DR. JILLIAN OOI LEAN SIM
Department of Geography
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
jillian_03um.edu.myView CV | |
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Biography | |
Dr Jillian Ooi started out as an environmental social scientist but shifted to studying marine plants because she is fascinated by the sea. Her master's research delved into the impact of disturbance on seaweed communities. She earned a PhD in Seagrass Biogeography through the Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of Western Australia. Working under the mentorship of Professor Gary Kendrick and the late Dr Kimberly Van Niel, she studied the spatial patterns and ecology of subtidal seagrasslands in the Johor islands. There, she fell irrevocably under the spell of these overlooked yet vital ecosystems. Jillian’s research consists of 3 themes: (1) investigating ecosystem functions of seagrass, particularly their roles as habitats and feeding grounds for fish and megafauna, (2) developing spatial distribution models for seagrass species in Southeast Asia, to provide an understanding of what makes a suitable seagrass habitat, and (3) developing effective restoration methods for seagrass and coral reefs. Her work has contributed to the gazettement of the Kepulauan Lima marine park in Johor (2023), strengthened protection for the Tioman Marine Park in Pahang (2007), and supported the establishment of a dugong sanctuary in Johor (2005 and 2017). Jillian enjoys working with local communities, spearheading and nurturing community-driven seagrass conservation initiatives in the Sungai Johor and Sungai Pulai estuaries. Her efforts focus on empowering local stakeholders through capacity building in seagrass monitoring and mapping. In 2015, Jillian received the Komai Fellowship to study the satoumi approach to seagrass restoration in Japan. In 2022, she was among six global researchers awarded the Pew Marine Fellowship for her work in seagrass restoration and to raise awareness about seagrass in Malaysia through the cultural arts approach. She blended the performing arts with science to create Seruan Setu, a groundbreaking gamelan music concert dedicated to seagrass ecosystems. When she is not underwater watching grass grow, Jillian is the Artistic Director and Music Director of Rhythm in Bronze, an award-winning contemporary gamelan ensemble based in Kuala Lumpur. Founded in 1997, Rhythm in Bronze is known for its pioneering efforts in showcasing the Malay gamelan as its main medium of musical expression. Jillian’s music direction and compositions for the gamelan have won awards and/or received nominations at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, which celebrates outstanding performances in music, dance, theatre and musical theatre in Malaysia. She considers the Sea her main source of musical inspiration. |
Publication
Finance
Project Title | Progress | Status |
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What Lies Beneath : Revealing The Secret Life Of Seagrass Roots And The Hidden Charisma Of Seagrass Habitats |
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on going |
Developing A Predictive Species Distribution Model For Seagrass (order: Alismatales) By Quantifying Species-environment Relationships In The Seas Of Malaysia |
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end |
Developing An Understanding Of The Seagrass Socioecological System Of Mersing, Johor |
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end |
This information is generated from Research Grant Management System |
Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Malaysia – Status, Threats, and the Way Forward for Research and Policy
Heterogeneity of Fish Taxonomic and Functional Diversity Evaluated by eDNA and Gillnet along a Mangrove-Seagrass-Coral Reef Continuum
Sea urchins of Peninsular Malaysia: Spatial distribution and species-habitat association
Dugong feeding grounds and spatial feeding patterns in subtidal seagrass: A case study at Sibu Archipelago, Malaysia
Flora and Fauna of Seagrass Beds in and around the South China Sea
Natural History of the Pulau Tioman Group of Islands
Marine Science into the New Millennium: New Perspectives and Challenges
In silico discovery of antioxidant peptides from the sea grass Posidonia australis
Jillian Ooi Lean Sim (2022). Kaedah Pengumpulan Data Biogeografi Rumput Laut. In Firuza Begham Mustafa (Ed), Metodologi Terpilih dalam Geografi. Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit Universiti Malaya.
Research with coastal people in Bangladesh: challenges and way forward
Seaweed Diversity in Malaysia