Group photo session with acting U.S. ambassador Michael F. Kleine
Banda Aceh – Acting Ambassador of the United States of America to Indonesia, His Excellency Mr. Michael F. Kleine, paid a working visit to Aceh on February 27, 2024. This visit was part of a discussion on developing cooperation of the U.S. with Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK). The Acting Ambassador held a courtesy visit to the Rector of USK, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan, IPU. The Ambassador was also accompanied by The Principal Officer of the U.S. Consulate in Medan, His Excellency Mr. Bernard Uadan. The Rector of USK welcome the Ambassador and the delegates and appreciated their visit to USK as the oldest university in Aceh Province. Prof. Marwan mentioned that USK has received many supports from the U.S. partners, including the construction of one academic building at Faculty of Teacher Training (FKIP). Furthermore, USK researchers have conducted many collaborations with the U.S. Universities in recent years, such as University of Colorado, University of Rhodes Island, UC Davis, Oberlin, Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Pittsburgh. The Ambassador also appreciated the collaborations between USK and many institutions from the U.S. In addition, in the context of the 20 years commemoration of the 2004 Aceh Tsunami which will fall this year, the U.S. Ambassador also took the time to visit the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) facilities.
This visit is expected to strengthen collaborations between the United States and Indonesia in disaster mitigation efforts and to provide support for Aceh in continue long-term disaster recovery process while still maintaining the memory of the tragic Tsunami 20 years ago. During the visit to TDMRC, His Excellency Ambassador of the U.S, the USK rector and his entourage were welcomed by the Director of TDMRC, Prof. Syamsidik and the TDMRC research team. TDMRC facilities visited by the delegates wer the Tsunami-Wave Flume Laboratory, Shaking Table Laboratory and Real-Time Earthquake Observation Laboratory. “Hopefully this visit can produce concrete steps to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of disaster mitigation and provide meaningful support, especially for TDMRC in the post- disaster reconciliation and development process,” explained Prof. Syamsidik in a separate interview.
The Director of TDMRC also explained to the Ambassador a series of events to be conducted to commemorate the 20 years of the 2004 Aceh tsunami. Among the activities are a long-term disaster recovery assessment, the 16 th Aceh International Workshop and Expo on Sustainable Tsunami Disaster Recovery (AIWEST-DR 2024), International Seminar Series, National Tsunami Symposium, and a number of trainings for students and staffs. TDMRC of USK open itself if any parties are interested to collaborate in the events. At the end of the US Ambassador visit, mementos were exhcanged between TDMRC and the U.S. Ambassador.
The handover of souvenirs
Visiting earthquake observation laboratory
Visiting tsunami flume laboratory
Visiting shaking table laboratory
