Haze

Friday June 12, 2009
Cheras and Port Klang have recorded unhealthy air quality readings of 107 and 138 respectively

Why haze? Just another story. How we tackle the issue compared to H1N1 flu.

Studies on Adaptibility of Released Milky Stork in the Wild

In Malaysia, Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) is facing extinction in the wild . Just ten birds were recorded in 2005 at the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Perak. Among the reasons that reduced the number are human disturbance of nesting colonies, mangrove habitat loss, poaching, over predation and probably chemical contamination. In the world Milky Stork's population is estimated about 5,550 individuals and according to BirdLife classifies the species as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The majority of storks are avaiilable in Indonesia, where about 5,000 in Sumatra and about 400 in west Java. A maximum of 150, perhaps considerably fewer, are shared between Malaysia and Tonle Sap lake, Cambodia.Thus they are in deed globally threatened.

In Zoo Negara, milky stork are successfully bred. Now over 100 birds are breeding in the zoo compond and some in the special cage build for them. Wildlife Department, Zoo Negara and Department of Biology are studying the possibility of releasing this birds to the wild and supporting the population decline in their natural habitat, in this case is Kuala Gula Bird Sunctuary. Professor Ahmad Ismail now leading in studying the adaptibility of the newly released milky stork from Zoo Negara in to wild habitat in Kuala Gula.

UPM AND TOKYO UNIVERSITY INTENSIFY COOPERATION

UPM AND TOKYO UNIVERSITY INTENSIFY COOPERATION

Bernama - Tuesday, May 26
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ocean Research Institute (ORI), University of Tokyo, Japan to forge cooperation in the fields of chemistry, physics and biology, here today.
The Dean of the UPM Science Faculty, Prof Sidek Ab Aziz said the MoU also involved the exchange of researchers and information between the two universities besides organising lectures and symposiums for a five-year period.
"The MoU strengthens the cooperation which had been forged between both institutions for the past 10 years through projects led by Prof Ahmad Ismail from the Biology Department together with scientists from various organisations in Japan," he said in a statement here.
The MoU was signed by UPM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah and ORI Researcher Prof Nobuyuki Miyazaki at the Science Faculty of the UPM, here.
Prof Sidek said currently there were two UPM tutors, who were former students of the UPM's Biology Department, who were doing research for their doctorates in philosophy (PhD) at the University of Tokyo.
The University of Tokyo is one of the leading research universities in Asia which was set up in 1877 and has 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
-- BERNAMA

PETROSAINS Citizen Science Workshop 19-20 May2009

Some of the participants from PETROSAINS Citizen Science workshops showing their creativity in explaining some of Science Concepts in simple way using materials collected from the beach near Cherating, Kuantan. Their presentations were observed and commented by Prof Ahmad Ismail as an advisor to the programme.

"Malaysian Science Away Day" at Legend Resort Hotel, Cherating, Kuantan 19th - 20th May

A ) Synopsis of the session:

Program Title : Mangrove Ecosystem, Marine and Coastal Environment Exploration

Session Leader: Professor Dr. Ahmad Ismail of Biology Dept, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra, Malaysia.

Session Summary: The session aims to give participants an outdoor experience in the area of mangrove and coastal marine ecosystem. Another objective is to enrich the content of the on-going My Outdoor Science content and Citizen Science. The session will also include an invited speaker, Professor Dr. Ahmad Ismail who will lend his expertise on water-related issues and his vast array of involvement in community related projects. ProfessorDr. Ahmad Ismail is currently attached with Universiti Putra Malaysia and is the Science Advisor to our Citizen Science Program. This session will include a mangrove river cruise and observing a colony of fireflies. Fireflies or Lightning Bugs belong to the nocturnal luminous beetle family Lampyridae. Within quiet and serene surroundings, these fireflies thrive among the Berembang trees and shine like fire in the night to attract a mate. Such characteristic is an excellent example of biochemiluminesence at work and the session may include stargazing as practical outdoor science sessions in the evening.

b) Schedule of the activity as follows:

Day 1 : Tuesday 19/05/09

2.00 pm - 3.00pm Check in hotel

4.00 pm Tea break 4.15 pm

Session 2 :

"Mangrove Ecosystem, Marine andCoastal Environment Exploration" by Professor Dr. Ahmad Ismail of Biology Dept, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra, Malaysia. 5.00 pm

Session 3 :

Parallel Session 1 : Sky High

Parallel Session 2 : Water-based hands-on activities 6.00 pm

Rest / Dinner 8.00 pm

Session 4: Mangrove Ecosystem Experience 9.00 pm

Practical Star-gazing 10.15 pm

Session 5: I.F.O - Identified FlyingObject 10.45 pm

Session 6 : Egg-Life - the Protection of Marine Turtles in Malaysia

Practical Stargazing 3.00 am

Session conclude

Day 2 Wednesday 20/05/09 8.00 am

Breakfast 8.30 am

Session 7 : COL Jam Session (Research &> Development) 10.00 am

Break 10.15 am

Session 8 : COL Jam Session (Presentation) 11.00 am

Reflections 12 noon

Closure & Lunch & Check out

Wildlife and Human Conflict or ??

Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris convexus) can be seen easily in Tanjung Karang and surrounding areas. Sungai Karang Reserve Forest is one of the important hornbills habitat. Now this species living together with human being in Parit 13 near Sungai Panjang area. Some say they are pest during fruits season and some say they are attractive animals and have values for tourism. What we can do? Department of Biology try to help Wildlife Department and Public in the areas to solve this conflict and promote ecotourism and conservation.

Alumni Conference for Excellence 2009

Prof Ahmad Ismail bersama Presiden dan Exco Persatuan Alumni UPM

Persatuan Alumni UPM dan Pusat Alumni UPM telah mengadakan Bengkel Prekonferens bagi membincangkan penjenamaan semula Alumni UPM, Pengurusan Pusat Alumni dan Pengaktifan Ahli Alumni. UPM telah lama terkenal mendominasi berbagai bidang seperti pertanian, perhutanan, veterinar, pengembangan pertanian dan pendidikan. Secara amnya graduan UPM unggul dalam bidang berkenaan di Malaysia. Sebagai Alumni UPM semestinya menerajui pelbagai aspek kecemerlangan dalam kerjaya masing-masing. UPM pula mesti terus menyediakan prasarana yang mesra dan menanamkan semangat sayangkan UPM dan mengenang jasanya. Alumni seharusnya bangga dengan UPM yang terus unggul dalam menghasilkan graduan yang mampu berdaya saing di persada dunia.

International Conference on Marine Ecosystem 2009

Professor Ahmad Ismail Chairing the Forum at INCOMES 2009 Langkawi

Prof Ahmad Ismail moderator for penal discussion on the

"Transboundary approach in Sustainable and Integrated Marine Resources Management"

28 May 2009 at Awana Porto Malai, Pulangkawi, Malaysia.

From left Prof Ahmad (UPM), Prof Peter Liss (UEA, UK), Prof McMinn (HOBART), Prof Andrew (UEA, UK) and Prof Miyazaki (ORI, The Tokyo University)

Penalists with the committee members

Malaysia is a maritime country. Globalisation of knowledge on marine science is necessary. Young scientists must pick up this idea and agressively move forward for better marine ecosystems in the future. Issues of global warming, climate change, biodiversity, economy, health, food and culture should be discussed along the marine ecosystems.