18 June 2019 – An International Medical University (IMU) research team had successfully secured the 2019 Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation (YPASM) Berth Support (£27,500) grant to apply molecular techniques to study fundamental ecology theories using Antarctic soil samples. Dr Mai Chun Wai, the principal investigator, received the grant from His Royal Highness Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah, Sultan of Terengganu and Patron of YPASM, at the 8th Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica. The Seminar was hosted by Universiti Putra Malaysia from 18-20 June 2019. The ceremony was witnessed by Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (Menteri Besar of Terengganu), YB Puan Isnaraissah Munirah binti Majilis (Deputy Minister of Minstry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC)), Prof Datin Paduka Dato’ Dr Aini Ideris (Vice Chancellor of UPM), invited guests, national and international polar researchers. With this grant, the IMU research team (Dr Mai Chun Wai, Dr Chong Chun Wie and Nur Alia Johari) will be collaborating with researchers from British Antarctic Survey, United Kingdom (Prof Peter Convey), University of Northumbira, United Kingdom (Prof David Pearce) and Universiad Mayor, Chile (Dr Nicola Trefault), University Malaya (Dr Cindy Teh Shuan Ju) and Sarawak Research and Development Council (Dr Ivan Yap) in this project. Nur Alia Johari, who is also a faculty member at IMU’s Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), will also embark on the expedition to Antarctic, to collect soil samples from Antarctic.
We wish them all the best in their research!
About Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation (YPASM) |
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Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation (YPASM) was established in 2012 to sustain Malaysia’s interest as well as to uphold Malaysia presence in Antarctic research. It is YPASM mission to promote and develop national as well as international collaboration in research and conversation in Antarctic Continent. YPASM Berth Support Grant is a competitive expedition grant to support Malaysian to conduct field work in Antarctic. |
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