Pharmacy UGM – The Faculty of Pharmacy UGM successfully held a guest lecture “Shotgun Metagenomics: Unraveling The Potential of Microbes” on Wednesday (19/2) at the Auditorium on the 8th floor of the APSLC Building, Faculty of Pharmacy UGM. The guest lecture featured Nurina Indirayati, a Field Application Specialist at Genetica Science, who shared in-depth insights into Shotgun Metagenomics technology and its applications in exploring the microbial potential present in the environment.
During the lecture, Nurina provided a detailed explanation of Shotgun Metagenomics, a revolutionary method that enables researchers to identify the entire microbial community in environmental samples without the need to culture them first. She also comprehensively described the workflow of this technique, from sample collection to the complex genomic data analysis process, which facilitates a deeper understanding of microbial diversity and its potential.
Nurina revealed various applications of Shotgun Metagenomics that are highly relevant in the fields of health, environment, agriculture, and biotechnology. The lecture also discussed the importance of this technology in addressing global challenges in the future, such as antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability. In addition, Nurina encouraged the participants to consider various factors that need to be considered when implementing Shotgun Metagenomics, both from technical and ethical perspectives, to achieve optimal results that benefit society.
The guest lecture not only aimed to enrich the knowledge of students at the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, but also supported the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education). Through this lecture, opportunities for collaboration between the academic and industrial worlds (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals) in the development of microbiology and biotechnology research can be realized. Moreover, this event also supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by providing insights into the role of microbes in ecosystem restoration and environmental sustainability management, which are critical in facing climate change challenges. Additionally, the guest lecture aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), as this technology opens up opportunities for innovation in the biotechnology industry and the development of more environmentally friendly microbe-based products. (Rara/HumasFA)