Semarang, November 28, 2025 – The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Diponegoro University once again held a strategic academic event through a Public Lecture and Book Review featuring Prof. Gerry Van Klinken, a renowned historian, Senior Research Fellow at KITLV, and Professor of Southeast Asian History at the University of Amsterdam. The book, titled Buku Bumi: Pemikiran Ekologis untuk Indonesia, was published by Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. This event carried the theme Readings of the Earth: Ecological Thought for Indonesia, as a response to the urgent environmental issues and the direction of sustainable development in Indonesia.
This internationally themed event took place at PKM 1st Floor, FISIP UNDIP, and was officially opened by Dr. Nur Hidayat Sardini, S.Sos., S.H., M.Si., Head of the Department of Politics and Government Science, FISIP UNDIP. In his remarks, he emphasized that ecological problems are not only related to environmental dimensions, but are also closely linked to politics, public policy, and power structures. He stressed that Prof. Gerry’s presence offers highly relevant perspectives for research development and academic discourse within FISIP.
In his public lecture, Prof. Gerry Van Klinken explained ideas on ecological thought as a crucial foundation for managing the earth amid the global climate crisis. He invited students, academics, and the public to re-examine the human-nature relationship through historical, social, and structural approaches. The material presented reflected concerns about environmental exploitation as well as the need for more just and long-term oriented ecological policy transformation. Before delving into the main part of the discussion, the Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Public Communication at Diponegoro University, Wijayanto, S.IP., M.Si., Ph.D, offered his response to Buku Bumi, which discusses Indonesia’s ecological conditions. This ties closely to the current situation in Indonesia.
Acting as moderator, Faiz Kasyfi Ilham, S.IP., M.A., a lecturer in the Government Science Study Program, guided the academic dialogue in a clear and structured manner, and also invited two discussants: Dr. Laila Kholid Al Firdaus, M.P.P., Head of the Doctoral Program in Social Sciences at FISIP Undip, and Dr. Supratiwi, S.Sos., M.Si., a lecturer in the Government Science Study Program at FISIP Undip. Both discussants provided critical responses to Prof. Gerry’s ideas, particularly regarding issues of ecological justice, the democratization of knowledge, and the challenges of environmental governance in Indonesia. The discussion proceeded dynamically with active involvement from participants who filled the event venue.
The Dean of FISIP Undip, Dr. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin., also expressed his appreciation for the success of this event. He stated that FISIP Undip is committed to strengthening its tradition of progressive scholarship, particularly in environmental politics, governance, and social justice. According to him, this activity is an important space for academic dialogue in understanding climate change as a multidisciplinary issue.
The event concluded in the afternoon with great enthusiasm from participants, consisting of students, academics, and stakeholders. It is hoped that this activity will become an important stepping stone for the development of ecological research and the renewal of sustainable development paradigms in Indonesia.






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