UIN Jakarta Inaugurates Prof. Agus Salim as Professor of Applied Biology (Ecology)

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN Online News—The Open Senate Session of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta officially inaugurated seven professors, one of whom was Prof. Dr. Agus Salim, S.Ag., M.Si., as Professor in the field of Applied Biology (Ecology). The ceremony was held at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Wednesday (January 14, 2026).

Prof. Agus Salim’s intellectual journey began with his undergraduate studies in the Mathematics Education Study Program at IAIN Jakarta. He later pursued his master’s degree at Bogor Agricultural University, focusing on environmental management, and successfully earned his doctoral degree at the age of 27, becoming one of the youngest doctorate recipients.

In his inaugural lecture entitled “Ecological Restoration in Border Areas and 3T Regions toward Environmental Sovereignty and Ecological Justice,” Prof. Agus Salim emphasized the moral responsibility of humanity to protect environmental sustainability, particularly in border regions and disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost areas (3T). He explained that ecological restoration is a strategic effort to revive damaged ecosystems through reforestation, pollution control, and research-based environmental recovery.

“This is the essence of ecological restoration—reviving the Earth through reforestation, pollution cleanup, and the restoration of damaged ecosystems in border areas and 3T regions,” he stated.

In his presentation, Prof. Agus Salim outlined several national and international collaborative research findings, including studies on plastic waste pollution in the coastal areas of Bintan Island, simulations of oil spill movements in border waters, and the discovery of hazardous compounds in sediments and marine biota in the Segara Anakan region. These findings indicate serious ecological risks that could threaten environmental balance and human health.

As a solution, he advocated the implementation of nature-based solutions as a primary approach to ecological restoration. This approach is considered capable of strengthening sustainable development while also serving as a strategic instrument in cross-border environmental diplomacy and efforts to achieve ecological justice.

“Nature-based solutions position natural ecosystems as the main foundation of sustainable and efficient green infrastructure to address various environmental challenges. This strategy includes approaches such as ecosystem restoration, protection, and specific ecosystem management. The application of nature-based solutions is not merely a technical effort at the local level but a strategic condition for Indonesia’s cross-border environmental diplomacy on the international stage,” he explained.

His international perspective has been strengthened through various short courses at McGill University, Canada, and Deakin University, Australia. Since 1999, Prof. Agus Salim has dedicated himself as a lecturer at UIN Jakarta and has held numerous leadership positions, ranging from Head of the Biology Study Program to Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology for two terms. He remains actively involved in research, scientific publications, and the development of environmental and border area research centers.

Watch the full inaugural lecture at the Professor Inauguration Ceremony at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/rMhZXzVNBaU?si=OnP1iY--nU6BaAtx

(Hilya Hafiza S./Zaenal M./Syandana Mazna Aisyah/Information and Public Relations Center)