The theme of the conference is ‘Nurturing Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainable Oceans & Societal Wellbeing’, and would be conducted thoroughly in English.

The conference is divided into several sub-themes that includes fish feed and nutrition, seafood security, climate change adaptations, marine conservation and marine policies.

The topic is of global relevance and is particularly important for a country like Malaysia where marine ecosystem services play a significant role in socio-economic development, aquaculture industry is growing at a fast rate and seafood consumption is high.

ICOMSA is held annually to bring together international experts to share and advance scientific knowledge of the ocean ecosystems and to identify  the elements which can foster a culture of applying innovative solutions to problems associated to production of seafood resources.

It also provides an opportunity for multi-stakeholder dialogue-oriented to developing creative solutions to unresolved challenges in research, policies and programmes, and to bring renewed awareness of and commitment to addressing the need for synergy between science and entrepreneurship related to marine biological resources.

This will be the third time ICOMSA is held and is expected to attract participants from universities and research institutions from within and outside of the Southeast Asian region.

ICOMSA 2016 will include oral and poster presentations, and main lecture from the Vice Chairman and Independent Director, Sutera Harbour Group Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, Francis Lee Choon Hui and three plenary lectures by Prof. Dr. Shi-Yen Shiau (Lifetime National Endowed Chair Professor, National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan); Prof. Dr. Michael Borowitzka (Emeritus Professor of Marine Phycology, Murdoch University, Australia) and Prof. Dr. Shigeharu Senoo (Professor, Fisheries Institute, Kinki University).

For more information, please visit our website by scanning the QR Code below or type http://www.ums.edu.my/ipmbv2/icomsa/index.html, or contact the Conference Secretariat at 088-320000 ext. 2589.

TUESDAY, 26 JANUARY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) contingent won its first gold medal at the Higher Education Institutions Sports Championship (SUKIPT) 2016 that started on 24 January, through Taekwondo.

The medal was contributed by Raymond Toh Meng Hui, Ahmady Radi and Lee Kim Qin through Poomsae Men Team.

With a total score of 6.98 points collected by the three strong individual, they ousted their closest rival from HELP University who collected 6.56 points to take the second spot.

The success saw UMS Taekwondo team winning the gold medal in the category for the third time in a row since 2012.

The bronze medal was won by the team from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UteM).

The achievement was also fueled by the UMS Taekwondo Women Team who showed excellent performance in the same event.

UMS team represented by Cheong Pui Siong, Goh Chai Loon and Fiona Ng Wen Yah had to be contended with a silver medal after losing narrowly with 6.75 points to the team from HELP University who took home the gold medal, collecting 6.97 points.

UMS also outshone their opponents in the Poomsae Mixed Category represented by Ahmady Radi and Cheong Pui Siong by clinching the gold medal, thus achieving their mission.

Held at several venues sporting venues in Johor Bharu, SUKIPT 2016 hosted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the championship is participated by a number of universities from neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Laos.

UMS participates in 10 out of the 25 sports contested; taekwondo, silat, athletics, karate, volleyball, fencing, badminton, petanque, lawn bowl and ten-pin bowling. – MA (fl)

Photo Credit: Eddy Jamilih, UMS Sports Centre

By Salbinous Saribun

MONDAY, 25 JANUARY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) continues to move forward when it jumped 72 notch to be at 173 in the world ranking of the UI-GreenMetric World University Ranking 2015.

Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah said the position was the highest so far compared to the ranking achieved last year at 245 in the world.

“This is something to be proud of for UMS and we are on the right track towards achieving more in future,” he said when commenting on the achievement.

According to him, UMS would allow for an even better ranking based on the efforts that were underway, especially in activities related to the sustainability of the campus and environmental management.

“We have carried out various environment-friendly activities such as the efficient use of energy and the improvement of facilities including the use of bicycles within the campus area, in addition to the conservation and preservation of environment through various teaching and research.

“The establishment of a Recycling Centre in the campus that will adopt the practice of Ecofarm could greatly strengthen the university to further improve its ranking this year,” Datuk Harun added.

The UI-GreenMetric World University Ranking 2015 announced last Friday was participated by 407 universities from 66 countries compared to 360 from 62 countries last year.

It saw UMS ranked seventh for Public and Private Universities, with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) sitting comfortably at the number one position.

The ranking for environmental sustainability that measures the commitment of each university in developing environment-friendly infrastructure has more than 40 indicators covering 6 main areas namely, infrastructure (15%), energy and climate change (21%), waste (18%), water (10%), transport (18%) and education (18%). – (fl)

FRIDAY, 22 JANUARY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) aims to collect six gold medals at the Higher Education Institutions Sports Championship (SUKIPT) 2016 to be held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Johor, starting 29 January.

Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah disclosed that UMS will participate in 11 events this year and hoped to create history thus improving the medal tally and improve our position at the championship.

“UMS places all hopes and confidence on you all, compete in a sporting spirit and give your best to uplift the university’s name,” he urged.

His speech was read by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni UMS, Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Ali yesterday at the Meeting Session and handing-over of the contingent flag, at the Gallery, Chancellery Building, UMS.

A total of 50 athletes will head to UTM on 24 January to compete in the Taekwondo Poomsae, Taekwondo Kyorugi, Athletics, Bowling, Badminton, Karate-do, Fencing, Pencak Silat, Petanque, Lawn Bowl and Volleyball (Men).

Besides the handing-over of flag, an oath-taking ceremony was also held and read by the head of contingent, Max Anzie Jetol.

Also present were the Director of Sport Centre UMS, Mohd. Asyraaf Abdullah and Head of the Student Affairs Department, Azmi Jumat. – (fl)

Photo: Musaab Umair