Forensic Science and Archaeological Bones Workshop

Workshop: Forensic Science and Archaeological Bones
Date: 27-28 November 2007
Venue: Sarawak Museum
Spokesperson: Prof. Dato Seri Earl of Cranbrook
Organized by: Sarawak Museum and UNIMAS (Faculty of Science and Technology)

Thanks to everyone that involved directly and indirectly to this workshop especially, Prof Dato Seri Earl of Cranbrook and Dr. Charles Leh.

Thanks for inviting me to come. I have to say that this workshop is very fruitful and indeed a wonderful experience for me.

With lots of smile,

Diana

Learn to shoot..with a camera!

We arrived back in town yesterday afternoon after ten struggling days in Samarakan man-made Acacia Forest. Missed the muddy and slippery road to our research site already.



Took a lot of photos in a small bird-studio and also in the wild. My shaky hands manage to shoot a few photos of nice looking and also the dull colour birds. They are all wonderful. The weather were not so helpful..its been raining and we try to steal some times..2 to 4 hours daily. but the last two day were hot. Too hot, some photo are over exposed, my mistake!



A flock of Buff-rumped Woodpecker had been playing around our camp area. They are noisy and never stay long at one place. This is my favourite photo: Female Buff-rumped Woodpecker, more than 10 metres above ground.

Forest Dweller: The Unique Borneo Bearded Pig

Thanks to all participants that attend my 'Forest Dweller' talk last Saturday. Not in the pic: Ros, AJ, Joe and Bel.

I personally hope that this talk can be a starter for another conservation works involving this magnificent creature, the Borneo bearded pig and other species.

Conservation doesn't work one way only, We conserve not only by guarding our natural resources by not using it, but also by using it wisely, the sustainable way. Bearded pig is one of the resources that had been use for thousands of years in Borneo and if not control wisely, we can be either deplete this resource or the resource itself can be a pest to our surrounding area.

Please Value Your Wildlife.

We are the intelligent one, we can help them to survive.

Regards,

Diana

Two different world

One day i was assigned by my dept to assist three Japanese visitor with my colleague AJ. we brought them to our plantation area for a day visit and back. One of the visitors actually a Malaysia who live and study there in Japan. Since we have to use two vehicle, he followed mine. During the one hour drive, he asked me what do I think about the development in Sarawak.

:As one of the ethnic that living in Sarawak..I personally agree with the development. I may be biased a little, considering myself never stay longer than two weeks in my longhouse. But, from my own observation..now a lot of youngsters migrated to town, even by just doing a hard labour, they refuse to go back to the longhouses. With small pay and terrible living quaters..why do they rather stay?

Most of them have not even finish their secondary school. By which, cannot get more secure job. But, insteads of living and being poor in the rural area, they are more willing to work hard here in the urban. They have more income in the urban, since they cannot just go fishing and hunting all day long just to survive another day. They also cannot just seasonally planting paddy and in the end sells it to the buyer, and for own consumption, they only keep 10 sacks of paddy, and still have to keep on planting during the next season. and still the income would not be enough to buy things for more comfortable life.

It just not enough to satisfy everyone needs. Not because there are no more lands to roam on, or not enough rivers to dive for...maybe we just want to get benefit from the development..want to live comfortable with all modern facilities that exist only in the urban area.

Back in January, one Australian Scienctist ask me the same question, which for the answer for me..the most important thing for the local to do nowadays is to get education. The higher the better..you cannot just wait around until the natural resources gone forever, one day..you have to look for another alternative. She said..did the local want the same things as I do. Do they want education..they should be okay by just living with the forest surrounding them.

One thing for sure, we need to survive. If thinking about a future generation is too much..we can just think for ourselves. Because one generation is enough to deplete all our natural resources. Looking at a bigger picture, we all need development, and all development needs sacrifice. To develop we need education. Even conservation work would include awareness and education in its field. To start everything, we need education. This is all about education. Back in Australia, she said they dont need education to be farmer. But, for me..today, you have to be competitive. Be a good competator..know more about what you do, market value, and sustainable management. In a small market but lots of producer..you have to have something that others dont. :)

Education also promote job security. better pay and better living condition. In our country, Malaysia, we are lucky to have all education facilities. It all depends on us..to use or not to use it. 'Kenapa tidur berbantal lengan kalau bantal empuk sudah disediakan'. Think about it.

Being a conservationist

Even though i studied biology/animal science and resource management during my university year, i never dreamt to become a biologist/conservationist here in Sarawak. Before i even graduate, my supervisor, Prof Madya Dr Fatimah gave me the chance to be her research assistant. She had started the interest in wildlife research..and that is the started of my career. I thanks her for that..i could never repay her.

a year after i left UNIMAS, my cousin showed me one advertistment, that was during my beloved grandfather funeral. Seeing it as a job opportunity, i applied and was call for an interviewed.

My uncle showed me the road to GP office at night before and in the morning i had to drive alone. that was my first drive in bintulu. i got into the wrong office and met Julia. only then she directs me to CDP/COnservation office. The first person i saw was Belden and Nyegang (i thought his name was Nebang :) ). Then i was interview by tall orang putih and a charismatic chinese women. Never thought i got the Job! they were tough. :)

By the way, i was called to work on Apr 1st, and thought it was a joke..you know, it's April Fool's. Two weeks before that, Latifah call me in. I was needed for a temporary RA with the bird project. lead by Doug, with Yun and Belden, it was my first experience in the PFZ, . He photographed a lot of lovely and amazing bird during that field trip in T1C. So the first place i knew in PFZ is Sungai Gagak trail.

This is all about the first time.

on the first official day I work with GP i wore a nice green baju kurung..my favourite one, unfortunately, my orang puteh boss, Mr. Rob Stuebing said as a conservation project officer, i should be ready with a field clothes anytime. The next day, i went on a field trip with Dr. Diong (NTU), Nyegang and Norkasinah (UNIMAS) and Kate (UNIMAS). That is my first official field trip in GP.

Believe me..first time is never easy. The road is slippery and it's been raining for quite some times. So, when dr diong saw that i'm not comfortable driving in that kind of weather, he offered to drive. At that time, I didnt expect it will make my bos furious. That is the first time I saw Rob angry, the first time driving on logging road, the first time meets dr. diong and the rest of the crew, and for the first time in my life to see a bearded pig skull. :) this is all about the first time.

Every field trip that i did afterward had taught me a lot. More than i expect to learn. They are the most valuable experiences in my life. Working with the bearded pig project also giving me the opportunity to be in contact with the community. I spend most of my life studying, living in the city and never know how it is felt to stay in the rural area. For evry face i saw, every land i step on, every warm hands that i shake with, every voice that i heard, they have their own stories..pain and happiness that they felt..and to my amazement, i felt it too. and that are the experiences that no one can take away from me. I completely fall in love with conservation work and the unique community that dwell in the PFZ. They are the main component for my job..community, wildlife, lands and exotic species that blend into one in this sides of the world.

Thanks to all that help me throughout this project; UPM students, SFC interns, temporary research assistant, GP staffs, family and friends.