I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geology at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. I obtained my Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry from the University of Cambridge in 2018, focusing on calcium carbonate mineral formation. My current research focuses on microbial processes, elemental cycling, and geochemical interactions in marine and terrestrial environments. I am particularly interested in understanding how sediment mineralogy and microbial activity influence global biogeochemical cycles. Over the years, I have published 22 peer-reviewed articles, including a Best Paper Award at IC-DLI Deep Life 2022 and the won the Excellent Service award in 2023. In addition to my research, I have had the opportunity to contribute to international journals as a reviewer and serve on multiple funded projects, both as a principal investigator and collaborator. These experiences have enriched my perspective on tackling complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. I am passionate about fostering research excellence, mentoring students, and contributing to solutions for global environmental issues. Through collaboration and continuous learning, I hope to advance my understanding in geosciences while supporting sustainable development.

Surinderpal Kaur is a Professor and the Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics at the Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She holds a PhD from Lancaster University, UK. With a career spanning over three decades, she has made significant contributions to the fields of linguistics, critical discourse studies, and multimodality. Her expertise lies in Critical Discourse Studies and Multimodality, with research interests spanning discrimination and prejudice, particularly in migration, Islamophobia, far-right extremism, terrorism, gender, and sexuality. She has been invited to speak by the Director-General of the OIC on Islamophobia at the UN for the International Day Against Islamophobia in 2024. She has also been invited to speak on Islamophobia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. She has published extensively in reputable journals, contributing to the global understanding of how discourse shapes and reflects social realities.​ Currently, her work centres on climate change communication and education, reflecting her commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. She is also the Co-Chair of the University Malaya Committee for Climate Change which functions as a part of the technology advisory panel for Climate Change for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. As Co-Chair, she is focused on ensuring that UM obtains observer status at the Conference of Parties for Climate Change, and also for UM to take the lead in climate-related research in the nation. She has represented Malaysia and UM at COP29 (UNFCCC) in Baku on Humanising Sustainability. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics at UM. She is also the Vice-Chair for the Malaysian Language Deans Council, and is leading the taskforce for all public universities on Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL). She is committed to embedding digital humanities in the teaching and learning of languages and is focused on establishing a Digital Humanities Centre at the faculty, which will be the hub for TELL for the nation and ASEAN.  Beyond academia, she is actively involved in capacity-building initiatives for Punjabi and Sikh youth in Malaysia, fostering leadership and community development.  Her career reflects a deep commitment to inclusive education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the application of linguistics to address pressing social and environmental challenges. She continues to shape national and international discourse on the critical role of language in society.  

Dr Adibi M. Nor is a multidisciplinary marine biologist and aquaculturist by training, with 20 years of experience in the fisheries sector. His work focuses on fisheries policy, particularly the sustainability of seaweed commercialisation among Malaysian coastal communities and the impact of this activity on their livelihoods. He was an employee of the Department of Fisheries (DOF) Malaysia, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, from 2003 until 2018. Dr Adibi was involved with the development of the national seaweed policy, in particular the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of this policy. He is now a senior lecturer and PhD and MPhil programme coordinator at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya. Throughout his career as a policymaker, scientist, and business development leader with the agri/aquaculture company, he has developed a deep understanding of and a strong background in food security and agri/aquaculture, specialising in addressing the challenges and complexities of the global food system. This breadth of experience has shaped his insights into the flow of using scientific evidence in the policy-making process. To ensure sustainability and share his expertise with society, Dr Adibi has developed the Student Holistic Empowerment (SHE) academic course known as Nasi Lemak and Food Systems at Universiti Malaya. He has published widely on seaweed and fisheries research related to policy, biology, and value chain aspects. He was appointed as a reviewer for the International Journal of Food Science & Technology, the Journal of Aquaculture, Fish, and Fisheries, the Journal of Quality and Quantity, the Journal of Applied Phycology, the Journal of Socioeconomics and Development, and Botanica Marina in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. He was a consultant for international and local seaweed projects from 2019 until 2025 and a scientific advisor and business development planner for the Abalone Aquaculture Company in 2018. Currently, he is actively pursuing innovation in seaweed cultivation as nature-based solutions (website: https://drcweedaquasolutions.com/). Dr Adibi experimented with new farming methods, such as Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems, to enhance seaweed production for food security while minimising environmental impact. His research led to discoveries that improved seaweed disease management and optimised the extraction of valuable compounds for various industries, including food, cosmetics, bioplastics, biostimulants and animal feed. He is passionate about making aquaculture development sustainable and equitable for the local community and the environment. Endearingly, his social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) are called Dr C+Weed, which he started in July 2021 as a forum for conversing with and educating people about seaweed. Dr Adibi intends to make seaweed a superfood to combat global and local food security issues. His publications and research areas can be accessed at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adibi_Nor Current Research Endeavours: Seaweed Cultivation for Blue Carbon: Advancing Sustainable Decarbonization Efforts. Evaluating Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Implementation Among Malaysian Aquaculturists, Using the Quantitative Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) Survey Technique.   Sea Grapes Seaweed Cultivation Offers Avenue Toward Greater Food Security, Healthier Diets, and Better Nutrition in Malaysia. Seaweed Cultivation for Climate Mitigation, Food Security, and Local Community Development in Abandoned Shrimp Ponds in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, Malaysia Food Security in Malaysia: The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Paddy and Rice Industry in Malaysia. The Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Approach Using Land-Based Farming System Between Seaweed and Marine Finfish. Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) on GlobalSeaweedSTAR program: Safeguarding the Future of the Seaweed Industry in Developing Countries.  Influence of Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Gracilaria sp. seaweed on Physiological and Fillet Quality of Tilapia, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS). Developing Regenerative Aquaculture in Southeast Asia. Seaweed Cultivation: A Nature-Based Solution to Climate Change and Food Insecurity. Revitalising the Malaysia Seaweed Industry through the Blue Economy.