David Scholefield (Semester 38/Feb 2014 & Semester 39/Aug 2014), an ACICIS alumni who completed his year in Indonesia with one semester on the Flexible Language Immersion Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta and one semester on the West Java Field Study program at Universitas Payahangan in Bandung. As a part of the West Java Field Study program David completed a thesis on rehabilitation, advocacy, and conservation of orangutans in Borneo.
On Thursday 1 October 2015, the Indonesian Student Association of Australia (PPIA), Division of Academic and Research at the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth, David Scholefield discussed his experience studying in two prestigious universities in Indonesia while researching orangutans.
He said:
“I came to understand the magnitude of the challenges of environmental management in Indonesia when compared to Australia. With a population 11 times Australia’s population; certainly the challenge can not be equated.”
After his time in Indonesia with ACICIS, David has a broader perspective on the issue of Indonesia and orangutans.
To read more about David’s views on orangutans in Indonesia, please read the full article at Antara News.