Tuesday, May 20, 2025 – The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DTPB), Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FTP UGM), held an International Guest Lecture in Room 384 of the FTP UGM Building. The speaker in this guest lecture is Prof. Gary R. Sands from Minnesota State University, United States, who delivered a lecture titled “10 of the Most Pressing Global Issues in Soil and Water Engineering.”
The guest lecture was attended by undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from DTPB FTP UGM, both in person and online. The session was moderated by Dr. Chandra Setyawan, a lecturer from DTPB FTP UGM, who introduced the speaker and highlighted the relevance of the topic to today’s global challenges.
In his presentation, Prof. Gary began by comparing agricultural conditions in Indonesia and the United States to provide context for understanding global issues in soil and water engineering. He emphasized how climate change acts as a magnifier, exacerbating existing challenges such as land degradation, drought, and water scarcity. Climate change, he noted, has a worldwide impact and requires interdisciplinary and international approaches to address effectively.
Prof. Gary highlighted that today’s problems cannot be solved with outdated knowledge and approaches. Instead, innovative technologies, adaptive scientific development, and responsive policies are needed to face the ongoing climate crisis. He also underscored the importance of collaboration—from farmers to policymakers—as a crucial strategy for sustainable management of natural resources.
This guest lecture was not only a platform for knowledge exchange but also a concrete academic contribution toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By addressing the impacts of climate change on soil and water and highlighting the need for cross-sector collaboration and innovation, the lecture supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Furthermore, the event strengthened SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing the global perspective and capacity of students as future leaders in agricultural and biosystems engineering.
At the conclusion of the lecture, Prof. Gary gave an inspiring message to the students in attendance. He expressed high hopes for the younger generation to become agents of change who bring innovative solutions to environmental challenges. “You have the advantage of technology and creativity as the young generation. Collaborate, because the future of the environment is in your hands,” he said.
This event is part of DTPB FTP UGM’s ongoing internationalization efforts and its commitment to broadening students’ understanding of global strategic issues, particularly in the field of agricultural and biosystems engineering.
