FIKP UNHAS Hosts Guest Lecture on Marine Ecosystem Monitoring & Biodiversity Mapping
The Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries (FIKP) at Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) successfully hosted a guest lecture titled “Marine Ecosystem Monitoring & Biodiversity Mapping” on 5 August 2025, attracting around 50 participants, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, as well as lecturers.
The first speaker, Emma Novak, a PhD candidate from Victoria University of Wellington, delivered a lecture titled “Exploring the Depths: Sharks, Sponges, and Marine Community Mapping at Hoga Island, Wakatobi.” She presented findings from her ongoing collaborative research with FIKP UNHAS, offering insights into reef predators, sponge dominance, and photogrammetry-based ecosystem mapping. Ms. Novak had just completed her field sampling in Hoga Island, Wakatobi, prior to her visit to UNHAS.
The second speaker, Dr. Jon Chamberlain from the University of Essex (UK), presented “Scalable Solutions for Monitoring Ecosystem Change.” He discussed methodologies and challenges in monitoring marine ecosystems, highlighting the use of scalable technologies to track changes across different spatial scales. Dr. Chamberlain is also the lead scientist for Operation Wallacea Indonesia and has been conducting research in Hoga since 2010.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in parallel Q&A sessions with both speakers, moderated by Dr. Jamaluddin F.A. These interactive discussions explored technological tools, fieldwork logistics, and opportunities for future collaborative research, fostering valuable academic exchanges between students, faculty, and the guest experts.
After the lecture and a group photo, the focus shifted to a significant ceremonial moment: the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNHAS and the University of Essex.
The MoU signing took place at the Rectorate Building, 6th floor, and was presided over by Prof. Dr. Eng. Adi Maulana, S.T., M.Phil., Vice-Rector for Partnership, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Business at UNHAS; Ansariadi, S.K.M., M.Sc., Ph.D., Director of Partnerships at UNHAS; and Dr. Eng. Zulkifli Tahir, S.T., M.Sc., Head of the Subdirectorate for International Partnerships.
The agreement formalizes academic collaboration between the two universities, covering joint research initiatives, student and faculty exchanges, and shared academic programming, with a strong focus on marine science and environmental monitoring. This event underscores FIKP UNHAS’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and providing its academic community with access to global expertise, particularly in the fields of marine ecosystem research and advanced monitoring technologies.
The guest lecture and MoU signing mark a significant step forward in UNHAS’s international engagement, paving the way for cross-institutional learning, innovation, and sustainable marine research in Indonesia and beyond.