A multidisciplinary research institute fostering rigorous evidence-based policy, cultural preservation, and sustainable community empowerment across Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua.
The Center of Eastern Indonesian Studies (CEIS) was founded in 2022 as an autonomous research institution dedicated to bridging the knowledge gap between regional realities and national/global decision-making.
Headquartered in West Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, our team of scholars, anthropologists, policy analysts, and field practitioners operates across the archipelagic geography of Eastern Indonesia to produce rigorous, peer-reviewed, and community-grounded research.
Knowledge generated from the islands of Eastern Indonesia holds vital answers for climate resilience, cultural pluralism, and decentralized democratic governance.
Eastern Indonesia represents an extraordinary convergence of linguistic diversity, Wallacean biodiversity, customary maritime governance, and complex social-ecological transitions.
Home to the Coral Triangle and Wallacea biodiversity hotspot, critical for global marine preservation and blue carbon ecosystems.
Centuries of indigenous resource management (Sasi, Awig-Awig) providing proven models for modern environmental stewardship.
Vast potential in solar, geothermal, and maritime transport corridors shaping Indo-Pacific connectivity.
Rapid infrastructure expansion requiring critical scrutiny to protect indigenous rights and equitable resource distribution.
Eight interconnected thematic programs investigating critical transformations in Eastern Indonesia.
Investigating rural-urban migration, archipelagic livelihoods, poverty trajectories, and spatial development across eastern provinces.
Documenting local peacebuilding mechanisms, inter-faith coexistence, and traditional tolerance traditions in Maluku and Nusa Tenggara.
Historical and contemporary analysis of Islamic boarding schools (Pesantren), Sufi orders, and Islamic legal adaptations in island societies.
Oral tradition archiving, customary law (Adat) recognition, textile heritage preservation, and maritime cultural mapping.
Evaluating special autonomy implementations, village fund effectiveness, healthcare accessibility, and local education outcomes.
Addressing structural educational disparities, teacher welfare, vernacular literacy, and internet infrastructure in remote islands.
Community-led mangrove conservation, artisanal fisheries management, climate adaptation, and disaster risk reduction.
Supporting agricultural cooperatives, sustainable coffee farming in Flores and Toraja, and community-based ecotourism.
Author: Dr. M. Ridwan, Prof. Sarah Jenkins
Journal of Archipelagic Studies, Vol. 8 (2)
Author: CEIS Energy Policy Taskforce
CEIS Strategic Brief No. 14
Author: Fathurrahman, S.Sos., M.A.
Monograph Series / CEIS Press
Author: Nurlaila Sari, Ph.D.
Southeast Asian Educational Review
Full research stipend and mentorship for promising scholars conducting dissertation fieldwork across eastern archipelago provinces.
Annual 14-day intensive field methods bootcamp for young anthropologists, sociologists, and environmental scientists.
Quarterly Chatham House-rule dialogues connecting regional governors, customary leaders, and national ministries.
Executive Director & Senior Fellow
Anthropologist specializing in Islamic traditional institutions, local dispute resolutions, and archipelagic heritage.
Head of Ecological & Coastal Research
Marine biologist and political ecologist with 15 years fieldwork in Banda Sea fisheries and customary Sasi conservation.
Director of Public Policy & Governance
Economist focusing on fiscal decentralization, special autonomy funding in Papua, and rural community cooperatives.
Lead Researcher in Education Equity
Curriculum development specialist dedicated to indigenous language preservation and remote island schooling pedagogy.
Location: Senggigi Convention Center, Lombok Barat & Hybrid
Biennial gathering of international and Indonesian scholars discussing archipelagic transitions, cultural resilience, and sustainable development.
Location: CEIS Auditorium & YouTube Live
Keynote delivery by distinguished visiting professor on maritime rights and international conservation frameworks.
Why local customary agreements in North and West Lombok provide an enduring framework for sustainable coral reef conservation.
Examining technical sustainability and community ownership models for solar-battery installations across Flores and Sumba.
How collaborative digital humanities projects are recording sacred genealogical chants before vanishing with the elder generation.
We proudly partner with leading national universities, international research consortia, and grassroots development organizations.
Whether you are a university seeking research collaboration, a foundation investing in regional policy, or a scholar looking for field affiliation, we welcome your engagement.