Dr Syafiq Mat Noor

Can you tell us about your research, work and expertise in Southeast Asia?

I am a Malaysian-born academic and researcher specialising in science and climate change education. In Malaysia, my research has focused on pedagogical practices in science education, with a particular emphasis on inquiry-based teaching and learning. I focus on primary science, aiming to enhance pedagogical practices that cultivate an understanding of the nature of science and thereby advance scientific literacy. During my third postdoctoral fellowship at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, I undertook a research project, which developed a climate change curriculum with indigenous communities. I am founder/board member of the Malaysian Action Research Network (MARNet). This network aims to promote and advance action research, providing encouragement and support for Malaysian action researchers to conduct rigorous and evidence-based work.

At present, I am advancing research in climate change and sustainability education in Southeast Asia. This region has been criticised by Western media for its significant contribution to climate change, particularly through logging in Borneo Island for oil palm plantations. Despite this criticism, climate change has its origins in greenhouse gas emissions that arose from Western industrialisation; countries in Southeast Asia are amongst those worst affected by global climate change; and furthermore, climate change and sustainability have not received much attention, especially in the educational context. I am collaborating with colleagues from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Brunei Darussalam to propose curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment methods for addressing these issues.

Any anecdote you would like to share?

Southeast Asian rainforests are among the most biodiverse in the world. They house a vast array of species, many of which are endemic – they are found nowhere else on Earth! During my time in Brunei Darussalam, I had the privilege of visiting Ulu Temburong National Park, a virgin or old-growth forest in Borneo that has remained undisturbed for generations and has been largely unaffected by human activity. The diversity of flora and fauna in this forest has sparked my curiosity and a desire to explore, leading to educational research about climate change and indigenous knowledge. The canopy walkway in Ulu Temburong offers a magnificent view of the rainforest’s diverse treetop ecosystem. This hidden gem in Southeast Asia is certainly a must-visit!