Seminar and Workshop on Advanced Research Microscope: TEM and Tabletop Microscope

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1 AKUATROP Activities Seminar and Workshop on Advanced Research Microscope: TEM and Tabletop Microscope On 15 th 16 th March 2010, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture collaborating with Quasi-S Sdn. Bhd. had organized a Seminar and Workshop on Advanced Research Microscope: TEM and Tabletop Microscope at the Auditorium Mahyuddin, Faculty of Economics and Management (FPE). The two days workshop objectives were to expose UMT researchers and lecturers to basic application of Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and the commissioning of AKUATROP s Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). There were about 200 participants comprising UMT s researchers, postgraduate and undergraduate students. Speaker was from the supplier company. This seminar included theory and practical session which give the opportunity to the participants to observe their own samples by using the Tabletop SEM. Aquatic Organism Health Workshop During 24 th 25 th May 2010, Department of Fisheries in collaboration with AKUATROP was handling a workshop on Aquatic Organism Health for 20 Biosecurity staff unit from all over peninsular Malaysia. The workshop objective was to train the fisheries supporting staff to improve their knowledge and expertise for handling the fish disease diagnosis. This is important for their career because they are responsible to check all the import and export live fish in order to make sure the purity of the fish source that is free from disease parallel with the European Union (EU) needs of pathogen free of live food. Most of the participants are from the Biosecurity Unit. This workshop was conducted by Aquatic Organism Health Unit, AKUATROP with the expert trainer and facilitator. Prof. Dr. Faizah Shaharom as an expert in parasitology had delivered her talks in the parasitology area. Disabled People (OKU) Joined AKUATROP Aquaculture Workshop Persatuan Orang-orang Cacat Penglihatan Islam Malaysia (PERTIS) from Terengganu is a non government agency (NGO) which has been established since 2001 to support the activities and to take care of sight disorder persons. This workshop from the initiative of the Economic and Entrepreneur Biro in PERTIS to introduce aquaculture sector as tool to generate additional income for the members. To achieve objective, PERTIS sent the intention letter to request Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) to organize a workshop on how to culture freshwater fish especially on catfish and tilapia. For that, UMT with the help from Institute of Tropical Aquaculture (AKUATROP) organized this workshop starting from 1 st 2 nd June 2010 at Bina Syarahan Hall and Freshwater Hatchery, FASM. This two day workshop was one of the Social Responsible Programmes in UMT. 34 people participated in this workshop with 23 male and 11 female participants. They were divided into 4 groups such as totally blind persons (13 people), dim persons (12 people), limbs disorder person (1 people) and they were helped by their normal relatives, 8 people. Opening ceremony was completed by UMT Vice Chancellor, the Honorable Prof. Dr. Aziz B. Deraman accompanied Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Internationalization), Prof. Dr. Noor Azhar bin Mohamed Shazili, AKUATROP Director, Prof. Faizah Dr. Shaharom, and AKUATROP Deputy Director, Prof. Madya Dr. Anuar Hassan and PERTIS Malaysia YDP En. Mohamad Ismail. The Deputy Director of Industry Networking and Community Service Centre (INCOMS), YM Raja Arif Raja Ali completed the closing ceremony. 31

2 In this 2 day workshop, all participants were exposed to freshwater aquaculture especially on Fisheries Sub-Sector and how to culture catfish and tilapia. This talk was given by Fisheries Officer from Department of Fisheries Terengganu and AKUATROP lecturers. Besides talks, these participants also did their own practical session with the help from AKUATROP research staff. All AKUATROP staff gave their hand to help the PERTIS member in their activities and the participants seem happy and attentive with the talk and practical session. The participant also got new input and useful information before becoming aquaculture operator especially on production system in aquaculture, aquaculture management and aquaculture processing and downstream product from the freshwater fish. Department of Fisheries Terengganu also gave an explanation about their service in helping individual or agencies that would like to involve in aquaculture sector. In conclusion, this workshop already achieves the target to give useful information to PERTIS member and to boost their desire to be an aquaculture operator especially to use aquaculture as a platform to generate incomes. Participants and Coordinators take the opportunity to commemorate the occasion with UMT Vice Chancellor, the Honorable Prof. Dr. Aziz bin Deraman together with Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Internationalization), Prof. Dr. Noor Azhar bin Mohamed Shazili, AKUATROP Director, Prof. Faizah Dr. Shaharom, and AKUATROP Deputy Director, Prof. Madya Dr. Anuar Hassan and PERTIS Malaysia YDP En. Mohamad Ismail after the opening ceremony. 32

