Dr. Ridzwan Bin Hashim is currently serving the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) as an Associate Professor and the Head of Biotechnology Department. He was also responsible for the establishment of the Biomedical Science Department and being its first Head. He is a Physiologist by Qualification and was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Strathclyde 1982 in The School of Pharmaceutical Science. He started as an Agriculturist with a Diploma in Agriculture Malaya and pursued his Bachelor from Louisiana State University and Master from the University of Arkansas, USA.

Dr. Ridzwan started his academic career in Faculty of Medicine UKM, Kuala Lumpur bedsides being the Head Residents of Clinical College (1977-79). In 1985, he was the head of Biology as well as the Unit Head of Marine Science at the Faculty of Science & Natural Recourse. He was then appointed as the Deputy Dean of Academic and Research of the same faculty and as well as council member of Danum Valley Research Station, Sabah and Technical Committee on Sabah Rhino Conservation. For his vast experienced, he became the Coordinator of Industrial Training of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences in 1995.

His interest in sea cucumber or gamat started in early 1983 when he was at UKM branch campus in Sabah. With the intense interest in gamat, he started gathering information and conducting small-scale research on gamat with help of Ko-Nelayan Sabah, local fisherman and other agencies. Because of his hard work and dedication, he was able to publish his work in 1993. The book based on his research “Sumber Makanan Persisiran Laut Sabah” (published by Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka) is one of  its kinds in Malaysia. Until today the book is still been used and frequently cited by research and individuals working in sea terrestrial life. One whole chapter of the book was dedicated to gamat and sea cucumbers. His study on rearing sea cucumbers in cages was acknowledged in the Malaysian Book of Record New Millenium 2000. He was also nominated by the IIUM for the International 2002 Kalinga Prize for the popularization of science to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

Other than that his research interest in terrestrial life and marine, Dr. Ridzwan does consultation work on Environmental Effect and Assessment particularly on biodiversity and coordinated work on the nutritional status of Sabahan under the Sabah Foundation.

Dr. Ridzwan has published extensively on gamat in the local and international journals and presented many papers within and at the international scientific meetings and seminars.

Today he is heading a large group of researchers in the area of gamat and sea cucumbers. The Ministry of Science and Technology funds this research under IRPA grant of the seventh Malaysian Plan (RMK ke 7). He is also currently working under UIAM grants pertaining to sea cucumbers.

Like a true researcher, he recruits, guides and encourages young researchers along with newly appointed lecturers to participate in research activities. Because of this, Dr. Ridzwan supervises several PhD and Master Students beside handling undergraduate students as well as an external examiner for USM (PhD) and UPM.

At present Dr. Ridzwan is a member of the Malaysian Networking for International Holothurian Conversation and Sustainable Management. He also set on IPRA 1999 as an expert panel in Science & Engineering Sector for the Ministry of Science & Technology. He is also currently involved in cosmetic product development based on gamat with SIRIM Bhd. Under Product Development and Process Improvement Scheme-ITAF 2 (SMIDEC).

Dr. Ridzwan is also doing consultation work on gamat with several companies and manufacturers. He used to appear live in Bincang Petang (Evening Talk) TV3, RTM-TV documentaries, papers and magazine.

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