Associate Professor Dr. Sarva Mangala Praveena is a globally recognized environmental health scientist specializing in microplastics, emerging pollutants, and human health risks. Her pioneering work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of microplastics in tropical environments, and her leadership in both community and scientific initiatives positions her at the forefront of environmental health in Malaysia and beyond. She has authored over 230 publications, trained numerous postgraduate students, contributed to national policy dialogues, and received multiple international recognitions including the Top 2% Scientist designation by Stanford University for five consecutive years.
Her academic journey is rooted in a deep conviction that science must serve society, especially in confronting the invisible threats that compromise environmental and human health. Formative experience shaped her enduring focus on environmental pollutants and their human health implications where she advanced as a senior lecturer, and now Associate Professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Her research aligns closely with UPM’s True North values of excellence, impact, and sustainability, and supports the global objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 on good health and well-being, SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, and SDG 13 on climate action. Through her translational approach, she has developed community-deployable innovations such as low-cost water filtration devices and field-based microplastics detection methods. These innovations are applied directly in schools and underserved communities, reflecting her deep commitment to socially relevant and inclusive research.
A central of her research philosophy is translational relevance that the belief that scientific research should not only contribute to scholarly knowledge but also shape policy, empower communities, and inform public behavior. Her work has contributed to national policy development and has been showcased through international collaborations, including her involvement with the International Science Council and the United Nations University Regional Centre of Expertise.