This collaboration will see Queen Mary play a leading role in educating the next generation of Indonesian scientists specialising in meteorology, climatology, geophysics, and related fields.
Professor Cédric John, Head of Data Science for Environment and Sustainability at the Digital Environment Research Institute (DERI) spearheaded the winning application for the partnership and will be coordinating the programme. “We are thrilled to partner with BMKG on this critical initiative,” said Professor John. “This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to share Queen Mary’s expertise in environmental research and equip Indonesian scientists with the skills in data science and AI applied to meteorology, and climatology they need to address pressing climate and environmental challenges.”
The BMKG is seeking to train its staff by awarding fully funded scholarships for Master’s (MSc) and Doctoral (PhD) degrees. These scholarships will focus on four key areas aligned with the BMKG’s mission: meteorology, climatology, geophysics, and instrumentation & Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
DERI will serve as the central hub for coordinating this partnership, while students will be physically hosted within their specific academic departments at Queen Mary, ensuring they receive focused training tailored to their chosen field.
DERI views this partnership as a springboard for fostering a deeper exchange of knowledge and expertise with Indonesia’s vibrant environmental research community. “Indonesia is a crucial player in the global fight against climate change,” Professor Greg Slabaugh, Director of the Digital Environment Research Institute and Professor of Computer Vision and AI, added “By working together, UK and Indonesian researchers can develop innovative solutions that benefit both our nations and the planet as a whole.”