COASTAR Immersive Field Trip 2022
By Maryam Jamilah
Held on the 8 August - 14 August 2022, the COASTAR Immersive Field trip was a one-week programme with the aim to provide the COASTAR fellows with immersive experiences and direct lessons from mentors in a field setting. This trip was joined by 8 early-career researchers in fields ranging from oceanography to business administration under the supervision of 6 mentors from Universiti Malaya and Edinburgh Napier University. Throughout the week, participants explored new topics, learned about the cutting edge research, and spent time exchanging their personal experiences in academia.
COASTAR fellows and mentors at Universiti Malaya before departure to Taiping.
Day 1
The first day of the immersive field trip was all about getting to know each other and understanding how we were going to work together. During the introductions, the fellows and mentors introduced ourselves as each person’s ‘spirit organism’, i.e. the living organism that each person relates most to. The introductions helped to break the ice between the participants by sparking interesting discussions.
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Next, we had a briefing on what we will be doing in the next few days and on some administrative matters. In the afternoon, the fellows presented outputs and ideas for the water module of Bite-Sized Climate Actions. The presentations were reviewed by Dr. Helena Varkkey and Dr. Amira Firdaus from Universiti Malaya who gave useful feedback to the proposed ideas and helped guide them into a final output.
Every COASTAR fellows and mentors introducing themselves, and their 'spirit organism'
Day 2
A workshop was held as a continuation to the previous knowledge-sharing webinar titled "Turning Your Policy Brief into Action." This workshop led by Puan Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi from LESTARI, UKM, was held to give fellows a chance to practise drafting and presenting a solid policy brief within a limited time. The workshop saw fellows split into teams to brainstorm and exchange scientific knowledge, then deciding how to turn them into action, with relevant evidence and justification.
COASTAR fellows with Puan Siti Nurbaiyah after the policy workshop.
Later in the afternoon, fellows were given time to brainstorm the outline and draft the storyboard for a video assignment. The individual assignment was to plan, film and edit a scientific communication video with one of the following elements: blue carbon, climate impact, nature-based solutions, and building research partnerships. The session was closed by a sharing session by two fellows and a group dinner.
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Day 3
On the third day, we departed to Taiping, Perak. After a lovely seafood buffet and checking in the hotel, the day's activities started with a river cruise in Matang to explore the mangrove and its ecosystem. The boat also stopped to visit a fish farm in the brackish water area, where we observed the local aquaculture practices.
Happy faces during the mangrove tour.
In the evening, Prof. Mark Huxham led an interactive classroom session on carbon cycle and anthropogenic climate change. We learned about the biggest contributors of carbon emissions and how forests are instrumental in removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in its biomass and underground.
A fun class on carbon sources and sinks.
Day 4
On the following day, the participants visited a mangrove site and nursery within a village in Matang. There, the participants had an opportunity to see and learn about mangroves and experience entering a mangrove swamp. They also had a chance to learn how the ecosystem services of mangroves such as wave attenuation, coastal protection and carbon sequestration are essential for the region.
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In the afternoon, our party walked up Maxwell Hill, a spot in Taiping known as an ideal place for birdwatching and spending time in nature. After the tiring hike, we rewarded ourselves with various local delicacies at a nearby food spot. Later in the evening, fellows were given a chance to write any questions they had on the topic of climate change anonymously on a piece of paper. The night then ended with two more sharing sessions by the participating fellows.
Dr. Mark Huxham delivers a passionate class on mangroves.
Hiking up Maxwell Hill.
Day 5
The next day, we departed to the next location, Kuala Selangor. On the way there, we stopped at Sekinchan beach, where we had a short but sweet team exercise. The fellows were divided into groups and tasked to discuss and present their ideas to implement a policy to prevent overfishing in the region. During the discussion, the team dynamics and communication between the participants were observed by the mentors. Afterwards, a post mortem was done where each team was given feedback on their policies and suggestions for working more effectively in a team. As the sun rose higher on the top of our heads, we enjoyed some refreshing coconut water before continuing the journey to Kuala Selangor.
Group discussion at Sekinchan beach.
Exchanging stories over some refreshing coconut water.
After arriving and having lunch, we visited the Melawati Hill, a historical site which also gives beautiful views of the Kuala Selangor coastline. Accompanied by silver-leafed monkeys and long-tailed macaques, another fellow sharing session was held at an atrium on the top of the hill. In the evening after dinner, an evening session was led by Dr. Anita Ogilvie on how she transitioned from doing a PhD in Chemistry to a non-academic career in strategic planning.
Getting acquainted with the local monkeys on Melawati Hill.
Day 6
On the last day, another mangrove site, the Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP) was visited. During the site visit, fellows were given a chance to observe how different mangrove species are distributed along different tidal zones. The KSNP is also a popular spot for corporate mangrove replanting efforts and volunteering activities. Observations on the site sparked intriguing discussions on the effectiveness of these programs.
Outdoor lesson on mangrove zonation.
Later in the afternoon, we revisited the Melawati Hill to hold another sharing session. Dr. Gráinne Barkes and Dr. Helena Varkkey both shared their unique experiences in the journey from post-graduation to their current careers. Then, after a hearty dinner at a local mamak, all the fellows and mentors gathered for a round-table reflection and feedback session. It was a bittersweet ending as each participant expressed their gratitude for the unforgettable experience they had that week.
Programme feedback from COASTAR fellows:
“This is the first experience for some of them to get in the mud. We love and enjoy the ‘classroom’ session on the real site. With different backgrounds of studies, each of us came up with different questions. It is easier for the mentors to explain to us by relating with what we saw at the site. Fellows also shared their knowledge and experiences working in the mangroves.” - Nurulafifah, COASTAR fellow.
“It was an honour to meet all of you” - Rashid Ating, COASTAR fellow.
“Souvenirs for my nieces and nephews from Taman Alam, Kuala Selangor Nature Park. I hope they also become part of the caretakers of the Earth in the future too. This trip reminded me that human beings are naturally good-natured. Each one of us has our own story. Despite all the personal struggles, personalities and differences, each one of us has a life experience that we can relate to when we listen to or know each other better. Each one of us has a role to play and we can work towards one goal together. ” - Noraini, COASTAR fellow.
“Hiking in the afternoon? Yes. We hiked Maxwell Hill in the afternoon. It was super hot and high. And of course we made it with chit chat along the way. We really make use of the time by talking to each other, sharing experiences. It was tiring but we had a “pom pom” team at the top of the hill.” - Nurulafifah, COASTAR fellow.
“Spending awesome time together to get to know each other and building new connections.” - Ng Chuck Chuan, COASTAR fellow.
“I had a blast spending time in the mangroves and learning various topics from the mentors. The honesty and vulnerability that everyone showed helped motivate me to keep going in the field of academia.” - Maryam Jamilah, COASTAR fellow.
“Exciting time exploring the mangroves with mangrove experts and fellow researchers.” - Hannah, COASTAR fellow.