The Mathematics Study Program of the Faculty of Science and Technology UIN Sunan Kalijaga held a Visiting Professor event with the theme “Introduction to Mathematical Modeling Using Python”, on 5th December 2024. This event presented an international speaker, Prof. Fugo Takasu from Nara Women's University, Japan. Located at GKT Theatrical Level 4, this activity was attended by students who took applied courses such as Biological Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics, Bifurcation, and Dynamical Systems, as well as participants in the Programming Workshop that had been held previously. In addition, this activity was also attended by participants from Yogyakarta State University (UNY) and all lecturers of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Mathematics Study Program who attended and actively contributed.

The activity began with the opening by the MC then singing the Indonesia Raya song and the Hymn of UIN Sunan Kalijaga and the reading of the divine kalam and continued with remarks by the Head of the Mathematics Study Program, Dr. Epha Diana Supandi, S.Si, M.Sc. In her speech, she expressed her gratitude to various parties who have supported the implementation of this event. She also hoped that this activity would provide great benefits for all parties, especially in enriching students' insights related to technology-based mathematical modeling. He also expressed his gratitude to the speakers who have been willing to fill in the material, share knowledge, and provide motivation for this activity. The core session was guided by the moderator who is one of the Mathematics lecturers, Sri Utami Zuliana, Ph.D. The moderator opened the session by introducing the speakers, followed by the presentation of material from the speakers.

In his presentation, Prof. Fugo said that Mathematics has a crucial role in understanding various aspects of life. As an introduction, he explained how mathematical modeling can be used to study and predict population dynamics as a dynamic system. Everything that changes over time, including population size, can be modeled mathematically to provide a deeper understanding. He explained that the unit of measure of a population can include various levels, ranging from individuals, cells, to molecules such as DNA or proteins. Modeling population dynamics involves various approaches, such as differential equations, difference equations, and stochastic processes.

Prof. Fugo also highlighted the importance of calculus, linear algebra, and computer programming skills as key foundations in building and analyzing mathematical models. To support this material, he introduced numerical simulations using Python, specifically for modeling population dynamics through difference equations. Participants were given access to sample Python code that could be downloaded and customized through the online platform. Although the models shown looked simple, he emphasized that their development actually involves deep complexity. This complexity demonstrates the importance of mathematical modeling as an efficient tool for analyzing complex phenomena, which if done manually, would be extremely time-consuming.

Until the end, the activity ran smoothly and was very interactive. The participants, both students and lecturers, showed high enthusiasm through various questions asked to the speakers. In fact, many lecturers actively participated in the discussion, making the session more dynamic. As a closing statement, Prof. Fugo said that although linear models are easy to solve, non-linear models require the help of computer programs to analyze, He also motivated the participants that the best way to learn is to continue writing code as much as possible, as the key to mastering programming materials and skills.