Yogyakarta, October 26, 2023 – A delegation from the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, led by Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, and Dr. Slamet Widiyanto, Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources, has undertaken a highly productive visit to two renowned universities in Thailand: Kasetsart University and Prince of Songkla University. The purpose of this visit was to identify opportunities for collaboration in education and research, with a focus on student exchanges, research cooperation, double degree programs, and other forms of collaboration.

The visit began at Kasetsart University, where the delegation toured state-of-the-art research facilities. This initial step was crucial in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the research capabilities at Kasetsart University and exploring potential research collaboration opportunities between the two institutions.The discussions covered collaborative plans that encompass student exchanges and potential research cooperation, which promise significant benefits for both institutions.

During the visit at The Prince of Songkla University, the delegation also had the opportunity to visit research laboratories and The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History Museum, and also a discussions regarding student mobility programs, joint supervision, and research collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pimonsri Mittraparp-Arthorn, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and International Relations, and Mrs. Jittima Phosena from the International Cooperation and Public Relations, both parties agreed to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will serve as the foundation for closer collaboration between the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Kasetsart University, and Prince of Songkla University. This visit represents the strong commitment of the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada to strengthen international interinstitutional relationships and enhance the quality of education and research. This collaboration is expected to deliver substantial benefits to all parties involved.

This discussion is a great bridge to increase the collaboration network between Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Biology with Kasetsart University and Prince of Songkla University. In addition, this collaboration is in line with the Faculty of Biology’s commitment to increasing cooperation for international recognition in accordance with its support for the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 17 as well as improving the quality of inclusive and high-quality education (SDG 4) and competing with the best institutions in the world

On Sunday, October 15^th, 2023, the team of Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka-Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (MBKM-PkM) 2023 Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, conducted another socialization activity for the residents in Pajangan, Wedomartani, Ngemplak, Sleman, Yogyakarta, regarding the production of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and eco-enzyme. This socialization was organized to encourage the community to manage organic waste into something beneficial, such as liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and eco-enzyme. The speakers for this socialization were the MBKM-PkM 2023 team, consisting of five undergraduate students of Faculty of Biology, Unviersitas Gadjah Mada, class of 2020, they were Arba’ Ramadhani Artik, Arneta Yuvita, Ester Dewanti Yovita Wardani, Fadiah Sri Rahayu, and Zidni Meirizka Utami, under supervision Dr. Ardaning Nuriliani, S.Si., M.Kes. and the partner mentor Ms. Nurini Aru Sudarsi. The MBKM-PkM 2023 team conducted the socialization with the theme “Caring for the Earth Starts from Our Kitchen.” This theme included two main topics: liquid organic fertilizer and eco-enzyme. The first topic covered the importance of macro and micro nutrients for plants, the definition of organic and inorganic fertilizers, the differences between organic and inorganic fertilizers (chemical), the advantages and disadvantages of organic and inorganic fertilizers, the production process of liquid organic fertilizer, as well as its application. The second topic explained the concept of eco-enzyme, its advantages and disadvantages, its benefits, the production process of Eco-enzyme, as well as its application.

Effective management of organic waste is crucial at present, given the issues related to the limited space for waste disposal at the Piyungan Final Disposal Site in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Producing liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and eco-enzyme is one way to manage organic waste such as food scraps, vegetable waste, fruit waste, and leaves, turning them into something beneficial for the environment. Liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) can be used to nurture plants without worrying about chemical effects on them. Meanwhile, eco-enzyme can serve not only as a fertilizer component but also as a detergent or cleanser and pest control for plants. The production of LOF and Eco-enzyme doesn’t require significant costs; it mainly relies on organic waste from the kitchen, water, molasses solution (brown sugar, palm sugar, coconut sugar), and EM4 solution.

This socialization received a positive response and enthusiasm from the residents of Pajangan Hamlet who actively participated in the discussion sessions with the speakers. It is hoped that the socialization by the MBKM-PkM 2023 team will raise awareness and engagement, particularly among the residents of Pajangan Hamlet, in environmentally friendly practices by managing kitchen and organic waste and turning them into something useful for the environment. (SDGs 3).

