Prof. Heri Secures Prestigious £345,000 Grant from ARIA UK for Innovative Global Geoengineering Research

Surabaya, 10 May 2025 – Another proud achievement has been earned by the academic community of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS). Prof. Heri Kuswanto, a statistician and climatologist from the ITS Department of Statistics, has been selected as one of the recipients of a prestigious research grant from the United Kingdom’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), an innovative government-funded research body. The £345,000 grant (approximately IDR 7.5 billion) was awarded through the Exploring Climate Cooling program, which supports diverse scientific approaches in addressing the climate crisis, including geoengineering technology research.

(Grant information: https://www.aria.org.uk/funding-opportunities)

Cutting-Edge Solutions for Climate Uncertainty

Prof. Heri’s research highlights a critical gap in most existing simulations of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI)—namely, the tendency to overlook variability and uncertainty across simulations. These aspects are crucial for understanding the potential risks and effectiveness of climate interventions, particularly at the regional level.

His project combines Bayesian calibration techniques with machine learning methods, including Gradient Boosted Machines, to enhance the accuracy and reliability of climate projections. This research is expected to provide a more realistic picture of the impacts of geoengineering and support more cautious, data-driven climate policymaking.

The study plays a vital role in ensuring that any decisions related to climate intervention are based on accurate and transparent projections—especially amid the urgent global climate crisis.

Elevating ITS and Indonesia to the Global Stage

Prof. Heri’s success in securing this international research grant demonstrates that Indonesia is capable of making significant contributions to global scientific efforts in combating climate change. The achievement also reinforces ITS’s position as a leading research institution with international relevance.

This milestone underscores both Indonesia’s growing presence in the global scientific community and ITS’s commitment to advancing impactful and innovative climate research.