The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, through the Department of Biology, is hosting the UI Creates: Biology Summer School 2023, a grant program funded by the University of Indonesia’s International Office. The summer school is open to undergraduate and graduate students from various international universities.

A total of 21 participants participated in this activity. 13 were from Universiti Malaya, 1 from Tokyo Metropolitan University (Japan), 1 from Tohoku University, 1 from Osaka University, and 5 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 strong interest in biodiversity and ecological functions, with a combination of social sciences.

Thus, UI Creates: Biology Summer School can be a collaborative platform for aspiring biologists to address biodiversity issues from a scientific and social perspective.

UI Creates: Biology Summer School 2023 will be held in two phases: online and offline. The online phase will consist of seven regular meetings, from July 4 to July 25, 2023. This phase will provide introductory material on biodiversity and its prospects. The material will be delivered by lecturers from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia.

The offline activity took place on August 1–6, 2023, and was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (UI), Dede Djuhana, Ph.D. He warmly welcomed the international summer school participants.

In his remarks, the Dean stated, “The UI Creates program, held at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, is an excellent opportunity for participants, not only to broaden their perspectives in biology but also to broaden their knowledge of the Indonesian language and culture integrated into the program. Therefore, we encourage all participants to maximize every opportunity this program offers, from the academic and social spheres of the campus to the faculty.”

On the first and second days of the offline phase, the UI Creates FMIPA UI team introduced participants to the University of Indonesia, including the opportunities offered by the University of Indonesia to international students, facilities, and opportunities that students can take advantage of.

Cultural programs are also an integral part of this international event. Integrated into this program, the cultural program introduces students, particularly international students, to Indonesia’s cultural diversity. The cultural offerings include traditional clothing from various regions across Indonesia. Even Dr. Eko Aditiya Meinarno, S.Psi., M.Si., the speaker for this session, wore traditional Central Javanese attire while delivering the material, complete with a beskap and blangkon.

Traditional games like congklak, along with regional Indonesian foods and coffees like Toraja, Lampung, and Medan coffee, were also introduced, especially to international students, to help them better understand Indonesian culture. As a souvenir, Dr. Eko also distributed coffee to the international students.

The following day, participants were invited to the Thousand Islands to see firsthand the condition of Indonesia’s biodiversity and its ecotourism potential.

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

In addition, participants were also divided into several groups which were tasked with designing research related to natural conditions (biodiversity) or social conditions of the community in the area.

There, the students conducted a survey by interviewing residents to gather data on their social conditions. The results revealed a diversity of socio-economic factors affecting the Thousand Islands’ ecotourism potential.

Tidak hanya itu, peserta juga mendapat pengetahuan mengenai sejarah, kondisi pendidikan, hingga kekayaan laut Kepulauan Seribu.

Head of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (UI), Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D., at the UI Depok Campus, Saturday explained about the opportunities for collaboration between scientists in researching Indonesia’s natural and cultural wealth.

He hopes that this activity can provide various views and experiences so that it can give birth to meaningful changes in the world of biology.

All of this knowledge is obtained by observing and studying directly in the form of “field work” provided by this activity.

UI-CREATES is an academic mobility program specifically designed to facilitate undergraduate and postgraduate students from overseas partner universities to participate in short programs with academic credit at UI.

This program is designed so that participants gain academic benefits not only through classroom lectures, but also through exposure to industry materials through resource persons or company visits, as well as exposure to Indonesian cultural introduction materials through various activities such as Indonesian language classes, cultural workshops, and cultural trips.