SDG 15 : Advance Life On Land

Arsip:

BAPPENAS RI Visits the Faculty of Biology UGM Regarding Development of Genetic Resources Conservation in Indonesia

Cooperation News Release Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Yogyakarta, 3 July 2024 – The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada received a visit from the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) of the Republic of Indonesia consisting of the BAPPENAS Forestry Directorate Team. The discussions and field visits related to research and development of genetic resources for biodiversity in Indonesia. The visit was received in the KPTU Meeting Room, Faculty of Biology UGM, also attended by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, lecturers from various laboratories at the Faculty of Biology, as well as Head of the Agrotechnology Innovation Center UGM, Alan Soffan, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D.

Prof. Budi as Dean of the Faculty of Biology welcomed the field visit from BAPPENAS, especially as support for the curation of genetic resources for biodiversity is very necessary for ecosystem sustainability. He, accompanied by Dr. Eko delivered a profile of the Faculty of Biology. He underlined the concern in the world of biology regarding biological curation through the establishment of a new study program at the Faculty of Biology, the Profession Program for Biodiversity Curator (PKKH).

Alan as Head of the Center for Agrotechnology Innovation UGM (PIAT) also welcomed BAPPENAS’ visit. He said that PIAT would also support efforts to manage Indonesia’s biodiversity in the future. BAPPENAS colleagues also plan to visit the PIAT UGM area in Berbah, Sleman, Yogyakarta.

Farida Yulistianingrum, S.Si., ME, MPP, from BAPPENAS, revealed that BAPPENAS is aware of the potential of Indonesia’s biodiversity and genetic resources. The BAPPENAS visit aims to explore data, information and views of experts/academics and agencies regarding gaps in the development of the genetic resource axis. These development efforts will then be continued with mapping and analysis of biodiversity in each region. Farida is also aware of the challenges related to research at the tertiary level, including regulations that are considered not support the implementation of research.

“Resource management is not yet connected, each is mostly kept at the level of individual university researchers,” said Prof. Budi. He also expressed the concerns that prompted the formation of the Indonesia Biodiversity Index (IBI) in 2019. IBI collaborates with the Indonesian Conservation Communication Forum (FKKI) and various Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in Indonesia to collect and share biodiversity data. Prof. Budi emphasized that there is a lot of data produced by Indonesian researchers, but it is spread in the form of thesis, books, and so on. This data curation effort has been ongoing for four years, and by 2024 alone they have produced no less than 11,000 pieces of information on species status and trend data.

Dr. Miftahul Ilmi, who is under the Microbiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Biology, further added that the culture collection of various microbial genomes in Indonesia is still limited. The largest collection is currently managed by the Indonesian Culture Collection Laboratory (InaCC) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), while other collections are managed by researchers at various universities in Indonesia. This culture is only 0.4% of the total culture collection in the world.

Dr. Eko, with his microalgae research focus under the Biotechnology Laboratory, also conveyed the urgency in curating these cultures, including the expensive costs of maintaining cultures including human resources who can manage cultures, as well as the absence of databases, especially bioprospection databases. According to him, this database is crucial for the country’s progress, especially the contribution to various industries such as pharmaceuticals, and so on.

BAPPENAS also recognizes the limitations of policies/regulations from central to regional which still focus on economic value. Proposals regarding incentive regulations for conservation efforts or biodiversity credits in the regions still need to be evaluated as support for biodiversity conservation. Unfortunately, the model for biodiversity credit focuses more on terrestrial areas and is limited to marine areas.

The next discussion continued on concerns regarding the management of biodiversity databases in various scientific fields; entomology, wildlife and various plants are the focus of research at the Faculty of Biology UGM. Efforts to manage genetic resources are considered to be an emergency concern so that efforts are needed to manage the Indonesian database index sustainably, including the proposed biodiversity index which is a regional performance achievement.

The field visit was followed by a visit to the Genetics and Breeding Laboratory of the Faculty of Biology UGM, as well as the Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT) UGM.It is hoped that the discussion between BAPPENAS and the Faculty of Biology UGM will contribute to observation, development of biodiversity governance and related regulations, so that Indonesia can become more independent in managing its biodiversity.

