News Release

Arsip:

Discussion on the Development of the Community Service Program at the Faculty of Biology UGM with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni and the Directorate of Community Service UGM

Headline News Release Waste Management Friday, 24 February 2023

On Wednesday 8 February 2023, the Faculty of Biology UGM received a visit from the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Community Service, and UGM Alumni, Dr. Arie Sujito, S.Sos., M.Sc., UGM Director of Community Service, Dr. dr. Rustamaji, M.Kes., and Director Secretary of Community Service UGM, Dr. Djarot Heru Santosa, M.Hum. The visit began with a discussion on program development in the KPTU Meeting Room of the Faculty of Biology UGM, followed by a tour around the campus of the UGM Faculty of Biology to review the production sites of POC (Liquid Organic Fertilizer) and organic fertilizers produced by the Faculty of Biology.

Dr. Arie Sujito, S.Sos., M.Sc., expressed the importance of community participation around the UGM campus to participate in activities carried out by UGM such as KKN, Research and Community Service. There are 3 very strategic hamlets that are the belt of UGM, namely Sagan hamlet, Blimbingsari hamlet and Terban hamlet. UGM will provide assistance to the community around the UGM campus to be able to supply the needs of UGM and hotels around the UGM campus.

On that occasion, they also discussed the IUP (International Undergraduate Program) program at the Faculty of Biology UGM which has been running and this year there will be the first batch of graduates. The IUP program also provides opportunities for students to take part in KKN activities organized by the university, but in practice there are still some obstacles which yet to be solved, for example the number of credits that must be taken, the time for the KKN to be carried out. Dr. Djarot Heru Santosa, M.Hum., will report and discuss this problem at the university level in order to get the best solution and can be applied to this year’s KKN.

The UGM Faculty of Biology will also play an active role in the management of organic waste generated from the environment around UGM and internally from UGM. The waste will be processed into organic fertilizer and POC which can then be reused by the community around the UGM campus, and can also be sold to earn UGM income.

Lecturer at the Faculty of Biology UGM Becomes a Member of the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s Team on the Study and Prevention of Poisonous Animals and Poisonous Plants

Headline News Release Friday, 24 February 2023

Indonesia, which is a tropical country, has many types of highly venomous snakes. Research on the diversity of types of reptiles and community service regarding the management of reptiles, especially snakes, have been carried out by many teaching staff or lecturers at the Faculty of Biology UGM. One of lecturers that actively carried out this research is Donan Satria Yudha, M.Sc., from the Animal Systematics Laboratory.

Donan has played an active role in the field of snake wildlife study and management since 2011 until now. Some of Donan’s activity in the study and control of snakes are: assisting the Yogyakarta BKSDA in assessing the diversity of reptiles in conservation areas, assisting the Gianyar Regency Government in inventorying wild animals including snakes, assisting reptile-loving communities by becoming their resource persons and coaches, providing snake handling training to Firefighters Sleman and UGM fires, helping Dr. dr. Tri Maharani, Sp.EM, M.Sc., in identifying venomous snakes that bite humans, providing knowledge and handling of snakes in the PLN substation environment, as well as many other community service activities.

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Thanks to Donan’s research and dedication activities related to reptiles, especially snakes, in February 2022, Donan was asked to join the Team for the Study, Prevention and Control of Diseases Due to Poisonous Animals and Poisonous Plants, which was initiated by dr. Tri Maharani. This team was formed with various members, starting from emergency doctors, veterinarians, pharmacists, health service units, Mr Amir Hamidy a herpetofauna researcher from BRIN and Donan Satria Yudha from Biology UGM.

The Assessment, Prevention and Control of Diseases Due to Poisonous Animals and Poisonous Plants Team was inaugurated by the Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin. The inauguration of the team was manifested in the form of a letter: “Decree of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, No: HK.01.07/MENKES/1114/2022 concerning the Team for the Assessment, Prevention and Control of Diseases Due to Poisonous Animals and Poisonous Plants, dated 11 April 2022”. In this decree, this team worked for three years from the date stipulated. The Minister of Health’s decree made Donan challenged and ready to help deal with and prevent venomous animals. One of the activities of this team is to produce a guidebook on “Guidelines for Handling Bites, Poisonous Animal Stings and Plant Poisoning” which is currently still in the process of completing the book contents.

