The Department of Geography at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) is conducting a community service activity titled “Monitoring the Dynamics of Coastal Landforms in Harapan Island and Surroundings.” This activity will take place on May 17-18, 2025, and is located on Harapan Island, Thousand Islands.
Led by Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si., and accompanied by Dr. Ir. Idwan Suhardi, Ph.D., this activity involves faculty and students in monitoring changes in the shape of coastal land in the coastal area of Harapan Island and its surroundings. The main goal of this program is to provide scientific contributions to the community and to enhance students’ understanding of coastal environmental dynamics.
“We want students to understand that coastal areas are not just tourist spots, but also complex and dynamic living spaces that require science-based management. It is hoped that they will not only become reliable spatial analysts, but also sensitive to the social and environmental challenges in coastal areas,” said Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si., as the head of the activity.
Dr. Idwan Suhardi, Ph.D., as the lecturer of the Coastal Landform Dynamics course, emphasized the importance of student involvement in data-based real actions. “This is not just field practice, but also an effort to build a bridge between the academic world and the needs of coastal communities,” he stated.
During the two days of activities, students conducted direct observations on five islands: Harapan Island, Kelapa Island, Bira Besar Island, Bulat Island, and Dolphin Island. These islands were chosen because they represent the diversity of coastal landforms and the activities of space utilization by the community. Observations were conducted through coastal mapping, substrate type identification, and documentation of the physical conditions of the islands.
One important moment in this activity was the presentation session of the monitoring results held on Kelapa Island. The students presented their findings to the local community, including to the Chairman of RW 02 Kelapa Island, Mr. Mustar, who was present representing the Kelapa Island Village Head. ‘The presence of students and lecturers from UI opens up a dialogue space between academics and residents. We hope that the results of this activity can support better coastal environmental management,’ he said.
This activity also provides initial data that can be used by the Thousand Islands Administrative District Government in coastal area planning, including conservation, disaster mitigation, and sustainable development. The active involvement of the academic community of UI is a concrete manifestation of the implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education, namely education, research, and community service.
Annisa Dewi Al Eddy, one of the participating students, shared her experience, “Through this activity, I learned that beach landforms are not just spatial phenomena, but are also greatly influenced by the temporal and social context of the local community.”
This activity is a manifestation of UI’s active contribution to environmental issues and sustainable development, especially in coastal areas and small islands in Indonesia.
