Yogyakarta, November 4, 2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of Universitas Gadjah Mada received a request from the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Assembly and Modernization (BRMP Biogen) to hold a discussion regarding the implementation of the Baseline Survey of the Crop Diversity Conservation for Sustainable Use in Indonesia (CDCSUI) in Central Java Province.

This survey is part of the GEF-7 Crop Diversity Conservation for Sustainable Use in Indonesia (CDCSUI) project, which aims to strengthen the conservation and sustainable utilization of Indonesia’s plant genetic resources, both in the wild and on agricultural lands. The project focuses on five key commodities: rice, cassava, taro, nutmeg, and clove.

The survey involves collecting baseline data on conservation conditions, local practices, and traditional knowledge related to these crops. In addition, the activity assesses policy aspects, value chains, and the roles of indigenous peoples and gender in the management of agricultural genetic resources.

The activities in Central Java Province were scheduled for October 27–31, 2025, with a discussion session between project representatives—Component 1 and 4 of CDCSUI, the Project Management Unit (PMU), BRMP Central Java, and FIB UGM—held on Wednesday, October 28, 2025, from 09.00 to 12.00 WIB.

FIB UGM’s involvement focuses on exploring aspects of traditional knowledge, gender, and indigenous communities, which play a vital role in plant genetic resource conservation and the strengthening of sustainable food systems.

This initiative supports sustainable development goals by enhancing the resilience of community food systems against climate change, preserving terrestrial biodiversity, and promoting environmentally friendly cultural practices. Moreover, the survey highlights the importance of empowering women and indigenous groups in natural resource management, recognizing their role in preserving traditional knowledge and maintaining local food security.

Through collaboration between research institutions and academic entities, this activity represents a concrete step toward ensuring that plant conservation efforts go beyond scientific and economic dimensions—integrating social and cultural perspectives that form the foundation of sustainability in Indonesia.

[Public Relations Office, FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, October 30, 2025 — Three students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM)—Eka Nur Cahyani, Alma Syahwalani, and Nur Wakhid Fajar S.—contributed to the book Sestra Manitra through an artistic work titled “Prameswari.” The piece takes the form of a Gapura Renggan, a decorative gate that harmoniously combines aesthetic beauty with the philosophical values of Javanese culture.

The Prameswari artwork presents a text rich in meaning about the ideal woman from the Javanese cultural perspective. The text reads:

“Tiyang wadon kang kasebut Prameswari langkung luhuring estri. Tiyang wadon utama ana ing manah kudu sabar, nrima, rila, lan sumarah. Wong wadon kang sinau olah rasa kudu bisa nampa kanthi lila legawa lan lembah manah.”

The passage translates as follows:

“A woman referred to as a queen, one who holds a higher virtue than other noble women. A woman with a noble heart must be patient, sincere, generous, and accepting. A woman who learns to master her emotions can embrace life with humility and an open heart.”

Through this work, Eka, Alma, and Wakhid aim to portray the noble virtues of Javanese women—emphasizing patience, sincerity, and inner wisdom. Prameswari serves not only as a symbol of respect for women’s roles in Javanese culture but also as a medium for younger generations to reflect on the essence of feminine virtue from a local cultural perspective.

The students’ participation in Sestra Manitra demonstrates the synergy between learning and cultural preservation, where students not only engage in literary creation but also develop artistic expressions that reflect Javanese cultural identity.

This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Through such activities, students are encouraged to appreciate cultural values while promoting the recognition of women’s wisdom and strength—supporting the realization of humanistic and gender-inclusive education.

Moreover, Prameswari represents a concrete effort in preserving regional culture, contributing to social and cultural sustainability within the community. The work embodies the spirit upheld by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, to nurture a young generation that is cultured, ethical, and dedicated to the values of humanity.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Monday, October 6, 2025 – What if development did not have to repeat the same failed models?

