Events

When we talk about wildlife in Singapore, a few examples that many of us have encountered include otters, wild boards, macaques, and even pythons in our urban environment. However, incidents have occurred where Singaporeans have been attacked by native wildlife. According to CNA, 8 wild boar attacks and numerous otter attacks have occurred in the year 2022 alone. It is increasingly important for Singaporeans to understand proper wildlife etiquette to ensure the safety of both humans and wildlife. Thus, Earthlink NTU had the privilege to be invited to the Eco Carnival 2023 at Punggol 21 Community Club on 4th November 2023. Earthlink NTU established a Human-Wildlife Co-Existence (HWC) booth to enhance public awareness of the vast wildlife presence across the island and promote the peaceful coexistence of humans and wildlife in our daily lives.

The HWC booth was featured with interactive games and engaging infographics for the public. Such infographics include wildlife that are commonly spotted in Singapore such as smooth-coated otters, long-tailed macaque, and wild boars. These infographics provide insight into identifying the behavioural patterns of wild animals and provide guidance on fostering harmonious coexistence with them. Besides this, the infographics detail the impacts of human activities on the natural habitats of wild animals and the importance of harmonious coexistence with wildlife. Recognizing and understanding wildlife behaviors not only enriches our connection with wildlife but also plays a pivotal role in preventing potential future conflicts or attacks.

In addition to our detailed infographic, Earthlink NTU has included an interactive game session where participants get to choose a ball from one of the three buckets, each bucket representing an animal – wild boar, macaque, and otter. Based on the ball they chose,  participants will be asked a question related to a bucket-specific animal. Answers to the game are mostly contained within our infographics, encouraging the public to read through them and learn more about wildlife. Should participants get the correct answer, they will be awarded a stamp to redeem gifts from the Eco Carnival’s organisers.

Throughout the event, Earthlink NTU had the pleasure of enlightening the public on the dynamics of human-wildlife coexistence. As our booth had captivated a large number of younger audiences , we are delighted to know that our efforts were able to motivate  the new generation of Singaporeans to coexist more harmoniously with wildlife. As Singapore transitions into a green city through our City in Nature efforts as outlined in the Singapore Green Plan 2030, we at Earthlink hope that through our efforts in educating the public on human and wildlife coexistence, we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the delicate balance between the two, paving the way for a harmonious and sustainable future.

Written by:

Nigel Chok Kin Chun 

Despite enjoying its status as one of the world’s richest countries, Singapore heavily relies on overseas food imports to reduce food insecurity. Being a small island nation where land is scarce, Singapore is unable to provide her population with an agricultural food supply chain. Being NTU’s biggest environmental group, we organised the Gardening Straits Agriculture Farm Tour on 4th November 2023 at D’ Arena’s Strait Agriculture to better understand sustainable farming methods such as waste management and compost recycling that can be further practiced at the Yunnan Corner Gardening site.

Our tour was hosted by none other than Mr. Teo who is the founder of Straits Agriculture. Remarkedly, Mr. Teo while still being an undergraduate at NTU founded Straits Agriculture to grow healthier and tastier produce through the experimentation of new technology while juggling his studies. His sheer passion and dedication serve as a beacon of inspiration for young Singaporeans. 

Starting off the farm tour, Mr. Teo explained the concept of Aeroponics – a plant-cultivation technique in which the roots hang suspended in the air while a nutrient solution is delivered to them in the form of a fine mist. Aeroponics stands out as an efficient agricultural method as it requires less land while generating a higher yield of vegetables than traditional agricultural approaches.  

Following Mr. Teo’s insightful sharing session, participants were broken up into two groups: one group observed the delicate harvesting procedures while the other group embarked on a comprehensive tour of Straits Agriculture.

While harvesting the aeroponically cultivated vegetables, participants are taught the proper technique to harvest to minimize damage to the delicate produce. After this, the harvested vegetables undergo screening to screen out any pathogenic bacteria that may be present in the vegetables. This stage is critical to maintain the quality of vegetables and to safeguard the public health of consumers. Vegetables may then be further trimmed and packaged according to the weight and amount specified by sellers.

While touring Straits Agriculture, participants were amazed at the vast abundance of different species of vegetables that are present in the greenhouse. This highlights the suitability and adaptability of a wide range of species to the highly efficient aeroponics cultivation. Participants were also given a chance to try out the fresh vegetables produced by Straits Agriculture which many described as being as fresh as traditionally cultivated vegetables. This has left a lasting impression among participants on the success of aeroponics cultivation on a small scale, with many developing a keen interest in the development of aeroponics cultivation in Singapore on a much grander scale in the future. 

