The SPECTRA 2025 (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for Sustainability) international conference, organized by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of Semarang State University (UNNES), was successfully held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. This global scientific event carried the overarching theme “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for Sustainability: Bridging Innovation and Global Challenges,” reflecting UNNES’s commitment to bridging academic innovation with global challenges towards a sustainable future.
Held as a hybrid format, SPECTRA 2025 combined offline participation at the UNNES Sekaran campus in Semarang and online sessions from various countries. It attracted 323 participants, consisting of 178 presenters and 145 non-presenters. Academics, researchers, and education practitioners from 15 provinces in Indonesia, as well as Malaysia, Japan, and Brunei Darussalam, actively participated in the forum. They share ideas, research results, and innovative concepts in science, technology, engineering, and education to address various sustainable development challenges.
This event featured prominent international keynote speakers, including Prof. Dr. Ruzaina Syed Aris from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Satoshi Kusaka from Naruto University, Japan, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ian Yulianti, M.Eng., from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UNNES. Invited speakers from the University of Brunei Darussalam, Miyazaki University, Japan, and Semarang State University were also present, providing scientific contributions through presentations of the latest research findings and opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
In his remarks, the University Secretary, Prof. Dr. Sugianto, emphasized that SPECTRA 2025 is a concrete manifestation of UNNES’s commitment to strengthening global scientific networks while supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “SPECTRA is not just a conference, but also a call to academic action to connect science and innovation with the values of sustainability. Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration, we contribute directly to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in the areas of quality education, industrial innovation, clean energy, and climate action,” he said.
This activity is chaired by Dr. Ellianawati, M.Sc., who leads the committee with a collaborative spirit and a vision of sustainability. The success of SPECTRA 2025 is also supported by a number of strategic partners, including MathCityTrail led by Dr. rer.nat. Adi Nur Cahyono, STEM EduCenter led by Arif Widiyatmoko, S.Pd., M.Pd., Ph.D., and the Child-Friendly Center for Higher Education Innovation (PUI-PT) led by Prof. Dr. Isti Hidayah, partners PT Wiralab Analitika Solusindo, PT Smart Mitra Solution, and Ecoprint UNNES. The moral, financial, and institutional support from these sponsors is an important key to the success of the conference.
As a transformation from the International Conference on Mathematics, Science, and Education (ICMSE), SPECTRA 2025 marks a new milestone for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at UNNES in expanding the horizons of cross-disciplinary and cross-national scientific collaboration. Embracing the spirit of “Fall seven times, stand up eight,” SPECTRA 2025 inspires scientists and educators to continuously innovate, adapt, and contribute to a sustainable world.
Adding to the excitement of the event, SPECTRA 2025 also featured dance performances depicting Indonesia’s cultural diversity and angklung performances from the FMIPA UNNES Arts Student Activity Unit (UKM Seni). The harmonious blend of traditional music and dance movements created a warm, colorful atmosphere that captivated the guests, including participants from abroad. This artistic performance served as a tangible symbol of the synergy between science, art, and the values of cultural conservation that underpin UNNES’s identity as a conservation-minded university.
With the spirit of Science for Sustainability, Innovation for Humanity, SPECTRA 2025 affirms UNNES’ position as a conservation university committed to providing science and innovation for the advancement of the nation and the benefit of the world.
