Adrian Perkasa

My engagement with the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) commenced over a decade ago. In 2013, I accompanied several Indonesian officials to the IIAS office during the heritage workshop in Europe. During that event, I was notably impressed by how the IIAS, under Philippe Peycam's directorship, developed numerous projects pertaining to Asia. Subsequently, I had the opportunity to get further insights into the IIAS when the paper I co-authored with Rita Padawangi was approved for the seminar co-organised by the IIAS in Taiwan. I convened with multiple individuals who have been affiliated with this institute's network for numerous years.

I was fortunate to become a member of the Southeast Asia Neighborhoods Network (SEANNET), another flagship program initiated by IIAS. Since becoming a member of SEANNET in 2017, several faculty and students at my institution in Surabaya have acquired experience in interdisciplinary thought and collaboration on both local and international levels. Moreover, participation in the SEANNET program affords numerous advantages for all group members to engage with and gain insights from diverse worldwide scholars, artists, and communities. Students and members of the local community organisation in Kampung Peneleh participated in workshops across various Southeast Asian countries.

IIAS played a crucial role in facilitating my registration as a PhD researcher at Leiden University. As a scholar specializing in Indonesian history, Leiden provides an exceptional environment for research, making it the ideal setting for my dissertation work. Initially, gaining entry to Leiden University was challenging due to the limited academic ties between my home institution in Surabaya and Leiden University. IIAS helped bridge this gap by creating an opportunity for me to participate in a Leiden University event in Indonesia in 2018. During the event, I joined a panel discussion with a Leiden professor who took a profound interest in my dissertation topic. This exchange led to ongoing discussions, shaping my research journey until the completion of my dissertation.

IIAS also provided me with another pivotal professional experience in my journey: I had the privilege of joining the organising committee for the largest Asian studies conference outside the United States, a role that significantly enriched my academic and professional trajectory. We conceptualised and prepared ICAS#13 as an innovative Conference-Festival, encouraging various experimental approaches, enhancing collaborations, and providing numerous opportunities for knowledge creation and dissemination both within and beyond the campus in Surabaya. The city and its kampungs became integral to the event, not merely as a backdrop, but as an active part of the discussions. From the planning phase to the end of this event, I experienced the joy of unexpected encounters. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to meet with old friends and new colleagues and broaden my network through my collaboration with IIAS.

Adrian Perkasa is a postdoctoral researcher at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) Leiden, focusing on the Javanese agricultural calendar, Pranata Mångsa, and the politics of knowledge production. His project explores the histories and uses of agricultural calendars and local knowledge about seasons in Java. He is also involved in the New Classical Indonesian Art project, funded by the Australian Research Council