Yogyakarta, 30 July 2024 – The series of activities for The 7th International Summer Course in Sustainable Development: Sustainable Bioprospecting of Tropical Biodiversity continues after the opening and lecture series which took place last Monday (29/7). The activity continued with a cultural trip and workshop which lasted from morning to evening.

At least 33 participants were enthusiastic about visiting the first destination, the Ngayogyakarta Sultanate Palace. Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat is the official palace of the sultanate located in the center of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The participants toured the palace area which consists of three parts; the front complex of the palace, the core complex and the rear complex of the palace. In this area, participants who come from various countries learn Javanese culture, especially Yogyakarta, which is still preserved today, starting from building architecture, royal systems, clothing, to ceremonies, and so on.

The second destination is the Sonobudoyo Museum, which is located in the same area as the Sultan Palace. Sonobuyono Museum is the museum with the most complete collection of Javanese artifacts in Indonesia, after the National Museum in Jakarta. The collection consists of ceramics from the Neolithic era, bronze crafts, a collection of wayang, keris and masks.

The journey continues to the Bantul area, DIY, to be precise at the Monggo Chocolate Museum and Factory, a premium local chocolate product that has been around for decades. The participants learned the techniques and processes for processing chocolate from beans to ready-to-eat chocolate products. Uniquely, Monggo Chocolate was founded by a Belgian citizen, Thierry, based on the lack of good quality chocolate products in Indonesia, even though Indonesia is a country that produces cocoa which is the main raw material for famous chocolates in Europe. This anxiety makes Monggo Chocolate one of Indonesia’s most popular chocolate products.

The participants then took part in a chocolate workshop at Cokelat Monggo. Each had the opportunity to make their own chocolate to take home. It is hoped that this workshop program and introduction to chocolate processing will provide new knowledge to participants regarding the bioprospection of cocoa fruit into processed chocolate with high economic value.

Yogyakarta, 2 August 2024 – The last day of the agenda for The 7th International Summer Course in Sustainable Development: Sustainable Bioprospecting of Tropical Biodiversity in 2024, participants toured one of the tourist villages in Yogyakarta, the Nglanggeran Tourism Village, Patuk, Gunung Kidul.

The agenda at Nglanggeran Tourism Village begins with a brief explanation regarding the tourist village. Nglanggeran Tourism Village is one of the Best Tourism Villages in the world level Tourism Village awards organized by the world tourism body UNWTO (United Nation World Tourism Organization) with the concept of CBT or Community Based Tourism. The main attraction of this tourist village is the existence of the Ancient Volcano, so besides carrying the concept of a community-based agricultural tourist village, the Nglanggeran Tourism Village is also a place for tourism and geological studies by experts. Nglanggeran itself is also one of the Geosites in the Gunung Sewu UNESCO Global Geopark area, which is included in the International Geopark network.

The participants then had the opportunity to learn one of the crafts made from coconut leaves or “janur”. Janur is a leaf that is commonly used as a craft in various ceremonies and celebrations in Indonesia, culinary delights such as ketupat or used in traditional games. This time, summer course participants learned to make keris crafts from janur. The keris itself is a typical Javanese weapon and this keris craft is widely used in traditional games and ceremonies. All participants were enthusiastic about folding and making these crafts.

The next agenda is to visit the cocoa plantation and cultivation area. The plantation area is a community-owned plantation that is integrated into the Nglanggeran Tourism Village tourism program so that participants learn directly about the cultivation and processing of cocoa fruit from local farmers who are members of the Nglanggeran Village POKDARWIS (Tourism Awareness Group). The participants were enthusiastic about listening to and seeing firsthand the cocoa cultivation process after previously visiting the chocolate factory at Cokelat Monggo last Tuesday (30/7).

After learning about cocoa cultivation, participants were invited to visit a goat farm managed by the local community. There, participants were invited to participate in feeding goats and learn directly about goat milking techniques. Participants then visited a factory that processes goat’s milk into powdered milk and other products such as soap and goat’s milk chips.

Ending the trip in Nglanggeran Village, the participants explored the Nglanggeran Embung, an artificial lake that functions as a rainwater reservoir and is used to irrigate plantations in the dry season.
The 7th International Summer Course in Sustainable Development: Sustainable Bioprospecting of Tropical Biodiversity ended with a closing, taking place at Rumah Makan Padiku. Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. expressed his appreciation to all participants and committees who have participated in a series of online and offline summer course activities. It is hoped that this activity will continue as an effort to expand networks in the international arena as well as various experiences and understanding in the world of biology.

