Yogyakarta, July 29, 2025 — The 8th Biennial International Group Theory Conference (BIGTC) was officially closed on Tuesday afternoon (29/7) at the 7th Floor Auditorium, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta. The closing ceremony began with the screening of a short video recap highlighting key moments from the conference, which took place from July 26–29, 2025.
Prof. A. Erfanian from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, as Chair of the Committee and initiator of the BIGTC series, delivered the closing remarks. In his reflection, he expressed appreciation for the local committee’s dedication and proposed several future developments, including the establishment of a “BIGTC Society” to support doctoral students, organizing workshops before/during/after the conference, and enhancing scientific publications resulting from the event. “We must work together to make BIGTC even more meaningful and efficient,” he emphasized.
During the reflection session, Prof. Nor Haniza Sarmin from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia welcomed the ideas, particularly the organization of workshops, research funding, and linking the conference to reputable publications. “In Malaysia, every conference is expected to result in publications indexed by Scopus. These proposals are worth considering for future BIGTCs,” she stated.
Prof. T.T. Seretlo from Northwest University, South Africa, added that such suggestions could be further discussed together. Meanwhile, Prof. İsmail Şuayip Güloğlu from Doğuş University, Türkiye, underlined the importance of making collaborations from this conference more practical and solution-driven, especially in addressing complex issues in group theory. He expressed hope for more hands-on workshops in the future.
As Chair of the Conference, Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Yeni Susanti, S.Si., M.Si., extended her sincere gratitude to all committee members, invited speakers, and participants. “It has been a great honor for us to host the 8th BIGTC. Best wishes for your research journey, and see you again at the 9th BIGTC,” she concluded.
Several participants also shared their impressions. Prof. Rebecca Waldecker from Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, expressed that the warm atmosphere allowed participants to focus on the essence of mathematics and meaningful discussions. “Thank you for the incredible work by the committee, including everyone behind the scenes,” she said.
Dr. Manimaran from Vellore Institute of Technology, India, praised the conference’s flawless execution. Dr. Siti Norziahidayu Amzee Zamri from Malaysia appreciated the hospitality, well-organized program, and impressive food. “Thank you, it felt like coming home,” she said. Assistant Professor Rajat Kanti Nath from Tezpur University, India, expressed hope to attend the next BIGTC in person.
Agista Surya Bawana, S.Si., M.Sc. from Universitas Diponegoro also conveyed his gratitude for being part of the conference and reuniting with respected lecturers. “Some of the topics were quite challenging, but it was an extraordinary experience,” he shared.
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the official announcement that The 9th BIGTC will be hosted in 2027 at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India, by Prof. Kuncham Syam Prasad, who also gave a brief overview of the university and its mathematics department.
The conference was formally closed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mhd. Reza M. I. Pulungan, S.Si., M.Sc., Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources at FMIPA UGM. He emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge, skills, and meaningful contributions to foster international research collaboration in group theory. “I hope you enjoyed Yogyakarta. Have a safe journey home,” he said in his closing remarks.
The event concluded with a group photo session, marking the end of an inspiring and globally connected 8th BIGTC.
Keywords: BIGTC Closing Ceremony, Group Theory Research Collaboration
Author: Shafira Fauzia Untsa
Photo: Yehuda Dwi Yosafat