The event aimed to connect academics, industry partners, and government stakeholders to discuss global climate change mitigation strategies.

Dean of the UGM Faculty of Biology (Biology UGM), Professor Budi S. Daryono, told journalists on Sunday (Aug. 11) that the meeting addressed the roles of academia and industry in tackling climate change and global warming. 

The consensus was that effective collaboration and synergy between academics and industry are essential. 

“We hope to establish effective communication between campuses, industry partners, and policymakers. The second goal is to follow up with collaboration on the primary issue of global climate change,” said Professor Daryono.

The contributions from both sides are expected to help reduce or even prevent the impacts of global climate change. 

“These contributions will benefit Indonesia and the world,” added Professor Daryono.

The Rector of Universitas Prasetiya Mulya, Professor Djisman S. Simandjuntak, welcomed the business meeting to continue the memorandum of understanding signed between UGM and Universitas Prasetiya Mulya at UGM.

Professor Simandjuntak hopes the event will translate biological research into scientific business collaborations. 

“We are committed to supporting the successful conversion of scientific knowledge into business that benefits the nation,” he said.

The coordinator of the President’s Special Staff and Secretary General of PP Kagama, Dr. Anak Agung Gde Ngurah Ari Dwipayana, described the business gathering as an effort to bring research findings to the industry. 

“Nationally, our industries must be supported by knowledge and innovations produced by higher education institutions,” he stated.

Professor Puji Astuti, UGM Director of Partnerships and Global Relations, noted that the business meeting aims to strengthen climate change mitigation collaborations and enhance the university’s reputation. 

“The quality of higher education is determined not only by academic and research quality but also by the quality of its graduates. Graduate employability will determine how well higher education graduates integrate into the workforce,” Professor Astuti explained.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Post-editor: Afif

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This mangrove planting initiative aims to prevent coastal abrasion and erosion while preserving the marine ecosystem in Derawan waters. The UGM KKN students also carried out a beach clean-up activity in collaboration with the local community and various stakeholders.

Devina Asria, the Coordinator of the UGM Derawan Menawan team, stated that this mangrove planting activity is part of the students’ environmental awareness program through mangrove conservation. 

“What we are doing here can inspire other regions to develop community-based and sustainable tourism conservation programs,” said Asria in a statement sent to reporters on Monday (Aug. 5).

According to Asria, the mangrove planting was conducted to commemorate World Mangrove Day, with the theme “Collaboration in Harmony, Inspiring Sustainability, Thriving Mangroves.” 

The celebration of World Mangrove Day involved cooperation with several parties, including the Semanting Bay Mangrove Management Team (TPM), Kagama Baru, KPHP West Berau, students from Mulawarman University, and the local community in Semanting Bay Village, along with several other entities.

Two hundred sixty-seven mangrove seedlings were planted and donated by KPHP West Berau to the Semanting Bay Village Government as part of their commitment to mangrove conservation. 

Asria noted that the planting was possible through collaboration between Kagama Berau, PT. Berau Coal, and KPHP West Berau. 

“Collaboration with various parties can foster synergy and cooperation in preserving the mangroves on Derawan Island,” she explained.

In addition to planting mangrove seedlings, the KKN students also screened a documentary film discussing the history and philosophy of Semanting Bay Mangrove Ecotourism, along with exciting information and facts about Mangrove Ecotourism. 

The event was enlivened by performances from local Berau musicians such as Risalah Band and Zaiky, who played the Sape instrument, and painting and drawing competitions for children in Semanting Bay Village.

The Head of Semanting Bay Village, Abdul Gani, welcomed the mangrove conservation program in his area, as it helps foster a commitment among the younger generation in his village to preserve the existing mangrove forests. 

“They can safeguard the mangrove ecosystem across the nation for a better future, as mangroves have countless benefits for the sustainability of the natural environment in our archipelago,” Gani concluded.

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Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Artikel UGM Students Conduct Mangrove Conservation on Derawan Island, East Kalimantan pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The game was created by three students from the 2022 Economics program—Alda Zahra Zhafira, Maudy Nashira Fuadi, and Ayu Lintang Ramadhiani—who collaborated with Nada Avia Edwina from the 2022 Veterinary Technology program and Faturrahman Al Ramadhani from the 2022 Cartography and Remote Sensing program. 

The Ministry of Education funded their project, part of the 2024 Student Creativity Program in Entrepreneurship (PKM-K) at UGM.

Alda Zhafira, the lead developer of Dalang Board, explained that the idea for the educational game stemmed from their concern about the plastic waste problem in Indonesia, including in Yogyakarta. Plastic waste is a critical issue due to its non-biodegradable nature, which poses health and environmental risks if not managed properly. 

