While doing research, I also actively participated in many community engagement activities. My engagement programs include the following:
- Lecture for non-academic staff on plant systematics and conservation
- Local community capacity building
- Capacity building and networking of Indonesian citizen botanists
- Actively using plant systematics and conservation expertise in contributing to global society
Through capacity building and networking for citizen scientists (a.k.a. Botani untuk Semua), I have successfully supervised and collaborated on many occasions to write scientific publications on the discovery of new and noteworthy records of species.
Some community engagement activities
1. Training / Courses in Botany
I actively involved in training young generation on classes or field courses. This one is done formally or indirectly through adventure activities.
PROGRES Sulawesi
I trained the young staffs of a local NGO named PROGRES Sulawesi. The staff includes local young people who actively participate in the conservation of biodiversity in the eastern arm of Sulawesi.
2. Botany for all: Botani untuk semua
This project aims to encourage non-professional botanists, a.k.a. citizen scientists or pre-carrier botanists, to become involved in the study of plant taxonomy and conservation, as well as botany in general. This includes joint publications on describing new species, plant photography, research projects, and more.
New species discoveries
Working with citizen scientists, I working together to publish at least 6 new species of orchids, with some of the are ongoing.