Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES)C308, Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIAPhone : +603-7967 4640/6995Fax : +603-7967 69949TH ISSUE | JAN-JUNE 2023IOESBULLETINEmail : [email protected]
New IOES ManagementNew Staff AppointedVisit by UniSZAUniversiti Malaya Research CarnivalTraining Course for DNA extraction, PCR and Phylogenetic AnalysisIOES Laboratory Safety Induction CourseVisit by Institute of Biodiversity & Environmental Conservation (IBEC),Universiti Malaysia SarawakVisit by Glami Lemi Biotechnology Research CentreJIRCAS-IOES Blue Carbon Initiative ProjectSeminar One Health and The Sea: Dynamics of Antibiotic ResistanceGenes in Water EnvironmentIOES Scientific Seminar Series: Comparative biomechanics ofbarnacle larvaeIOES Strategic Planning WorkshopVisit by Jiangsu Ocean University, ChinaWorkshop on China-ASEAN Belt and Road Joint Laboratory ofMariculture TechnologyConsultation Workshop to Consolidate the Taxonomy Framework ofEucheumatoid Seaweeds & Code of Nomenclature for CultivatedAlgaeGuest Lecture - The ITS2 Database: Sequence-structure phylogenticsand distinguishing speciesPublic Talk on Citizen Science - The Power of Citizen Science:Developing a Programme for Seaweed Aquaculture and ConservationIOES Webinar 2023 - Blue Carbon Restoration Opportunities andBarriersVisit by Third Institute of Oceanography, China and Nanjing Institute,ChinaSafety Briefing & Audit Occupational Safety & Health, Risk andEnvironment Centre (OSHREC)Audit Occupational Safety & Health, Risk and Environment Centre(OSHREC)Visit to BMRS by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, UM Holdings SdnBhd & JPPHBProject PULIHLatest PublicationsMedia CoveragesCongratulatory NotesTABLEOFCONTENTS2143657891 01 91 81 71 61 51 41 31 11 22 02 12 22 32 42 52 6
PROF. DR. LIMPHAIK EEMExecutiveDirectorC308, Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti MalayaPhone : +603-7967 4640 | Email : [email protected] IOESMANAGEMENTASSOC. PROF. DR.SITI AISYAH ALIASDeputy ExecutiveDirectorEMERITUS PROF. DR.PHANG SIEW MOIHonoraryAdvisorPROF. DR.HANAFI HUSSINMaritime Community,Law, Policy andGovernance ResearchUnit HeadASSOC. PROF. DR.BONG CHUI WEIMarine Biodiversityand Coastal StudiesResearch Unit HeadDR. CHEAHWEEAir-Ocean-LandInteractionStudies & ClimateChange ResearchUnit HeadDR. KISHNETHPALANIVELOOMarineBiotechnologyResearch Unit HeadIOES BULLETINISSUE 91
WELCOMETO IOESDR MONALIZA MOHD DINExpertise: Aquatic ecology(Eutrophication, AnoxiaHypoxia), BiologicalOceanography (HarmfulAlgal Blooms)P O S T D O C T O R A LR E S E A R C H F E L L O WReport on duty: 12 Feb 2023DR KARL JOHAN JOHARI CHANP O S T D O C T O R A LR E S E A R C H F E L L O WExpertise: Monsoon,Climatology, Meteorology(Tropical meteorology)Report on duty: 15 June 2023IOES BULLETINISSUE 92
A study visit was conducted by 15 Aquatic Sciencestudents from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin(UniSZA) and was accompanied by Associate ProfDr Nadzifah, UniSZA lecturer and Mr. Haziq, UniSZAScience officer.Visit5 JAN 2023BY UNIVERSITI SULTANZAINAL ABIDINBACHOK MARINE RESEARCH STATIONTo give exposure to studentsabout the oceanographicscience researchTo observe the facilitiesavailable at BMRSObjective During the study tour, all the undergraduate students from UniZSA weregiven opportunities to experience the scientific oceanography samplinginstruments such as plankton net, van-dorn water sampler, core sampler,Ekman grab, YSI multi-parameter and SCUBA equipment. They also hadthe chance to understand more about scientific laboratory instrumentssuch as Thermal cycler, flow-cytometer, microscope, CHN ElementarAnalyzer, Real-Time PCR System, TOC-TN analyzer, CO Analyzer andOptical Particle Counter and Ozone(O3) Analyzer .+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 93