MATALABIOGAMA Explore The Beauty of Cerme Cave

Student Activities Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Caving is an activity that includes exploration of the cave system that can build up teamwork and physical health. Caving requires constant communication to ensure team safety and to overcome obstacles. Caving involves climbing, crawling, walking, and even swimming, providing an effective full-body workout. Caving also provides insights into geology, biology, and ecology, offering hands-on learning experiences, elevating our love for nature, and raising awareness for environmental conservation. In addition, caving offers unusual adventure and exploration. Every cave is unique, providing ever-new adventures and discoveries. The thrill of exploration and curiosity can be exhilarating and satisfying.

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, coinciding with Pancasila Day, Matalabiogama conducted a caving activity at Cerme Cave, a historic site and tourist attraction located in Srunggo Hamlet, Selopanioro Village, Imogiri District, Bantul Regency. Cerme Cave sits 500 meters above sea level, with a cave length of approximately 1200 meters. Cerme Cave offers the beauty of stalactites and stalagmites and features waterfalls, underground rivers, and springs flowing along the cave.

The exploration was participated by Matalabiogama members, namely Baehaki, Rendy, Sulthon, Angela, Adrian, Sebayang, Dharma, Yara, Hanan, Ahmad, & Risma. Participants departed from the Faculty of Biology UGM at 08.30 WIB and safely arrived at Cerme Cave at 09.30 WIB. Participants were ready to enter the cave under the guidance of a local tour guide, Mr. Sumarah at 10.30 WIB. The course lasted for four hours. The participants encountered various cave biota, including cave shrimp (Gammarus pulex), cave crickets (family Rhaphidophoridae), cave spiders (Amblypygi), two species of bats, and eels (Genus Anguilla sp.). Residents consider encountering eels as a sign of good fortune for visitors due to their infrequent appearances. “We may only see these fish once a month,” said Mr. Sumarah. In addition to the cave biota, participants observed various geological beauties of Cerme Cave, including stalactites and stalagmites, several springs, and shimmering calcite crystal ornaments adorning the cave walls. The exploration ended at 14.30 WIB, and by 15.30 participants returned home.

This activity benefits Matalabiogama members, fostering stronger interpersonal relationships, physical health, biological understanding, healing, and enhancing members’ cave exploration skills. It hoped similar activities would continue, potentially collaborating with other organizations [Author: Matalabiogama].

Student Team From Gadjah Mada University Faculty of Biology Wins 3rd Place in CEWAMA Research Competition

Achivements Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Yogyakarta, July 1, 2024 – A team of students from the Faculty of Biology at Gadjah Mada University has achieved remarkable success by winning 3rd place in the CEWAMA Research Competition organized by the Indonesian Aviation Polytechnic Curug. This national competition ran from May 29 to June 25, 2024, for the scientific writing phase and concluded with final presentations on July 1, 2024.

The team, named “ALNOCO” (Algae Non Carbon), consists of K. William Hendri Panjaitan (class of 2021), K.H. Mahadhevy Ryrathna Vidhantyka (class of 2022), and Aqil Muhammad Hafiz (class of 2021). Under the guidance of Dr. Eng. Thoriq Teja Samudra, M.Sc., and Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., they presented a paper titled “INNOVATION OF POME AS A MICROALGAE (Neochloris oleoabundans) SUBSTRATE FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF RENEWABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT FUEL DERIVATIVES.”

In their work, the ALNOCO team addressed the issue of alternative bioavtur from microalgae biomass by utilizing waste POME (Palm Oil Mill Effluent) as a growth substrate. The biomass of N. oleoabundans, which is rich in lipid content, can be used as an environmentally friendly and renewable alternative for aircraft fuel. The growth and lipid content of N. oleoabundans are influenced by various factors, including optimal nutritional content (N:P:C). POME waste provides the necessary N:P:C levels for N. oleoabundans to grow and accumulate lipids in its cells.