Faculty of Biology UGM Held a Mental Health Literacy Training for Students

Headline News Release Friday, 24 February 2023

Wednesday, 8 February to 9 Thursday 2023 the Faculty of Biology UGM held a Mental Health Literacy Training for students. At 7.45 a.m., the opening of the Mental Health Literacy Training for Students was held in Room 1 & 2 Building B, Faculty of Biology UGM. This training was attended by 35 participants consisting of representatives of Study Groups and Student Organizations, and also representatives of several batches of bachelor, master, and doctoral program students.

On this occasion the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., was pleased to give a speech and officially open the event. In his remarks Prof. Budi conveyed the importance of holding activities to increase mental health literacy. “Recently at UGM there have been several cases involving student mental health. Let’s make this training an opportunity to improve mental health for ourselves and help those around us.”

All of the participants received material from speakers which was delivered by a team from the Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH) Faculty of Psychology UGM. The materials presented in the training are:

Day 1:

Mental Health Stigma and Myths
Getting Know Mental Health Issues Around Campus (academic burnout, overthinking, procrastination, insecure)
The Relationship Between Mental Health, Mental Health Problems and Mental Disorders
Common Mental Disorders and Mental Health Problems

Day 2:

P3KM (Psychological First Aid and Mental Health) Part 1
P3KM (Psychological and Mental Health First Aid) Part 2 and Supportive Communication
Early Detection and Referral Flow
Develop a Safety Plan
How to Maintain Positive Mental Health (Personal and Community/System – Prosperous Agencies) and Help Seeking

After 2 days of training, on Thursday 9 February 2023, the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. pleased to provide directions and officially close the series of training activities. On this occasion, the Dean introduced students to the facilities owned by the Faculty of Biology UGM. From the Karanggayam research station to the Sawitsari research station. “We are grateful that these 2 days have really benefited. Let us both feel what is happening around us.” At the end of all training sessions, several questions were also given to the participants and a memento was provided for those who could answer the questions.

Sakura Science Program 2023: Final Day of Course

News Release Thursday, 23 February 2023

Sakura Science Program-Yamagata University-Daily Chronicle: Day 6

On this very morning (22/02/2023), the day started with a clear sky and the temperatures in Yamagata were still cold (-5℃). We began our morning at 8 am as usual, heading to Yamagata University and arriving around 9 am ready to have breakfast brought by Prof. Yokoyama. After another delicious breakfast we all head to the laboratory to prepare our task for the day.

Overnight, the PCR was running and the results were done and ready to be collected. We headed to the PCR DNA laboratory in the 2nd floor lab to get the results. Under the supervision of Prof. Yokoyama, The laboratory assistants helped us to transfer the data files to our computers ready to be processed. We download and install the MEGA 11 application which is used to align DNA sequences. This application is newer than one that we usually use in our faculty.

The results from the PCR were blasted using MEGA 11 and searched through the NCBI database for its correct matches. Our main task was to create a phylogenetic tree from the results collected and compared with its genebank counterparts along with a species with a different genus of the same family. We then took a break at 12 am for a prayer and lunch break before preparing our presentation that afternoon. That was our last luncheon in the program.

The end of lunch was followed by preparations to start the presentation of results. Preparations were made by preparing PPT material containing introduction, methods, results, and conclusions according to the plant genus of each group. The presentation began at 14.00 am. Each group has presented a nicely packaged presentation. There were 5 groups with each genus of orchid plants, namely Bulbophyllum, Vanda, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, and Phalaenopsis. There is a small discussion after each presentation where professors ask about our presentation, the failure, the success, how we interpret and analyze them.

After all the groups presented their worked and answer the questions, Prof. Jun Yokoyama handed us the certificates of achievement for successfully completing the Sakura Science program 2023 to all participants. The certificates were signed by the President of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, Dr. Hashimoto Kazuhito. Prof Yokoyama read the certificate to each of the participants of the Sakura Science program 2023 in that awarding ceremony.

