FMIPA UI Strengthens International Collaboration through SustainaBlue International Conference 2026

Depok, 28 October 2026 – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), supported the organization of the SustainaBlue International Conference 2026 , held on Monday, 26 October 2026, at the Prof. Dr. Ir. Soemantri Brodjonegoro Auditorium, FMIPA UI, Depok. Under the theme “Enhancing Marine Potential for Sustainable Futures”, this international conference was part of the SustainaBlue program, which aims to strengthen higher education institutions' capacities and promote the sustainable utilization of maritime resources.

SustainaBlue is a program funded by the Uni Eropa (European Union) through the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) scheme. The program involves a consortium of four universities in Indonesia and Malaysia: Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Through this collaboration, SustainaBlue seeks to bridge academic research outcomes with community needs, strengthen higher education curricula, and develop cross-border maritime research networks.

The conference was organized by the SustainaBlue Center at Universitas Indonesia under the coordination of Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Mufti Petala Patria, M.Sc., as Project Manager SustainaBlue Universitas Indonesia and Dr. Retno Lestari, M.Si., as Conference Coordinator. The event served as an initiative to bring together academics, researchers, and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, broaden perspectives, and promote the development of science-based innovations for sustainable marine resource management.

SustainaBlue International Conference 2026 attracted 169 participants, comprising 120 onsite attendees and 49 online participants. They represented diverse backgrounds, including companies, government ministries, universities, lecturers andresearchers), organisasi nonpemerintah (non-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations(NGOs), students, local fishermen, and media representatives. This diversity made the conference a platform for bringing together different perspectives and strengthening synergies among academia, government, industry, civil society organizations, and local communities in developing sustainable maritime potential.

In his opening remarks, Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dr. Tito Latif Indra, S.Si., M.Si., emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in encouraging higher education institutions to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development.

“The organization of this conference aligns with FMIPA UI's vision and mission to advance excellence in education, research, and community engagement while delivering tangible contributions to sustainable development. Through international collaboration and interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, we can promote the application of science and innovation to address various environmental challenges, particularly marine ecosystem conservation and maritime resource management. The involvement of diverse stakeholders, from academics to coastal communities, is also essential in developing science-based solutions that are relevant to community needs,” said Prof. Tito.

In line with this, Prof. Kesaven Bhubalan from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, as Project Coordinator SustainaBlue, also highlighted the importance of sustaining the collaborations established through the SustainaBlue program. He noted that the program had not only generated academic achievements but had also strengthened institutional relationships and opened up new opportunities for cooperation between partners in Europe and Asia.

“SustainaBlue represents a meaningful collaboration between partners from Europe and Asia, united by a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development, strengthening higher education, and promoting the principles of the blue economy. The knowledge, networks, and experiences gained through this project are expected to continue inspiring further collaboration and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient blue economy in the future,” said Prof. Kesaven Bhubalan.

The conference featured three main agenda sessions, beginning with the Keynote Speakersession. This session featured Dr. Mahawan Karuniasa from Universitas Indonesia, who discussed the blue economy approach; Dr. Monica Demetriou from the University of Cyprus, who explored marine ecosystem conservation amid climate change; and Prof. Kesaven Bhubalan from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), who presented innovations in marine biotechnology. The session was followed by SustainaBlue Dissemination, a forum in which the four partner universities presented the program's achievements and the progress of their research activities.

The third and final agenda was an Inspiration Talk entitled “Empowering Communities through Innovative Marine Initiatives”. The session featured Wingky Vikri Saputri from Divers Clean Action, Benedict Lim from the Malaysian Aquaculture Development Association, and Theodora Soulantika from Symplexis, Greece. Through this session, the speakers shared their perspectives on the importance of innovation and stakeholder engagement in promoting sustainable marine resource management. These approaches are expected to generate initiatives that not only support marine ecosystem conservation but also deliver tangible benefits to communities.

In addition to the international conference held on Monday, 26 October 2026, the SustainaBlue program continued with a Final Meeting on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. This final consortium meeting provided a platform for all institutional partners to evaluate the program's achievements, discuss the sustainability of research and educational collaborations, and formulate recommendations for sustainable marine resource management. Through this meeting, the partners also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing and further developing the outcomes and collaborative networks established throughout the program, even after the project's official funding period had ended.

FMIPA UI's support for the organization of the SustainaBlue International Conference 2026 and Final Meeting reflects the faculty's commitment to strengthening international academic networks and promoting the sustainability of maritime collaborations. Through these activities, FMIPA UI hopes that the knowledge, partnerships, and innovations developed through the program will continue to be advanced into tangible initiatives that contribute to marine ecosystem conservation and the sustainable management of maritime resources.