The Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Airlangga (FPK UNAIR), once again strengthened its global academic engagement through an international guest lecture featuring Dr. Nuradilla Mohamad Fauzi on Monday, 4 August 2026. The event, held at FPK UNAIR, welcomed a distinguished academic from Universiti Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, whose expertise in molecular biotechnology and genetics enriched the academic atmosphere. This initiative reflects FPK UNAIR’s continuous commitment to advancing knowledge in fisheries and marine sciences while fostering strategic international collaboration.
Guest Lecture Dr. Nuradilla Mohamad Fauzi at FPK UNAIR Discusses Omics and Genetic Engineering for Modern Fisheries
The guest lecture marked an important academic milestone for FPK UNAIR, bringing together students, lecturers, and researchers in a dynamic learning environment. Dr. Nuradilla Mohamad Fauzi, a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, shared her academic journey and research experiences with students. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and earned her Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of California, Davis, United States. With a strong scientific foundation, her research focuses on molecular approaches to studying aquatic organisms, environmental stress responses, and the conservation of marine and coral reef ecosystems.
Her presence at FPK UNAIR extended beyond delivering lectures. It also opened opportunities for multidisciplinary research collaboration between Universitas Airlangga and Universiti Malaya. This academic exchange aligns with FPK UNAIR’s strategic vision to support the internationalization of higher education and to strengthen global partnerships under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Through such initiatives, FPK UNAIR continues to position itself as an institution responsive to global scientific developments and dedicated to sustainable marine resource management.
During the session, Dr. Nuradilla delivered two key lectures to students of the Marine Science and Technology Study Program, Class of 2023. The first lecture, titled “Omics Technologies in Fisheries and Aquaculture,” was presented in the Marine Instrumentation course. In this session, she introduced comprehensive applications of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in fisheries science. She explained how these advanced molecular tools can enhance disease detection, improve seed quality, and analyze the adaptive mechanisms of aquatic organisms to environmental changes. Students gained a deeper understanding of how omics-based approaches improve research accuracy and efficiency in modern fisheries and aquaculture systems, particularly in tropical aquatic environments such as Indonesia.
The second lecture, “Genetic Engineering in Fish: The History,” was delivered in the Survey and Mapping course. Dr. Nuradilla traced the historical development of fish genetic engineering, beginning with conventional selective breeding and hybridization techniques and progressing toward modern transgenic technologies. She elaborated on how genetic modification can enhance growth rates, improve disease resistance, increase tolerance to temperature and salinity fluctuations, and optimize feed conversion efficiency. Beyond technical explanations, she emphasized biosafety considerations, ethical debates, and global regulatory frameworks governing genetic engineering applications in fisheries. This comprehensive discussion encouraged students to critically evaluate both the opportunities and challenges of biotechnology in supporting sustainable fisheries development.
The event was met with enthusiastic participation from students, who actively engaged in discussions throughout the sessions. One Marine Science and Technology student from the Class of 2023, Farrel, shared that learning about the evolution of fish genetic engineering technologies helped him better understand both the complexity and the immense potential of biotechnology in advancing modern fisheries. Other students noted that the omics lecture broadened their perspective on the importance of molecular approaches in marine research. Through this guest lecture, FPK UNAIR not only enhanced students’ academic competencies but also strengthened institutional partnerships with Universiti Malaya. The program stands as a concrete implementation of SDG 17, reinforcing global academic collaboration while advancing innovation in fisheries and marine sciences.
