were clustered into Break-Out Groups (ABCG Matching) to identify thematic synergies within groups.

Day 2 was initiated with a session to Recapture, Reinforcement, and Q&A from the Day 1 sessions. Thenafter, a virtual tour of the TakaBonerate – Kepulauan Selayar Biosphere Reserve, which was followed with live dialogues with 2 invited speakers from Selayar, namely: Mr. Andi Zulfadhli Zainal (Tourism and Culture Agency, Selayar Regency) and Mr. Zul Janwar (Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agency, Selayar Regency).

After a short break, Panel Discussion 1 was done under a topic of Plastic Waste and Climate Change in the TakaBonerate – Kepulauan Selayar Biosphere Reserve. Four resource persons presented their perspectives, namely: (1) Prof Jan Hiddink (Bangor University), (2) Prof Evelyn Taboada (USC), (3) Dr. Christian Dunn (Senior Lecturer in Zoology, the Associate Director of the Bangor Wetlands Group, and Director of the Plastic Research Centre of Wales), and (4) Dr Dedi S. Adhuri (Indonesian Institute of Science on the Plastic Waste and Climate Change in the Taka Bonerate-Kepulauan Selayar Biosphere Reserve).

After a short session of Q&A, Panel Discussion 2 was done under a topic of achieving research impact through stakeholder engagement, where three resource persons presented their respective concerns, namely: (a) Ms. Marianne Catanyag (Ocean Tera, the Philippines), (2) Dr Mike Bell (Research Fellow at International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT) Heriot Watt University, UK), and (3) Dr Gayatri Reksodihardjo (Environmental NGO – Indonesia).

Day 3 was initiated with a session to Recapture, Reinforcement, and Q&A from the Day 1 sessions. Afterward, a Plenary Discussion with Mentors was conducted to discuss steps to prepare successful grant proposal. The participants were asked to continue in their respective ABCG grouping and develop a proposal outline, that should be presented before the workshop participants in a “Dragons’ Den”-style role play. A closing plenary discussion was held to conclude the workshop and provide the participating ECRs with the next steps to be taken after the workshop.

The workshop was successfully done, and we are now waiting for the proposals submitted by the ECRs for the Challenge Prizes.