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Dr. Sami Asad
Dr. Sami Asad is a professor of sustainability and innovation and program director for the professional masters and master of science programs at Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences. As an environmental and sustainability scientist with a PhD in ecology and conservation, Sami aim’s to disseminate foundational environmental science concepts and promote science-based sustainable decision making. Sami’s primary research, focuses on quantifying biodiversity and environmental responses to anthropogenic disturbance, utilizing this information to inform sustainable land management. However, he is also interested in evaluating challenges in sustainable land management practice application, leveraging AI and new-tech for tackling the biodiversity crisis, illegal wildlife trade, deforestation and habitat restoration, and leveraging AI in the recognition of pharmaceutically significant biological compounds. During his time with research institutions, NGOs and collaborating the local governments and businesses, he gained experience in informing sustainable decision making, developing sustainable resource/land management guidelines and supporting community based conservation initiatives. This has involved engagement with a variety of stakeholders ensuring environmental conservation and economically viable, sustainable resource use.
Sami’s research focuses primarily on understanding biodiversity and environmental responses to anthropogenic land use (primarily commercial forestry). Via examining multiple dynamics of species occupancy and community dynamics, his research aims to unravel the fine and large-scale impacts of commercial forest use, in order to understand the impact of specific management methods on complex tropical ecosystems. Utilizing this research, Sami aims to inform land management stakeholders from businesses to governments on unsustainable management practices, and develop economically viable, science-based sustainable resource management guidelines.
Tan, W.C., Vitalis, V.,Siku, J., Rödder, D., Rödel, M. O., and Asad, S. (Submitted) High freshwater turtle occupancy in a sustainably managed tropical forest. Journal of Wildlife Management.
Asad, S., Vitalis, V., Guharajan, R., Abrams, J.F., Lagan, P., Kissing, J., Sikui, J., Wilting, A. and Rödel, M.O. 2022. Variable species but similar amphibian community responses across habitats following reduced impact logging. Global Ecology and Conservation, 35: e02061.
Asad, S., Ng, S.T., Sikui, J. and Rödel, M.O. 2022. Variable detectability and El-Nino associations with riparian snakes in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 38(1): 25-30.
Asad, S., Sikui, J., Binjamin, B. and Rödel, M.O. 2021. Natural history of three freshwater turtle species within two logging reserves in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Salamandra, 57(2): 251-262.
Asad, S., Abrams, J.F., Guharajan, R., Lagan, P., Kissing, J., Sikui, J., Wilting, A. and Rödel, M.O. 2021. Amphibian responses to conventional and reduced impact logging. Forest Ecology and Management, 484: p.118949.
Asad, S., Abrams, J.F., Guharajan, R., Sikui, J., Wilting, A. and Rödel, M.O. 2020. Stream amphibian detectability and habitat associations in a reduced impact logging concession in Malaysian Borneo. Journal of Herpetology, 54(4): 385-392.
Mathai, J., Sollman, R., Meredith, M.E., Belant, J.L., Niedballa, J., Buckingham, L., Wong, S.T., Asad, S. and Wilting, A. 2017. Fine-scale distributions of carnivores in a logging concession in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 86: 56-65.
Peer-reviewed Conference Presentations
- 08/2022, Czech Republic: European Conference of Conservation Biology (Presentation)
“Amphibians and reduced impact logging: variable species but similar community responses”
- 06/2019, Malaysia: International Conference of Conservation Biology (Presentation)
“Stream amphibian responses to different logging types in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo”
- 05/2018, Malaysia: Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation conference (Presentation)“Stream amphibian habitat associations and responses to reduced impact logging in Deramakot forest reserve, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo”
- 07/2016. Singapore: Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation/Society for Conservation biology conference (Speed presentation and poster) “Habitat use and spatio-temporal variation in sympatric porcupine and muntjac species in a logging concession in Northern Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo”
Prizes/scholarships
07/2019: Elsa Neumann stipendium: €13,236 per annum (3 years)
10/2018: German Herpetological society (DGHT): €2,500
10/2018: Columbus zoo and aquarium conservation grant: $4,939
11/2017: Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Innovation fund: €6,600
10/2017: Auckland zoo conservation fund: NZ$ 2,9437
2017, 2018 and 2019, Berlin/Hamburg: Science slam: Frogs and deforestation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pvwtaZPicI&t=450s
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