From coral reef conservation to climate resilience: Turning Indonesia's marine wealth into global impact

For Dr. Jamaluddin Jompa, the ocean has never been simply a subject of scientific study. He was born in Takalar, a coastal region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and his connection with the sea was forged early. Witnessing the degradation of Indonesia's coastal waters made him wonder: What happens when the ecological relationships that sustain marine ecosystems begin to break down and, more importantly, can they be restored?

More than three decades later, that question has taken him from the biology of coral–algal competition to large-scale reef rehabilitation, and from biodiversity monitoring using environmental DNA (eDNA) to artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled acoustic monitoring.

Today, as rector of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) and professor of marine ecology, he continues to pursue a vision that extends beyond individual discoveries. "Building a holistic approach to marine conservation has always been my underlying motivation," says Jompa.

His goal is outcome-driven—using science to identify and understand the problem, building technology to solve it, launching restoration projects that work and establishing policies that protect both the environment and the communities that rely on it.

From student of aquaculture to leader in marine research

Jompa began his academic journey in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in aquaculture at UNHAS. He went on to pursue a master's in marine ecology and management at McMaster University in Canada, followed by a doctorate in marine biology at James Cook University in Australia.

These experiences shaped his holistic approach to marine conservation. As Jompa puts it, "I wanted to understand why reefs degrade, prove that we can restore them, create new tools to monitor them, and ultimately shape the policies that govern them."

Today, his research spans marine ecology, coral reef ecosystems, marine conservation and climate change resilience. At UNHAS, he leads the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Sustainability (CORES) Research Group, where his team works across the scientific value chain—from understanding basic ecological processes to implementing ecosystem restoration and developing new approaches for biodiversity monitoring.

This breadth of research builds on Jompa's longstanding scientific work. Early in his research career, he investigated the mechanistic interactions of coral–algal competition, demonstrating how factors like nutrient availability and herbivory influence reef health. But understanding why reef health declines was only part of the challenge. The next question was whether damaged ecosystems could be restored.

This question led to a large-scale experiment in ecological restoration at the Badi islands. Using the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System, Jompa and his collaborators transformed severely degraded coral rubble into a thriving ecosystem, achieving more than 60% coral cover and demonstrating restoration at a conservation scale.

This work matters beyond coral itself. Coral reefs anchor marine ecosystems and the food webs that sustain coastal fisheries and livelihoods. Restoring reefs therefore means restoring part of the ecological infrastructure that supports coastal societies.

The role of DNA, sound and AI in reef restoration

Jompa's research has continued to evolve as emerging technologies create new ways of viewing and listening to the ocean. One recent direction combines eDNA metabarcoding with conventional visual surveys to understand reef biodiversity.

Working across 147 reef sites in the Wallacea region, the researchers are using this approach to generate information that can support marine spatial planning. eDNA offers an additional window into marine ecosystems by allowing researchers to detect traces of organisms from environmental samples. For conservation planners, such information can help reveal patterns of biodiversity and identify areas that may warrant greater protection.

His team is also exploring a very different ecological signal—sound. Healthy marine ecosystems have characteristic acoustic environments, or "soundscapes."

By combining ecoacoustics with AI, the researchers are developing noninvasive approaches to monitor reef conditions and evaluate whether restoration is succeeding. Instead of relying entirely on repeated physical surveys, scientists and managers could potentially use the sounds produced by reef ecosystems as another indicator of ecological health.

This integrated approach highlights what makes Jompa's work unique: a determination to bridge disciplines that rarely talk to each other. He brings marine biology together with molecular genetics, blends ecology with AI and connects restoration science to engineering. The goal behind all of this is practical: giving scientists, governments and local communities the tools they need to map and protect marine ecosystems.

Thinking beyond discovery

For Jompa, the true impact of scientific research is measured not only by scientific publications but by the change they bring. "In the short term, our research provides actionable methodologies and innovations for conservation and industry," he said. "In the long term, our work is about securing coastal resilience and the blue economy."

His team's eDNA and spatial prioritization work directly supports governments in designing more effective marine protected areas, while AI-driven ecoacoustic monitoring offers a potentially cost-effective and noninvasive way to continuously monitor reef health.

