Universitas Indonesia (UI) Student Team from the Geophysics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences who are members of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG UI SC) received funding from the SEG Foundation amounting to 12,500 US dollars or around IDR 195 million through the Geoscientists Without Border (GWB) program. This good news was conveyed by the SEG Foundation via email to the Aquinas GWB Program SEG Project Team.
The funding will be used to implement social projects to resolve the clean water crisis in Cipayung, Depok. The social project entitled “Aquinas” seeks to identify and overcome groundwater contamination to improve the quality of life and minimize health risks for Cipayung residents. The President of SEG UI SC 2024, Stella Eulia Andoko (Geophysics 2021), together with a research team led by Michael Partogi (Geophysics 2022) and Muhammad Rizki Setiawan (Geophysics 2022), will explore groundwater conditions and educate local communities about the importance of clean water. The final results of the Aquinas project will be presented directly by Stella and the team in 2025 at the 2025 SEG Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas, United States.
Stella Eulia Andoko said that Cipayung is a densely populated area whose residents still depend on groundwater as the main source of water. “Moreover, the location of the Cipayung Final Disposal Site (TPA) is close to residential areas. This can certainly increase the risk of groundwater pollution which threatens public health. Therefore, starting from mid-2024 to the end of 2025, we will collect, analyze, and interpret data to find long-term solutions and resolve these problems,” he continued.
In carrying out the data acquisition process in Cipayung, the research team utilized various geophysical methods, including resistivity, self-potential, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) methods, and geochemical methods. After that, the project will continue with data processing and interpretation which will be used as a benchmark for suggestions for building clean water wells for Cipayung residents.
The UI team will also install a water filter to optimize the quality of clean water access there. To ensure the success of the project, the research team also collaborated with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the local government. SEG UI SC members will also be deployed to respond to the issue of underground water pollution in the area around the Cipayung TPA caused by the accumulation of rubbish. Meanwhile, to spread awareness of the importance of the availability of clean water, the Aquinas project is organizing a Charity Event that will be held in schools and nearby Community Health Centers (Puskesmas).
The Aquinas Project encourages the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) number 3 launched by the United Nations, namely Goal 3 (Healthy and Prosperous Lives), by ensuring that clean water is always available so that the health and welfare of the people in Cipayung are maintained. Furthermore, number 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) ensures affordable access to clean water for all Cipayung residents and helps maintain the quality of sanitation in the local community. Number 17 (Partnership to Fulfill Common Goals) is carried out by collaborating with external campus parties to achieve a common goal, namely improving the welfare of the Cipayung community.
The Society of Exploration Geophysicists is a global non-profit organization that aims to accommodate students and professionals in the geoscience industry to deepen and develop knowledge in geophysics. This organization, based in Houston, Texas, United States, has more than 20,000 members in 128 countries, one of which is SEG UI SC. The Geoscientists Without Border program is one of the funding programs for social action projects in Geophysics organized by the SEG Foundation to encourage student participation in making a real impact through community service projects and the use of geophysical science.
