By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 27: The Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI) has made a significant impact at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS), held from June 23 to 28, 2024 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Representing TROPI were its director, Datu Dr Lulie Melling, along with researchers Dr Frankie Kiew and Yazid Imran Muhammad Faizul.
The event, which attracted over 3,000 participants from around 40 countries, was a hub of scientific exchange and innovation.
“The AOGS, established in 2003, has been a beacon for the exchange of scientific knowledge that addresses critical geo-scientific issues among academia, research institutions and the public, especially in Asia and Oceania.
“This year’s meeting was held in Pyeongchang, renowned for hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games,” said Dr Lulie in a press release.
Dr Lulie co-chaired the session ‘Direct Flux Measurements for Immediate Societal Benefits’ with Dr George Burba, a renowned bio-atmospheric scientist, author of multiple books on the subject, and co-founder of the CarbonDew Community.
The session aimed to highlight the practical applications of direct measurements of heat, water, and greenhouse gases (GHG) to generate tangible societal benefits, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
A highlight of the session was the presentation by Nikaan Koupaei Abyazani, an American PhD student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison currently attached to TROPI.
“His presentation entitled ‘Enhancing Tropical Peatland Vulnerability Assessments Through Remote Sensing and Carbon Flux Measurement’ tested the capability of remote sensing to detect changes in groundwater levels in tropical peatlands.
“The height of the water table plays a crucial role in determining the magnitude of carbon emissions, making this work an important contribution to the field.”
“The contributions of TROPI and its researchers at this meeting underscored the Institute’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges and highlighted the importance of international collaboration in advancing our understanding of the Earth’s complex systems,” said Dr Lulie. — DayakDaily
