[Yogyakarta, 16 May 2025] – Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially launched Lustrum XIV celebration alongside the commemoration of its 70th Anniversary. The opening was enlivened by a Fun Walk, enthusiastically participated in by lecturers, administrative staff, members of the Biology chapter of the Dharma Wanita Persatuan, and student representatives—all of whom are integral parts of the Faculty’s long and meaningful journey. Carrying the theme “Biology for Environment and Humanity,” the celebration marks the beginning of a series of events for the 2025 Lustrum XIV. This activity aims not only to celebrate the Faculty’s achievements but also to foster unity and optimism as it looks toward the future with renewed spirit.

The event began with an energetic morning aerobics session led by a professional instructor, joyfully joined by all participants. In this meaningful moment, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, delivered an opening speech. He expressed gratitude for the Faculty’s outstanding accomplishments over the past 70 years, while also inspiring all participants with a forward-looking vision to continue advancing the field of biology and contributing to society and the nation. The opening prayer was then led by Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, S.Si., M.S., Ph.D., invoking blessings and success for the entire Lustrum XIV series, and for the continued prosperity of the Faculty of Biology UGM community.

The symbolic opening of Lustrum XIV was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by Dean, Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc. (Chair of the Academic Senate), Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Chair of the 2025 Lustrum XIV Committee), and Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, S.Si., M.Si. (Chair of the Opening Ceremony). This symbolic act represented more than a formal gesture—it signified the start of a new chapter in the Faculty’s history, full of innovation and dedication. The ribbon cutting was followed by the Fun Walk, which took place around the UGM campus area. This moment of togetherness was captured with a group photo in front of Balairung UGM. After the joyful walk, participants enjoyed a relaxed and friendly atmosphere over delicious refreshments, creating a warm and lively gathering. The festivity continued with live musical performances by the Dean, faculty members, and staff, enriching the sense of unity and celebration. This opening event of Lustrum XIV also reflects the Faculty’s active contribution to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): by encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle, improving participants’ physical and mental health, and promoting awareness of the importance of physical activity in daily life; SDG 4 (Quality Education): as part of a higher education institution, the event reinforces educational values and builds a strong sense of academic community; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): through collaboration among the academic community, alumni, partners, and the broader public, the Faculty demonstrates its commitment to advancing shared goals, including sustainable development. As a joyful finale to the event, a door prize drawing session was held—one of the most anticipated parts of the day. Cheers and laughter erupted with each number called, adding excitement and delightful surprises for the participants. Let us continue to nurture life with freshness and vitality, providing space to grow and innovate—Biology for Environment and Humanity.

This event supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

SDG 4: Quality Education, by facilitating knowledge exchange with international experts.

SDG 14: Life Below Water, through awareness and education on marine biodiversity protection.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by fostering international academic collaborations.

On Friday, 25th of April 2025 at 1-2 PM, Gentalk 5 was held in the Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Biology UGM. This program is targeted for all Formasigen members and Biology UGM students in general. Mrs. Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., as Formasigen’s supervisor lecturer, also attended this program. Gentalk is an active discussion and sharing session between alumni or senior student and Formasigen’s member about the undergraduate thesis they are working on. In this Gentalk edition, the speakers are Jessica Desviana and Naely Muna Camelia, Faculty of Biology UGM students batch 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Dra. Tuty Arisuryanti, M.Sc., Ph.D for their undergraduate thesis.

This program started with an opening from the Master of Ceremony, Kotimah, as a part of the Public Relation Division of HomeoGenesis Cabinet, followed by an opening speech by Mrs. Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. as the supervisor lecturer of Formasigen. The next activity is a presentation about “ Genetic Variation of Tadpole Using 16s rRNA Mitochondrial Gene”. In this session, she shares about identification methods and genetic variation analysis of several frogs and toads’ tadpole using 16s rRNA mitochondrial gene. After that, is the Q&A session followed by closing from the master of ceremony. Through Gentalk, we hoped that this could be a good start to create a vessel for an interesting and beneficial discussion. We also hope that this program can give a better understanding about all the research done by all the lecturers and their students in the Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Biologi UGM. This research also hoped to help actualize the 15th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that is Life On Land.
[Author: Formasigen]

On Sunday, April 26, 2025, from 09.00 to 12.00 WIB, the 1st National Mini Workshop themed “Constructing a Phylogenetic Tree” was successfully held online and open to the public. The event was attended by Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., Head of the Genetics and Plant Breeding Laboratory and academic advisor of FORMASIGEN. This workshop served as a platform to share knowledge on genetics and provided practical training on various methods for constructing phylogenetic trees. The session featured speakers Muhammad Fatih, S.Si., Muhammad Ariq Alfito, S.Si., and Muhammad Sena Budiman, S.Si., all of whom are recent graduates of the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Class of 2021, with total 11 participants.

The event began with an opening by the MC, Husna ‘Ainun Rahmawati, followed by welcoming remarks from the Head of the Laboratory and FORMASIGEN Advisor, as well as from the Workshop Coordinator, Muhammad Syahrul Firdaus. The workshop included presentations and demonstrations on the use of software tools for phylogenetic tree construction. Specifically, the trees were built using the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. Participants also engaged in a hands-on session, where they practiced constructing phylogenetic trees under the direct guidance of the speakers. The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session with the audience. This Mini Workshop was organized in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). As the first Mini Workshop held this year, it is hoped to mark a positive beginning, fostering meaningful discussions and collaborations among genetics researchers.