Universiti MalayaRESEARCH CARNIVAL8-10 JAN 2023RESEARCH MANAGEMENT & INNOVATION COMPLEXIOES was invited to be involved as an exhibitor in conjunction withthe Universiti Malaya Research Carnival which was held on 8 to 10January 2023 at the Research and Innovation Complex, UniversitiMalaya. This carnival was officiated by YB. Datuk Seri MohamedKhaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, Ministry of HigherEducation on 9 January 2023. Among the materials exhibited byIOES are jellyfish, dugong bones, fish specimens, bioplastics,products made from seaweed and posters showing activities andresults HICoE research and each research unit at IOES and alsoHICoE posters explaining the direction of HICoE IOES research aswell as recent IOES research achievements.+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 94
Train undergraduate interns on theextraction of DNA, polymerasechain reaction (PCR) andphylogenetic analysisObjectiveTraining Course9-20 JAN 2023INSTITUTE OF OCEAN AND EARTH SCIENCES (IOES)As part of an ongoing collaboration with partner from University ofMataram (UNRAM), a training course was conducted for capacitybuilding on DNA extraction, PCR and phylogenetic analysis ofeucheumatoid seaweeds. Three researchers from UNRAM i.e. Dr EkaPrasedya, Dr Anggit Listyacahyani and Ms Tri Khairina paid a visit toIOES and brought along three undergraduate interns Bella Aprillia,Nirwana and Fitriani to be trained in IOES for two weeks. During thistraining course, the interns picked up the necessary skills for DNAbarcoding work, tips on optimization of PCR amplifications, and howto carry out phylogenetic and genetic diversity analyses. Thetraining course also generated bench fees for IOES.FOR DNA EXTRACTION, PCRAND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 95
ANGGERIK ROOM, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXThe'IOES Laboratory Safety Induction Course'was held on 7 February 2023 at 10 am, located in theAnggerik Room, Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya with 45 participants. Participants inthis course consisted of academic staff, senior research fellows, postdoctoral research fellows,research officers, research assistants, master students, PhD Students and industrial training students.The purpose of this course was to give exposure to all staff, students and laboratory users about thetraining and information they need to know before they conduct experiments/research in the IOESLaboratories. This course was launched by Prof. Dr. Lim Phaik Eem, Executive Director of IOES andchaired by Dr. Kishneth Palaniveloo as IOES Laboratory Coordinator. IOES Laboratory CourseInduction course briefing was given by Dr. Mohamed Rizman Idid, IOES Senior Lecturer with the title'Workplace Risk'while the explanation about Laboratory Induction was presented by Puan SitiFatimah Haslina Ismail, IOES Assistant Science Officer. For this course we invited Mrs. HaryaniAzahari, OSHE Science Officer, UM to give a briefing on'Scheduled Waste Management'-Do's &Don't.This course outlines the laboratory safetytraining for all laboratory users, includingstaff and students.The laboratory safety induction course isprovided by OSHE – IOES, which alsoincludes specific laboratory trainingprovided by each of the laboratories inIOES.The training will equip laboratory userswith the requisite knowledge and skillsto maintain a safe and healthy workplaceObjectivesIOES Laboratory7 FEB 2023SAFETY INDUCTION COURSE+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 96
AZALEA ROOM, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXIOES received a visit from the Institute ofBiodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC),Universiti Malaysia Sarawak on 17 Feb 2023 todiscuss the process, challenges and strategies as aHigher Education Center of Excellence (HICoE). Theresearch group consisted of four IBEC lecturers ledby Professor Dr. Mohd Azlan Jayasilan bin AbdulGulam Azad (Director of IBEC) and the discussionalso involved IOES academics and researchers.Visit from17 FEB 2023INSTITUTE OF BIODIVERSITY &ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION(IBEC), UNIVERSITI MALAYSIASARAWAK+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 97
