‘MICROB DAY’ (EXPLORING THE WORLD OF MICROBES)

Date : 16 January 2023

Reported by : AHMAD MUAZ ZAKARIA

Category : News

DATE/DAY: 12 JANUARY 2023/THURSDAY

LOCATION: EXAM HALL, KULLIYYAH OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES (KAHS) IIUM, KUANTAN, PAHANG

Organizer:

Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences (KAHS) IIUM in collaboration with Department of Biology, Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), IIUM

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

ADVISOR

Asst. Prof. Dr. Hanani binti Ahmad Yusof @ Hanafi

Department of Biomedical Science,

Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences.

DIRECTOR

Madam Kamaril Azlah binti Teruk

Department of Biology CFS IIUM

SECRETARY

Madam Nazira binti Zubir

Department of Biology CFS IIUM

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Madam Norfazlina binti Mohd Shaharuddin

Department of Biology CFS IIUM

PREPARATION AND TECHNICAL

Madam Nurul Azrina binti Abd Aziz

Department of Biology CFS IIUM

FACILITATORS

Madam Norfazlina binti Mohd Shaharuddin

Madam Nazira binti Zubir

Madam Nurul Azrina binti Abd Aziz

Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences (KAHS) IIUM in collaboration with the Department of Biology, Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), IIUM has initiated an educational, exciting, stimulating, engaging and insightful program, ‘Microb Day’ (Exploring the world of microbes) on 12 January 2023. This program emphasizes knowledge sharing with the IIUM community regarding the microbiology concept through interactive, fun and engaging activities. Approximately 70 CFS students from various programmes such as Bioscience, Allied Health Science, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medical, Engineering, and Human Science participated in the program. The analysis of the survey and feedback on the program showed that more than 60% of the students found the events informative, stimulating, and interesting. Besides, the analysis also showed that more than 60% of the students have improved their knowledge pertaining to microbiology concepts after participating in the events.

Microorganisms and their activities are pertinent to all processes on Earth. Microorganisms influence every aspect of our lives and they are virtually everywhere. Microbiology is the study of all living organisms that are too tiny to be visible to the naked eye. This includes bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa and algae, collectively known as 'microbes'. These microbes play significant roles in nutrient cycling, biodegradation or biodeterioration, climate change, food spoilage, the cause and control of disease, and biotechnology. We are truly grateful to Allah’s unique and detailed creation of the microbes as their versatility has indirectly contributed to generating life-saving drugs, the manufacture of biofuels, cleaning up pollution, and producing as well as processing food and drink.

The primary aims of the program are :

1. To enhance the understanding of the IIUM community regarding microbiology concepts through various interactive and engaging educational activities

2. To educate CFS IIUM community regarding microbiology concepts including the impact of microorganisms in our daily lives.

3. To enhance the interest of the public, especially the students towards microbiology-related subjects in their current or future studies.

‘Microb Day’ was officiated by the Dean of Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, Professor Dr. Ahmad Aidil Arafat bin Dzulkarnain. The program began with interesting and insightful sharing by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Affendi Mohd Shafri, Project Leader KAHS HIKAM Flagship on ‘Infectious disease treatment in Malay Medical Manuscript’. Apart from the talk, there were various informative booths and exhibitions pertaining to microbes prepared by the first-year and second-year Biomedical Science students of KAHS. The highlight of the program was the demonstration on ‘Chang kit: microbe-based waste decomposer’ (Biomedical Science Society Pahang). President of the Biomedical Science Society Pahang, Assistant Professor Dr. Norazsida binti Ramli conducted the demonstration. Composting is an age-old practice for the biological conversion of organic waste to a humus-like substance which can enhance physical, chemical and biological soil properties. It is a preferred and environmentally sound method whereby organic waste is reduced to organic fertilizer and soil conditioners through biological processes. The composting process uses diverse microflora such as bacteria and fungi.