August 24, 2026 | 05:55 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Head Arif Satria emphasized the urgency for Indonesian human resources to master environmentally friendly or green skills to meet conservation challenges in the Society 5.0 era.
Speaking at the 2026 Sarwono Award and Sarwono Memorial Lecture ceremony in Jakarta on Monday, August 24, the BRIN chief explained that future civilization emphasizes on two main pillars: humanity and ecosystem sustainability.
"When we talk about Society 5.0, the two keywords are humanity and sustainability. Nowadays, people is starting to rethink the meaning of sustainability as the threat of climate change has become a daily reality," he said.
Society 5.0 is a human-centered "super-smart society" where tech serves human well-being and solves social issues. The term was first proposed by Japan Cabinet Office back in 2016.
Driven by this environmental urgency, Arif stressed that proficiency in green skills has become vital and sought after across both academic research and corporate sectors.
"Green skills are essential both for today and the future, so these green skills are not only needed in academia, but also in the private sector," he noted.
According to Arif, wildlife conservation is a crucial arena for applying these skills. He pointed to the critical situation of the Sumatran rhinoceros, whose wild population has dwindled to roughly 50 individuals.
Protecting this endangered species, he argued, can no longer depend on traditional approaches alone, but demands collaborative intervention and advanced technology. "That is why technologies such as Assisted Reproductive Technology, or ART, have been developed and successfully deployed in Kenya," Arif said.
The BRIN chief encouraged researchers to study and draw direct inspiration from nature's mechanics, a practice known as biomimicry. He noted that natural principles, defined by diversity, interdependence, and interconnectedness, are valuable lessons for human social interactions.
"Nature has already taught us how to coexist, and its philosophy and characteristics can inspire how we structure our social life," he said.
In addition to guiding social cohesion, nature's design holds technological insights that outpace artificial intelligence. He highlighted the innate navigation of migratory birds and whales as natural phenomena that can lay the groundwork for scientific breakthroughs across disciplines.
Referring to the blue economy framework, where human systems learn from nature, he urged the creation of research that adapts to natural ecosystems. "So, the way nature works should be a source of innovation. For researchers at BRIN and across Indonesia, it is essential to draw inspiration from how nature works," said Arif Satria.
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