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.

Conflict between Turtle Conservation and Candak Sotong

Prof Ahmad Ismail look closely at the turtle before it left the nest for next nesting area

Public need to be educated continously by the authority not to disturb turtle and using bright torchlight and camera flash.

Prof Ahmad Ismail helping young turtle to identify their direction before it is free in the open sea. Orientation is very important so that the turtle will come back in the future.

Visitors release youg three day old turtle to their nature.

Everybody hope the turtle will come back to Terengganu beaches.

Female turtle leaving their uncertain nest back to the sea and may return back for next nesting

Turtle move slowly, stop few times and let their head touch the wave few times before swim in the sea. Then they will surface again before dissapeared.

Every year in April, May and June, tourist have an opportunity to observe sea turtle laying eggs on the beach especially in Terengganu. At the same time the fishermen also organise an interesting experience for visitors to candak sotong. These two activities may have conflict between conservation where bright light from fishing boat may disturbe turtle approaching beaches for nesting. Studies need to be done in order to answer this issue. Attitude of tourists who observing turtle laying eggs, eggs collection, nature and conservation, tourisms, enforcement and management are among the important subjects need to be covered.

UPM AND THE TOKYO UNIVERSITY INTENSIFY COOPERATION

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

SERDANG - Majlis menandatangani Perjanjian Persefahaman (MOU) bagi aktiviti akademik dan penyelidikan Jabatan Biologi, Fakulti Sains UPM dengan Ocean Research Institute (ORI), Universiti of Tokyo diadakan pada 25 Mei 2009 di Bilik Saintis Gemilang FS. Pihak UPM diwakili oleh Datuk Naib Canselor, Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha R Abdullah, manakala ORI diwakili oleh Prof Dr Nobuyuki Miyazaki. Majlis tersebut dihadiri oleh pegawai-pegawai kanan UPM dan juga warga Fakulti. Semoga dengan MOU tersebut, UPM akan lebih terkenal di peringkat antarabangsa. MOU dengan University of Tokyo telah diinisiatifkan oleh Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail, pakar ekotoksikologi dan biologi lautan. Fakulti Sains juga telah membuat MOU dengan Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) bagi program pertukaran pelajar. Dijangka seramai 3 pelajar FS akan ke Hong Kong pada September 2009 ini.