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Malaysia participates in the Antarctic research

Malaysia participates in the Antarctic research

Tuesday, 08/08/2023

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About 500 participants comprising researchers, scientists, policy makers, and students from local and overseas universities took part in 2023 International Forum on Antarctic and Climate Change to present their research findings and discuss the best solutions for managing the global climate change issues.

The event is a follow-up to the Paris Climate Agreement, signed by 196 countries during the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris on 12 December 2015 as part of the effort to protect and conserve the environment.

The Antarctic, which stores about 90 percent of the earth’s fresh water in the form of water layers, glaciers, and ice cubes, is being negatively affected by the global warning, and this will lead to problems on earth, including extreme draught, heat waves, and big floods.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has been collaborating with Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation (YPASM) to put Malaysia as one of the countries that cares about the global climate change through research related to the Antarctic.

YPASM’s Board of Trustees in its meeting in December 2020 agreed to choose UMT as the place for its Antarctic Science Chair. UMT Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said UMT is grateful for the recognition.

“The establishment of the chair is part of the strategies to make Malaysia’s contributions towards scientific research at the Antarctic more significant and acknowledged by the Antarctic Treaty that is responsible for matter related to the Antarctic.

“UMT is committed to organizing programmes that focus on the Antarctic issues and hopes that they will bring positive impacts to Terengganu and Malaysia, as we attempt to create awareness among the people of the influence of the Antarctic on the climate change everywhere in the world including Malaysia,” said Prof. Mazlan during the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 International Forum on the Antarctic and Climate Change at Sultan Mizan Hall, UMT, today.

The ceremony also saw Professor Dr. Martin J. Siegert from Imperial College, United Kingdom, appointed as the holder of the Antarctic Science Chair, based on his expertise in geology and glaciology.

Dr. Sigert said all parties, including individuals, agencies, and organizations, need to take the responsibility in managing the global warming issues.

“When ice melts, it moves to the oceans and causes an increase in water level. This indirectly contributes to an extreme case of global warming.

“Scientists estimated that sea level has risen at least half a metre during this century.

“If we do not stop the activities that are contributing to the current global warming, the sea level may rise to two metres or more in the future, which will affect the world including Malaysia.

Meanwhile, a researcher from UMT’s Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), Professor Gs. Ts. Dr. Aidy @ Mohamed Shawal M Muslim, was awarded with a YPASM research grant amounting to RM100,000 to conduct research titled Remote Sensing Big Data Analytics for Detailed Geological Mapping in Exposed Zones of Dry Valleys, South Victoria Land, Antarctic.

Also present at the opening ceremony was Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Salleh Mohd Nor, member of the Board of Trustees of YPASM.

 

Prepared by:

Amirul Salam Hasan

Corporate Communications Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

 

Published by:

Corporate Communications Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu