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UNAIR NEWS – The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), ������ (UNAIR), hosted a guest lecture titled “Carbon and Spring Water Downstreaming: Future Business Opportunities Rooted in Environmental Ethics and Educational Equity in Rural East Java.” The event was held at Adi Sukadana Hall on Thursday, June 4, 2026, and was moderated by Prof. Dr. H. Mohammad Adib, Drs., M.A.

Prof. Adib, who oversees the Business Anthropology course and coordinates the Human, Culture, and Physicality Laboratory (Lab. MaBuRag), said the event was designed to strengthen connections between academic anthropology and the professional world. He expressed hope that Anthropology graduates would not only succeed as professionals and entrepreneurs but also create employment opportunities for others.

During the lecture, Prof. Adib also discussed preparations for a research initiative supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on climate action. The collaborative project, known as Riskolab, is one of 53 studies selected under the Riset Kolaborasi Indonesia Jatim Melaju 2026 program. The research examines how green economic initiatives in the Bromo region can transform spring-water ecosystems and carbon sequestration efforts into scholarship endowment funds for rural communities.

“Every course in the Anthropology program should contribute to developing graduates as researchers. Riskolab serves as a practical laboratory for creating solutions at the village level. By converting environmental assets into economic value, we can help communities thrive, and these four guest lecture sessions are among the first steps in that process,” Prof. Adib said.

The featured speaker was Moch Ali Irsyad, S.I.Kom., Ch., CHT, a FISIP UNAIR alumnus and the chairman and founder of Ijad Group Holding Company. Irsyad has also earned scholarships to study at three internationally renowned institutions: Stanford University, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Yale University.

Also attending the event was Prof. Dr. Rustinsyah, Dra., M.Si., who praised Irsyad’s accomplishments despite challenging global economic conditions. “Ijad’s professional track record is impressive and reflects years of dedication alongside his team. Even amid economic uncertainty, you have continued to identify opportunities for growth and progress,” he said.

Also attending the event was Prof. Dr. Rustinsyah, Dra., M.Si., who praised Irsyad’s accomplishments despite challenging global economic conditions. “Ijad’s professional track record is impressive and reflects years of dedication alongside his team. Even amid economic uncertainty, you have continued to identify opportunities for growth and progress,” he said.

Irsyad highlighted the strong connection between anthropology and entrepreneurship. According to him, ethnographic methods taught in anthropology provide valuable tools for understanding customers and gaining a comprehensive perspective on real-world conditions.

He also recounted his entrepreneurial journey, which began in high school through a livestock trading business focused on sacrificial animals for Eid al-Adha. Later, while attending university, he secured US$1 million in foreign investment by demonstrating a strong understanding of investor expectations and priorities.

Irsyad said empathy is one of the most important qualities for building relationships and earning trust. He credited that mindset with helping him secure scholarships to Stanford University and pursue further studies at NUS and Yale University.

“Empathy is the foundation of success and a core aspect of being human. Without empathy, we cannot create meaningful solutions. Don’t think about yourself first, consider how your actions can benefit others,” Irsyad said. Today, he leads a holding company with 50 subsidiaries operating across the clothing, food, and housing sectors.

Discussing environmentally responsible business practices, Irsyad emphasized the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, which align closely with Prof. Adib’s carbon-focused research. Through his company, he supports carbon sequestration initiatives by empowering farmers and managing 500 hectares of social forestry land in Trawas using an Agro-Silvo-Pastoral model. The approach combines carbon-absorbing vegetation, vegetable cultivation, coffee production, and livestock farming while preserving forest ecosystems and generating economic opportunities for local communities.

“Creating business is good, but it loses its purpose if the planet can no longer sustain life. ESG represents our responsibility to both nature and society,” he said.

Author: Nasywa Kaffa and Michael Anggi Hutauruk

Editor: Yulia Rohmawati