Three students from the Marine Science Study Program, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries (FIKP), Hasanuddin University, have been awarded international funding through the Rising Explorer Grant scheme, organised by The Explorers Club, a prestigious exploration institution based in New York City, United States.
The three students, Piamaemitatuljanna, Siti Lathifatul Aulia, and Kesya Ayumi Salsabila Rahman, are all from the Class of 2022. They proposed a research project valued at 25 million rupiah titled:
“Analysing Variations of Marine Plankton Shapes as a Form of Environmental Adaptation: A Case Study of the Pangkajene Islands.”
This study aims to analyse the variation of marine plankton as a form of adaptation to the environmental conditions of tropical waters. The research will be conducted in the Pangkajene Islands (Pangkep), South Sulawesi.
According to research mentor Ardyansyah Kahar, the project has been in development since August 2024. The initial research concept was finalised through collaborative discussions with several FIKP lecturers. The student team later received expert guidance from Prof. Rahmadi Tambaru, a renowned specialist in Marine Planktonology.
Ardyansyah explained that the research topic was relevant to the scientific background of the three students. Meanwhile, the selection of the research location was based on the richness of the marine ecosystem in this area.
“The sea in South Sulawesi has a vast area, and we chose the Pangkep area as the location for exploring the types of plankton that play an important role in the mechanism of the marine ecosystem,” he explained.
Plankton are important organisms in helping to reduce the impact of global warming in the sea. Unfortunately, most research on plankton is limited to identifying their species and abundance. It is important to conduct a comprehensive inventory, especially to find out whether Indonesia has the potential for new species that have not yet been identified.
In addition, the team aims to identify types of plankton with the potential to be developed into innovative products that could help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
“Several universities abroad have already begun this kind of research. So the question is, what about us in Indonesia, especially in the eastern region, which has vast marine potential?” said Ardyansyah, the research mentor.
This study is expected to lay the groundwork for the development and mapping of marine plankton diversity in the Pangkep area, which will later contribute to the strategic data collection of the Spermonde Region. The findings are anticipated to support future research, particularly in the field of marine conservation.
“For Unhas students, especially in FIKP, we hope that this program can be a trigger for the birth of a new generation that has a high enthusiasm for building our beloved campus through scientific work and meaningful research,” said Ardyansyah.
Representing the team, Piamaemitatuljanna expressed her gratitude for the trust through research grant funding. This support is a trigger for the team to carry out research more seriously and impact-oriented.
“Alhamdulillah, we are very grateful and enthusiastic for the trust given. This is a great motivation for us to carry out research more seriously and with impact,” said Pia.
Currently, the team is entering the technical planning stage before implementation in the field. They are focusing on developing the right methods so that the data collected has high validity, especially because the plankton that is the object of study plays a role as an indicator in the marine ecosystem.
“We hope that the field results will provide useful scientific contributions,” Pia explained.
Through this success, the grantees hope to inspire other students, especially in FIKP Unhas, to continue to develop research and contribute to globally beneficial marine science.
Editor : Ishaq Rahman
Translator: Kumara Tungga Dewa
