Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) is Indonesia’s planned new capital city, currently under construction in East Kalimantan. Envisioned as a futuristic, green, and smart city, IKN represents one of the most ambitious development projects in Southeast Asia. Its establishment aims to reduce the burden on Jakarta and promote more equitable development across the archipelago. However, the project involves extensive infrastructure development—including government buildings, housing, transportation networks, and energy systems, which is rapidly transforming landscapes and local communities, raising important questions around environmental sustainability, land rights, and social inclusion.
The challenges explored in this thesis lab involve, amongst others:
- integrating sustainable architecture with traditional Dayak, Kutai, Banjar and others building techniques,
- managing integrated water-coastal systems while preserving both river and marine ecosystems,
- maintaining biodiversity corridors across forest-urban-coastal interfaces, and
- ensuring meaningful indigenous and coastal community participation to align novel forms of urban governance with sometimes ancient best practices and forms of resilience.
Students will explore how emerging cities can become climate-resilient development models, while respecting cultural heritage practices and ecosystem services across one of the world's most biodiverse land-sea transition zones.
Make real impact!
The research projects jointly developed in this Thesis Lab directly informs policy development for Indonesia's new capital, while providing practical solutions for existing urban challenges throughout Indonesian Borneo and similar tropical regions globally. Students will engage industry partners, government agencies, local communities ánd with students from Mulawarman University, to develop implementable solutions together.
Research opportunities for your thesis
This LDE Thesis Lab builds upon Mulawarman University's established research infrastructure, including field sites at PT. ICTI Hutani Manunggal forest plantations (Perusahaan Terbuka, or Public Company), BPSILHK Samboja environmental facilities (Standardization Body for Environment and Forestry Instruments), and surrounding “traditional villages” like Lung Anai Cultural Village and Kedaton Kutai Kartanegara.
Additionally, field studies can be conducted at Sepatin Village, i.e. to examine community-based coastal ecosystem management, mangrove rehabilitation initiatives, and infrastructure challenges related to coastal erosion and sea-level rise, as well as the resilient cultural practices that so far have bene used and adapted by local communities.
Students will have access to real-world laboratories including the Wooden Smart House at the Faculty of Forestry and Tropical Environment, and agroforestry demonstration sites. Further down, the Sepatin Village site provides unique opportunities to study community resilience, traditional ecological practices, and the intersection of social dynamics with environmental conservation in coastal settings.
Thematic challenges
The lab invites students to apply for thematic challenges that connect to this overall thematic focus. Those challenges will then be re-formulated by the students to make it suitable for a thesis assignment within their specific study programmes. Related to the following thematic challenges:
- Climate-Responsive Architecture & Urban Design
- Biodiversity Conservation & Urban Ecology
- Water Management & River Systems
- Cultural Preservation & Social Inclusion
- Circular Economy & Resource Management
Details on the themes and possible research questions that you can apply for can be found in the booklet below.
Individual Thesis assignments or themes
Main Challenge
How can sustainable urban development principles be integrated and aligned with tropical forest-coastal ecosystem conservation and indigenous cultural values to create resilient and inclusive cities in East Kalimantan?
Programme
Online and physical preparatory meetings between November 2025 and January 2026. (tentative dates tbd)
10-14 days excursion, with mini-lectures, field visits and exchange with local students. Tentative planning dates: end of January - beginning February 2026
If your MSc study programme requires you to do longer fieldwork for your thesis, we can support 2–3-month fieldwork with peer support from students and check-ins with Indonesia-based partners.
Post-fieldwork sessions and end event: after the excursion, we aim to include this thesis lab in the program of the NL-based thesis labs, including
#5 Pressure cooker day: LEGO, 1 April 2026
#7 Bootcamp Day, 29 April 2026
#10 Prepare for the Final Event and 10 June 2026
#11 Final event, Jun 29, 30, Jul 1, 2 or 3
Costs
Students bear costs for their return plane ticket to Indonesia, their visa application, residence permit, insurance (universal health insurance with World Coverage, third party liability, travel insurance), and vaccinations (depending on personal travel history and doctor's advice). There are daily living costs for local transport, electricity, laundry, mobile phone subscription, and food. These total costs differ per person but are estimated at an average of at least 1500 euros.
The average contribution per student for accommodation is about 300 euros but also depends on the choice of accommodation. For the 10/14-day excursion organized by this LDE Thesis Lab you will receive a small allowance of 250 euro, or we cover accommodation during this time.
If you extend your stay beyond the 10/14-day excursion, i.e. if this is required for your individual MSc thesis research, then any additional costs for accommodation, meals, or other expenses will be your own responsibility.
You can check for yourself if you qualify for a subsidy to cover (a part of) the costs, for instance via Fonds op naam, Students4Sustainability, Universiteitsfonds TU Delft or via another organization.
Caseholders
This Thesis Lab builds upon Mulawarman University's established research infrastructure, including field sites at PT. ICTI Hutani Manunggal forest plantations, BPSILHK Samboja environmental facilities, and traditional villages like Lung Anai Cultural Village and Kedaton Kutai Kartanegara. Additionally, field studies will be conducted at Sepatin Village to examine community-based coastal ecosystem management, mangrove rehabilitation initiatives, and infrastructure challenges related to coastal erosion and sea-level rise.
Students access real-world laboratories including the Wooden Smart House at the Faculty of Forestry and Tropical Environment, agroforestry demonstration sites, and ongoing IKN development projects. The Sepatin Village site provides unique opportunities to study community resilience, traditional ecological practices, and the intersection of social dynamics with environmental conservation in coastal settings.
The research directly informs policy development for Indonesia's new capital while providing practical solutions for existing urban challenges throughout Indonesian Borneo and similar tropical regions globally. Students will engage with industry partners, government agencies, and local communities to develop implementable solutions.
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