Meet our team
Alex
lechner
Dr Alex Lechner is a landscape ecologist and Associate Professor at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. He conducts research on the application of integrated socio-ecological approaches along with spatially explicit modelling to conservation planning and natural resource management. Originally, from Australia, he has held a variety of positions at the University of Queensland, the University of Tasmania, and RMIT University and conducted research in a wide range of areas from mine land rehabilitation to planning wildlife corridors. Alex has completed a BSc majoring in Ecology at the University of Queensland, and a MAppSci specialising in Geospatial Science and a PhD in Landscape Ecology at RMIT University.
Research Associates
Michelle
ang
Michelle Ang is a research assistant under LEC, since January 2018. She is generally curious about the diverse software and research methods available in the field of GIS that is applicable across environmental studies. In the LEC lab, she is predominantly working on landcover mapping and change detection analysis. Currently she’s assisting Dr. Alex Lechner and collaborators from the University of Queensland, Australia, with projects under the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) research consortium. Previously, she was a research assistant under the University of Nottingham Business School (NUBS) that was assisting in the data collection of the ‘Rangers Perception Study’ research project via surveys and interviews with rangers all around Malaysia.
ZOE LUm
Zoe Lum has been a nature lover ever since she was young and is still pursuing her passion to conserve and preserve wildlife and their natural habitats. She aims to be a significant contributor in making Malaysia a country with better environmental values one small step at a time. Currently, she works in the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus as a Research Assistant for Dr. Alex Lechner of the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences. A few projects which she has worked on include the Moonee Valley Ecological Connectivity plan (Australia) and the Central Forest Spine project (Malaysia).
Darrel
tiang
Darrel Tiang is a research assistant under Dr. Alex Lechner. With a passion in the natural environment. He joined L.E.C in May of 2018 with hopes of contributing to conserving Malaysia’s natural forests through the application of GIS. Darrel is currently working on 2 projects on landscape connectivity modelling. The first project is assessing the impact of land use on functional connectivity within the Central Forest Spine. The second project assesses landscape connectivity in Karuah catchment, NSW, Australia. Prior to his time with LEC, Darrel was shortly attached to an engineering firm and was tasked with writing compliance reports for clients in the light industrial sector. Darrel is an outdoor enthusiast and his hobbies include SCUBA diving, trekking, and cooking.
LI SHuen
ng
Li Shuen is a research assistant under LEC and MEME. She graduated with a Bsc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Nottingham Malaysia in July 2018 and is currently pursuing to publish her final year project titled: The Impacts of China’s Belt and Road (BRI) Initiative on Biodiversity in Southeast Asia. In addition, she is providing GIS assistance on projects assessing the impacts of BRI on biodiversity. Prior to this, Li Shuen was a research assistant for the Wildlife Conservation Course 2018 under WildCru. She has also explored different aspects of her field such as volunteering for the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sepilok, Sabah and did an internship in an Environmental, Safety and Health consultant company in Ipoh. Armed with passion and enthusiasm, she’s a future green warrior in the making, who aspires to conserve Malaysia’s rainforests and wildlife.
Aliya
sabarudin
As someone who resonates with the words of EM Schumacher, Aliya Sabarudin believes that individuals' environmental consciousness is an important factor when dealing with climate change and species extinctions.
Having finished her degree in Environmental Science, she is currently taking on research practice under LEC. Her future plan is to pursue her career in environmental policy and management before settling down in a minimal house somewhere surrounded by tropical rainforest while volunteering for good cause.
Aliff
rusdi
Completed his bachelor degree in Petroleum Engineering and his master degree in Engineering Geology, Aliff knew he is getting closer to his dream of becoming a lecturer. Joined UNMC as a Research Assistant in January 2019, focussing on incorporating his engineering knowledge into the environmental conservation research. His inspiration is Mother of Environmental Movement, Rachel Carson, and he always viewed that it is our duty as human being to protect and conserve the environment we live in.
shalini
komagan
Shalini Komagan has always been interested in involving herself with nature since young. She was majorly influenced by the environmental issues surrounding her, nature lover parents and also influenced by music such as Earth song by Michael Jackson. This made her pursue environmental studies to achieve her main goal of saving and preserving wildlife habitat whilst changing the mindset of people to care more for the environment. She completed her degree in Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at the University of Nottingham Malaysia with 1 year exchange program to the University of Nottingham at UK campus. Her main interest is focused on spatial planning using GIS software, environmental justice and sustainable management. Currently, she is working as a research assistant under Dr Alex Lechner on her previous final year project about urban sustainability assessment in Ampang using GIS and urban sustainability indicators. Shalini will be graduating soon in July 2019.