Yogyakarta, 1 August 2024 – The 7th International Summer Course in Sustainable Development: Sustainable Bioprospecting of Tropical Biodiversity this year consists of various online and offline lecture series, workshops and cultural trips, as well as field studies. The ISC field study was held at Kukup Beach and Porok Beach, Gunung Kidul, DIY on Tuesday (1/7).

Kukup Beach is one of the famous beach destinations in the Gunung Kidul area, alongside several other beaches in the same area including Panjang Beach, Nglolang Beach and so on. Kukup Beach is a source of livelihood for the surrounding community who depend on marine products and tourism. Some of the products sold include processed shrimp, squid, fish, and antlion.

The participants enthusiastically explored the beach area. Divided into several groups, they went around to study marine bioprospecting products in the Kukup Beach area. Some of them conducted short interviews with the sellers there, and tasted processed products including fried antlion which some people are not too familiar with consuming.

The ISC agenda continued with exploring Porok Beach, which is one of the marine research stations managed by the UGM Faculty of Biology. Porok Beach is often used as a place for research and data collection for students to study marine ecosystems.

In the evening and into the evening, the participants enthusiastically took part in various simple games. Apart from familiarizing the participants, this also helped refresh their minds after the series of lectures and training on the previous ISC agenda. The evening closed by grilling sausages around the fire while sharing the fun experiences of the participants during this summer course.

Yogyakarta, 31 July 2024 – The lecture series on the agenda of The 7th International Summer Course in Sustainable Development: Sustainable Bioprospecting of Tropical Biodiversity continues. The next lecture raised topics related to insect bioprospecting with speakers Sukirno, Ph.D., lecturer at the Entomology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology UGM, and Prof Said Ali El Salamouny, a professor in the field of entomology, especially insect viruses at Cairo University, Egypt. The lecture panel was moderated by a lecturer from the Animal Systematics Laboratory in the Parasitology section of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Dila Hening Windyaraini, S.Sc., M.Sc.

Mr. Kirno delivered his presentation regarding insect bioprospecting. On that occasion, he also brought processed insect products in the form of fried grasshoppers and fried cocoons. Both foods, which were less commonly heard of, were tried by the participants. Some of them admitted that the taste was similar to shrimp, saying that insects could be a source of protein, like marine crustaceans such as shrimp.

Continuing the presentation regarding insect bioprospection by Pak Kirno, Prof. Said then delivered his presentation on entomology, especially related to agriculture and plant protection in the Middle East, especially Egypt. He provided new understanding, especially the differences in agriculture in Egypt compared to tropical countries like Indonesia.

The Summer Course agenda continues with a mushroom cultivation workshop at JeJamuran, a restaurant in Jogja which is famous for its culinary delights from various types of mushrooms. The workshop location is in the JeJamuran agrotourism area, not far from the main restaurant. Participants were introduced to various types of mushrooms, how to cultivate them and learned about the right environmental conditions for mushroom growth. As souvenirs, workshop participants can also take-home mushroom planting media that they can grow themselves at home.

Through this series of summer course agendas, it is hoped that it can broaden the participants’ insight, especially regarding the potential for bioprospecting resources which are not limited to certain plants, but also things that are not commonly developed in bioprospecting studies such as insects and fungi.

Yogyakarta, 29 July 2024 – The 7th International Summer Course in Sustainable Development: Sustainable Bioprospecting of Tropical Biodiversity is officially opened. This annual event organized by the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, started its offline agenda after opening its online session Monday (15/7) which was followed by a series of guest lectures from various experts from around the world.

At least 33 offline participants took part in the opening of the International Summer Course (ISC), located in the Seminar Room, Library and Archives Building, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The participants consisted of 27 international students and 6 local students. Coupled with online participants, this year ISC succeeded in attracting 58 participants from 14 countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, India and Egypt.

“Let’s leverage our collective wisdom to foster biodiversity for a greener, more resilient world,” said Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Faculty of Biology UGM in his speech, Monday (29/7).

Ir. Wiratni, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. as Secretary of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and Relations at UGM then delivered her remarks. She expressed her welcome and appreciation for the arrival of participants from various countries to take part in the summer course this time. ISC was officially opened by awarding pins and hats to two participant representatives by Dr. Eko and Dr. Wiratni, followed by a Kalimantan traditional dance performance by postgraduate students from the Faculty of Biology UGM.

The next series of offline lectures was held after the opening of ISC on Monday morning, presenting speakers from various countries. The lecture series began with the first panel presentation by Dr. Siti Fatimah from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, and Dr. Alona Linatoc from the University of the Philippines Los Banos, moderated by Ludmilla Fitri Utari M.Si.. The two panelists delivered material on the topic of ethnobotany, highlighting the interaction and role of the ecosystem environment and humans in it. Ethnobotany emphasizes the various cultures of various regions and how the people in them use local plants and their ecosystems (SDG 15).

