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.

The Faculty of Biology UGM is actively enhancing its capabilities to become a center for Tropical Biodiversity and Biomedical education and research. This entails a need for bolstering human resource capacities and infrastructure to support this vision. In this batch, Indra Lesmana, M.Sc., a lecturer from the Faculty of Biology UGM, had the opportunity, sponsored by the Satriabudi Dharma Setia Foundation (YSDS), to attend a training program on biomedical and omics at the China National GeneBank (CNGB) located in Shenzhen, China. The training took place from July 31 to August 9, 2023.

Participants in this training program comprised teaching staff, doctors, professionals, researchers, practitioners, and technicians from universities, vertically-aligned Ministry of Health hospitals, and clinical laboratories. Among the participants were representatives from institutions such as Universitas Gadjah Mada, Bogor Agricultural University, University of Indonesia, RSCM, RSPON, Harapan Kita Heart Hospital, Harapan Kita General Hospital, Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital, Persahabatan General Hospital, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Dr. Ngoerah General Hospital, and the GSI Laboratory.

The training program encompassed lectures, laboratory practices, and field visits, including an introduction to CNGB, the history and development of the Beijing Genome Institute, clinical testing services for thalassemia, cancer risk, NIPT, WES, and WGS. Additionally, the training covered the NGS platform material from BGI, specifically MGI. Laboratory practices focused on DNA extraction using magnetic beads and DNBSeq library preparation. As part of the field visit, the participants toured BGI Bioverse to observe the research outcomes of perennial rice, a crop capable of sustained growth and multiple harvests across seasons without replanting.

As a result of this training, fresh insights into sequencing technology developments were gained, which can enhance the curriculum content. Moreover, laboratory technical skills were augmented, adding new research and testing methods. This is expected to fortify the excellence of education, research, and community engagement at the Faculty of Biology, UGM.

The Entomology Study Group (KSE) of the Faculty of Biology at UGM once again organized an event called “Upgrading Skill,” which focused on the theme “Sanger & NCS for Research in Entomology.” The event took place on Saturday, July 15, 2023, providing a platform for discussions on molecular analysis and the latest research trends in the field of entomology. The main objective of the Upgrading Skill was to educate all members of the ESG, especially regarding the application of technology in entomological research. The event was conducted online via Zoom, and the participants were active members of the KSE.

The event, which was scheduled from 08:00 to 11:30 AM WIB, was led by Delia Sawanda Syarifatullah (KSE XXIV), with Atikah Fitria Muharromah, S.Si., M.Eng., an alumnus of ESG XIV who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the Faculty of Biology, UGM, serving as the main speaker. The activities commenced at 09:00 AM WIB with an opening speech by the KSE Advisor, Drs. Hari Purwanto, M.P., PhD. This was followed by Atikah Fitria Muharromah’s presentation on “Sanger & NCS for Research in Entomology.” The presentation covered the basic concept of DNA as the genetic instruction in cell life and DNA sequencing. DNA sequencing, a laboratory method for determining the order of nucleotides, has evolved over three generations. Furthermore, a comparison between the Sanger Technique and NGS Technique, along with their applications, was also presented.

The Upgrading Skill event concluded with a discussion session, and the activities wrapped up with a documentation session for all participants and the speaker at 11:00 AM WIB.

The Panasonic Scholarship Indonesia was first launched in 1998 by Panasonic Corporation Japan to celebrate its 80th anniversary. The scholarship is offered through PT. Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia in the form of Postgraduate Scholarships at the best universities in Japan for outstanding graduates with a Bachelor’s degree (S1) from various universities in Indonesia. Since 2014, Panasonic has changed the scholarship policy to provide Education Cost Aid and monthly Stipends for Bachelor’s (S1) and Master’s (S2) students, and in 2019, it was extended to include Diploma (D3/D4) students. The selection process for the Panasonic Scholarship begins with candidate selection through their respective universities /faculties /programs, followed by Panasonic’s own selection. The determination of scholarship recipients takes into various factors such as the completeness of administrative documents, students’ GPA, language proficiency, family’s economic condition, involvement in organizations, “Future Plan” essay, and readiness to become a Panasonic Scholarship recipient.

Panasonic has designated 22 students as recipients of the Panasonic Scholarship 2023, comprising 12 students from the Bachelor’s program (S1), 4 from the Master’s program (S2), and 6 from the Diploma program (D3/D4). Adhisa Fathirisari Putri (Bachelor) and Aji Sukma Iqbal Najibulloh (Master) are students in Faculty Biology UGM, respectively, who have been selected as recipients of the Panasonic Scholarship 2023. Adhisa’s essay titled “To Understand Oneself, To Be A Leader of Our Own Self” explores the connection between neuroscience and human capability in understanding oneself, becoming a self-leader, and enhancing the quality of life. Aji’s essay, “Researcher is A Leader for Their Research Object,” explains the steps to comprehend one’s identity and leadership style, manage study plans, and explore taxonomic research opportunities for Indonesia’s progress.