“The excessive use of plastic waste results from the lack of public awareness and education about plastic waste. Therefore, we believe that simple education about the non-degradable nature of plastic is necessary for both adults and children,” she said on Tuesday (Jul. 9) at FEB UGM.

Zhafira emphasized that educating children should involve natural approaches, such as through play. By using games containing detailed information and knowledge about waste, it is hoped that children will understand waste’s nature, dangers, and benefits. 

The educational game uses recycled plastic waste to enhance investment value and realistic education regarding plastic waste management. 

“We hope Dalang Board can serve as an innovative tool to raise environmental awareness and waste management among children,” she explained.

Dalang Board is designed as a Monopoly-style game featuring general knowledge about waste, including different types of garbage. It educates about the importance of waste management and is made from recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), supporting environmental sustainability. In contrast, typical board games are made from new plastic materials like polystyrene.

The Dalang Board includes a game board, player tokens, and educational question cards about the environment. The supplementary components are made from eco-friendly materials, including wood and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. 

Thus, the Dalang Board communicates environmental messages and takes concrete steps to address global issues such as plastic waste.

“Dalang Board also incorporates Augmented Reality (AR) features to enhance interactive and enjoyable learning while supporting waste management efforts,” Zhafira noted.

Maudy Fuadi added that the Dalang Board is an interactive educational tool to increase children’s awareness of plastic waste issues. 

“The educational game is now available on marketplaces like Shopee and Tokopedia and can be ordered through Instagram @pkmk_dalangboard,” she said.

Fuadi also mentioned that one mangrove seedling will be planted for every two Dalang Boards sold. This initiative demonstrates their commitment to environmental conservation.

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The student team, part of the Student Creativity Program in Entrepreneurship (PKMK), consists of Mohammad Ridwan from the Civil and Environmental Engineering program, Yohanes Mario Putra Bagus from the Physics Engineering program, Shafa Zahra Aulia from the Chemistry program, Ratri Dwiyanti from the Accounting program, and Rakha Faiq Muyassar from the Industrial Engineering program.

In his presentation to reporters on Monday (Jul. 8), Yohanes Mario Putra Bagus, commonly known as Mario, stated that their brick innovation originated from the problem of plastic waste, which is difficult for society to manage, mainly because it decomposes very slowly in nature. 

“Our country is the second-largest contributor of plastic waste in the world, and this waste is hard to decompose, thus requiring proper handling,” said Mario.

Furthermore, the team specifically chose used oil as one of the wastes needing attention, as it has been primarily used only as a termite repellent. Meanwhile, rice husk ash is known to contain silica, which can improve the quality of bricks. 

“We process these three materials to enhance the quality of the bricks we make,” said Mario.

Shafa Zahra Aulia added that rice husk ash contains more than 90 percent silica, which not only improves the durability of bricks to prevent cracking but also absorbs heavy metals from used oil. 

“This silica compound can absorb heavy metals from the oil to keep it safe,” she explained.

Additionally, Rakha Faiq Muyassar mentioned that the bricks they produce can minimize the impact of earthquakes. 

“The design is shaped with a lateral style to minimize earthquake damage and resist cracking and breaking,” he said.

Ratri Dwiyanti explained that this PKMK innovation also involves selling the product to the public. Before selling, they conducted in-depth research regarding the standard durability and strength of the bricks. Each brick is sold at 5,300 rupiahs, and they produce around 120 bricks daily. 

“We sell each brick for 5,300 rupiahs, and we are currently promoting and selling them to property agents and building material stores,” she said.

Regarding the composition of the three materials for producing one brick, Mario mentioned they use a ratio of 1 part cement to 6 parts sand, with 25 percent cut plastic waste, 10 percent rice husk ash, and 1-3 percent used oil.

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Collective efforts from various parties are required to achieve this ambitious target. One approach that can be taken in calculating the total greenhouse gas emissions produced (carbon footprint) and offsetting these emissions by supporting projects that reduce emissions elsewhere (carbon offsetting).

Driven by this concern, the UGM KKN-PPM team in Banggai Islands collaborated with Jejakin, Vontripo, and the Executive Student Board of the UGM Faculty of Forestry (Forestry UGM) to hold a talk show titled “Offsetting Travel Carbon Footprint: Developing Sustainable Tourism,” focusing on applying the concepts of carbon footprint and carbon offset in the KKN-PPM program. 

The event, held at Forestry UGM last June, was conducted offline and online and featured experts in the field of carbon, such as Dr. Hendrie Adji Kusworo, Head of the Doctoral Program in Tourism Studies at the UGM Graduate School and member of the Indonesia Sustainable Tourism Council (ISTC), Dr. Ris Hadi Purwanto, lecturer at Forestry UGM, and Fakhri Syahrullah from Jejakin.

