The Nusantara Capital (IKN) designated to be located in the Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kertanegara regencies, is designed to be built with the concept of a forest city. In this concept, the majority of the IKN area consists of green open spaces, including both city forests and city parks in the Core Government Center area and its surrounding areas. The implementation of the forest city concept, which is planned to be 75% green open spaces, even requires the establishment of district parks and village parks. In order to realize this concept, Universitas Gadjah Mada has been entrusted by the Nusantara Capital Authority to develop a forest management plan for the IKN region. The UGM team assigned to this task comes from various faculties and fields of study, including the Faculty of Forestry, Engineering, Law, and Biology.

The Faculty of Biology was represented by Prof. Dr. Ratna Susandarini, M.Sc., from the Plant Systematics Laboratory. The role of the Plant Systematics lecturer in the team is to determine the plant composition suitable for each type of green open space in IKN. The selection of tree, shrub, bush, and herb species that make up the vegetation in various types of green open spaces considers several aspects, including maintaining biodiversity by including endemic plant species from Kalimantan and plants with ecological and aesthetic functions. The UGM team carrying out these tasks held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in Balikpapan on November 9, 2023, followed by field surveys on November 10, 2023.

The FGD on the IKN Biodiversity Master Plan, held in a hybrid format, was attended by representatives from government agencies managing forests, academics, and non-governmental organizations that have interacted with the community in the IKN region. The input from these stakeholders gathered through the FGD will be taken into consideration in the preparation of documents for forest management planning and guidelines for green open space landscapes in IKN. During the field survey, several areas visited included mangrove areas, land designated for the forest city, and the Bukit Bangkirai Natural Tourism Park as a reference ecosystem.

[MBKM] Microalgae is known for its benefits, typically used as an additional feed ingredient in aquaculture, microalgae plays a role in weight gain and enhancing disease resistance in fish. This particular topic was pursued by the MBKM Research Team from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, consisting of Dimas Anggoro Putranto, Hardian Ridho Alfalah, and Rahmi Ramadhani Putri.

The research project was titled ‘In Silico Study of the Potential of Microalgae as an Immunostimulant Feed Source for Eel.’ This research aimed to explore the potential of microalgae: Chlorella sp, Nannochloropsis sp, and Spirulina sp. The MBKM research activities collaborated with INBIO to develop innovations and enhance students’ skills in the fields of bioinformatics and biomolecular studies. INBIO (Indonesia Bioinformatics and Biomolecular) is an institution specializing in bioinformatics and biomolecular analysis services in Indonesia. Apart from conducting research, the students also had the opportunity to intern at Inbio for one year. During the MBKM activities, the students identified microalgae and performed extractions using maceration methods for phytochemical content analysis using GC-MS. Additionally, they conducted research on target proteins in the PDB and ligand in PubChem. The students also prepared proteins and ligands, followed by docking processes, interaction visualization, and data analysis.

According to Nur Indah Septriani, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., the supervising lecturer, this initiative marks the initial steps in further research on the potential of microalgae as an immunostimulant feed source for eel. This research endeavor aims to create innovations beneficial to society. ‘Through this MBKM research program, we hope students can broaden their perspectives not only within the campus but also beyond (related institutions), fostering an inclusive educational environment accessible to anyone, anywhere. This aligns with SDG number 4, which aims to enhance the quality of education,’ expressed Ms. Indah.”

Kombucha is one of the fermented beverages containing acetic acid bacteria with probiotic properties, beneficial as both a traditional and herbal drink. The presence of acetic acid bacteria with probiotic properties in kombucha makes it functional for the human body, including maintaining digestive health, enhancing the immune system, and supporting overall immunity. During storage, the quality of kombucha products may deteriorate due to improper conditions and duration of storage.

The Independent Learning Independent Campus (MBKM) Research Team from the Faculty of Biology, UGM, led by Prof. Dr. Endah Retnaningrum, M. Eng, along with Audy Syavanova, Khilin Shafa Nisa, and Virsandhita Althafio Ribowo, conducted research activities on testing the fermentation product of lemon tea kombucha “Kopi Oemah Martani” from August 28 to October 23, 2023. The quality of kombucha products stored at room temperature and in the refrigerator, each for 0, 7, and 14 days, was compared based on the observation of several test parameters. The analyzed test parameters included pH value, sugar content, acetic acid content, the amount of acetic acid bacteria, yeast, and coliform bacteria.The test results indicated that lemon tea kombucha products stored in the refrigerator for 7 days exhibited the best quality, with a taste and aroma preferred by the respondents.

