The Master’s Program in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Syiah Kuala, successfully held a Public Lecture on Modeling entitled “The Role of Mathematics in Climatology and Disaster Studies” on Friday, July 4, 2025. The event, conducted at the Department of Mathematics, took place from 09:00 to 11:30 AM (WIB) and was attended by students and lecturers with an interest in applied mathematics research.
The lecture featured two distinguished speakers in their respective fields. Dr. Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, S.Si., from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), opened the session with the topic “Climate Change as a Real Threat: Historical Notes on Civilization and Future Perspectives.” He highlighted the connection between climate change and social vulnerabilities such as food security and the potential conflicts that may arise.
The next session was delivered by Dr. Mahdhivan Syafwan, S.Si., from Universitas Andalas, who presented “Explicit Formula for Finite Difference Approximations of First Derivative with Arbitrary Space Grid and Its Implementation to a Boundary Layer Problem.” His presentation demonstrated how numerical methods, particularly finite differences with non-uniform grids, can be applied in modeling complex physical phenomena.
The program began with the singing of the national anthem, followed by an opening remark from the committee, the presentation of souvenirs, a group photo session, and a prayer. After the presentations, an interactive discussion took place between participants and speakers, moderated by Ms. Vera Halfiani, S.Si., M.Mat. This discussion enriched the participants’ understanding of the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing global issues through mathematical approaches.
