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SDG 4 : Provide Quality Education

Year-End Evaluation and Member Deliberation of Formasigen 2024

Student Activities Monday, 16 December 2024

On Friday, December 13, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM WIB, the Year-End Evaluation and Member Deliberation of Formasigen were held at the Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, UGM. The activity was attended by Mrs. Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., the Formasigen supervisor, the 2024 Formasigen team, and prospective members of the 2025 Formasigen team. This event served as a platform to review the Formasigen Bylaws and Articles of Association (AD/ART), evaluate the performance over the past year, and conduct a member deliberation to elect the 2025 Formasigen Chair. The objectives included updating the AD/ART based on recent agreements, monitoring the work programs carried out by the GenomCity Cabinet, identifying challenges encountered throughout the management period, providing constructive feedback and recommendations for program improvement, enhancing the quality of future work programs, and determining the next Formasigen Chair.


The event began with an opening by the MC, Enjang Sekaryati Prasetyaningrum, who served as the Head of the Public Relations and Networking Division of the 2024 GenomCity Cabinet. This was followed by a review of the AD/ART led by the first presidium, Muhammad Sena Budiman, and the second presidium, Ihsanti Tsania Fajriati. During this session, articles in the AD/ART were reviewed and updated to align with current conditions and ensure relevance for future management periods. After this session, there was a break for prayer, lunch, and rest.

The activity continued with the Year-End Evaluation and Member Deliberation. Before starting this session, remarks were delivered by Mrs. Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., who expressed gratitude to the 2024 Formasigen management team for fulfilling their responsibilities well. She also emphasized that the evaluations presented during this session should serve as valuable lessons for the next management team. Furthermore, she extended her encouragement and congratulations to the candidates for the 2025 Formasigen Chair and management team. Following the remarks, presentations were conducted by the heads of each division to report on the work programs implemented throughout the year, along with evaluations and suggestions for improvement. The presentation began with the Chair, followed by the Secretary and Treasurer, and continued with the heads of the PSDM (Human Resources Development), Scientific, Household, Public Relations and Networking, and Media and Information Divisions.

The event then proceeded with the 2024 Member Deliberation. This session included the introduction and presentation of visions and missions by the candidates for the 2025 Formasigen Chair, Denianto Agung Wicaksono, Muhammad Meshal Ramdhayesa, and Muhammad Rafi Fairuza. A question-and-answer session was held with the 2024 Formasigen team and the prospective 2025 team. Subsequently, a deliberation was conducted to elect the chair. The announcement of the elected 2025 Formasigen Chair, Denianto Agung Wicaksono, followed, along with the handover of responsibilities from the 2024 Chair to the 2025 Chair. The event concluded with a documentation session and a closing. [Author: Formasigen]

Faculty of Biology Expands Academic Collaboration and International Exposure with Leipzig University, Germany

Cooperation Friday, 13 December 2024

Leipzig, 10 December 2024 – The UGM Faculty of Biology team consisting of Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, and Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, M. Biotech. carried out a visit to Leipzig University, Germany last Tuesday (10/12). The visit was an effort to strengthen the recognition and collaboration of the Faculty of Biology UGM with various of the world’s best universities.


Leipzig University is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second oldest in Germany. Founded in 1409, this university has successfully produced tens of thousands of alumni spread throughout the world. The Faculty of Biology UGM has collaborated, especially in research, with the Institute for Animal Hygiene and Public Veterinary, Leipzig University. Collaboration with Prof. Uwe Truyen and Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed’s research activities and visiting professor at the Faculty of Biology have been implemented since 2023. This collaboration emphasizes the One Health approach which involves the integration of human, animal and environmental health to answer global challenges such as zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

The visit was welcomed by Prof. Uwe Truyen and Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed and colleagues from Leipzig University. The results of the discussion focused on double degree, international exposure and post-doctoral opportunities. Leipzig opens up double degree opportunities with various faculties for doctoral level, as well as joint research and publications. Another collaboration is international exposure through the International Workshop on One Health Leipzig University in August 2025 and at Badr University, Egypt in November 2025 which is open to undergraduate to doctoral students.