In his speech, Dr. Sigit Sunarta, Dean of Forestry UGM, revealed that the carbon footprint and carbon offsetting campaign should become the framework for KKN programs aimed at raising community awareness about carbon footprints and encouraging active participation in GHG emission reduction efforts. 

“Collective efforts from many parties worldwide, including UGM KKN-PPM students, are essential to addressing climate change issues,” he said.

Regarding volunteer tourism (voluntourism) with KKN-PPM UGM activities, Dr. Kusworo explained that the relationship between KKN students and tourism has successfully realized sustainable tourism potential. 

“This is related to the systematic framework of Sustainable Tourism Indonesia (STI) up to the introduction of the Sustainable Tourism Observatory (STO), for example, in Pancoh Tourism Village, Sleman, and the STO amplification that has been running in Magelang in July 2022 and Banggai Islands in 2018,” explained Dr. Kusworo.

Dr. Ris Hadi Purwanto explained this differently through visual depictions of carbon in the atmosphere in 2003, 2008, and 2013 while introducing three biomass calculation methods in plants to apply the carbon footprint concept. 

“The presence of potential gases in greenhouse gases produced from various sectors requires more attention from national and international communities,” said Dr. Purwanto. 

In line with him, Fakhri Syahrullah from Jejakin stated that Jejakin is very open to collaboration in developing solutions to environmental problems worldwide through several technologies they have developed, named Carbon Atlas, Carbon Space, and Carbon IQ.

At the end of the session, the UGM Banggai Islands KKN-PPM students presented a carbon footprint projection using an application guided by Jejakin. 

They practiced the carbon footprint calculation process and the offsetting program that the group would carry out, including the number of plants expected to absorb the carbon produced from transportation activities. 

Through KKN-PPM, it is hoped that synergy will be established between UGM, relevant stakeholders, and the community to realize a shared commitment to implementing the NDC and NZE concepts in Indonesia, thereby contributing to achieving Indonesia’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.

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Editor: Triya Andriyani

Artikel UGM KKN-PPM Team in Banggai Islands Holds Talk Show on Carbon Footprint pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Additionally, microalgae can easily survive in polluted areas, extreme temperatures, and even toxic air. This potential makes them an intriguing subject for further research to address global climate change. 

Seizing this opportunity, UGM has successfully developed the Microforest 100 technology based on microalgae to contribute to the Net Zero Carbon commitment.

This technology was initiated by Professor Arief Budiman of Chemical Engineering at the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) and Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, a lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Biology (Biology UGM). 

Both are researchers at the UGM Center for Excellence in Science and Technology for Microalgae Biorefinery, which created this technology with the support of matching funds from the Directorate General of Higher Education through the Kedaireka platform in the 2022 fiscal year.

The two researchers designed the Algaetree prototype, a decarbonization technology to tackle CO2 production in the open air. Thanks to collaboration with the startup PT Algatech Nusantara, the prototype was successfully developed into a product called Microforest 100. 

Microforest 100 was installed on Monday (Jun. 17) at the Syeikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo. During the launch session, Rangga Wishesa, CEO of Algatech Nusantara, explained how it works.

“The two-meter-high installation functions to absorb carbon in the air using photobioreactor technology,” Wishesa stated in a release sent on Thursday (Jun. 26).

Wishesa also mentioned that PT Algatech Nusantara was pleased to collaborate in developing the UGM researchers’ prototype. The startup helped add several complementary features, such as design development, fabrication, and the addition of cultivation condition sensors to ensure Microforest operates at its best.

According to him, the system within Microforest 100 will absorb a significant amount of carbon dioxide, equivalent to five mature trees about 15 years old. This is based on the capability of microalgae, which can absorb 30-50 times more carbon dioxide than current terrestrial plants.

The initial placement of Microforest 100 at the Syeikh Zayed Grand Mosque is deemed suitable due to the mosque’s high visitor traffic. The device is placed in an open area to absorb CO2 produced by visitors. 

Dr. Munajat, Director of the Syeikh Zayed Grand Mosque, stated that mosques can be one of the crowded public facilities that generate significant carbon emissions. The Syeikh Zayed Mosque itself can receive tens of thousands of visitors daily. 

“The launch of Microforest 100 also monitors how well the machine can sustain carbon absorption for further development,” he said.

UGM researchers, the Syeikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s Director, PT Algatech’s management representatives, and the Deputy Mayor of Surakarta, Teguh Prakosa, attended Microforest 100’s launch session. 

