Jakarta, September 17, 2024 – The Europe Today: Former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri has invited Russia’s St. Petersburg University (SPBU) to collaborate on joint deep-sea research in Indonesia, with a particular focus on underwater volcanoes. The proposal was made during a meeting on Monday between Megawati and SPBU’s Rector, Nikolay Kropachev, at the university in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In her role as Chair of the Steering Committee for Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP), Megawati emphasized the need for cooperation in studying Indonesia’s underwater volcanic activity. “We have identified five active underwater volcanoes in Indonesia. Can Russian universities assist us in predicting possible eruptions? We need expertise in this area,” she stated during the meeting.
Kropachev responded by instructing his staff to locate experts on the subject, noting that Russia is also conducting research on underwater volcanoes. He further assured Megawati that SPBU and other Russian institutions were ready to collaborate on the research.
Megawati expressed enthusiasm for the potential partnership, referencing Russia’s technological advancements: “If Russia could send Yuri Gagarin into space, it’s not impossible they can deep dive into the ocean. I am eager to move forward with this cooperation and am willing to sign any necessary agreements.”
The former president underscored the importance of such research, recalling the historic eruption of Mount Krakatau in the 1800s, which caused ash clouds that darkened the skies for three months. She stressed the need for enhanced understanding of underwater volcanic activity to better predict future natural disasters.
Kropachev acknowledged Megawati’s concerns and shared that Russia too has underwater volcanoes, particularly near its border with Japan. “We are ready to form a team from this campus and other Russian regions to study underwater volcanoes in Indonesia,” he confirmed.
Megawati’s visit to Russia marks the beginning of a broader working tour, during which she was accompanied by Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga, and Professor Connie Rahakundini Bakrie from St. Petersburg University’s Faculty of International Relations.
The proposed collaboration between Indonesia and Russia on deep-sea research signals a promising step towards advancing scientific understanding and disaster preparedness in both nations.
