Another commitment to educate public to protect rivers

DUNGUN 29 Ogos - Sungai Paka yang menghilir di kawasan pembangunan industri minyak dan gas menjadi salah satu fokus Petronas Gas Bhd. menzahirkan sebahagian daripada komitmennya dalam menyemarakkan kecintaan masyarakat terhadap alam sekitar.

Syarikat tersebut meneruskan Kempen Sayangi Sungai Paka yang dicetus beberapa tahun lalu bagi menghidupkan semula sungai kedua terpanjang di daerah ini, sebagaimana wajah asalnya dengan penglibatan bersama masyarakat dalam menjaga dan memulihara khazanah alam itu

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/sains-teknologi/alam-sekitar/sayangi-sungai-paka-1.520666#ixzz4rIxDlYhD © Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

We need to change mind set of old society and not inherited to the young one. River for clean water and supporting our life. River can control flood. We need buffer zone to protect rivers and no development near the rivers. All authorities are needed and working together to support activities protecting rivers and clean the rivers.

SEBANYAK 1,000 pokok bakau akan ditanam PETRONAS Gas Berhad (PGB) di sepanjang Sungai Paka, Dungun tahun ini sebagai benteng hakisan sekali gus melindungi kawasan pesisiran daripada ribut dan angin kencang.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PGB Kamal Baharin Ahmad berkata, ketika ini, sebanyak 300 pokok sudah ditanam bagi fasa pertama manakala selebihnya akan ditanam menjelang akhir tahun ini.

"Pokok ini akan menjaga daratan atau tanah daripada dihakis disebabkan fenomena pasang surut serta gelombang air sungai.

"Program ini dijalankan dengan kerjasama pelbagai agensi dan masyarakat setempat sebagai satu aktiviti dalam menzahirkan komitmen terhadap pemulihan alam sekitar," katanya ketika ditemui selepas merasmikan Program Sayangi Sungai Paka di Kampung Pinang Merah, Paka, Dungun, hari ini.

Turut hadir, Pengurus Besar Petronas Wilayah Pantai Timur, Wan Mohd Hasnan Abdullah, Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Dungun, Shahidan Embok dan Pengerusi Penasihat Alam Sekitar, Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail.

Kamal Baharin berkata, selain menanam pokok, pihaknya turut membuang 1,000 biji mudball (bebola lumpur) ke dalam sungai berkenaan.

"Mudball ini adalah campuran tanah liat dengan bahan organik, molasses, mineral dan bakteria berfaedah bertujuan memecah molekul sisa sampah, lumpur dan logam berat,” katanya.

Artikel ini disiarkan pada : Selasa, 29 Ogos 2017 @ 9:39 PM

I cannot write about what my friend say during his retirement speech. BUT I thank him and all the teachers, parents and the students who supporting my ideas when I was the Chairman of Parent Teachers Association and the committee for nearly 10 years.Thank you Mr Lim Eng Tai

Continuous talk to schools in my programme "one month one school" in Since Motivation and Environmental Education. I am very SURE teachers must have a systematic training programme in science and technology base on topics if Government really want to promote STEM and STI for our develope nation.

Working for independent was the history. Maintain the independent is very tough. Need all support and understanding. Are we independent enough in making decision for our people and the country?

We can check our quality of leadership in order to achieve the excellence

Coca-cola continue marketing their products by launching a special edition in-conjunction with Malaysian National Day.

Conservation need coordination by the Federal and application by the States. Scientists and NGOs must continue to play roles. Education for knowledge, awareness and practice must continue.

That report released Thursday ranks countries that generate the most plastic debris into the oceans, with Asian nations taking 13 out of the top 20 spots. Using World Bank data on 192 coastal countries, researchers estimated that China, the most populous nation, has the most mismanaged plastic waste per year and also generates the most plastic debris that end up in the ocean at 28%. Mismanaged waste means the material is littered or not properly disposed of-- meaning there isn't a formally managed waste management system.wHAT WE CAN DO??? Just look and listen and talk? we need to take actions on producer, consumers, and the authorities. AND the NGOs.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/12/world/ocean-trash-pollution/index.html

It is not ceremony but a continuous task to develop more young scientists. Malaysia should coordinate all competition that organised individually. There are two ways; call all winners and compete at one event such as MyCYS (Malaysian Conference of Young Scientists) OR based on number of winning in the competitions and strong in fundamental sciences.

One year a go on my daughter's wedding

Just for memory. May be MASDEC need to be reestablished

The seniors and the juniors talking about sustainability. W need to have regular meeting with retired top scientists in the country so that the knowledge and experience can be shared..

Nyamok talk with alumni who expert in mosquitoes.

Another contribution for PPA to protect academician in the university: Issues and welfare especially work load and promotion.

