IOES Bulletin - 7th issue

IOES Bulletin

7th Issue (Jan – June 2022)

1 Courtesy Visit by Chairman, UM Board of Directors

2 Webinar 1: Traffic Pollutants and The Near-
Road Environment

3 Webinar 2: Numerical Modelling of Urban Air
Quality

4 Visit by UMCCed

Study Visit from Faculty of Bioresoures and Food

5 Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA),
Terengganu

6 Majlis Jamuan Raya & Mengenang Jasa 2022

7 InterPTj Sports

8 Workshop on Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Liquid
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (QTOF-LCMS)

9 Farewell and Congratulatory Notes

10 Happy World Oceans Day

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

DIRECTOR’S

MESSAGE

Brighter days are ahead for research activities as Malaysia enters an
endemic phase of Covid-19 starting 1 April 2022. The transition to the
endemic phase has brought relief to many researchers as it allows
Malaysians to return to near-normal life after two years battling with
the Covid-19 pandemic. Visits, fieldwork and seminars can now be
conducted in a normal routine again.

IOES was honoured to receive a visit from YAB Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar in February 2022 and we
were glad she spent time to visit our laboratories and research teams. We were proud to be able
to show our projects, works, achievements. We hope to produce excellent outcomes from this
visit to IOES.

In March 2022, IOES successfully hosted two webinars from the Urban Air Pollution Series
jointly organized with National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan and City University of Hong
Kong, focusing on the matter of Urban Traffic Pollution and Urban Air Pollution.

Our Bachok Marine Research Station (BMRS) recently received guests from Universiti Malaya
Centre for Continuing Education (UMCCed) on April 2022 and also a study visit from Faculty of
Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Besut campus on
May 2022. As one of the main marine research centres in the east of Peninsular Malaysia, BMRS
actively plays important roles not only in the research field but also in offering hospitality and
facilities that can be used by its surrounding communities.

Remarkable teamwork was shown by our IOES At the end of second quarter of the year,
staff during the social activities on Majlis
Jamuan Raya & Mengenang Jasa 2022 organized IOES managed to jointly organize a
by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research &
Innovation)'s Office and Universiti Malaya Workshop on Quadrupole Time-of-Flight
Sports Carnival (InterPTJ Sports) hosted by
Bahagian Kemudahan & Perkhidmatan Sukan Liquid Chromatography Mass
UM. For the very first time, IOES participated
in the UM Sports Carnival as a PTj and there is Spectrometry (QTOF-LCMS) with the
nothing more to say except that we are very
proud with the achievements of our staff. National Antarctic Research Centre and

For this year, IOES also has been selected as Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti
one of the auditee for Audit Kualiti Dalaman
UM under the DVC R&I’s portfolio. Even Malaya.
though we received a good audit outcome for
IOES, we are committed to strive to be much Sad and happy events are bound to
better in the future, with good quality happen; we said farewell to our Senior
management, performance and achievements. Lecturer, Dr Sahadev Sharma and heartiest
congratulations to IOES members and
staff, Prof. Ir. Dr. Shaliza Ibrahim, Prof. Dr.
Hanafi Husin and Puan Siti Fatimah
Haslina for their outstanding
achievements. IOES are very proud of you
and we also would like to wish everyone a
Happy World Oceans Day!

Professor Dr. Sumiani Yusoff

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

COURTESY VISIT BY

CHAIRMAN, UM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

8 February 2022

IOES Research Laboratories

YAB Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman, Board of
Directors of Universiti Malaya held a visit to research
laboratories under the portfolio of the Deputy Vice
Chancellor (Research & Innovation) on 8 February 2022
(Tuesday). Her arrival at IOES was accompanied by Prof
Ir. Dr. Shaliza Ibrahim (Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Research and Innovation)), Associate Professor Dr.
Chai Lay Ching (Head of Research Services Center),
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nahrizul Adib Kadri and Puan Siti
Khairiha Ibrahim.

YAB Tan Sri Zarinah was accompanied to visit the IOES research laboratory at Level 2 by Prof Dr
Sumiani Yusoff (IOES Director) and Prof Dr Lim Phaik Eem (IOES Deputy Director). She was given a
briefing on IOES HICoE projects and selected research projects such as the Zero Waste project (Prof
Dr Sumiani Yusoff ), HICoE sub -program - halocarbon gas research (Dr Fiona Keng Seh Lin), Project
PULIH Coral Rehabilitation (Mr Affendi Yang Amri), HPLC analyzer (Dr Kishneth Paniveloo) and also
several IOES postgraduate students research projects.

