Monday (22/04/2019) UNESCO Jakarta in collaboration with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) held a seminar and public lecture in commemoration of World Water Day which falls every March 22.

Under the theme “Leaving No One Behind,” this activity emphasized that every citizen has the right to access clean water. Water availability is vital, both for ensuring clean water and healthy sanitation for the community and for environmental preservation.

In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at the University of Indonesia (UI), Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris, stated that, in line with its mission to become a world-class Faculty of Science, FMIPA UI fully supports this initiative to address issues related to water availability at the national level.

“We, FMIPA UI, are ready to collaborate with UNESCO Jakarta to address the challenges of water resource management. These challenges, which are so real today, can only be addressed through our collective efforts across our various roles and responsibilities,” said Haris.

Haris continued, through the Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources (I-SER), which intensively collaborates and supports the capacity of FMIPA UI in addressing issues of sustainable development based on science and research, his party is ready to build further partnerships for the benefit of the country, both at the national and international levels.

“This activity is part of our internationalization program, where we strive to increase the number of our international partnerships,” Haris concluded.

Haris assessed that this seminar was a prestigious event to realize the strategic program of FMIPA UI in expanding the network, to discuss important topics as an effort to support national and regional interests in strengthening capacity.

The Daily Chair of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, Prof. Arief Rachman, emphasized the importance of not assuming that water will last forever.

Prof. Arief, an education expert, emphasized the importance of improving water management for future generations, as well as educating school-age children about water use to prevent waste.

“We celebrate this as a realization that water is essential for human life, therefore, scientists, young people, and the business sector must work together to preserve water so that it lasts for future generations,” said Prof. Arief Rachman.