Yogyakarta, 6 February 2026 — The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized an international guest lecture held in a hybrid format at the Tropical Biology Auditorium, Faculty of Biology UGM, and broadcast online via Zoom Meeting. The event was attended by lecturers and students of the Faculty of Biology UGM, BRIN colleagues as well as participants from various universities across Indonesia.
The guest lecture featured two distinguished speakers from Kangwon National University, South Korea: Prof. Jin Hee Han and Dr. Jun Hojong. The event commenced with opening remarks by the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., who expressed his appreciation for the successful organization of the event and warmly welcomed the speakers and participants. He also highlighted that this marked the first visit of Prof. Jin Hee Han and Dr. Jun Hojong to Yogyakarta and UGM, emphasizing the importance of strengthening international academic engagement.
The session was moderated by Matin Nuhamunada, Ph.D., Head of the Office of International Affairs, Faculty of Biology UGM, who is also a lecturer and researcher at the Biotechnology Laboratory. The first presentation was delivered by Prof. Jin Hee Han, titled “Mosquitoes-Based Flavivirus Monitoring in Korea,” which discussed surveillance strategies for flavivirus detection through mosquito-based monitoring systems and their implications for public health preparedness.
The second presentation was delivered by Dr. Jun Hojong under the title “Ligand Receptor Interactions Underlying Human Adaptation on Non-Laverania Malaria Parasites.” His talk explored molecular mechanisms of host–parasite interactions, providing insights into human adaptation and the evolutionary dynamics of malaria parasites beyond the Laverania subgenus.
Through this international guest lecture, the Faculty of Biology UGM reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global academic collaboration and advancing research in infectious diseases, biotechnology, and public health. The discussion and knowledge exchange during the event contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). It is hoped that this initiative will foster future collaborative research, academic exchange, and joint innovation between UGM and Kangwon National University, as well as other international partners.
