UNAIR NEWS – The People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), in collaboration with Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), hosted the MPR RI Goes to Campus National Seminar, themed The Urgency of Energy Transition in Preventing Climate Change Impacts. The event took place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the Garuda Mukti Hall, 5th Floor, Management Office, MERR-C Campus, UNAIR.
The seminar featured Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, Dra., M.Si., UNAIR’s Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development, as a keynote speaker alongside Dr. Eddy Soeparno, S.H., M.H., Deputy Speaker of MPR RI. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, M.T., Ak., CA, Rector of UNAIR, also attended to deliver the opening remarks.
UNAIR leadership in energy transition
During her presentation, Prof. Puspaningsih emphasized UNAIR’s proactive stance in addressing climate change and the energy transition. She highlighted the university’s comprehensive strategy in tackling these urgent issues. According to her, shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy requires careful consideration of ecosystem balance, biodiversity conservation, and environmental sustainability.
“At UNAIR, we embrace a holistic approach. Energy transition is not just about moving away from fossil fuels but also about ensuring harmonious interactions between living organisms and their environment. We are committed to a transition that does not compromise biodiversity or ecological stability,” she stated.
Prof. Puspaningsih further emphasized the need for biodiversity integration in energy transition policies to secure natural resource sustainability and food security.
Advancing sustainable energy innovation
UNAIR has been at the forefront of eco-friendly energy innovations as part of its commitment to sustainability. A significant achievement includes its collaboration with Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Bali, and PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA) to develop the Merah Putih Electric Bus for the G20 Summit in Bali.
“UNAIR students played a key role in the research and development of this electric bus. Despite the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline (FTMM) being relatively new, they worked tirelessly alongside the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), often staying late at PT INKA to bring this project to life,” she remarked.
Moreover, UNAIR, through its Research Centre for Now and Renewable Energy Engineering (RCeNREE), actively conducts research on renewable energy, including the development of electric vehicles and energy solutions derived from wind, water, and geothermal sources. Furthermore, UNAIR established the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), now comprising 41 universities worldwide. This global network is dedicated to addressing sustainability challenges, including the advancement of new and renewable energy solutions.
Author: Fania Tiara Berliana Marsyanda
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin Ariyadi Putra
