Semarang, 20 November 2025 — The Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), organized the Indonesian Membrane Expert Workshop on Thursday, 20 November 2025, from 09:00 to 12:00 WIB, held at the Senate Meeting Room, 3rd Floor, Prof. Ir. Eko Budiharjo, M.Sc. Building, Faculty of Engineering, UNDIP. The workshop served as a strategic forum for Indonesian membrane experts to strengthen national coordination and to initiate the establishment of an official scientific community for membrane research in Indonesia.
The workshop was attended by senior academics and researchers in membrane technology, including Prof. Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, B.Eng., M.Sc., Ph.D. from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; Prof. Ir. Tutuk Djoko Kusworo, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. (Universitas Diponegoro); Prof. Dr. Yusuf Wibisono (Universitas Brawijaya); Prof. Dr. Eng. Muhamad Nasir (BRIN); Dr. Triyanda, S.Si., M.Si. and Prof. Hamzah Fansuri, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D. (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember); as well as UNDIP faculty members Dani Puji Utomo, S.T., M.T., Titik Istirokhatun, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., Prof. Ir. Purnawan Adi W., S.T., M.T., Ph.D., and Prof. Ir. Nita Aryanti, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. The workshop also involved representatives of master’s and doctoral students specializing in membrane research, as part of regeneration and sustainability efforts within the research community, namely Dr. Dita Aulia Azizah, S.T., M.T., Meitri Bella Puspa, S.T., M.T., and Aravi Zalsa Ramadhan, S.T.
During the main discussion session, Prof. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, as Chairman of the Malaysia Membrane Society (MyMembrane) and Vice President of the Aseanian Membrane Society (AMS), presented an overview of AMS membership conditions, including organizational issues faced by membrane groups in Hong Kong that were unable to join AMS due to the absence of national legal recognition. This case provided an important lesson for Indonesia on the urgency of establishing a membrane organization with formal recognition from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia.
The workshop then focused specifically on discussing the stages required for the establishment and official recognition of the Indonesian Membrane Society (MembranID). It was agreed that legal recognition from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights is a strategic prerequisite for MembranID to gain acknowledgment at the national level, within Southeast Asia (including the International Conference on Membrane Science and Technology – MST), and internationally through the Aseanian Membrane Society (AMS). Key points discussed included the preparation of a notarial deed and ministerial decree, the formulation of the Articles of Association and Bylaws, and the establishment of an organizational structure comprising a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer, and supervisory board. The discussion, moderated by senior experts, also addressed estimated timelines and costs for legal registration, as well as strategies to enhance the national and international visibility of Indonesia’s membrane research community.
Workshop participants further emphasized the importance of mapping membrane experts and flagship research topics across institutions, improving the efficiency of scientific activities through the integration of workshops and seminars, and strengthening inter-institutional research collaboration. It was also highlighted that the establishment of MembranID is expected to serve as a national hub for membrane research collaboration, contributing to the strengthening of the domestic membrane industry and reducing dependence on imported membrane technologies.
As the main outcome of the workshop, several strategic decisions were agreed upon, including the determination of the initial organizational structure of MembranID, a three-year term of office for the management board, the designation of the organizational secretariat at the Membrane Center of Excellence (PUI Membran), Universitas Diponegoro, and the formal adoption of the organizational name MembranID. A series of follow-up meetings has also been planned through mid-2026 to ensure the timely completion of internal approval processes and legal registration.
Through the organization of the Indonesian Membrane Expert Workshop, the Department of Chemical Engineering UNDIP reaffirmed its role as a key node in the development of scientific knowledge and national networking in membrane technology. This initiative is expected to serve as a strong initial step toward building a solid, globally competitive Indonesian membrane community capable of making tangible contributions to scientific advancement, industrial development, and national needs.