The Role of Science and Technology in Climate Change and Natural Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation

The International Fulbright Symposium on Science and Technology entitled “The Role of Science and Technology in Climate Change and Natural Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation” was successfully held in Jakarta with some 150 in the audience on September 4-6, 2012.  The symposium was organized by the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) in partnership with the Republic of Indonesia Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) as one of the major activities related to the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Fulbright program in Indonesia and 20th Anniversary of AMINEF. 

Background

Scientific discussions on the nature and causes underlying the climate change and natural disasters have intensified recently. The United Nation’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] was formed to provide an assessment of global climate change. IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report released in 2007 linked the warming over the past 30 years, approximately 0.7 C to anthropogenic green house gases, particularly CO2. At the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries have been debating possible carbon emission targets to minimize future adverse impact of changing climate on human societies. Beyond all these efforts, the role of science and technology for climate change mitigation and adaptation is an important topic for the scientists, the technologists, and other experts especially for those who pay heed in this global issue.

On the other hand, natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, extreme weather occur more frequently; and claim significant numbers of loss and fatalities. [Geneve, 2011] There is a need for the support of science and technology for disaster risk reduction.  Disaster risk reduction is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and reduce the causal factors of disasters. The need is for the support of science and technology for reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability of people and property, management of land and the environment, and for improving preparedness for adverse events.

The purpose of this international Fulbright Symposium is, therefore, to initiate discussions on science and technology from various perspectives in relation to global warming and natural disasters. The aim is to build a movement, a network of scientists, technologist, economists, policymakers, elected representatives and concerned citizens who believe in sound science and technology policy options. The primary goal is to identify the role of Science and Technology for the climate change and natural disaster mitigation and adaptation which are of international and domestic concerns.

Opening Remarks

The symposium was officially opened at the BPPT auditorium on Tuesday, September 4 morning with welcoming remarks by Dr. Ridwan Djamaluddin, Deputy Chairperson for Technology of Natural Resources representing BPPT Chairperson,  U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Kristen Bauer, and Dr. Idwan Suhardi, Deputy for Science and Technology Enhanced Utilization representing Minister of Research and Technology.

Keynote Speakers

Two keynote speakers took to the stage to present their views on the major theme of the symposium.  Dr. Brian Atwater who is  professor and geologist affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Department of Earth and Space Sciences of the University of Washington spoke about ‘Sea Level Rise:  Melting of Glaciers, Thermal Expansion of the Sea, Lowering of Land from Groundwater Withdrawal, and Other Land-level Changes.  The sea-level umbrella covers lots of ideas of broad interest. Some go back far enough into prehistory to serve as long-term perspective, while others are more “dangerous” as pressing modern problems.  Since the tsunami devastating the northern part of Sumatera and other countries in the region in 2004, he has assisted scientists from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand in searching their coastal geology for clues to the frequency and coastwise extent of damaging tsunamis.  He has done extensive research on ancient tsunami finding its deposits at Sunda Strait, southern Java, the Khao Lak area of Thailand, India’s Bay of Bengal coast south of Chennai, and India’s Arabian Sea coast facing the Makran subduction zone.

Dr. Indroyono Soesilo, a renowned geologist who is currently Deputy Senior Minister to the Coordinating Ministry for People’s Welfare responsible for ensuring sound and effective coordination and program synchronization of 12 Ministries and Agencies that manage issues and administration activities related to, among others, the environment and natural disaster spoke about  “Disaster and Climate Change:  The Global Challenge for Indonesia,” which elaborated the following impacts of global climate change for Indonesia: (1) as climate change increases ocean temperatures, initially at the surface and over centuries at depth, the water will expand, contributing to sea level rise due to thermal expansion. The sea level rise subsequently will lead to the submergence of small islands or low-land areas in Indonesia;  (2) global warming produces various new diseases and needs to be adapted. Other effect of global warming includes the ranges of disease vectors. Infectious diseases may arise as global shifts in temperature and precipitation transform ecosystems; (3) climate variability such as El-Nino and La Nina generated from the Indonesian waters and oceans. The increased intensity and frequency of El Niño and La Niña events is due to warmer ocean temperatures such as in Southeast Asia particularly Indonesia resulting from global warming.  Higher global temperatures might be increasing evaporation from land and adding moisture to the air, thus intensifying the storms and floods associated with El Niño and La Nina; and (4) Indonesia’s mega biodiversity contributes to the sustainability of the planet.  Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity. A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.  Dr. Soesilo has a very detailed knowledge of the position of Indonesia as one of the two lungs of the world beside Brazil.

Symposium (first day)

After lunch, the participants were broken into two groups dicussing major topics on “The Economic of Climate Change and Social Participation” with the following speakers:  Dr. Rony M. Bishry from BPPT, Dr. Agus Pratama Sari of the President’s office, Dr. Saiful Mahdi of Syiah Kuala University, Ms. Rini Hidayati (co-author with Perdinan, Rizaldi Boer, kiki Kartikasari, Bambang Dwi Dasanto, and Diva Oktaviariani), and Dr. I.G. Mertha (co-author with Prof. Suhubdy),  The session was moderated by Dr. Mark R. Doyle, Science and Technology Advisor of USAID Jakarta.

