IOES V2

Bachok Marine Research Station

The IOES Bachok Marine Research Station (BMRS) in Kelantan, a key component of the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), was completed on 27 June 2012. Strategically facing the South China Sea, BMRS enhances the University of Malaya’s oceanographic research capabilities in this region. The station provides a vital base for coastal and offshore oceanographic studies and serves as an innovative testing site for coastal protection technologies and novel aquaculture methods. It also acts as an educational and training center for budding marine scientists, both local and international.

LOCATION: BMRS is located at Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, 30 kilometres from Kota Bharu. Built on 3 hectares, the station fronts the open sea (South China Sea) and is partially bounded by the narrow Rekang River. It is also an hour away from Perhentian Island, ideal for coral reef studies.

The Atmospheric Sciences Center at BMRS was recognized as a Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Center by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 13 June 2016. This distinction was accompanied by the construction of an atmospheric observation tower, funded by the National Environmental Research Centre (NERC), UK. This initiative, in collaboration with Cambridge University, the University of East Anglia, and the Malaysian Meteorological Department, has led to the installation of a micro-Dirac gas chromatograph, developed by Cambridge University, for monitoring halocarbon compounds in the atmosphere. Initially part of the PMI2 collaboration between IOES and Cambridge University, the research expanded into the EU-SHIVA programme, uniting scientists from over 17 universities and research institutions in a field campaign. This campaign aimed to measure halogenated gases in the atmosphere and assess their impact on global ozone levels in the upper troposphere and stratosphere, contributing to our understanding of climate change.

In December 2017, the BMRS furthered its international collaborations by establishing the Joint Center of Marine Science and Technology (JCMST) between the University of Malaya (UM) and the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), Ministry of Natural Resources, China. This collaboration between FIO and UM through the JCMST has significantly strengthened the ties between Malaysia and China in marine science and technology, fostering human capacity-building and development in these crucial fields.

The Bachok Marine Research Station plays a crucial role in:

Facilitating advanced research in marine biotechnology, eco-engineering, and socio-economic studies.
Providing infrastructure for developing and testing new coastal engineering technologies for shoreline protection.
Acting as a technology transfer center focused on poverty eradication in coastal communities, especially in the ECER region.
Serving as an outreach and training center for the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES).

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