STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

After several times I stepped in the biggest and best university in Indonesia (University of
Indonesia), majoring in environmental engineering, I was conscious that I was in a world that filled of
environmental problems. I was born in the area with the greatest rate of tree illegal logging in the world,
Sumatra. I grew up in an area that has the poorest quality of river in the world, Citarum River, West
Java. Later today, I studied and lived in the area which is 3rd biggest megapolitan region in the world
(Jabodetabek), which have many kinds of problem such as flood, water and air pollution, solid waste, and
traffic jam. It encourages me to do something to the world, and lead me to continue growing up.

I am a student with top 10 of GPA in my majors. I've done many kinds of potential and interested
research in my related major, including collaboration with Unilever Indonesia about route of recycling
Unilever plastic packaging waste in Indonesia. After that, I thought I must enhance my research skill and
quality. So that, I joined with NUS (National University of Singapore) and ETH Zurich Future City
Laboratory Switzerland on research in Water Quality of Ciliwung river Sedimentation in Jakarta.

This is supported by my experience as assistant in various subjects such as Lecturer Assistant of

Design of Collection Network & Domestic Waste Water Building, Environmental Global Issues,
Integrated Solid Waste Management, Environmental Laboratory, and Environmental Chemistry. At the
end of my Bachelor course, I tried to find research that is useful and can be directly applied. I see the
problem of waste becomes an Indonesian real issue in life. I tried to do research in the field of solid waste.
In the final undergraduate thesis, I made a research on Municipal Solid Waste Management Design in
High-rise Apartment. A year after that, because I belong to the students who get a Master Degree
Scholarship fast track program from the Ministry of Education and Culture, I continued my research on
the 3R Application and Study of Refuse Derived Fuel Potential of Plastic Waste in Residential Area
Jakarta.

My research experience made me motivated to apply the results of research not only to getting
the benefit economically as well as a form of community service and environmental protection.
Augmented by an extensive network because my organization activity that I traveled in campus. Then
with various awards that I have achieved from the idea that I publish. So that, as a former founder, I born
a social business that is engaged in the field of waste management, named Zero Waste Indonesia. With
Zero Waste Indonesia, I can speak in public to spread knowledge. When I got the information about
KAUST, I'm sure I will evolve and give many big contributions there. The college campus is the 3rd most
prosperous university in the world, equipped with supporting facilities and supportive atmosphere, as well
as leading professors.

I plan to take Master program in the major of Environmental Engineering and Science,
Microbiology and Biotechnology specialization, because I am very interested to research in this field.
Actually, I have already taken the Bachelor and Master degree in the field of environmental engineering
at the University of Indonesia but with specialization in Solid Waste Management. I am challenged to
research using the microbes not only in solid waste, but also in water and waste water treatment and also
air pollution control, and it is not impossible to accelerate my education to PhD level to deepen and
sharpen my research. I also see the strategic opportunities collaboration of two countries, Indonesia and
Saudi Arabia, because Indonesia has a very high biodiversity and also the fourth largest population in the
world.

I believe that great environment makes someone blossom and I am very sure that KAUST will
accommodate and provide valuable research experience that can be useful for a better life in Saudi Arabia
and Indonesia, and anywhere I lived. I have planning to apply directly my research that I will create in
my own social business. I also have planning to be a lecturer to widen the effect of research. Currently,
Zero Waste Indonesia has done a variety of activities in environmental management and it is expected to
be established strategic relationship between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in the field of environmental
management.

“Every curve is a challenge that must be faced. A goal to achieve zero condition make me mobilize the
never ending effort”

Fajri Mulya Iresha