Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) mourns the passing of Professor Mary Astuti, a professor at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM), on Sunday (Oct. 18). UGM expressed its final respects to the late Professor Mary during a memorial ceremony held at Balairung UGM on the same day. Professor Mary leaves behind a legacy of service to food science, particularly through her research on functional foods, soybeans, and tempeh.
Professor Panut Mulyono, Chair of the UGM Board of Professors, expressed his condolences on behalf of the university’s leadership and community. In his remarks, he remembered Professor Mary as a teacher, senior colleague, and peer whose dedication and passion for science set an example for others.
“Her dedication, knowledge, exemplary character, and love of nature and science will always live on. They will remain a continuous source of good deeds and pave the way for future scientific development,” Panut said.
Professor Mary was widely recognized as one of Indonesia’s leading experts in functional foods. She was appointed a professor at UGM in 1999, delivering an inaugural lecture titled “Functional Foods: Their Benefits and Prospects for Health and the Food Industry.” Her research on soybeans and tempeh earned her the nickname “Professor Tempeh,” reflecting her dedication to advancing knowledge of food and its health benefits.
One of Professor Mary’s major contributions was an integrated study of black soybeans conducted in collaboration with soybean experts from UGM’s Faculty of Agriculture (Agriculture UGM) between 2001 and 2007. The research resulted in Malikka, a nationally recognized superior variety. She also studied the potential of anthocyanins in black rice to prevent and improve conditions associated with chronic noncommunicable diseases, particularly diabetes mellitus.
Professor Mary’s contributions to food science were recognized with the Adhikarya Pangan Nusantara Award from Sleman Regency in 2016. She also received the Satyalancana Karya Satya XXX award from the Indonesian government in 2008. She retired as a lecturer at UGM on March 1, 2018.
Panut said Mary’s role in UGM’s academic journey would remain part of the university’s legacy of knowledge and exemplary service for its academic community. He expressed hope that her dedication and work would continue to inspire science development that benefits society.
“May Allah always protect us and guide us as we preserve and advance impactful scientific knowledge, and continue the work and aspirations of the late Professor Mary in the years to come.”
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-Editor: Priyananda
Photo: Public Relations Documentation