Prabowo asks academics to be involved in the Giant Sea Wall project

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek), Brian Yuliarto (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto has instructed that academics, especially lecturers, be involved in the development of the giant sea wall project.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek), Brian Yuliarto, said this step aims to utilize the results of university research to accelerate development while increasing the efficiency of the strategic project.

"Professors with relevant research are asked to be involved in the development of the Giant Sea Wall to be more effective and efficient," he said after a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta, Monday, April 20.

According to Brian, there are many research results from the campus that are ready to be applied, including those that have been tested in the sea embankment project in the Demak-Semarang area.

The Giant Sea Wall project is one of the government's priorities in dealing with the impact of climate change, especially the threat of rising sea levels in the northern coastal area (Pantura) of Java Island.

Brian said that the construction of this giant sea embankment has a strategic role because it has the potential to protect about 60 percent of industrial areas and more than 30 million residents in the Pantura coastal area.

"This project is very important to protect industrial areas and millions of people on the coast if it runs optimally," he explained.

In the near future, the government will also invite professors who have expertise in related fields, such as reclamation and land development, to discuss further.

The meeting is planned to involve the Head of the North Java Beach Management Authority, Didit Herdiawan Ashaf, to formulate concrete steps in the development of the project.

The involvement of academics is expected to be able to strengthen the scientific basis of the Giant Sea Wall project so that development is more directed, innovative, and sustainable.