The Biology Study Program, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, organized a General Lecture entitled “Looking for the bats: An experience sharing on the detection and observation methods” on Thursday, August 28, 2025. This event was part of the Visiting Lecturer Program under the World Class University (WCU) initiative of FSM, featuring Dr. Lim Lee Sim from Universiti Sains Malaysia, who has long been engaged in bat research. The lecture was attended by lecturers, students, and researchers from various institutions.
The two-hour session was moderated by Rizki Sandhi Titisari S.Si., M.Si., and officially opened by Prof. Drs. Sapto Purnomo Putro, M.Si., Ph.D., Head of the Department as well as Head of the Biology Study Program. In his remarks, Prof. Sapto emphasized that the collaboration between the Biology Study Program of UNDIP and the Biology Section, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, has been established since last year, and this general lecture serves as one of the tangible implementations of that partnership.
In her presentation, Dr. Sim shared her experiences and the modified methods she applied for bat observation and detection, which must be adjusted according to habitat, target species, and research objectives. She explained three main stages in bat observation: determining the research objectives, designing the observation method, and selecting the appropriate devices. Bat observation commonly involves roost and species identification, colony size estimation, studying activity and behavior, health conditions, and ecological requirements. The main equipment used includes binoculars, hand counters, mobile phones, and bat detectors.
In addition to the main lecture, the session was enriched by supplementary insights from Prof. Ibnu Maryanto (BRIN) on the biogeography of bats in Indonesia. The discussion that followed raised several intriguing topics, such as the relationship between bats and COVID-19, domestication, and bat behavior in ecosystems.
Through this Visiting Lecturer activity, FSM UNDIP and the Department of Biology not only broadened students’ academic insights but also created opportunities for research and strengthened international partnerships with leading institutions in Southeast Asia.