The last day of the Sakura Science Program was then concluded with a small party at the Yamagata University Cafeteria. The small party was attended by the participants of Sakura Science Program 2023, Prof. Jun Yokoyama, Prof. Fujiyama, Prof. Miyazawa, Dr. Kanao, Prof. Naoyuki Fujiyama’s students, and Prof. Jun Yokoyama’s students. Various foods and drinks were served in a small party as the closing of the program. From fruits, cakes, Japanese specialty “Taiyaki”, sushi, sashimi as signs of prosperity, to drinks such as milk tea, ocha, orange juice, tea, and others. We had a merry time at that party, laughing and exchanging pleasantries. After finishing all the dishes we headed back to the hotel to rest and prepare our luggage to start our journey to return to Indonesia tomorrow (Dan&Sab).

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Ups and Downs: Learning How to Not Give Up on Research while Still Enjoying Yamagata

Headline News Release Tuesday, 21 February 2023

Sakura Science Program-Yamagata University-Daily Chronicle: Day 5

On the fifth (20/02/2023) day, the first thing we did after gathering at the campus at around 8.30 AM was eat breakfast. The breakfast meal was a warm bento that he bought himself by Prof. Yokoyama directly from the store. After we had enjoyed the delicious meal, we headed to the laboratory on the 3rd floor of the B1B Science Building. Before we proceeded with the experiment, Prof Yokoyama presented us with Yamagata Daigaku merchandise. The merchandise included the Yamagata university tote bag, a pen, a mug, and a plastic folder. At that time, the Sakura Science Program participants also gave their souvenirs from Indonesia to the Yamagata students. After the presents exchange concluded, we set our minds on doing the experiment.

Once we got into laboratory mode, we received the PCR result from yesterday’s experiment. We continued the experiment by doing Electrophoresis with Agarose gel. After mixing the loading buffer and the PCR sample, students started to put the sample in the well. During this process, we were pretty nervous because it was hard to keep stabilizing the micropipette and injecting the sample into the well. Some managed to put the sample into the well on the first try, while others needed to repeat the process a few times before they could put the sample into the well. When all groups finished with their sample, they started the electrophoresis. The electrophoresis ran for 20 minutes at 110 volts.

Two groups finished first and the visualization from the UV transilluminator showed a great result. Meanwhile, the other three groups didn’t get a good result, which resulted in them repeating the electrophoresis experiment. On the second try, they used a DNA sample instead of the PCR sample like before. The electrophoresis result from the DNA sample showed that there was DNA in the sample, thus we concluded that the problem was in the PCR process that was done the other day. For this particula

r reason, the three groups had to redo the PCR experiment. While the three groups redo the PCR experiment, the other ones continued to the next step of the experiment. They proceeded to purify the PCR products and PCR for cycle sequencing reaction.

After lunch, the three groups load their new samples into the thermal cycler for conducting PCR. The other two ones have started the sequencing experiments. During this experiment, the sample was “heat-shock” using a thermal cycler at 95°C for 2 min. After that, they set the strips on the plate and put them in the cooler. When it finished, the sample was set in the “SeqStudio” genetic analyzer (Thermo Fisher) for sequencing analysis, which concluded the experiment for the two groups that had a head.

The PCR samples for the other three groups were ready by the time the other ones set in their sample to the SeqStudio, and the other 3 groups had only started to do the electrophoresis experience again once the other two ones finished. This time, the electrophoresis results of the 3 groups showed a result that was good enough for continuing the experiment. Because it was already late at that time, they would continue the experiment the next day. (Syal&Saf)

First Step into Understanding Asian Plant Biodiversity Through Molecular Biology

Headline News Release Monday, 20 February 2023

Sakura Science Program-Yamagata University-Daily Chronicle: Day 4

Sunday (19/02/2023) marks the fourth day of our program at Yamagata University. We gathered at the campus at 8 a.m. as per usual and started the day with delicious gyūdon to fill us up with the energy needed for today’s activities. Although the continuous drizzle indicated higher temperatures, the winds still made it feel just as chilly. However, the weather did not hinder today’s exciting agenda which is a series of experiments titled “Understanding Asian Biodiversity by Advanced Molecular Biology Technique”.

