ASM President’s Langkawi Trip: Exploring Nature and Social Innovation

From 2 to 4 December 2023, the ASM President, Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc, went on a three-day trip to Langkawi. The trip encapsulated an exploration of the amazing diversity of nature, indigenous knowledge, and local community projects on the historical island.

This experience emphasised the significant influence of social innovation in rural settings, where science impacts the community and notably addresses stakeholder needs.

On 2 December 2023, the ASM President and the delegation were taken to explore the Langkawi Geopark Discovery Centre and Kilim Karst Geoforest Park.

The Geoforest, Southeast Asia’s first geopark, spans 100 square kilometres of nature reserve and breathtaking landscapes.

The visit included explorations of the bat cave, eagle habitat, Pulau Anak Tikus Fossil Geosite, and local community activities, such as fishery and oyster farming.

The subsequent visit to the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) the following day resulted in a consensus on collaboration between ASM and LADA, particularly in selecting the site for the Gamat Rehabilitation Project.

Later that evening, the ASM President attended the Cosmic Connections: Langkawi coffee table book launch, graced by YTM Tunku Temenggong Kedah.

On the final day, the ASM President and the delegation visited the Fisheries Research Institute Langkawi (FRIL) to understand the agency’s functions, particularly its supervision of sea cucumber and seaweed seeding and commercialisation through R&D.

Additionally, the delegation visited the Crab Farm Langkawi, a local community project employing sustainable culture systems for its latok (sea grape) and crab production.

The day concluded with a visit to MH Saujana Enterprise, providing insights into gamat (sea cucumber) production for medicinal purposes. ASM wishes to thank all the stakeholders who made this visit a success.