Canberra, 16 October 2023 –Faculty of Biology UGM continues to expand its network in the international stage in order to increase recognition and collaboration with various world institutions, one of which is the Australian National University (ANU). Ranked 34^th in the world’s best universities according to the QS World Ranking, ANU is one of the universities with the highest number of Nobel award recipients in the world. One of them is Prof. Brian Schmidt from ANU’s College of Science won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011 for his discovery of the accelerated expansion of the universe. ANU offers learning programs on the best campus with leading facilities, and is located in the heart of the national capital, Canberra, which holds the title of the 5^th healthiest city in the world.

Collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and ANU, especially the College of Science, has been established since 2017 through the Double Degree Program collaboration for bachelor’s and master’s programs and the Faculty of Biology has succeeded in sending 2 undergraduate students, namely Vanessa Wijaya and Sabut Kharisona, to the Double Degree Program at the School of Biology, College of Science, ANU. As a follow-up to this collaboration, the Faculty of Biology Dean’s Team consisting of Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean and Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, returned to visit ANU after their previous visit, last August 2017.

Collaborative discussions were held with the Dean of the ANU College of Science, Prof. Kiaran Kirk together with Prof. Vincent Craig from the Research School of Physics, Prof. Maja Adamska as Head of Biology Teaching and Learning Center and Dr. Sarah Kachovich as Program Manager of the Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium of ANU. The scope of collaboration discussed includes continuing previous collaboration by improving its quality, one of which is by carrying out joint research and publication collaborations, developing and improving the quality of lecturers and students to study at ANU, implementing student and staff mobility including student exchanges both through the IISMA and independent programs as well as Visiting Professor and keynote/invited speakers for lectures, International Conferences (ICBS) in 2025 and International Summer Course (ISC) in 2024, as well as continuing the Double Degree Program for undergraduate (S1) and Postgraduate (S2 and S3) programs for the Double Degree Program in the School of Biology, College of Science ANU. The Double Degree Postgraduate Program collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and ANU in 2023 is also supported by LPDP scholarships.

This visit is a great step by the Faculty of Biology to improve the quality of education by collaborating with partners at the international level as well as building good relationships, especially with the College of Science, Australian National University, which has been established since 2017. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment of the Faculty of Biology UGM in supports sustainable development and is in line with sustainable development targets (SDGs), namely good quality education (SDGs 4) and revitalization of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

On Sunday, 8th October 2023, the Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat – Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (PkM-MBKM) Faculty of Biology, UGM 2023, 5 undergraduate students of Faculty of Biology, UGM class of 2020, namely Arba’ Ramadhani Artik, Arneta Yuvita, Ester Dewanti Yovita Wardani, Fadiah Sri Rahayu, and Zidni Meirizka Utami supervised by Dr. Ardaning Nuriliani, S.Si., M.Kes. and Ms. Nurini Aru Sudarsi as the partner mentor have carried out the socialization activities to the residents in Pajangan, Wedomartani Village, Ngemplak, Sleman, Yogyakarta. The theme of the socialization was “Improving the Community’s through Optimizing of Vacant Land”. This program aims to engage the community to improve the economic condition of the family by utilizing vacant land in the yard area of the house to plant vegetables, fruits, herbs, and several medicine and functional plants or also called “TOGA”. In this activity, we invited Mr. Panggih Dwi Atmojo, S.T. as a speaker. He is an alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering, UGM who is currently active as an agro economic practitioner as well as the founder and owner of Agro Edukasi Caping Merapi Yogyakarta which is located at Kenayan, Wedomartani, Ngemplak, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region. The given presentation discussed topics about food gardening, including vegetable garden cultivation, as well as rising fish, chickens, and other small livestock to meet daily food needs. He also discussed about urban farming, which is the method of farming in the city or on limited land. In addition, the speaker also emphasized that the use of vacant land as a food garden can provide various other benefits, such as the community can provide traditional medicine independently, add decoration to the garden, provide refreshing activities through gardening, obtain healthier food that is free from chemical fertilizers, and produce biofertilizer which can be obtained through composting, eco lindi, and manure systems. This can also serve to overcome the problem of handling organic waste.