These experiments extended for the next three days, ending with a presentation explaining our results. After being divided into groups of 3, Professor Jun Yokoyama gave us an introduction to what we were going to do as well as handing us protocols to follow for the experiments. Each group will pick one of the five genera of plants (Vanda, Bulbo, Dendrobium, Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis), where each member of the group will extract a sample of a plant belonging to the chosen genus. Then, by following the instructions given in the manual, the samples are processed thoroughly by a series of buffer solutions and multiple centrifuge sessions with the goal of isolating the DNA to be put through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which will be followed by electrophoresis on the next day. By isolating the DNA of the plants and turning it into readable data, we can compare the similarities and differences between each plant within the genus. Hence, we can draw conclusions about what caused the evolution between species and how biodiversity came to be within a genus, as previously explained in yesterday’s (17/02/2023) lecture.

The preparation of isolated DNA was not an easy task, especially since most of us were unfamiliar with the process. Although we were very excited to try something new, it took immense concentration and care when it came to the chemicals involved in the experiments; one of the biggest concerns was minimizing contact with the crucial parts to avoid contamination, which even the slightest could jeopardize the results. Paired with the many steps involved, it is safe to say that there was a slight aura of panic and anxiety among us at the beginning. However, this nervousness was outweighed by the helping hands of the Yamagata students who used their experiences to guide us through this unfamiliar territory. They made sure our experiment would not go awry and their friendliness took all the pressure away. They even handled the more complex parts of the experiment to save us time and trouble. We could not be more grateful to have them as our lab assistants. One of the best parts about having them as our lab assistants was the fun conversation we had about cultural exchange, as we learned something new and interesting about each other every minute; from learning simple phrases from each other’s languages to talking about local cuisine.

In the afternoon, between the continuous experiments, we were given warm and savory chicken curry with naan on the side. After we finished our DNA isolation, we stored them away to be put through PCR and excitedly waited for the results tomorrow, hoping that our efforts will pay off. At 17.30, we once again had dinner at the Indian restaurant from the night before, where we ate curry that we chose beforehand, all the while chatting with the lab assistants who joined us that evening. With the evening ending on a great note, we parted ways once again to roam the city and eventually call it a night. (Niki&Reiz)

Embracing The Nature That Opposite from Ours: An Adventure on Mt Zao, Yamagata Japan

Headline News Release Sunday, 19 February 2023

Sakura Science Program-Yamagata University-Daily Chronicle: Day 3

It was a cold windy morning (18/02/2023) in Yamagata, the students of Faculty of Biology UGM that joined the Sakura Science Program were getting ready to start our day. On this eventful third day, the students of the Sakura Science Program gathered at Yamagata University early on Saturday morning at 7 am. That day’s agenda was to explore the winter landscape and attractions of Mt Zao. The mountain area of Mt Zao is a cluster of volcanoes located on the border between Yamagata Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture. This group of volcanoes has a rich biodiversity of animals and plants and is one of the most popular areas for skiing and hot springs.

At 8 am sharp, we took a 40-minute bus ride to Mt Zao. On the ride there, we were served a hot bento box of rice and fish with pickled and cooked vegetables as the side dish for the breakfast menu. On this trip, we were accompanied by Prof. Yokoyama and Prof. Fujiyama, as well as several students of Prof. Yokoyama and Prof. Fujiyama. Our trip was managed by Mr. Arai as our tour director. After we arrived, we were then taken to the winter sports rental store to change our clothing into mountain clothing. We were provided with mountain boots, a hiking jacket and pants, gloves, and a beanie. After all of us slipped into our mountain gear, we then walked for about 10 minutes to the foot of Mt. Zao is where the cable car station is situated. We were given snow trekking shoes and a pair of hiking poles and then taken to the top of the mountain by cable car. Our ride stopped at the top station (1.387m above sea level), we put on the gear and walked along the trek and explored the snowy Mt. Zao. It was the first time for most of us to see and experience snow, so everyone had a wonderful time. They also learned a lot of insight and new knowledge about this zone and climate, such as Mr. Arai told us that Mt. Zao was said to be a monster god who falls asleep especially if we see it from above; how this mountain has such deep snow cover and has permafrost; or when Prof Yokoyama pointed at us the snow bud of a pine tree that would bloom in the springtime.

After playing in the snow, we were making our way to descend Mt. Zao and going to a Turkish restaurant to have our lunch. There, we had hot traditional Turkish foods which were served in Japanese style, such as kebabs, bowl of chicken, beef wraps, fish and chips, and chicken kaarage. Afterwards, the group of students continued their way to the rental store where we changed into our original clothes. We then explored the town that is at the foot of Mt. Zao.

