PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release | 2 September, 2021
The Jakarta-based Center for Islamic Studies Universitas Nasional (PPI Unas) won a John Templeton Foundation grant to specifically help strengthen environmental education among Muslim youth in Indonesia, and more broadly promote Islamic teachings on the environment and climate change.
Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse nations in the world but its natural areas and wildlife are under extreme threat. According to Pew Research Center, 85% of the world population affiliates with a religion or spiritual tradition, yet engagement of faith communities on one of the most pressing issues of our time, the environmental crisis, has been minimal until recent years. The PPI Unas has a solid track record of working with Indonesia’s leading clerics and conservationists to strengthen understanding of Islamic teachings related to the environment and climate change.
Dr Fachruddin Mangunjaya, chairman of the Centre and an environmentalist, author and expert on Islam and environment, thanked John Templeton Foundation for the grant:
“This support by the Foundation will further promote the synergy between religion and scientific knowledge on the protecting the environment; it will showcase best practices within communities including Islamic boarding schools.”
Moreover, “the project will spur Muslims to positively contribute to finding lasting solutions to various environmental problems, including climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic that impact communities world over”, added Dr Mangunjaya.
The Project commences from this month and will run for three years. Unas Rector, Dr El Amry Bermawi Putra, congratulated Dr Mangunjaya and his team for securing the Templeton Foundation grant, “This is an extraordinary effort to protect the living environment; we commend and congratulate PPI Unas for this achievement.”
[Ends]
Notes to editors:
1.The Center for Islamic Studies Universitas Nasional (PPI Unas), based in Jakarta, Indonesia, works to explore and disseminate Islamic treasures in advancing science as a modality for the advancement of human civilisation. The Centre’s work is aligned with the John Templeton Foundation’s support for public engagement. The project at hand seeks to help Muslim leaders, scholars and youth in Indonesia learn and dialogue with these values and principles by linking them to science and Islam. For further information about the work of the Centre or the Project visit https://ppi.unas.ac.id/ or see contact details below. Pictures of the work by the Centre available on request.
2.(Bio) Dr Fachruddin Mangunjaya is the Chairman of PPI Unas. An author, eco-activist and expert on Islam and environment, he has a long tenure of leading projects in collaboration with conservation NGOs, the MUI and academia, both within Indonesia and beyond. He is the author of several books including The Last Generation and Conservation in Islam. He has participated in ground-breaking global Islamic environmental initiatives including the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change, and the Mizan, guiding documents for global Muslims on caring for nature. Full bio available here: http://www.drfachruddin.com/about-me/.
3.For queries or interviews, contact Yesi Maryam, Communications Officer at PPI Unas. Tel. +6281212470477. Email: yesi.maryam@gmail.com
PRESS RELEASE
- ENGLISH [Final] PR – PPI UNAS GRANT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
- BAHASA [FINAL] PR – PPI UNAS HIBAH UNTUK LINGKUNGAN_IND copy
