Dr. Salman Alfarisy Totalia, S.Pd., M.Si., Vice Dean for Non-Academic Affairs, led the delegation from the UNS Graduate School. The delegation included several senior academics, Prof. Dr. Prabang Setyono, M.Si. and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Masykuri, M.Si. There were also Dr. Agung Hidayat, S.Pd., M.Sc., and Bambang Jatmika, S.Sos.

Ir. Ndan Imang, M.P., Ph.D., Director of the Graduate Program, led the event representing Mulawarman University. Dr. Sri Wahyuningsih, S.Si., M.Si., Vice Director I, and Dr. Ir. Henny Pagoray, M.Si., Vice Director II, attended the event. Coordinators of the Master’s and Doctoral Environmental Science Programs and the Master’s Program in Regional Planning also attended.

Collaboration Aims to Enhance Institutional Capacity

Ir. Ndan Imang, M.P., Ph.D., expressed his excitement about the new partnership. He called it a strategic step to strengthen the capacity of both institutions. “We commit to collaborating in Tri Dharma and learning from UNS. We will prepare Mulawarman University to transition into a State Higher Education Institution with Legal Entity Status (PTNBH),” he stated.

Dr. Salman Alfarisy Totalia emphasized that this collaboration would build upon an already existing partnership. It opens new opportunities for intensive cooperation in education, research, and community service. “As a multidisciplinary institution, we believe this collaboration will produce tangible benefits both for the institutions and for regional development,” he added.

Focus on Environmental Research and Regional Development

Prof. Dr. Prabang Setyono noted that both UNS and Mulawarman University share a similar approach to managing multidisciplinary study programs. He highlighted their focus on Environmental Science. “This collaboration holds immense potential, especially in the context of strategic environmental studies. It focuses on areas such as the management of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN),” he remarked.

Following the partnership agreement, both universities conducted a field visit to the Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST) 1. The site lies in the Central Government Core Area (KIPP) of IKN, Sepaku District, Penajam Paser Utara Regency. The visit aimed to observe modern waste management practices that authorities implement in the IKN area. Okky Dwi Filianto, the Site Operational Manager at TPST 1, welcomed the UNS and Mulawarman University teams. He explained that the site, with a capacity of 74 tons per day, had completed construction and was now ready for operation. “IKN is designed to be a green city, embracing modern waste management practices,” Okky said.

This collaboration aligns with several pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• Pillar 4 (Quality Education): Enhancing education and collaborative research.
• Pillar 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Supporting environmental management practices.
• Pillar 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Promoting sustainable development in IKN.
• Pillar 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Strengthening academic institutional governance.

This strategic partnership aims to develop exceptional human resources, stimulate impactful research, and strengthen academic contributions to sustainable development. The focus will be on East Kalimantan as a national strategic area.

HUMAS UNS

The post Strengthening Tri Dharma Collaboration: UNS Graduate School and Universitas Mulawarman Forge Strategic Partnership appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

Prof. Cahyono is now the 35th professor at the Faculty of Engineering and the 340th at UNS. His research focuses on river technology and water resource engineering.

The Importance of River Technology Research

In his speech, Prof. Cahyono emphasized that river characteristics vary due to several factors. These include water discharge, riverbed slope, aggradation, degradation, erosion, and sedimentation. These elements significantly impact flood control and water sustainability.

“Rivers play a crucial role in providing water for irrigation and controlling floods. Their flow characteristics directly influence ecological balance,” Prof. Cahyono stated.

When a river exceeds its flow capacity, it causes flooding that damages residential areas. Floodwaters transport sediment particles, which build up in certain sections and erode riverbanks and bridge foundations in others. As a result, infrastructure may collapse.

Challenges in River Technology

According to Prof. Cahyono, high flow velocity accelerates riverbed degradation. Illegal sand mining further worsens the situation by destabilizing river structures. Without proper assessment, river conditions will continue to deteriorate.

“To prevent further damage, river assessments are essential. These evaluations serve as the foundation for planning improvements and maintenance priorities. Levee construction and other preventive measures are crucial,” he added.

Prof. Cahyono also stressed the need for morphological studies and river performance assessments. These studies will help formulate recommendations for restoring damaged rivers.

Significant Research Contributions

Over the past 10 years, Prof. Cahyono and his research team have conducted extensive studies in three phases. Their findings have contributed to numerous national and international scientific publications.

This research aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation”. Clean and well-maintained rivers also support SDG number 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, particularly in disaster risk management and flood control.

Through his work, Prof. Cahyono continues to advance the science of river rehabilitation. His efforts help ensure that water resources remain sustainable for future generations.

HUMAS UNS

Reporter: Annisa

Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post FT UNS Welcomes New Professor in Water Resources Engineering and River Technology appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.