Wednesday February 11, 2009
UM duo on their way to Antarctica
By KAREN CHAPMAN
PETALING JAYA: Two Universiti Malaya students will go on an adventure of a lifetime as they will represent Malaysia at the Students on Ice expedition to Antarctica.
UM deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin said second year student Thary Gazi and Master’s student Munira Shaipudin Shah would join 70 students from around the world, scientists and other experts on the two-week expedition to Antarctica on board the MV Ushuaia.
Special mission: Thary and Munira will be taking part in workshops and hands-on activities while on the expedition. “The students are not there as tourists but will participate in lectures, workshops and hands-on activities related to the polar environment and wildlife,” he told reporters at the university.
Munira and Thary left for Buenos Aires, Argentina last night where they will board the ship, and return to Malaysia on March 3.
“We are very proud that the university is the first university among non-polar countries to send students to the Antarctic,” said Prof Mohd Amin.
He said the university and the National Antarctic Research Centre worked together to select Thary and Munira from 10 students who wrote an essay on why polar regions were important to the tropics.
From the 10, five students were shortlisted for an interview, he said, adding that the cost of the trip for each student was RM50,000.
“This expedition is special because it has been endorsed by the International Polar Year Joint Committee as an official event of the International Polar Year 2007-2009,” said Prof Mohd Amin.
Arts and Social Science Faculty deputy dean Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah, who also heads the centre, said he had accompanied former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the Antarctic in 2002.
“The students will be following the route he was on,” he said.
Describing the experience as an opportunity of a life time, Munira who is a Master’s student in behavioural biology, said she could not wait to explore the Antarctic.
“I am not worried about being sea sick as I am used to carrying out research on water,” she said.
Thary, who is majoring in ecology and biodiversity, said he looked forward to exploring the Antarctic mainland using zodiac inflatable boats from the ship.
“It is going to be an adventure and my mum who is a nurse, has given me some seasick pills.
“She has also bought me bangles with magnets which are supposed to help with seasickness,” he said.
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