Additionally, representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were present to observe the first implementation of Microforest 100 in an Indonesian mosque. 

If proven effective in absorbing large amounts of carbon, Microforest 100 will be further developed for placement in other places of worship, such as the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.

According to researcher Dr. Suyono, microalgae still have the potential to be developed into other processed products, such as bioenergy fuels. He hopes this potential can be further explored for the benefit of the wider community. 

“In this way, carbon emission reduction can occur massively to address climate change,” he concluded.

Author: Tasya

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

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In commemoration of World Environment Day, the Faculty of Geography at UGM (Geography UGM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), held a workshop on the topic “Fair Climate Change Management (Climate Justice) in Indonesia.” 

This topic was chosen to increase student awareness and understanding of climate justice and to encourage active student participation in seeking sustainable and inclusive solutions. 

The event, held on Thursday (Jun. 20), occurred at the Merapi Auditorium, Faculty of Geography. Laksmi Dhewanhi, Director General of Climate Change Control at KLHK, was the keynote speaker.

The workshop was conducted in a forum dialogue format with two panels and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) among participants and speakers. It was attended by various elements such as students from UGM, UNY, and other universities, agencies under the KLHK, NGOs, and community groups. 

Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, Dean of Geography UGM, stated that the climate crisis has raised global collective awareness among countries, including Indonesia, to address climate change and its impacts. 

“One of the challenges in climate change mitigation and adaptation is how the country can achieve fair climate change management and provide proportional priority to vulnerable groups directly affected by climate change,” he said in his opening remarks.

Addressing the same issue, Laksmi Dhewanhi mentioned that Indonesia experiences many natural disasters as a country vulnerable to climate change, thus requiring the best approaches to sustainable climate justice. 

“The role of stakeholders, including academics, is crucial in the success of programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for climate control through concrete efforts. Therefore, a fair approach is needed in addressing the climate crisis, focusing not only on mitigation and adaptation but also ensuring that everyone receives equal protection and benefits,” she emphasized.

The workshop began with a Panel 1 forum dialogue featuring three main speakers: Professor Makarim Wibisono (Indonesian Diplomat), Dr. Mas Achmad Santosa (CEO of Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI)), and Laksmi Wijayanti (Inspector General of KLHK). 

Panel 2 forum dialogue included three main speakers: Bella Nathania (Head of the Climate Justice and Environmental Governance Division at the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL)), Dr. Emilya Nurjani (lecturer in the Department of Environmental Geography, Geography UGM), and M. Akbar Ramadhan (Green Leadership Indonesia). 

The workshop concluded with FGDs among participants, divided into five small groups. The FGD started with identifying the most concerning climate change issue and its sources. Each group described the most responsible for the problem and the most disadvantaged. Subsequently, each group discussed what actions should be taken to ensure justice for those most affected.

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For instance, global cereal production is projected to decrease by one percent by 2050, while the world’s population is expected to increase by one percent over the same period.

Dr. Bayu Dwi Apri Nugroho, an expert and researcher in agriculture, agrometeorology, environmental science, and climate change, is concerned about this condition. He believes that it has the potential to cause food insecurity soon.

“Food security is one of the strategic issues in national development, especially for a developing country like Indonesia with a large population,” he said at the UGM Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM) Wednesday (Jun. 19).

According to Dr. Nugroho, attention to food security is necessary because it is closely related to social resilience, economic stability, political stability, security, and national resilience. 

Food availability must be built through increased domestic production capacity, improved food reserve management, and food distribution to bridge the gap between regions regarding production and needs.

For him, food issues are not only about economic problems but also political ones. The Indonesian people highly value national independence, including in the food sector.

One of the critical aspects of building food security is the availability of sufficient quantity and variety. Food reserves are a supply source that bridges the gap between domestic and regional production and needs.

“With such a function, food reserves must certainly be measurable, meaning their quantity must be known to facilitate planning and implementing food problem-solving programs,” he explained.

Dr. Nugroho emphasized that one aspect of achieving this is the availability of community food reserves and their ability to utilize existing food sources. The presence of food barns as community food reserve institutions has played a significant role in overcoming community food insecurity.

Area-based food barns are one activity that can be carried out by forming fostered farmers or area-based farmer groups in a village equipped with technology and intensive assistance from upstream to downstream.

One of the latest technological innovations related to the agricultural sector is the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. 

“This agriculture concept uses drones and sensor technology for soil and weather to analyze soil conditions such as temperature, pH, nutrient content, air temperature, humidity, and wind direction to provide accurate recommendations to farmers to avoid crop failure and maintain or even increase productivity,” he explained.

