BY NURIN PATRA
KUCHING: The 10th World Congress of Herpetology (WCH10) has made headlines as the largest gathering of herpetology experts in Malaysia, gathering over 1,400 international delegates from 70 countries.
And Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit said Sarawak is proud to host WCH10, the first to be held in Southeast Asia.
It is being held over five days, starting Monday (Aug 5) until Friday (Aug 9) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here.
He added that the congress aims to draw attention to the importance of herpetology as a distinct discipline within the biodiversity sciences, while promoting the study of amphibians and reptiles to a wide audience, locally, regionally and globally.
“The World Congress of Herpetology is organised every three to four years and since 1989, it has been held in nine countries.
“We are grateful to the World Congress of Herpetology for awarding the 10th Congress to Unimas via the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC),” he said during the launch of WCH10.
On the same note, Secretary General of the World Congress of Herpetology Dr Judit Vörös said WCH10 serves as a platform to feature keynote addresses, scientific presentations and workshops covering a wide range of topics related herpetology.
“WCH10 represents the first post-pandemic opportunity for herpetologists worldwide to meet again face-to-face and it is certain to foster exciting new collaborations for many.
“With professionals and field experts from more than 70 countries, key topics to be addressed at the WCH10 will include Research on Bornean Amphibians and Reptiles, Evolvability of the Explosive Sea Snake Radiation, Decoding Frog Diversification: Cues from Old-World Tree Frogs and many more,” she said
WHC10 also features 13 booths from organisations such as the Sarawak Association for the Welfare of Intellectual Disabled Children (Perkata), the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, and several others to showcase and merchandise their products.
Also present were Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Unimas Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Sulong Matjeraie, Vice Chancellor of Unimas Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, WCH10 Congress Director Professor Dr Indraneil Das, Secretary General World Congress of Herpetology Dr Judit Vörös, Controller of Wild Life of Sarawak Forestry Corporation Abang Arabi Abang Aimran, and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) Chief Executive Officer Amelia Roziman.