The visit was a step by the Faculty of Biology to improve the quality of education by collaborating with partners at the international level, especially Leipzig University, Germany. This collaboration is also a commitment of the Faculty of Biology UGM to support sustainable development and in accordance with sustainable development targets (SDGs), namely inclusive quality education (SDGs 4) and increased recognition of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

Strengthening Academic and Research Collaboration, Faculty of Biology Team Visits Boku University, Austria

Cooperation Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Vienna, 9 December 2024 – UGM’s Faculty of Biology continues to expand its network in the international arena in order to increase recognition and collaboration with various world institutions, one of which is Boku University, The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. Boku University is one of the best universities in Austria and Europe, especially in the fields of agriculture and forestry, ranking 26th in the QS World University Ranking By Subject in 2024.


Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Biology, has collaborated with a double degree doctorate and joint supervision with Boku University since 2023 for one of its teaching staff, Arief Muammar. As a follow-up to this collaboration, the Biology Faculty Team consisting of Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, and Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, M. Biotech. carried out a visit to Boku University last Monday (9/12).

The visit was welcomed by colleagues from the Institute of Food Technology, Boku University including Prof. Dietmar Haltrich, Prof. Dr. Clemens Karl Peterbauer, and Dr. Philipp Fuhrmann and Arief Muammar, M.Sc and from International Relations, Boku University, Lisa Kargl, Dipl.-Ing. Mag. The discussion discussed dual degree collaboration for master’s and doctoral programs, joint research collaboration, joint supervision, and joint publication. Apart from that, post-doctoral collaboration for 4 to 9 months for young staff was also initiated which is expected to support research collaboration with various partners in the world. Collaboration for participation in the 2025 International Summer Course and International Conference (ICBS) of the Faculty of Biology which is held every year was also discussed, especially the participation of students from Boku and teaching staff who could contribute as resource persons.

The visit was a step by the Faculty of Biology to improve the quality of education by collaborating with partners at the international level, especially Boku University, Austria. This collaboration is also a commitment of the Faculty of Biology UGM to support sustainable development and in accordance with sustainable development targets (SDGs), namely inclusive quality education (SDGs 4) and increased recognition of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

Expanding the Potential of Double Master and Doctoral Degrees, the Faculty of Biology Strengthens Collaboration with the University of Leeds, UK

Cooperation Sunday, 8 December 2024

Leeds, 4-5 December 2024 – Universitas Gadjah Mada participated in the University of Leeds International Partner Conference 2025. This conference is the University of Leeds’ annual agenda in order to increase collaboration with various partners throughout the world, one of which is Universitas Gadjah Mada. The University of Leeds is one of the best universities in England with a ranking of 82nd in the world according to QS WUR 2025. UL and UGM are recorded as having formally collaborated since 2016 through the signing of an MoU at the university level. Since then, various collaborations have been carried out, both at study program, faculty and university levels, ranging from student exchanges, joint research, to Double Degree (DD) programs.


UGM Delegation; Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. and Fina Itriyati, M.A., Ph.D., respectively as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs of the Faculty of Biology and Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, attended the conference which took place at the HELIX Learning Innovation Hub, University of Leeds on Wednesday (4/12) and Thursday (5/12). Both of them are involved in ongoing collaboration discussions, as well as potential collaboration with the two faculties and UGM in general.

The Faculty of Biology has collaborated with the University of Leeds, United Kingdom since 2022. This collaboration produces collaborative outcomes for the undergraduate double degree program. Until 2024, the UGM Faculty of Biology has sent 7 students to the DD program at the Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds.

Dr. Eko also visited the seven students together with the Pro-Dean of the International Faculty of Biological Sciences, Prof. Ian Wood. As a result of the meeting with the Pro Dean of Biological Sciences, it was agreed that the DD program for Masters and Doctorate would immediately be processed after the DD program for Bachelor’s degrees was deemed to be running smoothly and successfully. It is hoped that this collaboration will open up more opportunities for students in Indonesia to study at various of the world’s best universities.

