Edufun Agrimicrob Science Holiday Workshop Series II
Venue : UTAR Kampar campus
Date: 28 & 29 December 2022
Details of the event.
Group photo of participants, sposors and facilitators of the Edufun Agrimicrob event for 2022. We are happy to have received fantastic support from the distinguished sponsors, participants and also staff from the university, who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this event.
Dr. Ong Mei Kying, chairperson of the Edufun workshop, and also Head of Department of Agricultural and Food Science welcoming the participants during the opening ceremony. She believes that knowledge, understanding and application of Science extends beyond that of classrooms, and hope that the participants would get a glimpse of this throughout the event. She also thanked the kind sponsors for supporting this meaningful event.
Dr. Tan Yen Nee, Chairperson of Centre for Agricultural and Food Research (CAFR) welcoming all the participants during the opening ceremony of the event. She stressed the importance of instilling passion in Science, and how mastering it would bring about a more sustainable future.
We thank Mr. Shawn, a postgraduate student of the Faculty of Science who facilitated the 2-day event with passion and professionalism!
[Agronomy] The agronomy section was headed by Dr. Clement Wong and Dr. Tan Ji from the Department of Agricultural and Food Science. The section was divided into an exhibition and workshop. Participants were first briefed on the importance of agriculture, and how it is future prospects are pretty much guaranteed in the face of increasing population, dwindling resources, and climate change.
[Agronomy] Dr. Clement Wong introducing to students the concept of growing microgreens and how it works. Students were also given a simple yet daunting task to name a wide variety of common seeds.
[Agronomy] Participants watching in awe. Apparently, microgreens are something new to many of our participants. The microgreens here were grown on just jut cloth and water.
[Agronomy] Dr. Clement demonstrating how to harvest the microgreens.
Naturally, the participants were invited to try the microgreens, many of which possess unique taste and flavor.
[Agronomy] A display showing a wide diversity of plants. All these plants were grown in the Faculty of Science Horticultural Shed by staff and students of the faculty.
[Agronomy] Dr. Tan Ji explaining that agriculture is not just about planting vegetables and fruits. The fact that there are hundreds of thousands of plants in the world there is one that would certainly pique one's interest- a catalyst to develop passion in agriculture.
[Agronomy] Most plants can be propagated using soil or soilless mixtures, and it is often important to know which combinations to use. Dr. Tan Ji introducing the different growth substrates and propagation techniques used to 'quickly make more plants'.
Ms. Heng from the Department of Agricultural and Food Science manning the plant sales booth, which featured a vast number of plants grown and maintained by the staff and students of the Agricultural Science program.
[Agronomy] The participants were then invited to try out a yummy Cincau perdu drink kindly prepared by Dr. Clement. The idea was to show to the learners that there's plenty of underutilized plants in Southeast Asia, and a lot of untapped potential. Stem cuttings were also given away in efforts to promote the planting of more beneficial plants and herbs.
[Agronomy] Dr. Clement Wong allowing the participants to choose the microgreens they would like to germinate after showing them a simple way to growing microgreens at home.
[Agronomy] Dr. Tan Ji demonstrating how to use sphagnum moss as a soilless medium to propagate and grow certain ornamental plants like Begonia.
[Animal Science] Dr. Kwong Phek Jin giving the participants a tour throughout the goat shed in the UTAR Agricultural Park, and of course, introducing the participants to the many goats there.
[Animal Science] Participants given the opportunity to determine goat pregnancy via ultrasound.
[Animal Science] Say cheese! An uncommon opportunity to take a group photo with the goats.
[Aquaculture] Ts. Dr. Teoh Chaiw Yee detailing the morphology of a tilapia after explaining to the students about the importance of natural freshwater ecosystems.
[Aquaculture] Dr. Ooi Ai Lin demonstrating to learners how best to dissect a shrimp, and how to identify the innards.
[Aquaculture] Theory is one thing, but practical skills are often another. Here we see the learners in action!
[Microbiology] Dr. Teo Kah Cheng from the Department of Agricultural and Food Science introducing to the learners the magnificent world of microorganisms. There is a huge array of microbes on the planet, some of which are beneficial to humans, while some are not. Therefore, it is often important to be able to identify which is which.
[Microbiology] Dr. Lee Kok Chang of The Department of Biological Sciences demonstrating how the ability/inability of microbes to digest starch could also be used to identify them using just a simple iodine test.
[Microbiology] Dr. Teo demonstrating how antibiotics or chemicals could be used to limit the growth of bacteria, and how similar assays could be used to determine the antimicrobial efficiency of a particular antibiotic or chemical.
Congratulations to all participants of the Agrimicrob Edufun Holiday Workshop 2023!
Dr. Lim Tuck Meng, Dean of the Faculty of Science giving the closing speech. He highlighted that the learning of scientific knowledge and methodology extend beyond classroom activities and examinations, and that with the correct method of observation and questioning we will be able to probe Nature, leading to significant scientific advancement.
Say cheese! A group photo taken with sponsors, facilitators, staff, students and participants at the end of the event. Thank you for the support and we hope to see you again!
Agriculture Technology Seminar Series XXII: Smart Plantation Management and Sustainability
Venue : DDK1, Faculty of Science, UTAR Kampar campus
Date: 26 November 2022
Vice President Prof. Ts. Dr. Faidz the increasing importance of smart plantation management in light of the rising global population, demand for crop yield and the necessity to use natural resources better.
Dr. Ali Yassoralipour welcoming all the distinguished speakers and participants of the event. This event marks the first physical Agritech event after the pandemic.
Tuan Mohd. Sabre Salim from Incorporated Society of Planters sharing his thoughts on smart plantation management as a sustainable alternative to conventional ones.
Dr. Pedram Kashiani from UTAR on the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in smart agriculture.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Hashmani explaining to the participants about halal assurance system in agriculture management.
Mr. Wan Mohamad Hidayat sharing some of the current sustainable practices in oil palm plantations.
Viewers participating actively during the Q&A session.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Tuck Meng, Dean of Faculty of Science again emphasizing the importance of smart plantation management, and thanked the speakers, participants and committee members for the successful event.'.
Group photo of the AgriTech Seminar Series XXII. (First row, from left to right: Mr. Wan Mohamad Hidayat, Dato Dr. Sim Yoke Leng, Tuan Mohd Sabre Salim,
Prof. Ts. Dr. Faidz Bin Abd Rahman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Tuck Meng, Dr. Ali Yassoralipour, Dr. Tan Yen Nee and Dr. Pedram Kashiani)
Building Trust Along the Food Supply Chain
Platform: Webex
Date: 4, 8 & 11 November 2022
Details of the event
Dr. Tan Yen Nee welcoming the participants during the welcoming address.
Dr. Lim Tuck Meng emphasizing on the importance of building trust along the food supply chain.
Group photo taken with all the distinguished speakers, organizing committee members, guests and participants.
Mr. Lam Ah Chye delivering his speech as the industry advisor for the first session.
Dr. Nik Ismail bin Nik Daud, Director of Kawan Food Berhad on 'Building trust to win customers'.
Ms. Rachel Ng from DNV Business Assurance Singapore on 'Food safety and quality assurance along the food supply chain'.
Mr. Wesley Tan, Group Executive Director from Aqina Fruits Sdn. Bhd. on 'Food deterioration control from farm to fork'.
Ms. Michelle Woon from Nestle Products Sdn. Bhd. on 'ESG compliance in importing and exporting of food'.
Ms Lai Mun Lee delivering her speech as the industry advisor for the third session.
Ms. Tee Siang Lyn, Senior Manager from Biotechnology Division, Arachem (M) Sdn. Bhd. on 'Measuring food quality: concept, methods and accuracy'.
