Researchers advised to turn to sponsors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Local scientists have been advised to seek
\nadditional donors for research funding if they want the public to
\nbe aware of and benefit from their studies.<\/p>\n
Samaun Samadikun, former head of the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences (LIPI), said scientists have to be more active in
\nconducting and promoting their studies.<\/p>\n
Speaking last week at a presentation by students of marine
\nsciences on the results of their recent survey of coral reefs
\naround the Tukangbesi Islands, east of Sulawesi, Samaun stressed
\nthe need to join hands with new financial sources.<\/p>\n
The students, all members of the Bogor Agricultural
\nUniversity's Fisheries Diving Club, held the presentation in
\nconjunction with Operation Wallacea, their conservation-oriented
\nexpedition to be held in June.<\/p>\n
The operation members plan to publish a book documenting bird
\nand coral reef varieties on the Buton and Tukangbesi Islands.<\/p>\n
The Fisheries Diving Club carried out a study last August on
\ncoral reefs around Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Togian and Binongko
\nIslands, which are said to be among the richest coral reef areas
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
Abdul Halim, the survey team's leader, said that at a depth of
\nthree meters, coral coverage ranged between 45 and 96 percent.
\nSuch numbers, he said, were a sign that the communities were in
\n\"good\" to \"very good\" condition and still with a fairly high
\nlevel of species diversity.<\/p>\n
Results of the two-week survey, which was conducted with the
\nhelp of sponsors such as the World Wide Fund for Nature and the
\nlocal government, however, were not widely published.<\/p>\n
\"If you have a scientific task like this, you should not let
\nit go unnoticed. If you intend to tell the public that there is
\ngreat touristic potential in that area, for example, you should
\nseek good, reliable sponsors to do so,\" said Ibnu Sutowo,
\nChairman of the Wallacea Development Institute.<\/p>\n
He cited that Ecosurveys Ltd., an environmental organization
\ninvolved in Operation Wallacea, is seeking financial help from
\nHongkong Bank and other concerned businesses.(pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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