Extending the role of coach in educational research to develop young geoscientist in BMKG

Geo-hydrometeorological disasters have a significant influence on economic development in Indonesia. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, and droughts all pose major challenges to infrastructure, industry, agriculture, and livelihoods. Indonesia has an early warning system which was built in 2008. BMKG continuously improves this early warning system so that it can provide more accurate warnings to prevent fatalities and greater losses.

BMKG has 5 regions and 200 offices throughout Indonesia. Apart from operational facilities and instruments, BMKG also has 5000 employees, 90% of whom work in the operations division, and 10% in support units. The majority of employees are under 40 years of age. However, currently, only 16% of BMKG employees have a Master's qualification, while only 1% have a PhD.

Responding to these challenges and limitations, BMKG launched the "SDM Unggul" rogram in 2022. This progressive program aims to produce 500 PhD degrees by 2030. Through the program, young scientists of BMKG are expected to learn from leading researchers around the world, to gain important ideas, information, and competencies. Interacting with leading researchers exposes young scientists to cutting-edge research approaches, diverse viewpoints, and new ideas, allowing them to broaden their horizons and improve their skills. The main activity of the program is to prepare candidates to qualify for major scholarships in Indonesia and to be accepted at leading universities throughout the world. These activities include language preparation and scholarship assistance in the form of workshops, boot camps, training and coaching. 

In 2023, with the help of the coaches, BMKG created a Research Roadmap containing research topics for each field at BMKG, including Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics. This roadmap identifies all the research that suits organizational needs and has the potential to provide more direct and relevant results. The findings from the research can be immediately implemented in organizational practices, creating an immediate positive impact. This research can also strengthen the organization's ability to respond to future challenges. 

Coaches also play a role in helping talents know the direction of their research because most talents are still unsure about their research direction they will take. The coaching process can be an effective strategy to help each person find the direction of their research. With guidance from coaches, they will be able to align their research direction with organizational needs and increase the relevance of research and have a greater impact at the organizational or societal level. The coaching process also helps individuals to identify their interests, skills, and goals in more depth. This can lead to a better understanding of the research areas that best suit their interests and potential.

Exposure to research before the education period allows candidates to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the research process. This provides a solid foundation for the development of research competencies. By ensuring that talent is engaged in research throughout their educational path, organizations can ensure that they produce professionals who are competent and ready to face the demands of the user