International Seminar: Navigating the (Uncertain) Future ‘How Digital Media Helps Humanity Address Environmental Challenges’
The Department of Communications at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) is collaborating with the School of Creative Industry Management and Performing Arts (SCIMPA) at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) to organise an international seminar on the theme “Navigating the (Uncertain) Future: How Digital Media Helps Humanity Address Environmental Challenges” on 9 July 2026 on the 3rd floor of the Soekiman Wirdjosandjojo Building at UII.
This seminar serves as a forum bringing together academics and students to explore how digital media can foster environmental awareness, inspire collective action, and respond to the complex challenges of the global climate crisis.
This event also marks the eighth year of the ongoing collaboration between the Department of Communications at UII and SCIMPA at UUM. It is hoped that, in addition to academic exchange, this collaboration will also strengthen research, student mobility, and international engagement for both parties.
The two speakers in this session were Iwan Awaluddin Yusuf, Ph.D, from the Department of Communications at UII, who presented a paper entitled “Navigating an Uncertain Future, From Information to Collective Action: Digital Media Activism for Environmental Sustainability in Indonesia”. In his presentation, he explained that environmental issues are not merely ecological challenges but also communication challenges. Using case studies from the Pandawara Group and Mongabay Indonesia, he demonstrated how digital media can transform information into collective action by combining narrative, public participation, and data journalism. He emphasised that public awareness, coupled with sustained collaboration, is key to achieving meaningful environmental change.
The second presentation was delivered by Dr Syamsul Hirdi Bin Muhid from SCIMPA UUM, entitled “The Dynamics of Creative Destruction: Navigating Environmental Crises in the Malaysian Entertainment Industry from an Economic Perspective”. His study examined the environmental implications of the transition in the entertainment industry (from physical media to digital streaming platforms). Although digitalisation reduces reliance on physical materials, it turns out that digital streaming actually increases energy consumption through data centres and digital infrastructure. He urged relevant policymakers, industry practitioners, and academics to develop innovations that integrate technology and renewable energy.
The international seminar was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences at UII, Irawan Jati, Ph.D., who emphasised that the seminar’s theme addresses one of the most pressing issues in today’s global context.
“This topic is highly relevant to today’s global challenges. Climate change reminds us that we are all vulnerable, and digital media has become an important platform for transforming environmental knowledge into collective action,” he said.
He also noted that the collaboration between the two institutions would strengthen their commitment and create opportunities for broader interdisciplinary cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Department of Communications at UII stated that, in the eighth year of this collaboration, the hope is to combine research strengths and disseminate information to the public in order to tackle contemporary issues.
“This year marks our eighth year of collaboration with Universiti Utara Malaysia. Although new global challenges continue to emerge, our objective remains the same: to combine our strengths in research and public dissemination to address contemporary issues,” he explained.
He also highlighted the importance of equipping the younger generation to cope with global uncertainty.
“Anxiety has become one of the defining challenges for Generation Z. Political uncertainty, global conflicts and climate change continue to shape their lives. Rather than asking who created these problems, we should focus on becoming part of the solution,” he added.
A representative of the Dean of SCIMPA at UUM, Dr Ahmad Hisham Bin Zainal Abidin, expressed his appreciation for the ongoing partnership. “We highly value the friendship that has grown through this partnership. Beyond student mobility, our collaboration continues to strengthen research, academic exchange and international engagement between our institutions,” he said.
He added that the seminar illustrates how international partnerships can generate meaningful academic impact.
“Today’s seminar demonstrates how international partnerships create meaningful opportunities for our institutions. By working together, we can move towards the future with greater confidence,” he emphasised.
The seminar concluded with an interactive discussion on the role of communication, digital media, and international collaboration in addressing environmental challenges. Building on seven years of partnership, UII and UUM reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaborative initiatives in education, research, and academic mobility, whilst preparing students to contribute to sustainable development in an increasingly interconnected world.
