Five students from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, namely Maidira Marsa Rabbani, Laras Ati, Dinda Luthfiani Nurul Ulya, Manika Rosalia Lysander, and Raja Steve Sudjatmiko Panggabean, joined representatives from the Vocational School, the Faculty of Economics and Business, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, UGM, to participate in discussions and training on marine debris management in the event titled “Indonesia Marine Debris Social Issue Resident Participation Awareness Improvement Capacity Building Project.” In addition to the students, this one-week event (October 14-18, 2024) was also attended by leaders and lecturers from the Vocational School, heads and staff from the UGM Directorate of Community Service (DPKM), and one of the Faculty of Biology’s lecturers, Zuliyati Rohmah, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D. Eng., who is also a member of the KKN-PPM UGM taskforce and RCE Yogyakarta.

This event is part of a multipartite collaboration between the Vocational School, RCE Yogyakarta (under the Directorate of Community Service at UGM), RCE Tongyeong, and the Gyeongnam International Development Cooperation Center (GNIDCC) of Gyeongsang National University, South Korea. The project focuses on raising awareness and building the capacity of local communities in managing marine debris in Yogyakarta.

One of the programs carried out was training and capacity-building activities involving the communities of Karangwuni Village and Bugel Village, Kulonprogo, D.I. Yogyakarta. This project aims to raise community awareness and knowledge about the impact of marine debris and how to manage it effectively. The event also includes seminars, workshops, and community training as part of the efforts to strengthen commitment to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and better environmental management. This collaboration will not stop here but will continue with further training involving local residents and village leaders. The program will discuss concrete solutions to the marine debris problem in Yogyakarta and will involve more participants from various backgrounds.

This cooperation is also part of UGM’s commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of education, community empowerment, and the environment. This activity supports several SDGs, including SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. By engaging collaboration between various institutions, both local and international, this project aims to create a significant impact on marine debris management.

Wildan Fadhilah Kurnia, a dedicated student from IUP batch 2021, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has joined a prestigious six-month student mobility program at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia. This program is designed to provide students with invaluable international experience and the opportunity to study at one of the world’s leading universities in Marine Biology.

So far, Wildan has found his experience at JCU to be nothing short of exceptional. “The research conducted here is renowned globally across various fields, particularly marine biology, aquaculture, and paleontology,” he shared. Enrolled in courses from the Marine Biology, Aquaculture, and Earth and Environmental Sciences faculties, he has been impressed by JCU’s top-of-the-line research facilities and highly interactive classes that encourage critical thinking.

Wildan’s curriculum has provided him with hands-on fieldwork opportunities, allowing him to engage directly with the subject matter. He spent time at the Flinders River Formation, searching for fossils and studying the stratigraphy of geological formations. Additionally, he visited various aquaculture facilities, gaining firsthand insight into the day-to-day operations and the diverse species cultivated within the industry.

A highlight of his program has been a visit to JCU’s Orpheus Island Research Station, where he participated in real-time analysis of the coral reefs surrounding the island. “Each subject has its challenges, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my studies here and have learned a tremendous amount,” Wildan noted.
In addition to his coursework, Wildan is collaborating with Dr. Espen Knutsen, Senior Scientist and Curator of Paleontology at the Queensland Museum in Townsville, to further his ongoing thesis on fossils discovered in underwater caves.

Wildan’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of international education and research collaboration. He looks forward to applying his experiences and insights to his future endeavors. [Aulia]

Yogyakarta, September 19, 2024 – The Faculty of Biology UGM held the Open Senate Meeting in 2024 at the Auditorium of Tropical Biology with the theme “Biologi Berkarya, Biologi Mendunia” (Biology Create, Biology Goes Global). The Open Senate Meeting was also the peak event of the series of celebrations for the 69th Anniversary of the Faculty of Biology UGM. The meeting was attended by the senate, deans, lecturers, education staff and student representatives of Faculty of Biology UGM, as well as invited guests, alumni, partners, and Dharma Wanita of the Faculty of Biology UGM.

