Aquatic science appreciation and awareness
AQUAPONICS is the combination of aquaculture ( raising of aquatic animals) and hydroponics ( cultivation of plants in water).
As this system is water efficient, requiring one- tenth the water of conventional farming methods, it creates a sustainable ecosystem of food resources that produces minimal waste.
Leading this initiative to encourage sustainable farming in UCSI University’s aquatic science laboratory is Asst Prof Dr Teo Swee Sen, head of the recently launched BSc ( Hons) Aquatic Science.
Asst Prof Teo’s goal is to develop a closed and self- sustaining system that can produce food independent of feed, fertiliser and energy.
Water from the fish tank is pumped through filters, where bacteria convert ammonia from the fish waste into nitrates, which plants need.
The nitrate- rich water is then absorbed by the roots of the vegetables growing in cups suspended from foam sheets that float on the surface of the water. The plant uptake of the nitrate- rich water helps to filter and make the water clean for fishes.
Asst Prof Teo’s interest in aquaponics stems from her concern of water quality problems faced by individuals in urban and agricultural areas.
“I want to understand the aquaponics principles of aquatic production, nutrient management, water recirculation, nitrogen capture and plant harvesting, which can be a potential solution to problems faced by today’s populations,” she explains.
Her passion is supported by Datuk Peter Ng, founder and chief executive officer of UCSI Group, who reminds students that it is humanity’s responsibility to preserve marine habitats.
“One thing we can do to care for our ocean is to actively participate in efforts to save it. We need to rehabilitate our oceans, which are damaged to the point where bleached corals are aplenty as are broken bits of corals on the seabed,” said Ng during his speech at the launching of the Aquatic Science Student Association ( AQSA).
Founded with the vision to bring together individuals who appreciate the various aspects of aquatics and spread awareness on marine issues, the association actively engages the public in interesting activities.
These include open water diver courses, beach clean- up movements, hydroponic workshops and aquascaping workshops. Recently, the student- led association organised an educational workshop for home- schooled children aged eight to 16.
AQSA is now part of World Wide Fund for Nature’s ( WWF) international shark fin- free campaign “My fin my life” to garner pledges and end the consumption and trade of shark fin products.
UCSI University is the second private higher education institution within the country to partake in this international conservation movement.
UCSI is the first private university in Malaysia to offer a degree that studies both freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Through UCSI’s BSc ( Hons) Aquatic Science, students will have a chance to explore the wonders of the aquatic systems and use their knowledge to conserve and manage the current water bionetwork.
During the final year of this programme, students will have the option to specialise in either aquatic health and management or seafood processing and safety.
Students may opt to focus on the research field and eventually academia as aquatic research is supported by the Malaysian government.
UCSI was ranked Tier 5 – the highest ranking received by a private institution of higher learning – in the Setara 2013 ranking by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. It also earned a position in the Malaysia Research Assessment ( MyRA).
With UCSI being the first private university in Malaysia to offer both the BSc ( Hons) Aquatic Science and Diploma in Aquaculture and Entrepreneurship, students can rest assured that they will be ahead of the pack when they graduate.
“The future in aquatic science is tremendous and there are numerous opportunities for the application of the relevant knowledge in the market today, especially with the increasing scarcity of marine wildlife,” Asst Prof Teo explains.
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