Siti Alias, PhD

I am a mycologist. Since 2000 I have been working with soil polar fungi, their biodiversity and phylogeography, antimicrobial activity, and cold-adapted enzymes in Continental Antarctica and Maritime Antarctica (South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula). In 2007, I started to explore the biodiversity of Arctic fungi. The pole to pole study led me to explore further their differences in response and adaptation to atmospheric changes (UV and temperature).

A sense of urgency. Fungi play an important role in the marine environment. We know that their diversity and services to the ecosystem can be disrupted due to habitat changes and threats by human activities. Having access to both polar regions has inspired me to study fungal responses and adaptation to climate change and global warming at biochemistry, physiology, and molecular levels. There are still important questions to be answered in trying to understand their roles in both poles in terms of ecosystem health and as a bioindicator of climate change.

What’s your message to the world?

Fundamental research is not only important in obtaining baseline information on species diversity, describing new species, observing phenomena, or proving facts but it is also important to support science and policy as well as science and society.