Commemorating World Meteorological Day, ITB Focuses on Improving Weather and Climate Prediction Capacity
By Anggun Nindita
Editor Anggun Nindita
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id — To commemorate World Meteorological Day, which falls on Sunday (March 23, 2025), the Meteorology Study Program under the Atmospheric Science Research Group, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology (FEST), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), held a hybrid webinar titled “Enhancing the Quality of Indonesia’s Future Weather and Climate Information Frontliners.”
The event was led by Dr. Joko Wiratmo, M.P., a lecturer from the Atmospheric Science Group, and adopted this year’s global theme: “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together.”
The ongoing impacts of climate change have led to a rise in extreme weather events across the globe, including in Indonesia. Given its complex geographical setting, Indonesia is affected by numerous atmospheric phenomena such as the monsoon, ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation), IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole), MJO (Madden–Julian Oscillation), and other atmospheric waves. These phenomena often result in prolonged rainy seasons or severe droughts—conditions that can lead to natural disasters.
“Therefore, public awareness of hydrometeorological disasters must be enhanced through educational initiatives led by competent institutions such as universities and government agencies,” said Dr. Joko in his official remarks.
Last year’s World Meteorological Day carried the theme “At the Frontline of Climate Action,” followed by an online training involving experts from ITB, UNDIP, UNHAS, UNSRI, BMKG, and BRIN. The training attracted over 100 participants from diverse backgrounds, including high school teachers and students, university students, professionals, lecturers, government officials, and private consultants
As a continuation of that initiative, this year’s webinar drew over 175 participants from 26 provinces across Indonesia. Attendees came from a range of sectors, including higher education, private industries, government agencies, the general public, and the media. The event featured leading speakers such as Prof. Dwikorita Karnawati (Head of BMKG), Prof. Eddy Hermawan (BRIN), Dr. Joko Wiratmo, M.P. (ITB), Dr. Plato M. Siregar (ITB), Prof. Rahmat Gernowo (UNDIP), Prof. Iskhaq Iskandar (UNSRI), and Prof. Halmar Halide (UNHAS).
Hosting the webinar in an online format enabled broader and more efficient participant engagement. A community that emerged from similar activities now has hundreds of active members in a WhatsApp group (WAG), where they frequently share information about hydrometeorological disasters and climate change.
It is hoped that this event will increase public awareness of the importance of early warning systems and effective extreme weather management. Additionally, stronger collaboration between academia, government, the private sector, and media is expected to support more coordinated field actions in addressing climate change challenges and mitigating hydrometeorological disasters.
Translator: Nabila Puspita (Bioengineering, 2022)
