On Saturday and Sunday, 22^nd to 23^rd of February 2025, had been held Grand Launching x Makrab at Sokkyo Ramen & Homestay. This event was held for all Formasigen’s members. This event was attended by Mrs. Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., as Formasigen’s supervisor lecturer and Mr. Indra Lesmana, S.Si., M.Sc. as one of the lecturer from the Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding Faculty of Biology UGM. Grand Launching x Makrab is aimed to introduce the cabinet’s ministry and program for the following year while also bringing the team closer. This event consisted of 4 main events that included a sharing session with the lecturers from Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding Faculty of Biology UGM, pre-seminar class, cabinet meeting, and other bonding activities.

The event was started by sharing session with Mrs. Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., as Formasigen’s supervisor lecturer and Mr. Indra Lesmana, S.Si., M.Sc. as one of the lecturer from the Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding Faculty of Biology UGM about Formasigen’s history and their Formasigen experience. The next activity was pre-seminar class with Thoriq Abdul Halim, Biology UGM student batch 21, as the presenter. Pre-seminar class is a session where a senior student presents tips and tricks about preparing and presenting proposal for undergraduate thesis to the new Formasigen members. After pre-seminar class, the next activity was a cabinet meeting where Denianto Agung Wicaksono, as the Chairman of Formasigen 2025, presented all programs plan for the following year to all Formasigen members. After Grand Launching x Makrab was held this year, we hoped that all Formasigen 2025 members could get to know each other better and be closer personally. It’s also hoped that all members can understand the history of Formasigen and the plan for the following year better after this sharing session. Pre-seminar class is also hoped to prepare all members for their undergraduate thesis proposal so that they can be more prepared and produce a better result.

Starting from Monday, January 27, until Friday, February 21, 2025, a faculty member from the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, had the opportunity to participate in the training program “Gene Editing for Indica Rice and Excellence Through Stewardship” at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, the Philippines. This program is a significant milestone of the KONEKSI partnership program between Australia and Indonesia, titled “Building a Sustainable Future: Developing Nutritious and Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties” in collaboration with IRRI Philippines and BRIN Indonesia. Aimed at enhancing capacity building, this funding also provided an opportunity for a young lecturer, Dr. Siti Nurbaiti, to take part in the program, as she is also conducting research on rice.

During the four-week training at IRRI, all activities were supervised by Dr. Inez Slamet-Loedin, an Indonesian diaspora who also serves as Principal Scientist and Head of the Genetic Design and Validation Unit at IRRI, Philippines. Before actively engaging in laboratory activities, Prof. Yekti and Dr. Baiti had to complete an online course on Good and Safe Laboratory Practices, studied about Stewardship, Biosafety, and Regulations regarding plant products derived from the use of Plant Breeding Innovations (PBIs) in the Philippines. In general, these genome editing activities in the Rice Breeding Innovation unit involved two laboratories: Gene Editing and Transformation Lab (GETL) led by Dr. Inez Slamet-Loedin, and Gene Identification and Validation Lab (GIV) led by Dr. Sung Ryul Kim.

The introduction to Genome Editing (GEd), Escherichia coli plasmid vector design and guide RNA construction, oligonucleotide duplex synthesis, ligation, Agrobacterium transformation, confirmation and validation, and glycerol stock preparation were conducted in the GIV Lab. The developed constructs were then transferred to the GETL Lab, where they were introduced into plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of immature embryos via tissue culture. The resulting plants were grown in regulated greenhouse and screenhouse facilities, followed by mutation screening using molecular genotyping analysis from DNA and phenotyping analysis based on growth and development parameters such as tillering capacity, leaf number, leaf greenness, and stress responses. Additionally, Prof. Yekti and Dr. Baiti also studied seed processing, covering harvesting, storage techniques, and maintaining seed viability for both daily use and long-term preservation. Some GEd projects conducted include the development of rice varieties with enhanced Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and the improvement of Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) content in rice.

In addition to laboratory activities, Prof. Yekti and Dr. Baiti had the opportunity to visit the IRRI Genebank, which houses a vast collection of cultivated rice varieties from various countries, including wild rice species. They also explored the Speed Breeding Facilities, which enable studies on rice growth and development under various controlled environmental conditions. Meetings and discussions with experts from various fields were also conducted, including Dr. R. Mauleon and Dr. Dmytro Chebotarov, experts in bioinformatics, who introduced the SNP-Seek platform, which was developed by IRRI (https://snp-seek.irri.org/); Dr. Amelia Henry, an expert in root system research; and Rice breeders from Korea. The program concluded with a final presentation summarizing all the knowledge and experiences gained, held on Friday, February 21, 2025. During the training, Dr. Baiti also had the opportunity to meet with a collaborator from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alona C. Linatoc, who has been actively involved in the Summer Course program organized by the Faculty of Biology UGM.