This visit is a step by the Faculty of Biology to improve the quality of education by collaborating with partners at the international level, especially with the University of Leeds, which has been in place since 2022. This collaboration is also a commitment of the UGM Faculty of Biology to support sustainable development and in accordance with sustainable development targets (SDGs) namely inclusive quality education (SDGs 4) and increased recognition of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

Collaborative Research Across Campuses, Two UGM Biology Students Win Gold in Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology Competition

Achivements Friday, 6 December 2024

In the 2024 Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology (BIOS) competition organized by Synbio.id from August to December 2024, UGM Biology students once again achieved remarkable success, securing a gold medal and the position of Undergraduate Runner-Up. The two students, Muhammad Ode Rahmadhani (Class of 2021) and Renada Oktavia (Class of 2021), were part of Team Can-Con, which collaborated with students from various universities: Rafly Mochamad Rivaldo from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran; Tristan Kenneth Yudhistira from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya; Zaki Sidqi Aaliyya from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman; and Yonathan Henry Christianto, Bryan Wu, and Ruby Belinda Gunadi from the Faculty of Computer Science, Universitas Bina Nusantara. The team, led by Muhammad Ode Rahmadhani and guided by Prof. Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si., explored the compound phloroglucinol’s anticancer potential against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using an in-silico metabolomics approach.


This research addressed the pressing need to discover new anticancer compounds due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance and the significant side effects associated with current cancer therapies. Notably, the potential of phloroglucinol as an anticancer agent against NSCLC remains unexplored. The study aimed to unravel the pharmacological network and interactions between phloroglucinol and proteins associated with NSCLC progression. This focus is crucial as NSCLC remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Indonesia.

The research, conducted throughout the competition, lasted from August to late November 2024. On December 1, 2024, during Synbiotechfest 2024, which also served as the Awarding Ceremony, Team Can-Con was announced as the gold medal winner and Undergraduate Runner-Up.

This outstanding achievement was made possible through the multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers from diverse academic backgrounds, which united diverse perspectives and approaches to develop a comprehensive study.

Author: M. Ode Rahmadhani

Biology Student Team Achieved Silver Medal (3rd Runner Up) Essay in the International Biology Competition (MIBC) 2024

Achivements Friday, 6 December 2024

The Faculty of Biology of Gadjah Mada University student team consisting of Feny Nur Nucfera (Biology 2021), Allya Heni Pramesti (Biology 2021), and Cindy Adisty Rudi Ananda Putri (Biology 2021) achieved 3rd Runner Up in the essay competition at the International Biology Competition (MIBC) 2024. International Biology Competition (MIBC) 2024 is a global scientific competition organized by the biology master program of UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang from October 8 to December 1, 2024. This global scientific competition was attended by more than 100 teams of both undergraduate (S1) and master (S2) students nationally and internationally. The competition with the theme “Innovative Scientific Solutions for Sustainable Development” aims to foster the interest of the younger generation in the field of research and scientific writing. The competition encourages students to develop skills in research, analysis, and scientific writing by utilizing technological advances to support sustainable development in accordance with the goals of Indonesia Emas 2045.


With a background in biology, the UGM Biology Student Team used a Biotechnology approach in their scientific paper entitled “GenPlast Solver: Genetic Engineering for PETase Gene Insertion in Lactobacillus sp. as a Smart Solution to the Plastic Waste Problem”. The background of this work is the increasing global plastic waste problem with global plastic production reaching 400 million tons per year and Indonesia being the second largest contributor to plastic waste in the world. Only 9% of plastic waste is successfully recycled. Current plastic waste management methods such as incineration and recycling have constraints, namely technology and public awareness. Plastic waste has a negative impact on human health and ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to develop environmentally friendly biotechnology-based innovations to address the global plastic waste problem.

One of the innovations raised by the team is the GenPlast Solver culture starter based on genetic engineering to tackle plastic waste efficiently. This idea explores the potential of genetic engineering techniques by inserting the PETase gene from Ideonella sakainensis into gram-positive bacteria Lactobacillus sp. as a solution to degrade plastic waste. The PETase enzyme derived from Ideonella sakaiensis showed much higher activity in degrading PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic compared to other enzymes. This makes it a promising candidate for bioremediation efforts. However, the growth of Ideonella sakaiensis has a negative impact on the environment. Lactobacillus compared to Ideonella sakainensis has the advantages of resistance to high salinity and adaptability to environmental pH, making it more suitable for direct application in ecosystems. The engineering process includes isolation of PETase gene, cloning into expression vector, transformation into Lactobacillus sp. and optimization of gene expression. The final product is a genetically modified Lactobacillus sp. starter culture that can be applied in the treatment of plastic waste in industries and landfills. This innovation offers a sustainable green technology approach (SDGs 3, 4 & 12), supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (SDGs 13), and creates new economic opportunities through the production of GenPlast Solver-based starter cultures (SDGs 8). [Author: Feny Nur Nucfera]

Faculty of Biology UGM Holds Sakura Science Program 2025 Selection

News Release Friday, 6 December 2024

Yogyakarta, December 6, 2024 – Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has held a selection for the Sakura Science Program 2025 which was held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. A total of 33 participants took part in the interview session to compete for the opportunity to join the program which will be held at Yamagata University, Japan, on February 15-23, 2025.


