The Department of Anthropology, FISIP Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), through the Cultural and Physical Anthropology Laboratory (Lab MaBuRag), has officially initiated the Jatim Melaju 2026 Collaborative Research (Riskolab). This community service program, centered in Ngadirejo Village, Pasuruan Regency, launched on Friday (10/07/2026) with a primary focus on preserving the ecology of springs and the downstreaming of a green economy based on local wisdom.
Led by Prof. Dr. H. Muhammad Adib, Drs., M.A. as the host researcher from UNAIR, the study also partners with academic institutions UIN Kediri and UIN Tulungagung. This cross-sector synergy aims to formulate real solutions to the environmental and educational challenges faced by the indigenous Bromo Tengger community, while turning the local village into a living laboratory for economic independence.
Prof. Adib emphasized that this collaborative research is not only academically oriented but must directly impact the welfare of residents. One concrete plan of this green economy downstreaming is to channel economic yields into educational scholarship programs for the youth of Ngadirejo Village, ensuring that environmental conservation goes hand in hand with human resource development.
The Head of Ngadirejo Village, Muliono, expressed full support for the academics' initiative. The village government highly hopes that this research can yield recommendations for legal protection regulations for at least 62 spring points in their region, which have not yet been officially documented by the state.
On the other hand, the potential of these dozens of water springs is also considered to be rich in the spiritual and cultural values of the Tengger community. Local community leaders hope that this ecological protection can eventually be developed into a religious and health educational tourism destination that can provide peace of mind while driving the local economy in a sustainable manner.
