DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/lenpust.v12i1.80880

Digital Curation of the Kartini Nuclear Reactor Archives within the National Archival Information Network (JIKN)

*Dwi Ridho Aulianto orcid scopus publons  -  National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia, Indonesia
Received: 22 Dec 2025; Revised: 18 Apr 2026; Accepted: 1 May 2026; Published: 30 Jun 2026.

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Abstract

Background: Scientific archives play a crucial role in preserving a nation’s intellectual heritage and collective memory. However, many scientific records—particularly in developing countries—remain fragmented, vulnerable to deterioration, and poorly accessible due to limited digital integration and archival interoperability. Digital curation has emerged as a strategic approach to address these challenges by ensuring long-term accessibility, authenticity, and meaningful public engagement with scientific heritage.

Objective: This study examines how digital curation practices contribute to the preservation and communication of scientific memory through the case of the Kartini Nuclear Reactor Archives integrated into Indonesia’s National Archival Information Network (JIKN).

Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed to analyze the digital curation process collaboratively implemented by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the National Archives of Indonesia (ANRI). The dataset consists of thirty-six digitized archival photographs produced between 1974 and 1979 and presented in a virtual exhibition on the JIKN platform. The analysis was guided by four evaluative dimensions: accessibility, authenticity, engagement, and sustainability.

Results: The findings show that integration into JIKN enhances accessibility through structured metadata consistently applied across 36 archival records and supported by visual representation. Provenance and contextual integrity are maintained through identifiable metadata fields, including creator attribution and archival classification. Public engagement is evidenced through the virtual exhibition format, which recorded 320 user accesses during its display period.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that digital curation within a national archival network can transform scientific archives into dynamic infrastructures of collective memory. By integrating metadata standardization, visual access, and institutional collaboration, this approach provides a replicable model for preserving scientific heritage in developing contexts.

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Keywords: Collective memory; digital curation; JIKN, national archival network; scientific archives

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