This question is the main premise of the book Reimagining Development in Southeast Asia: Alternative Practices from the Grassroots and Social Movements. On Monday, October 6, 2025, the Department of Anthropology held a soft launch of the book Reimagining Development in Southeast Asia: Alternative Practices from the Grassroots and Social Movements. This book is the result of collaboration between a number of researchers who highlight various social, political, and geographical contexts in the Southeast Asian region. Through various field studies and theoretical reflections, this book places alternative development as its main focus, while inviting readers to reimagine the meaning of progress from the perspective of communities that have often been marginalized in mainstream development discourse.

Furthermore, the authors also invite us to question the perspective that limits people’s experiences within the framework of the nation-state. The division of regions such as “Southeast Asia” is in fact inseparable from the excesses of colonialism, which sought to compartmentalize social and cultural spaces into separate entities. Through this lens, Reimagining Development in Southeast Asia not only discusses alternative forms of development, but also how we can reimagine cross-border relationships—both historical and cultural—which are in fact a vital source for the emergence of grassroots development practices.

At the book’s soft launch on Monday, two of its authors, Ananeza P. Aban, PhD Researcher from Ghent University, and Jose Monfred C. Sy, PhD Researcher from the University of Hong Kong, were present to give a brief presentation on the outline of the book and the main topics discussed. Both highlighted how local initiatives and social movements in various Southeast Asian countries can become forms of alternative development that seek to break away from colonial formats and renegotiate power relations in the global context.

This event also provided a space for participants to revisit the concept of development, which has been dominated by global perspectives and mainstream economic policies. Through this launch, the authors hope to open a broader conversation about the future of development in the region, how grassroots experiences can be a source of inspiration for a more inclusive and sustainable direction of development, and encourage researchers to participate in documenting local development practices—especially in Southeast Asia.

[Antropologi Budaya, Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha]

Yogyakarta, 17/9/2025 – The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, organized an academic workshop themed “Breaking Into Reputable Journals: Strategies for Writing and Publishing Academic Articles.” The event, held on Wednesday (17/9) at Auditorium C, Poerbatjaraka Building, featured two keynote speakers: Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., professor at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and Adwidya Susila Yoga, S.Pd., M.A., an academic as well as a practitioner in scientific publishing. The session was moderated by Nada Nadillah.

In her presentation, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro emphasized that writing for reputable journals requires decisiveness in selecting the issue and accuracy in building methodological frameworks. “The first thing to pay attention to is the material or issue. A strong issue is one that is specific, contextual, and intellectually challenging. Do not fall into the trap of cliché topics,” she explained.

She gave examples of fresh entry points in literary research, such as LGBTQ+ issues in Muslim-majority countries, abortion debates in Muslim contexts, and the rebellion of Indonesian women writers against male-dominated literary traditions.

Prof. Wening also highlighted the importance of a novelty-based literature review. “The literature review is the foundation. It is from there that we can demonstrate our contribution to academic debates. If we only repeat previous studies, our work will not be considered competent,” she stressed.

The second session, delivered by Adwidya Susila Yoga, S.Pd., M.A., underlined the importance of accuracy in identifying target journals and the necessity of determining clear topics. “Writing an article cannot be separated from mapping the topic and having a clear storyline. After that, we need to do optimal sourcing—do not let references pile up only in the introduction while being scarce in the discussion. The next step is the ‘journal hunt,’ which means finding journals that match the topic, are consistent, and have a good reputation,” he explained.

He also warned participants about the dangers of predatory journals. “If a journal has an excessively high publication frequency, an unusually fast review process, an invalid E-ISSN, or ambiguous publication fees, we need to be cautious. Those are usually signs of a predatory journal,” he cautioned.

Furthermore, Adwidya encouraged students to utilize digital tools. “Use digital platforms such as Grammarly, DeepL, Vosviewer, and even AI—but their use must be academically accountable. Do not just use them recklessly,” he noted.

