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Flyer for Annual Aquaculture Seminar “Towards a

Pathogen-Free Environment and Good

Management Practice in Aquaculture”.

5.0 Activities organized by AKUATROP in 2008

5.1 Annual Aquaculture Seminar

AKUATROP for the 3rd time has successfully organized seminar on Aquaculture “Towards a Pathogen-free Environment and Good Management Practice in Aquaculture”. The objectives of this seminar are to expose participants to various aspect of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) and the management of animal health. This aspect is important especially for farmers who are involve in aquaculture sector. This seminar also teached the participants how to handle and control their cultured organisms if there is any occurence of disease. This seminar also provided explaination to the participant about several techniques in aquaculture including the new technologies that can help them to improve their work. This seminar is parallel with the needs of National Aqriculture Policy (NAP) which is to improve the aquaculture sector in Malaysia. This seminar was attended by lecturers, researchers, post graduate student, farmers, staff and etc.

This seminar opening ceremony has been done by Vice Chancellor Y. Bhg. Prof. Dato‟ Dr. Sulaiman bin Md. Yassin, on 5th November 2008 at Mahyuddin Auditorium, FPE. Five lecturers are invited which is Prof. Dr. Patrick Sorgeloos from Ghent University, Prof. Dr. Glenn Bristow from University of Norway, Dr. Agus Kurnia from Haluoleo University, Indonesia, Dr. Anil Chatterji, UMT and Mr. Ung Eng Huan from Global Satria Sdn. Bhd.

This two days seminar is including lectures and hands on practical. On the first day, lectures session is delivered by 5 local and international inviting lecturers. Whereas for the second day, two international lecturer doing some practical that be held on Biodiversity laboratory, Faculty of Maritime Studies and Marine Science (FMSM). Five lecturers that is invited including Prof. Dr. Patrick Sorgeloos from Ghent University, Prof. Dr. Glenn Bristow from University of Norway, Dr. Agus Kurnia from Haluoleo University, Indonesia, Dr. Anil Chatterji, UMT and Mr. Ung Eng Huan from Global Satria Sdn. Bhd.

There was a dinner at Primula Beach Resort, Kuala Terengganu on 4th November 2008 for the participants. This seminar are participate by others universities such as UPM, USM, UMS, UDM and UMT as well. There also participate by some goverment sector and private sector such as Sarawak Agriculture Department, National Shrimp Production and Research Centre. Kg. Pulau Sayak, LKIM Kuala Lumpur, Lembaga Kemajuan Pertanian Muda (MADA), Putrajaya

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Fisheries Department, Penang Fisheries Department, Terengganu Fisheries Department, National Fish Health Research Centre, Batu Maung, Brackish Water Aquaculture Research Centre, Gelang Patah, Johor, Kembang Subur Sdn. Bhd., Sartorius Stedim Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Temanse Aquaculture Sdn Bhd. There is also participant from postgraduate student.

Speakers, participants and coordinators of the annual aquaculture seminar 2008.

Prof. Dr. Patrick Sorgeloos from Ghent University, Belgium, delivering his speech on “The Blue

Biotechnology of the Future”.

The VIPs and participants listening attentively to the speakers during the

seminar.

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5.2 Visitation from Two Visiting Professors to AKUATROP (24th to 27 of March 2008)

AKUATROP proudly hosted two visiting professors from Australia. They are Dr. Peter Mather from the Queensland University and Prof. Dr. Jane Hughes from the Griffith University. Dr. Peter Mather is an expert in population genetics technology particularly prawn genetics, while Prof. Jane Hughes is the expert in fish genetic, ecology and population genetics. Prof. Jane also serves as a referee for international journal such as Journal of Fish Biology, Journal of The North American Benthological Society, Freshwater Biology, Australian Journal of Zoology, Australian Journal of Entomology and others.

During their visit a public lecture was organized to enable them to share their research with researchers and students of UMT. This session attracted discussion and information sharing between AKUATROP guests and UMT Staff.

Various other lectures and discussions were held during the scientists visit. A discussion was held between Dr. Peter Mather and Prof. Jane Hughes with all the directors from institutes, dean, head of research group and lecturers. On 25th March, Prof. Jane Hughes delivered a lecture on Genetic Population: A prominent tool to improve larvae quality while, Dr. Peter Mather delivered a lecture on current methodology in genetic population. These lectures were attended by more than 120 people including lecturers, researchers, students and staff of UMT.

Their lectures were continued on the 26th March regarding to the Requirement of M. Sc. and PhD student, Career Perspective and Supervisory Role. Almost 60 participants come to listen to this talk. There was also a discussion between these speakers and the audiences. In the evening, these two visiting professors visited UMT research station at Setiu Wetland. They were accompanied by a lecturer and three officers from AKUATROP.

On the last day of the visit Dr. Peter Mather and Prof. Jane Hughes gave another talk on the tips of preparing papers for international journals.

The visit by these two professors gave positive impacts and very valuable to researchers and lecturers through various talks that was given by them.

Discussion between the directors, deans and

researchers at UMT Guest House Meeting Room. AKUATROP staffs accompanied the visiting

professors to Setiu Wetland.

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Public lectures given by Dr. Peter Mather and Prof. Jane Hughes to researchers and students at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library Auditorium.

5.3 International Conference on Marine Organisms and Their Biomedical Potentials; Expectations and Realizations (18th May to 20th May 2008).

