On the 27th of November (the awarding night of the 38th Pekan Ilmiah Mahasiswa Nasional (Pimnas) held in Universitas Hassanudin, Makassar), a bachelor student of Cultural Anthropology from UGM contributed to the medal count of Universitas Gadjah Mada. Muhammad Syukur Shidiq – commonly known as Syukur – and his team earned a silver medal for the poster category of the PKM-RSH 2 class. Their research, titled Antara Safe Space dan Toxic Space: Studi Ekologi Media terhadap Komunitas Marah-Marah di Media Sosial X, applies the concept of media ecology coined by Marshall McLuhan to study the Komunitas Marah-Marah, a community established on X (formerly Twitter).

Komunitas Marah-Marah is viewed as a communal space with two sides, both contradicting each other. This community provides room for freedom of emotional expression (specifically anger, as the name suggests) for its members while giving them affirmation from fellow members. At the same time, negative actions such as cyberbullying, hate speech, and discrimination are also rampant in the space. What started out as a small community has tripled in size in the span of a year. The results of this research can hopefully be used as a contribution to increase digital literacy among the Indonesian digital community, along with creating a safe online space for users and as consideration for policy makers to create better online policies.

As an anthropology student, there are a few lessons Syukur picked up during his Pimnas research. The discipline of anthropology plays a role in understanding Komunitas Marah-Marah as a living digital environment, filled with members with various cultures and perspectives. X as a social media is viewed as an ecology that shapes and influences how people express their emotions. The existence of this community helps shape the understanding of how anger grows and evolves into its own culture in a digital context.

During four months of Pimnas research, Syukur learned some valuable lessons for himself, as a person and as a researcher. Along with getting the opportunity to experience field research first-hand, Syukur learned to collect, sort, and process ethnographic data while working in a systematic workflow. This opportunity gives him the chance to train his cultural intuition and reflectivity as an anthropologist. He also learned to be committed to a research project and working in a multidisciplinary approach. His team members consisted of fellow bachelor students Muh Faiq Fauzan, Fanisa Ratna Dewi, Debora Magdalena Marchya Sihombing, Muhammad Syukur Shidiq, and Adelia Pradipta Nasyaputri. They hail from various departments of social sciences, such as Communication Science, Social Development and Welfare, Philosophy, and Psychology; each with their own methods and perspectives, collaborating towards the same goal to reach a better understanding of a dynamic socio-digital environment.

Author: Amadeus Abhirama Paramanindita

Yogyakarta, 5 December 2025 – Ten graduate students of the Master of Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences held a Philology Clinic Exhibition themed “Tracing Cosmology in Ancient Manuscripts.” This exhibition is part of an academic activity guided by lecturers of the Philology Program: Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum., Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum.

Cosmology, as a way for humans to understand the origins, structure, and order of the universe, has long served as a fundamental aspect of cultural development. Long before the emergence of modern science, the peoples of the Nusantara had developed their own cosmological perspectives and recorded them in various Arabic, Javanese, and Malay manuscripts. This knowledge was passed down across generations as an integral part of the region’s intellectual tradition.

Through the Philology Clinic activities, the students aim to create a space for disseminating and reintroducing cosmological insights found in ancient manuscripts. These manuscripts not only contain stories or moral teachings, but also reflect the worldview, knowledge structures, and belief systems of communities in the past.

In today’s modern world—where rational knowledge is often separated from spiritual experience—this exhibition invites the public to revisit how past societies understood the universe holistically, combining empirical, symbolic, and practical experiences in everyday life. As such, the exhibition serves as a bridge between the past and the present, opening new avenues for appreciating the intellectual heritage of the Nusantara.

This exhibition aligns with the commitment to sustainable education as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education. Through manuscript preservation, the strengthening of cultural literacy, and the advancement of humanities research, this activity supports the creation of inclusive, high-quality education and promotes lifelong learning. Additionally, this initiative reflects ongoing efforts to safeguard cultural heritage, in line with SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities, which emphasizes cultural preservation as a key component of sustainable community development.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, 3 December 2025 — A total of 68 first-year students from the Arabic Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) attend an outing class at Wisdom Park UGM on Wednesday, 3 December 2025. The activity, titled Lu’bah Arabiyyah, served as a collaborative program for Arabic Writing, Arabic Speaking, and Tasrif courses to help students review lesson material through interactive games while refreshing their minds ahead of final exams. The event was accompanied by lecturers from the Arabic Study Program and supported by student tutors from the 2022 and 2023 cohorts.