The tour then concluded with a Questions and Answers session with Mr. Teo. During the Q&A session, many participants expressed interest by seeking out insights into the steps of starting out a business in the agriculture field. An important aspect that was brought out by Mr. Teo is the reliance on automation in dispersing water and nutrients to the vegetables to minimise labor costs. Through this tour, our participants were allowed to gain exposure to innovative practices and key considerations in the agriculture industry. Earthlink NTU hopes that this tour may spark an interest in prospective Singaporean youth in innovating new ways of agricultural cultivation in a land-scarce Singapore. 

Written by:

Nigel Chok Kin Chun 

Facing the continuous growth of the global population, it is becoming increasingly challenging to produce meat products to meet the growing demand, given the substantial land requirements for livestock rearing and the carbon footprint it leaves. This land could be more efficiently utilized for cultivating crops for direct human consumption. Thus, the Proveg Innovation Challenge Launch was held at NTU on 11 October 2023 with the aim of introducing the Proveg Food Innovation Challenge to NTU students. The challenge seeks to encourage individuals to participate actively and submit innovative ideas for a more sustainable food system.

Earthlink NTU is honoured to have Ms. Shirley Lu, the Proveg Managing Director be the speaker for this event launch. Ms. Shirley is a prominent figure in the green food economy innovations. She is the Coordinating Lead Author for a UNEP General Environment Outlook Brief on Business’s Role in Food System Transformation. She also pioneered a groundbreaking plant-based innovation campaign in China, expanding it across Southeast Asia.

During the talk, Ms. Shirley pointed out the benefits of a plant-based diet on both the environment and physical health. Vegetarianism has a lower environmental impact as growing plants requires less land space and has a lower carbon footprint than rearing livestock. Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in calories and saturated fats and higher in fiber content, lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, certain cancers, and heart diseases. 

In recent times, the sustainable and plant-based food industry has gained traction with the introduction of cultured meat. Ms. Shirley also pointed out the huge market potential that this emerging industry can bring. Both vegetarians and flexitarians – people who have a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eat meat or fish, could benefit from the introduction of cultured meat. This emerging industry is paramount in offering alternative eating habits that are sustainable and reducing the reliance on animal-based meat products. 

After the talk, an intimate Q&A session was held, where participants had the opportunity to interact personally with the speaker, clarifying questions and learning more about the sustainable food industry. The session concluded with a lucky draw session where the lucky few participants have the opportunity to attend the New Food Conference that is hosted by Proveg in Berlin from October 25th to 26th. 

From this event, our participants have gained new insights and exposure to the sustainable and plant-based food industry. At Earthlink NTU, we are committed to making our planet a better place. Let us start by changing our own lifestyles to incorporate more sustainable habits.

Written by:

Nigel Chok Kin Chun 

On the 5th of October 2023, 34 participants from Earthlink NTU were graced with the opportunity to visit the Senoko waste-to-energy plant in northern Singapore. This tour was meant to create awareness among the students on the environmental benefits of waste-to-energy facilities in waste management in Singapore.

Upon arrival at the facility, we were greeted by a warm and friendly guide who gave us a detailed briefing on the evolution of waste management in Singapore. As Singapore is a small island nation with limited land capacity, the guide explained the gradual transition from landfill being the primary waste disposal method to the current practice of incineration and recycling. Through incineration, Singapore can harness the electricity generated in a process known as waste-to-energy, supplementing the energy production of a nation with limited natural resources. 

The tour concluded with participants having an opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion about waste treatment. For the participants, it was an eye-opener towards the complex processes involved in converting waste to energy. It also highlights the ingenious steps that Singapore has taken in order to maximise the usage of landfills and supplement their power generation through incinerating waste. In the 21st century, land is becoming increasingly scarce due to a combination of factors, including population growth, rapid urban development, and the mounting volume of waste being deposited in landfills. As such waste-to-energy plants are a positive step in order to mitigate the usage of land for waste. 

Written by:
Nigel Chok Kin Chun

Once again, NTU BioBlitz 2023 commences as part of a continued efforts to  expose the masses to a multitude of diversity hidden in our midst.​​ This event was highly successful in 2022 and was awarded the Mr & Mrs Kwok Chin Yan Award in recognition of the students’ initiative at a community level. The primary objective of this event is to promote awareness and appreciation for the diverse range of flora and fauna found on the Nanyang Technological University campus. Since NTU is located at the edge of the Western Catchment, there exists an abundance of wildlife that can be observed on  the busy campus, leading to a potential conflict between humans and wildlife. Hence, Earthlink makes a concerted effort to educate the community about wildlife  while working towards demonstrating how we can better coexist with wildlife.

Fig 1. One of the groups walking along NIE forest edge, home to a diverse array of animals in NTU.