The scholarship awarding ceremony for the awardees was held in person at PT. Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia on Thursday, July 27, 2023. In his address, Mr. Tomonobu Otsu, the President Director of PT. Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia, expressed that the 22 selected students are talented individuals who are expected to contribute to society at large. Aji was chosen to deliver a gratitude speech, highlighting that wise students not only enhance their knowledge and skills but also develop attitudes and leadership qualities to understand their own capacities.

On Monday 7 August 2023, a group of waste management tour participants coordinated by SONJO, a humanitarian movement focused on aiding communities visited The Faculty Of Biology UGM. The group, consisting of 25 participants, arrived at the Faculty of Biology UGM around 9:30 AM and was promptly received by the Dean and the faculty members. This visit to the Faculty of Biology at UGM was part of a series of visits that had previously taken place at the Faculty of Dentistry at UGM.

During his welcoming speech, the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., expressed gratitude for the participants’ visit. “The issue of waste actually originates from humans themselves, so it’s up to humans to solve it,” Prof. Budi stated. Furthermore, Prof. Budi elaborated that the Faculty of Biology UGM engages in daily waste management across a substantial area, including organic waste from the Biology Forest. Over time, the Faculty of Biology has made discoveries in waste management, such as expediting compost production.Following this, a video demonstrating the waste management procedures carried out at the Faculty of Biology at UGM was played.

At the conclusion of the event, participants were taken to the field to witness the waste management processes firsthand, which included:

1. Composting and maggot cultivation
2. Production of POC/Biofertilizer and ECO enzymes
3. Vermicomposting process

The waste management tour participants are scheduled to continue their visit for a period of 3 days until Wednesday (8/9/23), with participants from hospitals and religious boarding schools.

Yogyakarta, the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) proudly announces the successful implementation of the Level 2 Tissue Culture Competency Test. The event was attended by 12 participants from Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), Universitas Airlangga (Unair), Atma Jaya University, Andalas University, and UGM itself. This examination was a result of collaboration between the Faculty of Biology at UGM and the National Agricultural Professional Certification Institute (LSP) involving three competent assessors: Ari Setiowati, MP., Woro Anindito, Ph.D., and Aries Bagus Sasongko, M.Biotech.

The Level 2 Tissue Culture Competency Test took place on Saturday, August 5th, 2023, in the Upper Meeting Room of the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Examination participants displayed exceptional skills in various aspects of tissue culture, including the latest laboratory techniques and methodologies. The test aimed to evaluate practical abilities, theoretical knowledge, and problem-solving skills of participants, which are crucial for advancing the field of biology. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., Deputy Dean of Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni (P2MKSA) at the Faculty of Biology UGM, who delivered an inspiring opening speech. Dr. Suyono emphasized the importance of inter-institutional collaboration and highlighted the pivotal role of tissue culture in the development of biological sciences. Furthermore, the Faculty of Biology now offers Professional Certification for Biological Curators as a professional stage between Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Remarkably, participants of the Level 2 Tissue Culture Competency Test will receive a national competency certificate from Badan Nasional sertifikasi Profesi (BNSP). BNSP is an independent institution established as mandated by Article 18 paragraph (5) of Law Number 13 of 2004, with the task of conducting work competency certification and granting licenses to professional certification institutions (LSPs) that meet the prescribed requirements for conducting work competency certification. Currently, in accordance with the law, university graduates must possess both a diploma and a competency certificate. The presence of this certificate will enhance graduates’ competitiveness and provide added value when applying for jobs, as stated by Drs. Surini, M.Si., Director of the Agricultural LSP.

Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., Vice Dean of P2MKSA, stated, “The Level 2 Tissue Culture Competency Test is a testament to the commitment of the Faculty of Biology UGM in producing quality and competent graduates. We take pride in being a part of the effort to elevate the standards of professionalism in the realm of biology through collaboration with the National Agricultural LSP.”

The Faculty of Biology UGM hopes that the success of this event will have a positive impact on the participants and contribute to the improvement of the college’s Key Performance Indicators (IKUs) as well as the enhancement of biological science competency for certificate holders.

August 25, 2023 — In a significant step towards promoting international academic collaboration and enriching the educational experiences of its students, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held an online socialization of the Double Degree program via a Zoom Meeting, featuring guest speaker Ms. Premila from the University of Leeds. The event was inaugurated by the opening remarks of Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M. app., Sc. Vice Dean for Research, Community Engagement, and Cooperation of the Faculty of Biology at UGM. Attended by 20 students, this session provided insights into the undergraduate program of study, offering two years of learning experience at UGM followed by two years abroad, resulting in the attainment of two degrees simultaneously.

Commencing the event, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App., Sc. delivered the Opening Address, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration in shaping graduates with broad knowledge and awareness of global challenges. He expressed UGM’s commitment to building partnerships with universities worldwide.

The enthusiastic presence of 20 students at this event showcased their interest in exploring educational opportunities beyond national boundaries. Their presence served as evidence of the growing curiosity among Faculty of Biology, UGM students to expand their educational journey through international engagement. This event will be followed by intensive guidance for students who will apply for the Double Degree program in collaboration with Leeds University.”