Dr Sarva Mangala Praveena

Professor Dr. Sarva Mangala Praveena is an environmental scientist who has dedicated her career to addressing how pollutants such as microplastics, pharmaceuticals and heavy metals threaten both ecosystems and human well-being. She has pioneered methods to detect microplastics in tropical soils and designed emergency water filtration solutions, making science directly applicable to real-world environmental and health challenges. With over 40 funded projects and more than 260 publications, her work demonstrates both academic excellence and tangible innovation.

Her credibility and impact are reinforced by numerous accolades including Top Research Scientist Malaysia (2024) from Akademi Sains Malaysia, continuous recognition as one of the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University since 2020 and international awards including the Gro Brundtland Award for Women in Sustainable Development (Taiwan), the KANS Prize in Water and Environment (Iran), and the ProSPER.Net–Scopus Young Scientist Award (Japan).

Her mission extends far beyond the laboratory. Dr. Sarva leads water conservation initiatives in schools, where rainwater harvesting systems have reduced water use by up to 43%, fostering lifelong environmental awareness among students. In Orang Asli communities in Perak, she has championed clean water systems that not only improve daily life but also safeguard vulnerable groups from water insecurity. Through citizen science mapping of microplastics, she mobilises teachers and children to co-create knowledge, transforming young Malaysians into changemakers and embedding sustainability values across generations.

At the policy level, Dr. Sarva ensures that evidence from communities shapes broader environmental action. She has contributed to Malaysia’s policies on plastics, microplastics, water quality and climate change, advised the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, and authored guidance documents for APEC on marine plastic pollution. Her expertise is also sought internationally from UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development network to the International Science Council’s plastics working group.

Impact means transforming scientific knowledge into action that protects ecosystems, empowers communities and shapes policies for a more sustainable future.