Arsip:
News Release
MicroSD is a work program aimed at the internal members of the Marine Biology Study Group, Universitas Gadjah Mada (KSK Biogama). This work program is one of the initiatives run by the Curriculum section with the aim of broadening the knowledge of KSK members regarding marine science by studying software that supports research. MicroSD 2023 was presented in the form of a webinar held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, through the Zoom platform. The online format was chosen so that the tutorials provided by the speakers during the webinar could be recorded and subsequently reviewed by KSK Biogama members. The research topic highlighted in MicroSD 2023 was “Utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) Programs in Marine Research in Indonesia,” with Bondan Galih Dewanto, S.T., a lecturer in Geodesy Engineering atUniversitas Gadjah Mada, as the speaker. He has conducted extensive research on the mapping of study areas and is highly proficient in using GIS applications. He was accompanied by an assistant, Arinda Tasya Arianti, who played a technical role in the event.
The event lasted for two hours and included a general introduction to GIS applications, followed by a tutorial on registering with the USGS Earth Explorer and creating composite images for generating location maps tailored to the actual coordinate points. The creation of research location maps serves the purpose of enhancing the aesthetic presentation of papers or journals, ensuring that the depicted research site appears more accurate and provides a clearer representation compared to merely including a Google Earth image. Following the speaker’s presentation, a discussion session was opened to allow KSK Biogama members to ask questions directly about any material they hadn’t fully understood or seek consultations on topics related to MicroSD. The event concluded with a certificate presentation for the speaker and the assistant, followed by a group photo.
The Department of Biology Tropica at the Faculty of Biology, UGM, organized a Career Development Talk Show titled “Tips for Accelerating Lecturer Careers” on Monday, October 9, 2023, at the Auditorium Biologi Tropika, Faculty of Biology, UGM. This event served as an excellent platform for lecturers in the Faculty of Biology, UGM, to gain tips, tricks, and insights for achieving success in the academic world. The Talk Show lasted for 2 hours, from 09:00 to 11:00 AM WIB, and was attended by 31 lecturers from the Faculty of Biology, UGM. The event commenced by the MC, Nuha Ainurrahman, S.Si.. and was officially open by welcoming remark from Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, UGM. In his speech, Prof. Budi warmly welcomed Prof. Dr. Pramaditya Wicaksono, M.Sc., and expressed gratitude for his willingness to come to the Faculty of Biology, UGM, to share knowledge and experiences.
Prof. Budi also congratulated Prof. Pramaditya for breaking the record as the youngest professor at Universitas Gadjah Mada at the age of 35 years and 11 months and appreciated his achievements. Prof. Budi hoped that the lecturers from the Faculty of Biology could learn a great deal from the knowledge shared, thereby preparing their career paths effectively. Prof. Budi also conveyed a message to Prof. Pramaditya, particularly emphasizing the importance of maintaining his endurance for a long and successful career at Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Next, Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, S.Si., M.S., Ph.D., took over as the moderator and introduced the main event: the Talk Show on “Tips for Accelerating Lecturer Careers”. Prof. Dr. Pramaditya Wicaksono, M.Sc., as the Speaker, is a lecturer in the Faculty of Geography and also the youngest Professor at UGM. Prof. Pramaditya shared his activities that allowed him to accumulate the necessary credits for applying for the Professor position. These activities included teaching, supervising final projects of students, and developing practical modules, among others. Prof. Pramaditya mentioned that education was the longest-standing field he had been involved in. To balance this, he engaged in activities such as mentoring students and/or examining Master’s and Ph.D. students outside of Universitas Gadjah Mada. In the field of Research and Publications, one of the tips provided by Prof. Pramaditya was optimizing publications in accredited national journals. Regarding Community Service, Prof. Pramaditya emphasized the importance of aligning community service activities with one’s passion, making the process much smoother.
In the last hour of the event, lively and enjoyable discussions and Q&A sessions took place. The lecturers from the Faculty of Biology raised various questions based on the difficulties they faced in accumulating credit points and sought tips to overcome these challenges. Prof. Pramaditya confidently provided answers and advice based on his experiences in overcoming similar challenges. Discussions about the role of the Department and the Faculty in facilitating lecturer career advancement were also well-received. It is hoped that the Talk Show will serve as constructive motivation for the lecturers from the Faculty of Biology, enabling them to further prepare their career paths. This Talk Show activity supports several aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the collaboration between the Faculty of Biology, UGM, and the Faculty of Geography, UGM (SDG 17), as well as the enhancement of educational quality (SDG 4) through lecturer career acceleration. Additionally, the output of this activity can contribute to economic growth (SDG 8) by creating numerous research opportunities in the academic environment.
