SMALL GESTURES, BIG MEANING
Received a letter of appreciation from the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed.
I believe, it’s a simple gesture, yet it carries great value, a reminder that even small contributions can help shape the future of higher education.
Grateful to be part of this process and always ready to support initiatives that elevate academic excellence.
3D GIS Lab Iftar Gathering 2025
Yesterday, we’re treating the entire lab to iftar. It was a wonderful evening spent with my postgraduate students at our annual Iftar session! Great food, meaningful conversations, and a strong sense of camaraderie made it a truly memorable event.
Date: 13 March 2025
Venue: Gleneagles Terrace Restaurant, Pulai Springs Resort
In research, we push boundaries, tackle challenges, and work tirelessly towards innovation. But moments like this remind us that beyond hard work, we need time to connect, reflect, and recharge. A well-balanced journey is what keeps us moving forward.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined and made this gathering special. Looking forward to more moments like this in the future!
4TH CHAPTER: DONE AND DUSTED! (PART 2)
Referring to my previous post, I don’t see myself as extraordinary. Dato’ Seri Zaini Ujang, the former UTM Vice-Chancellor, published an entire book in just a week. What I’m doing is merely writing book chapters.
For an even greater example, Imam As-Shafie could write and complete a kitab in only three days. That level of expertise is beyond anything I can achieve.
In my last post, I shared how I completed my fourth book chapter, 5,800 words, 16 pages, and 40 references, in just six hours. That marked four chapters in two weeks, a personal milestone. The key lesson? Focus and persistence matter. Avoiding multitasking allowed me to work faster and more effectively.
Maybe our generation, myself included, has lost some of the discipline needed for deep work, or perhaps we’re too easily distracted, making quality writing a slower process. Let’s keep reminding and pushing each other to be better.
4TH CHAPTER COMPLETED – 4 CHAPTERS IN 2 WEEKS
Finally, it’s a wrap! Chapter 4 is done, 5,800 words, 16 pages, and 40 references, completed in just 6 hours. Had to put it on hold on Wednesday, but today I squeezed in 1.5 hours to finish it strong.
This marks a major milestone, 4 book chapters completed in just 2 weeks. It wasn’t easy, but persistence and time management made it happen. One key takeaway: avoid multitasking, focus leads to faster and better results.
Every chapter is a challenge, and every challenge is a step forward. Alhamdulillah for the progress. Now, on to the next one!
SUCCESSFUL VIVA FOR UiTM MASTER’S STUDENT!
Congratulations to Muhammad Naim Bin Ramli from UiTM Shah Alam for successfully defending his Master of Science (Built Environment) thesis! His research, titled “Development of Precision Disease Mapping for Tuberculosis Using UAV and GIS Techniques,” showcases the power of geospatial technology in tackling public health challenges.
It was an honor to serve as the External Examiner for this viva examination. The panel included:
Chairperson: Prof. Madya LAr Ts Dr. Alamah Misni (UiTM Puncak Alam)
External Examiner: Prof. Madya Ts. Gs. Sr Dr. Muhamad Uznir Ujang (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia)
Internal Examiner: Gs Dr. Nafisah Khalid (UiTM Shah Alam)
Main Supervisor: Prof. Madya Ts Gs Dr. Abdul Rauf Abdul Rasam (UiTM Shah Alam)
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Mohd Adly Bin Rosly (UiTM Perlis)
Minutes-Taker: Dr. Fazly Amir Mohd (UiTM Perlis)
Wishing Muhammad Naim all the best in his future research and career. May this milestone open more doors in the geospatial and health research fields!
#VivaSuccess #GeospatialHealth #GISForPublicHealth #UAVMapping #AcademicAchievement #UiTM #GISResearch
Book Chapter Completed! Avoid Multitasking.
Pushing limits, one chapter at a time! Just wrapped up a 27-page book chapter with 51 citations and 10,000 words—all within 12 hours while juggling daily responsibilities. As a solo writer.
Not my fastest work—used to complete similar chapters in just 6 hours over — but this one tested my endurance.
It’s a reminder that consistency and practice are key to keeping skills sharp. Avoid multitasking. It will not benefit you in the long run. Learn from other civilizations.
Every challenge is an opportunity to improve, and this was no exception. On to the next one!
Guess who I met today! 🙂 Erin, one of my former academic advisees. The last time we met was in 2019 when she came to my office to get my signature on her graduation form. Her final question to me was, “Dr., do you think I should continue in GIS or become a stewardess?”. Without hesitation, I answered, “Stewardess”. If my ex-boss (pensioned) knew, they’d probably be mad at me, since I was supposed to encourage her to stay in GIS. But as her academic advisor, I knew Erin personality very well.
Today, I’m so happy to see her thriving. I always wished to bump into her on a flight, but we kept seeing each other from far away at the airport, until today, when we finally ended up on the same flight. Erin even met her soulmate at work, and I got to meet her husband today! Before this, I only saw him in her stories.
Also, I’ve never received a gift on an AirAsia flight (because, well, it’s AirAsia right), but today was a first! My son got a cool AirAsia toy, and we received drinks. Thank you, Erin and your husband. As your academic advisor, I’m so proud of you. Even though you’re now a mother, I still see you as the same bright and youthful Erin from your first year.
ANOTHER RESEARCH ARTICLE
Got another journal article for 2025. It’s indexed in the Web of Science and even has a quartile ranking, which is quite decent.
Despite my daily workload and other responsibilities, I make it a priority to write and publish my own journal articles. Lately, I’ve noticed a trend where lecturers rely heavily on students to write journals, and worse, the lecturers end up as the main authors (first in the author name list). It should be the other way around, the students should rely on the supervisor for journal writing.
It’s undeniable that lecturers’ responsibilities are demanding, but academic writing is something that should be done by lecturers themselves, no matter how busy we are.
This journal will take a while to be officially published, scheduled for July 2025, but it’s a strong start to the year. With two high-impact research publications in January 2025, I couldn’t be more grateful.
Stay tuned for the article in July!
MPHIL VIVA VOCE – 2025 OPENING!
Today, the Oral Examination (Viva Voce) for Syahmi Bin Samson, presenting his MPhil thesis:
“Exploring the Social Construction of Nature in Malaysia and Its Effects on Ecotourism Activity Preferences.”
Date: 10 January 2025 (Friday)
Time: 9:00 am
Venue: Meeting Room 2, Block B12, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, UTM
The panel includes External Examiner Dr. Shazali Bin Johari (UPM), Internal Examiner Prof. Dr. Amran Bin Hamzah, and Main Supervisor Dr. Nadzirah Binti Hosen.
Wishing Syahmi the best of luck as he defends his insightful work, and kudos to the entire panel for their dedication to supporting postgraduate research. It’s an honor to be part of this important academic milestone!
#MPhilViva #EcotourismResearch #SocialConstruction #PostgraduateStudies #UTM #AcademicExcellence
6 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH IN UNIVERSITY
University life can be overwhelming, but taking care of your mental health should always be a priority! Here are six tips to help you thrive.
Small changes make a big difference! Let’s prioritize mental wellness together.
What are your go-to methods for keeping a positive mindset?
#MentalHealth #UniversityLife #SelfCare #university #campus #StudentWellBeing #UTM
