RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - On the peaks of Mount Timau, Indonesia is making an effort so that the construction of massive, advanced research equipment does not have to come at the cost of cultural heritage. Instead, researchers are working in a spirit of reconciliation with indigenous communities. This approach ensures that while telescopes look toward the future, they remain grounded in a profound respect for the people and the ancestral wisdom of East Nusa Tenggara.

At the international gathering held virtually on March 10, 2026, "The Rendezvous of Astronomical Facilities and Indigenous Communities," researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) met to dismantle the outdated "tenant-landlord" dynamic between scientists and local residents. By prioritizing mutual respect, they are replacing old, uncomfortable realities with a new era of genuine partnership. This shift ensures that the pursuit of advanced space science remains deeply rooted in the rights and traditions of indigenous peoples.

For years, massive scientific infrastructures were often built with a "top-down" approach. Simon Berry, Deputy Director General of the SKAO, speaking from the UK, noted that this era is rapidly fading. He argued that facilities like the SKAO in South Africa and Australia, or Indonesia’s own Timau National Observatory (OBNAS), are now operating with "social license."

“When we speak about a social license to operate, that means creating a genuine partnership with the communities where we're located and in which we work,” Berry said.

Berry highlighted that for indigenous groups, who have practiced astronomy for thousands of years, the night sky is a living archive. Protecting this environment is a shared responsibility, ensuring that the "near-space environment" remains clear for both the professional astronomer and the indigenous elder.

In Indonesia, this philosophy is being applied practically. Herry Jogaswara, Head of the Research Organization for Archaeology, Language, and Literature at BRIN, explained that the indigenous communities surrounding the Timau site are not merely neighbors, they are "knowledge holders." These communities possess a millenary understanding of the soil, season, and local climate.

"The knowledge from the indigenous communities should be accommodated in the planning and also the implementing of the astronomical facilities," Jogaswara said, envisioning the observatory as a "hub for the exchange of knowledge" between modern scholars and local communities. He also stated that this need to also give a good impact for the communities, as in creating livelihood and economy.

This new paradigm is perhaps best illustrated by the growing field of Archaeoastronomy in Indonesia. By studying how ancestors used the stars to align the great Borobudur temple or manage agricultural cycles, researchers are finding that the "High Science" of today is merely a continuation of a very old human story.

The Timau National Observatory will move forward with the consent and traditional insights of the local indigenous communities. As Jogaswara concluded, this endeavor is about more than just finding new planets; it is about building a civilization that honors its past while reaching for the stars.