Aboard a research ship in the Straits of Malacca, RICK GREGORY observes the thrill of discovery as scientists explore the faraway land and marine frontiers of Jarak and Perak Islands.

Written by Rick Gregory on 16 Jan 2007 with 0 comments. Be the first!

The sea is a vast and solitary place. It surrounds your senses and offers no chance of escape. Only the occasional passing of a seabird overhead or a container ship or fishing boat in the distance reminds you that others are trapped in similar circumstances. Despite this isolation, the sea offers unique situations and opportunities for those willing to test the water. Such was the case for a group of Malaysians bound for scientific discoveries on a journey that also revealed rich personal rewards.

Over thirty scientists and students set sail on a six-day adventure to study the waters and isolated islands of the Straits of Malacca. Organized by the University of Malaya's Maritime Research Centre (UMMReC), the quest was the first expedition in a series referred to as the Scientific Expedition to the Seas of Malaysia or SESMA. Supported by the crew of the M.V. Reef Challenger, a 48-metre long former fishing vessel outfitted as a floating laboratory, the team sought to survey the rich array of species in coastal and marine habitats. And rediscover the islands of Jarak and Perak; two land masses absent from scientific assessment since the 1950s.

But researchers tend to be a preoccupied lot. Most hole up in labs testing specimens or trek forest trails picking out plants or observing wildlife. Researchers usually like to do things alone. At sea, they slept in bunk beds, ate in groups, waited for showers, and carried out experiments amid a carnival of deck hands, scuba divers and field assistants. Living on a vessel changes the normal patterns of university life and the way you work with your colleagues.

"This is a golden opportunity for all the scientists to work together as a team," said Dr. Prof. Chong Ving Ching, a marine biologist. "Very often we work within the confines of our rooms, our labs and there is little interaction among us, but this cruise put all the scientists together on the same ship with no choice but to interact with each other every morning, every lunch, every dinner and during the outings."

Some researchers dreaded seasickness or pirates, others fretted about water rationing and limiting showers to one-a-day, while a few were daunted by just being so far in the middle of nowhere. Even the famous sea-faring traffic of the Straits of Malacca seemed to disappear, as the horizon remained clear. It was evident that the SESMA expedition was a floating laboratory not only for scientific, but social experiments as well.

For many scientists the chance to travel deep into the Straits of Malacca unveils a new realm for data collection. The unspoiled waters surrounding Jarak and Perak islands offer a perfect environment for sampling water quality. "This is a rare occasion to get water that is pristine so we can compare it with other studies in coastal waters like Port Dickson," explained microbiologist Dr. Lee Choon Weng. "These samples may be a reference point for clean waters and nutrient concentrations." Below the surface a few unexpected findings came into view. A vertical drop descends from the rocky coast of Perak Island and encircles the remote landmass in a sheer wall encrusted with coral. Amazed by the depth and expanse of the discovery, marine scientists were astonished to unearth such an oceanic gem. With no reports of marine flora from the islands, researchers were delighted to see patches of seaweed growing on the coral cliff. Varieties of red seaweed provided new material for Dr. Lim Phaik Eem, a post-doctoral researcher, to study by extracting DNA and analyzing its properties for biotechnological applications.

On land the discoveries were just as valuable. Science is a world of new species and new records. Finding new species is rare, but new records occur when explorers seek new or old territories to document its flora and fauna. The SESMA expedition exposed a plethora of new records. The biological assortment of over 200 species collected also reflects the diversity of UM's seaworthy explorers: beetles and dragonflies, butterflies and bats, rats and crabs, mushrooms, ferns, climbers and tree plants and birds.

But the biggest revelation turned out to be the accumulation of green matter. Relying on a scientific report from the 1950s, the expedition team thought Perak Island was a barren rock. The Reef Challenger arrived at the island in early morning darkness, leaving daylight to raise the curtain of uncertainty. "Looking through the porthole and finding Perak Island full of green plants, it was so unexpected," said expedition leader Prof. Phang Siew Moi. And for plant specialist Assoc. Prof. Noorma Wati Haron the emerald cover suddenly became an ecological puzzle: "It was exciting because for so long no research was carried out and only now we can see how things have changed, how the species have increased, but how were they introduced to the island?"

The frontier spirit has a way of engulfing everyone in to pitch in and work towards a common goal, usually under stress and duress. It is a melding of scholarship with seamanship. For some life on the open sea also brought forth open and impromptu talks among colleagues. For Assoc. Prof. Siti Aisyah Alias, a marine fungi specialist, the expedition was not just about scientific stuff but human relations as well. "This is my first time to work with so many people," she said. "But the discussion is very good because all these studies need a multidisciplinary view to get the answers to the ecological roles of different organisms."

Although most researchers were from the Institute of Biological Sciences, some came from other areas within the university. Assoc. Prof. Richard Dorall, from the Geography Department, learned a few things about his fellow researchers. "With such a diverse group, I was surprised just how strong the collegiality was among the members. I was very impressed at how closely they work as a team."

In the confines of a classroom, education suffers from claustrophobia. It works best on the broad canvases of life - the open sea, the translucent marine world and the contiguous rainforest. These biomes are boundless and break down the barriers that segregate and stifle the learning process. Instead, they offer total immersion to dive-in and trek deep. Anyone who explores these realms is quickly engulfed in a sensory overload of new adventures and new ideas.

The SESMA team discovered these lessons one-by-one as each individual came to understand their own place among the group, and then turned to see their colleagues in a new light. Collectively they are now much stronger. A graduate student summed up the newfound spirit this way: "Its unity in diversity," said Gokilan Sathasivam, "Although we are in various disciplines we are united."

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