#appliedgeology

“I was still uncertain which university to join when I stumbled upon the Curtin booth at the Penang Education Fair. I set my mind on coming to Curtin Malaysia as I felt it was the right place for me. It was my first time coming to Sarawak and it was tough leaving home to a place I had never been to before. But after some time, I got used to it and I’m cherishing every single moment I’m having here.

“I enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Applied Geology, which actually wasn’t my first choice as I came here intending to study engineering. However, after completing my foundation year, my heart was set on learning something about the history of the earth and the creation of something unexplainable. Luckily, my parents understood my wishes and supported my choice of applied geology.

“Finally, after going through some rough patches along the way, I’m set to graduate this year with honours. I think I'm going to miss all the moments I’ve had, especially going on field trips and the nerve-wracking times trying to complete the maps. Of course, I'm thankful to all the geology lecturers for giving me the opportunity to experience it all.

“I learned a lot as a student at Curtin Malaysia. Before that, I was very quiet, shy and not comfortable interacting with others. But during my years at the university, I learned to socialise more and picked up some important soft skills by joining student clubs and taking part in different activities. That really helped a lot and I became a better person as a result.

“My advice to all current students is enjoy your university life and learn as much as you can. Curtin Malaysia is a great university and you shouldn’t waste the opportunity to make the most out of your university experience.” –Nurul Umira Suliman, Applied Geology graduate

“Before deciding on the Bachelor of Science in Applied Geology, I asked my dad for his opinion on whether I should pursue engineering or geology. He told me it was up to me and to choose according to my interests and capabilities. I chose geology because it’s an interesting field and I knew I could do it and I ended up really enjoying the course. One of the components of the course was field work, which I really enjoyed because we got to explore different rock formations around Miri.

“At Curtin Malaysia, I got to meet people of different nationalities and backgrounds. Being from Miri, it meant I could get a global experience right at my doorstep. I got to know most of my friends at Curtin through our futsal club activities.” –Sheena Hayani, Applied Geology graduate

“I’ve often been asked about my lifetime ambition by many people, including my parents. Geology is my greatest passion, and through my interactions with my mentors at Curtin Malaysia, Dr. Afroz Ahmad Shah, Dr. Nagarajan Ramasamy and Dr. M. V. Prasanna, I became particularly fascinated with earthquakes and disasters. I have also done a lot of personal study that has given me a deeper understanding and desire to learn more on earthquake geology.

“The 5th June 2015 earthquake in Ranau, Sabah was an eye-opener for many, including geoscientists. It showed that our understanding of the earth is still vague. We can mitigate damage from earthquakes if scientists and the authorities work together, be aware of vulnerabilities, consider possible scenarios, and simultaneously educate people.

“Prediction of earthquakes remains a major challenge but we can learn to live with earthquakes by observing strict construction standards, conducting careful geological evaluation of building sites, and public education.” -Navakanesh M. Batmanathan, MPhil graduate, now National Geographic Young Explorer and earthquake geologist