PENANG: Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI) Director, Datuk Dr Lulie Melling, has become the first Sarawakian to receive the Malaysian Society of Soil Science (MSSS) Research Fellow Award.
The award, presented at the SOILS 2025 conference here, honours her contributions to tropical peatland research and leadership in advancing soil science.
“This award is not just a personal honour; it represents the collective journey of the Malaysian soil science community.
“Soil is the silent foundation of all life, and peatlands, though often overlooked, are among our most powerful allies in the fight against climate change,” she said during the award ceremony.
Lulie has been active in MSSS since 1995, and previously served as vice president of its Sarawak Chapter and secretary of SOILS 2007 in Mukah.
Holding a PhD from Hokkaido University, she has spent more than 30 years studying carbon fluxes and climate mitigation in peat ecosystems.
Her work has reshaped Malaysia’s peatland research through long-term monitoring, scientific publications, and restoration projects.
TROPI, under her leadership, now operates three eddy covariance towers, and has produced over 60 peer-reviewed papers on peat science.
The institute has secured more than RM60 million in research grants and is recognised as a regional centre for tropical peatland studies.
Lulie currently chairs the Academy of Sciences Malaysia Sarawak Chapter and leads the Malaysian Peat Society as its president.
She is also on the executive board of the International Peatland Society and serves in advisory roles with national and global institutions.
Among them are the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).