jeslyn
ng
After trekking for the first time in the Bornean rainforest in Sarawak at 12, Jeslyn Ng has never stopped being fascinated by nature and loving the outdoors. She always knew she wanted to pursue her career in conservation but never knew exactly which field that interests her until she stumbled upon landscape ecology. She is impressed by the powerful potential spatial technology can hold to aid conservation planning in preserving wildlife and their natural habitats on a large scale across the landscape. Having completed her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science at The University of Nottingham Malaysia in 2019, Jeslyn is currently working as a research assistant under LEC and WildAsia. Her main work focuses on publishing her final year project: Application of High Conservation Value (HCV) conservation planning approach to the landscape scale: A case study in Perak; while doing spatial analyses for WildAsia. She is passionate to acquire as many skills as she can in spatial conservation planning and becoming an expert in software like GIS, Google Earth Engine and etc., in hopes to utilise this knowledge to make a positive impact to the environment one step at a time.
Abirami A/p Baskaran
Abi is a recent graduate in BSc (Hons) Environmental Science from the University of Nottingham Malaysia. She is currently working as a Research Assistant under Dr Alex Lechner. Abi is passionate about environmental conservation and is interested in pursuing research. As an environmentalist, it is her vision to contribute towards a more sustainable future and a healthier marine and terrestrial ecosystem. She hopes to be part of the solution in mitigating the adverse environmental effects that we are currently facing and will face in the future.
Postgraduate students
Khanh
Duc ngo
Khanh Duc Ngo is currently a PhD student at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. He is interested in using Google Earth Engine, CLASlite and remote sensing data to detect land use changes in tropical regions. His current research focus on using Google Earth Engine and multi-temporal Sentinel-1A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images to detect land cover/land use changes and landscape fragmentation over time in the Mekong delta of Vietnam. Khanh has completed a BSc degree in Land Management at Cantho University - Vietnam, and a MSc program in Geodesy and Goinformatics at Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) - Sweden
Terance
teh
Terance Teh is a Masters by Research student at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus. He is interested in understanding and assisting in green planning integrated into future urban development by applying spatially explicit data and social studies. He wishes for future Malaysian city developments to encompass both the beauty of the Malaysian tropical ecosystem and the rich Malaysian culture. He is currently conducting his research for his Master’s thesis on the community-held landscape values’ conflict and compatibility with development preferences of the Klang Valley. Terance graduated with a BSc. majoring in Environmental Science from the University of Nottingham Malaysia and is currently pursuing further opportunities in Geography. He is expected to complete his MRes by the end of 2019
karen
lourdes
Karen Lourdes is embarking on a PhD at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. She is keen on exploring urban ecosystem services in green spaces in Kuala Lumpur, particularly the benefits of green spaces and its implementation in town planning. Her PhD project is a collaboration between the University of Nottingham, University Putra Malaysia and Stanford University’s Natural Capital Project, for which she is a scholar. The project will utilise GIS and the Natural Capital’s InVest Ecosystem Services tool to map and understand these services. Karen completed her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at the University of Liverpool and her Masters in Applied Wildlife Conservation at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. When she’s not grinding away at her PhD, she runs a blog for environmental education – crazytreeblog.wordpress.com.
Daniel
platt
Daniel Platt is a Master of Research student at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. He is interested in conservation and research on sustainable systems and landscapes. He is currently researching the utility of Google Earth Engine in measuring land use change in tropical regions, with a particular focus on oil palm plantations. Daniel has completed a BSc in Environmental Science at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. He is expected to complete his MRes by February 2020.
Pouvalen Seeneevassin
Pouvalen is a Master of Research student at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. His research focuses on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the mining projects associated with them and their eventual environmental and social impact. Additionally, he is investigating the financial investment into the mining sector under the BRI. Pouvalen completed his bachelor's degree in Environmental Science at The University of Nottingham Malaysia in 2019. He is expected to graduate from his MRes in February 2021.
