Makassar, – On August 22, 2024, UIN Alauddin Makassar held a public lecture titled “Why most Indonesian researchers failed to go international? A reflection from one of the world researchers successful in Japan”, featuring Prof. Josaphat Tetuko Sri Sumantyo as the keynote speaker. The event took place at the Senate Meeting Room, 4th Floor of the Rectorate Building at Campus 2 of UIN Alauddin Makassar, starting at 08:30 WITA. 

The agenda began with an opening session led by Prof. H. Hamdan Juhannis, MA, Ph.D., the Rector of UIN Alauddin Makassar, who also served as the moderator for the event. His role in guiding the discussion ensured that the session remained engaging and focused on the core issues affecting the global standing of Indonesian scientists. 

Prof. Josaphat Tetuko Sri Sumantyo, a distinguished figure in the field of remote sensing and satellite technology, currently serves as a Professor and Head of the Health and Disease Omics Center at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan. He also holds several significant academic and research positions at Chiba University, including Head of the Disaster Data Analysis Division at the Research Institute of Disaster Medicine, and Head of the Earth Science Division at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering. 

In his lecture, Prof. Josaphat shared his vast experiences, including the challenges he faced while developing radar technology. He recounted his journey of innovation, which, despite leading to groundbreaking advancements, also involved substantial personal and financial losses. His story was a testament to the perseverance required in scientific research, particularly for Indonesian scientists striving to make an impact on the global stage. 

Beyond sharing his personal challenges, Prof. Josaphat also offered inspiration and motivation for young people to actively engage in creativity and innovation. He encouraged them to cultivate the habit of reading and to aim for generating at least one new idea every day. He emphasized the importance of patenting their ideas, ensuring their contributions are recognized and protected. Prof. Josaphat highlighted that “the more problems there are, the more innovation emerges,” urging the younger generation to view challenges as opportunities to create impactful solutions. 

Prof. Josaphat’s career has been marked by his extensive expertise in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), mobile satellite communications, and antenna development, among other areas. His contributions to the field have been well recognized, as evidenced by his authorship of over 150 journal papers, delivery of more than 360 invited talks, and publication of numerous conference papers and books.  

The lecture concluded with a Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to engage directly with Prof. Josaphat. This session provided deeper insights into the topics discussed, offering a platform for exchanging ideas and clarifying any doubts related to the challenges and strategies for Indonesian scientists on the global stage. 

This event was a part of UIN Alauddin’s ongoing commitment to fostering academic excellence and global engagement among Indonesian scholars. The university encouraged active participation from all attendees, with the session continuing until completion later in the day.