Doctrine UK Research Showcase and Fieldwork Methods Sharing Session

Doctrine UK, as a platform for Indonesian PhD students in the UK, is committed to enhancing collaboration, knowledge, and networking among Indonesian PhD students, specifically, and Indonesian students in the UK, generally. This event aims to provide a platform for PhD candidates to showcase their research and fieldwork experience and promote academic exchange, as well as a community gathering event to strengthen relationships among members.

This event aims to:

• To provide a platform for PhD candidates to present their research to the Indonesian academic and professional community in the UK.
• To enhance collaboration and academic exchange among PhD students.
• To strengthen social and professional networks among Indonesian PhD students in the UK.

During the research showcase session, attendees have the opportunity to delve into the research endeavors of two PhD Candidates nearing the completion of their studies. The speakers will delve into their research discoveries, highlighting the innovation and contributions their work offers to the academic literature.

Meanwhile, the prospect of undertaking fieldwork during a PhD program presents a mix of excitement and challenges. In an era marked by the post-Covid shift towards more frequent and accessible virtual connections, the second session aims to explore the significance and hurdles of conducting fieldwork in person. This discussion is particularly aimed at PhD students who are considering or have committed to fieldwork as part of their academic journey. It offers them a chance to gain insights from a speaker experienced in fieldwork across various social science fields such as politics, public policy, and development studies, with an emphasis on Indonesia. The speaker will share reflections on employing diverse methodologies, including interviews, participant observation, archival research, and participatory techniques.

DATE

Saturday, April 20, 2024, 11.30 PM – 14.00 PM BST

LOCATION

Skempton Lecture Theatre 201 (SKEM 201), Imperial College London

Imperial College Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2BU

SCHEDULE

11.30-11.35 : Welcome from Chairman of Doctrine UK, Rezza F. Prisandy, PhD Researcher at University of Manchester

11.35-11.40 : Overview of the event from Secretary General Doctrine UK, Dwinanda Ardhi, PhD Researcher at King’s College London

11.40-12.20 : Session 1: Research Showcase

Speakers:

Dharu Smaradhana, PhD Candidate, Imperial College London

Rosyid Jazuli, PhD Candidate, University College London

12.20-12.40: QnA Session 1

12.40-12.45: Break

12.45-13.05: Session 2: Reflections on fieldwork

Speaker: Amirah Kaca, DPhil in Public Policy, Oxford University

13.05-13.15: QnA Session 2

13.15-13.20: Closing

13.20-14.00: Networking

SPEAKERS’ PHD RESEARCH

Dharu Smaradhana
PhD Candidate in (Ligno)cellulosic materials, Aeronautics, Imperial College London

Saving the world with empty fruit bunches of oil palm: how is it possible?

Palm oil is frequently criticized due to deforestation concerns, yet it remains the most efficient crop for vegetable oil production, fulfilling 40% of global demand on less than 6% of the land dedicated to vegetable oil cultivation. Opting for alternative oils like soybean, coconut, or sunflower would necessitate much more land, potentially causing further environmental harm. Palm oil’s ubiquity in almost half of all packaged products, ranging from food and personal care to animal feed and biofuels, underscores its indispensability. In response to environmental concerns, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established in 2004 to foster palm oil production that is both sustainable and respectful of forests and communities. However, addressing the issue of waste, especially from empty fruit bunches (EFB), remains a significant challenge.

For every ton of palm oil produced, approximately 1.1 tons of EFB waste is generated. This bulky and moist waste has historically been difficult to manage, with incineration causing pollution and landfill disposal leading to methane emissions, exacerbating greenhouse gas effects.

From a materials engineering perspective, the potential of EFB in transforming the board product industry, such as in the creation of particleboard and fibreboard, is notable. These boards are typically made by mixing wood fibres with synthetic binders like urea-formaldehyde and compressing under heat, which poses environmental and health risks due to their non-biodegradability. EFB fibres offer a sustainable alternative, leveraging cellulose from pulp as a natural binder. This approach not only simplifies the manufacturing process, akin to paper-making, but also ensures the mechanical properties of EFB boards are on par with conventional fibreboards. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies further reveal that EFB boards significantly lower environmental impact, particularly in terms of global warming potential, compared to their traditional counterparts that use fossil-based binders. This innovative utilization of palm oil waste not only aids in climate change mitigation, where we can save our planet, but also promotes a sustainable, circular economy.

Rosyid Jazuli
PhD Candidate in Public Policy, University College London
The complexity of fuel subsidy reform in Indonesia

My research dissects the complex dynamics of reducing/eliminating fuel subsidies in Indonesia, an effort that remains unfinished even after more than 20 years of endeavour. An increasing number of stakeholders agree that fuel subsidies are futile, for example, because the majority of them are enjoyed by the wealthy. The trajectory of this policy is full of political nuances, such as changes in political attitudes of individuals and political parties towards it. Public attitude towards this policy is also not yet at a supportive level. The narrative of the importance of reducing fuel subsidies continues to clash with the political and social mood swings. All these dynamics become a puzzle that must be understood and solved by various parties, especially those who want this wasteful fuel subsidy reduced or eliminated. My research aims to answer the question of why the fuel subsidy, as a status quo, is so ‘sticky’ from the lens of political economy, especially the multiple streams framework popularized by Kingdon (1985). It is hoped that this study will then produce pragmatic and practical policy recommendations on how to eliminate or reduce fuel subsidies effectively in Indonesia.

Amirah Kaca
DPhil (PhD) Candidate in Public Policy, University of Oxford
How complaint-handling reforms affect local governance and public service in Indonesia

Poor public service provision in low and middle-income countries is often attributed to a lack of government accountability and citizen engagement. Therefore, grievance redressal reforms are often recommended to include citizens’ voices and inputs in the service delivery process. Such reform has swept Indonesia in the past decade, with various government institutions establishing complaint-handling systems to receive, manage, and resolve citizen feedback. However, the outcomes of the reform have been mixed, with variations in engagement and responsiveness across institutions and regions.

Looking predominantly at the sub-national level, this research employs a mixed-method approach to understand how complaint-handling reforms affect local governance and public service. The study draws on quantitative text analysis and statistical modelling to analyse 200,000 citizen complaints collected from three platforms (SP4N-LAPOR, LaporGub of Central Java, and ULAS of Surakarta City), to identify common themes of public service concerns as well as patterns of engagement and responsiveness. Additionally, I also draw on elite interviews and case studies to investigate the process and successful factors involved in implementing the reforms.

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Snacks and drinks will be available at the venue. The event is open to Indonesian students from across universities in the UK, not limited to Indonesian PhD students. Registration is required and please only register if you can commit to attending both sessions.

Registration:

https://bit.ly/registrationresearchshowcase