REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Research, Technology, and Higher Education Ministry is collaborating with the UK Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy through the Newton Fund-funded three studies in the field of hydrometeorology for the 2019-2021 period. Newton Fund, in partnership with the Ministry, is committed to funding international-scale collaborative research that can contribute positively, both socially and economically.

"There are three elected proposals jointly funded, with a total fund of Rp31 billion over a period of three years," Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir stated at the launching of the research cooperation here on Thursday.

The three studies were selected from 23 research proposals assessed by the Indonesian and British parties. The selection process for research is conducted in an open, transparent, and competitive manner.

Nasir remarked that under the research collaboration, Indonesian and British scientists will collaborate in high-standard research that aims to produce a breakthrough in the field of disaster intervention, especially in understanding the impacts of land- and water-related disasters. Results of the collaboration will increase Indonesia's resilience and readiness to deal with climate change, including through effective disaster policy and communication interventions.

Of the three selected research projects, the first is a research titled "Mitigating hydro meteorological hazard impacts through trans-boundary river management in the Ciliwung River basin." The research is aimed at improving the management of the Ciliwung river body and public awareness of the threat of flooding.

The main researcher from Indonesia is Harkunti Rahayu from the Bandung Institute of Technology, while Richard Haigh from the University of Huddersfield is the main researcher from England.

The second research, titled "Java Flood One," aims to improve medium-term flood forecasts in several cities in Java, including Jakarta, Bandung, and Surakarta. The main researcher from Indonesia is Agus Mochamad Ramdhan from the Bandung Institute of Technology and Simon Mathias from Durham University is the main researcher from England.

The third research, titled "Extreme rainfall and its effects on flood risk in Indonesia," aims to identify the main causes of flooding in Indonesia and the main strategies that can mitigate disaster risk. Suroso from Jenderal Sudirman University is Indonesia's main researcher, while Chris Kilsby from Newcastle University is the main researcher from England.

Meanwhile, British Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN, and Timor Leste Moazzam Malik stated that international collaboration and funding commitments will have a significant social and economic impact. He remarked that the United Kingdom had contributed 87 percent of the total funding of Rp31 billion to fund the three researches.

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