Medan — October 15, 2026, the Undergraduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, held the Seminar and Book Review “Tropical Island Cities: An Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning” at the Faculty of Engineering USU Auditorium. The event carried the theme “Reorganizing Indonesian Identity Through Urban and Regional Planning” as an academic forum to strengthen planning perspectives that are contextualized to the geographical and cultural characteristics of the Indonesian archipelago.

The event opened with remarks from Prof. Dr. Ir. Renita Manurung, M.T., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, and Dr. Anthoni Veery Mardianta, S.T., M.T., IAP., CIIQA, Head of the Undergraduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning. Dr. Anthoni provided an introduction to the study program as a foundation for discussions on the importance of an urban and regional planning approach that does not merely adopt concepts from abroad but is also capable of understanding the distinctive characteristics of Indonesia's tropical island regions.

The seminar focused on discussing the book written by Dr. Phil. Hendricus Andy Simarmata, S.T., M.Si., and his team, entitled Tropical Island Cities: An Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning. Dr. Phil. Hendricus Andy Simarmata attended as the lead author and delivered the keynote speech, discussing ideas about tropical island cities in the context of urban and regional planning.

The discussion also featured Benny Iskandar, S.T., M.T. (Head of the Medan City Regional Research and Innovation Agency) and Boyke P. Sirait, S.T., M.A.B., IAP, Chair of the North Sumatra Regional Planning Experts Association, as moderator.

Through this event, participants were invited to discuss how urban and regional planning can respond to Indonesia's characteristics as a tropical archipelagic country. This perspective encompasses the need to understand the relationships between space, society, culture, geographical conditions, and urban development as inseparable components of the planning process.

In addition to presentations and panel discussions, the event included an interactive question-and-answer session and a synthesis dialogue. This format provided participants with an opportunity to bring academic approaches together with empirical experience in addressing urban and regional planning issues, particularly in areas characterized by tropical island geography.

The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, continues to promote educational development and academic discussions relevant to Indonesia's development needs. An understanding of the characteristics of tropical island cities is expected to enrich planning approaches while encouraging the emergence of regional development policies and practices that are more deeply rooted in the conditions and identity of the Indonesian archipelago.

The event was primarily related to SDG 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities, through strengthening knowledge of contextual urban and regional planning. SDG 4—Quality Education was also relevant through knowledge dissemination, while SDG 17—Partnerships for the Goals was reflected in the dialogue among universities, the government, practitioners, and professional associations.