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Monash Malaysia students have been able to compare different forest ecosystems as part of their environmental education. |
Biotechnology students from Monash University Sunway Campus in Kuala Lumpur were recently given the opportunity of having a first-hand look at Malaysia's flora and fauna, taking their classroom outdoors as part of their environmental curriculum.
Led by their environmental course lecturer Dr S. C. Quah, the students went on two field trips, the first to an agricultural recreational park (Taman Pertanian Bukit Cahaya in Shah Alam), which represents an ecosystem emphasising agro-forestry and recreation. The second trip, to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong, gave the students the opportunity to see a forest reserve highlighting forest research and management.
Dr Quah, who specialises in plant genetics, said the two locations were chosen to enable the students to compare different forest ecosystems, each with their own plant families and species as well as their own means of survival and reproduction.
"Looking at the roots, leaves, flowers and barks of trees is an effective way of making the students aware of the importance of nature to mankind," he said. "It also gives them an understanding of how conservation of biodiversity and the various ecosystems, as well as a know-ledge of their interactions and adaptations, will contribute to people's own well-being."
As the group trekked along the forest paths, the students saw first-hand how plants and animals co-existed in the environment, with Dr Quah explaining how development could disturb or destroy its delicate equilibrium. The students collected samples of plant species for further analysis and comparisons.
According to Dr Quah, trips such as these encourage students to use the knowledge they have gained from textbooks and adapt it to real life.
"They get the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned in lectures and tutorials and to relate that knowledge to real situations, instead of just reading about generalised situations in textbooks," he said.
Head of the conservation policy unit of World Wide Fund for Nature, Malaysia, Ms Wendy Yap (BAHons 1991, LLB 1992) said that in general, environmental awareness among Malaysians was very low.
"It is difficult to promote environmental awareness when there is a lack of understanding about these issues and their impact on the environment," she said
"Activities like these help to educate the younger generation about environmental issues, making them aware of the broader construct of the environment and the need for conservation and sustainable development."