Beyond conservation, his research also extends into aquaculture and the emerging blue economy, translating marine science into concrete products. One example is a seaweed extract from Halymenia sp. developed as an immunostimulant feed to protect farmed shrimp against the white spot syndrome virus. Another example is the development of high-protein nori, with the potential to generate new opportunities for local economic activity.

These ventures reflect a broader philosophy: Marine science should not be isolated from the economies and communities that depend on the sea.

In the long term, Jompa views reef rehabilitation as an investment in coastal resilience. Healthier reefs can help restore marine food webs, support sustainable fisheries and contribute to food security, while evidence-based conservation policies can help coastal communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Science for a sustainable future

Jompa's work contributes to a broader vision of a sustainable future—one aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The strongest connection is with SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Coral reef restoration, biodiversity monitoring, marine spatial planning and strengthened marine protection all directly contribute to its objectives.

The work also advances SDG 13 (Climate Action), particularly through efforts to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable coastal ecosystems to climate change.

The international collaborations underpinning Jompa's work also reflect the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), bringing together universities, governments, researchers, industry and international organizations to address challenges that cannot be solved by one discipline or institution alone.

A career shaped by UNHAS

Jompa's relationship with UNHAS spans nearly the length of his research career.

He joined the university as an undergraduate student in 1989, later returning through successive academic and leadership roles. His career at UNHAS has included positions as lecturer, head of the Center for Coral Reef Studies, dean of the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, and dean of the Graduate School. He is now serving his second term as rector, from 2026 to 2030.

For Jompa, the university's location itself is a scientific advantage. Situated within Indonesia's maritime landscape and close to the Wallacea region and Coral Triangle—a global epicenter of tropical marine biodiversity—UNHAS provides a strategic setting for research into some of the world's richest and most ecologically important marine environments. According to Jompa, the university has supported his vision for interdisciplinary, high-impact research and provided the platform to establish centers of excellence like MaRSAVE and the CORES Research Group.

Beyond institutional support, UNHAS has enabled Jompa to build international research collaborations—from EU Horizon projects to partnerships with the Australia-Indonesia Center and The Pew Charitable Trusts—helping bring Indonesian marine science to the global stage.

Building the next generation of scientists and leaders

Jompa's ambitions now extend beyond his own research, toward nurturing agile, globally competitive leaders who are deeply grounded in solving the complex socioecological challenges of the maritime nation.

As a former chairman of the Indonesian Young Academy of Sciences and an active member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, he has contributed to the SAINS45 national science agenda, advocating an approach in which science should "explain, restore, govern, and empower."

At UNHAS, that philosophy is reflected in an emphasis on multidisciplinary innovation. Students and young researchers are encouraged to combine traditional marine biology with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, molecular genetics (eDNA) and precision engineering. Projects such as the UNHAS Sprayer-Spreader Drone exemplify this broader approach to technology-driven problem-solving.

According to Jompa, young scientists must know how to bridge different disciplines and, crucially, how to bridge the gap between science and society. He constantly urges young researchers not to let their findings stay locked away in labs or academic journals, but to bring them into the real world. "You must translate your findings to policymakers, industries, and the communities who need them the most," he says.

The next frontier: Restoring the Coral Triangle

Looking ahead, Jompa envisions eDNA, AI-based ecoacoustics and large-scale modular restoration becoming global standards for protecting the Coral Triangle from climate change.

As rector, he has an equally ambitious institutional goal: to strengthen UNHAS as a world-class research institution with global leadership in tropical, marine and medical sciences.

But perhaps the most revealing measure of his legacy is not a particular technology, restoration project or publication. It is the ecosystem of people and institutions that can continue the work. Jompa aspires to create an enduring institutional environment in which Indonesian science contributes directly to national resilience and sustainable development.

Throughout his career, Jompa's approach has never wavered: understanding the ecosystem, finding practical ways to restore it, building the required tools and frameworks, translating that evidence into policies, and making sure the people living along the coast are driving the solution.

At the heart of this vision is a belief that Indonesia's extraordinary marine wealth can become more than something to preserve. It can be the foundation for a resilient, sustainable and prosperous future—one in which rigorous science helps restore the ocean while empowering the communities whose lives are inseparable from it.