Meet The Team
Prof. Christopher Gibbins
Chris is a freshwater ecologist whose main interest is understanding how physical habitat in streams and rivers affects aquatic organisms. Applications of his research extend from the development of environmental flows to river rehabilitation.
He has worked at the University of Nottingham Malaysia for three years. Prior to this he was based at the Northern Rivers Institute, University of Aberdeen, where he worked for 20 years on a variety of fundamental science and river management projects.
He has long running collaborations with the University of Lleida, Spain, and maintains research collaborative links with Aberdeen.
Celine Chong
Celine is doing her PhD in Fluvial Geomorphology. Her project focuses on understanding geomorphic change in the Baleh River in Sarawak prior to the Baleh dam construction.
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She graduated from the University of Nottingham Malaysia with a Bachelor of Science Honours in Environmental Science, and she worked as a research assistant for a year under Prof. Christopher Gibbins on projects involving peatlands, forestry & climate change. She started her PhD in June 2019.
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Her main goal is to achieve planetary conservation and also contribute new knowledge to the area of science, especially in Southeast Asia.
Leon Lip
Leon is currently a first year PhD student working on the fluvial geomorphology and restoration of the Trusan River, Sarawak. He is working closely with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to monitor the success of a river restoration project initiated in 2017.
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The aim of the restoration is to reduce riverbank erosion through the application of green engineering.
He believes that green approaches to river engineering could bring Malaysia closer towards a more sustainable future by adopting better catchment and river management.
Zoe Lum
Zoe has been a nature lover ever since she was young and is still pursuing her passion to conserve and preserve wildlife and their natural habitats.
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She is currently a Master of Research student. Prior to that, Zoe worked as a Research Assistant for 1.5 years with projects involving landcover mapping, connectivity modelling and statistical analysis.
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She aims to be a significant contributor in making Malaysia a country with better environmental values, one small step at a time.
Kitty Chen
Kitty has been an environmental enthusiast since a very young age and loves all sorts of activities that involved nature.
She recently graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science with Honours in Environmental Sciences and is currently pursuing her PhD.
Her project focuses on the transport dynamics of microplastics in river ecosystems and their implications for ecological processes as well as human health.
Azamuddeen Nasir
Azam is currently studying for a Masters of Research.
Raised in the Land of the Hornbills, he has a strong passion for people and nature.
Adventure is synonymous with his childhood, exploring jungles, caves, mountains and the sea.
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He is a proud practising Muslim and an aspiring scientist.
Joyce Anak Janggu
Joyce is a hydrologist in the hydropower sector who is currently pursuing Master of Research, focusing on the fine sediment loads and dynamics of Baleh River under the natural flow regime. She hopes the research will provide better understanding on the fine sediment conditions in Sarawak.
Selam Merat
Selam is currently pursuing her PhD in Ecology, focusing on pond and wetland biodiversity in Kuala Lumpur to assess their contribution to urban biodiversity and inform conservation policy.
She hopes the research will help communicate the vitality of tropical urban landscapes and their potential for nature experience and conservation.
Ng Yong Sin
Yong Sin developed a strong passion for the environment since she was young. Upon obtaining her BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences degree from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, she has worked on an automated microplastic counting project as a research assistant under the university’s Hydro Ecology Lab and gained hands-on experience in the river conservation field during her internship at the UNDP Accelerator Lab.
Now, Yong Sin is pursuing her Master of Research degree, focusing on the microplastic loads in freshwater fish and invertebrates in Malaysia. She hopes to raise public awareness of freshwater microplastic pollution in the country by providing a better understanding of the microplastic concentration in freshwater organisms in Malaysia.