The black orchid, known as Coelogyne pandurata Lindl., is a rare endemic flora of Indonesia. This orchid can only be found in East Kalimantan and Papua. Its uniqueness lies in its black labellum adorned with green stripes and fur, along with green flower ornaments with triangular-shaped petals. This orchid holds high economic value as an ornamental and rare plant collection. Unfortunately, infrastructure development projects in East Kalimantan have escalated the rate of extinction in the wild. Despite being categorized as Appendix I under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and protected by the Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 7 of 1999, this orchid faces challenges.
In light of this, three UGM students, part of the UGM 2023 PKM-RE Team funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, namely Anisa Dewi Rahayu, Lathief Al Umami, and Shiddharta Arya Anggoro Cen from the Faculty of Biology, with their supervising professor, Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc., are undertaking ex situ conservation through micropropagation using Temporary Immersion Systems (TISs) technology.
The application of TISs technology represents a cutting-edge method to accelerate the growth and development of the black orchid. Its advantages include the elimination of subculturing, optimal aeration, and prevention of hyperhydration. The innovative integrated sensor system of TISs facilitates the monitoring of environmental parameters such as pH, temperature, humidity, light intensity, and carbon dioxide levels. Lathief explains that the development of the TISs device, equipped with real-time sensors, is controlled by an Arduino Uno to facilitate environmental parameter regulation. The sensor measurements of environmental conditions are displayed on an LCD display. Shiddharta adds that the incubation chamber design at the top, serving as a space for explants from seeds to plantlets, can be flexibly adjusted according to needs without the need for modifying the sensor and actuator system.
Anisa elucidates that the application of the integrated sensor TISs on black orchid plantlets in the UGM Biology Biotechnology Laboratory has proven to accelerate growth parameter increments. This application initiates the development of modern and efficient ex situ conservation efforts for other endangered plants, leading to the production of higher-quality plants with minimal production costs.
Yogyakarta, October 9, 2023 – The Faculty of Biology welcomed a delegation from Leiden University, the Netherlands, to follow up on the collaboration between the Faculty of Science at Leiden University and three faculties at Universitas Gadjah Mada, namely the Faculty of Biology, the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing. The meeting was attended by representatives from Leiden University, Dr. Gert Jan van Helden, and Daniel Mandel. From the Faculty of Biology, there were Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., the Dean; Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc., the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs; Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., theVice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs; Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, Ph.D., the Secretary of the Office of International Affairs; and Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, M.Sc. From the Faculty of Pharmacy, there were Apt. Dr. rer. nat. Nanang Fahrudin, M.Si., the Vice Dean for Research, Community Engagement, Cooperation, and Alumni; Dr. Sylvia Utami Tanjung Pratiwi, S.Si., M.Si.; and drh. Retno Muwarti, MP., Ph.D. From the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, there were Prof. dr. Yodi Mahendradhata, M.Sc., Ph.D., FRSP., the Dean, and Dr. dr. Lina Choridah, Sp.Rad(K), the Vice Dean for Research and Development.
The discussion began with welcoming remarks from Universitas Gadjah Mada, representing the faculties of Biology, Pharmacy, and Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing. Leiden University, particularly the Faculty of Science, has maintained a long-standing and fruitful collaboration. This visit marks a continuation of their research collaboration under the scope of the Joint Research and Expertise Center, particularly in relation to zebrafish research. Dr. Gert expressed that UGM is one of the most active partners in collaborating with Leiden. Several collaborations have taken place, including mutual visiting professor programs, student mobility programs for master’s and doctoral studies, and joint degree programs, including the initiation of a joint research center, which was the main topic of discussion during this meeting on Monday (10/9). The visit continued with a tour of the MSIBC Building (Moeso Suryowinoto Indonesia Biodiversity Center) at the Faculty of Biology. This new building will house various research equipment as part of the collaboration with Leiden.
The hope is that through this collaboration, it will support the enhancement of education and research at UGM, especially in the Faculty of Biology, and provide students with international learning opportunities. This collaboration is part of the Faculty of Biology’s commitment to expanding connections and partnerships with various stakeholders to improve the quality of education, in line with their support for Sustainable Development Goals for education enhancement and extended cooperation (SDG 4 and 17).