Visit of the Glami Lemi Biotechnology Research Center(PPBGL) to BMRS today for the purpose of inspecting thestation's boat, and also visit the laboratory and facilitiesavailable at the station. This visit also provided anopportunity for both parties from BMRS and PPBGL toshare experiences, challenges and strategies inadministrative management at their respectivestations/centres.BACHOK MARINE RESEARCH STATIONVisit20 FEB 2023BY GLAMI LEMI BIOTECHNOLOGYRESEARCH CENTRE+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 98
One of the highlights for the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya duringMarch 2023 was the visit of Japanese researchers from JIRCAS, JAMSTEC, Hokkaido University, andMERI of Japan to IOES from 27 February to 24 March 2023 as part of an international researchcollaboration on Blue Carbon Initiative Project. A joint expedition of mangroves in Peninsular Malaysiaincludes a one-month-long survey of mangroves in the states of Kedah, Perak, Selangor, and Melaka.This international collaboration was funded under the joint JIRCAS-IOES project “Status of RestoredMangrove Forest Across Different Environmental Settings in Malaysia” led by Dr. Mohammed RizmanIdid (IOES) and Dr. Rempei Suwa (JIRCAS) and team members are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Aisah Hj Alias,Dr. Cheah Wee, and Dr. Kishneth Palaniveloo. The challenging yet interesting fieldwork of wadingthrough waist-high muddy shores, the arduous task of measuring mangrove tree trunks, and samplingof soils and various mangrove leaves was also financially supported by the FRGS grant on mangroveresearch of Dr. Kishneth Palaniveloo (IOES). The expedition was made successful with theparticipation of 5 postgraduate students, who tremendously helped with the preparation andorganization of the expedition.JIRCAS-IOES BlueCarbon Initiative Project27 FEB - 24 MARCH 2023Due to the encouraging interests and efforts in advancingmangrove research in Peninsular Malaysia, IOES is alsoproud to announce that an MoU between IOES andJIRCAS for a research collaboration on“Enhancement ofproduction and environmental adaptability by evaluatingcharacteristics of tropical forest genetic resources forsustainable tropical forest management” is currently in theprocess of being formalized. With a such collection ofmangrove data and specimens, the research willcontribute to Malaysia’s mangrove forest management byunderstanding the importance of their genetic resourcesand the impacts of environmental changes.+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 99
LECTURE HALL BT16, B02, INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,FACULTY OF SCIENCESeminar7 MARCH 2023ONE HEALTH AND THE SEA:DYNAMICS OF ANTIBIOTICRESISTANCE GENES IN WATERENVIRONMENTThe first series of IOES ScientificSeminars was delivered by Dr SatoruSuzuki, Professor Emeritus at theGraduate School of Science andEngineering, Ehime University, Japan on7 March 2023, entitled “One Health andthe Sea: Dynamics of AntibioticResistance Genes in Water Environment”at the Lecture hall BT16, B02 ofMicrobiology & Molecular GeneticsProgramme, Institute of BiologicalSciences, Faculty of Science.At the seminar, Professor Emeritus Satoru Suzuki explained the concept of the“One Health approach”andwhy antibiotic resistance is listed as one of the most serious issues of this concept. He shared the knowledgeof antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) dynamics in marine environments and highlighted the need to establishmitigation strategies for the ARGs risks from marine and aquatic environments to humans. He presented anexample from his research findings on ARGs in the sea, including a sulfonamide resistance gene sul4 andhorizontal transfer of plasmid pAQU1. Sul3 is less frequent and abundant than sul1 and sul2 in clinicalbacteria. However, his finding revealed that sul3 is abundant in non-culturable bacterial assemblage in thesea. Additionally, he is the first researcher who detected the newest sul4 possessed in marine bacteria. Thesefindings suggest that the seawater community is a reservoir of sul genes, and sul3 and sul4 might beoriginated in the sea. He has also shown us evidence that transferable multi-drug resistance and low copynumber plasmid pAQU1 was released by protist grazing, and the plasmid was slowly decomposed inseawater. This finding suggests that the ARGs can persist in marine environments even after the grazing orlysis of resistant bacteria.This seminar was wellattended by participantsincluding undergraduate andpostgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers,academic staff and IOESmembers. Many questionswere asked by theparticipants showing theirinterest in this topic and afruitful discussion ensued.+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 910
