Indonesia has been struggling to overcome drug problems, since many Indonesian youth are deeply involved in drug abuse. The Faculty of Biology organized the 7th Biotalk discussing “The Role and Contribution of Biology in Solving the Drug Problems in Indonesia.” The talk was held on Thursday, 3 September 2020, inviting several speakers: Prof. Dr. L. Hartanto Nugroho, M.Agr. (Lecturer at the Laboratory of Plant Biology Structure and Development UGM; Alumni F. Biology UGM 1983), Brigadier General Pol. Drs. Sumirat Dwiyanto, M.Si. (Head of West Sulawesi Province BNN; Alumni F. Biology UGM 1985), and Kombes Pol. Drs. Heri Istu Hariono (Director of the South Sumatra Drug Research; Alumni F. Biology UGM 1985).
Prof. Dr. L. Hartanto Nugroho, M.Agr. presented about the Secondary Metabolite Study that can be used and abused as drugs. The second speaker, Brigadier General Pol. Drs. Sumirat Dwiyanto, M.Si. emphasized that biology graduates have an essential role in drug eradication efforts, especially those with knowledge about metabolite compounds that can potentially be narcotics and psychotropic substances. The last speaker, Kombes Pol. Drs. Heri Istu Hariono discussed about: “The Role and Contribution of Biology in Facing Drug Crimes in terms of Legal Aspects.”