^{26 November 2025}

Professor Stella Christie (centre front), Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, recently visited Makassar, seeing firsthand how research and community-informed innovations aim to improve physical and environmental health.

The purpose of the visit was to see RISE’s implementation in Makassar involving a 75-minute tour of the intervention sites, followed by a stop at the RISE Laboratory at Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS).

Professor Christie observed key components of the RISE water-and-sanitation system, including the constructed wetland, upgraded pathways, local drainage solutions, and household toilets. She asked detailed questions about the system’s engineering and reach - reflecting a strong interest in how research translates into scalable, real-world solutions.

^{(Above) “Programs like RISE show that research does not stop in the laboratory, but truly addresses real societal issues,” said Professor Stella Christie, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.}

At UNHAS, Professor Christie praised the RISE approach. “I really appreciate how UNHAS combines research with real action in the field,” she said. “Programs like RISE show that research does not stop in the laboratory, but truly addresses real societal issues.”

Although the tour was made at short notice, local residents expressed pride in hosting a national-level visitor. One resident shared that she was pleased to know representatives from the central government were taking interest in her community.

The Deputy Minister noted that the central government is already engaged with the RISE program. She added that, should the research findings prove significant, the RISE approach could be considered by central authorities as a model for scaling to other informal settlements nationwide.