This innovation has significant potential to support environmentally friendly bioavtur production before 2030, with the support of all parties involved in the next stages of testing, including preparing a roadmap for commercialization, However, further discussion is needed to optimize the growth of microalgae in POME waste and extract lipids for making aircraft fuel that minimally pollutes the air. Additionally, the use of microalgae and POME as alternative options has been proven to be safe to process, fulfilling the need for a clean energy transportation system, which will positively impact the environment.

The competition was attended by 56 teams from various universities across Indonesia. The achievements of the ALNOCO team demonstrate their commitment to developing innovative and applicable research. This success also showcases the Faculty of Biology at Gadjah Mada University’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the development of sustainable science and technology, aligning with UGM’s SDGs goals in the renewable energy field.

[PkM-MBKM] Klanceng Bee Cultivation and Harvest Processing at PKBM Ibnu Hajar Kebon Pasinaon in Sirahan, Salam, Magelang

Cooperation Tuesday, 2 July 2024

The PkM-MBKM 2024 Team from the Faculty of Biology consisting of Cinta Louisa, Rr. Liliane Gemma and Hasna Zuhaida collaborated with the MBKM 2024 Research Team from the Faculty of Biology consisting of Muna Sa’adah and Vincencio Valdy Putra Sasangka, under the guidance of Drs. Ign. Sudaryadi, M.Kes., has begun the MBKM 2024 program with the partner PKBM Ibnu Hajar Kebon Pasinaon in Sirahan, Salam, Magelang, Central Java. The themes of this activity include [1] Coordination of Planning and Strengthening, [2] Literacy Program Activities at the Community Learning Park (TBM) as a community empowerment activity center Kebon Pasinaon for monoculture and polyculture stingless Klanceng bee cultivation to strengthen the village economy and introduce environmental sustainability (monoculture and polyculture) to support the cultivation and products of Meliponiculture (Honey, Bee-pollen, Propolis).

The first activity was held online via Zoom on Tuesday, January 26, 2024, with Drs. Ign. Sudaryadi, M.Kes. as the speaker. This session discussed the outputs of MBKM Research and community service, the types of bees under study (Klanceng bees), and their products. The second activity, held on Friday, February 12, 2024, focused on Klanceng bee cultivation, including Klanceng bee products introduction, sources of Klanceng bee seeds, colony transfer techniques, and the introduction of Klanceng bee cultivation sites. On Saturday, March 9, 2024, the team visited Kebon Pasinaon at PKBM Ibnu Hajar, Sirahan, Magelang, for an introductory meeting. The team was warmly welcomed by representatives of PKBM Ibnu Hajar, and discussions related to program plans followed. Further, the team explored existing potentials at PKMB Ibnu Hajar.

On Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Sawitsari Research Station, a field learning was conducted with materials: 1. Splitting Klanceng bee colonies, 2. Harvesting and collecting the bee products (honey, raw propolis, and Klanceng bee pollen). Colony splitting aimed to enhance Klanceng bee cultivation processes, increasing the number of colonies and ultimately producing more products. Raw propolis is a resin bee product used as a base material for hive construction. Meanwhile, bee pollen is the pollen from flowers stored in pollen pockets by worker bees as food reserves for the bee colony. The harvesting of raw propolis and pollen is done by taking the pockets located at the base of the nest. Pollen is distinguishable by its lighter color and denser texture. Propolis is obtained by squeezing Klanceng honey and taking the remaining nest materials. This propolis, still mixed with pollen, honey, and other debris, is called raw propolis. Once the propolis, pollen, and honey collected in the necessary amounts, they are stored for future activities during partner village visits, with the agenda of Klanceng bee cultivation workshops and product harvest demos (honey and propolis) in collaboration with PKBM Ibnu Hajar Kebon Pasinaon in Sirahan Village, Salam – MGL.

The Beekeeping and Product Harvest Demo Workshop was held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the Joglo Hall Kebon Pasinaon PKBM Ibnu Hajar, with an additional agenda on Maggot Cultivation following the initial discussion during the first visit, with additional support from final-year students, Rahmadhandhi, and one staff from the Entomology Laboratory, Rio Tri Rahmawati.

