PENANG, 30 September, 2019 – Director of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Professor Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai has been extended an invitation to join a Special Interest Group (SIG) under the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM).

Aileen would be joining the ASM SIG on Oceanography, which has the role of discussing and recommending initiatives to address issues relating to Malaysian oceans and oceanography such as food security, climate, health, navigation and trade.

Malaysian oceans are currently facing issues such as the overharvesting of resources, pollution, habitat destruction and effects of climate change.

She would be working with Professor Dr. Phang Siew Moi, the chairperson who leads the SIG, and is currently an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Ocean & Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya.

Aileen and others in the SIG would be responsible, among other things, in discussing, identifying, proposing and executing initiatives and collaborations under ASM with regards to the sustainability of oceanic resources.

Aileen and CEMACS have worked on issues such as the effects of climate change and pollution on marine life, awareness programmes on the dangers of jelly fish attacks and public education campaigns, among others.

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin