FMIPA UI Conducts Community Service in Seribu Islands: Monitoring the Dynamics of Coastal Landforms on Harapan Island and Surrounding Areas

The Department of Geography at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), carried out a community service activity titled “Monitoring Coastal Landform Dynamics in Harapan Island and Surrounding Areas.” The activity took place on May 17–18, 2025, and was held on Harapan Island, Thousand Islands. Ask ChatGPT

Led by Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si., and accompanied by Dr. Ir. Idwan Suhardi, Ph.D., this activity involved lecturers and students in monitoring changes in coastal landforms in the Harapan Island coastal area and its surroundings. The main goal of this program is to provide scientific contributions to the community and to enhance students’ understanding of coastal environmental dynamics.

"We want students to understand that coastal areas are not just tourist destinations, but also complex and dynamic living spaces that require science-based management. Hopefully, they will not only become skilled spatial analysts, but also be sensitive to the social and environmental challenges in coastal regions," said Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si., as the head of the activity.

Dr. Idwan Suhardi, Ph.D., lecturer of the Coastal Landform Dynamics course, emphasized the importance of student involvement in data-driven real-world actions. “This is not just a field practice, but also an effort to build a bridge between the academic world and the needs of coastal communities,” he stated.

Over the course of two days, students conducted direct observations on five islands: Harapan Island, Kelapa Island, Bira Besar Island, Bulat Island, and Dolphin Island. These islands were selected because they represent the diversity of coastal landforms and the various ways local communities utilize space. Observations were carried out through shoreline mapping, substrate type identification, and documentation of the islands’ physical conditions.

One of the key moments in this activity was the presentation session of the monitoring results held on Kelapa Island. Students shared their findings with the local community, including Mr. Mustar, Head of RW 02 Kelapa Island, who attended on behalf of the Village Head of Kelapa Island. “The presence of UI students and lecturers has opened a space for dialogue between academics and residents. We hope the outcomes of this activity can support better coastal environmental management,” he said.

This activity also provided preliminary data that can be used by the Administrative Regency Government of the Thousand Islands in coastal area planning, including conservation, disaster mitigation, and sustainable development. The active involvement of the UI academic community represents a tangible realization of the Three Pillars of Higher Education—education, research, and community service.

Annisa Dewi Al Eddy, one of the participating students, shared her experience, saying, “Through this activity, I learned that coastal landforms are not merely spatial phenomena, but are also greatly influenced by the temporal and social contexts of the local community.”

This activity represents UI's active contribution to environmental issues and sustainable development, particularly in coastal areas and small islands in Indonesia.