NTU BioBlitz 2023 is a one-week biodiversity survey conducted on  NTU campus grounds. A total of 129 unique species were sighted across the event week, including 12 transects, including 59 bird species, 27 butterfly and moth species and 15 dragonfly and damselfly species. Notable sightings include migratory bird species such as the Ashy Minivet and Asian Brown Flycatcher, as well as nesting birds such as  the Sunbird and White-bellied Sea-Eagle, were spotted on our campus.

Fig 2. The CRIMSON DROPWING was one of the dragonflies that were spotted drifting around many transects. The water bodies around NTU make it an ideal habitat for these creatures!

Photo by Zachary Chong

Fig 3. The SUNDA PYGMY WOODPECKER is the smallest and most common woodpecker in Singapore. This cavity-nesting bird is a common sight (or sound) across campus, as it vocalises with its distinct high-pitched call while in flight.

Photo by Zachary Chong

Compared to the 125 unique species found in Bioblitz 2022, there is a rise in the number of sighted species this year  as we utilised similar methodologies with shorter transects, no afternoon surveys, and only 1 week of surveying. Through this exciting and highly anticipated event, our organisers aim to impart participants with its rich local biodiversity. Singapore is surprisingly home to a plethora of species, and NTU is a centre of high activity due to its geographical location at the border of the Western Water Catchment area (forest to the north of NTU).

Furthermore, interested participants were cordially invited to partake in survey sessions and training programmes, which included the identification of common species such as common birds, butterflies, and other fauna species existing in our midst. The event ended with key takeaways which the organisers hope to impart, and that is the significance of proper education on the appropriate methods used to coexist with wildlife.

Fig 1. Gathering of the communities

The Singapore Green Plan charts Singapore’s path towards becoming a City in Nature. An important part of this plan is the OneMillion Trees (OMT) movement helmed by the National Parks Board (NParks), which aims to plant one million trees nationwide by 2030. At NTreeU, we proposed that NTU contribute to the national environment strategy by becoming part of this movement.

At this event, we introduced the NTU community to the OMT movement in an effort to provide accessible environmental education, and spark long-term collaborations to preserve the university’s rich natural heritage. Together, we garnered 100 attendees who planted 100 trees within two hours, including 40 employees of Advantest Corporation. Advantest’s CEO, Ricky Sim, responded with a hopeful message, “As we plant these trees, we are not only beautifying our surroundings but also taking a significant step towards mitigating the effects of climate change. We are creating a greener and more sustainable future for ourselves and for the generations to come”.

Fig 2. Prominent leaders and students at the event

Prominent leaders such as the Acting President and Provost Prof Ling San, were invited to kick-off our campus greening journey. Additionally, NParks CEO Mr Kenneth Er was invited as a Guest of Honour to enliven the long-awaited event. Another key Guest of Honour attended the event with much enthusiasm and that was none other than our Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu. She visited our booth during the second part of the tree-planting event, where she was shown photos of the planted saplings and interacted with the NTreeU team as part of the Service Week Launch Event by the University Advancement Office (UAO).

Earthlink’s NTree U Co-Chair, Elijah Goh, was filled with energy and excitement for this tree-planting event. He quipped, “Today, this project is not only about planting trees for the benefit of wildlife, but also about building a better environment for our future NTU community, and cultivating a sense of environmental stewardship in our volunteers”. Acting NTU President Prof Ling San responded with a proud and optimistic sentiment, “NTU recognises the importance of preserving habitats on campus, and we have been working together with student clubs like Earthlink to raise awareness of our wild neighbours, and the roles they play in our ecosystem. Campus greening is a key strategy of our conservation efforts”.

With a huge number of attendees and distinguished guests invited, NTree U has done it again in making it a successful and impactful event this year!

On the 28th of January, the Community Engagement portfolio organised a tour to ACRES Singapore. This visit consisted of an educational talk and a subsequent tour of the rehabilitation facilities. Participants were given a talk by the Co-CEO of ACRES about animal welfare and rehabilitation, as well as the illegal wildlife trade in Singapore. The latter is especially relevant here due to Singapore’s status as a maritime transit hub where traffickers use Singapore as a stopover location before sending these critters to overseas buyers.

Fig 1. A sharing session on what ACRES does

After the talk, everyone was given a tour of the animal rehabilitation facilities. The animals that are now recuperating in the centre would have been  sold as pets or used as medicine if not rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Some of them include box tortoises and several bird species. Interestingly, the centre housed an iguana as well!

Fig 2. Participants given a tour around the rehabilitation centre

Overall, it was an educational tour that allowed participants to gain more knowledge about the issues surrounding animal welfare!