AKUATROP together with Institute of Marine Biotechnology (IMB) and Institute Oceanography (INOS) has organized an International Conference on Marine Organisms and Their Biomedical Potentials; Expectations and Realizations in Auditorium Library Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. This conference was launched by Yg. Bhg. Prof. Dr. Abdul Majid Mohd Isa, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni (HEPA), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. An inaugural lecture was given by Prof. Amu Therwath from University of Paris, France on Searching the Deep Blues for Drugs and Natural Products.

The objectives of this conference are to identify the high priority areas and established international collaborative efforts to addresses specific needs, to develop an international network program for marine biotech applications especially for bioactive compounds, and to foster communication and exchange of ideas, know-how among the international researchers and outreached communities fructifies experiences, methods and knowledge can be shared on an international platform.

This conference included oral and poster presentations on marine organisms, their potentials, expectations and realizations. The oral presentation sessions were divided into six separate sessions with different topics for each session. A poster competition was held and prizes were given to the best three posters. This conference attracted about 100 participants from institutions, universities, government and non government agencies.

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Participants and judges during the poster presentation session.

Inauguration ceremony by the previous Deputy

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni

(HEPA) Yg. Bhg. Prof. Dr. Abdul Majid Mohd Isa,

Participants listening attentively to the speakers during the seminar.

Participants during post conference visit at Pusat Pengeluaran dan Penyelidikan Ikan Laut (PPPIL), Tanjung Demong, Besut.

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5.4 Public Lecture on Use of Pharmacogenomics towards Therapeutic Strategies by Professor Amu Therwath (12th October 2008)

Professor Amu Therwath from the University of Paris, France delivered his public lecture entitled “Use of Pharmacogenomics Towards Therapeutic Strategies”. This lecture has attracted a large audience which includes researches, lecturers, officers and also students. This lecture provides a good platform for discussion and information sharing between the speaker and the audience.

The audience asking questions and giving their opinion after the lecture.

Professor Amu Therwath during his talk on Use of Pharmacogenomics towards Therapeutic Strategies at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library Auditorium.

Flyer for public lecture on Use of Pharmacogenomics Towards Therapeutic Strategies by Professor Amu Therwath

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5.5 Public Lecture by AKUATROP Research Fellow; Dr. Anil Charterji, Entitled of Horseshoe Crab of Peninsular Malaysia; Conservation Perspective of Ecological and Biological Studies.

Dr. Anil Chatterjii is a research fellow in AKUATROP since January 2008. On 13th November 2008, Dr. Anil Chatterji was given an honored to deliver a public talk entitled „Horseshoe Crab of peninsular Malaysia; Conservation Perspective of Ecological and Biological Studies‟ in Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library Auditorium. Dr. Anil Chatterji is an expert in eco-biology, biotechnology and has almost 20 years experiences in horseshoe crab research. His talk was attended by researches from UMT as well as from the Terengganu State Fisheries Department and Universiti Darul Iman.

Dr. Anil Chatterji delivering his talk on Horseshoe Crab of Peninsular Malaysia; Conservation Perspective of Ecological and Biological Studies.

Flyer for public lecture by AKUATROP research

fellow; Dr. Anil Charterji, entitled of Horseshoe

Crab of Peninsular Malaysia; Conservation

Perspective of Ecological and Biological Studies.

Warm welcoming from AKUATROP staffs during registration session.

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Participants during the talk by Dr. Anil Chatterji.

5.6 Short-courses

5.6.1 Short-Course on “Mud Crab Culture” by Sarawak Land Development (SLDB)

One of AKUATROP‟s lecturers, Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah was invited to conduct a short course training Soft Shell Crab and Crab in Sarawak on 15th – 16th November 2008. Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin was accompanied by AKUATROP‟s officer, Mr. Mohammad Haniff Mohd Yusoff.

This short course training aimed to help the surrounding community to generate extra incomes. This training was held at Semantan Fisheries Centre, Sarawak. About 10 participants were involved in this training and most of them were fisherman.

This short-course covered biology of mud crab and how to handle and culture the crab using pen culture system. Also visited a pen culture farm with Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah explaining the real-life situations of mud crab culture.

Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah and participants during the Soft Shell Crab and Crab Culture Short-Course Training.

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Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah delivers his expertise during his visit at the mud crab pen culture farm.

5.6.2 Principles of Experimental Design for Biologists Short-Courses 2008

A short-course was conducted by Prof. Dr. Glenn A. Bristow from the Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Norway during his tenure as Research Fellow at AKUATROP. The short course was held on 23rd December 2008 to 14th January 2009 at Language Laboratory, Lecture Complex entitled Principles of experimental design for biologists. The objectives for this courses are to understand what experimental design is and when it should be employed, to be grounded in the underlying principles and assumptions of the most commonly utilized statistical methodologies; and to be thoroughly acquainted with the use of power analysis in both pre and post test situations for determining such factors as sample size, test sensitivity, minimum detectable difference, and post test power. This short-course was divided into 8 session of lecture to ensure that all participants can learn it properly. The titles for each sub-session are:

In the nut shell, this course gives much knowledge to the officers, student and also lecturer to improve their research data arrangement. Flyer for Principles of Experimental Design for

Biologists Short-Courses by AKUATROP research

fellow; Prof. Dr. Glenn A. Bristow.