Books, monograph series and newsletters published by
IOES were also shown to her in addition to several
awards won by IOES researchers and postgraduate
students at the international and national levels. After
that, she was also taken to visit the Algae Research
Laboratory and a briefing about some of the algae
research results and products. Among the projects
described are the bioelectric generation project from
biophotovoltaic algal (BPV) and the UTM-UM SATREPS
project on the development of seaweed culture with cold
deep seawater.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 1
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

WEBINAR 1:

TRAFFIC POLLUTANTS AND THE
NEAR-ROAD ENVIRONMENT

Objective: To share research findings on urban traffic
pollution and potential research collaboration

25 March 2022
Platform: Zoom Meeting

The inaugural IOES webinar in 2022 was initiated with a seminar by Emeritus Prof. Dr.
Peter Brimblecombe from National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan on March 25, 2022.
He presented the results of a study on urban traffic pollution and a total of 20
participants from Malaysia, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong participated in this webinar.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 2
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

WEBINAR 2:

NUMERICAL MODELLING OF
URBAN AIR QUALITY

Objective: To share research findings on numerical modelling
on urban air pollution

28 March 2022
Platform: Zoom Meeting

IOES hosted a webinar conducted by Prof Dr Keith Ngan from City University of
Hong Kong on urban air pollution on 28 March 2022. A total of 21 participants from
various countries such as Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore
participated in this webinar using the Zoom platform. The webinar was also a
precursor to upcoming research collaborations in the field of urban air pollution
modeling.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 3
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

VISIT BY UMCCED

24 April 2022

Bachok Marine Research Station (BMRS),
Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES),
Universiti Malaya, Kelantan

A visit by Universiti Malaya Centre for Continuing Education (UMCCed) to BMRS was
led by Associate Prof Dr Zuraidah (Deputy Director of HEP) and accompanied by Puan
Nor Akidah (Assistant Manager of UMCCED), En. Wan Mohd Hanif (Executive) and
Ms. Nurhafizah (Executive Assistant). The purpose of the visit was to see the hostel
accommodation facilities for the Executive Diploma program which will be conducted
at BMRS.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 4
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

STUDY VISIT FROM

FACULTY OF BIORESOURES AND FOOD

INDUSTRY, UNIVERSITI SULTAN ZAINAL

ABIDIN (UNISZA), TERENGGANU

19 May 2022 Bachok Marine Research Station

A study tour at Bachok Marine Research Station (BMRS), Institute of Ocean and Earth
Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kelantan was conducted by students of semester two (2), year one
(1), Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Aquatic Science, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry,
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Besut Campus whom are taking the ASQ10403
Oceanography course. The visit was held on 19 May 2022 involving 20 students and 3
accompanying staff. This study tour was intended to give exposure to students about the
oceanographic science research conducted and also to observe the facilities available at BMRS.

During the study tour, all the undergraduate students from UniZSA were given
opportunities to experience the scientific oceanography sampling instruments such as plankton
net, van-dorn water sampler, core sampler, Ekman grab, YSI multi-parameter and SCUBA
equipment. They also had the chance to understand more about scientific laboratory
instruments such as Thermal cycler, flow-cytometer, microscope, CHN Elementar Analyzer,
Real-Time PCR System, TOC-TN analyzer, CO Analyzer and Optical Particle Counter and
Ozone(O3) Analyzer .

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 5
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

MAJLIS JAMUAN RAYA &
MENGENANG JASA 2022

IOES was invited to participate in Majlis Jamuan
Hari Raya dan Mengenang Jasa 2022 under the
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and
Innovation)'s portfolio. The event was held on 31
May 2022 at the Exhibition Hall, Research
Management and Innovation Complex, Universiti
Malaya.

Each department and centre under DVC
(R&I) had set up a booth which provided
different kind of food and dishes such as
lemang, rendang, varieties of mee and
desserts and also beverages. Our IOES
booth provided nasi ambeng and lontong
as the main attractions. All booths were
also beautifully decorated to compete for
The Best Raya Booth.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 6
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

INTERPTJ SPORTS

For the first time, IOES participated in the Sports Carnival between the Universiti Malaya
Responsibility Centers (Inter PTj) which took place from 7 to 30 June. IOES submitted
entries through several types of sports such as chess, dart, carom and ping pong.

Sport Category Name Achievement
Open Quarter final
Chess Norshazwana Shariff Second round
(Open) Single &
Dart Double Dr Cheah Wee First round
(Man) Dr Kishneth Palaniveloo
Single & Dr Mohd Fadzil Firdzaus Mohd Nor First round
Carom Double Mr Ong Kuan Hung
(Man)
Single & Dr Kishneth Palaniveloo
Ping Double Dr Mohd Fadzil Firdzaus Mohd Nor
pong Mr Mohd Robi Jusoh
(Man) Mr Ong Kuan Hung

Dr Kishneth Palaniveloo
Dr Mohd Fadzil Firdzaus Mohd Nor
Mr Mohd Robi Jusoh
Mr Ong Kuan Hung

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 7
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

AUDIT KUALITI DALAMAN
UM BIL. 23/2022

13 June 2022
10.00 am – 1.00 pm

UM Internal Quality Audit Activity BIL. 23/2022 for the Portfolio of the Deputy Vice
Chancellor (Research & Innovation) was performed from 7-24 June 2022. Dr Asrul
Mahjuddin Ressang from the Faculty of Civil Engineering as the head of the audit
team implemented audit activities such as interviews, document review and site
visits (laboratories and offices) at IOES on 13 June 2022 (Monday). Quality
Objectives involved in this audit were PT02 (Research Management), PT04
(Infrastructure and Property Management) and a review was also done on the
achievements of HICoE quality objectives.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 8
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

