The Master’s and Doctoral Program in Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held its Inaugural Lecture for the Odd Semester 2025/2026 on Friday August 15th, 2025 at the Pusat Antar Universitas (PAU) Building, UGM. The event was attended by all new Master’s and Doctoral students in Biotechnology, along with faculty members of the Study Program.
As part of the tradition of welcoming new students, the program invited distinguished alumni of the Biotechnology Master’s Program at UGM to share their expertise and insights on the latest developments in biotechnology and its applications.
The first session featured Prof. Dr. agr. Ir. Muhammad Nurcahyanto, S.Pt., M.Biotech, lecturer at the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), who presented a talk entitled “From DNA to the Table: The Role of Biotechnology in Achieving Food Security in Animal Products.” He highlighted the importance of biotechnology in supporting food security, particularly in the livestock sector, through innovations ranging from genetic improvement to product quality optimization.
The second lecture was delivered by Dr. Sari Darmasiwi, S.Si., M.Biotech., Ph.D, lecturer at the Faculty of Biology, UGM, who presented on “The Potential of Local Microbiota in Nutraceutical Innovation.” Her presentation emphasized the vast potential of Indonesia’s native microbiota as a valuable source of innovation for the development of functional foods and nutraceutical industries.
Beyond academic enrichment, this event also aimed to introduce new students to the learning environment within the Biotechnology Program at UGM. With diverse backgrounds among the student body, the event served as a platform to build networks, foster motivation, and strengthen the collective vision of biotechnology as a solution to global challenges.
Through this activity, the Biotechnology Program at UGM hopes that new students will be inspired to advance their scientific knowledge and contribute to the development of biotechnology for the benefit of society.
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Faizatul Mufidah