Hokkaido Indonesian Student Association Scientific Meeting (HISAS) back for its 17th annual event

Bringing together international students and researchers from different countries, the 17^th Hokkaido Indonesian Student Association Scientific Meeting (HISAS) was successfully held on June 11, 2022. The 17^th annual meeting was its first online event and a revival after a 2-year-long halt due to the pandemic.

HISAS 17 Executive Committee members

HISAS is organized by Indonesian Student Association of Hokkaido (PPI-H) which provides a platform where students from different universities gather to learn together. Experienced researchers were invited as speakers, sharing their insights and research activities. The session was later followed by the paper and poster presentations by the participating university students. The students’ presentations were graded by expert judges based on a set of assessment criteria.

This year’s HISAS’s theme is “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-based research to support Indonesia into an Advanced Nation by 2045” owing to Hokkaido University’s first position in Japan according to Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022, claimed Reza Kusuma Nurrohman, the General Chairman of HISAS 17. Although the theme focused on Japan-Indonesia bilateral relations, the participation was open to all nations. In total there were 90 registered participants, 28 of which were presenters from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.

Three opening speeches were respectively delivered by Shigeru Nakayama (Honorary Consul of the Republic Indonesia in Sapporo), Professor Atsushi Yokota (Vice President of Hokkaido University), and Ir. H. Heri Akhmadi (Ambassador of Republic Indonesia to Japan).

(From top left, clockwise) Shigeru Nakayama, Professor Atsushi Yokota, Professor Yusli Wardiatmo, and Ir. H. Heri Akhmadi (Picture provided by HISAS 17)

Prof. Yokota introduced Hokkaido University’s SDGs-related achievements, and also presented a set of statistics proving the long-term collaborations between Indonesia and Japan. “These data show that agriculture and biotechnology, earth planetary sciences, and environmental earth sciences have the highest potentials for future joint academic ventures. I hope we can establish more work together with Indonesian universities.”

The event culminated in the evening when the best presenters were announced. Yen Yen Ari Indrawijaya (Institut Teknologi Bandung and Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesia) and Saffanah Binti Mohd Ab Azid (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia) were crowned as the best poster and the best paper presenters, respectively, and both received e-certificates and prizes from HISAS. The evening was concluded by a closing speech from Prof. Yusli Wardiatmo (Educational and Cultural Attaché, Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo).

“Amidst our academic activities as university students, we (PPI-H) have put our highest effort in making HISAS 17 happen. Our main purpose is to establish a proper international scientific forum for everyone without exception, linked by SDGs for a better future,” said Reza. “Participants were so enthusiastic that some even asked to attend HISAS on-site. Despite the difficulties, the event was a success.”

Written by Aprilia Agatha Gunawan