Transforming Indonesia and Australia with science and innovation

Australia and Indonesia to improve scientific collaboration

Australian and Indonesian scientists have come together in Canberra this week to encourage better scientific cooperation between the two countries.

Hosted at the Australian Academy of Science’s Shine Dome, the Australia-Indonesia Science Symposium will be attended by Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Dr Bambang P. S Brodjonegoro, Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning.

Indonesia is on track to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2050. It’s undergoing massive economic and social change. Poverty is falling, health is improving, the nation is urbanising. The nation is hungry for energy, health, water and food security. Its people are early adopters of new technologies from social media to big data.

Australian and Indonesian scientists are working together to find solutions for some of the most pressing challenges facing both nations in health, marine science and agriculture. The Symposium will also offer scientists an opportunity to look at the innovations that can arise from the use of big data and other disruptive technologies.

President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Andrew Holmes, said the Symposium would run over four days, and lead to enhanced collaboration and cooperation on innovative research.

“Leading researchers from both countries will start the Symposium by sharing their work, celebrating successful joint 

projects between scientists in Australia and Indonesia,” Professor Holmes said.

Highlights of the four-day symposium include:

• A new drought-tolerant sugar cane for Indonesian farmers (Professor Bambang Sugiharto, Universitas Jember)
• Golden bananas and other crops to reduce vitamin deficiencies (Professor James Dale, Queensland University of Technology)
• What do the people want? Harvesting social media to inform policy (Diastika Rahwidiati, Pulse Lab Jakarta)
• Managing Indonesia’s coral reefs (Professor Jamaluddin Jompa, Universitas Hasanuddin)
• The future of mangroves—and why they’re essential for fisheries and coastal health (Professor Catherine Lovelock, University of Queensland)
• Breeding mosquitoes to fight dengue (Professor Adi Utarini, Universitas Gadjah Mada)
• Why is it hard to acquire immunity to malaria, and what does that mean for vaccine development? (Dr Diana Hansen, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

Professor Holmes said the Symposium would build on these successes and provide opportunities to discuss career pathways in science and the challenges in linking science to policy.

“There will also be workshops and opportunities for Australian early- and mid-career researchers to establish working relationships with their Indonesian counterparts.”

“By supporting this work, we can move forward together to achieve great results for research in Australia and Indonesia.”

Professor Holmes said the event was a culmination of the hard work of the Australian Academy of Science, the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, the Australian Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum, and the Indonesian Young Academy of Science. The event is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Knowledge Sector Initiative.

Full program and more speakers atwww.ksi-indonesia.org/aiss/agenda

Scientists from Australia and Indonesia will be available for interview throughout the event. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

• Toni Stevens on +61 401 763 130, (03) 9398 1416, or toni@scienceinpublic.com.au
• Michelle Kovacevic on +61 439 444 762.