Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Makhdzir Mardan FASc

PROFESSOR EMERITUS DATO’ DR MAKHDZIR MARDAN FASc (25 February 1953 – 13 May 2022)

Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Makhdzir Mardan FASc was born on 25 February 1953 in Muar, Johor. He was a leading expert in the field of beekeeping in Malaysia and spent time researching different bee species.

Dato’ Makhdzir began his career as a lecturer in 1979 at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia. Over the span of 30 years in UPM, he distinguished himself with research and consultancy in the area of giant honeybees, hive design of the carpenter bees, remote sensing and GIS on giant honeybee distribution in the Melaleuca forest in Marang, Terengganu, distribution and locating of bee trees in the Belum Rainforest, formation of beekeeping and honey hunting cooperatives, pollination tropical orchard trees, and many others.

He received numerous national and international awards for his excellent achievement in research, such as the IDRC Fellowship Award (1985), The Royal Thailand Excellent Research Award in beekeeping research via the Asian Apicultural Association (AAA) (1993) and UPM Research Excellent Award (1999).

Apart from research, he was also actively involved in the university management and professional associations. Among key positions held were Deputy Vice Chancellor for Development (2001-2003), Director of AgroBio Unit at the UPM Chancellory (2003-2005), Director for Institute of Plantation Studies (2004-2006), Vice-President of Asian Apicultural Association (since 2011), Vice-President of World Propolis Science Forum (since 2012) and Advisory Board Member for the International Union Studies of Social Insects (IUSSI) (since 2011).

Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Makhdzir Mardan FASc inspired the development model for beekeeping in Malaysia. He will always be remembered by all.