Prof. Chan Eng Heng, Ph.D., P.J.K.
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Prof. Chan Eng Heng was born in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. She received her Ph.D. from the Kagoshima University, Japan in 1993 under the RONPAKU scholarship programme of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and her M.Sc. and B.Sc (Hons) degrees from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She is currently attached to the Institute of Oceanography, University Malaysia Terengganu where she leads the Turtle Research and Rehabilitation Group.
She is well known, both locally and abroad for her contributions in the field of turtle research, conservation and education. The recognition of her expertise is reflected in the various appointments at the national, regional and international levels accorded to her. She has also served as turtle expert in numerous regional and international sea turtle workshops, besides having been invited as guest/plenary/keynote speaker at numerous conferences and seminars.
She has been carrying out research and conservation work on turtles for the last 20 years and is still going strong. She has published extensively, with over 130 publications credited to her name. Her contributions in marine turtle conservation were recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme when she was conferred the UNEP Global 500 Roll of Honour in 2001 and in 2006 she was listed in the UNEP’s Who’s Who of Women and the Environment. As early as 1990, she was recognized for her contributions in sea turtle research and conservation in Terengganu and was accordingly conferred the title "PJK" by the late Sultan of Terengganu in that year.
Her current projects include the long-term marine turtle conservation project (PDF) in Redang Island and river terrapin restoration project in the Setiu River of Terengganu. Nested within these two major projects are numerous research projects, the most recent of which are tracking studies on head-started hawksbill and river terrapins. The Redang Island project is now into its 15th year while the river terrapin projects were initiated more recently in 2004.
Many of her works have been applied directly in the conservation of turtles in Malaysia, either to enhance existing efforts, or to develop new approaches in protecting turtles. Her publications were cited extensively in the report of the WTO (World Trade Organization) Panel on the United States – Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products, WT/DS58/R, 15 May 1998.
Prof. Chan’s work in sea turtle research and conservation has been well featured in both local and foreign TV programmes, such as "Beyond 2000", Fox Family Channel's "World Gone Wild", NHK's "Meeting a New Asia", Momentum II's "Our Scientists and Inventors" and TV3's "Majalah 3" and "Malaysia Hari Ini (MHI)".
She will be well remembered for endearing turtle conservation to the hearts of the common public by her innovative Save our Turtles Outreach Programme (popularly called STOP). STOP involves the public directly in turtle conservation efforts through nest and turtle adoption schemes and a volunteer programme. STOP has been highly publicized, as attested in the 30 odd media articles on the programme.