Enriching Perspectives on Biology, FMIPA UI Holds UI Creates: Biology Summer School 2023

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia through the Department of Biology, held the UI Creates: Biology Summer School 2023 activity, which is one form of the "UI Creates" grant activity by the International Office of the University of Indonesia. This summer school activity involves undergraduate and postgraduate students from various foreign universities as participants.

A total of 21 participants were involved in this activity. 13 people came from Universiti Malaya, 1 person from Tokyo Metropolitan University (Japan), 1 person from Tohoku University, 1 person from Osaka University, and 5 people from the University of Indonesia.

UI Creates: Biology Summer School is designed to accommodate the curiosity and professional aspirations of students from various backgrounds with a high interest in biodiversity science and ecological functions, with a combination of social sciences.

Thus, UI Creates: Biology Summer School can be a place for collaboration between young biologists, in answering biodiversity problems from a scientific and social perspective.

UI Creates: Biology Summer School 2023 is held in two stages, namely online and offline. The online stage is held in seven regular meetings, starting from July 4 to July 25, 2023. This stage contains introductory materials on biodiversity and its prospects. The materials in this stage are provided by lecturers from the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI.

The offline activity took place on August 1 – August 6, 2023, attended by the Dean of FMIPA UI Dede Djuhana, Ph.D. He gave a warm welcome to the international participants of this summer school.

In her remarks, the Dean stated, “The UI Creates program held at FMIPA UI is a very valuable opportunity for participants—not only to enrich their perspectives in the field of biology, but also to broaden their understanding of the Indonesian language and culture, which are integrated into this program. Therefore, we encourage all participants to make the most of every opportunity this program offers, from the academic and social aspects of campus life to faculty-level activities.”

On the first and second days of the offline stage, the UI Creates team at FMIPA UI introduced participants to various aspects of Universitas Indonesia, including the opportunities offered to international students, available facilities, and the range of opportunities that students can take advantage of.

The cultural program is also an integral part of this international activity. The cultural component integrated into the program involves introducing the rich cultural diversity of Indonesia to the students, particularly international students. The culture presented includes traditional clothing from various regions of Indonesia. In fact, Dr. Eko Aditiya Meinarno, S.Psi., M.Si., who served as a speaker in this session, also wore traditional Central Javanese attire while delivering his presentation, complete with a *beskap* and *blangkon*.

Traditional games such as congklak, along with regional foods and specialty coffees from various parts of Indonesia—such as Toraja coffee, Lampung coffee, and Medan coffee—were also introduced, particularly to international students, to help them become more familiar with Indonesian culture. As a souvenir, Dr. Eko also gave some of the coffee to the international students.

On the following day, participants were taken to the Thousand Islands to directly observe Indonesia’s biodiversity and its ecotourism potential.

The activity, in the form of fieldwork, was conducted in the Thousand Islands, specifically on Pramuka Island and Panggang Island. Over the course of four days, from August 3 to 6, 2023, participants received materials on the biodiversity and ecotourism of the Thousand Islands.

In addition, participants were divided into several groups and assigned to design research projects related to either the natural conditions (biodiversity) or the social conditions of the local communities in the area.

There, the students conducted surveys by interviewing local residents to gather data on the community's social conditions. The survey results revealed a diversity of socio-economic factors among residents in relation to the ecotourism potential of the Thousand Islands.

There, the students conducted surveys by interviewing local residents to gather data on the community's social conditions. The survey results revealed a diversity of socio-economic factors among residents in relation to the ecotourism potential of the Thousand Islands.

The Head of the Department of Biology at FMIPA UI, Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D., at the UI Depok Campus on Saturday, explained the opportunities for collaboration among scientists in researching Indonesia's natural and cultural wealth.

He expressed his hope that this activity would provide various insights and experiences that could lead to meaningful changes in the field of biology.

All of that knowledge was gained through direct observation and learning in the form of fieldwork provided by this program.

UI-CREATES is an academic mobility program specifically designed to facilitate undergraduate and postgraduate students from partner universities abroad to participate in a short-term program with academic credits at UI.

This program is designed to provide participants with academic benefits not only through classroom lectures, but also through exposure to industry-related content delivered by guest speakers or company visits, as well as cultural insights through various activities such as Indonesian language classes, cultural workshops, and cultural trips.

News source : https://sci.ui.ac.id/