Sharun Binti Beream Nasir
The nature has always been mesmerizing for Sharun and this lead her to learn more about it and do more to preserve the mother nature. She is keen in exploring ways that could make human, the wildlife and the natural environment to coexist.
Thus, she always look out to discover sustainable approaches that could help to sustain the harmony between the people and the surrounding environment.
Interns
Teresa Böhm
Teresa is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the University of Münster (Germany). In summer 2017 she participated in an internship program of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) which allowed her to spend three months at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of UNMC. Under the supervision of Dr. Alex Lechner, she conducted landcover mapping for the Central Forest Spine project during her stay. To further advance her research skills she continues to work on connectivity modelling projects under LEC. Her research focus at her home university is on agroecosystems.
Jennifer
danneck
Ever since she can remember, she has been really fascinated by the beauty of nature. Not only does she really enjoy spending most of her leisure time in nature, but with her studies “Sustainable Regional Management” at the University of Rottenburg am Neckar (Germany) she found the exact topic that enables her to complement her fascination for nature with scientific knowledge. Currently Jennifer is participating in an internship program of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) which is also allowing her to spend three months at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of UNMC. Under the supervision of Dr. Alex Lechner, she is conducting landcover mapping for the urban area of Kuala Lumpur. Her research has awakened her fascination for remote sensing and programs like Google Earth Engine. She is very fascinated by the potential and possibilities behind it and hopefully it will make the world a bit more environmentally friendly.
Jonas Börsch
Jonas Börsch is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences and Information Systems (Data Science) at the Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University, Lüneburg. The focus of his studies have been Ecology, Landscape Ecology and Environmental Modeling. He joined the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of UNMC for a three month internship. Under the supervision of Dr. Alex Lechner and in cooperation with WildAsia he conducted a landscape connectivity study in order to identify wildlife corridors of high conservation value. He hopes to apply his acquired experiences and skills in order to deepen the understanding of nature and to conserve what is left of it.
Sally Stuart
Sally Stuart is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management at the Institute of Geosciences and Geography of the Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg. Given the opportunity of a three-month internship at the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of UNMC by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) in summer 2019, she was excited to learn more about a specific subdivision of her studies: remote sensing. Her project, led by Dr. Alex Lechner, is in collaboration with WildAsia and supports the Wild Asia Group Scheme on Palm Oil Sustainability. She uses UAV imagery to determine oil palm age groups, which ultimately may be used to facilitate RSPO certification. Her experience with the LEC lab inspires her to learn more about the possibilities of GIS applications and how we can all contribute to conservation.
Ooi Juin YaN
Ooi Juin Yan has developed a keen interest on matters related to nature and its phenomena. Thanks to his nature loving parents and rural background, he understood a lot about nature and the environment at a young age. Numerous outdoor activities such as jungle trekking and mountain climbing have spark his curiosity and interest towards nature. Ever since then, he has dedicated himself to help preserve the beauties of Mother Nature to allow future generations to experience the tranquillity and the joy of the past. Environment science is an interesting topic to explore as a career. He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Geographical Science in the University of Nottingham Malaysia. This is his first step in making a difference to the world we live in. Thanks to LEClab for giving him an internship opportunity, he can continue learning more regarding environmental impacts and sustainability. The Earth is what we have in common and we all should protect the Earth as how we would protect our loved ones.
Honorary members
Hoong
chen teo
Hoong Chen Teo is an honorary research associate under LEC, and is currently an undergraduate at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. He has led a literature review paper (submitted for review) on the environmental impacts of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), supervised by Dr Alex Lechner and other collaborators. His current research with LEC includes BRI environmental impacts, landcover mapping and sustainable cities
Bachelor Degree Students
Wong Yong Bin
Yong Bin Wong is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at the School of Environmental and Geographical Science of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. He is currently doing his final-year project, under the supervision of Dr. Alex Lechner, on assessing land cover and land use to support the Wild Asia Group Scheme on sustainable palm oil with the use of remote sensing (drone imagery) and GIS techniques. Upon the completion of his project, he is expected to complete his degree by May 2020.
Gangul Nelaka Atapattu
Gangul Nelaka Atapattu is a graduating student from the school of Environmental and Geographical Sciences finishing his Bsc(Hons) Environmental Science. He has undertaken his Final year project, under the supervision of Dr Alex, on mapping ecosystem services for Selangor. He has also contributed to the landcover mapping of plantations of Greater Klang in a past project.