During Lu’bah Arabiyyah, students are invited to do a series of game stations set up across Wisdom Park. Each game required them to actively use and recall their Arabic skills in preparation for the final exams. Among the activities were Sentence Relay, Puzzle Tasrif, and Arabic crossword puzzles. After completing all stations, the outing concluded with a communal meal and a shared rujak session with lecturers.

The 2025 cohort participated enthusiastically from start to finish. Many students expressed that Lu’bah Arabiyyah boosted their confidence and motivation ahead of the Final Examinations, as the activities helped them recall and reinforce material learned throughout the semester. Beyond academic preparation, the event also strengthened collaborations and intimacy among students, tutors, and lecturers, which is an important foundation for smoother communication and collaboration in future learning processes.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

Yogyakarta, December, 9, 2025 – Paksi Raras Alit, widely known as Mas Paksi, has been awarded the 2025 UGM Outstanding Alumni Award for his significant contributions to cultural literacy development and the preservation of traditional arts. An alumnus of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, Mas Paksi is recognized as the founder of the JAWACANA Community, a cultural education platform that continues to expand access to cultural learning for the wider public.

Since its establishment, JAWACANA has consistently offered various programs such as cultural magazines, Javanese language classes, and inclusive, accessible art performances. These initiatives directly contribute to improving cultural education quality in society, aligning with UGM’s commitment to supporting sustainable development.

Mas Paksi’s contributions also reflect strong support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly through expanding access to cultural education (SDG 4: Quality Education), strengthening local identity and community sustainability through the preservation of regional arts and languages (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities), and fostering collaboration among communities, academics, and cultural practitioners across various JAWACANA programs (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals).

This award further reinforces Mas Paksi’s role as a representative of FIB UGM alumni who brings tangible positive impact to society. Through JAWACANA, he demonstrates that cultural preservation can become an educational, sustainable movement that contributes significantly to strengthening local culture amid ongoing societal changes.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, 4 December 2025 — The autonomous arts body BSO Sasoebah once again showcased its creative excellence in the performing arts by delivering a captivating performance at the opening of the Global Future Innovation Technology Summit (GIFTS) 2025, held at the GIK UGM Building. On this special occasion, BSO Sasoebah presented its newest dance work titled “Lelana Jagatriya,” a performance that blends traditional aesthetics with the concept of a symbolic journey across worlds, rich with humanitarian meaning.

GIFTS 2025 is an international-scale event that opens interdisciplinary spaces for discussion, ranging from technology and innovation to creativity and global collaboration. Notably, the event was also open to the public, providing opportunities for students and the wider community to enjoy the performance and the intellectual atmosphere it offered.

BSO Sasoebah’s performance successfully drew the attention of attendees, including more than 20 distinguished guests who are strategic partners of GIK UGM from various sectors. Their presence underscored the importance of collaboration between arts, innovation, and technology in fostering creative dialogue within academic environments. In addition to invited guests, the event’s openness to the public allowed the broader community to experience the dynamic and collaborative spirit of GIFTS 2025.

The event also reflects efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly through its contribution to strengthening quality education and cultural preservation. In the context of the SDGs, this event demonstrates a commitment to creating inclusive learning spaces and promoting the preservation of cultural identity through performing arts. Moreover, GIFTS 2025 highlights global collaboration and innovation as part of building sustainable partnerships between educational institutions, creative communities, and professional sectors.

Through the performance of Lelana Jagatriya, BSO Sasoebah not only enlivened the opening of GIFTS 2025 but also reaffirmed the essential role of the arts in supporting sustainability, strengthening interdisciplinary dialogue, and inspiring the younger generation to continue creating.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]