PUSAT KAJIAN SAMUDERA & PANTAI -- Universiti Sains Malaysia

COME TO CEMACS USM TO EXPLORE GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES

PENANG, 22 July 2019 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS) is becoming the preferred choice for tropical ecosystem and sustainable aquaculture education hub.

CEMACS has been chosen by renowned universities converging from different continents to conduct summer courses. To date, the research centre has hosted 119 international students since January.

Recently, the research centre hosted a group of undergraduate students from the University of Glasgow for a period of two weeks. The participants conducted a short, but intensive, research on marine debris in managed and unmanaged reef areas in Pulau Payar and Pulau Langkawi. They also studied samples collected from Sungai Merbok mangroves.

Findings from their studies will be part of a research dissertation component for the students and which would pave the way for a collaborative research publication.

Taking the model of USM’s success in addressing the SDGs on alleviating poverty and food security, the group spent two days with the local community at Sungai Merbok for an immersive experience, learning about sustainable oyster aquaculture practices. 

Being at the forefront of marine science, CEMACS provides the institutional mechanism for mobilizing and integrating the expertise and resources of USM, with the objective of enhancing the capability of conducting integrated inter- and multi-disciplinary studies leading to solving problems relating to marine and coastal ecosystems.

Ideally located within the Penang National Park and the Straits of Malacca on its foreshore, CEMACS has direct access to tropical rain forests, mangroves and coral reefs. 

A summer course is currently under way with participants from the Northeastern University (Boston, USA) and Hong Kong University.

The team is interested in investigating the primary drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem function in rocky intertidal, mangroves and the coral reef ecosystems in South-East Asia. They will be deploying several data loggers at CEMACS and the surrounding coast to monitor selected parameters. 

According to CEMACS Director, Professor Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai, the students are not only exposed to the vast array of biodiversity in coastal ecosystems but are also given the opportunity to interact with local participants which enhances their cultural experience as well.

“CEMACS is geared up and well-prepared to move in line with the internationalization concept and vision of "Bringing the world to USM", she added.  

Text: Dr. Annette Jaya Ram and Dr. Abe Woo (CEMACS)/Editing: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

  • Hits: 1253

Centre For Marine & Coastal Studies (CEMACS),
Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Tel : 604-653 6903  |  Emel : Alamat emel ini dilindungi dari Spambot. Anda perlu hidupkan JavaScript untuk melihatnya.