Due to the impact of climate change, which causes highly fluctuating, dynamic, and unpredictable weather, Dr. Nugroho mentioned that it is currently necessary to have fast and accurate information about environmental conditions in the field. He said technology is one of the pillars of the area-based food barn concept.

Dr. Nugroho explained that the integrated farming system in the area already has its stakeholders in the food barn, including suppliers of agricultural inputs as providers of inputs with products agreed upon in the food barn, banks, farming insurance, and technology providers that can be utilized by farmers, both in the field and post-harvest, including digital technology for selling farmers’ products.

Additionally, there are guarantees for the sustainability of food barns, which can be provided by the ministry or provincial government, facilitators, such as the local agriculture office, off-takers, as guarantees that farmers’ harvests can be fully absorbed in reasonable prices, and the farmers or farmer groups themselves as implementers within the food barn.

“Agricultural solutions will become real if we implement them comprehensively and integratively from upstream to downstream based on areas and with collaboration between the government, private sector, universities, and farmers as actors in the agricultural ecosystem. The presence of area-based food barns will ensure self-sufficiency and availability for the Indonesian people,” Dr. Nugroho concluded.

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Artikel Expert Proposes Area-Based Food Barns to Combat Food Insecurity pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

“Pramuka UGM recognizes that students play a significant role in innovating and taking real actions on waste issues. LokaLogi is formed not just as a community but also as a platform for other communities to solve waste management problems,” said Yudhistira Wiranusa Sumantri, the head of the LokaLogi community, in a statement sent to reporters on Tuesday (Jun 11).

He explained that LokaLogi’s main activities are to campaign and provide the community with waste management solutions, such as reuse and recycling, to delay waste accumulation and improve waste management practices.

In addition, the community opens cooperation and active collaboration with other organizations in campaigns on waste and environmental issues. He mentioned that the values implemented in the organization are pretty simple.

Sumantri explained that LokaLogi community members would be involved in at least three areas: storytelling from internal practices and providing event waste management services at UGM and for scouting activities. Lastly, LokaLogi serves as a media channel for education on issues and outreach for collaboration. 

“Waste management practices are designed to be as simple as possible so that anyone, including the community, can easily understand them. Eventually, this community becomes a platform for students to respond to waste issues,” he said.

The launch of the LokaLogi community on Wednesday, May 5, at the UGM Central Office was attended by the Head of the Organization, Facilities, and Student Welfare Subdirectorate, UGM Directorate of Student Affairs, Desi Yulianti.

The event also saw the presence and welcoming remarks from scouting officials from Yogyakarta as well as NGO World Clean Up Day (WCD) Yogyakarta, Trash Hero Yogyakarta, the Indonesian Circular Economy Consortium (KESI), and Arsitek Komunitas (Arkom) Indonesia.

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The saplings include 2,000 mangrove plants and 500 casuarina plants to prevent coastal abrasion and erosion.

Rakha Brilian Putra, the committee chair, mentioned that this tree planting activity is part of Himaba’s community service initiatives, which include collaborative research, community service, and fostering camaraderie among foresters. 

“The planting of mangroves and casuarinas is the main activity in Forester in Action. The selection of casuarina trees this time was requested by the local community, farmers’ groups, and fishermen,” Putra said in a statement to reporters on Monday (Jun 10).

Before the planting activity, the students had been growing casuarina saplings since December 2023. The seeds used were collected from Mliwis Beach, Kebumen. In mid-December, the Himaba team sowed the casuarina seeds, and by early January, the seedlings were transplanted. 

Mangrove seeds, sourced from Lembupurwo, Kebumen, began their preparation in January, with the students setting up seedbeds using mud from Baros Beach and fish ponds. 

“We did this to match the growing environment to their natural habitat so that the mangroves could grow well and uniformly,” he said.

Once the saplings were ready for planting, they were nurtured in nurseries until they were suitable for the field. The casuarina saplings underwent selection to ensure straight growth and to avoid ball root issues, which helped ensure their survival when planted in the field.

Before the planting activity, students and the community collaborated to move the saplings and mark the planting blocks. 

“The moving of saplings was assisted by the mangrove conservation group and the fishermen’s group from Tanggulangin Village,” he added.

Dr. Winastuti Dwi Atmanto, a supervising lecturer from the Faculty of Forestry, explained that tree planting encourages students to apply silviculture knowledge to sustain coastal ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and maintain overall ecosystem functions for long-term human and environmental benefits. 

“In addition to tree planting, students also held a dialogue session to discuss potential developments in Tanggulangin Village to boost the village’s economy. This dialogue was attended by the Klirong district head, the village head, Tanggulangin village officials, and residents,” she said.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

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