This socialization was attended by around 20 residents and received a very positive response, even some residents were very enthusiastic and directly involved in the discussion session together with the speakers.

Yogyakarta – 31 August 2023 The Faculty of Biology held an online discussion with James Cook University. The discussion was attended by colleagues from James Cook University, Campus Singapore. There are Cassandra Lee as Director, Recruitment and Partnerships, Ben Ng as Assistant Manager in International Management, Shelly Wang as Senior Regional Manager (Europe, Central Asia and Others), and Assoc. Prof. Roberto Dillon as Academic Head for the School of Science and Technology James Cook University Singapore. From the Faculty of Biology attended by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, and Tyas Iksan Hikmawan, M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the International Affairs Office, Faculty of Biology, UGM.

Dr. Eko as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs of the Faculty of Biology, said that the discussion was a follow-up step from the previous discussion, which discussed the initiation of research collaboration and student exchange. Dr. Eko explained further about the International Undergraduate (IUP) program at the Faculty of Biology and the enthusiasm of students to be able to collaborate with James Cook University, especially their interest in marine biology. He also conveyed the initiation of double degree and joint supervision collaboration. Faculty of Biology itself has collaborated on a double degree with Australia National University and the University of Leeds and has collaborated on joint supervision with Boku University, Greifswald University, and L’Institut Agro Montpellier.

Assoc. Prof. Roberto Dillon expressed his appreciation for the collaboration initiative and explained the study programs at the James Cook University School of Science and Technology on the Singapore Campus that can be collaborated on. There are Bachelor of Business and Environmental Science and Bachelor of Science programs. He added the suitability of the program, especially the Bachelor of Science program with a background in the Faculty of Biology UGM and students’s study interests in marine biology.

Cassandra Lee then conveyed the need for curriculum mapping and further discussions, especially for collaborative student exchange, double degree and joint supervision supported by potential Indonesian government scholarships (LPDP) for master’s and doctoral programs. Cassandra hopes for flexible collaboration so that students can take collaborative work programs with James Cook University on the Australian Campus and the Singapore Campus as well. Shelly Wang and Ben Ng also added follow-up on curriculum matching together with Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the UGM Faculty of Biology Undergraduate Study Program for the overall collaboration plan.

This discussion is a great bridge to increase the collaboration network between Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Biology and James Cook University. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment from the Faculty of Biology UGM to support sustainable development and is in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely good quality education (SDGs 4) and revitalization of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

Yogyakarta, August 8, 2023. The Faculty Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organized a Socialization Event for the Student Exchange Program to Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). This event aims to provide a comprehensive overview to students about the planned student exchange program, scheduled to take place in October at UTHM Malaysia.

The event was conducted virtually (Zoom meeting), starting from 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM WIB, and was directly moderated by Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., the Chair of the Undergraduate Biology Program at UGM. More than 65 students from the 2021 batch, both regular and IUP (International Undergraduate Program), participated in the event. The socialization began with an address by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs of the Faculty of Biology at UGM. In his speech, Dr. Eko highlighted several benefits of participating in the student exchange program, including academic experiences that would be recorded in the transcript of grades, enhancement of one’s CV portfolio for scholarships or job applications, the strengthening of international networks, and the experience of different cultures and ways of life, as students would need to learn and adapt to diverse cultural settings.

Dr. Furzani Pa’ee from UTHM Malaysia also conveyed his support for the event, expressing readiness to assist students from the Faculty of Biology at UGM who successfully pass the selection process and travel to UTHM in October.The event continued with a sharing session with Rajendra Regaputra (IUP 2020) and Adiva Aphrodita (REG 2020). They discussed the facilities they had access to during their time at UTHM, engaging academic journeys, and the enhancement of soft skills gained through activities at UTHM.

The Faculty of Biology at UGM is committed to providing valuable opportunities for its students to develop academic potential, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of cultural diversity through the student exchange program. The Faculty hopes that many Biology students will take advantage of this opportunity and join the Student Exchange program.