This program also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Looking ahead, it is hoped that more collaborations and opportunities will be created to continuously enhance the capacity of faculty members at the Faculty of Biology, UGM, further contributing to the advancement of education in Indonesia.

Yogyakarta, February 26, 2025 – Sixteen students from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), participated in the Sakura Science Program at the Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Japan. The program took place from February 15 to 23, 2025.

Accompanied by Prof. Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, the students began their activities with a field trip to the Mt. Gassan region to observe the environmental conditions covered in heavy snow in northern Japan. Led by Prof. Jun Yokoyama, the students were also taken on a tour of Yamagata City.

The following day, February 17, 2025, the students attended a series of lectures on biodiversity and recent advances in biological studies delivered by several professors, including Dr. Taisuke Kanao on “Termitophily: Unique insect diversity in termite nests”, Prof. Naoyuki Fujiyama on “Diversity of Asian insects with particular attention to researches on herbivorous ladybird beetles”, and Prof. Yutaka Miyazawa on “How do plant roots respond to water deficit? : Physiological and molecular biological dissection of root hydrotropism”.

From February 18 to 21, 2025, the students conducted a series of practical activities, including material selection for experiments, DNA isolation from organisms, DNA sequencing, and data analysis from PCR results. The outcomes of these activities were then compiled into reports and presented.

This program not only focused on academic aspects but also provided opportunities for students to learn about Japanese culture by visiting the Yamagata Prefectural Museum.

The Sakura Science Program aims to strengthen cooperation and knowledge exchange between the Faculty of Biology, UGM, and Yamagata University. This activity is expected to broaden students’ knowledge and insights in biology and strengthen the Faculty of Biology’s international network.

Yogyakarta, February 21, 2025 – The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed a delegation from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, as part of a research collaboration under the NTU Singapore Institute of Research for Sustainability and Innovation (INSPIRASI) CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage) program. This research project has been ongoing since 2024.

The meeting, held in the KPTU Meeting Room at the Faculty of Biology UGM, was attended by Assoc. Prof. Marcos and his student, Tan Pei Ru, from the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering NTU. Also present were Prof. Dr.Eng. Ir. Arief Budiman, M.S., IPU., and Dr. Nugroho Dewayanto, S.T., M.Eng., from the Faculty of Engineering UGM. From the Faculty of Biology UGM, the meeting was attended by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni, along with his master’s and doctoral students.

During the meeting, discussions revolved around research progress on the application of local strain microalgae for CO2 absorption and its utilization for biorefinery products. This collaboration aims to develop innovative solutions for sustainable carbon emissions management toward net zero emissions using microalgae.

In addition to the discussion session, the NTU delegation also conducted a field visit to several research facilities supporting this project, including the Integrated Genome Factory (IGF), which serves as the DNA/RNA sequencing service center at the Faculty of Biology UGM.

This visit not only focused on research developments but also resulted in an agreement that the Faculty of Biology UGM and NTU will implement a student exchange program as part of strengthening academic and research cooperation.

This research aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The Faculty of Biology UGM hopes that this collaboration will significantly contribute to climate change mitigation efforts through microalgae-based biotechnology innovations.

Yogyakarta, February 20, 2025 – PT Bumitama Gunajaya Agro (BGA) continues to strengthen its commitment to driving innovation in Indonesia’s palm oil industry through its Open Innovation program. The socialization of this program was held at the Tropical Biology Auditorium of the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, and was attended by both faculty members and students from the Faculty of Biology UGM. This event also marked the continuation of the collaboration between BGA and the Faculty of Biology UGM, which began last year.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, emphasized the importance of cooperation between academic and industry to enhance the quality of research and innovation. He expressed great appreciation for the opportunity to continue this collaboration, especially since the Dean himself was one of the recipients of BGA’s innovation grant last year.

During the event, Dr. Ade Agung Laksono, Bumitama Academy Department Head at PT BGA, served as the keynote speaker. Under the theme “Integrated Innovation to Advance the Indonesian Palm Oil Industry,” Dr. Ade shared BGA’s commitment to opening opportunities for Indonesian researchers to directly contribute to the development and sustainability of the national palm oil industry. “BGA focuses on the upstream management of palm oil plantations, and through the research grant we offer, we aim to explore the potential of Indonesian researchers in providing practical solutions to the various challenges in the palm oil sector,” said Dr. Ade.

In his presentation, Dr. Ade also highlighted some of the main challenges facing the Indonesian palm oil industry this year, including reduced production capacity due to pest attacks and suboptimal processing of crude palm oil into edible oils. To address these issues, BGA is offering researchers the opportunity to apply their findings directly in the field, utilizing the land provided by BGA.

