Hear at first hand about marine conservation in Malaysia, and see the vibrant underwater world along its coasts, and the life around the corals that build the reefs that are called “the rainforests of the sea”.

The speakers come from a marine-focused university in the state of Terangganu, on the edge of the South China Sea. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s watchword is: “Ocean of Discoveries, for Global Sustainability.”

Its vision is described by its deputy vice-chancellor, Prof. Marinah Binti Mohd Ariffin.

Dr Siti NurTahirah Jaafar describes the threat to coral reefs – “the rainforests of the sea” – from rising sea temperatures which cause the corals to expel algae from their tissues, turn white, and become more susceptible to disease.

Dr Muhammad Hafiz Borkhanuddin introduces some of the residents of the reefs – nudibranchs, colourful shell-less snails of the sea. He describes the range of species and how citizen science projects are helping to map their distribution in Terengganu waters.