The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), held an online public lecture for the Science and Mathematics Integration Course (MKI SainsMat) on Wednesday (September 3, 2025). This course is part of the 2024 Curriculum, designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges, particularly those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

MKI SainsMat is offered every semester with a credit load of 3 credits for the master’s program and 4 credits for the doctoral program. The course adopts a project-based learning approach and interdisciplinary collaboration, focusing on strategic issues such as renewable energy, food security, health mitigation, and environmental conservation.

The public lecture was attended by postgraduate students from various study programs as well as course lecturers. The event was opened by Dr. Denny R. Silaban, M.Kom., Head of the Academic Quality Assurance Unit of FMIPA UI, who also served as the moderator.

“Why did we establish an integration course at FMIPA UI? Because we increasingly recognize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing issues in our environment, particularly those related to the SDGs, which can no longer be approached in a partial or sectoral manner,” said Dr. Denny.

He added that MKI SainsMat serves as a collaborative learning space, where lecturers and students can work across disciplines to formulate more comprehensive solutions.

“In other words, it is not only about focusing on their own respective fields, but also about collaborating across disciplines to generate more comprehensive ideas and solutions,” he continued.

As part of the learning process, students will be divided into interdisciplinary working groups to carry out projects and research that integrate science and mathematics. Each group will examine real issues relevant to the challenges of sustainable development.

In the public lecture session, two professors from FMIPA UI were featured as speakers: Prof. Dr. Eng. Yunus Daud, Dipl. Geotherm. Tech., M.Sc., Professor of Geothermal Science, and Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Budiawan, Professor of Chemical Toxicology and Hazardous Chemicals, who also serves as Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs at FMIPA UI.

Prof. Yunus Daud highlighted strategies to transform FMIPA UI into an energy-independent campus through the utilization of renewable energy potential. He emphasized the importance of viewing the campus as a living laboratory to develop future solutions that are both applicable and sustainable.

“We must see the campus not only as a place of learning but also as a real experimental space. FMIPA UI has all the prerequisites to become a green, energy-independent campus, and now is the time to make it happen,” said Prof. Yunus.

Furthermore, Prof. Yunus elaborated on the various clean energy potentials available within the UI campus environment, such as the use of solar rooftops, bioenergy, micro-hydro, and geothermal. Innovations like smart grids, the utilization of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and energy storage systems are also part of the development plan toward a sustainable campus.

As a concrete first step, students will be involved in a feasibility study project entitled “Feasibility Studies for 100% Renewable Energy in UI Campus”, which serves as part of the assignments in this course.

Meanwhile, Prof. Budiawan discussed the importance of research based on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) approach in addressing global challenges, particularly in the downstream utilization of natural resources in a sustainable manner.

He presented the technological innovation of palm oil processing through the dry process method developed by the PURI INSANI FMIPA UI team. This technology produces Rafinate Palm Mesocarp Oil (RPMO), a type of palm oil that is healthier, safer, and has minimal environmental impact.

“With STEM-based innovation research, we are not only able to address the issues of toxicity and environmental impact in the palm oil industry, but also pave the way for smallholder farmers and MSMEs to engage in processing industries that are more efficient and sustainable,” said Prof. Budiawan.

With the introduction of MKI SainsMat, FMIPA UI hopes to produce graduates who are not only academically excellent but also ready to contribute directly to solving real-world problems through cross-disciplinary collaboration.