HONOLULU (June 10, 2022) – The recipient of this year’s R-Adhikarya ‘Niche’ Award — or RANA — scholarship, Ms. D.A. Wiwik Dharmiasih, aims to use her doctoral studies to research ways of using disruptive technologies to influence policy-making outcomes, such as reorienting power relations to be more receptive to local needs. The RANA scholarship supports PhD study at the University of Hawai‘i via the East-West Center.

As part of her doctoral study in geography and environment starting in the fall, Dharmiasih, who is from Bali, Indonesia, plans to review technologies such as participatory mapping with drones, GIS story-maps, photography and video, along with innovative social media applications, to support communities in managing and preserving cultural landscapes, including environmentally friendly water management systems in Bali.

“Ms. Dharmiasih’s study plan at the EWC is innovative and pioneering, as she wants to create synergy by ‘brokering’ a synthesis of centuries-old cultural wisdom with disruptive technologies,” said RANA Award initiator Dr. Ronny Adhikarya. “I am pleased and proud that the RANA Program at the EWC is supporting an excellent PhD student with innovative and ‘niche’ career plans.”

Awarded annually since 2020, the RANA scholarship supports study at three world-class educational institutions in the United States: the East-West Center, Stanford University, and Cornell University. Dharmiasih’s RANA scholarship is offered in conjunction with the East-West Center’s Foundation Scholarship for a total value of $56,000.

About D.A. Wiwik Dharmiasih
Ms. Dharmiasih obtained her master’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, and is a lecturer at Udayana University in Bali. An environmental activist, she works to improve and preserve Balinese villages’ traditional subak water management system, a cultural heritage that dates back to the 9^th century and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012.

About the R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award

The R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award, or RANA, is a token of appreciation for individuals who have demonstrated innovative ‘niche’ thinking in their studies and careers. Awarded annually since 2020, it enables young visionaries with a learning-oriented growth mindset to study at one of three world-class educational institutions in the United States: the East-West Center (EWC), Stanford University, and Cornell University. These institutions were part of Dr. Ronny Adhikarya’s academic journey. He attended Cornell for his Master degree, and Stanford for his Doctoral degree, obtaining a fellowship from each university. Dr. Adhikarya then worked as a research staff member at the EWC before continuing his extensive career in international development assistance. Over the course of more than 45 years, he worked at the World Bank, in Washington D.C., USA, the United Nations/FAO in Rome, Italy, and with many well-respected institutions in other countries.

Dr. Adhikarya and his wife, Mee-Ching, offer RANA in gratitutde, and see it as their contribution in support of the education sector globally, especially in Indonesia. Kiroyan Partners (KP), a leading Public Affairs consulting firm, has agreed to partner in this endeavor by providing support to coordinate and implement the communication, publicity and marketing activities of RANA, as well as coordinating and maintaining the internal communication platform for the International Selection Committee members. KP believes this initiative is in line with its commitment to support the human capital development in Indonesia.

More information can be found at: https://www.kiroyan-partners.com/event/rana-awards

About East-West Center Graduate Student Program
Each year the East-West Center provides competitive fellowships and scholarships to fund master's and doctoral study for exceptional students from Asia, the Pacific, and the United States to participate in an educational, cross-cultural, residential community-building, and leadership development program at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The East-West Center Graduate Student Program prepares the next generation to address the complex challenges facing the Indo-Asia Pacific region and the world.

HONOLULU (June 10, 2022) – The recipient of this year’s R-Adhikarya ‘Niche’ Award — or RANA — scholarship, Ms. D.A. Wiwik Dharmiasih, aims to use her doctoral studies to research ways of using disruptive technologies to influence policy-making outcomes, such as reorienting power relations to be more receptive to local needs. The RANA scholarship supports PhD study at the University of Hawai‘i via the East-West Center.

As part of her doctoral study in geography and environment starting in the fall, Dharmiasih, who is from Bali, Indonesia, plans to review technologies such as participatory mapping with drones, GIS story-maps, photography and video, along with innovative social media applications, to support communities in managing and preserving cultural landscapes, including environmentally friendly water management systems in Bali.

“Ms. Dharmiasih’s study plan at the EWC is innovative and pioneering, as she wants to create synergy by ‘brokering’ a synthesis of centuries-old cultural wisdom with disruptive technologies,” said RANA Award initiator Dr. Ronny Adhikarya. “I am pleased and proud that the RANA Program at the EWC is supporting an excellent PhD student with innovative and ‘niche’ career plans.”

Awarded annually since 2020, the RANA scholarship supports study at three world-class educational institutions in the United States: the East-West Center, Stanford University, and Cornell University. Dharmiasih’s RANA scholarship is offered in conjunction with the East-West Center’s Foundation Scholarship for a total value of $56,000.

About D.A. Wiwik Dharmiasih
Ms. Dharmiasih obtained her master’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, and is a lecturer at Udayana University in Bali. An environmental activist, she works to improve and preserve Balinese villages’ traditional subak water management system, a cultural heritage that dates back to the 9^th century and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012.

About the R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award

The R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award, or RANA, is a token of appreciation for individuals who have demonstrated innovative ‘niche’ thinking in their studies and careers. Awarded annually since 2020, it enables young visionaries with a learning-oriented growth mindset to study at one of three world-class educational institutions in the United States: the East-West Center (EWC), Stanford University, and Cornell University. These institutions were part of Dr. Ronny Adhikarya’s academic journey. He attended Cornell for his Master degree, and Stanford for his Doctoral degree, obtaining a fellowship from each university. Dr. Adhikarya then worked as a research staff member at the EWC before continuing his extensive career in international development assistance. Over the course of more than 45 years, he worked at the World Bank, in Washington D.C., USA, the United Nations/FAO in Rome, Italy, and with many well-respected institutions in other countries.

Dr. Adhikarya and his wife, Mee-Ching, offer RANA in gratitutde, and see it as their contribution in support of the education sector globally, especially in Indonesia. Kiroyan Partners (KP), a leading Public Affairs consulting firm, has agreed to partner in this endeavor by providing support to coordinate and implement the communication, publicity and marketing activities of RANA, as well as coordinating and maintaining the internal communication platform for the International Selection Committee members. KP believes this initiative is in line with its commitment to support the human capital development in Indonesia.

More information can be found at: https://www.kiroyan-partners.com/event/rana-awards

About East-West Center Graduate Student Program
Each year the East-West Center provides competitive fellowships and scholarships to fund master's and doctoral study for exceptional students from Asia, the Pacific, and the United States to participate in an educational, cross-cultural, residential community-building, and leadership development program at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The East-West Center Graduate Student Program prepares the next generation to address the complex challenges facing the Indo-Asia Pacific region and the world.