The Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Indonesia (UI), held an open seminar titled UI Geoscience Seminar (UIGS) x Starborn Mengajar 2025 on Monday afternoon (May 19), at the Prof. Dr. G.A. Siwabessy Hall, FMIPA UI, Depok. The seminar carried the theme “Geoscience in Oil and Gas Industry” and featured Muhajir, Senior Geoscientist from Pertamina Hulu Energi as the keynote speaker.
The event successfully attracted the enthusiasm of dozens of students and lecturers who attended to gain firsthand insights from a senior industry practitioner. Opened by Agus Riyanto, M.T., a lecturer from the Geophysics Study Program (Prodi) at FMIPA UI who also served as the moderator, the seminar became a space for interaction between the academic world and professionals.
“This seminar is important to broaden students’ perspectives that geoscience is not just about rocks, but about how we take care of the Earth and build a sustainable energy future,” concluded Agus Riyanto.
In his presentation, Muhajir emphasized that the role of geoscientists is highly strategic and multidimensional within the oil and gas industry. Geoscientists are not only responsible for exploring and evaluating oil and gas reserves but also serve as scientific decision-makers throughout the entire energy industry value chain.
“Geoscientists are the heart of exploration and production. They model the subsurface of the Earth using seismic, geological, and geophysical data to identify potential reservoirs. Without accurate data and proper interpretation from geoscientists, exploration risks can be very high and detrimental to the company,” explained Muhajir.
Furthermore, he explained how the role of geoscientists has increasingly evolved alongside technological advances and global demands for sustainability. Today, geoscientists are also involved in studies of carbon capture and storage (CCS), groundwater management, and mapping geological risk zones, which are crucial in supporting the transition toward cleaner energy.
“In the context of the energy transition, geoscientists play an important role in geothermal development as well as in mitigating the environmental impacts of industrial activities,” he added.
The Q&A session was lively, with participants actively asking about job opportunities, exploration challenges in frontier areas, and how students can prepare themselves to face the increasingly complex developments in the industry.
Muhajir emphasized the importance of mastering digital data, spatial analysis skills, and multidisciplinary collaboration as key factors for the success of modern geoscientists. “It’s not enough to just understand theory; geoscientists must be adaptive to technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and multidomain data integration,” he said.
As a token of appreciation, the UIGS x Starborn Mengajar committee presented a plaque of appreciation to Muhajir for his contribution in sharing knowledge and experience.
Through this seminar, the Department of Geosciences at FMIPA UI hopes to raise students’ awareness of the vital role geoscientists play in supporting national energy resilience. The event also serves as an inspiring platform for the younger generation to view geoscience not only as a scientific field but also as a strategic discipline in nation-building.