WORKSHOP ON QUADRUPOLE
TIME-OF-FLIGHT LIQUID
CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS
SPECTROMETRY (QTOF-LCMS)

28 June 2022

9.00 am – 16.00 pm

DG4 Computer Lab, Block D, Institute of Biological Sciences,
Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya

A workshop on Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Liquid
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (QTOF-LCMS) was
successfully held on 28 June 2022 and was attended by 25
local participants represented by postgraduates and
lecturers. This workshop provided opportunities for
establishing new research networks among national
researchers and act as capacity building activity for
researchers in polar science and biotechnology. This
workshop was sponsored by Ganofarm R&D Sdn Bhd and
MIP Hardware and was jointly organized by National
Antarctic Research Centre, Institute of Ocean and Earth
Sciences and Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti
Malaya.

This one-day, hands-on workshop on Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Liquid
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (QTOF-LCMS) analysis of fungal extraction data
was conducted face to face and using computer software. At the end of this workshop,
participants were able to design experiments and analyze QTOF-LCMS data, especially
for the discovery of new chemical compounds. This workshop was designed for
bioinformaticians, biochemists, biomedical researchers, and postgraduate students.

Objectives:

To deliver lectures on the fundamental principles of QTOF-LCMS.

To provide lectures on the “tips dan tricks” of planning and running
QTOF-LCMS experiments to researchers.
To conduct a hands-on practical session of computational analysis of QTOF-
LCMS data from selected fungi in relation to climate change studies

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 9
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

WORKSHOP ON QUADRUPOLE
TIME-OF-FLIGHT LIQUID
CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS
SPECTROMETRY (QTOF-LCMS)

Expected Outputs:

Promoting the expertise of IOES / NARC/ ISB researchers

Attract potential postgraduate students and research collaborators

Capacity building activity for researchers in polar science and
biotechnology

Building new research network among national researchers

Publication of an instruction manual on QTOF-LCMS analysis

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teoh Teow Chong giving a Participants during the practical training
lecture on the “Fundamentals of QTOF- session and trying to analyse data using

LCMS and sample preparation” the Mass Hunter Workflow Software.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 10
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

FAREWELL

A farewell party was held as our appreciation to Dr Sahadev Sharma on 7 Jan 2022. Dr.
Sahadev began his career at IOES, UM on 6 April 2018 as a Research Fellow and was
promoted to Senior Lecturer on December 13, 2019. His expertise covers mangrove
forest biogeochemical cycle and ecophysiology, global change biology and climate
change and environmental impact assessment.

We appreciate your years of service to IOES. We wish you
the very best of luck on your future exciting adventure.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 11
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

CONGRATULATIONS!!

On the 28th of May, Lex Aquatica and ECOLAWGY UM had successfully conducted
the final rounds of the Malaysian Marine Environment Public Policy & Law Review
Competition (MPPLC) 2022. Team "Meadows Moo Moo" consisting of Geoffrey Jerry J
Mosiol, Learani Augustine and Nur Afiqah Dharwisyah from the Faculty of Law, UM
and the Institute of Earth and Ocean Sciences (IOES), UM respectively, were
awarded as champions for their presentation entitled “The Roadmap to Cleaner Seas:
A look at mitigation through better waste management systems”.

They identified two main issues pertaining to marine debris, which were
mismanaged waste and uncertainty in marine debris flow. The solutions include
marine spatial planning, mandatory waste sorting, funding of strategic research,
improving the coordination between managing agencies and including the local
communities in management and decision-making. In the semi-finals, they
presented a review on the state of seagrass meadows and recommendations towards
legislative amendments in state and resource governance. According to the team
members of "Meadows Moo Moo", they froze in disbelief when they were called to
claim the first prize. The team’s goal throughout the journey was really to just
highlight the importance of undervalued marine ecosystems and the issues
surrounding them, and have policies reflect that. They are glad to be given the
opportunity to participate in something that works towards these issues.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 12
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Prof. Ir. Dr. Shaliza Ibrahim has been
appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Research and Innovation) on 14 Feb 2022

Our Maritime Community, Law, Policy
and Governance Unit Head, Prof Dr
Hanafi Hussin has been promoted to
Professor on April 2022

Puan Siti Fatimah Haslina Ismail (IOES
Assistant Science Officer) has been
awarded Bachelor of Social Science
(Honours) in the 59th USM Convocation
Ceremony, 21-31 May 2022

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 13
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Issue 7

HAPPY WORLD OCEANS
DAY (8 JUNE)

World Oceans Day is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a
better future. It is celebrated on 8th June every year. The theme of World Oceans
Day for 2022 is 'Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean '.

IOES Research Officer, Mr. Affendi Yang Amri was interviewed by Astro Awani
regarding World Oceans Day which was celebrated on 8 June.

C308, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Email: [email protected] Call Us: + 6 0 3 - 7 9 6 7 4 6 4 0 14
Advanced Studies Complex, Universiti Malaya, Website: https://ioes.um.edu.my
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia