Yogyakarta, May 7, 2025 — The Department of Mathematics, FMIPA UGM, held the eighth edition of Demomatika on Wednesday (7/5). This scientific forum was conducted in a hybrid format, taking place in-person at Meeting Room 1, 3rd Floor, Department of Mathematics UGM, and virtually via Zoom Meeting.
Carrying the theme “Mathematics in Evolutionary Biology: Networks, Models, and Genomic Data,” this event is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen academic networks, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and broaden scientific perspectives.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Nanang Susyanto, S.Si., M.Sc., M.Act.Sc., Head of the Department of Mathematics, FMIPA UGM. He emphasized the importance of such academic forums as platforms for sharing knowledge, enriching research perspectives, and reinforcing the role of mathematics across various fields.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Muhammad Ardiyansyah from the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Finland, delivered a presentation titled “From Phylogenetic Models to DNA Denoising: A Mathematical Perspective.” The discussion was moderated by Muhammad Hasan Sidiq Kurniawan, S.Si., M.Sc., a doctoral student in the Mathematics program at UGM.
In his talk, Dr. Ardiyansyah presented both his previous and current research, which integrates mathematical approaches to better understand evolutionary processes and genetic structures. Under the supervision of Dr. Kaie Kubjas, he has developed a class of phylogenetic models that combine DNA sequence data, probabilistic methods, computational algebra, and graph theory to reconstruct evolutionary relationships among species.
Furthermore, he elaborated on his collaborative research with Dr. Otso Ovaskainen and Dr. Brendan Furneaux from the Predictive Community Ecology group, focusing on the development of DNA sequence denoising methods. This approach utilizes Partial Order Alignment (POA) graph structures to enhance sequence inference accuracy, thereby contributing to improved genetic analysis and data-driven ecological studies.
Demomatika Series 8 not only expanded insights into the role of mathematics in evolutionary biology and genetics but also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration as a key driver for impactful and globally relevant research innovation.
The Department of Mathematics, FMIPA UGM, remains committed to organizing future editions of Demomatika, featuring engaging topics on mathematics and its applications across diverse fields.
Keywords: Demomatika, Evolution, Genetics
Author: Iin Nauli Rahmawati
Photo: Iin Nauli Rahmawati