Yogyakarta, March 9, 2026 - Students of Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta again made proud achievements at the national level. The team of Theatre Study Program students who called themselves the “Cihuy” Team won second place in the IX Biotic Debate Competition organized by the Biology Education Study Program Student Association (HMPS) of the State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.
The scientific debate competition raised the theme “Biodiversity: Nature's Legacy, Our Responsibility”, which highlighted strategic issues related to biodiversity and human responsibility in maintaining environmental sustainability. This activity was attended by students from various universities in Indonesia and used the Asian Parliamentary Debate format, which requires participants to have critical analysis skills, scientific argumentation, and strong communication skills.
ISI Yogyakarta's delegation in this competition consisted of three students from the Theater Study Program, namely David Widi Nugroho, Fiora Alicia, and Rolla Liza Rahmadano. The three of them showed sharp debating skills and strong arguments to successfully advance to the final round and won second place in the competition.
In the final round, participants were challenged to discuss a number of strategic motions related to environmental issues and national development. The ISI Yogyakarta team obtained the motion “This Council will open land in Kalimantan in the context of the development of the Capital City of the Archipelago (IKN)” with the position as the pro team. Through comprehensive arguments, the team managed to convey a critical perspective on the relationship between national development, environmental management, and the accompanying social-ecological impacts.
This success shows that ISI Yogyakarta students not only excel in the fields of art and creativity, but also have strong intellectual abilities in responding to various cross-disciplinary strategic issues, including the environment and sustainable development. This scientific debate event is an important space for students to hone their critical thinking, scientific communication, and teamwork skills in facing increasingly complex global issues.
In addition to participating in a series of debate competitions, the participants were also involved in the Reptile Exhibition, which was part of the agenda of the Biotic Debate IX. In this activity, participants had the opportunity to interact directly with various types of animals such as snakes and bearded dragons, while gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of animal conservation and biodiversity preservation. This educational experience further enriched participants' insights into the relationship between humans, ecosystems, and environmental sustainability.
The series of activities were then closed through a closing ceremony held at the Convention Hall of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. The closing ceremony featured art performances in the form of dances and songs, which symbolized the harmonization between science, culture, and concern for the environment.
The achievements of the “Cihuy” Team are clear evidence that ISI Yogyakarta students are able to contribute to various national academic spaces, not only in the realm of art, but also in scientific discourse related to global strategic issues. This achievement also emphasizes the position of ISI Yogyakarta as an art college that not only produces art creators, but also young intellectuals who are critical, adaptive, and competitive at the national and international levels.
In the future, this achievement is expected to motivate ISI Yogyakarta students to continue to excel, be active in various academic competitions, and expand the contribution of art and creative thinking to society and sustainable development.
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