The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced four Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) between Indonesian and American scientists. Administered by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, these four research partnership grants will gather evidence to inform policy and management decisions in: peatland restoration; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education; environmental changes and natural disasters in metropolitan areas; and tuna stock management.

The United States is proud to foster cutting-edge research between Indonesian and American scientists, said Acting Mission Director Ryan Washburn. USAID believes that with the power of science, technology, innovation, and partnerships, we can develop breakthrough solutions together to address the most challenging global issues.

The four research projects that will examine current challenges facing the Indonesian people are:

• Name of Project: Developing Biodiverse Agroforests on Rewetted Peatlands in Indonesia
  Principal Investigator: Dr. Sonya Dewi
  Indonesian Partners: (1) Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Forest Research and Development Centre (FRDC); (2) Agency for Research Development & Innovation, the Ministry of Environment & Forestry of Indonesia; and (3) Forestry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Palangka Raya (UPR)
  US Partner: Randall Kolka
  US Institution: USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station
• Name of Project: Integrating Integrated Science-Literacy Enactments (ISLE) in Integrated Science Instruction to Improve Science Teacher’s Abilities on STEM Education
  Principal Investigator: Dr Irwandi
  Indonesian Partner: Syiah Kuala University
  US Partner: Eugenia Etkina
  US Institution: Graduate School of Education, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• Name of Project: Delineating Stock Structure for Tuna Fish within Sulu Sulawesi Regions
  Principal Investigator: Dr Ida Ayu Astarini
  Indonesian Institution: UDAYANA University and BIONESIA
  US Institutions: National Systematics Lab of the NOAA Fisheries Service, and Smithsonian Institution
• Name of Project: Converging Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies into Agglomeration Policy for Coastal Metropolitan Planning
  Principal Investigator: Dr. Harkunti Pertiwi Rahayu
  Indonesian Institution: Bandung Institute of Technology
  US Partner: Louise K. Comfort
  US Institution: University of Pittsburgh

This is the sixth cycle of the PEER grants program.  The four Indonesian research grants were selected from over 450 proposals submitted from around the world this year.

The 2017 USAID PEER funding cycle is open and currently accepting applications. Interested candidates should submit research proposals to address gaps in scientific knowledge and critical areas of development in Indonesia. For the seventh cycle, PEER will award grants to selected proposals for up to two years and $200,000. The final deadline for proposal submission is January 12, 2018.

To read more about USAID PEER grants, visit http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/PEER/PGA_181417.