NAIST-UM-USM-UTAR Joint International Symposium on Bioscience and Biotechnology
Platform: Zoom
Date: 1 September 2022
The Joint International Symposium on Bioscience and Biotechnology 2022 was successfully held on 1 Sept 2022 via Webex. It was jointly organized by Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST, Japan), UM, USM ,and UTAR by Centre for Agriculture and Food Research (CAFR), Faculty of Science. The webinar kick-started with opening remarks given by Prof. Masaaki Umeda, the Director, Division of Biological Science, NAIST, and by Dr Lim Tuck Meng, Dean of FSc, UTAR.
Speakers and presentation:
1. Prof. Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, UM. Biological and Biotechnological Research in UM: where we are heading.
2. Prof. Dr Alexander Chong Shu Chien, USM. Omega-3 from aquaculture: challenges and opportunities.
3. Assist. Prof. Dr Loh Pek Chin, UTAR. Characterization of Pantoea spp. that cause rice leaf blight and their phages as potential biocontrol agents.
4. Prof. Dr Taro Kawai, NAIST. Inhibition of innate immune responses and inflammatory diseases by 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate.
5. Siti Fatimah binti Mohd Taha, UM. Preliminary insights on Malaysian gut microbiota via whole metagenomics.
6. Asmaul Husna, USM. Molecular and pathogenic characterization of Fusarium species associated with rice bakanae-like disease from Malaysia.
7. Jamie Ng May Ling, UTAR. Possible genetic determinants of gentamicin resistance in Listeria monocytogenes.
8. Yasmin Fauzee, NAIST. Inter-organelle crosstalk protects against proteotoxic stress in the yeast Pichia pastoris.
9. Norshima Binti Abu Hasan, NAIST. Functional characterization of a newly identified α/β-hydrolase fold enzyme from Ideonella sakaiensis involved in poly(ethylene terephthalate) degradation.
Welcome speech by Prof. H. Maki
Opening remarks by Prof. M. Umeda
Opening remark by Dr. Lim Tuck Meng
Talk given by Prof. Rofina Yasmin, UM
Dr. Loh Phek Chin presenting on 'rice leaf blight disease of Pantoea spp.'
Ms Jamie Ng sharing her phD findings.
Prof. Kawai presenting on the 'inhibition of innate immune responses and inflammatory diseases'.
A group screenshot with speakers, organizing committee, and participants.
AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR SERIES XXI: Post-harvest Technologies in Assuring Sustainability
Platform: ZOOM
Date: 18 June 2022
The Agriculture Technology Seminar Series XXI: Post-harvest Technologies in Assuring Sustainability was successfully held on 18 June 2022 via Zoom. It was jointly organised by the Centre for Agriculture and Food Research (CAFR) and Faculty of Science (FSc), and was sponsored by Everris Sdn Bhd, United Malacca Berhad and Zenxin Organic Sdn Bhd.
Pn Diyana welcoming all speakers and participants to the event.
Dr. Zaulia Othman on 'Postharvest R&D to cater to market needs'
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phebe Ding on 'Postharvest technologies for sustainable food production and consumption'
Insightful Q&A session and discussion by Mr. Kit Chan (K-Farm Sdn. Bhd.) and Dr. Tan Swee Lian
Mr. Cheong Khai Khuang on 'Crop nutrition and post-harvest technologies- synergies for higher quality food for consumers'.
Dr. Lim Tuck Meng, Dean of Faculty of Science addressing the closing ceremony of Agritech 21.
Agritech 21 group photo, featuring chairperson Pn Diyana and speakers Dr. Zaulia binti Othman (MARDI), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phebe Ding (UPM), Mr. Kit Chan (K-Farm Sdn. Bhd.) and Mr. Cheong Khai Khuang (Everris Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.). The event was also graced by Prof. Ts. Dr. Faidz Rahman (Vice President of R&D and Commercialization), Dr. Lim Tuck Meng (Dean of Faculty of Science) and our wonderful moderator Dr. Tan Swee Lian.