Program for Advanced Spatial and Aquatic Instrumentation
Region
Asia
Flyway
East Asian - Australasian flyway
Initiative
WLI Asia-Oceania
About
Name of organisation
Universitas Malikussaleh
Funding support
University support and project-based funding
Number of staff
3 core members
Number of visitors per year
Approximately 3,000 visitors/participants per year
Overall aims of the centre
To support biology education, biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness, research, community engagement, and the development of sustainable practices through education and collaboration.
Description of the centre
Program for Advanced Spatial and Aquatic Instrumentation – (PASAI):
PASAI Team Project (Program for Advanced Spatial and Aquatic Instrumentation) is an interdisciplinary initiative established by three lecturers at Universitas Malikussaleh, bringing together expertise in education, biology, machine learning, and geology. The initiative was developed to strengthen the university’s role in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, particularly in the absence of a Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MIPA) at Universitas Malikussaleh. Located in North Aceh, an area connected to important biodiversity landscapes, including the Leuser ecosystem and Aceh’s coastal ecosystems, PASAI aims to support environmental research, education, innovation, and conservation through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work area
Environmental and biodiversity education; public awareness; community participation; student education and training; conservation campaigns; outreach activities; research-based education; and collaboration with schools, communities, government institutions, and conservation organizations.
Top three successes
The PASAI team and its members have successfully implemented several CEPA and community-based livelihood activities, including World Migratory Bird Day CEPA at Sekolah Luar Biasa Negeri Pembina Aceh Besar (2023), catfish farming for disadvantaged communities (2021), and improving catfish production through biofloc technology (2026). These projects worked well because they emphasized practical capacity building, active community participation, and tangible benefits, strengthening our experience in delivering locally relevant conservation education and community empowerment programs.
Top three challenges
The three main challenges we have experienced are limited access to information about suitable funding opportunities, limited community participation at the beginning of some activities, and limited resources for maintaining activities after the project period. These experiences have taught us the importance of actively seeking and sharing funding information, involving communities from the planning stage, and developing simple and locally manageable approaches to ensure sustainability. These lessons will help us improve the implementation of future CEPA projects.
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Producing written materials
Visitor centres
Setting up a new visitor centre; Managing / creating habitat
Participation
Working with disabled people; Engaging hard-to-reach groups; Engaging young people; Engaging the local community; Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Delivering adult education
General
Fund-raising; Project planning.
Contact
Yuri Gagarin
Paloh Igeuh Village, Dewantara Sub-district, North Aceh Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia
+62 822 7454 1854
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