The workshop continued dynamically with a Q&A session between participants and speakers. Naria (Master’s in Literature) raised a question regarding the selection of research material: “Should research objects be literary works that have already received awards? And should research questions always be derived from theory?” she asked.

Responding to this, Prof. Wening stated, “Research objects do not have to be award-winning works. What matters most is the issue we want to bring forward. Focus on novelty and the perspective we present, not the credibility of the text itself. As for research questions, they can arise from the problems we want to examine, not necessarily from theory alone.”

Meanwhile, Andi (Master’s in Public Administration) asked about balancing local research with global issues. “Indonesia’s research strength lies in its rich empirical evidence. How can we balance this with global issues to ensure relevance?” he inquired.

Prof. Wening emphasized, “The key is to focus on contextual issues while still opening up to global debates. Take issues that others may not be familiar with, then connect them to wider discourses. That way, our research will gain international appeal.”

This workshop successfully provided in-depth insights into strategies for writing academic articles and breaking into reputable journals. Participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also practical guidance from the speakers. With this momentum, the Master’s Program in Literature at FIB UGM hopes its students can produce high-quality, contributive scholarly works capable of competing at both national and international levels.

Author: Marsya Kamila / Public Relations, Master’s Program in Literature

Yogyakarta, 15/9/2025 – The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a public lecture titled “Make the Invisible Visible Again: Race, Gender, and Language in Popular Literature.” The event took place on Monday (15/9) at the Soegondo Auditorium, FIB UGM, featuring Dr. Ashika Prajnya Paramita, S.S., M.A. as the keynote speaker.

The lecture was attended by students and literature enthusiasts eager to explore how ideology operates within popular texts. With an engaging and communicative style, Dr. Ashika emphasized that literature is never a neutral narrative but always carries underlying ideologies, often hidden in plain sight.

Opening her talk with the questions “What’s visible?” and “What’s invisible?”, Dr. Ashika illustrated how everyday objects and cultural products that appear neutral are in fact loaded with ideological meaning. Examples ranged from the skin-tone bias in band-aids, beauty discourses in advertisements, to the privileging of certain languages over others. Quoting Antonio Gramsci, she reminded the audience that ideology operates through common sense—perceptions that society accepts as natural. “Everyday ideology is always around us. If we are not aware, we need to check,” she explained.

Dr. Ashika further examined how race and gender are represented in popular works, particularly in superhero films. She discussed debates surrounding Sam Wilson as Captain America and the assumption that Barack Obama’s presidency signaled the end of racism in the United States, while in reality, racial tensions persisted.

On gender, she highlighted how physical strength in superhero films is typically coded as masculine, while female characters are often given invisible or passive powers. Citing Judith Butler (1993), she reminded participants that “Gender is a kind of imitation for which there is no original,” stressing that masculinity and femininity are constructed and constantly shifting.

Bringing the discussion closer to home, Dr. Ashika invited the audience to critically read representations in the Indonesian film Satria Dewa: Gatotkaca (2022). She pointed out how white-skinned characters were often depicted as bosses, while darker-skinned characters appeared as security guards or lower-class workers. Language use also reinforced hierarchies, with Javanese accents assigned to “village folk,” while the protagonist spoke Jakarta urban slang.

“Literature is never just stories. Ideologies hide in plain sight. Reading critically is seeing power,” she concluded, marking the end of her main lecture.

The Q&A session was lively, with questions ranging from the representation of women in comics, ideological bias in reading literature, to the masculine standards in modern superheroes. Dr. Ashika underscored that ideological progress is never linear but rather messy and full of resistance. She also reminded the audience of the importance of readers’ critical awareness in examining their own biases.

This public lecture demonstrated that the study of popular literature goes beyond entertainment, offering critical reflections on power, representation, and ideology in everyday life. Through this event, the Master’s Program in Literature at UGM reaffirmed its commitment to providing an academic space that engages with contemporary issues while equipping students with critical perspectives in reading texts and culture.

Author: Marsya Kamila / Public Relations, Master’s Program in Literature