[MBKM]- Plastic has become an inseparable part of modern human life, from clothing, food packaging, household tools, to building materials. Despite its various benefits, plastic poses a significant threat to the sustainability of life on Earth, with over 10 million tons of plastic waste released into the environment and oceans annually. Numerous efforts are ongoing to address this issue, one of which involves seeking alternatives to conventional plastic that are more eco-friendly and sustainable. One potential substitute is PHB or polyhydroxybutyrate, a biopolymer naturally found in various types of microorganisms. It’s believed to become the primary polymer for future plastic materials, replacing conventional petroleum-based plastic due to its biobased, biosynthesized, and biodegradable. Recognizing this challenge and opportunity, three students from the Faculty of Biology UGM, Azizah Tyas Nugrahanty, Bagas Alfian Dwiaryanda, and Lucia Arum Sekar Meysari, embarked on the Independent Learning- Independent Campus (MBKM), focusing on developing effective and efficient PHB-producing organisms by utilizing genetic transformation technology.

This MBKM program was conducted under the guidance of Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., from the Faculty of Biology, UGM, in collaboration with Raden Afif Pranaya Jati, S.P., M.Sc., from the Indonesian Bioinformatics Institute (INBIO-Indonesia). Throughout the research, the students engaged in various activities ranging from dry lab experiments to wet lab experiments. The study began with discussions regarding the selection of vectors and host microorganisms to be used. Subsequently, they designed plasmid vectors for genetic transformation and created primers to serve as markers for positive colony identification through colony PCR. The research then progressed to the wet lab phase at the Genetics and Breeding Laboratory at Faculty of Biology UGM, involving the preparation of competent cells, genetic transformation using the electroporation method, colony PCR followed by electrophoresis to confirm positive colonies carrying the target gene. As of now, the team has successfully incorporated synthetic genes constructed within the plasmid into bacterial cells as candidates for naturally producing PHB microorganisms.

The MBKM Thalassemia Research Team from the Faculty of Biology, UGM, consisting of four students Angeline Stefanny, Anisa Muliana, Mulyadi, and Veny Wulansari has undertaken a series of activities under the Independent Learning Independent Campus (MBKM) research program with the topic of Profiling and Genotyping Mutant Variants Causing Thalassemia in Family Members of the Thalassemia Parents Association (POPTI) in Magelang. This program collaborates with POPTI Magelang as an MBKM partner and involves Dr. Niken Satuti Nur Handayani, M.Sc., as the academic advisor, and Dr. Woro Triaksiwi Wulansari, M.Sc., Sp.A., the chairperson of POPTI Magelang and the Deputy Director General and Financial Manager of RSUD Tidar Magelang.

Thalassemia is a genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the synthesis of α and β-globin chains, causing a reduction or absence of one of the chains, leading to an imbalance in the synthesis of these two chains. The prevalence of this disease is increasing in Indonesia due to the relatively high rate of population migration. Therefore, molecular identification of mutant gene variants causing thalassemia in patient populations is necessary as a step towards screening thalassemia carriers within patient families to reduce the incidence of thalassemia carriers and births in the future. Currently, thalassemia carrier screening in patient families is limited to those with the means and understanding of thalassemia genetics. Hence, the MBKM Thalassemia Team is initiating a carrier screening program based on mutant variants causing thalassemia in these patients.

In implementing this program, observations were made regarding the conditions of thalassemia patients who are members of POPTI Magelang at RSUD Tidar Magelang. Data on the first-degree relatives or siblings of patients were collected as potential screening participants. The students also conducted an analysis to select the optimal or sensitive discrimination index (Mentzer, Matos and Carvalho, England and Fraser, King and Green, RBC, Shine and Lal, and Srivastava) for thalassemia screening in the Indonesian population. Additionally, they prepared for the optimization of the DNA sample isolation method and received training in bioinformatics before molecular data processing. Furthermore, a Family Gathering event was organized for POPTI Magelang members to strengthen family ties among members, accompanied by education on thalassemia and the importance of carrier screening by the UGM Thalassemia Research Team. This activity is expected to serve as an initiation in detecting thalassemia carriers within the patient families. However, there is still a need for education among the siblings of patients about the importance of undergoing thalassemia screening to determine whether they are carriers or not. Dr. Niken Satuti encourages and invites the community not to be afraid to undergo thalassemia screening but to fear not knowing whether one carries the thalassemia allele or not.

