Malaysian Geologist Honoured for Ground-breaking Work in Environmental Protection
By Subaashinee Kupusamy,
7 OCTOBER: Prof Dr Joy Jacqueline Pereira, a 58-year-old geologist, was recently awarded the 2024 Merdeka Award for Environment, recognising her extensive research and international collaborations in climate change, disaster prevention, and environmental protection. With nearly three decades of dedication, Joy has played a pivotal role in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, focusing on natural hazards like earthquakes, floods, and landslides.
One of her major achievements includes conceptualising the Kuala Lumpur Multi-Hazard Platform (KL-MHP), a vital tool for weather and climate forecasting at the city level. She also led the Task Force for the Board of Geologists Malaysia Strategic Plan 2023-2040 and contributed significantly to the Climate Change Impact and Adaptation for the Water Sector Transformation Plan 2040.
As a professor and principal research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s South-East Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative (Seadpri-UKM), Joy holds several esteemed positions, including co-chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III and director of the Asian Network on Climate Science and Technology (ANCST).
Despite her achievements, Joy remains humble, attributing much of her success to the support of her family, including her husband, Dr Ng Tham Fatt, and her parents, L. Kumar and Victoria Miranda. “Their constant support and understanding have allowed me to balance my personal and professional life,” she reflects.
Joy’s journey in environmental geology began with an Earth Science degree from UKM, followed by a Chevening Award to pursue a Masters in Mineral Exploration at the University of Leicester, and a PhD at Universiti Malaya. Through openness, transparency, and constant improvement, Joy has earned trust in her scientific work, shaping evidence-based policies for a better future as stated in The Star.
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