Faculty Forestry of ULM Will Form a New Bachelor of Environmental Science Study Program
Banjarbaru – The Faculty of Forestry, Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) held a Forum Group Discussion (FGD) and Socialization on the Establishment of an Environmental Science Study Program on Thursday (27/6/2024).
The event which took place at the Grand Qin Hotel was attended by Vice Rector IV ULM Dr. Ir. Yusuf Azis, M.Sc and the speakers, namely Prof. Dr. Ir. Gusti Muhammad Hatta, M.S who is the Minister of Research and Technology in the United Indonesia Cabinet II who previously served as Minister of the Environment (2009-2011), Erik Teguh Primantoro, S.Hit, MES as Director of Forest Resources Inventory and Monitoring (IPSDH), KLHK, and Prof. Dr. Prabang Setyono, S.Si, M.Si as Coordinator of the Environmental Science Study Program, Semarang State University.
According to the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Prof. Dr. Kissinger, S. Hut., M.Si, The formation of this new study program refers to the current situation that is being faced and can be called a planetary crisis, including climate change, biodiversity loss or decreasing biodiversity, and pollution or contamination.
Increasing global warming from greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities is causing an increase in extreme weather, rising sea levels and disruption to ecosystems. In addition, the increasing decline in populations of animal and plant species caused by habitat loss, hunting, climate change and pollution will ultimately disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. This is the background to the need for a deeper understanding of Environmental Science.
“This is the background for the Faculty of Forestry wanting to participate in efforts to overcome this crisis,” said Prof. Kissinger.
Apart from that, the availability of Environmental Science study programs is also a challenge for the Faculty of Forestry where this study program is one of the favorite study programs based on surveys conducted in schools.
“There are so many (parties) who want this study program. “Both from the business world and schools,” added Prof. Kissinger
The Environmental Science Study Program (prodi) is an academic field that studies interactions between humans and their environment, and how these interactions affect ecosystem health and human welfare. Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field, combining aspects from various scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, geology, ecology, and social sciences.
Prof. Kissinger hopes that with the realization of the Environmental Science study program, it will be able to answer the challenges faced.
“Hopefully this can answer our challenges in the future, both challenges in climate change and user needs, which God willing, ULM and the Faculty of Forestry can cover these things,” he concluded.