During our exploration of the town, we visited a gift shop where it sells the town authentic souvenirs which most of the students bought as gifts for themselves and their loved ones back in Indonesia. After indulging the town’s festive and cold atmosphere, the group then got on the bus for the trip back to Yamagata.

The trip back to Yamagata was short and quiet, which took around thirty minutes as all of us wasted no time, since we had been tired from our adventure. After arriving at the university, the students were given free time for 30 minutes in which they could explore Yamagata university freely and gathered again for dinner at 6 pm.

The day was wrapped up with dinner in an Indian restaurant located in the city of Yamagata where we were served original Indian cuisine foods such as curry and naan. Our Saturday adventure ended nicely with a full belly and tired feet. (Max&Zid)

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Learning Biosystematics and the Insects Biodiversity through the view of Yamagata University

Headline News Release Saturday, 18 February 2023

Sakura Science Program-Yamagata University-Daily Chronicle: Day 2

On a cloudy Friday (17/06/2023) morning, the students made their way to Yamagata University. That day’s agenda were four lectures by Professor Jun Yokoyama, Professor Yutaka Miyazawa, Professor Naoyuki Fujiyama, and Dr. Taisuke Kanao. Two lectures in the morning and two in the afternoon. Professor Jun Yokoyama was the first to deliver his lecture “How to Describe Plant Diversity”.

In his session, Professor Yokoyama described that traditionally the diversity of plants was usually described if they were useful for human use. Medicinal and edible plants are most illustrated and documented in antiquity. In modern times, new species are documented following a strict set of rules. Formally, these rules started with “Systema Naturea” by Carl Linnaeus. Introducing classification of the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom, stone classification. However, now if a new species would like to be described, one must: discover a new species, compare it to already well described species, selection of type species, name preparation, paper publishing, and peer review. Afterwards, Professor Yokoyama continued upon the various species concepts and cladistics. One of which is the phylogenetic species concept, which states that organisms which are descended from a common ancestor have traits which were derived from that common ancestor. Ending the lecture with which approach is required to procure data for phylogenetic analysis, molecular data from DNA and Proteins are required.

The second lecture was delivered by Professor Yutaka Miyazawa on the topic of “Introduction to Plant Molecular Physiology: Molecular Mechanism of Root Hydrotropism, an adaptive plant response to water deficit. He explained the phenomenon known as hydrotropism where plant tissues grow towards areas with a higher moisture gradient. Tropic processes other than phototropism and gravitropism are not wholly understood. As such, to study the mechanism of hydrotropism one must find what causes such a growth. By analyzing the contents of the growing tissue, patterns can be found. Through analysis of growing Arabidopsis thaliana roots, a few hundred genes responsible for the entire growth process have been found. Due to the large amount of work, it would take and experiment on all of them to find which gene was primarily responsible for hydrotropism. A different approach was taken. Mutants which didn’t display any hydrotropic growth were isolated and compared with wild type specimens. There existed two genes that were not expressed in the mutant type, further called MIZ1 and MIZ2. MIZ1 affects the growth of root stelae and external tissues. If absent, Arabidopsis thaliana roots are only affected by gravitropism; when expressed normally as in the wild type, roots will grow normally following a higher moisture gradient; when over expressed, roots will approach water at a much faster rate. Despite hydrotropism appearing in other plant species, the genes and responses which occur are wholly different to Arabidopsis thaliana.

Now after the finished the first half of lectures, we have our lunch in the campus cafeteria. We have hot ramen and shrimp dumplings, which very delicious and fit for the weather. After lunchtime, with all of us being satisfied with the delicious ramen meal, we went back to the Faculty of Science to proceed our next session.

Our afternoon session was opened by a lecture form Professor Naoyuki Fujiyama. The lecture was about the Asian insect’s Diversity, which included up to 3 main parts. Prof Fujiyama started his lecture with a question which region in the world that has the largest diversity of insect? is the species diversity of insects the highest in Asia?”, In which it follows with a temporary answer which is “uncertain” depend on how we perceived.

