A student from the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM Graduate School) has achieved international recognition at the International Conference on Nusantara Spices and Biodiversity (ICNSB) 2026, organized by the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, on Wednesday, July 1st 2026, Aviesta Linggabuwana, S.Si., a student in the Biotechnology Master Program at the UGM Graduate School, received the Best Presenter Award. During the conference, Aviesta Linggabuwana, S.Si., together with Jefri Saputro, S.Si., participated as oral presenters, presenting the findings of their thesis research at an international scientific forum that brought together academics, researchers, and practitioners from various countries.
The UGM Graduate School delegation consisted of two students from the Biotechnology Master Program: Aviesta Linggabuwana, S.Si., and Jefri Saputro, S.Si. Their active participation and outstanding achievement reflected Universitas Gadjah Mada’s vision of becoming a globally recognized national university that is excellent, innovative, and impactful, while also aligning with the Graduate School’s mission to produce internationally competitive research.
This achievement was possible with the guidance of their thesis supervisors, Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc. and Prof. Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Si. Their mentorship has provided students with opportunities to actively publish their research findings, expand their international academic networks, and showcase innovative research being developed at Universitas Gadjah Mada.
The International Conference on Nusantara Spices and Biodiversity (ICNSB) 2026 is an international conference organized by the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Indonesian Collaborative Research (RKI) Spice Research Team, and also part of the 2026 National Seminar on Tropical Biology (SNBT). The theme, “Reviving the Glory of Nusantara Spices through Biodiversity Research and Sustainable Innovation,” the conference served as a platform for scientific exchange on biodiversity, systematics, phytochemistry, biotechnology, genetic engineering, genomics, metabolomics, bioeconomy, and sustainable agriculture. ICNSB 2026 brought together researchers, academics, students, industry representatives, and policymakers of various countries to strengthen research collaboration in the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological resources.
Aviesta Linggabuwana, during the oral presentation session, presented a study entitled “Isolation and Characterization of GAI Gene of Vanda tricolor Orchid to Determine the Target Sequences for sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing System to Create Dwarf Orchid,” while Jefri Saputro presented “Characterization of GAI Gene of Arachnis flos-aeris Orchid to Determine the Target Sequences for sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing System.” Both studies are part of their master’s thesis research, focusing on the identification and characterization of the GAI gene as the basis for determining single guide RNA (sgRNA) target sequences for the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. The research is expected to support the development of genome editing technology in orchids, particularly for producing superior orchid varieties, including compact or dwarf plant types.
Participants, in addition to the oral presentation sessions, also attended plenary sessions featuring keynote speaker Dr. Roderick Wiebe Bouman (Hortus botanicus Leiden, Leiden University, The Netherlands), along with invited speakers Prof. Chiharu Nakashima, Ph.D. (Mie University, Japan), Assoc. Prof. Yaya Rukayadi, Ph.D. (Universiti Putra Malaysia), and Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. (Universitas Gadjah Mada). The presentations covered a wide range of topics, including the evolution of Nusantara spices, diseases affecting spice crops, the application of spices in food technology, and advances in biodiversity research and sustainable biological innovation.
The conference also provided participants with valuable opportunities to engage in direct discussions with international researchers, expand collaborative networks, and receive constructive feedback to further develop their research. At the closing of the conference, Aviesta Linggabuwana was honored with the Best Presenter Award in recognition of the quality of the presentation, mastery of the subject matter, ability to address questions, and overall scientific communication during the oral presentation session. This achievement serves as international recognition of the high quality of research conducted by students of the UGM Graduate School.
It is hoped that this accomplishment will inspire other Universitas Gadjah Mada students to continue improving the quality of their research, actively participate in international scientific forums, and produce innovations that contribute to the advancement of science, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, biodiversity, and plant breeding.
Author: Aviesta Linggabuwana
Editor: Arfikahi