3 AKUATROP staff give their helping hand to participants from PERTIS during the workshop. AKUATROP Deputy Director, Prof. Madya Dr. Anuar Hassan sharing his expertise and experience with the participants. AKUATROP staff imparted their knowledge to the participants during hands-on and practical sessions. 33

4 Ground Breaking Ceremony of UMT Research Station On 29 th July 2010, AKUATROP on behalf of UMT has collaborated with Lembaga Kemajuan Terengganu Tengah (KETENGAH) to organize a ceremony for Majlis Pecah Tanah Tapak Penyelidikan UMT and Pelepasan Benih Ikan Air Tawar at Tasik Kenyir. This ceremony was officiated by State Chief Minister of Terengganu, YAB Dato Seri Ahmad bin Said. The Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Prof Dr. Aziz bin Deraman and KETENGAH Director, Y.Bhg. En. Hamzah bin Ngah. The 20 hectares Research Center was a gift by Terengganu State Government as an effort to ensure that Tasik Kenyir will be the centre of data collection for tropical flora and fauna. During the ceremony, YAB Dato Seri Ahmad bin Said also released juvenile lampam and sebarau at Sungai Leban Post and Tilapia juveniles at Pos Kawalan Sungai Leban. The research center will be fully furnished with hostel for student activities and infrastructure facilities for researchers. The hatchery with pond culture and nursery will be built to support study of kelah breeding and other species of freshwater fish. It is our hope that this initiative will help the state government in promoting Tasik Kenyir and bringing forward more opportunities for local people and researchers on discovering the secret of Tasik Kenyir and establishing it as one of the renowned lakes in the world. Ground Breaking Ceremony for Tasik Kenyir Research Station. Souvenir from VC of UMT for Terengganu Chief Minister, YAB Dato Seri Ahmad bin Said. YAB Dato Seri Ahmad bin Said visiting the exhibition during the ceremony. YAB Dato Seri Ahmad bin Said releasing the Lampam juvenile at Sungai Leban. 34

5 Research Exhibition at Mini MAHA Terengganu The Mini Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism or Mini MAHA Terengganu 2010 was held from 6 th until 9 th of August 2010 at Dataran Syahbandar, Kuala Terengganu. The objective of the program was to promote the small farmers and industries in Terengganu. Many government agencies and private sectors were involved in this exhibition. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Agriculture, YAB Dato Seri Noh bin Omar. The main objective for AKUATROP participation in this exhibition was to introduce and promote UMT as one of the local university that conducts aquaculture program, and AKUATROP as the centre of excellence in UMT that contributes to aquaculture researches in Malaysia. This exhibition also became a place for the local people and private sector to exchange idea and information on aquaculture. Besides that, FASM also took the opportunity to promote about their Roselle product. Many people and visitors were given a chance to try the Roselle product like, Roselle cracker, Roselle cake and Roselle juice. The visitors were also given the Roselle seeds as souvenirs. The visitors during Mini MAHA Terengganu 2010 at Dataran Syahbandar, Kuala Terengganu. Workshop on Identification, Techniques of Fixation and Preparation of SEM of Fish Myxosporean Parasite There were fifteen (15) Researchers and Assistant Researchers from different parts of Malaysia who attended a two day workshop entitled IDENTIFICATION, TECHNIQUES OF FIXATION AND PREPARATION OF SEM OF FISH MYXOSPOREAN PARASITE held by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) under Institute of Tropical Aquaculture (AKUATROP) and The National Fish Health Research Centre (NaFISH). The researchers were from Biosecurity Laboratory, Fisheries Department and some reseachers from private sectors. The event was held on 25 th 26 th of October 2010 at NaFisH office, Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang. The workshop focused on the identification aspect, method of preservation and preparation of samples 35

