Researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) Prof. Dr. Ir. Riri Fitri Sari, M.M., M.Sc., won the Habibie Prize 2022 which was organized by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Foundation of Human Resources Development in Science and Technology (Yanbinbang SDM Iptek) in B.J. Habibie Building Auditorium, Jakarta, on Thursday (10/11). This award was given to Indonesian figures who have made breakthroughs and contributed to the development of science and technology and innovation in society in four fields, namely Medicine and Biotechnology, Basic Sciences, Engineering, Philosophy, Religion, and Culture.
Prof. Riri, who received an award in the field of Engineering, said that Computer Engineering is a very challenging field that is changing the world into a new world based on the industrial revolution 4.0. “Research in the fields of Protocol Engineering, Parallel Processing, Cloud Computing, IOT, Blockchain Technology, and various developments in the field of software engineering, and other engineering allows us to implement many new things. Many things that previously could only be done by humans, now in practice can be assisted and transformed digitally to facilitate human life,” said Prof. Riri.
This award was given directly by Head of BRIN Dr. Laksana Tri Handoko, M.Sc., in the form of a medal. Meanwhile, the award in the form of a charter was given by Head of Yanbinbang SDM Iptek Wardiman Djojonegoro. The award in the form of US$ 25,000 in cash was given by the eldest son of the third President of the Republic of Indonesia, B.J. Habibie, namely Ilham Habibie.
As a professor at FTUI in the field of computer engineering, various researches on internet protocols, IoT, and blockchain have been carried out by Prof. Riri along with her research team. This was applied as a form of contribution to the field of computer engineering and the implementation of information technology, as well as communication in society. Apart from teaching and researching, Prof. Riri served as Director of UI Information System Development and Services in 2006-2014. She led the development of UI infrastructure and information systems towards digital transformation.
In 2010, Prof. Riri and the team initiated the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, which is a world university ranking based on sustainability aspects, which include setting and infrastructure, energy, waste management, water, transportation and education and research. In mid-2022, UI GreenMetric will innovate and adjust indicators for sustainability for districts/cities in Indonesia through UI GreenCityMetric. The UI GreenMetric network has become a trigger for many national and international collaborations where she often acts as the keynote speaker at regular meetings in Indonesia and abroad.
In addition, in 2019 Prof. Riri also created the community of Poetry Reading Society of Indonesia. This community was established to create a technology-based literacy culture preservation. Thanks to the technology designed by Prof. Riri, this community regularly meets during a pandemic and holds colossal performances at UI’s Makara Art Center. Not only that, Prof. Riri also founded the History of Computing in Indonesia community, to continue working in realizing a scientific community and the formation of a knowledge-based society in Indonesia. She realized this dream with various scientific article writing trainings and information and communication technology training for teachers, students, and the general public.
During 13 years as a professor, Prof. Riri has mentored 26 doctoral students, 42 masters students, and 123 undergraduate students. She has collaborated a lot with professors and researchers from various countries to guide and test doctoral students through the research groups she leads. The research group is engaged in the Internet of Things, Protocol Engineering, Computer Networks, and Blockchain Technology, actively collaborating with the Broadband Wireless Access Laboratory at Taiwan Tech (NTUST). For the past four years, she has mentored several students who regularly take part in work practices for two months at NTUST. Until now, there have been 13 patents and copyrights obtained as a result of her team’s collaboration.
Apart from actively making breakthroughs, Prof. Riri is active in various activities, such as promoting research among the younger generation by becoming Head of the Jury and President of Indonesia Science Project Olympiad (ISPO) and Indonesian Student Research Olympiad (OPSI). In addition, she also encourages the role of women in the technology sector by becoming the Coordinator of Women in Engineering Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) Indonesia. Prof. Riri has carried out various campaigns and provided evidence of the contribution of women in the field of cybersecurity in Indonesia, which is through Women in Cybersecurity (IWCS).
Currently, Prof. Riri became Deputy Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) in the field of Empowerment of Women, Children, Youth, Elderly and Health. For the various collaborations and achievements that have been achieved, Prof. Riri has received various awards from within and outside the country such as the title of Honorary Professor from KAZNAU Kazakhstan (2017) and the Most Inspiring Engineer from WIE IEEE Asia Pacific.
In 2009, Prof. Riri was once selected as the best outstanding lecturer at the UI level and won 3rd place at the national level. She has also been a judge in various national competitions in technology-based fields such as CIO, judge on various research funding schemes, reviewer on various selections of foreign scholarships from the Educational Fund Management Institution (LPDP).
“Habibie Prize 2022 award from BRIN in the field of Engineering, especially in the field of Computer Engineering, is a prestigious award that is very rewarding. I thank Yanbinbang SDM Iptek, Mr. B.J Habibie’s extended family, and BRIN as well as leaders and academics at the Universitas Indonesia. This award for many works in the field of information and communication technolog makes me hope that there will be many who will excel in the future in this field of Computer Engineering and cyber infrastructure in Indonesia,” said Prof. Riri.