The interview selection was conducted by a panel consisting of the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc.; Vice Dean for Finance, Administration and Human Resources, Dr. Slamet Widianto, M.Sc.; Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, Sukirno, M.Sc., Ph.D.; and Assistant Head of the Study Program Ganies Riza Aristya, M.Sc., Ph.D.

The interview participants were selected strictly, not only based on academic achievement, but also other abilities, such as art and other relevant skills. The selection aims to find candidates who have extraordinary potential in the fields of science and technology, as well as the ability to adapt to an international environment.

Ultimately, 16 selected participants will have the opportunity to participate in the Sakura Science Program 2025 at Yamagata University, with the option to receive a scholarship from the university or participate in a self-funded program. (Aulia)

The program aims to strengthen academic relations between Japan and Indonesia and provide first-hand experience in scientific research in Japan for selected participants.(Aulia)

UGM iGEM Team Integrates Molecular Farming with Vaccine Production, Secures Five Awards at BIOS 2024

Achivements Thursday, 5 December 2024

The Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) iGEM 2024 team has once again achieved remarkable success at the Bioinformatics and Synthetic Biology (BIOS) 2024 competition, organized by Synbio.id. Competing virtually from August to December 2024, two of UGM’s leading teams Phytovac and Gamanthrax brought home an impressive array of accolades, including Best Presentation, Best Website, Best Poster, the prestigious Gold Medal, and the ultimate Grand Prize.


The UGM iGEM team consists of 19 interdisciplinary students, including eight talented members from the Faculty of Biology: Anandita Amalia Dewi (2021), Salma Rohmaniah (2021), Erwinda Dwi Chofifah (2022), Tan Rendy (2022), Angga Firza Pratama (2023), Geraldine Yara Amritasahmi (2023), Nauval Rajwaa Raysendria (2023), and Tsaqifa Zuhayra Emery Bagus (2023). The synergy among students from diverse academic backgrounds was key to the team’s success, fostering creativity and innovation to address real-world societal challenges.

Under the guidance of Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si., the UGM iGEM team adopted molecular farming as an innovative approach to develop therapeutic solutions for pressing health issues in Indonesia. Team Phytovac, led by Farrel Alfaza Marsetyo (Faculty of Medicine, 2021), introduced a project titled “Immunoinformatics Design of Virus-Like Particle-linked Dengue Vaccine for Expression in Nicotiana benthamiana System”, targeting the prevalent issue of dengue fever. Team Gamanthrax, led by Fahmi Ihsanuddin Jauhari (Faculty of Pharmacy, 2021), presented a project titled “In Silico Design of Plant-Based Anthrax Vaccine using Recombinant DNA Method”, focusing on the development of a plant-based anthrax vaccine.

Both projects successfully leveraged computational modeling and mathematical simulation technologies to design plant-based vaccines—groundbreaking advancements in biotechnology.
The BIOS 2024 competition featured a rigorous selection process, beginning with abstract submissions, proposal videos, website showcases, posters, and presentation videos from August 24 to November 10, 2024. Both UGM teams advanced to the final round on November 29, 2024, where they engaged in interactive judging sessions.

The journey culminated in the Grand Final on November 30, 2024, where Phytovac emerged as a grand finalist alongside two other top teams. In the final round, the teams presented their projects to judges and audiences. The competition’s pinnacle was marked by the Awarding Ceremony on December 1, 2024, where both Phytovac and Gamanthrax were crowned champions, earning multiple prestigious awards.

This outstanding achievement highlights the competitive excellence of UGM’s Faculty of Biology students on the national stage. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, relentless hard work, and a passion for innovation, the UGM iGEM team has proven that science and technology hold the key to driving sustainable and positive societal change.