6 for Scanning Electron Microscope on fish Myxosporean. In the workshop, they were taught the theory and practical lessons on Myxosporean because these parasites are not so well known in Malaysia. According to the Director of AKUATROP Institute, UMT, Prof. Dr. Faizah binti Shaharom, research regarding the Myxosporidia parasite in the fish need to be recognized by other reseachers so that methods of prevention could be taken before it actually paralyze the aquaculture and fisheries industries in Malaysia. She also stated that there was a need to get more information regarding to Myxosporean disease because most of the diagnostic laboratory personnel in Malaysia were not trained to diagnose this parasite and the effects it can have on the aquaculture industry. This was one of the reasons Prof. Dr. Csaba Szekely from the Veterinarian Medical Research Institute; Hungarian Academy of Science was invited to Malaysia to conduct the workshop and to investigate further research into this branch of fish disease. Prior to this he had come to conduct research in Malaysia together with local researchers in 2002 and 2007 and as a result, they have discovered several new species of parasites in fish in this group Myxosporidia, she explains more regarding the matter. The workshop has benefited the local participants who expressed that they are now able to diagnose fish Myxosporean parasites. This knowledge will be useful as they can now take steps to prevent the widespread occurrence of this disease which if allowed to proliferate can be disastrous to the aquaculture industry as they can cause gross, undetected growths on fish resulting the distaste of consumers as happened to fish in Lake Balaton, a popular tourist destination in Tihany, Hungary. Prof. Dr. Csaba Szekely was sponsored by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Academy Science Malaysia under the distinguished visitor program of Brain Gain Malaysia. Participants and organizer of Workshop: Identification, Techniques of Fixation and Preparation of SEM of Fish Myxosporean Parasite. Prof. Dr. Csaba Szekely demonstrating the procedure of fish diagnostic to collect Myxosporean Parasite. 36

7 The practical session have been held in Fish Parasitology Lab at NaFish really gave exposure to the participants about the technique to collect Myxosporean Parasite. AKUATROP Second Open Day 2010: AQUACULTURE PRODUCT AS SOURCE OF FOOD AKUATROP 2 nd Open Day 2010 was pertinently themed as "Aquaculture Product as Source of Food which became a key to organize this event on the 31 st October 2010 at AKUATROP s office and As-Safa Lab. The opening ceremony was inaugurated by UMT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Aziz Deraman with accompaniment of AKUATROP Director and Deputy Director. This event obtained collaborations from Office of Corporate Communication, Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, Security Unit and Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library (PSNZ). In the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Aziz Deraman demonstrated the induced-breeding technique of the catfish to audience. This process began by stripping the eggs from female broodstock into the bowl and mixing with the sperm (from the male broodstock) and stirring before placement in the egg incubator. This is the normal process in the induced breeding of freshwater catfish, especially for catfish production. The main objective of this event was to inform and show the public, especially community, around UMT and also UMT community about the potentials of the aquaculture to generate incomes. Besides that, this event became a platform to show AKUATROP as the one of the institutes involved in aquaculture research. Research can contribute in aquaculture production and this was proven by the technique to produce soft shell crab and food processing of tilapia to produce tilapia burger, tilapia maruku and tilapia chip. The aquaculture operators were also invited in this event to share their knowledge, experience and sell their product to the visitors. These included soft shell crab producer who is getting advised from AKUATROP lecturer, Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah to operate his system and to produce soft shell crab. Aquaponic operator from Kg. Telaga Batin also joined this event to sell their catfish and vegetable. This project is a community project introduced by AKUATROP and get support from the Department of Fisheries Terengganu, Department of Agriculture Terengganu and Community Telaga 37

