His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) has visited the University of Nottingham Malaysia as part of his Autumn Tour.
His Royal Highness met with staff and students at the 118-acre garden campus and took the opportunity to learn more about Nottingham's pioneering research.
After officially launching the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Summit currently taking place on campus, HRH learnt about the University's work on sustainability and environmental education and met with representatives of student societies aimed at making a difference in the local community.
He also made time to stop at the balcony overlooking the Academic Plaza of the University waving at the hundreds of students and staff, gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal visitor.
University of Nottingham Malaysia CEO and Provost Professor Graham Kendall said he was delighted to host HRH.
He said: "Today is another milestone at the University as we host the Prince of Wales during his maiden visit to one of the first British campuses outside of the UK and we are very pleased to have an opportunity for our staff and students to have a royal encounter with the Prince of Wales.”
The visit also included a special trip to Crops for the Future (CFF) to see world-changing research into ‘forgotten foods’ and how maximising the potential of the world's underutilised crops might address global food security issues. The Prince of Wales helped officially launch the Forgotten Foods Network, a new platform for sharing information on foods, recipes and traditions that are in danger of being lost.
Crops for the Future is a unique partnership between the Malaysian Government and the University of Nottingham, and is at the heart of an international effort to seek out which crops have the potential to be grown for human sustenance or on a commercial basis for food and non-food uses in the climates of the future. The Centre also hosts research into using insect meal to boost fish aquaculture, which is funded by the UK and Malaysian Governments via the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund.
Professor Sayed Azam-Ali, Chief Executive Officer of CFF said: “Biodiversity plays a key role in strategies to address the challenges of climate change because when we lose diversity, we lose resilience and we reduce our options for the future.”
"By creating the Forgotten Foods network, we hope to discover foods that can transform the way we eat and that could nourish us, especially in climates of the future – including foods derived underutilised crops as well as from poultry, livestock, fruit and even insects."
The Royal visit also saw a number of local dignitaries visit the Nottingham campus including Malaysia Youth and Sports Minister YB Brig Jen. Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, Deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department,Datuk Seri S.K. Devamany, Chief Minister of Perak YAB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Bin Abd Kadir and British High Commissioner to Malaysia HE Vicki Treadell.
The Commonwealth Youth Summit 2017 is being held between 3 to 5 November at the University of Nottingham Malaysia and Limkokwing University respectively.
(Article image caption: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales waves at roaring crowd of staff and students at The University of Nottingham Malaysia, also seen is YB Brig Jen. Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, Datuk Seri S.K. Devamany and Professor Graham Kendall)
(Thumbnail image: HRH Prince of Wales is received by Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar and Professor Graham Kendall at The University of Nottingham Malaysia)
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Notes to Editors: The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the top one per cent in the world. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our 44,000 students - Nottingham was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment in the 2017 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, was awarded gold in the TEF 2017 and features in the top 20 of all three major UK rankings. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally.
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Crops For the Future
Crops For the Future (CFF) is the world’s first and only centre dedicated to research on underutilised crops for food and non-food uses. Based near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, CFF research focusses on agricultural biodiversity to enhance agricultural systems and their sustainability, address changing climates, and improve food and nutritional security and economic well-being, especially of the poor. For more information visit www.cffresearch.org
The Forgotten Foods Network
The Forgotten Foods Network is a global initiative led by CFF to collect and share information on foods, recipes and traditions that are part of our common heritage. Through this network, we hope to discover foods that can transform the way we eat now and nourish us in climates of the future. For more information on Forgotten Foods Network, visit www.forgottenfoodsnetwork.org. For more information on Forgotten Foods Network, visit www.forgottenfoodsnetwork.org
More information is available from Josephine Dionisappu, PR & Communications Manager at the University of Nottingham Malaysia on josephine.dionisappu@nottingham.edu.my, +6 (03) 8924 8746 or Liz Cass, Head of News at the University of Nottingham UK, on elizabeth.cass@nottingham.ac.uk, +44 (0) 115 74 84734
Posted on 3rd November 2017