2023

The working visit of FMIPA UGM to several institutions in Taiwan is a follow-up to several collaborations that were initiated during FMIPA UGM’s visit in December 2022. This visit resulted in three new MoAs: an MoA with I-Shou University for research collaboration and student exchange activities, an MoA with National Tsing Hua University for a Double Doctoral Program, and an MoA with Cheng Shiu University for research collaboration, staff, and student exchange.

The current visit will focus on strengthening the implementation plans of collaborations with the mentioned institutions and initiating new collaborations with other institutions in Taiwan. The delegation includes representatives from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), along with teams from the Department of Computer and Electronics Science and the Department of Chemistry.

The agenda for the visit includes:

2. In Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsincu in Northern Taiwan:

– Visit to the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (preparation for extending the Double Degree program)

– Visit to Lunghwa University (preparation for MoA)

– Visit to National Tsing Hua University (Informatics Engineering Department and International Office – preparation for implementing Double Degree)

– Visit to National Central University (Informatics Engineering Department – preparation for extending the Double Degree program)

– Visit to National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (initiating new collaboration)

– Visit to Tamkang University (initiating new collaboration)

2. In Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan:

   – Visit to Cheng Shiu University (preparation for staff and student exchange)

   – Visit to I-Shou University (preparation for student exchange)

During the visit, meetings were also held with FMIPA faculty members who are pursuing their Ph.D. studies in Taiwan. (FA’23)

Bangka Belitung Province is one of the new provinces formed as a result of the division of South Sumatra Province, and it is rich in natural resources and abundant biodiversity. One of the valuable biodiversity resources in this region is the “Sapu-sapu” tree, which grows wild in this area and can be processed into essential oil.

On July 10, 2023, an Agreement of Cooperation was signed between the Faculty of Engineering (FT) at Universitas Bangka Belitung (UBB), the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and the Department of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, Bangka Belitung Province. This Agreement of Cooperation represents an expansion of the collaboration that has been ongoing between FMIPA UGM and the Department of Cooperatives and SMEs of Bangka Belitung Province since 2022.

This collaboration is of utmost importance as it aims to provide optimal support to harness the potential of the available resources in the Bangka Belitung region, which can be enhanced in terms of economic value and developed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those related to essential oils and their derivatives.

During this event, a collaboration agreement was also signed between FMIPA UGM and FT UBB for the soft launch of essential oil products sourced from the “Sapu-sapu” tree, which grows abundantly on the islands of Bangka and Belitung. The event was attended by the Governor of Bangka Belitung Province’s Special Staff, the Vice Rector of UBB, the Dean, several representatives from various departments in the Bangka Belitung region, and representatives from the Kagama Bangka Belitung Executive Board. (FA’23)

FMIPA UGM had the opportunity to host the Pre-Operation Workshop for the Shallow Water Passive Seismic Study, USV Bathymetry, and Drone Magnetometer on July 5-6, 2023. This event was attended by representatives from Pertamina Upstream Innovation, Pertamina Hulu Mahakam, Pertamina Hulu Indonesia, Elnusa, and FMIPA UGM.

According to Dr. Wiwit Suryanto, “The innovation cycle after confirmed research is downstream processing. I believe Elnusa is the right downstream partner for us. We hope our relationship will become even more intensive so that downstream processing can be utilized not only domestically but also internationally.”

In the initiation phase, this study began as a collaborative research effort with UGM in 2020, applied in Pertamina Hulu Mahakam and Pertamina Hulu East Kalimantan. Subsequently, in 2022, field implementation was carried out in partnership with Elnusa. Now, in 2023, this study has entered the pilot project phase.

The primary objective of this collaboration is to develop tools for detecting passive seismic waves, and students have the opportunity to undertake internships. The benefit of implementing this method is as one of the fundamental aspects of mapping hydrocarbon prospects in the oil and gas field. Additionally, students gain internship experience, making them better prepared for future employment in the industry.

“So, then (through this passive seismic method), the added value is that we will obtain additional data. It’s not meant to replace the seismic methods that have been used before,” as explained by Mr. Boko Suwardi, Senior Specialist Innovation Geophysics.

Another benefit is reducing the errors in wellbore location. With additional data from passive seismic, confidence in the presence of hydrocarbons beneath the surface will increase. Additionally, passive seismic methods are referred to as clean technology. This method has minimal environmental and social impacts because its energy source comes directly from nature, without the need for energy generated by processes such as dynamite explosions.