Application of Bioinformatics for Strengthening The PUAPT Food Security Program: The Lecturers from Faculty of Biology UGM Enhance Skills with NGS Training at GSI

News Release Tuesday, 2 July 2024

Yogyakarta, July 1, 2024 – Two lecturers from the Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participated in advanced training on the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform organized by Genomic Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI). This three-day training covered theoretical and practical aspects of using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platform. Participating in this training is a part of the commitment to advancing bioinformatics research in Indonesia. The implementation of High-Performance Computing (HPC) to process large biological datasets aligns with UGM’s research goals, and this training equips researchers with the necessary skills to effectively utilize these advanced tools.

Day 1: Introduction to ONT Platform and Basic Bioinformatics

The first day of the training consisted of theory and practical sessions. The theory session introduced participants to the ONT platform, the latest NGS technology that uses electrical current through nanopore proteins. There was also a demonstration of using the minKNOW software for ONT and EPI2ME LABs for post-NGS data processing. The practical session introduced basic bioinformatics programming using bash, including file systems, post-NGS data reading, file management, software management using Mamba, and de novo alignment techniques.

Day 2: Advanced ONT Features and Data Processing

The second day continued with the theory session on the advantages of ONT over other platforms, particularly the Adaptive Sampling concept, which makes ONT flow cells more efficient and the data obtained more specific. The practical session included assembly, variant calling, annotation, and an introduction to Biopython, a Python package for bioinformatics data processing. The second day training concluded with a lab visit to observe the sequencing infrastructure at GSI Lab.

Day 3: Metagenomic Analysis and Final Project

The final day focused on practical sessions and the final project. Participants learned about 16s Metagenomic Analysis using EPI2ME Labs through the Command Line Interface (CLI). The training concluded with a final project, where participants processed ONT fastq (.fastq) files into bam (.bam) files for further analysis using R Studio or Python.

Importance of NGS Analysis in Supporting Biosecurity Topics to Achieve Food Security

Advancements in NGS tools have significantly enhanced research in life sciences, allowing for more specific and in-depth studies. Understanding the genetic material of organisms is crucial for comprehending their activities and life processes. This is evident in the rapid progress of precision medicine, which reveals individual uniqueness through genetic analysis.

In the PUAPT research program, the Faculty of Biology UGM has mandated biosecurity in land and water management within the Food Security working group. These tools are invaluable for studying the rhizosphere microbiome community, microbe-plant interactions, the impact of microbiomes on fertilizer and pesticide usage, and gene expression differences in food crops under specific land and water management treatments. NGS analysis plays a crucial role in supporting these efforts to achieve sustainable food security, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs No.2 of zero hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and SDGs No.13 related to combating climate change to support sustainable agriculture.

Propolis Harvesting Process and MBKM Research Program 2024 on Klanceng Bees Propolis with PKBM Ibnu Hajar “Kebon Pasinaon,” Sirahan Village, Salam, Magelang

Cooperation Tuesday, 2 July 2024

The Klanceng Bees Propolis MBKM Research 2024 team has begun their research activities under the guidance of Drs. Ign. Sudaryadi, M.Kes.. The team consists of Muna Sa’adah and Vincencio Valdy Putra Sasangka. This activity builds upon previous research to enhance studies on Klanceng bees propolis. The partner for this activity was PKBM Ibnu Hajar, Sirahan, Salam, Magelang.

The MBKM Research team collaborated with the MBKM-PkM team, which includes Cinta Louisa, Rr. Liliane Gemma, and Hasna Zuhaida. The first activity was held online via Zoom on Tuesday, January 26, 2024, with Drs. Ign. Sudaryadi, M.Kes. as the speaker. This session discussed the outputes of MBKM Research and community service, the types of bees under study (Klanceng bees), and their products. The second activity, held on Friday, February 12, 2024, focused on Klanceng bees cultivation. On Saturday, March 9, 2024, the team visited Kebon Pasinaon at PKBM Ibnu Hajar, Sirahan, Magelang, for an introductory meeting. The team was warmly welcomed by representatives of PKBM Ibnu Hajar, and discussions related to program plans followed.