8 Batin. Product processing from tilapia was also showed by Mr. Fisal Hj. Ahmad, lecturer from the Department of Food Science, FASM Research activities by AKUTAROP lecturers that showed in this events included marine tilapia culture, Malaysia giant prawn, algae culture (live food), fish health management, Malaysian mahseer, marine and freshwater ornamental fish, potential of freshwater oyster culture at Tasik Kenyir and models of the aquaculture production systems which was designed by students. Dr. Shahreza Md. Sheriff and Dr. Nur Asma Arifin from the Department of Science Fisheries and Aquaculture also displayed their poster and product research about the triploid breeding of catfish and research on Cleaner Wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus. Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anuar Hassan also gave short talk on production of soft shell crab technique and induced breeding of catfish with the help from AKUATROP research staffs. This event could attract many visitors from community, UMT staff and 540 students including their teachers from 14 secondary schools around Terengganu. These schools such as SMK Mengabang Telipot, SBPI Batu Rakit, SMK Ibrahim Fikri, SM Imtiaz Besut, SMK Kompleks Gong Badak, SMK Sultan Sulaiman, SMK Tg. Mizan Zainal Abidin, SMK Sheikh Malik, SMK Bukit Tunggal, SM Sains Dungun, SM Sains Kuala Terengganu, SMK Padang Midin, Sek. Tunas Bakti (P) Marang dan SMK Lembah Bidong. All this students also visited Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library and Marine Hatchery while waiting for the short talk. As a conclusion, AKUATROP 2nd Open Day 2010 achieved its objective to introduce aquaculture sector as a key to generate incomes and source of food and also to introduce UMT and AKUATROP as one of the Center of Excellence that doing research on aquaculture among the public universities in Malaysia. UMT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Aziz bin Deraman applies the stripping technique as an opening ceremony gimmick. UMT Vice Chancellor with the accompaniment Deputy Vice Chancellor, AKUATROP Director, and AKUATROP Deputy Director at the exhibition booth tasting the Crab Maruku sample. The visitors showed their interest on Kelah. 38

9 Secondary school children very excited with the activities organized during AKUATROP 2 nd Open Day. Public Talk on Myxozoan Infections in Cultured Fishes and Fishes of Tasik Kenyir Reservoir, Malaysia. This public talk was attended by local researcher and student. Most of the talk mentioned about research on Myxosporean parasite that has been done in Kenyir Lake, Terengganu. The research has been carried out between 2002 and As a result, they have discovered several new species of parasites in fish in this group Myxosporidia. The talk has benefited the local participants who expressed that they are now able to get knowledge about fish Myxosporean parasites. This knowledge will be useful as they can now take steps to prevent the widespread occurrence of this disease. The speaker, Prof. Dr. Csaba Szekely was sponsored by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Academy Science Malaysia under the distinguished visitor program of Brain Gain Malaysia. AKUATROP in MAHA 2010 Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show (MAHA) was hosted by Ministry of Agriculture and Agrobased Industries and organised by the Federation Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) from 26th November to 5 th December 2010 at Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS). This exhibition became a platform to the public to see new things and technologies in various fields of the agriculture and aquaculture, food processing and small scale entrepreneur s products. Visitor also can get and shared information with the government agencies and private companies that contribute in this exhibition. Besides local exhibitor, therewere also overseas exhibitors who joined to sell products from their countries. Institute of Tropical Aquaculture, (AKUATROP) and the Department of Agrotechnology from Faculty of Fisheries Science and Aquaculture (FASM) coordinated by Research Management and Innovation Center (RMIC) also joined MAHA 2010 as an exhibitor. Agrotechnolgy Department showed their 39

10 research on Roselle and also sold the product from Roselle to the visitors. On AKUATROP side, there were posters and the research product that have been done by AKUATROP s lecturers such as technique to produce soft shell crabs, marine tilapia culture, induced breeding of Malaysian mahseer, Tor tambroides and fish health management (fish disease). The main objective of AKUATROP to join this exhibition was to show and to inform the public about all the research in aquaculture that have been done by AKUATROP. From this, a massage was given to the people that UMT and AKUATROP is one of the government universities that involved actively in the aquaculture research programmes. Besides that, this can be a platform to share and get information about the aquaculture with the agencies and visitors that involved in the aquaculture industry. From this exhibition, AKUATROP is hoping to tell the public about the new technologies and techniques in aquaculture and will encourage the public to join an aquaculture sector in the future. This could be explained from the theme of MAHA 2010: "Agricultural innovation for Growth". It s also hope, that it will be a key to share with the public about one of the UMT niche area in the aquaculture research. AKUATROP staff working together to setup the booth. AKUATROP Director visiting UMT Booth at MAHA Scene at UMT Booth at MAHA