Written by: iGEM UGM Team

Lecturer of the Faculty of Biology, UGM Becomes One of the Speakers in the Pra-clinical Training: From Basic to Advanced – Preclinical Animal Models for Human Disease Workshop

News Release Tuesday, 3 December 2024

On November 26, 2024, Dr. Ardaning Nuriliani, S.Si., M.Kes., a lecturer at the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) had the opportunity to become one of the speakers in the training entitled From Basic to Advanced: Preclinical Animal Models for Human Disease organized by the Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory, UGM. The event, which was held hybrid, was attended by 8 offline participants and 12 online participants from various institutions such as from Surabaya, Riau, Purwokerto, and Yogyakarta. In this training, Dr. Ardaning provided one of the materials from the entire series of training, about Laboratory Animals (Rodents: Rats and Mice): Handling, Housing, Treatment. Dr. Ardaning explained in detail about the correct and proper ways to handle, care for, and treat laboratory animals, especially rats and mice, in order to meet ethical standards and ensure valid and reliable research results. This is very important to ensure animal welfare and the credibility of the data produced in the research.


The training aims to provide insight and practical skills regarding the use of pra-clinical animal models in human disease research, as well as an in-depth understanding of the welfare of the animals used. Therefore, in this training, participants in addition to receiving various materials related to the ethics of using laboratory animals; handling-housing-treatment of animal models; and animal models of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, lung cancer, and hypertension, they also have the opportunity to practice directly related to the materials provided. With this training, it is hoped that the lecturers, researchers, and laboratory technicians involved can apply new knowledge and skills in their research so as to support SDGs programs no. 3 (healthy and prosperous life) and 4 (quality education). This activity is also an important step in improving the quality of animal-based research in Indonesia, as well as encouraging the development of more effective pra-clinical models to study human diseases.

Green Edge Lubricants Wins First Place at Greenovation 2024: Pioneering Eco-Friendly Lubricants for the Metal Industry

Achivements Monday, 2 December 2024

Banjarmasin, November 27, 2024 – The Green Edge Lubricants team claimed first place in the Call for Business Idea category at the Greenovation 2024 organized by Bank Indonesia of South Kalimantan. The event drew over 400 participants, including innovative startups, industry experts, and academics. Green Edge Lubricants captured the judges’ attention with their groundbreaking eco-friendly lubricant derived from palm oil, outshining intense competition.

The team comprised Soen Eliora Valerie Natania (Biology), Dania Husna Huwaida (Chemical Engineering), and Khabib Abdul Aziz (Chemical Engineering). Soen Eliora focused on the product’s sustainability, emphasizing environmental compatibility, biodegradability of raw materials, and potential impacts on wastewater. Dania Husna Huwaida led the lubricant formulation, optimizing material composition for optimum performance. Meanwhile, Khabib Abdul Aziz designed an efficient production system, tailoring industrial-scale processes to ensure the product’s readiness for real-world implementation.


This innovative lubricant is tailored for cold rolling steel and metal stamping processes, which traditionally rely on expensive and environmentally harmful mineral oil-based lubricants. By incorporating biodegradable materials like oleic acid and synthetic esters, the lubricant reduces water consumption during cleaning processes by over 50%. Additionally, it offers superior lubricity, extending the tool’s lifespan while minimizing the environmental impact of wastewater.

“Biology is often perceived as unrelated to the industrial sector, but we aim to demonstrate its pivotal role in sustainability. My responsibility was to ensure that this product is not only efficient but also environmentally friendly, aligning with circular economy principles,” explained Soen Eliora.

Dania Husna Huwaida added, “Creating this lubricant faces unique challenges. It needed to meet high-performance standards while remaining cost-effective and easy to manufacture. Palm oil is the ideal raw material to achieve these goals.”

“Our focus was to design an adaptive, efficient production system to ensure the product’s readiness for industrial-scale application, meeting the demands of Indonesia’s market,” said Khabib Abdul Aziz.

The Greenovation 2024 participants have to present their innovative ideas and defend their concepts before a panel of industry experts, academics, and Bank Indonesia representatives. Teams were required to demonstrate both the economic and environmental impact of their products, tackling detailed technical questions.

“Every team presented great ideas, making the competition extremely fierce. We worked hard to highlight the technical strengths and sustainability of our innovation,” said Khabib.
With this victory, Green Edge Lubricants opens the door to further product development and potential collaborations with industry partners. Their lubricant is expected to drive a significant impact on Indonesia’s metal industry while contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

The Greenovation 2024 competition underscored the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in developing impactful solutions. Green Edge Lubricants has proven that sustainability is not just a necessity but also an opportunity to build a more efficient, environmentally friendly future for industry.

Author: Soen Eliora Valerie Natania