Researchers advised to turn to sponsors
Researchers advised to turn to sponsors
JAKARTA (JP): Local scientists have been advised to seek additional donors for research funding if they want the public to be aware of and benefit from their studies.
Samaun Samadikun, former head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said scientists have to be more active in conducting and promoting their studies.
Speaking last week at a presentation by students of marine sciences on the results of their recent survey of coral reefs around the Tukangbesi Islands, east of Sulawesi, Samaun stressed the need to join hands with new financial sources.
The students, all members of the Bogor Agricultural University's Fisheries Diving Club, held the presentation in conjunction with Operation Wallacea, their conservation-oriented expedition to be held in June.
The operation members plan to publish a book documenting bird and coral reef varieties on the Buton and Tukangbesi Islands.
The Fisheries Diving Club carried out a study last August on coral reefs around Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Togian and Binongko Islands, which are said to be among the richest coral reef areas in the country.
Abdul Halim, the survey team's leader, said that at a depth of three meters, coral coverage ranged between 45 and 96 percent. Such numbers, he said, were a sign that the communities were in "good" to "very good" condition and still with a fairly high level of species diversity.
Results of the two-week survey, which was conducted with the help of sponsors such as the World Wide Fund for Nature and the local government, however, were not widely published.
"If you have a scientific task like this, you should not let it go unnoticed. If you intend to tell the public that there is great touristic potential in that area, for example, you should seek good, reliable sponsors to do so," said Ibnu Sutowo, Chairman of the Wallacea Development Institute.
He cited that Ecosurveys Ltd., an environmental organization involved in Operation Wallacea, is seeking financial help from Hongkong Bank and other concerned businesses.(pwn)