Dr. (PhD.) Raja Muhammad Zuha Raja Kamal Bashah or better known as Dr. Zuha is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Dr. Zuha obtained his first degree from UKM in Biomedical Science (2003) and conferred Master of Criminal Justice by Universiti Malaya (2006). is doctoral advisor and mentor, Prof. Dr. Baharudin
Omar nurtured his interest in the field of forensic entomology as a growing scientist and a lecturer.

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In 2014, Raja decided to further his passion by completing his PhD thesis, Bionomics of Forensic Scuttle Flies. His thesis was greatly influenced by the current world’s authority in scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Dr. R. Henry L. Disney. Knowing that he wants to learn more and understand the complexities and peculiarities of the scuttle flies, Dr. Zuha has to learn from the best in the field. Hence, the very same year he flew to University of Cambridge to learn from Dr. Henry Disney who is a renowned scientist specialising in the research of scuttle flies. Eventually, Dr. Zuha and Dr. Henry Disney collaborated to write scientific papers regarding taxonomy and bionomics of forensic scuttle flies which include the discovery of new genus and species. For his effort in recording several novel species from Malaysia, he was honoured by having a species named after himself, the Chonocephalus harveyetzuhai.

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Out of love for his work, Dr. Zuha often engage with the public through the media to share about his scientific discoveries and research. Dr. Zuha has even founded Lalatologi which is an initiative to highlight the biodiversity of flies and other insects through research and photography.

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While many might not be familiar with the word “entomology”, it is a subject that should not be taken for granted given its practicality in forensic studies. We humans view insect as insignificant creature in our world. But behind the lifecycle of each insect, there is a million stories to be told about life after death. The understanding and appreciation of the existence of these little creatures is what fuels and ignites Dr. Zuha’s passion to continue studying and researching about them. Today, Dr. Zuha is a mission to re-tell the stories of these amazing tiny little creatures and what their lives meant to that of ours.

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