Researchers from the United Kingdom Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UK-CEH), Dr. Lindsay Banin and Dr. Beth Raine, visited the Office for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at the University of Bengkulu (Unib) on Friday (21/2/2025). The visit aimed to explore opportunities for cooperation and research collaboration between the two institutions.
The arrival of Dr. Lindsay Banin and Dr. Beth Raine was enthusiastically welcomed by the Head and the Secretary of LPPM Unib, Dr. Hery Suhartoyo and Prof. Arono, as well as researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture, such as Dr. Yansen, Maulana Insanul Kamil, M.Si, and Prof. Agus Susatya. Also present was Dr. Adityo Praktikno from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Unib, who currently serves as Head of the SDGs Center and RENPER Center Unib.
During the meeting, LPPM Unib presented various research activities and community service programs currently being implemented, including ecosystem restoration, climate change, watershed management, and community empowerment. From the discussion, a number of potential collaborations that could be developed with UK-CEH were identified.
In response to the presentation, Dr. Lindsay Banin and Dr. Beth Raine expressed their interest in collaborating with Unib researchers under the coordination of LPPM. UK-CEH even plans to invite and sponsor Maulana Insanul Kamil, M.Si, to participate in a short-term visiting stay program in Edinburgh in 2025, while also facilitating the preparation of a collaborative project plan for the future.
Dr. Yansen, one of the Unib researchers, explained that UK-CEH is a leading research institution based in Edinburgh, Scotland, that conducts research across various countries, with a focus on ecology, ecosystem restoration, and climate change. Various initiatives from the United Kingdom Government and independent institutions such as the Darwin Initiative and the Plant Vivo Foundation support their research.
(photo:ist/yansen)
Currently, UK-CEH is implementing a community-based ecosystem restoration project in Aceh and Bengkulu. In Bengkulu, the project is taking place in Air Tenam Village, Pino District, South Bengkulu Regency, in collaboration with KKI Warsi to initiate a community-based forest rehabilitation model. Several researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture, including Dr. Yansen, Maulana Insanul Kamil, M.Si, and Hefri Oktoyoki, M.Si, are also involved in assisting with the project.
“Maulana Insanul Kamil, Hefri Oktoyoki, M.Si, and I are involved in assisting with the student project in the forest rehabilitation area. In fact, yesterday, Maulana Insanul Kamil and I were also involved in evaluating the project, which has been running for two years,” said Dr. Yansen.
This collaborative meeting reflects LPPM Unib’s commitment to strengthening international networks and improving research quality through global cooperation, in line with Unib’s vision as an internationally competitive university. [Yansen | Editor: Purna Herawan | Public Relations 2]