The challenge of this Thesis Lab involves 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 in urban governance. Students in this lab will explore how emerging cities can become climate-resilient development models while respecting cultural heritage and ecosystem services across one of the world's most biodiverse land-sea transition zones.
This lab invites students to apply for thematic challenges that connect to the overall focus. Those challenges can then be re-formulated to make it suitable for a thesis assignment within your specific MSc study programmes. We have 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
More details on the topics/challenges and possible research questions will be provided in the promotional booklet, which will be published here when application opens on September 15th!
Main Challenge
How can sustainable urban development principles be integrated with tropical forest-coastal ecosystem conservation and indigenous cultural values to create resilient and inclusive cities in East Kalimantan?
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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