As the initial activity of the MBKM program, colony splitting of Klanceng bees, raw propolis sampling, and Klanceng bee pollen collection were carried out. This took place on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Sawitsari Research Station. The colony splitting aimed to strengthen the cultivation process of Klanceng bees, with the expectation of increasing the number of colonies and, consequently, the production of bee products.

Raw propolis, a resin used as a construction material for the hive, was collected. Pollen, the flower’s pollen stored in pollen baskets as a food reserve for the bee colony, was also harvested. These were collected by taking the pollen baskets located at the base of the hive. Pollen is distinguishable by its lighter color and denser texture. Propolis was obtained by extracting Klanceng honey and taking the remaining hive material. This propolis is still mixed with pollen, honey, and other debris, hence referred to as raw propolis. After obtaining the required amounts of propolis, pollen, and honey, they were stored for further research in the future.

Faculty of Biology Lecturer Participates in Book Review on Smart Waste Management with Community in Sidokarto, Godean

Community Service Waste Management Monday, 1 July 2024

Joglo Donowarih, Sidokarto, Godean, Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta – On Friday, June 28, 2024, the DIY Regional Library and Archives Office hosted a book review titled “Smart Waste Management with Community” in Sidokarto, Godean. The event drew 120 participants from 7 villages in the Godean sub-district interested in becoming catalysts for waste banks and adopting zero waste practices.

The event was prompted by the closure of the Piyungan Landfill, which led to increased community incineration of waste, heightened air pollution, and potential health risks. In response, the DIY Regional Library and Archives Office organized a book discussion led by Mr. Ir. Twaistrisna Hepiprana S.Pt., M.M., IPM., with opening remarks by Mr. Rakhmat Sutopo, S.E., Head of Static Archive Management at the Regional Library and Archives Office, and a speech by Mr. Sofyan Sertyo Darmawan, ST., M.Eng., a member of the DIY Provincial DPRD.

The book “Smart Waste Management with Community,” authored by Esaputri Purwandari, Yomi Windri Asni, Umdatul Qori’ah, and Muzna Nurhayati, was presented by Mrs. Novita Yustinadiar, S.Si., M.Si., a lecturer from the Laboratory of Plant Structure and Development, Faculty of Biology UGM. It discusses practical waste management approaches based on the experiences of the GEMI cooperative. The discussion highlighted the book’s relevance, clarity, and direct applicability, showcasing successful waste bank initiatives and their effective strategies. The presenter emphasized key points, integrating biological insights, experiences from Japan’s zero waste initiatives, and practical experiences in organic and non-organic waste processing during Community Service in Dusun Sendari.

The discussion continued with a presentation by Mrs. Esaputri Purwandari, S.E., CFP., one of the book’s authors, who shared practical experiences in composting using various accessible methods such as pottery composters, stacked bucket composters, and managing inorganic waste through waste banks, as well as soap-making from used cooking oil to add economic value to waste and enhance community livelihoods.

Interactive discussions during the book event allowed participants to share their experiences and challenges in waste management. Community members expressed keen interest in learning about composting, recycling, and reducing single-use plastics. The discussion underscored the importance of basic environmental literacy and the application of the 5R principles: Refuse (rejecting single-use items), Reduce (minimizing single-use consumption), Reuse (reusing products), Recycle (processing recyclables), and Rot (composting organic waste) to tackle waste issues. It also highlighted three harmful waste practices to avoid: burning waste, burying plastics and metals, and dumping waste into the sea. These practices remain prevalent in the DIY community, necessitating heightened awareness campaigns about their environmental and legal repercussions as stipulated in Law Number 18 of 2008 on Waste Management, which prohibits improper waste burning and carries penalties of imprisonment or fines.