He then continues the lecture by explaining the factors that could affect the insects’ biodiversity. In some of his explanations, he told us that the larger the area, then the species would have much more diversity. The climate is also part of the factors that impact the insects diversity. For example, a tropic climate would contain a much more phytophagus species due to its host plant species diversity. After all of his explanations, he would then come back to his question to the students and then gave his new answer which explained that the insects diversity might be the highest in asia, due to the factors that could affect the diversity which is the size of an area, the amount of islands, the climate, the geological history, and the plant species biodiversity in those area.

On the second part of Professor Naoyuki Fujiyama’s lecture is the Indonesian diversity of the herbivorous ladybird beetles. His explanations indicated that the center of distribution of the herbivorous ladybug beetle is the tropics, and it originated from Africa. Moreover, the Cucurbitaceae is the ancestral host, and most of the many Asian species depend on Solanaceae. He concluded his lecture by explaining his case study of the herbivorous ladybug beetle and on what information we could know from the DNA sequence data. After Professor Naoyuki Fujiyama’s lecture, the students were given a ten-minute break before proceeding into the next session by Dr. Taisuke Kanao.

In Dr. Taisuke Kanao’s session, we learned about the termites as a decomposer, a pest, and a social insect. Furthermore, he added that almost 3100 species of termites is known. The social strata/caste of termites breaks down from the queen, king, worker, soldiers, nymph & alate. Each of the social class has their own task, from the queen in which she was tasked to lay eggs and regulate the colony by the pheromone. The king in which he mates with the queen, the workers in which they had to take care of the queen, eggs and larvae and collects food. And then there’s the soldier that protects the colony and lastly the nymph & alate in which they are the future queen and king. In between the explanation, Dr. Taisuke Kanao showed us a specimen of the termites’ queen to the students, and the size of it was surprising to the students as it can be compared to a human’s thumb.

Later on, Dr. Taisuke Kanao explains the guests’ term in the termite’s world, from the synectrons, the one that is persecuted by the termites as they are most likely to be the predator to the termites. The synoeketes, in which they are the guests that are ignored by the termites. And the synophilis which are essentially the “true guests” of the termites since they are highly integrated into host termite societies. After that, Dr. Taisuke Kanao continued the topic of phylogeny. The topic consists of the evolution of termitophily in Aleocharinae which explained that they evolved for at least 14 times. The convergent of morphology and host relationships, and the errors of the Aleocharinae systematics.

After each of the lectures has been said and done, the lecturers would given a souvenir from Yogyakarta and from the Faculty of Biology UGM, and then there would be a photo session afterward. The last lecture was lasted until 16:00 PM. Furthermore, the students would be given a break time until the time for dinner comes up at 17:30 PM. During this time, we had free time to going to Downtown, enjoy scenery or doing some shopping. (NAdh&Ibar)

Bersiap mengikuti sesi Kuliah dengan semangat

Sesi 1. Kuliah dengan Prof. Jun Yokoyama

Sesi 2. Kuliah dengan Profesor Yutaka Miazawa

Menikmati Lingkunagn kampus Yamagata University

Kenang-kenangan untuk Prof. Naoyuki Fujiyama

Kenang-kenangan untuk Dr. Taisuke Kanao dari Fak. Biologi UGM

The Start of a Journey: A Walk Through our Day One

Headline News Release Saturday, 18 February 2023

Sakura Science Program-Yamagata University-Daily Chronicle: Day 1

As the incredible day, yet challenging journey came to an end on our day of arrival, another began. This morning (16/02/2023), our team gathered at 8 AM sharp, as promised the night before. Due to the close proximity of Yamagata University to our hotel, we made a decision to walk as a mode of transportation throughout our entire stay in the city located in the Yamagata Prefecture. We were greeted by none other than Prof. Jun Yokoyama and were immediately directed to a classroom for our breakfast session. Afterwards, an orientation was presented to us as delegates of the Sakura Science Program 2023.

To prepare us for our very best performance, Prof. Jun Yokoyama was kind to share a detailed presentation regarding our program’s itinerary, all the way to everything we needed to know about the many years’ worth of our partner university’s city. Starting off with listed activities from day one to day nine of our stay, we were promised the chance of learning lectures related to molecular biology, alongside multiple laboratory courses that would further develop our understanding on the said topics.