The second group which was moderated by Dr. Wahyu W. Pandoe of BPPT had the following major topic to discuss: “Disaster Mitigation and Risk Reduction.”   The speakers were Dr. Danny Hilman Nata Widjaja of the Indonesia Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Dr. Tri Handoko Seto (with Dr. Halda A. Belgaman) of BPPT, Dr. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho of BPPT, Prof. Ron Harris of Brigham Young University (represented by Ms. Nova Roosmawati), and Dr. Iwan Tejakusuma of BPPT.

Media Conference

At the end of the first day of the symposium, a Media Conference was held with a panel of four comprising Dr. Ridwan Djamaluddin, Dr. Brian Atwater, Dr. David McKinnie of NOAA, and Mr. Michael E. McCoy as AMINEF Executive Director with an editor of Kompas national daily newspaper as the moderator.   It was revealed during the conference that social scientists, anthropologists and sociologists, need also be involved in creating awareness among the populace about climate change and disaster mitigation and also to ensure that they are involved in ways to create awareness of the public about the safe keeping of the natural disaster monitoring devices and system.

Dinner and Music Performance of Fulbrighter Marusya Nainggolan

Dinner was served afterwards in the accompaniment of a music performance led by Fulbright alumna Marusya Nainggolan, a renowned composer and pianist, playing the following three tunes that she composed during her Fulbright master’s degree program in music composition at Boston University and on her return to Indonesia: (1) Minuet @ Trio – solo piano;  it was composed when she was a Fulbright student grantee;  (2) Awan – piano and percussion commemmorating the devastating tragedy happening in Bali, Jakarta, and Aceh a few years ago.  It shows her concern about and her empathey towards the victims, her fellow human beings; and (3) Calon Arang – composition created for chamber music and movement with 2 Balinese dancers and music instruments, and 4 musicians.

Symposium (second day)

The second day of the symposium had two separate parallel sessions.  The first session on “Mitigation and Adaptation of Climate Change and Sustainable Development,” was moderated by Dr. M. Evri of BPPT.  The speakers were Dr. Edvin Aldrian of BPPT, Prof. Kardono of BPPT, Dr. Iskhaq Iskandar (co-author with Muhammad Irfan, Pradanto Poerwono, Fadli Syamsuddin and Manabu D. Yamanaka), Prof. Suhubdy, Dr. Sudirman (co-author with Prof. Suhubdy), Dr. Arinafril, Dr. Yeni A. Mulyani (co-author with Noor F. Haneda).

The second session on “Adaptation in Disaster Management and National Strategy” was moderated by Dr. Dillon M. Green, Science and Technology Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.    The speakers were Prof. Dwikorita Karnawati of Gadjah Mada University, Dr. Fadli Syamsuddin of BPPT, Dr. Wahyu W. Pandoe of BPPT, Mr. Arif Arham of the Aceh Provincial Government, Dr. Ichsan of Malikussaleh University, Mr. Faisar Jihadi of Output Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Nias Islands Transition Project, and Dr. Rahmawati Husein of Muhammadiyah University in Yogyakarta.

Eleven of the 24 paper presenters are Fulbright program alumni, and four of them are alumni of the Fulbright Tsunami Relief Initiative program which was supported by the Bush Clinton Foundation in response to the devastating tsunami in Aceh / northern part of Sumatera in 2004.

Symposium (third day)

On the third day of the symposium, the event was conducted in the @america American Cultural Center, the high tech facility of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.  The event which was attended by some 200 high school students was moderated by Mr. Michael E. McCoy of AMINEF and the speakers are Ms. Irina Rafliana, Coordinator, National Priority Program on Environment and Disaster Management of Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and Ms. Widiatmini Sih Winanti of BPPT who is also Coordinator the FIRM Program (Facilitating the Implementation of Readiness for Mitigation), NCCC-UNEP and Secretary of Technology Transfer Working Group, National Council on Climate Change of Indonesia.  The objective of the session is to create awareness among the younger generation about global climate change and disaster mitigation, as well as to show them practical steps they could take to save the earth and be prepared for any possible disaster in the future.

Radio Talkshow Prior to the Event

On September 3, a day prior to the symposium, the Radio Republic of Indonesia interviewed live for 30 minutes the Organizing Committee (OC) represented by its Chairperson, Dr. Udrekh who is concurrently Marine Geoscientist at the BPPT Directorate of Land, Region, and Disaster Mitigation Technology, and Piet Hendrardjo, Deputy Executive Director of AMINEF.  It was an interactive radio talk show, and there were questions from the listerners that OC representatives responded.

Last Updated: Oct 12, 2016 @ 6:06 am
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