The second panel presented two panelists from the Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Germany, Dr. Ahmed El Wahed and Prof. Uwe Truyen with moderator Dr. Abdul Rahman Siregar. Both delivered material related to maintaining biodiversity for sustainable health “One Health”. Both touched on The One Health Joint Plan of Action through collaboration involving various parties, researchers from various parts of the world to alleviate world health problems (SDG 3).

The next panel related to natural products and bioprospecting was presented by Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas from the Faculty of Biology UGM, and Dr. Nor Ismaliza from Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Malaysia, moderated by Woro Anindito Sri Tunjung, Ph.D. Dr. Nuning and Dr. Nor delivered an interactive presentation regarding the use of various natural materials into products with potential economic value (SDG 15 and 8).

The final panel, entitled Genetic Bioresource, was delivered by Konsorn Srikulnath, Ph.D. from Kasetsart University, Thailand, moderated by Dr. Aprilia Sufi Subiastuti. He explained about the research unit at his institution “Animal Genomic and Bioresource Research Unit” (AGB Research Unit) which focuses on studying animal genomics including bulls (genetic monitoring), chickens (increasing gene varieties), fish and crocodiles (SDG 14 and 15).

All participants were enthusiastic in attending the series of openings and lectures. The activities will be continued with cultural trips and field lectures with various interesting destinations related to the big theme of this year’s summer course, bioprospection. The 7th International Summer Course in Sustainable Development is expected to become a forum for collaboration between students, lecturers and researchers, and become a discussion forum for increasing the potential for sustainable education and research (SDG 4 and 17).

Yogyakarta, 26 July 2024 – The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada received a visit from Dr. Agus Salim, S.Ag., M.Sc. from the State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta regarding consultations and hearings at the Center for Research and Development of Bio Maritime Border Territory and 3T Region of RI (CRDB2T3). Taking place in the KPTU Meeting Room, Faculty of Biology UGM, the visit was received by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Abdul Razaq Chasani, Ph.D. as Head of the Department of Tropical Biology, Sukirno, M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, Emi Dwi Suryanti, S.Si., M.Sc. as Coordinator of Academic and Student Affairs, as well as lecturers at the Faculty of Biology including Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, M.S., Ph.D. and Dra. Mulyati, M.Sc.

Dr. Agus said the visit was for consultations and hearings on the establishment of the Center for Research and Development of Bio Maritime Border Territory and 3T Region of RI (CRDB2T3). The study center which focuses on maritime management research will involve the collaboration of researchers from various higher education institutions, research bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and so on, including lecturers at the Faculty of Biology UGM, Abdul Razaq Chasani, Ph.D. which has a research focus related to macroalgae.

**Jakarta, July 1-5, 2024** – Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, a lecturer from the Biology Department of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), has been invited to serve as a judge at the National Science Olympiad for Elementary and Middle School Levels (OSN-P). The event, organized by the Indonesian Talent Development Center, National Achievement Center, Secretariat General, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, took place from July 1 to July 5, 2024.

The National Science Olympiad at the provincial level (OSN-P) for elementary (SD/MI) and middle school (SMP/MTs) students was conducted using the Computer-Based National Assessment (ANBK) application. This innovative approach ensures a fair and efficient evaluation process, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of promoting quality basic education and fostering development.

Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono was among the 50 judges from various universities and institutions across Indonesia. His expertise in biology and commitment to educational development made him a valuable addition to the judging panel. The judges were tasked with evaluating the performances of 2,061 participants, a challenging yet rewarding responsibility.

The OSN-P aims to identify and nurture young talents in science, providing them with opportunities to excel and contribute to the nation’s development. By involving experts like Dr. Priyono, the event ensures that the assessment process is rigorous and credible, promoting a culture of excellence in basic education.

Throughout the five-day event, participants demonstrated their knowledge and skills in various scientific disciplines. The use of the ANBK application facilitated a smooth and transparent evaluation process, allowing judges to focus on the participants’ performance without technical hindrances.

Dr. Priyono expressed his enthusiasm for being part of the OSN-P, highlighting the importance of such events in inspiring young minds. “It’s an honor to contribute to the development of our future scientists. These young talents are the backbone of our nation’s progress,” he said.

The involvement of university lecturers and professionals in the judging process underscores the commitment to maintaining high standards in educational assessments. This collaboration between educational institutions and the government is crucial for achieving the SDGs related to quality education and sustainable development.

The OSN-P not only provides a platform for students to showcase their abilities but also encourages them to pursue careers in science and technology. This aligns with the broader goal of fostering innovation and development in Indonesia.