The Student Genetic Research Forum (FORMASIGEN) held a GenTalk, which serves as a platform to discuss the results of thesis research conducted at the Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, UGM. This GenTalk took place on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, and featured Syallom Gita Maharani, S.Si. as the speaker, with the topic “Detection of Polymorphisms rs249954 and rs16940342 in the PALB2 Gene in Women with Breast Cancer at Dr. Moewardi Surakarta Regional Hospital ”. The event was conducted through a Zoom meeting and was open to the public, with 32 participants including FORMASIGEN members and several other students from the Faculty of Biology, UGM. The event started at 19:30 WIB and was opened by Muhammad Helmi Fauzan, the Chair of FORMASIGEN 2023.
In this GenTalk, the speaker began by explaining the background of this research. They highlighted that over 80% of breast cancer cases are detected at an advanced stage, making treatment efforts increasingly challenging. This emphasizes the importance of early detection of breast cancer, particularly at the genetic and molecular levels. The PALB2 gene has the potential to cause breast cancer with a moderate risk. PALB2 itself has variants in the form of SNPs rs249954 and rs16940342 that increase the risk of breast cancer in the Asian female population. The research results showed the presence of SNP rs249954 (C>T) in patients with a pathology diagnosis of the Triple Negative subtype and the homozygous TT genotype. Additionally, SNPrs16940342 (A>G) was found in patients with the Luminal B subtype and the homozygous GG genotype.
The event continued with questions from the attendees, leading to engaging discussions. GenTalk concluded with a group photo session. Through GenTalk, it is hoped that information regarding the importance of detecting breast cancer by targeting potential trigger genes can be understood and serve as a reference for generating ideas for research in the field of Genetics.
Yogyakarta, October 6, 2023 – The Faculty of Biology at UGM welcomed the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Tadulako University, Dr. Lufsyi Mahmudin, S.Si., M.Si. The visit also marked the official establishment of collaboration between the Faculty of Biology at UGM and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Tadulako University through the signing of a memorandum of understanding and a cooperation agreement, following previous discussions held on Thursday (10/5). The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., the Dean of the Faculty of Biology; Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc., the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs; Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs; and Abdul Razaq Chasani, Ph.D., the Head of the Tropical Biology Department at the Faculty of Biology, UGM.
Prof. Budi, as the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, welcomed this collaboration and expressed hope that it would produce outcomes in line with the scope of the collaboration, contributing to the enhancement of education quality according to the three pillars of higher education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi). Dr. Lufsyi, as the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Tadulako University, also expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome from the Faculty of Biology and the commitment to fostering collaboration between higher education institutions in Indonesia. This visit is expected to support the strong collaboration between the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Tadulako University and the Faculty of Biology at UGM, aligning with the institutions’ commitment to supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for inclusive quality education (SDG 4) and fostering good collaboration (SDG 17) to enhance the quality of education in Indonesia.
The Navy Military Police (Pomal) collaborate with the Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada(UGM) to advance forensic DNA technology in efforts to enhance more effective law enforcement in cases of suspected illegal trade of confiscated items believed to originate from dugongs. Dugongs, often referred to as “sea cows,” are endangered sea mammals that live around Indonesia’s Marine territory. One of the primary threats to this species is the illegal trade of products derived from dugongs, including bones, ivory, and meat.
This collaboration aims to identify the sources of dugong products involved in illegal trade through more advanced forensic DNA analysis. Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, a faculty member at the Faculty of Biology UGM with expertise in forensic DNA analysis of wildlife, is working in collaboration with Pomal to implement forensic DNA analysis techniques. “Through forensic DNA analysis, we can determine the species and differentiate individual dugongs, confirming the origin of dugong products. This will assist investigators in tracking the trail of illegal trade and taking more decisive actions.” This collaborative effort is expected to enhance law enforcement and protection of dugongs, as well as support the conservation of this species. The sustainability of Indonesia’s marine ecosystem and the protection of rare wildlife are shared priorities embraced by Pomal and the Faculty of Biology UGM.
On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, a team lead by Abdul Razaq Chasani, Ph.D. along with students including Bima Kurniawan, Ima Laidiya Melani, and Zenith Caitra Ardhenareshvari, represented the flora diversity survey team in Bantul Regency to publish their research findings. This representation stood on behalf of other students in the team, namely Reza Raihandhany, Aji Sukma, Annisa Mawarni, Lisna Nur Aini, Puspita Kusuma Astuti, and Zildan Basara. The collaborative research with the Bantul Regency Environmental Agency was conducted from May to June 2023. The research findings were disseminated during an event titled “Exposing Coastal Vegetation Biodiversity in Bantul Regency,” as part of the Bantul regency Kehati expose series, held at Gendal-Gendul Restaurant, Jl. Parangtritis No. 18, Kapanewon Jetis, Bantul Regency. Attending the event were officials and staff from the Bantul Regency Environmental Agency, representatives from Bappeda Bantul Regency, representatives from the Bantul Regency Agriculture Office, as well as representatives from the BKSDA Yogyakarta.
