Library Science Student Association Holds Seminar on Scientific Writing

Yogyakarta, Saturday, 3 May 2025 – The Student Association of the Library Science Study Program (HMPS Ilmu Perpustakaan) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta organized a Seminar on Scientific Writing titled “Academic Literacy Awareness: Enhancing Essay and Journal Writing Skills in the Digital Era”. The event, held in the Teatrikal Room of P2B UIN Sunan Kalijaga, aimed to strengthen students’ writing skills in facing academic challenges in the digital age.

The seminar was opened by the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Ari Widianto, who emphasized that literacy is a fundamental need for every individual in order to think clearly and bring about well-founded change. He underlined that academic literacy is not only about reading, but also about the ability to express ideas in systematic, critical, and responsible writing.

Scientific writing as a basic academic capital

Following the committee chair’s remarks, the Chair of the Library Science Student Association, Abdullah Shobri Bonok, delivered a speech highlighting that the ability to write scientific works is a basic capital for students in their academic journey. He expressed hope that through this seminar, participants would gain greater confidence and enthusiasm for writing.

Vice Dean for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, Dr. Syamsul Arifin, M.Ag., also gave a motivational address. He reminded participants that students of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences are widely recognized through their written works, many of which have been published in leading media outlets. He encouraged students to continue writing and to view scientific writing as a medium for contributing ideas to society.

Writing is a skill to be trained, not an innate gift

The seminar presented Intan Elok Okti Wardani—known by her pen name Inel Iskandar—a literacy activist and founder of the Bengkel Sastra IAIN Madura, as the main speaker. In her presentation, she emphasized that writing is not a talent one is born with, but a skill that must be trained continuously. She explained the differences between essays and scientific journal articles, while providing practical tips on how to write creatively.

To further motivate participants, Inel referred to the theory of James W. Pennebaker on the power of self-expression through writing. She also discussed common obstacles in writing, such as laziness, environmental influences, and the difficulty of breaking away from a habit of reading only fiction. At the end of her session, she introduced a nature-based creative education approach as a method to foster literacy interest from an early age.

Encouraging sustained writing practice

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session and a group photo with the speaker and participants. Through this seminar, organizers hope that participants will be more motivated to continually develop their scientific writing skills through regular practice. The activity also affirmed the commitment of HMPS Ilmu Perpustakaan to supporting students in developing academic competencies that are relevant to current and future scholarly demands.

Writers:

M. Azky Fuadi Z A (afz) & Athallah Akmal B. (akb)