This year, the BGA research grant program not only invites faculty members but also opens up participation to students from universities across Indonesia. Through this initiative, it is hoped that the research innovations emerging from the Faculty of Biology UGM can further contribute to the advancement of the palm oil industry in Indonesia, while supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly for inclusive education (SDG 4) and collaborative innovation (SDG 17). This initiative is expected to strengthen the synergy between education and industry, opening opportunities for more applicable research that can have a direct impact on the agricultural and palm oil plantation sectors in Indonesia.

Bangkok, Thailand – Dr. Luthfi Nurhidayat and Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, lecturers from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), participated in The 2025 Asian Conference on Fish Models for Diseases, held on February 17–19, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. This conference was attended by renowned scientists from various countries who use fish as model organisms in disease studies.

During the event, Dr. Luthfi Nurhidayat delivered a presentation titled “Indonesia’s Native Fish: From Aquaculture Towards Biomedical Research”. He highlighted the potential of the wader pari fish (Rasbora lateristriata), initially studied for aquaculture purposes, as a model organism in disease research. Dr. Luthfi emphasized that Indonesia possesses many natural compounds that have been characterized and have medicinal potential, yet their testing remains limited due to the constraints of using mice or rats as model organisms. The wader pari fish offers advantages such as a faster embryonic development compared to zebrafish, resilience to warm temperatures, and previous successful applications in testing natural compounds.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas presented her research in a flash poster format, titled “Antidiabetic Potential of Gyrinops versteegii Agarwood Leaf Extract in Zebrafish Models”. She explained that her study demonstrated the antidiabetic potential of agarwood leaf extract, which was tested using zebrafish models.

The participation of the Faculty of Biology UGM lecturers in this conference is part of their efforts to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 3: Good Health and Well-being. This engagement not only strengthens Indonesia’s role in fish-based biomedical research but also opens opportunities for collaboration with international scientists in advancing fish models for health research.

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, students from SMPIT Muhammadiyah An Najah, Klaten, had the opportunity to study biology with a focus on histology and animal anatomy at the Laboratory of Animal Structure and Development, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). This activity was attended by 29 students, accompanied by four teachers. The event began with an opening speech by Dr. Ardaning Nuriliani, M.Kes, Head of the Laboratory.

During this activity, students had the chance to learn directly about the structure and function of animals. The learning process included a hands-on dissection of Nile tilapia, guided by the laboratory assistants, who are undergraduate and graduate students. In this lab. work, students learned how to dissect animal in accordance with animal welfare principles and studied the topography and anatomical structure of organs. They also observed histological slides of various organ types to gain a deeper understanding of the cellular and tissue components that make up an organ. At the end of the session, students visited the anatomy section of the Laboratory of Animal Structure and Development, where they observed preserved specimens of various animal species as well as skeletal structures. This activity is expected to enhance students’ practical skills and enrich their learning experience in biology while also supporting SDG 4 on quality education.

Furthermore, this initiative is also aimed at strengthening collaboration and the university’s role in supporting primary education from elementary to senior high school. By doing so, it contributes to the achievement of SDG 17, which focuses on partnerships for the goals.

Yogyakarta, 14 February 2025 – Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Faculty of Science, Leiden University, celebrate a decade of academic and research partnership which has had a major impact on the development of biological science. Prof. dr. Herman Spaink from the Faculty of Science Leiden University, visits Faculty of Biology to celebrates their collaboration together with the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. and Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. along with Dr. Luthfi Nur Hidayat, S.Sc., M.Sc., lecturer at of Faculty of Biology as well as alumnus of Leiden University.

Since the collaboration began in 2015, Faculty of Biology UGM and Leiden University have carried out various joint research projects, student and lecturer exchange programs, as well as international scientific publications. Ultimately, in September 2024, Faculty of Biology UGM and the Graduate School, Faculty of Science, Leiden University signed a Joint Doctoral Degree Agreement. This program allows students from both universities to earn a doctoral degree with guidance from experts at both institutions. This agreement confirms the commitment of both institutions to strengthening academic and research relations in the field of biology.

Apart from that, the two universities also collaborated in establishing the Zebrafish Research Facility. This facility is expected to become an international research center to support the development of research in the health and natural products potential from Indonesia. This collaboration is in line with UGM’s vision of developing superior research in the fields of biotechnology and public health.

With a decade of success under their belt, both institutions are committed to continuing to expand the impact of research and innovation at the global level while strengthening their role as centers of excellence for biological research. It is hoped that this collaboration will continue to produce collaborative programs, student exchanges, joint research and quality scientific publications, providing significant benefits to the academic community and wider society.

