Depok, August 24, 2026 — Five students from the Geology and Geophysics Study Programs at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), who are members of Team Kenanga, became the only team composed entirely of undergraduate students in the SEG EVOLVE Energy Exploration 2026 program. After completing the six-month career development program organized by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), they had the opportunity to present their project findings at the 2026 International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy (IMAGE) in Houston, Texas, United States.
Team Kenanga consists of Ellysa Dinda Nathasya and Michael Partogi from the Geophysics Study Program, Class of 2022, as well as Hishnu Ghaitsul Hudna, Luthfan Zaidan Akbar, and Muhammad Fairuz Ulya from the Geology Study Program, Class of 2022. The team was advised by Anne M. M. Sirait, Ph.D., who served as the faculty advisor.
This achievement was recognized by the Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dr. Tito Latif Indra, M.Si. He emphasized that students’ participation in international programs is an important part of preparing them to enter a workforce that increasingly demands cross-disciplinary collaboration.
“We are proud that FMIPA UI students are able to apply geoscience expertise to real-world challenges at the global level. As future scientists, they are expected not only to master science and technology, but also to think critically, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute to addressing the energy challenges of the future,” said Prof. Tito.
Team Kenanga’s participation marked a notable achievement, as SEG EVOLVE is typically joined by teams comprising graduate students in geoscience, engineering, or related fields. In contrast, Team Kenanga completed the entire program with all five members being undergraduate students.
“As undergraduate students, they were able to demonstrate that they could work to industry standards and present their work at an international forum,” said Anne.
SEG EVOLVE is a six-month mentoring-based career development program. It provides students with the opportunity to work on real-world, data-driven projects and collaborate with industry professionals from various countries. More importantly, SEG EVOLVE emphasizes collaborative work experience in addressing challenges that closely resemble those encountered in the energy industry.
In the Energy Exploration track, Team Kenanga conducted a hydrocarbon prospect evaluation using real-world datasets from Eugene Island, an area located south of the Gulf of Mexico. In the project, the students integrated regional geological studies, petrophysical analysis, seismic interpretation, and economic evaluation to identify hydrocarbon prospects.
Throughout the program, Team Kenanga collaborated with industry professionals from various countries. Meetings with mentors were also held according to Houston working hours, requiring the students to adjust their schedules amid the time difference between Indonesia and the United States.
“This process taught them to integrate diverse expertise and work together as a cohesive team,” said Anne.
Throughout the project, Team Kenanga received software licenses and mentoring support from SLB Indonesia, including guidance from Ng Bei Berger and Nine Safira. The team also received software support from Paleoscan and RoseRA through SEG EVOLVE.
This support helped the students conduct the analysis and evaluation of hydrocarbon prospects. The work carried out by Team Kenanga was subsequently presented during the final presentation on June 2, 2026.
For the team members, the program not only strengthened their technical skills but also developed their ability to work across disciplines. Before joining SEG EVOLVE, each member primarily focused on their respective areas of expertise. During the program, they were required to integrate geological and geophysical perspectives into a unified workflow.
“Initially, we mostly worked within our respective fields. Through this program, we learned how to integrate our expertise into a unified workflow and present our findings according to industry standards,” said Ellysa Dinda Nathasya.
A Boost for Indonesia’s Energy Workforce
Team Kenanga’s achievement received a positive response from Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo. In a press release issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C., and received on Saturday (August 22), Indroyono emphasized that experiences in programs such as SEG EVOLVE are important for preparing Indonesia’s human resources to navigate changes in the energy industry.
“Experiences such as SEG EVOLVE are essential for strengthening the readiness of Indonesia’s human resources to navigate changes in the energy industry. The world needs a new generation with expertise in earth sciences and digital technology, the ability to work across disciplines, and an understanding of the direction of a sustainable energy transition,” said Indroyono.
According to Indroyono, the students’ experience in the program went beyond mastering professional software and seismic data analysis. It also provided them with an understanding of the energy exploration process, including decision-making that takes both scientific and business considerations into account.
Taking the International Stage
IMAGE 2026 is a conference organized by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), together with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). The forum took place from August 17–20, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, bringing together professionals in the geoscience and energy sectors from around the world.
Through the forum, Team Kenanga presented the results of their hydrocarbon prospect analysis, developed during their participation in SEG EVOLVE, to the international geoscience and energy community.
“Going forward, we hope this experience will open up more opportunities for FMIPA UI students to participate in international-scale geoscience programs and forums,” said Ellysa.
Team Kenanga’s participation in the international energy exploration program provided the students with valuable experience in applying their academic knowledge to energy exploration challenges, while also developing their ability to work across disciplines in an international professional environment.
