ID :
339440
Fri, 08/29/2014 - 10:45
Auther :

Malaysia, First Asian Nation To Host 2016 Antartic Research Conference

AUCKLAND, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will be the first Asian country to host the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Biennial Meetings, including the Open Science Conference in 2016, said the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur. Dr Noorul Ainur, who is here to attend the 33rd SCAR conference until Sept 3, said Malaysia won the bid to be the host of the meetings during the SCAR Delegates Meeting in Portland, USA in 2012. She said an international gathering of more than 1,000 international participants, comprising SCAR delegates, scientists, researchers and policy makers from more than 30 countries were expected to attend the biennial event. The theme chosen for the conference is "Antarctica in the Global Earth System: From the Poles to the Tropics." SCAR is a committee under the International Council for Science (ICSU), and it is charged with the initiation, promotion and coordination of scientific research in Antarctica. The committee also provides independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) and other bodies. SCAR, which was established in 1958, currently has a membership of 31 countries, six associate members and nine union members. Malaysia was accepted as a SCAR member in 2008. Dr Noorul Ainur, who is also the chairperson of the Steering Committee for the SCAR 2016 event, spoke at the closing session of the 2014 Meetings and Conference on Thursday. Other Malaysian delegates to the Auckland meeting included Kamel Mohamad, Senior Under-Secretary (Planning) of MOSTI; Prof Dr Azizan Abu Samah, Director of National Antarctic Research Centre (NARC); Nasaruddin Abd Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of the Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation (YPASM); and Muhammad Fardy, Executive Officer of YPASM. "Being the first Asian country to be given the honour and privilege of hosting this prestigious scientific event, it provides the opportunity for Malaysian scientists, researchers and policy makers to network with world leaders in Antarctic science and meet with managers of national Antarctic programmes from traditional polar nations towards strengthening scientific bilateral relationships with these countries," she said. She said that MOSTI, through the YPASM, would spearhead the preparation for the upcoming meeting. "The recognition given by SCAR to Malaysia for the hosting of the event indicates the acknowledgement of the international scientific community in Malaysia's scientific achievements and commitment in Antarctica," said Dr Noorul Ainur. Malaysia has been involved in Antarctica research since 1999. The study of Antarctica, the Southern ocean and their roles in the Earth system, has never been more important than it is today because of the rapid climatic changes that is being experienced globally. The vast, ice-covered Antarctic continent is a major component of the Earth's global climate system. The region is experiencing changes that are global in scope, making it a rich laboratory for transformational research, important in its own right and impossible to achieve elsewhere on the planet. --BERNAMA

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