This collaboration also contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, SDG 4 (Quality Education) which supports access to quality education at the global level, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) where the development of research facilities and scientific innovation in the field of biotechnology supports the progress of research infrastructure at the international level, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) where collaboration between UGM and Leiden University reflects the importance of global partnerships in supporting research, innovation and academic development. Thus, this collaboration not only strengthens academic and research networks, but also contributes to achieving broader sustainable development goals.

Yogyakarta, 13 February 2024 – Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participated in discussions to initiate collaboration with University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. This discussion was led by the Secretary of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and Relations at UGM, Prof. Ir. Wiratni, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., IPM, and attended by delegates from various faculties at UGM, including the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MIPA), and Faculty of Agricultural Technology. The Faculty of Biology delegation was represented by Nur Indah Septriani, Ph.D., as Head of the International Affairs Office of the Faculty of Biology.

Ms. Neasa O’Connor, International Recruitment Manager College of Science, Engineering and Food Science UCC, conveyed the potential for collaboration between the UGM Faculty of Biology and the UCC School of Microbiology. On this occasion, UCC offers two master’s program schemes, regular and by research, as part of the initiation of a double degree program with the Biology Master’s program at UGM. Ms. Neasa highlighted the potential for double degree collaboration in the Master of Microbiome Science program, a new study program at UCC, as well as other master’s programs such as the Master in Bioinformatics and Master in Biotechnology and Industrial Sciences.

Nur Indah Septriani, Ph.D., expressed her appreciation and welcomed the initiation of collaboration with UCC. She mentioned that the Faculty of Biology UGM has established double degree collaborations with various world universities at undergraduate level through the International Undergraduate Program (IUP), as well as at master’s and doctoral levels. Apart from that, she also offers the potential for collaboration in annual international programs organized by the Faculty of Biology UGM, such as the International Summer Course (ISC) and the International Conference on Biological Science (ICBS).

This discussion is a strategic step in strengthening academic relations between the Faculty of Biology UGM and University College Cork, Ireland. The initiation of this collaboration is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) which aims to improve access and quality of higher education through international academic collaboration. Apart from that, this collaboration also supports SDG 17, which emphasizes the importance of partnerships between educational institutions in creating a positive impact on the development of science and human resources at the global level.

Yogyakarta, 14 February 2025 – The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) received a visit from delegation from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, in order to discuss the follow-up to academic cooperation between the two institutions. The University of Dundee delegation was represented by Dr. Christine Graham as Academic Regional Lead for South East Asia and Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Global Partnership, School of Life Science. This visit took place in the KPTU Meeting Room, Faculty of Biology UGM and was also attended by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono (Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM), Dr. Eko Agus Suyono (Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs), Sukirno, Ph.D. (Head of the Undergraduate Study Program), and Matin Nuhamunada, Ph.D. (Secretary of the Office of International Affairs, Faculty of Biology, UGM).

Since 2024, the Faculty of Biology together with several other faculties at UGM have established double degree collaboration with the University of Dundee, especially in the biology master’s program through the School of Life Science. This program is supported by various scholarship schemes, including the LPDP scholarship by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia as well as various other scholarships offered by the University of Dundee.

During this visit, Dr. Graham further introduced the University of Dundee, especially the School of Life Science, by explaining various student activities, campus facilities, and research focused in the field of Cell and Molecular Biology. This session was followed by a presentation from Dr. Eko Agus Suyono who introduced the Faculty of Biology UGM to the University of Dundee delegation.

Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono welcomed this discussion and emphasized the commitment of the Faculty of Biology UGM in supporting international academic collaboration. He highlighted the high interest of students to continue their education abroad as well as the various scholarship opportunities available. Apart from that, Prof. Budi also mentioned that several students from the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) Faculty of Biology UGM are currently undergoing a double degree program at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, and the Australian National University, Australia.

The discussion also included the potential for developing an Academic Validation Program, an inter-university curriculum validation program that allows students to obtain degree recognition from the University of Dundee without having to attend lectures directly. This program is expected to run continuously with the initiation of the 4+1 (Undergraduate-Master) scheme. In addition, Matin Nuhamunada, Ph.D. adding that the University of Dundee has the opportunity to participate in the Faculty of Biology UGM’s annual international agenda, such as the International Summer Course (ISC) and the International Conference on Biological Science (ICBS).

This visit is a strategic step in strengthening relations between the Faculty of Biology UGM and the University of Dundee. This follow-up discussion is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals which encourage increasing access and quality of higher education through international academic collaboration (SDG 4) and emphasizes the importance of synergy between educational institutions in creating a positive impact on the development of science and human resources at the global level (SDG 17).