The event aimed to boost community literacy and awareness of sustainable waste management practices. The DIY Regional Library and Archives Office distributed the book for free as an initial step toward achieving these objectives. Similar successful events have been held in various sub-districts across DIY, contributing to broader efforts to disseminate knowledge and skills in effective waste management. The event aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (Environmental Sustainability), 3 (Air Pollution), 4 (Basic Literacy), and 5 (Empower Girls), focusing on education for sustainability and community empowerment.

The KSAT Pra-Acclimatization II 2024: Enhancing the Scientific Understanding of KSAT Sapling Members

Student Activities Friday, 21 June 2024

On Saturday, June 8, 2024, the Garden Architecture Study Group (KSAT) held the Pra-Acclimatization II 2024 event as part of the KSAT scientific activities series to enhance members’ understanding and skills in garden architecture, plant diversity, and landscape ecology. The activity was designed for Sapling-level members and held in Room X Faculty of Biology UGM. During Pre-Acclimatization II 2024, Sapling members had the opportunity to apply the knowledge they had acquired by preparing papers and site plans tailored to the focus of each subdivision.

The event began with the preparation of papers and site plans by Sapling members. The Plant Diversity Subdivision worked on garden projects and their physiological stresses, the Landscape Architecture Subdivision developed city park site plans, and the Landscape Ecology Subdivision generated ideas for ecological-based gardens. The results of these assignments were then presented at the main event, providing a platform for members to share knowledge and receive feedback. This process will enhance their understanding and improve their ability in scientific writing and architectural planning.

The event opened with a welcome from the Master of Ceremony, Adelia Adriani (KSAT 2021), followed by opening remarks from Anggi Nada Khoirul Ummah, the Head of KSAT Cabinet Magnolia, and Laksita Chesarina, the Coordinator of the General Scientific Division. The main agenda was the presentation of assignments from each subdivision, where members detailed their projects. After the presentations, a discussion and Q&A session was led by panelists, providing members with feedback and allowing for deeper interaction and understanding.

Another goal of Pre-Acclimatization II 2024 is to provide an interactive and in-depth learning platform for Sapling members. Through this event, KSAT aims to facilitate the development of members’ skills in various aspects, including scientific writing, site plan preparation, and scientific presentations. Additionally, the event is expected to strengthen collaboration and communication among members, enrich the learning experience, and motivate them to continue developing their knowledge in garden architecture, plant diversity, and landscape ecology.

Author: KSAT 2024*

Nusantara Orchid Biodiversity Show (NOBiS) 2024: Orchid Odyssey, Revealing the Extraordinary Journey of Orchids Through the Past, Present, and Future

Headline News Release Student Activities Monday, 10 June 2024

The Nusantara Orchid Biodiversity Show (NOBiS), which is a series of orchid photography competitions and annual webinar, is being held again by the Biology Orchid Study Club (BiOSC), Faculty of Biology, UGM. This webinar is held online with the aim of educating and providing training to the younger generation through seminars and activities workshop. This year’s orchid photography competition has the theme “Orchid Odyssey: Revealing the Extraordinary Journey of Orchids Through The Past, Present, and Future”. A total of 56 participants took part in the orchid photography competition by submitting their work on 7 – 17 May 2024. The results of the participants’ photography work are then displayed in the form of a virtual exhibition via ArtSteps which can be accessed by all participants. The winners of the orchid photography competition at the NOBiS event were Dary Saka Fitrady as First Place, Imaduddin Akhyar Kusumaperdana as Second Place, Yosvaldo Gerry Setiono Putra as Third Place, and Muhammad Nadhif Al Sulthony as Favorite Champion, which was announced at the peak event of the 2024 NOBiS.

The orchid photography competition has a positive impact on sustainable development. Webinar and photography competitions can contribute to the appreciation of biodiversity, which is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12: Responsible consumption and production, 15: Life on Land, and 17: Partnership to achieve goals. Orchid photography is an effort that can be used as a tool to visualize biodiversity and help remind us of the beauty of nature and the importance of protecting the environment.