My continuous contribution in nature education and conservation through Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

Climate change crisis is real?: What is our concern about climate change, what is our preparation to face climate change, any research on climate change, how far Malaysia are concern about climate change OR just a ceremonial when we have a problems of flood or drought? We cannot wait until we lost our life and biodiversity. We need to convince the world that Climate Change is real and will cause world's disaster.

https://wilfredmadiustangau.com/2017/08/20/climate-change-crisis-is-real/

British and American science foundations last year announced a collaborative field campaign of more than USD 20 million (RM 85.9 million) starting 2018 to deploy advanced equipment to assess the status of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, which threatens to raise global sea level by four feet. Malaysian scientists are also closely observing the stability of ice shelves in the continental west. Malaysia’s involvement in Antarctica research almost a year ago, after the successful commencement of 2016 Open Science Conference and the 34th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Biennial Meetings held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, which hosted close to 1,000 local and international delegates.In 1997 the Cabinet agreed that the country should embark on research in Antarctica with a focus in climate change and biodiversity. This active research programme and our strong international links in Antarctica research paved the way for us to join the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in 2002 as an observer.We have come a long way but a successful one in Antarctica research, producing 176 graduates and postgraduates in this field where they are welcome to establish scientific working relationships with international counterparts such as from New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, South Africa and Chile.

Not only we are now on the world map in polar science, we are at the forefront of climate change and biodiversity research. Malaysia is one of the most megadiverse countries in the world, ranking 12th. Yet we are also obliged to protect the environment beyond our shores. What goes around comes around!

I am glad that Malaysia has adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal through the Paris Climate Conference (COP21), and pledging to cut 45 per cent of our greenhouse emission by 2030.

STEM or Science Streams at Schools: We can tell the story, talk about the philosophy of STEM and condemn the government policy BUT if the implementation is not right we only can dream and talk. We must have the strong commitment with high knowledge and skills of the teachers. Teachers must be trained a specific subjects and topics on teaching of science, not just the theory but the practicals and innovation in teaching approaches.We need to do it now!!!

https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2017/08/270000/why-do-kids-avoid-stem-route

The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 aims at, among others, improving the learning and teaching process of science and mathematics-related subjects to get more students to enrol in science streams.

Despite having the 60:40 ratio target of having more students to enrol in science streams since the 1960s, the government has not been able to achieve it.

The Education Ministry (MOE) must, without any further delay, revamp the way teachers teach 
science and mathematics in schools.

It must focus on developing the students’ higher order thinking skills, encourage project-based systems and the use of ICT-based games to make learning fun.

There should be more hours allotted to science subjects so that teachers can carry out inquiry-based science approaches.

The MOE should also give schools greater autonomy in choosing textbooks and in implementing the science curriculum.

Last but not least, STEM teachers should be given access to continuous professional development on delivery methods to encourage inquiry thinking.

Most of seniour government officers are graduated from the universities. May be we need to train them on the integrity and professionalism. The must work according the scope and their tasks profressionally.

Just lucky to be invited as the Judge for national Science Challenge 2017. We need sponsors for this programme and need to improve the quality in term of basic, applied and general knowledge about science among schools form four students in the country. We already improved a lot in science but number of interested young generations are still behind the target.

We need basic studies before technology and innovation. We cannot just copy from others. In developed countries they have studied in detail about their waters issues especially related to drinking water, agriculture, industry and environment. Therefore the can develop precise technology for their country. We are not their country. Our landscape and nature are different. We cannot just import their technology.

Do we really need incinerator? OR we have alternative which higher technology and environmentally friendly?

http://www.consumer.org.my/index.php/development/environment/548-malaysia-must-say-no-to-waste-incineration

May be we should look at how many people cited or reading you papers instead of counting numbers and Q1 or Q2 journals or how much money you spent for your research. We need recognition to be recognised.

Continuous contribution for the welfare of academician. Need more time and freedom to allow your brain working at the highers capacity. Not under control. Please look ant the work load and fulfill the KPI of the institution. The KPI is automatically fulfilled if the academician have more freedom in teaching and looking for good findings and publication and sharing with public and industries..

August 12 is World Elephant Day. Main issues are poaching, illegal ivory trade and conservation. Protecting habitat especially in the countries that high elephant population, use of elephants in industry and poaching are active such as Myanmar. Education and awareness are important.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40323201

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40899987

http://www.eleaid.com/country-profiles/elephants-burma/

Building is one thing BUT maintaining is another important thing. May be we can prepare from now training engineers how to maintain the railway systems.

may be we like to remind others about the price, technical and product control in tyre industries. We cannot complain if we just use the tyre and not thinking of making own tyre, sell it and know how to change tyres.

May be we need to assess the status of our environment in term of quality, biodiversity and quality of enforcement. Do not forget our contribution to the environmental quality. How far we practice recycle, monitoring our own environment and support the government efforts on environment.

Fighting for better lecturer's salary scheme. BUT still not concluded, taking long time and winding procedures, and may be hanging some where, At lease I contributing something through MAAC before I retire. May be younger lecturers will get the benefit later. AND they should learn to thanks the seniour leaders.

