Developing Science Through BRIDGE's Excellent Innovation, Astari Dwiranti Wins 1st Place in the UI 2024 Academic Leader Award

Thanks to her contributions in advancing education in the field of science, Astari Dwiranti, Ph.D., a lecturer from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), was awarded 1st Place in the Science Category of the UI 2024 Academic Leader Award, organized by the Human Resources Directorate of UI.

The awarding of the winners of the Universitas Indonesia 2024 Academic Leader Award was delivered directly by the Rector of UI, Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D, at the Rotunda Field, UI Campus, Depok, on Saturday (August 17, 2024), immediately after the rector led the 79th Independence Day ceremony of the Republic of Indonesia.

Astari was recognized for her contributions to advancing science, particularly through her flagship innovation program BRIDGE (Building Research and Internships for Development and Global Engagement), which she presented at the UI 2024 Academic Leader event. The BRIDGE program encompasses various initiatives, ranging from introducing science to the public to building networks and supporting students in a wide range of international activities.

The BRIDGE program aims to facilitate students' potential to become agents of change and to participate in international activities in order to maximize their existing potential and develop new skill sets.

The outputs of the BRIDGE program include enhanced student capacity, improved research quality, increased institutional reputation, and the creation of new networks and opportunities, thereby supporting the competitiveness of FMIPA UI in the field of science.

To the FMIPA UI Public Relations team, Astari stated, “This award motivates me to continue contributing to the world of education, especially in the field of science, and to further enhance the BRIDGE program—not only at the Department and Faculty levels, but also at the national level through collaboration with other universities.”

The Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for the achievement of the lecturer specializing in Integrative Cellular and Molecular Biology. The Dean believes that Astari’s accomplishment through her BRIDGE program opens greater opportunities for FMIPA UI to become a pioneer in education and research, while also encouraging students to explore their potential and develop their skills in the field of science through internationalization programs.

“Astari’s achievement and the BRIDGE program she initiated are, for us at FMIPA UI, an important step that opens up broader opportunities for FMIPA UI to become a pioneer in education and research. Additionally, it provides students with the opportunity to collaborate with international institutions in innovative research and to broaden their horizons,” said Prof. Dede.

Throughout her career as a lecturer at FMIPA UI, Astari has achieved several significant accomplishments in the fields of education and research. In the field of education, Astari has served as a guest lecturer at the Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University (2024); a visiting associate professor at both Osaka University and Kobe University (since 2018); a top performer in the Student Evaluation of Lecturers (EDOM); and was selected as one of the Nusantara Module Lecturers and participants in the Merdeka Student Exchange Program.

Meanwhile, her achievements in the field of research include receiving an International Research Grant from the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (2024); being a Selected Speaker at the Leaders Workshop organized by the European Molecular Biology Organization and Women in Science Japan in Tokyo (2022); being named among the Top 12 in the Merck Young Scientists Award (2021); serving as an Indonesian delegate at the ASEAN-Japan Symposium on Research in Science & Technology in Thailand (2023); and engaging in various collaborations and publications in international journals (joint research, joint supervision, joint publication).

In addition, Astari has significant leadership experience in the academic field, including serving as an Indonesian delegate to the Asia Pacific Chromosome Association, a Steering Committee member for the Asia Pacific Chromosome Colloquium VIII in South Korea (2020), Chair of the Asia Pacific Chromosome Colloquium X, Chair of the UI–Tokyo Institute of Technology–RIKEN Joint Conference (2024), Managing Editor of the ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement (2019–2022), Editor of the *Makara Journal of Science*, and Head of the Undergraduate Biology Program at FMIPA UI.

Moreover, Astari has also brought the Department of Biology at FMIPA UI to the international stage by establishing international collaborations in education and research with institutions such as The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Osaka University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, Kobe University, RIKEN (Japan), Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University (Thailand), Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore (Singapore), University of Malaya (Malaysia), the Rosalind Franklin Institute (UK), and the National Research Council (Canada).

Source : https://sci.ui.ac.id/