On Thursday, August 10, 2023, the Department of Tropical Biology organized the Dissemination of PhD Research Findings event. This event was attended by 5 lecturers of Biology UGM who successfully completed their PhD studies between 2022 and 2023. The purpose of this Dissemination was to provide Faculty members with an overview of the research conducted by their colleagues and to offer constructive feedback for the advancement of their academic field.

The event took place at the Tropical Biology Auditorium and commenced at 09:30 AM local time. In his opening remarks, Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc., Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, conveyed that this Dissemination event could serve as a platform to express and enhance scholarly capacities. He also expressed hope that this activity would be dynamic and interactive, fostering productive responses from the audience. Abdul Razaq Chasani, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., serving as the moderator, also mentioned that this event could potentially uncover compelling research topics that might be realized through collaborative efforts.

The first presentation was delivered by Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, S.Si., M.Biotech., titled “The Establishment of Recombinant System for The Generation of Papiine alphaherpesvirus 2.” This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Wiko Arif Wibowo, S.Si., titled “Characteristics of CmBt Gene in the Regulation of Cucurbitacin Biosynthesis and In Silico Study of Bioactive Compounds in Melon Plants (Cucumis melo L. ‘GMP’).”

The subsequent presenters, in order, were Sari Darmasiwi, S.Si., M.Biotech., Ph.D., with the title “Studies of Biological Activities and Chemical Composition of Hericium erinaceus Mushroom Cultivated by Novel Medium Formula,” Dr. Siti Nurbaiti, S.Si., with the title “Induction and Development of Embryogenic Microspores in Rice (Oryza sativa L. ‘Segreng’),” and the event concluded with a presentation by Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., titled “Novel Discoveries on Biological Diversity: Characterization of Two New Species Kumanoa and New Recombinant of Rhodotorula glutinis Producing PHB based on Molecular, Morphological and Biomaterial Evidence.”

Throughout the event, the audience enthusiastically listened and provided valuable feedback in the form of appreciation, questions, suggestions for scholarly development, and possibilities for collaborative research ventures that align with their respective fields of expertise.

The Dissemination was then closed by the moderator and concluded at 12:15 PM local time. With the occurrence of this event, it is anticipated that significant opportunities will arise for Faculty members at UGM’s Faculty of Biology to actively engage in collaborative endeavors in the future.

On Saturday, August 12, 2023, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., the Dean of the Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), had a special opportunity as one of the speakers at the Research and Innovation Exhibition held as part of the 28th National Technology Awakening Day (Hakteknas) organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Higher Education, Research, and Technology. The event took place at Plaza Tenggara Gelora Bung Karno, Central Jakarta.

This activity was an effort by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to promote the spirit of local innovation and celebrate the educational advancements supported by technological achievements from the young generation of Indonesia. The theme of this year’s event was “Research and Innovation Talent for Indonesia Emas 2045” (Golden Indonesia 2045). The event was divided into three main parts: the preparation of the Hakteknas series, the Hakteknas exhibition, and the peak of the Hakteknas event, which lasted for four days from August 10-13, 2023. In this event, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., played as the main speaker. He presented an interesting topic in a Talk Show titled “Academic Community Innovation Towards Indonesia Emas 2045”. His presentation focused on innovations in the field of biology, particularly related to the development of the shape and size of Hikapel Melon fruit, as well as the innovation of shampoo made from Melon GMP (Gama Melon Parfum).

The participation in this event involved representatives from various universities, including Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Besides Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., the event also invited Dr. Agnes Rosarina Prita Sari, M.Phil. (FKKMK) and Prof. Dr. med.vet. drh. Raden Wisnu Nurcahyo (FKH), who are also representatives from UGM. Moreover, the event was attended by the Indonesia CSR Forum, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, journalists, as well as representatives from the Directorate of Research, Technology, and Community Engagement.

The 28th Hakteknas Research and Innovation Exhibition served as a platform for innovators, researchers, and academics to showcase cutting-edge technological products, innovative ideas, and the latest research results. Additionally, the event supported a spirit of cross-sector collaboration and emphasized the development of local solutions that contribute to the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, aiming to transform Indonesia into an advanced nation by 2045 in celebration of its 100th independence anniversary.