IOES Scientific Seminar SeriesDr Wong Jin Yung from Institute ofInformation Science, Academia Sinica,Taiwan delivered a talk for IOES ScientificSeminar Series with title\"Comparativebiomechanics of barnacle larvae\"on 8 May2023.8 MAY 2023AZALEA ROOM, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXCOMPARATIVE BIOMECHANICS OFBARNACLE LARVAE+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 911
The IOES HICoE Strategic Planning Workshop wassuccessfully held on 13 and 14 May 2023 at the EastinHotel, Kuala Lumpur. This IOES strategic planning workshopprovided a platform for IOES management and membersto plan and discuss IOES strategy and research directionespecially in the field of Air-Sea-Land Interaction andprovide an opportunity to exchange information orscientific views between project leaders, IOESmanagement and invited experts in Malaysia.IOES StrategicPlanning Workshop13-14 MAY 2023EASTIN HOTEL, PETALING JAYAThis workshop was part of the effort to planthe strategy and direction of IOES research inorder to improve the quality of research atthe national and international level. Shortterm (1-2 years), medium-term (5-6 years) andlong-term (10 years and above) directionplans were also planned in line with the visionand mission of Universiti Malaya.+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 912
VisitIOES received a visit from researchers fromJiangsu Ocean University, China on 17 May2023. They were taken to visit IOESLaboratories and were given informationabout the research carried out by IOESresearchers and students.17 MAY 2023IOES OFFICE, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXBY J IANGSU OCEAN UNIVERSITY,CHINA+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 913
Workshop onA total of 9 researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, China and Southern Marine Science and EngineeringGuangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), China held a research collaboration discussion together with IOES on May18, 2023. This visit was a collaboration to implement the China-ASEAN Belt and Road Joint Laboratory onMariculture Technology.18 MAY 2023ANGGERIK ROOM, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXCHINA-ASEAN BELT AND ROAD JOINTLABORATORY OF MARICULTURETECHNOLOGY+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 914
+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] workshop is one of the deliverables from theresearch grant funded by the Safe Seaweed Coalitionthrough Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique(CNRS). The title of this research project is GATEWAY: aGlobAl Taxonomic framEWork for the cArrageenanindustry and the project started in May 2022 and willend in December 2023.Consultation Workshop22-25 MAY 2023ANGGERIK ROOM, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXTO CONSOL IDATE THE TAXONOMYFRAMEWORK OF EUCHEUMATOIDSEAWEEDS & CODE OF NOMENCLATUREFOR CULTIVATED ALGAEThis workshop involved leading scientists inthe field of eukeumatoid seaweed taxonomy.Discussions to plan the publication of casestudies in the standardization ofnomenclature for cultivated seaweeds, and adraft of the main points were made.IOES BULLETINISSUE 915
Dr Matthias Wolf from the University of Würzburg,Germany delivered bioinformatics classes topostgraduate and intern students at BMRS.Dr Matthias Wolf has been a researchcollaborator with our institute's Associate Prof. DrLim Po Teen and Associate Prof. Dr Leaw Chui Pinsince 2010. Currently, they are collaborating ontwo research projects related to populationgenetics and phylogenetic analysis.Guest Lecture24 MAY 2023THE ITS2 DATABASE:SEQUENCE-STRUCTUREPHYLOGENTICS ANDDISTINGUISHING SPECIESBACHOK MARINE RESEARCH STATION+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 916
