As part of its commitment to strengthening international academic collaboration, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), successfully hosted The 1st Global Conference on Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources Innovation for Sustainable Development (GREENOVA) 2026 on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, at Aston Inn Pandanaran, Semarang City, Indonesia. The inaugural international conference served as a scientific platform that brought together academics, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from various countries to exchange ideas and promote innovation in support of sustainable development.
The conference was officially opened by the Rector of Universitas Negeri Semarang, Prof. Dr. S. Martono, M.Si., followed by a report from the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Rifa’ Atunnisa, Ph.D., from the Undergraduate Environmental Science Study Program, FMIPA UNNES. In her remarks, she emphasized that GREENOVA was designed as a multidisciplinary forum that connects academics, researchers, practitioners, government representatives, and industry to develop innovative solutions for sustainable development. She also expressed her appreciation to all partners, keynote and invited speakers, participants, and committee members for their contributions to the successful organization of this inaugural international conference.
GREENOVA 2026 was organized by FMIPA UNNES as the host institution in collaboration with IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Malaysia, as co-hosts. This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of the three institutions to strengthening international research networks and generating scientific solutions to address global environmental challenges. The conference was also supported by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) through the Equity Program, which aims to foster international collaboration and enhance the quality of Indonesian research.
A total of 108 participants, including presenters and attendees, took part in GREENOVA 2026. In addition to participants from Indonesia, the conference welcomed authors and presenters from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, India, Kenya, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. The diversity of participants reflects FMIPA UNNES’ expanding international academic network and its growing role in fostering global research collaboration.
Under the theme of environmental, energy, and natural resources innovation for sustainable development, GREENOVA 2026 featured keynote speakers from leading universities around the world. The keynote session commenced with Prof. Nathan G. Swenson from the University of Notre Dame, USA, who presented The Functional Underpinnings of Forest Dynamics: Traits, ‘Omics and Individuals. This was followed by Prof. Rajkishore Nayak from RMIT University, Vietnam, who delivered a presentation entitled Sustainable Fashion Journeys Using Biomaterials and Waste Valorization, highlighting the use of biomaterials and waste valorization strategies to promote a more sustainable fashion industry. The final keynote presentation was delivered by Prof. Dr. Hadi Susilo Arifin from IPB University on Landscape Ecology and Environmental Management Approaches: Hydrology and Sustainable Water Resources Research, emphasizing the importance of landscape ecology and environmental management in supporting hydrological conservation and sustainable water resource management.
In addition to the keynote sessions, GREENOVA 2026 featured distinguished invited speakers, including Assoc. Prof. Apichat Upaichit from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand; Prof. Sri Kadarwati, Ph.D. from FMIPA UNNES; Prof. Dr. Prabang Setyono from Universitas Sebelas Maret; and Prof. Dr. Nadiroh from Universitas Negeri Jakarta. The participation of Prof. Prabang Setyono and Prof. Nadiroh, representing the Indonesian Association of Environmental Science Study Programs (PEPSILI), further strengthened collaboration among Environmental Science study programs in advancing education, research, and community engagement in Indonesia.
As an international scientific forum, GREENOVA 2026 not only served as a venue for disseminating research findings but also created opportunities for international collaboration in developing technologies, policies, and innovations related to the environment, energy, and natural resources. The conference contributed to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
As part of its commitment to promoting high-quality scientific publications, selected papers presented at GREENOVA 2026 will be published in several reputable journals and international proceedings, including the Journal of Indonesian Science Education (JPII), Biosaintifika, Jurnal Presipitasi, and the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (IOP EES). These publications are expected to broaden the dissemination of research findings and enhance the contribution of Indonesian scientists in addressing global environmental challenges.
Through the successful organization of The 1st GREENOVA 2026, FMIPA UNNES has further strengthened its commitment to building international academic partnerships, producing impactful research, and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration to support sustainable development. Looking ahead, GREENOVA is expected to become a recurring international conference that continues to strengthen FMIPA UNNES’ role as a center of excellence in scientific research, innovation, and global collaboration in the fields of environment, energy, and natural resources.
