This semester, we were told to take the subject Social Engagement and our first task is to write a journal entry, starting with what we expect from the course. The university encourages students to publish a blog on the progress of the course. Although the blog is optional, I think it is actually a great idea, so why not take this opportunity to write on my blog again? Here goes my first entry:
At the end of our final exams in semester 1, we were surprised to see students from other programs already planning for Social Engagement as we were not briefed about the course at all at that time. I asked a few of the seniors on what we are supposed to do for the course and they explained that our lecturer, Dr Yong has his ways and we are probably going to do something in the lines of wildlife conservation. Choosing this program for the sole reason of being a conservationist, I was excited to hear that!
Last Friday, we had a briefing for the subject. It was a mass briefing, students from all Institut Sains Biologi (ISB) programs were grouped together while Dr Shamsul introduced the subject. Dr Shamsul talked about going to kampungs or helping out communities and at that point I was a bit bummed. Do not get me wrong, I love volunteer work and helping out communities but I was expecting to work with NGOs on saving our planet because that is something you do not usually get to experience as compared to community services.
The second part of the briefing was where each lecturer from each program briefed their own students. So there goes 25 Ecology Biodiversity (PEB) students outside of Dewan Kuliah 4 with Dr Yong to talk about our social engagement project. Dr Yong said that PEB students will not go to kampungs and we will work on something more related to our program. At this point I could already guess that we will be doing something in the lines of conservation after all!
Dr Yong explained that we will carry out a social awareness program to educate the public on wildlife trafficking. Dr Yong also commented that the Malesian Region is one of the richest regions in biodiversity but because we are a developing country, we are losing our biodiversity at an alarming rate. He continued to talk about the illegal activities in Malaysia such as people selling wildlife as pets; killing the parents, killing wildlife to make ointments and that just made me sad. I could choose to be angry about it but sometimes the consumers of these products do not know any better, so it is our responsibilities to create awareness and tell the public that this is wrong and why it is wrong.
My expectations from this course, specifically this project is for it to give me an initial insight on how wildlife conservation is conducted in Malaysia and become a stepping stone for me to become a wildlife conservationist. Also from this project, I wish to educate the public about saving our biodiversity and continue the war against wildlife trafficking. With what little efforts that 29 students could do, I hope it gives out an impact to the community and leaves a positive trace to our wildlife. Who else is going to protect out rich environment if it is not ourselves? We were saddened over the news that our Sumatran rhinos were declared extinct in Malaysia but did we take public action to save them and other wildlife? Isnt it ironic that the mascot to our latest Southeast Asia (SEA) Games, Kuala Lumpur 2017 was Rimau but we are doing nothing as a community to protect our Malayan tigers?
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