Mataram, University of Mataram – Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Mataram (Unram), Prof. Dr. Sitti Hilyana and Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems of Unram, Prof. Akmaluddin, S.T., M.Sc.(Eng.), Ph.D. attended the International Indian Ocean Science Conference (IIOSC) 2024 as resource speakers. IIOSC 2024 was held by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in BRIN’s Kurnaen Sumadiharga Science Area – Lombok at Dasan Teluk Kodek, Malaka Village, Pemenang District, North Lombok Regency, for two days on March 4-5, 2024.

BRIN, through its various research organizations and research centers, has a role in strengthening the aquaculture and fisheries sector through research and innovation. Some of the research centers within BRIN’s Research Organization for Earth and Maritime (OR KM) include the Marine and Inland Waters Bioindustry Research Center, the Fisheries Research Center, and the Marine and Aquatic Resources Conservation Research Center. And some of these research centers have and continue to conduct research activities, development, and application of technology with the purpose to improve society’s welfare, as well as contribute to a better understanding of the Indian Ocean ecosystem.

The implementation of IIOSC 2024 is intended as a forum to capture collaboration opportunities and exchange experiences regarding research activities that have been, currently, and will be conducted by OR KM BRIN. The selection of the location in the Kurnaen Sumadiharga BRIN Science Area – Lombok aims to facilitate universities and stakeholders coming from the central and eastern regions of Indonesia, as well as introducing the infrastructure that was inaugurated by the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia in March 2023 as the “National Facility for Research and Innovation in Maritime-Based Halal Products”.

Some of the IIOSC 2024 activities consist of Indian Ocean Regional Panel (IORP) meetings, Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (SIBER), IndOOS Resource Forum (IRF), International Indian Ocean Expedition-2 (IIOE-2) Steering Group meetings, and Korea-US inDian Ocean Scientific (KUDOS).

This activity is expected to expand cooperation between BRIN, Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (IOGOOS), universities, and related stakeholders. Furthermore, it can open up opportunities for cooperation in the utilization of research results, increase the insight of relevant stakeholders in the field of research, and research results in the field of research on the Indian Ocean ecosystem.