TALKS & WORKSHOPS
Please note that there are limited seats to all workshops, talks, audio and film screenings. Priority would be given to ticket holders and visitors are highly encouraged to pre-book for events. 5 min after the start of each event, all unaccounted seats will be released for walk-in guests at a first come first served basis.
Discover Sharks with Coastal Natives
The 'Discover the Ocean' Series by Coastal Natives aims to showcase the marine environment, as well as the amazing creatures that live within. In this session, we’ll be dishing out fun facts on sharks - some of which can even be found in our own waters!
10 Sep (Sat), 1pm - 2pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Virtual Nature Tours with Young Nautilus
Join us as we explore nature habitats, biodiversity, climate change and conservation through virtual tours for the whole family to enjoy! Young Nautilus will engage participants’ sight, hearing and smell in a multi-sensory experience as they discover Singapore’s:
Sungei Buloh Mangroves
Changi Marine Coastal Intertidal
10 Sep (Sat), 2.30pm - 3.30pm (Sungei Buloh Mangroves)
10 Sep (Sat), 4.00pm - 5.00pm (Changi Marine Coastal Intertidal)
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Translating Science into Art - Meet the Artist Session
Translating Science into Art - Meet the artist behind the ‘Stingrays’ exhibition.
Meet the wildlife artist and conservationist who uses her craft to help stingrays and other creatures. In this session, Sofiya Shukhova will talk about how she uses science, research data and conservation knowledge to inspire and inform her art. She will show some of her works where art and conservation come together. The talk will be followed by Q&A where the audience can truly meet the artist by asking questions about her practice and discussing their own ideas and visions.
About the speaker:
Sofiya Shukhova is a Singapore-based wildlife artist and conservationist. In her art, she explores lesser-known conservation topics. She holds an MSc in Conservation and International Wildlife Trade and has previously worked with various conservation groups in Singapore and the region. Both education and work experience in conservation make her art more informed and impactful.
10 Sep (Sat), 5.30pm - 6.30pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Storytime with Sensmakr Lab
What is Stanley the plastic bag doing in the ocean? What animal friends did Little Turtle meet? Come join Sensmakrs Lab for an afternoon of imagination, stories of the sea and all the living (and non-living) creatures that inhabit it!
Recommended for AGES 8 AND BELOW
10 Sep (Sat), 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Sun Room, Level B1 (use the staircase behind the Level 1 Visitor Experience Counter)
A Marine Adventure with Biogirl MJ @ JustKeepThinking
Join Biogirl MJ on an adventure as we learn more about the amazing wildlife we have on our very own shores! Discover our marine biodiversity through interactive games (where you can win prizes), be immersed in engaging stories of the sea, and learn how you can play a part in conserving and protecting our environment.
Recommended for AGES 6-12
11 Sep (Sun), 1pm - 2pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Photo by Shawn Heinrichs
Women in Shark and Ray Conservation - Panel Discussion by Conservation International Singapore
A third of shark and ray species have been overfished to near extinction in the past 50 years, according to a 2021 study. Yet sharks are also valuable to humans for non-consumptive reasons – like ecotourism, smart design, and the management of the ocean’s carbon cycle. Dive deep into the world of sharks and rays in this panel discussion featuring women in Singapore who work to protect these marine wildlife. We’ll have the chance to hear from practitioners with experience across diverse fields such as the illegal wildlife trade, scientific research, as well as ecotourism.
About the amazing speakers:
Dhanushri Munasinghe is the Senior Project Coordinator for Illegal Wildlife Trade at Conservation International Asia-Pacific, coordinating work relating to illegal wildlife trade in Singapore. She has worked with government, private sector, NGOs, and civil society organisations to support the development of Asia's first Artificial Intelligence-based mobile app, "Fin Finder", which can identify shark and ray fin products to combat the illegal wildlife trade. Her career and research experience include wildlife trade, endangered species recovery, and human-wildlife conflict management.
Kathy Xu is the founder of The Dorsal Effect, an eco-enterprise that provides alternative livelihood through tourism, for shark fishermen in Lombok, Indonesia. She facilitates trips to Lombok for students, to encourage deep thinking and appreciation of the complexity behind shark fishing issues. As an adjunct lecturer in critical thinking at various Institutions of Higher Learning in Singapore and a recent graduate of a Master's in Science Communication, she has broadened her perspectives on various social and environmental justice issues.
Naomi Clark-Shen is doing her PhD at James Cook University Singapore on the lesser-known sharks and stingrays caught by fisheries in Southeast Asia, and is also a shark and ray consultant for WWF-Singapore. Since 2017, she has worked with Kathy Xu of The Dorsal Effect to survey Singapore's fishery ports and collect data on the sharks and rays imported to, and consumed within, Singapore. In addition to shark and ray conservation, Naomi is passionate about fish welfare and compassionate living.
About the moderator:
Frances Loke is the Program Manager of Conservation International Singapore, working on environmental education and capacity-building opportunities for conservation as well as community partnerships. She is passionate about natural and cultural heritage, and all things to do with the big blue ocean. Her memorable experiences collecting shark and ray fin data for the Fin Finder project has piqued her interest in fishy business in Singapore, and convinced her of the power of interdisciplinary collaboration.
11 Sep (Sun), 2.30pm - 3.30pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Photo by Trent Branson
Exploring Antarctica with Conservation International Singapore
Exploring Antarctica with CI
Take a cruise to the Southern Ocean and enter Antarctica through a screening of the award-winning film Whales In A Changing Ocean and hear from Foo Tun Shien, the only Singaporean on board the 2041 ClimateForce Antarctic Expedition in March 2022. The expedition focuses on sustainability and climate change leadership, to develop future leaders for sustainability and Antarctic conservation. Tun Shien will be sharing his reflections on sustainability and moments of personal discovery together with some wonderful moments with penguins and whales.
