An International Community of Scholars Focusing on Contemporary Indonesian Issues
The 19th International Indonesia Forum Conference: Water, Land, and Societies in Transition: From the Regional to the National and Beyond
The first day of IIF-19 opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Ing. Ir. Slamet Widodo, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Tanjungpura, followed by engaging panel session. The discussions continued through a series of parallel sessions, bringing together different perspectives, research topics, and experiences.The opening ceremony of IIF-19 was brought to life by a beautiful performance of the Tidayu dance presented by students from HIMAP (the Student Association of Urban and Regional Planning, Universitas Tanjungpura). Tidayu is a cultural symbol of West Kalimantan’s three major ethnic communities, Tionghoa (Chinese), Dayak and Yu (Melayu/Malay). More than just a dance, it represents harmony, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence among the diverse communities that have shaped the region’s identity for generations.The second day of IIF-19 continued with engaging parallel sessions, a Kalimantan art session, and the second panel discussion. The conference closing ceremony featured remarks by Dr. Mira S. Lubis and Prof. Dr. Frank Dhont, followed by formal closing remarks from Prof. Dr. Garuda Wiko, the Rector of Universitas Tanjungpura, marking the end of two inspiring days of academic dialogue.The Kalimantan Art Session at the IIF-19 Conference featured a screening of “Bandong: The Last Serenade of the Kapuas River”, a documentary film on riverine life, cultural heritage, and the changing landscape of the Kapuas. Presented by Any Rahmayani from Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan Cultural Preservation Office).
The Kalimantan Art Session at the IIF-19 Conference brought research and visual art into one shared space. Through a painting exhibition presented by KOMPAK (West Kalimantan Visual Arts Community) along with an exhibition featuring works by the 10 finalists of the Student Photo Competition, participants were invited to explore the landscapes, river life, cultural identity, and collective memories of West Kalimantan.
The 19th International Indonesia Forum (IIF) conference will focus on sustainability at the crossroads of water and land, of the rural and urban. This may include issues related to specific coastal zones, river basins, peatlands, forests, agricultural frontiers, or rural–urban interfaces, or broader issues that affect diverse spaces. The key questions are how environmental change, economic development, and policy interventions shape everyday life, resources, and land use in Indonesia and beyond, with Indonesia as a central focus.
The IIF conference will be held on 29-30 July 2026, at Universitas Tanjungpura (UNTAN) in Pontianak, Indonesia. Persons wishing to present papers at the conference are invited to submit a short CV and one-page abstract in electronic form (PDF or Microsoft Word) to Dr. Frank Dhont at frank.dhont@iif.or.id and secretariat@iif.or.id, respectively, by 30 March 2026. In principle, abstracts must be in English, and papers will likewise be presented in English; Indonesian-language presentations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For practical information on the conference in Pontianak, see this document.
