Event: Celebrate Nature & History at Muzium Negara 2025
Venue: Muzium Negara Kuala Lumpur
Time: 8:45am - 4:30pm
Public/Non-MNS Member (includes 1 year's MNS membership):
Individual: RM110 (RM70 + RM40)
Family: from RM120 (RM80 + RM40 for every family member attending - parents and children under 18 years old)
Places: 30
Morning: Branch Anniversary Talks
TALK 1: Historical Account of a Pioneering Malayan Ornithologist, the late Guy-Charles Madoc by Encik Muhamad Syafiq bin Ahmad Zahari, Zoology Curator, Natural History Museum
Guy-Charles Madoc (G. C. Madoc, 1911–1999) was a pioneering ornithologist and an influential member of the Malayan Nature Society (now the Malaysian Nature Society, MNS), where he was honoured as an MNS Honorary Member. He is best remembered for his extraordinary determination in producing the manuscript for "An Introduction to Malayan Birds" while interned as a prisoner of war during World War II. After the war, MNS published revised and expanded editions of his book in 1947 and 1956. This landmark work became one of the most important early guides to the birds of the Malay Peninsula and has been reprinted numerous times due to continued demand. Come and discover what Zoology Curator Encik Muhamad Syafiq has uncovered about the remarkable life of G. C. Madoc in a talk you won’t want to miss.
Speaker's Profile:
My journey has been a continuous exploration of the living world, though the lens through which I view it has beautifully evolved. In 2012, I proudly graduated with Honours in Bachelor of Science and Animal Resource Management from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, solidifying my foundation in zoology. My passion for Zoology deepened, leading me to the challenge of independent research, and I earned my Master of Science in Bioscience from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia in 2017.
For the first four years of my career, I applied this knowledge in a dynamic and high-stakes environment as an Executive in Operations, Airfield, and Wildlife Hazard Management at Malaysia Airport Sepang – KLIA T1 and T2. It was a role that married theory with critical, real-world application, ensuring the safety of both aviation and the local wildlife. I learned the importance of management, precision, and mitigating the intersection of human progress and the natural world.
In 2022, I made a significant career shift, turning from the active management of wildlife in the present to the preservation and understanding of its past. I brought my expertise to the hallowed halls of a Natural History Museum. While the field is the same, the approach is wonderfully different. Where I once worked to manage living creatures in a modern landscape, I now work to conserve, study, and curated stories of life through the specimens we hold in trust for future generations. It feels not like a departure, but a natural progression—a new chapter in my lifelong conversation with the natural world.
TALK 2: Paleo-world of Malaysia: Recent Discoveries of Dinosaurs and Other Fossils by Assoc Prof Dr Masatoshi Sone, Department of Geology, University of Malaya
Step into Malaysia’s deep past with a captivating talk featuring the latest fossil discoveries that are reshaping our understanding of the region’s prehistoric world. Led by Dr Masatoshi Sone, the 2014 discovery of Malaysia’s first confirmed dinosaur fossils—teeth from a carnivorous spinosaurid, a semi-aquatic predator with a fish-based diet—sparked extensive new research across the country. In this talk, Dr Sone will share some surprising recent discoveries of Malaysian faunal and floral fossils made by his team, which include Mesozoic monsters(!) from Pahang and Cenozoic amber fossils from Borneo. Join us for a journey across millions of years—perfect for anyone fascinated by fossils, evolution, and the hidden stories beneath our feet.
Speaker's Profile:
Dr Masatoshi “Masa” Sone hails from Niigata, Japan, and brings over 25 years of expertise in the geological history and palaeontology of SE Asia. His work bridges deep time and the tropical landscapes of Southeast Asia, shedding light on ancient ecosystems that once roamed what is now Malaysia.
A graduate of Deakin University (BSc Hons) and the University of New England (PhD), Dr. Sone has built a distinguished career uncovering the secrets of a world long vanished. His early academic journey took him through Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Curtin University Sarawak before he joined Universiti Malaya in 2010, where he is now Associate Professor in the Department of Geology.
At UM, he teaches Geology of Malaysia, Geology of Southeast Asia, Earth History, and Palaeontology—courses shaped by decades of fieldwork and discoveries across the region. His research delves into Mesozoic environments of Southeast Asia, reconstructing landscapes once dominated by dinosaurs, ancient rivers, and vanished ecosystems. Notably, he contributed to the first confirmed discovery of dinosaur remains in Malaysia, unearthing spinosaurid teeth in Pahang. He is currently leading a project on the palaeo-biodiversity of Sarawak (Borneo). A leading figure in understanding Southeast Asia’s prehistoric world, Dr Sone brings both scientific depth and captivating narrative to his work—making him a speaker you won’t want to miss.
🍽️ Halal Lunch
Afternoon: Specially Curated Tour of Muzium Negara
Guided by Mr Yee Chun Wah and Mr Richard N Gascoigne
📝 RSVP your seat now!
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MNS Member and the Public, go to https://member.mns.my/ and sign in/sign up with your email address.
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Check your email for the verification code and enter it in the portal.
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Click “Activities” → “Calendar View” under “Activities across Malaysia.”
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Find and click on Dec 13 – Celebrate Nature & History 2025.
Follow the instructions to pay and reserve your seat now.
Note: Children of any age are welcome, but the talks will be most meaningful for adults and secondary school–aged attendees.
📩 Any questions? Please ask events@mnsselangorbranch.org
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