Public Talk on Citizen ScienceIOES organised a Public Talk on Citizen Sciencetitled The Power of Citizen Science: Developinga Program for Seaweed Aquaculture andConservation by Prof. Dr. Juliet Brodie from theNatural History Museum, United Kingdom. Thistalk took place on 26 May 2023 at theAuditorium, Complex of Advanced Studies aswell as online (Zoom Meeting) and received avery encouraging response with the participationof more than 80 participants from variousdomestic and foreign institutions.26 MAY 2023AUDITORIUM, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXTHE POWER OF CITIZEN SCIENCE:DEVELOPING A PROGRAMME FORSEAWEED AQUACULTURE ANDCONSERVATION+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 917
IOES Webinar 2023In conjunction with World Oceans Day which is celebratedon June 8 every year, IOES organised a webinar titled BlueCarbon Restoration Opportunities and Barriers by Prof.Peter Macreadie (Deakin University, Australia) moderatedby Dr Cheah Wee (IOES Senior Lecturer). Prof. Ir. Dr. ShalizaIbrahim (Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research andInnovation) officiated this webinar and a total of more than40 participants participated in this webinar which was heldonline (Microsoft Teams).8 JUNE 2023MICROSFT TEAMSBLUE CARBON RESTORATIONOPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 918
VisitA total of 9 researchers from theThird Institute of Oceanography,China and Nanjing Institute ofEnvironmental Sciences, Chinavisited IOES on June 9, 2023 for acollaborative research discussion.This visit was a collaborative effortto carry out survey research in KualaSelangor9 JUNE 2023ANGGERIK ROOM, ADVANCED STUDIES COMPLEXBY THIRD INSTITUTE OFOCEANOGRAPHY, CHINA AND NANJ INGINSTITUTE, CHINA+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 919
Safety Briefing11 JUNE 2023+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] SAFETY &HEALTH, RISK ANDENVIRONMENT CENTRE(OSHREC)BACHOK MARINE RESEARCH STATIONIOES BULLETINISSUE 92017
Audit12 JUNE 2023OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY &HEALTH, RISK ANDENVIRONMENT CENTRE(OSHREC)BACHOK MARINE RESEARCH STATION+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 921
Visit to Bachok MarineResearch StationUniversiti MalaysiaTerengganuDr Nurulnadia Bt Mohd Yusoff, lecturerat Universiti Malaysia Terengganu(UMT) visited BMRS to monitor 2 UMTstudents who have undergone 4months of industrial training at BMRS.Date: 3 Jan 2023UM Holding SdnBhd and JPPHBVisit from UM Holding Sdn Bhd, Mr.Suhaimi and representative of JPPHB'sspace assets, Mr. Faris to see thepotential of BMRS to be developed foruniversity income.Date: 24 May 2023+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 922
+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] 23IOES BULLETINISSUE 9Protecting Underwater Life throughIntegrated reHabilitationPulau Rawa (Above water):Beautiful and tranquil beach viewPhotobyAffendiYangAmriPulau Rawa (Underwater):Coral ReefPhotobyAffendiYangAmriPulau Rawa (Underwater):Preparing the Coral Nursery ‘Christmas Tree’ byProject PULIH teamPhotoby JihadWajdi MohdErfinoPulau Rawa (Above water):Preparing the Coral Nursery ‘Christmas Tree’ byProject PULIH teamPhotoby JihadWajdi MohdErfinoProject PULIH launched their ‘christmas’ tree coral rehabilitation nurseries in Pulau Rawa from 22-26th May2023. This was also in conjunction with the International Biodiversity Day on 22nd May 2023 whereby theteam transferred several specifically chosen species onto the nurseries and not only one species, which isthe normal practise for coral rehabilitation in Malaysia. The juvenile corals will be monitored throughoutthe next few years and will be transplanted to damaged areas on the natural reef of Pulau Rawa.Project PULIH thanks our collaborators at Rawa Island Resort, Orca Nation Dive Centre, RHB Islamic Bank,and permits from Department of Fisheries, without which this activity would not be able to be performed.