On Friday, August 11, 2023, the Faculty of Biology hosted a Public Lecture with the theme “The Power of Core Skills: Unraveling Termites, Phages, and Beyond.” The theme was presented by Ajeng Kusumaningtyas Pramono, D.Sc from Gifu University, Japan, who is also an alumnus of the Faculty of Biology. The Public Lecture was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, the Chair of the Undergraduate Program, the Academic and Student Affairs Coordinator of the Faculty of Biology, along with the new students of the 2023 batch of the Faculty of Biology.

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The event took place in the Auditorium Biologi Tropika and was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Biology. In his opening remarks, Prof. Budi expressed that determination and strong will are important assets in achieving one’s aspirations. He also emphasized the importance of enthusiasm and motivation for students embarking on their studies each semester, drawing inspiration from Biology alumni who have forged successful careers in their respective fields. During the presentation session, Ajeng Kusumaningtyas Pramono, D.Sc, shared her experiences throughout her academic journey, spanning from her Bachelor’s to Doctoral degrees, and her scholarship experiences abroad. In the discussion session, students showed great enthusiasm by posing questions to Dr. Ajeng Pramono about her research topics. As a conclusion, Dr. Ajeng Pramono stated, “With core skills, you can push in any direction.” In this session, Prof. Budi also awarded door prizes in the form of books to four participants of the public lecture.

The event preceded with an explanation of academic services by the Academic and Student Affairs Coordinator of the Faculty of Biology, Mrs. Emi Dwi Suryanti, S.Si., M.Sc. She provided information about course registration, examination systems, class attendance, student services, and academic announcements.

In an effort to promote the development of digital library services in Indonesia, the National Library of Indonesia, in collaboration with the Indonesian Digital Library Forum and Brawijaya University, organized the 14th Digital Library Conference Indonesia (KPDI) in 2023. The conference took place from August 9th to 11th, officially inaugurated by Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.Med.Sc., the Rector of Brawijaya University (UB), at Hotel Atria Malang. The theme of the 14th KPDI was “Forging the Future through Digital Preservation of Local Indonesian Knowledge (Culture, Knowledge, and Learning).” In his address, Widodo expressed gratitude for the trust placed in the organization of this excellent event. He noted that there are many challenges ahead for libraries as the digital era unfolds, one of which is the proliferation of digital information. The official opening of the event followed with the striking of the gong by Muhammad Syarif Bando, the Head of the National Library of Indonesia.

During his response, Syarif Bando acknowledged the collaboration between UB and the Arterial Research and Educational Network in the Asia Pacific (ARENA-PAC), highlighting its potential for providing the academic community access to global reading materials and journals. He stressed the role of librarians as readers and knowledge gatherers worldwide, emphasizing their significance as a profession that all other professions rely upon. He asserted that librarians need to convey the latest and forthcoming knowledge to the public. In the current digital age, he mentioned that the amount of electronic information is still limited, necessitating librarians who can repackage information. For this occasion, the Head Librarian of UGM assigned several librarian staff to participate as speakers in the call for papers or as participants in the conference. Among them, Aris Setiawan SIP, a librarian from the Faculty of Biology Library at UGM, had the opportunity to participate as a conference attendee.

The conference was attended by over 500 participants, including librarians, educators, and library practitioners from across Indonesia. The hope is that by participating in this event, attendees can develop four essential skills necessary for librarians and library managers in the digital era: the ability to curate digital data, analyze important data, conserve, and preserve data. The aspiration is that these skills will inspire and contribute to the evolving landscape of library science and can be applied to support the advancement of knowledge within the academic community.

Several recommendations were concluded after this event, including digital preservation strategies for traditions, languages, scripts, rituals, norms, arts, and various cultural products as part of cultural heritage and cultural expression. These should become part of commodification and cultural economic enhancement. Additionally, digital preservation should play a role in safeguarding the nation’s memory, revitalizing national history, nurturing values of unity, diversity, education, and strengthening cultural literacy. Furthermore, information technology is expected to significantly influence the future of digital libraries.