The event commenced with an opening address by the Head of Bantul Regency Environmental Agency, represented by the Sub-coordinator of the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Substance Group, Yuyun Prihatining Rahmah, S.Pt., M.Ec.Dev., followed by the main presentation of research findings by the Team (Abdul Razaq Chasani, Ph.D., and Bima Kurniawan). The team presented a total of 141 recorded species from 47 families, observing various characteristic coastal vegetation formations along the southern coast of Bantul. These formations included the pes-caprae formation along the tide line, the Barringtonia formation in higher areas of the coastal zone, and the dunes formation found in Gumuk Pasir Parangkusumo. In addition to these vegetation formations, plants were also found in mangrove and estuarine habitats. Alongside the commonly found coastal vegetation, special plants of note were highlighted, such as Passiflora foetida (rambusa), Coccinia grandis (timun tikus), and Borassus flabellifer (siwalan). The presentation followed by a discussion session moderated by Ms. Yuyun, representatives from the Bantul Regency Environmental Agency and the BKSDA Yogyakarta inquired about the characteristics of specific coastal plants like the Casuarina equisetifolia (cemara udang) and mangrove forest plants like Cerbera manghas (bintaro).
The success of this flora survey is a positive outcome for both organizations. In the near future, the research findings will be published as a monograph to benefit a broader audience. This activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the promotion of quality education, the preservation of terrestrial life, and the development of sustainable communities. These results are expected to support the sustainable preservation of distinctive coastal vegetation in preparation for the vision of the Yogyakarta Governor for 2022-2027, the empowerment of the southern region.
Information Gathering (LIPUTAN) is one of the programs under the responsibility of the External Division within the Marine Study Group of the Faculty of Biology at Gadjah Mada University. The event involves discussions between representatives from visited institutions and the audience composed of members of KSK Biogama. The purpose of this activity is to broaden the members’ knowledge about the activities carried out by external organizations related to marine and other biological sciences. Additionally, it is hoped that this event serves as a platform for establishing good relationships with other organizations in the external realm.
LIPUTAN was conducted on August 25, 2023, attended by representatives of KSK Biogama. The presentations covered the duties and career planning of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), the role of Mako Lanal Yogyakarta, and information about community activities (volunteer work). The presentations were delivered by Commander of Lanal Yogyakarta, Colonel Laut (KH/W) Dr. Devi Erlita, M.M., M.Tr.Hanla, and Paspotmar of Lanal Yogyakarta, Mayor Laut (K/W) Herlin Hestiyowati.
Special thanks to the Lanal Yogyakarta, for hosting the Marine Study Group, Faculty of Biology. This visit is expected to provide new knowledge for active members of KSK Biogama and serve as a bridge for future cooperation between KSK Biogama and Lanal Yogyakarta.
The Marine Study Group (KSK) commemorates its 23rd anniversary. As in previous years, the KSK Birthday event is combined with the KSK Competition to engage all members in celebration and participation. The 23rd KSK Birthday was held on September 23, 2023, at the Auditorium Biologi Tropika of the Faculty of Biology, UGM. The purpose of this event is to strengthen the sense of camaraderie among members and to foster connections with KSK Biogama alumni. The KSK Birthday festivities featured various competitions, including a traditional cone-decorating competition, video contests, as well as group competitions involving Junior, Intermediate, and Senior members. Additionally, a “Beach Party” dress code was introduced, with prizes awarded to the best-dressed members. The event commenced at 15:30 WIB with an opening led by the PSDM team.
Next, videos from the classes DXXI, DXXII, and DXXIII were screened, followed by videos from the Scientific Knowledge classes. The event then continued with group competitions aimed at fostering closer bonds and teamwork among the classes. These included the “chain wrap,” relay outfit, and melody race (guessing song lyrics) competitions. The competitions were held in a supportive and enthusiastic atmosphere, making them highly engaging for all members. Following this, there was a cone-decorating contest among the classes.Subsequently, the cone was cut and a communal prayer was offered before everyone enjoyed a meal together. The event concluded with a gift exchange, announcement of competition winners, and documentation of the day’s events. The cone-decorating competition was won by the class Cumi (DXXII), the class video competition was won by the Orca class (DXXIII), and the scientific knowledge video was won by the Algae Scientific Knowledge class. Additionally, winners were announced for the group competition, best dress code, MVP, and most enthusiastic supporter.