Dr Erina Sulistiani, the Centre's Scientist and Head of Biotechnology Laboratory, received a research grant from the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology (Kemenristek) / National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) for her research titled ‘Application of Biotechnology for Cottoni Seaweed Superior Seedlings Provision’, which aim is to increase the supply capacity   of seaweed superior seedlings through tissue culture techniques. The research is part of the National Research Priority Program in the Field of Maritime: Processing Seafood Products, and is incorporated in a research consortium on ‘Native Strain of Indonesian Micro and Macro Algae (MALSAI)’ coordinated by Dr Awalina from Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). The research activity will last for 3 years until 2022.

Another scientist who received a research grant is Dr Aslan, who is also the Research Department Manager of the Centre.   The research grant is from Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) which is a local affiliate of The Nature Concervancy.  Dr Aslan received the research grant for his two research titled ‘Bioprospectation Mapping of East Kalimantan Mangrove and Its Endophytes for Anticancer and Antibiotics Candidates’ for May-October 2020 term and ‘Landscape Hydrological Study of Ciliwung, Citarum and Cisadane Watersheds’ for August-December 2020 term. The first research is intended to explore mangrove biodiversity richness in East Kalimantan by discovering sustainable use of endophyte microbes derived from specific mangrove genus as material for bioproduction anticancer and antibiotics candidates, and by mapping the spatial distribution of different genus and associations of mangrove species at consistent pixel scale. Meanwhile, the second one is conducted to create a management plan at the landscape level of Ciliwung, Citarum and Cisadane Watersheds based on hydrological management for the recovery and protection of the area. (zsp)