The Dean of Faculty Biology UGM Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, S.Si.,M.Agr.Sc.,Ph.D., served as keynote speaker in Training on Polyploidisation Technique and Cultivation to Enhance Shallot Production. This training was organized by Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Islam Madura on Wednesday, November 6 2023 from 09.00 – 12.00 WIB at At the Agricultural Extension Center (BPP) Kostratani Guluk-Guluk, Sumenep Regency, East Java. This training activity is part of the 2023 Social Collaboration Program for Community Development (Kosabangsa) with the theme “Optimizing Shallot Production and Marketing through Bio-Polyploidization Technology, Pyramid-Type Solar Dryer, and Digital Marketing as Efforts to Increase Income for Shallot Farmers in Guluk-Guluk District, Sumenep Regency.” This training is intended for farmers, with the main goal of developing and disseminating simple and effective polyploid technology. In addition to enhancing shallot production , this training also supports the flagship commodities of Madura Island.

Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, S.Si., M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D., as a biology expert, attended the training as a speaker and delivered a presentation focusing on Polyploidization Techniques and Shallot Cultivation. The material provided aimed to give insight and skills to farmers in their efforts to increase shallot production. After the presentation, the event continued with a question-and-answer session. In this session, the audience actively participated in the discussion, making the event interactive and engaging.

The existence of this training demonstrates support for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in realizing decent work and economic growth as well as promoting well-being (SDG 8 and SDG 3). The collaboration between the Dean of the Faculty of Biology at UGM and the Faculty of Agriculture at the Islamic University of Madura is expected to strengthen relationships and have a positive impact on both parties. This training is also anticipated to enhance shallot cultivation yields, aligning with efforts to support sustainable development and partnerships to achieve goals (SDG 17).

[MBKM] Yogyakarta, 9 November 2023, In efforts to support research and the development of Indonesia’s natural wealth, the MBKM research team has successfully completed further research in Mount Merbabu National Park (TNGMb) from June 2-4, 2023. The research led by Drs. Hari Purwanto, M.P., Ph.D., along with Aqil Abyan Rahman, Cornelius Devito Deva Pramana Atmaja, and Nadiva Adelia Nurdin. This research was also assisted by R. Hanindyo Adi, S.Si., M.Si., a Ph.D. student in the Entomology laboratory at the Faculty of Biology, UGM.

This research activity was a continuation of previous explorations conducted in November 2022, May 2023, and June 2023. The research team successfully identified three tribes of corbiculate bees, namely Bombini (mountain bumblebees), Apini (honey bees), and Meliponini (stingless bees), distributed in the TNGMb Pakis Resort area across 15 grids with an elevation range of 737-2496 meters above sea level. Morphological character analysis was conducted on the three tribes of corbiculate bees, revealing the species found to be Bombus rufipes, Apis cerana, and Tetragonula laeviceps. Based on molecular analysis using the 16s primer on samples from TNGMb, it was found that B. rufipes is closely related to B. eximius from Thailand, A. cerana is closely related to A. cerana from Japan, and T. laeviceps is closely related to T. laeviceps from Yogyakarta. Molecular analysis still requires more comprehensive comparisons. Morphometric-geometric analysis is currently being conducted on the samples to understand how differences in elevation affect bee adaptation, especially in wing size and shape.

The Merbabu Bee MBKM research team expresses gratitude to the Dean and Vice Dean for Research, Community Service,Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Faculty of Biology, UGM, for providing permission, facilities, and funding for this activity. We also thank Ir. Junita Parjanti, M.T., Head of TNGMb Office, Mrs. Ekowati, our guide at the Office of TNGMb, Mr. Wawan, Head of Pakis Resort, along with the team, and Mr. Jumari and the TNGMb Partner Community team who accompanied us during the exploration in Pakis Resort.

Yogyakarta, 7 November 2023 – Faculty of Biology UGM received a visit from a delegation from National Central University (NCU), Taiwan, Prof. Adam Huang from the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, and Prof. Fu-Guo Robert Liu from the Department of Life Sciences. The visit was received in the KPTU Meeting Room, Faculty of Biology UGM by Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Slamet Widiyanto, M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Finance, Assets and Human Resources Affairs, Sukirno, Ph.D. as Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, Nur Indah Septriani, Ph.D. as Head of the Office of International Affairs Faculty of Biology, and Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, Ph.D. as Secretary of the Office of International Affairs, Faculty of Biology UGM.

NCU’s visit to Universitas Gadjah Mada this time was aimed at recruiting UGM students for interview sessions for their international programs in collaboration with UGM. During his visit to the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Adam and Prof. Fu-Guo explained regarding their respective departments and the collaboration that could be initiated with UGM, especially with the Faculty of Biology.

The Faculty of Biology has collaborated with NCU through student interviews and a mini symposium which was held last Tuesday (12/9), together with the National Health and Research Institute (NHRI), Taiwan. This meeting specifically discussed the initiation of Double Degrees for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs, especially with the NCU Department of Life Sciences. The Faculty of Biology also conveyed the potential for collaboration in International Conference (ICBS) activities and International Summer Courses which are routinely held by the Faculty of Biology. Prof. Fu-Guo welcomes the initiation of this collaboration and hopes that it can become a good bridge in improving education at both institutions.

The collaboration between the Faculty of Biology and NCU in implementing the Mini Symposium and Scholarship Interview shows the commitment of the Faculty of Biology in its role in sustainable development in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely healthy living (SDG 3), inclusive quality education for all groups (SDG 4), and partnership in achieving sustainable goals (SDG 17).

Proposing an idea entitled “Smart Integrated Education System of Agrotourism Community Services”, lecturer at the Faculty of Biology UGM, Ganies Riza Aristya, Ph.D., got the Outstanding Flagship Project award at the 2023 RCE Awards for Innovative Projects on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The RCE Awards are appreciation award for programs and projects that focus on education for sustainable development. This contribution is a concrete manifestation of overcoming the challenges of sustainable development in the region. Recognized programs are programs that involve the transformation of teaching and research and demonstrate active contribution of society, including the involvement of partners and stakeholders.

Focusing on the development of Sendangsari Village and Sidomulyo Village, Pengasih, Kulon Progo, Ganies and the KKN (Community Service) Team UGM that she coached highlighted the agricultural potential of these two villages in building a Tourism Village based on sustainable agriculture. This potential is also a challenge, where potential local products, in terms of quality and quantity, have experienced a decline after the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology and educational support and the development of MSME products are in the spotlight in developing villages whose communities still depend on the agricultural sector. This is in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs) in increasing decent work and community economic growth (SDG 8). Ganies also highlighted the involvement of Women Farmer Groups (KWT) which play an active role in processing and managing agricultural products, supporting gender equality in village economic development (SDG 5).

Agrotourism is a concept that combines agricultural activities with environmentally friendly tourism and contributes to the economy of the local community within it. Ganies applies the Smart Integrated Education System in agrotourism development, seeking to raise the potential of local communities through various education and training programs (SDG 4), community and stakeholder involvement, and the use of innovative technology. In addition, this concept also supports awareness of environmental conservation and preservation and sustainable agriculture, both for local communities and tourists (SDG 14 and 15).

It is hoped that this idea can create a sustainable agrotourism sector, increase awareness of environmental conservation while promoting local culture and providing economic benefits to local communities.

The Team of Biology students from Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada collaborated with PT Pagilaran on the development of herbal tea made from the leaves of Aquilaria malaccensis, an agarwood species. This collaboration, conducted from March 2023 to November 2023, was part of the Independent Learning Independent Campus Program (MBKM). The team consists of Atikah Nurunnissa’, Damar Nirma Wati, and Listia Dewi Amaliawati, under the guidance of Drs. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, S.Si., M.Sc., and Tri Wahyuni, S.TP. from PT. Pagilaran.

The herbal tea development activities commenced with a discussion at the PT Pagilaran Kotabaru headquarters, located at Jl. Faridan M. Noto, No. 11, Kotabaru, Kec. Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta. Subsequently, the students visited the PT Pagilaran Samigaluh branch on 13-14 March 2023, focusing on the production of green and black tea. During the visit, the team were guided by Mr. Waridi through the entire tea-making process, starting from harvesting, withering, fermentation, to drying. Following the visit, the team formulated agarwood leaves with other ingredients to create various herbal tea blends: 1) Agarwood leaves, black tea, red ginger; 2) Agarwood leaves, green tea, lemon; and 3) Agarwood leaves, green tea, rosella. Each formulation had different concentrations, such as Agarwood leaves: Black tea / Green tea: Natural ingredients (1: 0.75: 0.25), (1: 0.75: 0.5), and (1: 0.75: 0.75). Subsequently, the students conducted organoleptic tests to determine the preferred formulation and concentration of herbal tea. They also performed extractions using 80% ethanol, followed by UV-Scanning to identify the compound profile of agarwood herbal tea with antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiobesity activities.The UV-Scanning results and bioactivity analysis using PASS Online revealed that all three formulations possessed potential bioactivity, making them suitable for health-supporting beverages.

It is anticipated that this collaboration will provide valuable insights for the students throughout their research process, expanding possibilities for drug development from natural resources, particularly agarwood leaf extracts. This activity is expected to strengthen public understanding of Indonesia’s natural wealth and its potential in pharmaceutical development, inspiring the creation of innovative solutions to enhance human health and well-being. [Author: Damar Nirma Wati]