USM professor wins Unesco award for contributions to marine science
PETALING JAYA : Aileen Tan, director of Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) marine and coastal studies centre, has been awarded the Anton Bruun Medal by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
The award is one of Unesco's most prestigious international recognitions for those who have made significant contributions to marine science.
Tan, a professor in USM's school of biological sciences, received the award at Unesco's 33rd Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Assembly yesterday.
Tan has been considered a pioneer in marine conservation and green aquaculture and was most notably the first Malaysian to successfully culture oysters via artificial spawning.
Her project generated sustainable income for fishermen in Kedah and provided an alternative livelihood for coastal communities.
She was the first female president of the Unitas Malacologica, serving from 2013 to 2016 as the head of the global society for malacologists, or scientists who study mollusks.
During the IOC assembly, Tan delivered the Anton Bruun Memorial Lecture in conjunction with receiving the award, touching on how to empower coastal communities through science and policy integration, specifically through 'ocean solutions'.
'Science connects people. People connect to nature,' she said, adding that science needed to serve humanity and not just the scientific community.
Tan also called for greater collaboration across the different segments of society to provide people-centric, inclusive and actionable solutions to various challenges faced by humanity.
Tan has long championed causes for eco-entrepreneurship and marine health throughout her career.
She served as part of the international steering committee of several organisations, such as CoastPredict, Global Ocean Oxygen Network and The Ocean Science Fund for All, among others.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Anwar's visit to Paris a success, marks revival of partnerships across all sectors, says Macron
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (front, left) shaking hands with French President Emmanuel Macron after a press conference at the Elysee Palace, Friday. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED PARIS: French president Emmanuel Macron has regarded Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's visit a success as they were jointly reviving partnerships across all sectors. Turning to the Malaysian Prime Minister, Macron said 'You have had high-level meetings with the Prime Minister (François Bayrou) and other key officials, delivered an important speech at the Sorbonne (university), engaged with civil society leaders, and met with our business community.' He said the rapprochement between the two nations' economies and shared diversification strategies were essential. Macron was referring to the newly signed project in the critical minerals and rare earths sector with the company Carester, which just opened a plant in Lacq; in transport, with the historic cooperation between Malaysia Airlines and Airbus; and also in the field of energy transition. 'In South-East Asia, I reiterated our support for regional electricity connectivity, including support for civil nuclear energy. 'I must also mention the exchanges between our artists, researchers, academics, and students — all those who bring the France-Malaysia relationship to life. New agreements are in view to continue weaving this human connection between our countries.' Anwar said the collaboration among the private sector was why Government-to-Government arrangements, exchanges with ministers, in exchange of policies should continue at the higher level. 'I think we have benefited immensely from the education, the AI, digital engineering that many of our students have been trained here. We want to further explore. We have now started to get students into Malaysia, French students and tourism also increasing,' he added.
Malay Mail
21 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Deep-sea mining may harm marine life from seabed creatures to sharks, Aussie study finds
SYDNEY, July 4 — Deep-sea mining could impact marine life stretching from the tiniest bottom dwellers to apex predators like swordfish and sharks, a major piece of industry-funded research found yesterday. The Metals Company—a leading deep-sea mining firm—paid Australia's government science agency to pore through data collected during test mining in the remote Pacific Ocean. Huge tracts of Pacific Ocean seabed are carpeted in polymetallic nodules, bulbous lumps of rock that are rich in metals used in battery production—such as cobalt and nickel. The Metals Company is pushing to be the first to mine these nodules in international waters, striving to exploit a remote expanse known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. Australia's government science agency released a series of technical reports yesterday detailing how mining could be managed. Bottom-dwellers such as sea cucumbers, marine worms, starfish and crustaceans could see 'significant declines in abundance immediately following mining', research found. Some of these species would partially bounce back within a year, but filter feeders and other tiny organisms that feast on seabed sediments showed 'minimal recovery'. 'On the seafloor, our research shows that there are substantial local impacts from different mining operations,' scientist Piers Dunstan said during a briefing. Deep-sea mining companies are still figuring out the best way to retrieve nodules that can lie five kilometres (three miles) or more beneath the waves. Most efforts focus on robotic harvesting machines, or crawlers, which hoover up nodules as they rove the ocean floor. The Australian scientists looked at how sharks and fish might be harmed by plumes of sediment discharged as mining waste. In some scenarios, apex predators could see toxic metals start to build up in their blood after prolonged exposure to these plumes. 'Long-lived top predators, such as swordfish and large sharks, accumulated the highest simulated metal concentrations,' scientists noted in one report. Risk of harm Simulations showed blood metal concentrations would not exceed international health guidelines, and impacts were less pronounced if sediment was discharged at a greater depth. 'This project helps ensure that if deep-sea mining were to go ahead, there is a clear approach to understand potential risks and impacts to marine life and ecosystems,' Dunstan said. Canada-based The Metals Company is striving to start industrial deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone within the next two years. The International Seabed Authority—which oversees deep-sea mining in international waters—has yet to adopt long-awaited rules governing the industry. The Metals Company has indicated it could forge ahead even without the authority's approval, pointing to an obscure US law that says American citizens can recover seabed minerals in areas beyond the nation's jurisdiction. The firm paid Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—or CSIRO—around US$1 million to compile the reports. CSIRO stressed it was not for, or against, deep-sea mining—but that its work would help to measure and monitor impacts should it go ahead. Energy transition expert Tina Soliman-Hunter said it was one of the 'most comprehensive' pieces of research on deep-sea mining to date. 'Without such research, there is a risk of harm from mining activities that can persist for generations,' said Soliman-Hunter, from Australia's Macquarie University. Found in international waters between Mexico and Hawaii, the Clarion-Clipperton Zone is a vast abyssal plain spanning some 4 million square kilometres (1.7 million square miles). — AFP
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Kenya launches second phase of China-sponsored youth coding initiative
NAIROBI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Thursday launched the second phase of a youth coding initiative supported by CODEMAO, a Chinese online education platform, in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The launch event marked the beginning of the initiative's second phase, which will run from 2025 to 2030. The program aims to enhance digital literacy among adolescent learners across the country. Julius Bitok, principal secretary in the Ministry of Education, said Kenya is the first country in Africa to launch the second phase of the UNESCO-CODEMAO coding initiative for youth, as part of its efforts to build a digital, interconnected and inclusive future. "To prepare our youth for the jobs and challenges of tomorrow, we must invest in digital skills today. We support initiatives that foster innovation, digital literacy, and 21st-century competencies," Bitok said. Kenya was among the African countries, including Namibia and the Republic of the Congo, that implemented the first phase of the UNESCO-CODEMAO youth coding initiative from 2022 to 2024, aimed at enhancing coding and artificial intelligence (AI) skills among students and teachers. During the first phase, junior secondary school students and their teachers received devices and hands-on training in various aspects of coding and AI, culminating in the award of certificates of recognition. Four outstanding pupils and one teacher will participate in a week-long study tour to the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen from July 9 to 16, where they will visit technology companies and engage with Chinese culture. Activities planned for the second phase include online training and mentorship designed to strengthen the coding and AI capabilities of students and teachers. UNESCO's Regional Director for Eastern Africa Louise Haxthausen said the partnership with CODEMAO has played a key role in introducing Kenyan learners to digital tools, including AI. During the second phase, students will be provided with tablets and both theoretical and practical lessons to help them harness coding and AI for innovation and leadership in the technology sector. CODEMAO Chief Executive Officer Tianchi Li said in a video message that the organization is committed to supporting Kenya's digital transformation by investing in infrastructure, training, mentorship, and exposing young learners to cutting-edge technologies.