Latest PublicationsInstitute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES) is pleased to share the latestpublication on “A PICTORIAL GUIDE TO EUCHEUMATOID SEAWEEDCULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT FROM WILD POPULATIONS” a joint publicationwith the Natural History of Museum, United Kingdom; Scottish Associationfor Marine Science and Department of Fisheries Sabah. The guidebook ispublished resulted from the funding by UK Department for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Global Centre on Biodiversity forClimate (GCBC) project (SCG22001; IF041-2022): Innovative SeaweedAquaculture: A Nature Based Solution for Biodiversity Restoration &Poverty Alleviation in a Time of Accelerating Global Climate Change. Thework is also partially supported by the Ministry of Higher EducationMalaysia through the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE)project (IOES2014H) in the form of infrastructure and facilities.IOES BULLETINISSUE 924
MediaCoverages+603-7967 4640IOES, C308,Advanced Studies Complex,Universiti Malaya,50603, Kuala [email protected] BULLETINISSUE 925
CONGRATULATIONSThe partnership between Prof. Adrian Fisher, Cambridge Universityand Emeritus Prof. Phang Siew Moi, University of Malaya (UM), is anexcellent example of a multidisciplinary research collaboration whichhas evolved into a transdisciplinary collaboration. Prof. Adrian and histeam member, Dr. Kamran Yunus, are experts in electrochemistry,while Prof. Phang and Dr. Victoria Ng are algal physiologists, whileDr. Vengadesh is a biophysicist. Pooling their specific capabilities atthe start of the research into the development of a AlgalBiophotovoltaic (BPV) Device to generate bioelectricity from algalphotosynthesis, led eventually to both teams sharing and acquiringknowledge and skills from each other, leading to what can be termeda transdisciplinary approach when the team was awarded the NewtonPrize for Malaysia in 2017. The Cambridge team designed andfabricated the BPV devices and contributed on the electrochemistryand the harvesting of electrons from the device to generatebioelectricity. The Universiti Malaya team produced the livingcomponents, the algal biofilms, on the anodes of the BPV device,investigated their photosynthetic efficiencies and factors influencingthe rates of photosynthesis, which leads to generation of electrons tobe harvested as bioelectricity. The Cambridge team has wideexperience on understanding of the electrochemical processes ofmicrobial fuel cells, while the Universiti Malaya team had a uniqueliving Algal Culture Collection comprising algal strains isolated fromdiverse habitats.Prof. Phang is also the leading Algal Biotechnologistin Malaysia and is one of Top 2% Scientists in the World (StanfordUniversity Report, 2021, 2022).This multidisciplinary project developed a“Next Generation IntegratedAlgal BPV” (Integrated fuel cell – photobioreactor). Thesesophisticated architectures would be used to develop and envisagelow carbon technology solutions to provide point of use systems for arange of processes from chemical production to bioremediation. Theultimate realisation would be an optimised scalable approach whichcould be used to deliver a range of applications in vertical farmingsolutions in urban as well as rural areas in developing countries.A heartiestcongratulations toEmeritus Professor Dr.Phang Siew Moi and herteam for winning FirstRunner-Up in the UK- Malaysia EducationInstitutional Partnershipof the Year Award at theBritish MalaysianChamber of CommerceBusiness ExcellenceAwards 2023.FIRST RUNNER-UP INTHE UK-MALAYSIAEDUCATIONINSTITUTIONALPARTNERSHIP OF THEYEAR AWARDIOES BULLETINISSUE 926