NOBiS webinar event this year carries the theme “Orchid Odyssey: Revealing the Extraordinary Journey of Orchids Through The Past, Present, and Future” with the implementation time on 1st June 2024 at 09.30 online and attended by 144 participants. The NOBiS 2024 webinar aims to provide a means for the public to learn and understand the preservation of orchids in Indonesia through genome editing and tissue culture propagation techniques. Therefore, this year, BiOSC invited three speakers who have become experts in the field of orchids in Indonesia, namely Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Dewi Kusuma, S.P., M.Si., and Dr. André Schuiteman.

Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc. is a head of Laboratory of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada and has research focus on plant tissue culture, plant molecular genetics, plant biotechnology, orchidology, cell and molecular biology. On this occasion, he shared insights regarding Indonesian Orchid Plant breeding with the application of Genome Editing. Current orchid populations in nature are decreasing due to natural disasters, illegal logging, and domestication for collection, decoration, and also for herbal medicine. So we need Ex situ and In situ conservation efforts such as genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 system as the cheapest and easiest to apply technology, having a revolutionary impact on basic research to study gene function and plant breeding to produce new orchids with plenty of seedlings and early flowering.

Orchid production and conservation also can be supported by the method of plant tissue culture, its delivered by Prof. Dr. Dewi Sukma, S.P., M.Si. as a professor of Agronomy and Horticulture department of Agronomy and Horticulture Faculty of Agriculture IPB University and have research interest in plant genetic diversity, breeding and cultivar development and also in plant genetic engineering. Orchid need tissue culture because its lack of seed endosperm so it can provide a higher number of seedling and provide a sterile ad healthy propagules, tissue culture can be an independent breeding of time and season and also can facilitated the in vitro breeding to maintain the existence and availability of Indonesian orchid for future research and potential uses.

The last topic delivered by Dr. André the research leader in the Asia team of Royal Botanic Garden United Kingdom with the research focus on Taxonomy, Conservation and Evolution of Orchidaceae. The diversity of Indonesian orchid is about 26000 species in 800 genera, but not easy to tell because many species are poorly understood, especially the distribution of species in Borneo and New Guinea. The existence and availability of Indonesian orchid should be maintained because there is a lot of diversity and distribution of it such as Dimorphorchis lowii and Paraphalaenopsis laycockii from Borneo, Bulbophyllum muricatum and Dendrobium azureum from Tanah Papua.

It is hoped that the informative webinar material will broaden the knowledge of orchid lovers as well as introduce BiOSC to the outside as a study group that focuses on orchids with the jargon of “Tumbuh, Berkembang, Lestari”. Nusantara Orchid Biodiversity Show (NOBiS) National Photography Competition

2024: “Orchid Odyssey: Revealing the Extraordinary Journey of Orchids Through The Past, Present, and Future” expected to inspire and encourage deeper understanding of history, uniqueness, preservation, and future challenges faced by orchids. Through photography, Participants are expected to be able to express messages about the existence of orchids in the past, present and future. [Author: BiOSC]

Garden Management 1 KSAT: Arrangement of Gardens in Punthuk Kepuh Tourist Area

Student Activities Wednesday, 5 June 2024

On Saturday – Sunday, June 1st – 2nd, 2024, The Garden Architecture Study Group (KSAT) conducted the Garden Management 1 in collaboration with the PkM-MBKM program along with Dr. Wiko Arif Wibowo, S.Si., the supervisor of KSAT. The activity aimed to enhance Seedling’s ability in gardening and took place in Punthuk Kepuh, Gunung Kidul. The main activities were garden design and creation in three designated areas. On the first day, June 1st, 2024, KSAT surveyed the garden areas and had discussions with Punthuk Kepuh management. The next event was a presentation on garden design and an introduction to the types of plants used and their maintenance methods with the community. The second day, June 2nd, was filled with garden creation, tours, and group photos. Each activity was led by Fika Zulfiana (KSAT 2021) and Dyah Ekawati (KSAT 2021) as the MCs.

The Garden Management KSAT 2024 activity ran successfully and on schedule. This activity was carried out as an implementation of knowledge from the material provided during small group discussions. Additionally, this activity also aims to fulfill KSAT’s vision of community service, thus KSAT can become a study group that is beneficial to the broader community.

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