Jakarta – The Head of the Master of Environmental Science Study Program, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Indonesia received an award for Research and Innovation at the 73rd Anniversary of the University of Indonesia with the award category “Best Community Service”.

The lack of clean water in some areas in Indonesia is one of the problems that needs to be addressed because it can cause an increase in stunting rates. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to build “Rainwater Harvesting” in several areas in Indonesia such as in North Jakarta, Labuan Bajo and Banten.

Dr. Hayati Sari Hasibuan, S.T., M.T. Chair of the Master of Environmental Science Study Program, School of Environmental Science (SIL), University of Indonesia, recently received an award for Research & Innovation at the 73rd Anniversary of the University of Indonesia with the award category “Best Community Service” for carrying out Rainwater Harvesting development activities in several areas including North Jakarta, Kalibaru, Labuan Bajo and several Islamic boarding schools funded by Unilever.

In addition to receiving an award from the University of Indonesia, Dr. Hayati Sari Hasibuan, S.T., M.T. has received International awards which include the Best Award in the category of “Urban Initiator” given by the MegaCities Short Documentary Film Festival and received the “Innovative Idea & Entrepreneurship” award given by the European Union Universities.

This year, the University of Indonesia School of Environmental Science (SIL) conducted community service by building Rainwater Harvesting in Labuan Bajo. This activity was participated by Prof. Dr. Ir. Setyo Sarwanto Moersidik DEA, Dr. Suyud Warno Utomo, and Dr. Ahyahudin Sodri, S.T., M.Sc. as lecturers of the School of Environmental Science (SIL). This activity also involved students and alumni of the School of Environmental Science (SIL).

“In addition to overcoming problems in the lack of environmental sanitation due to poor water quality and difficult water access, the construction of Rainwater Harvesting aims to educate the surrounding community that taking excessive groundwater can in the Labuan Bajo area will result in environmental disasters. The construction of Rainwater Harvesting can also be used as a solution and an easy alternative to be managed by local residents.” said Dr. Sari.

Dr. Sari plans to continue these development activities in the Banten area as she wants to address the high stunting rate caused by poor environmental sanitation by creating Rainwater Harvesting and Edible Garden activities in 2023.

(Writer: Shahnaz Zavira)