Indonesian, US Universities To Conduct Joint Research On Peatland Groundwater

JAKARTA, July 20 (Antara) - Indonesia's Sriwijaya University in Palembang, South Sumatra, will collaborate with the University of Kentucky and Murray State University (MSU) in the US to conduct joint research on groundwater in peatlands, according to a press statement. According to the statement issued by the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago received by Antara here, Wednesday, the cooperation was agreed during the visit of Indonesian Consul General of Indonesia Rosmalawati Chalid along with Sriwijaya University Rector Anis Saggaff and Ogan Ilir Regent Ilyas Panji Alam to the University of Kentucky and MSU in the state of Kentucky, the US. Saggaff explained that the research collaboration on groundwater in peatlands aims to preserve the environment and improve food security. "The cooperation is a form of our support to improve food security and environmental sustainability, especially considering the fact that South Sumatra Province has a large peatland area," Saggaff revealed. He added that the peatland area in South Sumatra Province is estimated to reach more than one million hectares. Meanwhile, Chalid said cooperation between Indonesian and the US educational institutions, particularly in the Midwest region, has been well established. "Cooperation between Indonesian and the US educational institutions, particularly in the Midwest region, has succeeded in promoting several prominent Indonesian figures. There are many members of the Indonesian diaspora that are currently working in leading educational institutions in the Midwest region," she pointed out. The research collaboration on groundwater in peatlands was achieved through the participation of Iin Handayani, an Indonesian professor of agriculture at the MSU. "The Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago invites the Indonesian diaspora in the Midwest to continue to create opportunities for cooperation with various educational institutions," Chalid added.