The Vice President Supports the Indonesian Academy of Young Scientists in Various Fields

Jakarta, wapresri.go.id – Science and technology are the main keys to the advancement of a nation. Thus, the great hope of the Indonesian people is pinned on the shoulders of scientists through the contribution of their thoughts in all fields for policy making. For this reason, scientists, including young scientists who are members of the Indonesian Academy of Young Scientists (ALMI), need to be given a bigger and more precise role.

“Indonesia has abundant natural resources, has large human resources. However, it does require science and technology to accelerate this potential to become something of a major strength. That is the role of the scientist. Because of that, I really support so that these scientists are played even bigger and more precisely,” said Vice President (VP) K.H. Ma’ruf Amin in his meeting with the Chair of ALMI Sri Fatmawati and Members of the ALMI Science and Policy Working Group Yessie Widya Sari, at the Vice President’s Official Residence, Jalan Diponegoro Number 2, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (11/15/2022).

Furthermore, the VP exemplified the strategic progress of scientists during overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic. Through a science-based approach, continued the VP, the government was able to take a number of anticipatory steps and policies which were then considered appropriate in controlling the pandemic and its impacts.

“Everything in determining policy must be based on science and knowledge that has been shown in overcoming the pandemic. That is also the approach with science, so we can control it properly, “he stated.

According to the VP, the progress of Indonesian scientists is actually very wide open in various fields. For example, the VP encouraged scientists to prepare appropriate concepts in dealing with energy crises, food crises and financial crises, including regulatory aspects.

“We are now facing an energy crisis, a food crisis, and a financial crisis. We have to have the right concepts to deal with it,” explained the VP while emphasizing the importance of anticipatory steps.

On the same occasion, the VP also mentioned sectors that ALMI could work on in the framework of supporting government programs, namely extreme poverty, stunting, bureaucratic reform, sharia economic and financial development, and accelerating the development of Papua.

Specifically for Papua, the VP expects the contribution of ALMI’s thoughts in the framework of streamlining the implementation of the new Province of Papua policy, which has currently formed 3 new autonomous regions (DOB) in Papua.

“We want these new autonomous regions to become a game changer for the settlement of Papua. The concept is how to make this role effective, both from the welfare and security aspects,” he hoped.

To realize all of these efforts, the VP asked ALMI to strengthen its collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), relevant ministries/institutions, as well as various existing scientific institutions in formulating innovative ideas.

“I hope that later there will be a collaboration between ALMI and BRIN, with other scientific institutions, the coordinating ministry will develop ideas,” he concluded.

Previously, the Chair of ALMI Sri Fatmawati reported the readiness of ALMI, as an organization of leading young scientists in Indonesia under the auspices of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) and formed based on Presidential Decree Number 9 of 2016 on February 29, 2016, to accept a more concrete role in supporting the government.

With the strength of the ALMI network at home and abroad which reaches more than 1,000 scientists under 45 years of age from various multidisciplinary disciplines, and across nearly 22 provinces and various countries, she believes ALMI’s potential is enormous to be utilized for the advancement of the Indonesian nation.

“These scientists have enormous potential and can become a driving force for Indonesia’s future. We see that this has great potential. Hopefully, this can contribute to the government,” said Sri Fatmawati.

Member of the ALMI Science and Policy Working Group Yessie Widya Sari made a similar commitment and is optimistic that ALMI will be able to partner with the government in issuing data-based policies.

“We are looking for our position as young scientists, how can we contribute to being able to produce recommendations for the government, so that the government can produce data-based policies,” said Yessie.

Accompanying the VP on this occasion were, Head of the Vice President’s Secretariat Ahmad Erani Yustika, Deputy for Human Development Policy Support and Equitable Development Suprayoga Hadi, Deputy for Government Policy Support and Nationalism Outlook Velix Vernando Wanggai, and Special Staff for the VP for Communication and Information Masduki Baidlowi. (NN/LHS, BPMI-Setwapres)