Bogor, 1 July 2025 — SEAMEO BIOTROP officially welcomed the second batch of Capstone Internship students for 2025 in a warm and engaging orientation session held at the Center’s main hall. This cohort consists of 26 students representing various universities across Indonesia, including new participants from Universitas Khairun, Universitas Islam Riau, and Universitas Musi Rawas—further expanding the Center’s network of academic collaborations.

The event opened with a welcoming speech by Ms Dewi Suryani, speaking on behalf of the Officer in Charge of Director of SEAMEO BIOTROP. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of proactive communication between interns and mentors to ensure smooth project implementation. “Don’t hesitate to communicate challenges in the field—your mentor, supervisor, or even laboratory technicians are here to support you. We expect you to engage closely and responsibly,” she said. She also encouraged interns to come well-prepared, with a clear understanding of both the Center’s mandate and the specific objectives of their internship projects.

Ms Dewi further highlighted the dual purpose of the internship: serving as a valuable learning opportunity for students and providing meaningful support to BIOTROP’s ongoing programs, particularly those under the School of Biodiversity and the Agro-Eco-Edu Tourism initiatives. “We hope this experience is mutually enriching. Your contributions will support our programs, and in return, we offer real-world research exposure aligned with your academic goals,” she added.

As part of the orientation, three student leaders were appointed to help coordinate the group throughout the internship. Muhammad Alzan from Universitas Musi Rawas was appointed as Class Coordinator (Comti), with Sahrullah from IPB University as Vice Coordinator, and Rizki Piti Nurhayati from Universitas Padjadjaran as Treasurer. Their selection followed a brief introduction and vision-sharing session, where all three demonstrated commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, and student engagement.

This year, interns will participate in hands-on research and field-based activities under BIOTROP’s two flagship programs. With participants now accommodated in SEAMEO BIOTROP’s dormitory facilities, this marks a new chapter of immersive learning and collaboration over the three-month internship period.

As Ms Dewi declared the internship officially open, she expressed hope that some students would return in the future—whether as researchers, collaborators, or members of BIOTROP’s extended scientific community. “Many of our alumni come back after their internship. We are excited to see where this journey takes you,” she concluded.