About the film: Whales In A Changing Ocean (20 mins)
In Antarctica, nothing is stationary. The only constant is change. One noticeable and increasingly evident change is the recovery of the humpback whales that feed in the waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, after industrial whaling almost wiped them out. In February 2020, wildlife filmmaker Richard Sidey was invited to join a team of scientists undertaking humpback whale research in Antarctica with Conservation International. Whales in a Changing Ocean follows the team as they observe humpback whale behaviour and gather information vital to protecting the Antarctic continent into the future. Richard Sidey received the Director's Award from the International Ocean Film Festival 2021 for this film.
About the speaker: Foo Tun Shien
Foo Tun Shien recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from the National University of Singapore. He was formerly a Natural Climate Solutions Carbon Finance Intern (class of 2021) at Conservation International Singapore and had the opportunity to work on both private and public sector partnerships, develop a financial instrument to deploy capital at scale to natural climate solutions projects, and review policy and financial aspects of conservation projects. He was the only Singaporean selected to join the 2041 ClimateForce Antarctic Expedition in March 2022, an expedition that focused on sustainability and developing climate change leadership to champion the protection of Antarctica.
11 Sep (Sun), 4pm - 5pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Photo by Shinto K Anto
Meet the Photographers: Channelling Photography for Storytelling
The Singapore From Below Showcase features 10 photographs taken from our local waters. Presented by the community of underwater photographers in Coastal Natives. Let's show you a different Singapore from below.
In this dialogue session, we have a chat with the photographers who took these amazing shots, and learn about what inspires them, as well as tips and tricks to the craft.
11 Sep (Sun), 5.30pm - 6.30pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Ocean Crafts with Coastal Natives
Through hands-on activities and creating their own ocean-related crafts, young ones will discover the ocean and marine life, while having fun! The programme will also include age-appropriate ocean videos that highlight the beauty of our ocean and some of the key challenges facing its inhabitants. Participants will walk away with their handmade creation and an enhanced appreciation for the ocean and its residents.
Recommended for AGES 4-10
11 Sep (Sun), 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Sun Room, Level B1 (use the behind the Level 1 Visitor Experience Counter)
Envoy: Shark Cull + Meet the Director Session
The Queensland and New South Wales Governments are running the longest marine cull in history. Not only is it destroying our marine ecosystem, it’s putting swimmers at risk. Claiming that the current programs are successful is both deceptive and dangerous.
During the shooting of Envoy: Shark Cull the Government implemented a 20-meter exclusion zone around nets and drumlines – in an attempt to stop footage of what’s really going on… they failed.
Envoy: Shark Cull will expose it all.
Get a chance to have a chat with the director and hear his insights after the movie screening in this exclusive Meet the Director dialogue session!
Submit your questions beforehand on slido.com with code #3289828 or click here!
9 Oct (Sun), 1pm - 4pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Tackling Climate Anxiety with Climate Cheesecake
Climate Cheesecake is a podcast hosted by 4 friends who aren’t experts, but have done a bunch of stuff in the sustainability space. We understand that talking climate and the environment can sometimes get a bit much, so we’re taking it one slice at a time - just like how we eat cheesecake!
While you can usually catch us on Spotify, come join us for this fireside as we chat about climate anxiety in person with you!
The podcast is powered by the good folks at Artwave Studio
9 Oct (Sun), 4.30pm - 5.30pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
End (PLASTIK) Pollution with The MeshMinds Foundation
Watch the short film '(PLASTIK)' with The MeshMinds Foundation and Studio Birthplace and hear them share about how the film aims to raise awareness and catalyse action to end plastic pollution within the region. In this session, you will also hear from 2 sustainability advocates in Singapore - Melissa and Pamela, on local efforts and initiatives that you can be a part of to help end the crisis.
About the speakers:
Melissa Lam, Bamboo Straw Girl
Bamboo Straw Girl is a homegrown Singapore social enterprise that aims to start eco conversations through the simple bamboo straw - nature’s solution to nasty plastic!
The founder, Melissa Lam (a.k.a. Bamboo Straw Girl), is a strong green advocate and has engaged schools, organisations and community groups in the movement against single-use plastics. She was inspired to take individual action in the fight against wasteful consumption after spending time hiking and camping in her late teens.
Since their incorporation, our company has provided employment opportunities or supplementary streams of income for at least half a dozen South East Asian artisans.
They were the very first "zero-waste lifestyle" store in Singapore even before “zero-waste” became a buzzword! They aim to be as plastic-free and low-impact as we can, from production to point of sale.
Pamela Low, Tingkats
Pamela is driven to accelerate climate action to benefit profit, people and the planet through technology and innovation.
She founded Tingkats when she was an undergrad in 2018 and has since partnered with campus administrators, businesses and organisations to implement strategies that benefit sustainable development.
Pamela's work has also been recognised by the Eco-Business Youth A List, Smith School Enterprise and the Environment and HSBC Youth Environmental Award.
She believes that businesses can be a force for good and that sustainable development can be both economical and rewarding and continues to prove that with the businesses that she engages with.
9 Oct (Sun), 6pm - 6.45pm
ArtScience Cinema, Level 4
Creating Your Wave of Change Workshop with Coastal Natives
Ever felt motivated to act for the ocean but unsure of how to build a campaign? In this workshop, the team at Coastal Natives will share about threats to the ocean, some effective environmental campaigns, and guide you through what to look out for in creating your own! Equipped with new knowledge on how to run a successful campaign from start to finish, you’ll be able to create a movement and protect the ocean you love.
9 Oct (Sun), 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Sun Room, Level B1 (use the staircase behind the Level 1 Visitor Experience Counter)