Encouraging Multidisciplinary Conversations, IPB University holds 104th IPB Talk on Aquatic Health and the Environment

Bogor, January 24th 2024. In the face of future global health issues, understanding the interconnections between humans, animals, and the environment is highly important. IPB University, in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), USA and Kasertsart University, Thailand held the 104th IPB Talk to facilitate multidisplipinary conversations  in the topic “Aquatic Health and Environment.” This event was initiated as part of the current collaboration between IPB and MSU under the AsiaHub consortium. The discussion was received well by the international community, reaching 250 participants from 16 countries across the globe, among them Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, USA, Philippenes, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, France, Laos, Singapore, Nigeria, Chile, and Tanzania. 

The event featured prominent speakers in the field of aquatic medicine and aquaculture. Following opening by the Vice Rector for Global Connectivity, Collaboration and Alumni, the session started with the presentation by Dr. Win Surachetpong from Kasetsart University on emerging aquatic viruses for Tilapia. Dr. Win raised points that the issues are far more complex since bacteria and parasites can also contribute to high mortality and the need for biosecurity and well placed farm management for controlling these issues. The session was continued with the presentation by Dr. Cahya Fusianto,  a postdoctoral researcher in Michigan State University, who shared the genotypic characterization of Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus (ISKNV) genomes in Southeast Asian Aqauculture. IPB University was represented by Dr. Munti Yuhana, wherein her talk emphasized on the aquaculture perspective, particularsy sharing the recent advances in disease management in shrimp culture. Lastly, Dr. Bartolomeo Gorgoglione complemented the session with a presentation on emerging fish pathogens in North America. He closed his session with an enlightening introduction on aquatic animal medicine clerkships program by MSU available for veterinary medicine students looking into pursuing further experience in aquatic animal medicine.

The session was moderated by Dr. Dordia Rotinsulu, a lecturer from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at IPB University. The discussion was filled with exciting questions and comments by the participants, which led to an engaging and productive discussion involving all the speakers. This event serves as the first of many future collaborative activities in 2024 between IPB and MSU’s AsiaHub, solidifying the shared commitment on advancing partnerships across Asia and the world on the frontiers of knowledge to address global challenges on food and agriculture, education and capacity building, health and nutrition, and environment, water, and energy.