Prof. Dr. Suwarno Hadisusanto, S.U. as the Chairperson of the Senate of the Faculty of Biology UGM opened the Senate Meeting and continued with singing the songs “Indonesia Raya”, “Hymne Gadjah Mada”, and “Mars Biologi” as well as a joint prayer led by Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, Ph.D.

Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med. Ed., Sp.OG (K), Ph.D., Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada also attended the Senate Open Meeting and then delivered her remarks. “Since its inception, the Faculty of Biology has had a mandate to preserve biodiversity in Indonesia, including promoting work and innovation in sustainable development,” said Prof. Ova in her remarks (19/9). The Rector also expressed her appreciation to the Faculty of Biology in initiating the strengthening of the Indonesian Biodiversity Index, Biodiversity Credit and the pioneering of the Biodiversity Curator Profession.

Next, the Integrated Genome Factory (IGF) service was launched by the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, accompanied by the Dean and Chair of the Senate of the Faculty of Biology UGM and Mrs. Erlina Vera Ratu from the Satriabudi Dharma Setia Foundation. Integrated Genome Factory (IGF) is an integrated DNA/RNA sequencing service unit at the Faculty of Biology UGM. With support from Panin Bank and the Satriabudi Dharma Setia Foundation, IGF uses the long-read sequencing platform from Nanopore Technology to provide the largest sequencing service in Indonesia. The presence of IGF is expected to make UGM a pioneer university in the application of nanopore technology and open up new opportunities for research development in various fields.

Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as the Dean of the Faculty of Biology then delivered his remarks and the Annual Report of the Faculty of Biology UGM. He explained that the Faculty of Biology has shown its position in the international arena and has succeeded in maintaining its position at 501-550 in the world for Biological Science, and is the best in Indonesia based on the QS World Ranking. Prof. Budi further explained the role of Biology that continues to develop from the fields of Evolution, Biotechnology, to Ecology, and it’s very large role in efforts to preserve biodiversity, especially in Indonesia. The Faculty of Biology also supports these efforts through the initiation of the Indonesian Biodiversity Index and the establishment of the Biodiversity Curator Professional Program. The implementation of Biodiversity Credit is also carried out together with partners of the Faculty of Biology. This is in line with support for the achievements of the Sustainable Development Program (SDGs), especially in improving the quality of inclusive education (SDG 4), handling climate change (SDG 13), preserving ecosystems on land and sea (SDG 14 and SDG 15).

The improvement of education quality in accordance with SDG 4 is also demonstrated by the Faculty of Biology which has successfully maintained ASIIN international accreditation for its Bachelor and Master programs. This year, the Faculty of Biology UGM has also successfully launched the Biodiversity Curator Profession Program with 17 students with Bachelor to Doctoral educational backgrounds. In 2024, the Faculty of Biology will send 7 students for a Double Degree program with Leeds University UK, as well as dozens of other students participating in exchange programs with the Sakura Science scheme, Student Mobility, Student Exchange JASSO, or student exchange programs organized by UGM. A total of 3 students are participating in the fast-track bachelor-master program. Student achievements also continue to increase in the international and national arenas. The Faculty of Biology continues to improve the quality of research through the support of adequate facilities, including through the procurement of assets and the PUAPT (Inter-University Center of Excellence) grant scheme for various laboratory facilities that support biological research. The support of the Faculty of Biology’s human resources is also demonstrated by the increase in the number of lecturers and professors, as well as various routine programs to improve the quality of human resources.

Furthermore, the achievements of the number of research, achievements of international publications of lecturers of the Faculty of Biology, and the development of journals published by the Faculty of Biology, including the Journal of Tropical Biotechnology and Biodiversity (JTBB) indexed by Scopus Q3 and Berkala Ilmiah Biologi which has ISSN. Data on the increase in community service and cooperation both at the international and national levels were also presented. International publications of lecturers of the Faculty of Biology have continued to increase, especially in Q1 journals in the last 3 years. In improving the quality of education, the Faculty of Biology has collaborated with various world institutions to present 33 visiting professors and 7 adjunct professors during this period. Double degree collaboration has also continued to be improved, and so far, has succeeded in sending students for double undergraduate degrees at the Australian National University, and Leeds University, as well as double doctoral degrees at Montpellier France, University of Greifswald Germany, and Boku University Austria. Various programs that support research and cooperation are implemented, including the 8th National Seminar on Tropical Biology and the 7th International Summer Course on Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development which were attended by hundreds of participants from various institutions and countries, Research Day, BIOENTRI (Biology Open House and Introduction to Research Topics), as well as the first Business Gathering in collaboration with Prasetiya Mulya University and attended by dozens of partners.

