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Sidrotun Naim

Master of Marine Biology – ‘05

Sidrotun Naim

In 2004, Sidrotun Naim (known as Naim) left Indonesia to start a Master of Marine Biology at UQ. Quickly presented with an opportunity to conduct research at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre, she immediately found her academic ambition in studying coastal areas, leading her to fulfil her hope to help protect Indonesia’s coastline, one of the longest in the world.

“Working at Bribie Island was the beginning of my exposure to aquaculture and a blessing in disguise,” Naim said.“I worked with Professor Susan Hamilton who gave me the intellectual freedom to choose what I wanted to do with the program.”

Naim spent a year with the Bribie Island Centre studying the nutrition and respiration of mud crabs, and graduated from UQ with a Master of Marine Biology in 2005. She has since moved on to the University of Arizona earning two more Master degrees, and is now close to completing her PhD specialising in Micropathology.

Different to other forms of marine studies, aquaculture research concentrates on solving fresh and saltwater farming issues, usually in coastal regions, and promoting sustainable practices. Naim said now, more than ever, sustainable farming is a major world issue.

“My research focuses on shrimp disease, one of the most limiting factors in aquaculture. Indonesia is a major world shrimp producer and the industry is economically valued at more than $1 billion per year. Shrimp aquaculture is one of the main livelihoods for people on the rural Indonesian coast,” Naim said.

“I’m working on the Shrimp-Tilapia polyculture, which is a model for sustainable aquaculture. Using the same amount of water and area, farmers can harvest two crops or even three, with seaweed simultaneously. “The system reduces the demands and costs for antibiotics and feed, and at the same time, maximises water space, as shrimps spend most of their time at the bottom area of ponds and tilapia prefer floating,” Naim said.

But prior to successful aquaculture systems, efforts must be made to protect the species. Therefore, she is also focusing on the molecular biology of shrimp viruses, and has had unique opportunities to work with some of the world’s most renowned specialists, recognising experts from Princeton, Harvard and the University of Arizona for training her to be a good scientist.

“Infectious Myonecrosis Virus is a virus that has so far only emerged in Indonesia and Brazil. It affects white shrimp and pacific blue shrimp, with a 70 percent mortality rate in acute stage and up to 50 percent in the chronic stage,” Naim said.

Because the shrimp industry is so vital to the Asia-Pacific culture and economy, identifying the key factors of the virus in shrimp is critical to predicting the impact of mutations. Niam plans to continue this research in the coming years as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard.

Although busy, Naim is also concerned with helping build a network of women scientists. Sponsored by the Faculty for the Future Program from the Schlumberger Foundation, she has connected with women scientists from around the world.

“If it wasn’t through my connection with the Schlumberger Foundation, I might never think that what my sister scientists from emerging economy countries can do, I can do as well,” Naim said.

Following the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, Naim devoted a year to working as a marine consultant for the World Wildlife Fund, contributing to a post-tsunami fisheries reconstruction and rehabilitation project.

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