The seismic research discussion took place at TDMRC USK
A cross-institutional meeting opens new opportunities for scientific collaboration, income-generating initiatives, and the acceleration of Master’s and Doctoral programs in Disaster Science at ITS.
Banda Aceh, 22 May 2026 – The Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) has become an important partner in strengthening disaster research and academic collaboration between Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS). Through a series of strategic meetings, both institutions explored broader opportunities to develop joint research, academic programs, and institutional partnerships in the fields of earth sciences, seismology, infrastructure, and disaster studies.
This cross-institutional engagement brought together researchers, academics, and university leaders with a shared commitment to advancing disaster science in Indonesia. The discussion highlighted the strategic role of TDMRC USK as a center with extensive experience in disaster research, education, and mitigation, particularly in supporting knowledge development on earthquakes, tsunamis, and disaster risk reduction.
The meeting also served as a platform for ITS to learn from USK’s experience in developing disaster-related academic programs and research ecosystems. TDMRC USK was recognized as an important institutional model, particularly for its contribution to disaster knowledge, capacity building, and applied research that connects scientific work with real-world disaster preparedness and mitigation.
Several key members were involved in the discussion, including Dr. Dwa Desa Warnana and Dr. Kadek from ITS, and Dr. Andrean Simanjuntak, a Postdoctoral Researcher at ITS and a staff member of BMKG Balai Medan. Their participation strengthened the technical depth of the meeting, especially in seismic data analysis, artificial intelligence applications, and active fault monitoring.
The technical discussion focused on several major research agendas. These included the use of available earthquake data in scientific publications, the application of artificial intelligence to advanced seismic data analysis, and future plans for earthquake monitoring and active fault identification systems in East Java. The use of AI in seismic analysis is considered highly relevant for accelerating scientific understanding of earthquake dynamics in Indonesia, a country located in one of the world’s most complex tectonic regions.
In addition to earthquake research, USK and ITS also explored potential joint studies to support infrastructure development in Sumatra. This area of collaboration is expected to contribute not only to scientific advancement but also to policy recommendations for safer, more resilient, and sustainable infrastructure development. By combining expertise in engineering, earth sciences, and disaster studies, both institutions aim to produce research that has direct benefits for national development and disaster risk reduction.
The ITS team also visit to the Vice Rector IV for Partnerships of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK)
The discussion also involved the Vice Rector IV of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), further strengthening the institutional dimension of the collaboration. During this session, both parties explored opportunities to develop more structured partnership models that could generate income for the universities. This agenda reflects a shared commitment to building collaborations that are not only academically meaningful but also sustainable and beneficial for institutional development.
One of the most strategic outcomes of the meeting was the discussion on the planned establishment of Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Disaster Science at ITS. ITS expressed strong interest in learning from USK’s experience, particularly because USK has already developed and implemented similar academic programs. Through this exchange, USK shared procedural steps, institutional experiences, challenges, and best practices related to accreditation, curriculum development, and academic management in disaster studies.
In this context, the role of TDMRC USK is especially important. As a research center with a strong track record in disaster-related studies, TDMRC provides valuable insight into how disaster science can be developed through an integrated approach involving research, education, field experience, and community engagement. This experience is expected to help ITS accelerate the preparation and establishment of its future graduate programs in Disaster Science.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of strengthening human resource capacity in the field of disaster studies. Indonesia’s high exposure to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, floods, landslides, and other hazards requires universities to play a stronger role in producing experts, researchers, and practitioners who are capable of responding to complex disaster challenges. Through this collaboration, USK and ITS aim to contribute to the development of a stronger national disaster knowledge ecosystem.
