Sunday, January 28, 2024, Lecturer of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum., was present as a guest speaker in one of the Dimyati Podcast episodes entitled, “Manuscripts as a Window to the Past”. Dimyati Podcast is one of the American podcasts that talks a lot about Indonesian studies from art, culture to politics. Manuscripts as one of Indonesia’s traditional cultural products are raised as one of the themes discussed, because the cultural products of manuscripts contain the mindset of the people of that time. The text contained is data and documentation of past culture which, if revealed, we can also benefit from.

In the context of telling the past of Javanese society at that time, the recording of a series of events, recording of treatment, and the values disguised in a story in the manuscript can reveal civilization, thinking, and even the technology used in past life. Various kinds of manuscripts and their functions are briefly conveyed on the Dimyati Podcast. In addition, the podcast tool is also one of the media to raise one of the cultural products such as manuscripts and increase the reputation of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, to be better known internationally.

The podcast video link is as follows:

• Manuscript as a Window to the Past by Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum

Purworejo, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in order to maintain the sustainability of the forest ecosystem, Lecturer of Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program of UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., initiated a Community Service (PKM) program in collaboration with Perhutani Forest Management Unit (KPH) South Kedu and PT Kreasi Wisata Global as the management of Menoreh Dreamland tourism, planting together on the commitment of Green Ecotourism. The commitment to Green Ecotourism is shown through steps such as the mass planting of 150 pine tree seedlings and the provision of green open spaces and “Peleluk Pohon” rides as a means to interact directly with nature as well as a symbol of gratitude to nature and awareness of the importance of maintaining forest ecosystems. The joint planting program applies ecological, social, economic, and cultural principles to educate, maintain, and improve environmental sustainability, community welfare, and business sustainability. Not only joint planting, this activity also held an interesting, aesthetic, and fun “Plant and Hug Trees” socialization and education accompanied by live poetry media by Ibu Novi and music/songs, to the general public and environmental activists.

Natural degradation due to human exploitation such as degradation, deforestation, illegal logging, and land conversion into housing or agricultural land are some of the main factors that have caused the decline in forest area around the world. To overcome this, a real approach is needed to increase and foster awareness of the sustainability of forest ecosystems that humans must always protect. One approach with potential solutions is through the concept of Green Ecotourism or ecotourism. This sustainable solution offers an effective platform for education and counseling to the community about the importance of protecting forest ecosystems.

The output of the Community Service activities that have been carried out by Dr. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., are open to the public and can be accessed through the following link:

Policy Brief

• Policy Brief Raising Awareness of Oxygen Needs through Green Ecotourism Commitment (Case Study in Menoreh Dreamland, Kalilo, Kaligesing, Purworejo)

PKM Video

• Video of Green Ecotourism PKM Activities

Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Archaeology students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM conducted a field study activity with a visit to Istura Gedung Agung or known as the Presidential Palace of Yogyakarta. As a fulfillment of the mandatory Basic Conservation and Restoration course, this visit involved two batches of Archaeology students, Class of 2021 and Class of 2022, totaling more than 70 students who were guided by the Head of the UGM Archaeology Department, Dr. Mahirta, MA… The students each departed and arrived at the location at 08.30 WIB to gather and give directions by the mentors and instructors regarding matters that need to be considered during the visit.

The tour of the visiting group began with an introduction to the outside of the complex building around Istura Gedung Agung such as the guesthouse and the main building of Istura Gedung Agung along with a brief introduction to the three main rooms where the President welcomed guests. Next, the group of students was directed to the museum building, the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace Museum, to conduct an exclusive tour of the museum’s historical object collections with the art object management guide of the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace Museum, Theresa Sekar Wening, who is also an alumni of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Undergraduate Study Program.

While visiting the museum, the group was shown collections of art objects painted by famous artists such as expressionism or abstract paintings by painter Affandi Koesoema as well as a number of ceramic pottery artifacts, necklaces, and others. Not only seeing paintings and historical artifacts, the students also analyzed the conservation methods and techniques of historical objects according to the objectives of the courses studied. Through interactive museum visits, students are expected to gain knowledge that can be practiced when managing historical and archaeological objects as part of museum management.

Saturday, May 25, 2024, the UGM Archaeology Student Association (HIMA), Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, held a 2024 Dialogue Room Webinar on Gender Archaeology with a sub-theme entitled, “Gender Studies Based on Archaeological Findings” which is open to the public. This webinar was guided by Haybah Shabira as the Moderator of the activity and two special resource persons, namely UGM Archaeology Lecturer, Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A. and Archaeological Researcher at Pura Mangkunegaran, Tyassanti Kusumo Dewanti, M.A., who has a number of experiences and contributions in gender archaeological studies. This activity aims to increase the knowledge of archaeology students and the general public about the position or division of roles of people in the past, both men and women in living their daily lives in the social, economic, or political fields. The study is based on archaeological data findings in the form of reliefs, inscriptions, or ancient manuscripts.

The activity session was opened with remarks from the Advisor of HIMA UGM, Drs. Musadad, M.Hum., who paid attention to the importance of gender studies in the discovery of archaeological remains in the role and duties in the scope of society. Followed by the delivery of the first material given by Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A., as an introduction and opening material to get to know more about gender archaeological studies in the discovery of archaeological remains. The next material was presented by Tyassanti Kusumo Dewanti, M.A., explaining previous research on the position and role of women in history, domination and power relations in 9th and 10th century Java, and evidence of the role of women based on findings in the inscription text. After the presentation ended, a question and answer session was opened to the webinar participants.

It is hoped that this Dialogue Room Webinar can be a forum for the general public and archaeology students to discuss and find out what archaeological issues are and be useful for prospective archaeologists if they face the same problems.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, held a Technical Guidance on Preparation for Submitting Articles to Scientific Journals in collaboration with the Association of Indonesian Archaeologists (IAAI) Regional Commissariat of IAAI Yogyakarta Special Region-Central Java Province. The technical guidance aims to prepare technical drafts of prospective articles for undergraduate and postgraduate students and participants from IAAI to be submitted to scientific journals. The agenda of the activity is divided into two sessions, namely Session 1: Janus Journal Article Structure (OJS submission process) by facilitator Adwidya Susila Yoga, S.Pd., Session 2: Article Review (discussion of articles per author) by facilitator Dr. Daud Aris Tanudirjo, MA…

In his presentation at the Article Review session, Dr. Daud Aris Tanudirjo, MA, as the facilitator of the activity session presented material on matters that need to be considered in writing and preparing articles before submission for publication in scientific journals. On this occasion, he emphasized that the quality of written work depends on the mastery of understanding scientific article materials, the ability to structure ideas, how to formulate problems well, and how to convey objectives clearly. The role of keywords in the structural parts of scientific journals such as abstracts must also be considered with the presentation of sentences, a maximum limit of two hundred words, and the content of a complete concise report as an outline of the main content of the article.

The presentation of the article review session also provided examples of scientific articles as material for discussion studies. “Actually, it will be more interesting so that it can arouse a certain curiosity if there is a new element, whether it is an improvement or whether it is a development,” said Dr. Daud Aris Tanudirjo, MA.