On Friday, August 29, 2025, the Master of Science and Doctoral Program (MD) of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) in collaboration with the Department of Economics, FEB UGM, held a public lecture on the engaging topic “Master Course in Research Method: What Can Researchers Learn from Chess?” featuring Dr. David Smerdon (Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland’s School of Economics) as the keynote speaker. This event was held offline from 9:00–11:00 a.m. WIB in the BRI Auditorium, 3rd Floor of the Master of Science and Doctoral Building, FEB UGM.
In his presentation, Dr. David outlined the relationship between chess strategy and scientific research approaches. He emphasized how researchers can learn from chess principles, from move planning and decision-making under uncertainty to long-term strategic thinking, to improve the quality of research that is more systematic, creative, and impactful.
He also provided concrete examples of the steps in a chess game, from a well-planned opening, adaptive midgame strategy, to the decisive endgame, and related them to the research process, which requires thorough initial planning, dynamic data management, and strong conclusions. The discussion provided inspiring insights for participants to develop more tactical, strategic, and reflective thinking in their academic research journeys.
During the discussion session, participants demonstrated high enthusiasm by raising various critical questions related to the application of chess principles in research. Dr. David emphasized that chess not only trains cognitive skills such as concentration, memory, and pattern analysis, but also teaches the importance of tactical thinking and anticipating several moves ahead. Similarly, in research, a researcher is required to formulate hypotheses, predict various possible outcomes, and prepare alternative strategies when faced with data uncertainty or methodological constraints. The event concluded with a group photo session of the speakers, moderator, and all participants, capturing valuable moments from this public lecture.