Nurul Huda Ahmad Ishak, PhD

What’s the work that you do?

I’m a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, currently serving as Head of Programme for the Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) with Honours. My expertise is in Biological Oceanography, with a strong focus on zooplankton ecology. I study how these ecological influencers such as copepods (often called the ‘insects of the sea’), as well as salps and doliolids, shape marine food webs. My work also explores how climate change, especially temperature shifts, affects their physiology, reproduction, and bloom dynamics, helping us better understand future ocean ecosystem responses.

What keeps you going?

What keeps me going is the joy of discovery and sharing it with others. I love being in the field, especially in the Southern Ocean. That is the place where I can experience pristine nature in its quietest form. Back in the lab, I get to explore samples and see tiny yet mighty organisms up close. The best part is bringing these stories into the classroom, sharing my polar experiences, and seeing students light up with curiosity. I also write children’s books about zooplankton. I believe young minds are powerful agents of change for our oceans.

What’s your message to the world?

It’s a balm to the soul to see more people becoming curious about polar ecosystems. Protecting our planet isn’t easy, especially when changes in places like the Southern Ocean ripple across the entire Earth system. Observing zooplankton through the microscope constantly reminds me that even the biggest animals depend on the very smallest. Never underestimate the small, whether in nature or in people, because that’s often where real change begins.