UNDIP, Semarang – The Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), has strengthened its international research culture by inviting Dr. Micah R. Fisher, a researcher from the School of Communication and Information, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, United States. Formerly affiliated with the East-West Center (EWC) in the USA, Dr. Fisher visited FISIP on June 2–3, 2026, as part of the UNDIP Equity Program 2025/2026 under a joint supervision scheme coordinated by Dr. Nurul Hasfi, M.A., a lecturer in the Department of Communication Science.
Through this program, Dr. Fisher provided academic supervision to Master’s students in Communication Science and conducted research on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative forms part of FISIP UNDIP’s efforts to expand international academic networks, enhance research quality, and strengthen its tradition of publishing in reputable scientific journals.
In addition to supervising research, Dr. Fisher served as a speaker in an academic forum for students and faculty members titled “Strengthening Academic Productivity through Research and Publication,” moderated by Dr. Phil. Nuriyatul Lailiyah, S.Sos., M.I.Kom., a lecturer in the Department of Communication Science.
The Dean of FISIP UNDIP, Dr. Drs. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin., expressed appreciation to all parties involved in organizing the event. He particularly thanked Dr. Agus Naryoso, S.Sos., M.Si., Head of the Department of Communication Science; Dr. Nurul Hasfi, M.A., Head of the Media Sociology Research Group; and Dr. Micah R. Fisher for sharing their expertise and academic insights with the FISIP UNDIP community.
“Activities like this are expected to strengthen our academic culture further while enhancing the academic reputation of FISIP UNDIP at both the national and international levels,” said Teguh.
In his remarks, Dr. Agus Naryoso emphasized that a strong academic culture is the foundation of high-quality research. According to him, universities must not only produce scholarly work but also ensure that research has social relevance, scientific contributions, and tangible impacts on society.
He noted that a vibrant research culture grows through traditions of inquiry, discussion, critical examination of ideas, and cross-institutional collaboration. Therefore, the presence of an international researcher such as Dr. Fisher offers an important opportunity to enrich the perspectives of both students and faculty members and to develop more rigorous, contextual, and impactful research.
As Editor-in-Chief of the journal Forest and Society, Dr. Fisher delivered a presentation titled “Making Magic: 10 Keys to Academic Productivity, Quality, and Impact.” He encouraged participants to view research not merely as an academic obligation, but as an intellectual process driven by curiosity, consistency, and a commitment to contributing to society.
According to Dr. Fisher, academic productivity should not be measured solely by the number of publications. Rather, it should be supported by the ability to formulate meaningful research questions, critically examine social issues, and produce scholarly work with both quality and impact.
He emphasized that strong research begins with important questions, which then guide methodological choices, data analysis, interpretation of findings, and the construction of responsible academic arguments. In this way, scientific publications are not merely administrative achievements but become part of academic contributions to science and to the life of society.
Dr. Fisher also shared his experience as a scholar focused on issues of environment, equity, and social change. His previous work at the East-West Center in Honolulu provided a global perspective on how communication research can contribute to addressing environmental issues, advancing social justice, fostering social transformation, and informing public policy governance.
Supervising Master’s Students Researching Energy and Flood Issues in Demak Regency
As part of the program, Dr. Fisher supervised two Master’s students in Communication Science, Suwarno and Kristiyawanto, alongside Dr. Nurul Hasfi. The joint supervision process lasted two months, from March to April 2026, and concluded with an in-person session at FISIP UNDIP, the culminating activity of The Equity Program, which officially ended on June 5, 2026.
The two students conducted research on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), focusing on government renewable energy policies, an area closely aligned with Dr. Fisher’s expertise. In addition, they participated in research and article writing led by Dr. Nurul Hasfi concerning SDG 13 (Climate Action), specifically focusing on media coverage of flooding in Demak Regency.
“Suwarno and Kris are hardworking students with a passion for learning and progress. In addition to researching the SDGs, as required by this program, they also possess excellent analytical skills and have mastered the Discourse Network Analysis (DNA) method we used in these two studies,” he said.
Dr. Nurul explained that the Demak flood study examines the role of media in environmental communication, disaster management, and disaster governance along the northern coast of Central Java. The research analyzes both government and mass-media coverage to understand better how floods are framed, how key actors are represented, and how public communication can support more effective disaster-response coordination.
Beyond the flood study in Demak Regency, Suwarno and Kristiyawanto also received guidance from Dr. Fisher in preparing an academic article titled “Normalizing Green Extractivism in Indonesia: Discourse Network Analysis of Media Coverage on the E10 Bioethanol Policy,” which has been submitted to a reputable international journal.
The study investigates how online media shape public understanding of energy transitions and environmental governance, while exploring how media discourse may reproduce and normalize green extractivist practices within Indonesia’s land-based energy transition. This study also highlights the political communication strategies employed by state actors to promote the E10 bioethanol policy.
Dr. Fisher expressed his admiration for the students’ enthusiasm and the institutional support provided throughout the program. He noted that support from faculty leaders, departments, lecturers, and the broader academic community is essential for building a productive and sustainable research ecosystem.
“I am very excited by the extraordinary enthusiasm and support from the institution, both from the Department of Communication Science and FISIP UNDIP,” said Dr. Fisher.
During his visit, Dr. Fisher also reviewed draft journal articles prepared by members of the Department of Communication Science for submission to reputable international journals. Through this initiative, FISIP UNDIP reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening academic culture, enhancing the quality of scientific publications, and expanding international collaboration networks. Collaboration with researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa forms part of UNDIP’s effort to provide global learning experiences for students while reinforcing its research contributions to important local, national, and international issues.
The spirit of collaboration, academic productivity, and impactful research continues to serve as a foundation for FISIP UNDIP in supporting Universitas Diponegoro’s vision of becoming a world-class university.(Public Communication / FISIP UNDIP / M. Rif’at, edited by Nurul)