With tame Komodo in captivity. Need more research and conservation programme. More Malaysian needed in wildlife conservation research.

The Komodo dragon^[4] (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar.^[5] A member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae, it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres (10 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms (150 lb).^[5]

Their unusually large size has been attributed to island gigantism, since no other carnivorous animals fill the niche on the islands where they live.^[6][7]However, recent research suggests the large size of Komodo dragons may be better understood as representative of a relict population of very large varanid lizards that once lived across Indonesia and Australia, most of which, along with other megafauna,^[1] died out after the Pleistocene. Fossils very similar to V. komodoensis have been found in Australia dating to greater than 3.8 million years ago, and its body size remained stable on Flores, one of the handful of Indonesian islands where it is currently found, over the last 900,000 years, "a time marked by major faunal turnovers, extinction of the island's megafauna, and the arrival of early hominids by 880 ka [kiloannums]."^[1]

As a result of their size, these lizards dominate the ecosystems in which they live.^[8] Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals. It has been claimed that they have a venomous bite; there are two glands in the lower jaw which secrete several toxic proteins. The biological significance of these proteins is disputed, but the glands have been shown to secrete an anticoagulant. Komodo dragon group behaviour in hunting is exceptional in the reptile world. The diet of big Komodo dragons mainly consists of deer, though they also eat considerable amounts of carrion.^[5]Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans.^[9]

Mating begins between May and August, and the eggs are laid in September. About 20 eggs are deposited in abandoned megapode nests or in a self-dug nesting hole.^[5] The eggs are incubated for seven to eight months, hatching in April, when insects are most plentiful. Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable and therefore dwell in trees, safe from predators and cannibalistic adults. They take 8 to 9 years to mature, and are estimated to live up to 30 years.^[5]

Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists in 1910.^[10] Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo exhibits. In the wild, their range has contracted due to human activities, and they are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.^[2] They are protected under Indonesian law, and a national park, Komodo National Park, was founded to aid protection efforts.  From Wikipedia

Why durian now is expensive? tasty, more people like durian? fertiliser?, pesticides, labor? of just expensive? If many people like durian in the world may be we need more technology.

another collaboration for research in biology.

Delegates form Biology Dept, Fac of Science UPM in 2nd International Conference in Bioscoences Universitas Pertanian Bogor from 8-9 August 2017.

● knowledge and expertise sharing
● initiating MOA on student and staf exchange
● strengthen the research collaboration

Picture and text from Mus fb

People are starting quoting works on medaka. Do we know that two PhD thesis on Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus) were produced from the Department of Biology Universiti Putra Malaysia?

"While most researchers are concerned with fishes as a food source and their work involves enriching the body of aquaculture knowledge, there are some who are interested in their diversity, distribution patterns, ecology and functional physiology. Recently, there has also been an overwhelming interest in the molecular constitution of fishes (Wong et al., 2011;Pereira et al., 2013;Rakshit et al., 2015Quraishia et al., 2015) and their function as biological indicators to monitor waterbody pollution (Fonge et al., 2011;Khodadoust et al., 2013;Authman et al., 2015). Correspondingly, the interest in fish has expanded exponentially, and the ichthyology discipline is often sought to contribute too many other fields of studies (Padilla and Williams, 2004;Lauder et al., 2007;Feist and Longshaw, 2008;Rudkowska et al., 2010). "

May be this is one way to assess or grading the achievement of academician. How many mappers published, read and cited by others. But who knows. Our leaders just like to listen from others or what people say about some one. They do not look at the true documents.

Five years ago I was thinking to make UPM campus as no motor vehicles and everybody use bicycle and walking on campus. This is part of the green campus initiative. University adopted the ide but not yet fully implemented. In fact UPMM won the KURSI KSN for the green campus initiative. Why I proposed to the university. Because University usually create new ideas and living styles among public and civilise society. I hope one day less smoke and heat on campus and at least practice it if NOT recognise my ideas.

keep working and keep chasing for higher ranking among the world class universities. We need to study in detail the criteria of the World Class University in term of quality staff, quality students, quality management and financial strength.

Something I started to develope in 2014. BUT until now still dreaming. These professors from Belgrade University are working under very tight financial assistance, They work on very basic research in entomology, ecology and limnology. May be we can learn from them. We Malaysian like to follow what others are doing NOT thinking what to adapt to our environment. About time we need to change as a preparation for Developed Country beyond 2010 and TN 50

It is very expensive to organise activities in Royal Belum. But if many agencies supported and coordinate by NGO or one agency, we can give more education and publicity to the public especially the young generation. PUT it in TN50.

We need more aggressive action on research and education to protect and conserve Belum Temenggor Forest Complex. Promoting ecotourism at Royal Belum alone is not enough. More money needed and identify right experts and recruiting the young one.