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STUDENT FEATURE
POSTGRADUATE

SITI NORASIAH ABD. KADIR

I am currently pursuing a Master of Science degree with a
research titled, ‘Place-based Interpretation as a Sustainability
Comm unic ati on Strategy in Watershed Conservation’. My
supervisors are Associate Prof. Dr. Zeeda Fatimah Mo h am a d
from the Department of Science and Technology Studies and
Dr. Sara MacBride-Stewart from Cardiff University. My research
is part of the Newt on-Ungk u Omar Fund: Advanced
Fellowship and a joint research collaboration between
Universiti Malaya and Cardiff University. In this research, I
explore how a place-based approach could be used as a
strategy for sustainability comm unication, especially for
watershed conservation at Tasik Varsiti, Universiti Malaya. I
identified and analyzed meaningful narratives about the local
understanding of a place then translated them into interpretive
materials. These materials will then be used as potential tools
to influence stewardship and pro-environmental behavior
am ong the lake users. The sustainability communication
strategy developed in this study is co-produced with several
Universiti Malaya (UM) entities: Department of Development I hope that the research findings will be used as an
and Estate Maintenance (JPPHB), Sports Centre, UM Library effective sustainability communication tool and
and the general campus community; especially users of U M adapted to other places in the future.
Green Belt.

T E O H Z H I Y I

I am a Ph.D. student in the Institute of Biological Sciences (ISB), Faculty
of Science, Universiti Malaya studying the social ecology of Indo-Pacific
humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), supervised by Dr. Amy Then from
ISB, and Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam from the MareCet Research
Organization. I am looking to establish the first-ever baseline data of the
social structure of humpback dolphin in Langkawi and the adjacent
mainland waters. This information will be important to understand the
ecological drivers and the effect of human activities on their behaviour
and community structuring.
International grants, recognition & achievement:
• Conservation Leadership Program Future Conservationist Award in
2016.
• Nagao Natural Environment Foundation Grant in 2018
• National Geographic Early Career Grant in 2019.
• Wildlife Conservation Network Steven K. Beckendorf Scholarship
in 2020.
• Drafting of Perlis State Integrated Shoreline Managem ent Plan
(ISMP) and the designation of the study area as an IUCN Important
Marine Mam m al Area (IMMA).
• Project reports submitted to National Geographic, Dec 2020 and
Nagao Natural Environment Foundation, Feb 2020.