Image

    Background

    The 9th Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica (MISA9) is a biennial event which ngs together researchers from various polar and non-polar nations to share their research findings as well as to generate interest on Antarctica or polar in general. The theme of MISA9 is ‘Polar Region Matters in Our Climate Crisis ’. The programme includes sessions on Policy and Governance, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences as well as two concurrent workshops.
    This image for Image Layouts addon

    Policy and Governance
    Session

    2021 is another important year for the dialogue of climate crisis, for COP26 to finally take place in November, a year postponement due to the lockdown and travel restriction, economic depression and the tremendously exhausting public health protection handling due to the immerse scale of Covid-19 pandemic. While the adverse impacts are significant, the lockdown has also changed public’s experiences and perception of protecting and appreciating nature in relation to climate change and open the opportunities to optimize the expansion of digital connectivity through open education and collaborations.

    Polar Regions are the Earth’s most sensitive regions to climate change. How the government has utilized this ‘window of opportunity’- changes in attitudes towards environment, to implement environmental policies relevant to polar region, or whether the economic response to Covid-19 has affected the policies or programs related to polar research including the budget will be central of discussion. How outreach and education programmes for schools and public were conducted during the lockdown and way moving forward as well as the policies recommendations to avoid the threat leading to ‘lost generation’ in polar research are among the foci for experience sharing in MISA9.
    This image for Image Layouts addon

    Biological Sciences
    Session

    Polar region is one of the most important unique environments to study. Their role in earth climate controlling represent outmost importance in our life. Polar research can provide insight into processes of crucial Earth’s environment and climate, therefore studying these regions may provide an early warning of important global changes. Polar regions have a range of cold adapted organisms, many of which are found nowhere else. Organisms occupying the extreme habitats of Antarctica offer wealth of information on their survival and adaptations characterized by the fragile dynamic balance linked to environmental factors. These specific environments may favour speciation and physiological adaptations. Regional climate change has the potential to impact Antarctic environments and its inhabitants, thus incorporating biological approach to Antarctic science has led to the development of cross-disciplinary research. How these organisms adapt to their current habitats can serve as a foundation for us to predict about the effects of global climate change on the biosphere; thus polar region serves as a natural laboratory for scientific research.
    This image for Image Layouts addon

    Physical Sciences
    Session

    The polar regions are critically important to the Earth system. The polar regions are closely linked to the rest of the world through shared atmospheric, oceanic, ecological and sociological systems. Most importantly, Arctic and Antarctic and their surrounding oceans are significant components of the global climate system. Climate change is amplified in the polar regions, and significant changes over these regions have global implications. As we seek solutions to the global climate crisis, updating our understanding on the dynamics of polar climate systems, changes in sea-ice and ocean circulation, and their roles in the global Earth system have never been more important.

    In this upcoming MISA9, we plan to showcase the latest findings and experiences in polar research from the Malaysia as well as the international polar research community.

    CONTACT US

     

    Secretariat
    9th Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica
    Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
    Universiti Teknologi MARA
    40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
    MALAYSIA

    Email: misa9@uitm.edu.my
    Tel No: +603-5544 2138

     

     ORGANIZED BY:

      

     

     PARTNERING UNIVERSITIES:

            

                          

    © COPYRIGHT UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA 2021