Salsa Muafiroh | Social Sciences | Young Scientist Award
Ms. Salsa Muafiroh, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
Salsa Mu’afiroh is a dynamic and passionate geography scholar from Universitas Indonesia, currently enrolled in a fast-track Master of Geography Science program. With over 7 years of combined academic and practical experience, she excels in GIS analysis, sustainable development, and cultural heritage studies. Salsa has served as a Research Assistant, Project Coordinator, and intern at UNESCO, contributing significantly to various national and international initiatives. Her leadership roles include being President of both the Geography Study Club and the Student Research and Creativity Club at Universitas Indonesia. Known for her analytical skills and project management expertise, she has presented at prestigious conferences and published impactful research in Scopus-indexed journals. Salsa is also a multi-award-winning student recognized for her academic excellence, community service, and innovative research contributions. Her commitment to disaster risk reduction, urban heritage preservation, and sustainability reflects her dedication to using geography as a tool for transformative social and environmental impact.
Publication Profile
Education
Salsa Mu’afiroh is currently pursuing a fast-track Master of Geography Science at Universitas Indonesia (Aug 2024 – Jul 2025), following the successful completion of her Bachelor of Geography at the same university (Aug 2020 – Jul 2024). During her undergraduate studies, she was named the Most Outstanding Student of FMIPA UI 2023 and received the prestigious Beasiswa Unggulan from Bank Indonesia. Her academic journey is marked by an exceptional blend of research, fieldwork, and leadership. Salsa has represented her institution as a presenter at over three international conferences, showcasing her research in geography, disaster management, and sustainability. Her education has been enriched by intensive training in GIS, cultural mapping, satellite image analysis, and policy research. Through a strong academic foundation and early integration of postgraduate-level research, she demonstrates a commitment to solving real-world issues, particularly in the fields of human geography, sustainable urban planning, and disaster resilience across Southeast Asia.
Experience
Salsa Mu’afiroh brings robust experience in research, project management, and international collaboration. Currently serving as a Research Intern at UNESCO’s Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, she assesses risks to 61 ASEAN heritage sites. Earlier, she worked as a Research Assistant on a Universitas Indonesia grant project, where she managed data operations, analyzed satellite imagery, and contributed to publications and conference presentations. As Project Officer for a cartography seminar hosted by the Jakarta Maritime Museum, she organized large-scale events and ensured cross-sector collaboration. Salsa also led as Project Coordinator for the Ministry of Culture’s international heritage initiative, authoring research cited in policy and academic works. Her leadership roles include presiding over Universitas Indonesia’s Geography Study Club and PKM Center. These experiences highlight her proficiency in GIS, DRR policy, heritage mapping, and sustainable development communication—making her a valuable contributor in academic, government, and NGO settings.
Awards and Honors
Salsa Mu’afiroh is a highly decorated student, earning multiple national and international honors. She was named the Most Outstanding Student II of FMIPA UI in 2023 and Most Outstanding Student of the Geography Department in 2022. She won 1st Place in several National Scientific Paper Competitions held by Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Universitas Negeri Makassar, and Universitas Mulawarman. At the international level, she secured 3rd Place in the ASEAN Geospatial Challenge 2023 and 1st Place in an International Scientific Paper Competition at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Salsa was recognized for excellence in presentation and research at major conferences such as the American Institute for Indonesian Studies and the South East ASEAN Surveyor Congress. Her work has been honored with Best Paper and Best Poster awards and has consistently been supported through merit-based scholarships such as Beasiswa Unggulan Bank Indonesia, reflecting her outstanding academic and leadership achievements.
Research Focus
Salsa Mu’afiroh’s research is deeply rooted in human geography, with a special focus on urban heritage, disaster risk reduction (DRR), sustainable development, and GIS-based environmental planning. She has applied advanced spatial analysis techniques—like AHP and SMCE modeling—to assess land use, solar farm suitability, and biomass stock. Her work intersects policy and practice, especially in mapping vulnerabilities in heritage sites against disasters such as tsunamis. Salsa’s innovative use of GAN-based mapping in cultural cartography showcases her integration of AI in spatial research. She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and often aligns her projects with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her recent research with UNESCO investigates DRR strategies across ASEAN’s UNESCO heritage sites. She is also involved in the development of geospatial tools and educational resources for urban cultural preservation. Her ultimate goal is to bridge academic research and community needs through geospatial intelligence, contributing meaningfully to regional resilience and heritage conservation.
Publication Top Notes
📘 Biomass Stock Estimation Using Landsat 8 Imagery in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Riau (2024)
📘 Mapping the Exposure of Developed Land to Tsunami in Supporting Disaster Mitigation in Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta (2023)
📘 GIS-Based Suitability Analysis for PV Solar Farm Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (2023)
📘 SMCE Model for Commercial Areas Suitability in Serang City (2022)
📘 Analisis Ekonomi Daerah Kabupaten Garut dalam Upaya Mendukung Ekonomi Digital SDGs 2030 (2022)
📘 Optimalisasi Pemanfaatan Bekatul (Rice Bran) dan Ampas Tahu Menjadi Siomay sebagai Makanan Diet Sehat Rendah Lemak (2021)