As the event concluded, the organizers expressed their gratitude to all judges, participants, and supporting institutions. The success of the OSN-P is a testament to the collective effort in promoting quality education and nurturing the next generation of scientists.

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.

In order to strengthen collaboration and the sustainability of community service programs with partner villages, the PkM-MBKM team, led by Prof. Dr. Diah Rachmawati, S.Si., M.Si., along with Hanif Fauzan Saputra, Salma Nur Majidah, Maharani Pratiwi S.A., M. Reza Hendriansah, Rima Vegi Santika, Eka Nur Oktavia, Adzkiya Aqmaliza R., and Agra Daffa Putra, conducted a socialization activity for the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program in Kepuh Wetan, Wirokerten Village, Banguntapan Subdistrict, Bantul Regency, DIY on Thursday, 20th of June 2024, from 16:00 to 17:30. This activity was attended by members of the Amanda Women’s Farmer Group (KWT) and aimed to provide in-depth understanding and practical skills directly to the community, particularly KWT Amanda, in managing and decomposing organic waste using maggots integrated with an aquaponic system for sustainable environments.

The event was hosted by Agra Daffa as the MC, starting with an opening and followed by a speech from Prof. Dr. Diah Rachmawati, S.Si., M.Si. The subsequent activity was a general presentation on the necessary tools and materials, as well as the technical aspects of maggot waste decomposition integrated with the aquaponic system, including system installation and maintenance by M. Reza Hendriansah and Salma Nur Majidah.

The hands-on learning session was conducted in the greenhouse, beginning with the installation of the maggot waste decomposition system using used mineral water gallons that had been perforated and then planted in the ground. The gallons were first filled with organic waste and then given an adequate number of maggots before being sealed to prevent the maggots from escaping. Meanwhile, the aquaponic system used a large bucket that had been perforated and filled with water and catfish fry. These perforations were then filled with spinach and pak choy seeds that had been germinated in cups. This direct learning session attracted enthusiasm from the participants who were keen to learn more about waste management using maggots integrated with the aquaponic system. Maharani Pratiwi S.A. explained that the maintenance of maggot waste decomposition involves adding organic waste when the previous waste has been fully decomposed, and selecting waste types that are not too large and hard to avoid overwhelming the maggots. Additionally, the maintenance of the aquaponic system involves feeding the fish twice a day and changing the water every two weeks or when the water starts to smell bad.

To support the sustainability and success of this activity, weekly monitoring will be conducted. Mrs. Marwati from KWT Amanda expressed her hope for continued guidance and direction from Prof. Dr. Diah Rachmawati, S.Si., M.Si., and the students in maintaining and sustaining the program. It is hoped that this will support the empowerment of KWT Amanda in entrepreneurship and contribute to the improvement of the community’s economy, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 4 and 8). This activity also served as a means to build rapport between the community Kepuh Wetan and the PkM-MBKM team from the Faculty of Biology UGM, strengthening relationships and collaboration for a more sustainable future (SDG 17).

[MBKM] – Yogyakarta, May 29, 2024 – The Independent Learning Independent Campus (MBKM) Research Team Faculty of Biology 2024, led by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr. Sc., titled “Genetic Stability Analysis and Viability Identification of Indonesian Local Melon Seeds,”visited PT. Raja Pilar Agrotama, also known as Rajaseed. The visit was attended by Maximus Jonathan Salim, Rafferty Reyhan, Laksita Chesarina, Haris Dwi Nugroho, and Ihsanti Tsania Fajriati, along with their supervisor, Dian Sartika, M.Sc. The visit aimed to provide the MBKM research team insights into seed production procedures and quality control (QC) at PT. Raja Pilar Agrotama.

The session began with introductions and a welcome from Mr. Warsito Nurtiyasno, Head of Research and Development and representative of PT. Raja Pilar Agrotama. He explained the company profile of PT. Raja Pilar Agrotama. Next, he provided fundamental education on seed production and QC. He emphasized the importance of partnerships between seed producers and farmers to ensure sustainable production. Mr. Warsito explained that viable seeds must undergo a series of processes, such as extraction, cleaning, moisture reduction, sorting, and storage. He highlighted key quality parameters such as seed moisture content, purity percentage, and germination capacity. A lively question and answer session covered seed identification methods and optimal environmental conditions for seed storage. The session concluded with documentation.

This visit is expected to equip the MBKM Research Team with valuable knowledge and enhance collaboration with PT. Raja Pilar Agrotama. Moreover, the MBKM Research activities contribute to achieving IKU 2 (Off-Campus MBKM) for the Faculty of Biology UGM and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including goals such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Partnership for the Goals.