Continuing the lessons with the study of weather conditions us, tropical islanders have not been used to. We were told that Yamagata serves as a spot with an extreme distinction between its winter and summer climate. Our own country home was displayed a direct inverse of a constant 30°C all year round, while Yamagata’s winter reached below 0°C and summer nearing 27°C. This difference was not limited only to the currently freezing town’s climate, but also to the rate of precipitation, temperature changes, and radiation waves emitted throughout all 12 months of the year. the summer

Prof. Jun Yokoyama had been very intent on mentioning the found differences in our climate conditions, which would be a major factor in the existing biodiversity – especially of plants, that Earth possesses. Moreover, this was important to the program we are undertaking, as we were facilitated with even more knowledge that would support our work on the molecular biology research that will be done by the week through the next few hours of lecture.

However, we had to end our session right before the said lecture began, for our big portion of the meal had already been served by the time set high in the afternoon. A bowl of rice with salad and soup as our side dishes, a plate of tomato and cheese-stuffed chicken katsu accompanied by bolognese spaghetti to enrich the flavors, we ended our first half of the day with a full stomach and stories to share at the dining table.

After having a delicious lunch at the campus cafeteria, we went straight to our classroom to learn about the diversity in Yamagata. Professor Jun Yokoyama explained about the diversity in different areas in Japan, including areas with different elevations. We were told that areas in Japan have different types of plant species due to the factors mentioned above.

Professor Jun Yokoyama took us on a trip around the campus. There are many lab facilities, such as animal behavior lab, plants development lab, and many other labs with up-to-date equipment. We got the opportunity to visit the lab, also the professor explained about the facilities and the tools in each of the labs. Professor Jun Yokoyama and his colleagues also showed us a room filled with advanced technology regarding science.

For the last activity, we went on a trip to the Yamagata University Museum, which is in a different building. So, we went on a short walk through the campus building. It was super cold and windy. But at the same time, we could enjoy beautiful snowy scenery. We decided to take some pictures of ourselves and the scenery, of course. As we entered the museum, we were mesmerized by the view. In the museum we got a chance to see preserved animals and it was interesting to listen to the professor’s explanation.

After visiting the museum, we went to the cafeteria to have dinner together. Our dinner was chicken curry rice with salad. The dinner was great! We had a lot of fun. After that, we went outside to see the surrounding environment. The temperature was around -4°C at that time. In our free time after the lecture, we went on a sightseeing tour around our hotel, where we visited several stores to buy some food and snacks, and then we went back to the hotel to take some rest. (Zeph&Fel)

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UGM Faculty of Biology Library Greets New Postgraduate Students

News Release Friday, 17 February 2023

Tuesday, 07 February 2023, a Socialization of Library Services was carried out in order to introduce the campus facilities to Faculty of Biology UGM Postgraduate new students. The activity was carried out offline, starting at 09.30-10.00 WIB in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Biology UGM and attended by lecturers and students of the Faculty of Biology Postgraduate Program even batch of 2022/2023. On this occasion the UGM Faculty of Biology Library presented librarian Rusna Nur Aini as a resource person. Before the presentation started, Mrs. Rusna, representing the person in charge of the Library, Drs Ign Sudaryadi, M.Kes, conveyed her welcome and welcome to join the Library to all participants. In her presentation, she gave a glimpse of the library staff, location and service time of the UGM Faculty of Biology Library.

Then a profile video of the UGM Faculty of Biology Library was shown, which can also be accessed via the UGM Faculty of Biology Knowledge Channel YouTube. Furthermore, it was also explained about the library services of the Faculty of Biology such as circulation services and online services to make it easier for new postgraduate students to support their academic activities. In addition, the BIO-DIGILIB application, which is the Digital Library of the Faculty of Biology UGM, can be accessed via windows or Android smartphones. After that, it was explained about the activities of the UGM Faculty of Biology Library which is not only responsible for providing library services but also making contributions such as literacy classes for new students, community service, collaborating with other units, reviewing books, training and others.

At the end of the presentation, it was also conveyed about the types of online services that students can enjoy, including member registration/member activation, free references, final project files submission, extension of borrowing books through simaster account, and lastly about renting space in the library itself. In the last session, it was also explained about the presence of visitors to the UGM Faculty of Biology Library through the simaster account of the student concerned. It was hoped that this type of event can add some insight and knowledge to new students about how to get access to services in the library.

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