Scholarship / Planning career as a lecturer. Australia Awards Scholarship 2019/2020 - Supporting Statement [3]

Hello! I hope someone will help me with this supporting statement. Thank you!

How will the proposed study contribute to your career*? (max. 400 words)

air pollution in Jakarta

I have become an assistant lecturer at Diponegoro University for almost 3 years. With this background, I am planning to have a future career as a lecturer. There is a wonderful sensation every time I successfully taught other people about something they do not understand. I always want to have expertise in air pollution control. The urgencies to examine this issue is influenced by the fact that human activities have led many air pollutions which can cause a serious health risk.

According to IQAir (2018), the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Jakarta has reached 45.3 µg/m3, four times bigger than the WHO standard with only 10 µg/m3. Furthermore, it makes Jakarta as a city with the worst air quality in Southeast Asia. Greenpeace (2019) stated that this condition is triggered by the increase of private vehicle in every day. In addition, another source of pollution like coal-powered electricity plant also contributes 33-38% of PM2.5 concentration in Jakarta. PM2.5 is the mixture of gas and solid particle with 2.5 micrometres of diameter, floated freely in the air. As a carcinogenic particle, it increases the risk of lung cancer, stroke, heart attack, and asthma (Chai et al, 2019). Based on Thayaparan (2014), besides resolving the impacted area, it is also necessary to have the role of a lecturer to spread awareness and conduct research about it as an act of prevention.

Master of Environmental Science in UniSA gives freedom to its student for choosing their own modules. Therefore, I can arrange several modules so that it can be dominated by air pollution control. Meanwhile, my career plan is also affected by the fact that there have been 22 lecturers in Environmental Engineering of Diponegoro University, but only 1 person that has a focus on air pollution control issue. Thus, this condition creates a marvellous chance for me to become a lecturer in this place with my desired field of interest.