The next Scientific Speech was delivered by Prof. dr. Erik H. J. Danen, Dean of Graduate School, Faculty of Science, Leiden University. He presented his latest research entitled “Advanced 3D co-culture models for mechanistic studies an

Furthermore, the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Joint Doctoral Degree with the Faculty of Science, Leiden University was carried out by the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. accompanied by the Chair of the Senate, Prof. Dr. Suwarno Hadi Susanto. On that occasion, Prof. Budi said that the collaboration was one of the efforts of the Faculty of Biology in increasing recognition in the international arena.

The Senate Open Meeting ended with a closing by the Chair of the Senate of the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Suwarno Hadisusanto, S.U. It is hoped that the Open Meeting agenda as part of the celebration of the 69th Anniversary of the Faculty of Biology can spark the enthusiasm of the academic community so that the Faculty of Biology can continue to develop and provide benefits to the nation and state.

Kotimah, an undergraduate student from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), class of 2022, has secured 3rd place in the Perta Event Essay Competition organized by IPB University. The Perta Event is open to students from universities across Indonesia and aims to foster critical thinking and analytical skills in addressing major societal issues as part of the national vision for Indonesia Emas 2045.

The Perta Event carried the theme “Smart Generation, Brilliant Future,” focusing on the role of Generation Z in generating innovative solutions to challenges in various sectors, including the environment, education, technology, socio-culture, and food security. The competition commenced on August 13, 2024, and included administration selection, essay submission, and finalist presentations. Kotimah’s essay, which focused on the pressing issue of industrial pollution, particularly from synthetic dye waste, was shortlisted as one of the top five entries. She was invited to present her ideas virtually on September 17, 2024. Her essay highlighted the growing environmental threat posed by industrial pollutants, specifically the harmful impact of synthetic dyes on ecosystems.

In her proposal, Kotimah introduced a novel solution by utilizing microbes derived from the fermentation of tea and sucrose solutions as a natural dye alternative. This microbial fermentation process offers an eco-friendly and sustainable substitute for synthetic dyes, with potential applications ranging from small-scale community initiatives to large-scale industrial production. Kotimah’s innovative approach aims to reduce the environmental footprint of industrial processes while promoting sustainable practices that align with long-term ecological conservation goals.

Kotimah expressed her hope that this microbial-based natural dye technology could be adopted widely in Indonesia, contributing to a more sustainable industrial system and supporting the creation of a greener future. Her achievement reflects UGM’s commitment to developing student talent and fostering innovative research solutions to address pressing environmental challenges.

This recognition not only underscores Kotimah’s academic excellence but also highlights the Faculty of Biology UGM’s dedication to empowering students to actively contribute to sustainable environmental solutions on both national and global scales.

Yogyakarta, September 12, 2024,  The Biology UGM Halmahera Walking Shark Research Team has been awarded a distinguished research grant under the Indonesian Youth Elasmobranch Scholarship (IYES) program, which is facilitated by Conservation Indonesia and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Their study, titled “Diet Analyses and Population Genetic Structure of Hemiscyllium halmahera,” will explore the dietary patterns and genetic structure of the Halmahera Walking Shark, an endemic species that was granted full protection by the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs in 2023.

The team is led by Calvin Muliawan (Biology 2021), with Andari Sekarningrum (Biology 2020) and Raihan Widarianto Putra (Biology 2020) as team members. They are under the supervision of Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, S.Si., M.Si., and Dr. Rury Eprilurahman, S.Si., M.Sc., from the Animal Systematics Laboratory, as well as Akbar Reza, M.Sc., from the Ecology and Conservation Laboratory.

The study is design to achieve two objectives: