AUSTRALIA

Climate change 

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) issued ‘Energy Efficiency 2023’, noting strong policy progress but the need to move faster. 
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics issued ‘Energy Account, Australia, 2021-22 financial year’, noting that solar and wind energy supply has exceeded household electricity demand for the first time. 
• The CEC welcomed outcomes from the Energy Ministers meeting  
• The Lowy Institute issued “Driving the energy transition within the ASEAN”. 
• The Lowy Institute issued “Southeast Asia’s minerals: Opportunity knocks.” 
• ACOLA and the Parliamentary Library posted a webinar: ‘Geoengineering – Climate Technologies’. 

Digital transformation 

• The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO announced updates to My Climate View, their digital tool aimed at empowering farmers to sustain and strengthen the viability of their businesses in the face of a changing climate. 
• The Academy of Science issued ‘Is Australia ready for our supercomputing future?’. Academy President Professor Jagadish said high-performance computing capability is a critical issue for science not only in Australia, but also the Asia-Pacific region to help tackle natural disasters, climate change and public health concerns. AAS also issued a newsletter. 

GEDSI

• The Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) announced 116 STEM scholarships to support women and diverse people, through its Elevate program. 
• The Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) released a Respect in Research Report, a collaboration with the Victorian Government 
• Diversity Council Australia issued a release on “Career Trajectories in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” 
• A University of New South Wales report called for greater support of carers in the workplace
• The Australian Public Service Academy issued ‘Selfies as a regulatory tool for carbon abatement’ by CER director Gerrard

K2P and K2I

• Cooperative Research Australia issued information from the Innovation Policy Forum. 
• The IEA issued ‘Carbon capture, utilisation and storage policies and business models – Building a Commercial Market’. 

Research sector 

• The Australian Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023 was introduced to the House, which was welcomed by STA, Universities Australia, and DASSH.

• The IEA issued ‘The Oil and Gas Industry in Net Zero Transitions’. 

• The Climate Council issued ‘What makes COP28 important’.

INDONESIA

KONEKSI

• A total of 199 coastal regencies and cities in Indonesia are threatened by climate change, making their populations more vulnerable to forced migration, human trafficking, and forced labor. Thus, BRIN collaborated with Griffith University, Diponegoro University, and stakeholders through the KONEKSI program to identify policies, laws, and implementation gaps in addressing environmental migration and forced labor. Amy Young from Griffith University explains that the research team’s goal in the KONEKSI program is international collaboration to focus on researching the impact of climate change on women and children.

Source:

(Republika, 27 November 2023), Cerita Sedih Masyarakat dari Kelompok Rentan Perubahan Iklim

(Republika, 28 November 2023), Masyarakat Pesisir Indonesia Paling Rentan Terdampak Perubahan Iklim

Research and Technology

• BRIN explained the functions of the Biak Earth Station Field Station Area (KSL) for the Technical Implementation Unit responsible for receiving data (mission and telemetry), controlling satellites, and conducting space and atmospheric observations.
• BRIN has developed SWIFtS (Space Weather Information and Forecast Services), a web-based system providing real-time space weather information with forecasts for the next 24 hours.
• BRIN formed the Research Collaboration Centre (PKR) for Quantum Technology 2.0 by involving several research centres to open up opportunities for researchers and academics interested in quantum technology development.
• The National Planning and Development Agency (Bappenas) and several parties, such as the Australian Centre of Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Australian Centre for Agricultural Innovation, and academics from Brawijaya University, visited Banyuwangi to develop a roadmap for the national digital agriculture policy, smart farming.
• The Ministry of Communication and Information will issue an Artificial Intelligence Ethics Circular in December 2023 to serve as ethical guidelines for formulating internal policies regarding data, consultation, analysis, and programming based on artificial intelligence.
• Head of BRIN, Laksana Tri Handoko, emphasised that the Indonesian government is paying attention to AI technology, including future development and guidelines to prevent potential losses, through the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy of Indonesia, which will be enacted as a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) and has included in the National Priority Legislative Program (Prolegnas).

Research and Innovation

• The Indonesian government plans to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology accessible in regional languages, such as Javanese, Sundanese, or Batak, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the National Intelligence Research Agency (BRIN), and the Artificial Intelligence Research and Innovation Collaboration (Korika).
• BRIN is researching a 5-6 MeV electron Linac for applications in food phytosanitary purposes or eliminating microorganisms in food, Accelerator-Driven System (ADS) research, and radiography.
• BRIN is accelerating research and innovation ecosystem in Indonesia by investing in advanced and modern research infrastructure.

Research and Funding

• The Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) has successfully developed and managed an endowment fund of IDR 134.107 trillion since 2010. Additionally, LPDP supports sustainable innovative research through the Innovation Production Research (RISPRO) program, funding 2,492 research projects totaling IDR 1.9117 trillion.
• Head of the Macro and Financial Economic Research Centre of BRIN, Zamroni, stated that talents from financial technology (fintech) could collaborate with BRIN to develop fintech innovations in research-based startup programs or fintech research-based funding.

Research and Women

• Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Laksana Tri Handoko, officially appointed Nur Tri Aries Suestiningtyas as the Secretary-General of BRIN during a hybrid inauguration ceremony. Handoko appreciated the efforts of the selection committee and emphasized the new appointments as a fresh start for the BRIN family to contribute to the nation’s development.
• Universities are in a state of sexual violence emergency. The National Commission for Women’s annual data in 2022 shows that universities have the highest number of sexual violence cases at 27%. A Ministry of Education and Culture survey in 2020 also found that 77% of lecturers in Indonesia admitted that sexual violence had occurred on campus, and 63% of them did not report it because they were worried about negative stigma.
• Based on data from the Auditor General of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, there were 115 cases of sexual violence, 61 cases of bullying, and 24 cases of intolerance recorded in the educational institutions. The majority of cases occurred in higher education.
• The Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality, Stephanie Copus Campbell AM, visited several institutions in Indonesia, including Alauddin State Islamic University (UIN), as the manifestation of Australia and Indonesia’s commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women.

Environment and Climate Change (ECC)

• The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) integrated the Indonesian Botanical Garden Plant Collection database to be more easily managed as a data source for research and ecological educational tourism purposes.
• The Centre for Plant Conservation of Botanical Gardens and Forestry (PRKTKK) of BRIN, is currently developing forest plant species with the potential of biofuels.
• BRIN is researching the circular economy as an alternative during the waiting period for oil palm rejuvenation by optimising the replanting areas for corn and poultry farming.
• The Regency Government of Hulu Sungai Tengah collaborates with BRIN to research the potential of green economy and carbon trading.

Research and Disability

• The Faculty of Education at the University of Padang is collaborating with the University of New South Wales to develop inclusive education in universities.

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Updates supported by Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)