The Inner-Lives of Sharks, Stingrays and Siamese Fighting Fish

5 Aug (Sat), 1pm-2pm
- Hosted by Naomi Clark-Shen

Fishes are considered simple creatures by many. They are believed to be devoid of intelligence and sentience. But new discoveries highlight that fishes are more complex than originally thought; they can feel pain and pleasure, have good memories, hunt cooperatively and can solve tasks. Equipped with this new knowledge we must ask ourselves: is it time to change the way we think about, and treat, fishes?

In this session, we will hear personal stories about the unique lives of fishes that will make you fall in love with them - from Siamese fighting fish, to cleaner wrasse and stingrays and sharks. We will examine the way we treat them and how we can right these wrongs. In this talk, Naomi shares about her research on sharks, stingrays and Siamese fighting fish - and what we can do to help these often under-appreciated lives.

About the host: Naomi Clark-Shen studies sharks and rays caught by fisheries in Southeast Asia. As well as conservation, she is passionate about fish welfare and has recently been working on the living conditions and welfare of Siamese fighting fish.

Experiencing Burnout in Conservation

5 Aug (Sat), 2.30pm-3.30pm
- Hosted by Sofiya Shukhova

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on the topic of burnout, as we delve into the challenges faced by individuals dedicated to protecting our environment. Conservation work is known for its demanding nature, often leading to increased stress levels and burnout among practitioners. This panel aims to shed light on the issue by sharing personal stories and experiences.

Our panelists, Naomi Clark-Shen, Sabrina Jabbar and Sofiya Shukhova, will explore the emotions and struggles that accompany the pursuit of a career in conservation. They will discuss the feelings of constant exhaustion, helplessness and anxiety that often plague those engaged in what is perceived as a "dream job."

Join us for this session that aims to provoke dialogue. Together, we can move towards creating a healthier and more sustainable environment for both the planet and those who tirelessly work to protect it.

Moderator: Adeline Ang, Program Manager, Coastal Natives

Panelists: Naomi Clark-Shen is a PhD student who studies the sharks and rays that are caught by fisheries and consumed in Singapore. She is also a WWF consultant and board member of animal welfare group ACRES. She is an advocate for compassionate living.

Sabrina Jabbar is a consultant for Jane Goodall Institute Singapore that focuses on the human-macaque mitigations in Singapore and neighbouring countries. She heads the Monkey Guards Project and is an ACRES fundraising volunteer. She is also a full-time Barre & Yoga instructor.

Sofiya Shukhova is an artivist and conservationist. Through her work, she aims to bring public attention to less-known environmental, conservation and animal welfare issues.

Arctic Sea Womens Expedition

5 Aug (Sat), 4pm-5pm
- Hosted by Kathy Xu, The Dorsal Effect

Kathy Xu was selected to be part of an all womens team to Arctic Norway under the Sea Womens Expedition in November 2022, where she was involved in eDNA research and orca behaviour studies work. Being the only Singaporean amongst the 34 women on the expedition, she hopes more Singaporean women will be involved in science exploration and expedition work for marine conservation too. 

About the host: Kathy Xu runs The Dorsal Effect, an ecotourism company that provides alternative livelihood to shark fishermen in Lombok. She recently graduated with a Masters in Science Communication and her dissertation topic was communicating conservation messages with regards to stingray consumption in Singapore.

‘Deep Rising’ Film Screening & Discussion: The Deep-Sea Dilemma

6 Aug (Sun), 11am-2pm
- Hosted by Eco-Business

Narrated by Jason Momoa, Deep Rising illuminates the vital relationship between the deep ocean and sustaining life on Earth. The documentary also follows mining startup The Metals Company, as it pursues funding, public favor, and permission from the International Seabed Authority to mine wide swaths of the Pacific Ocean floor.

This screening is followed by a discussion organised by Eco-Business, The Deep-Sea Dilemma: Do We Really Need to Dig Up the Ocean Floor to Power the Energy Transition?

US$8 trillion worth of precious minerals are scattered on the ocean floor. These minerals are in hot demand to make electric vehicle car batteries, solar panels and wind turbines. Six times the amount of minerals now being mined will be needed to power the energy transition and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. But mining the seabed could come at a significant environmental cost, wrecking the biodiversity of poorly understood ecosystems, ruining fisheries and altering the oxygen-carrying capacity of the ocean. Negotiations are now underway to set the rules for industrial-scale mining of the ocean floor. But do we really need to dig up the ocean floor? What are the alternatives? Together, we discuss the deep-sea mining dilemma.

Mangroves: More Than Meets The Eye

6 Aug (Sun), 4pm-5pm
- Hosted by Conservation International Singapore

Mangroves are amazing ecosystems that do so much for our planet. They serve as nurseries for young marine life, giving them a safe place to grow. They protect coastal communities from big storms and help stop the land from being washed away. They are also superheroes fighting climate change by storing a lot of carbon. However, coastal development, unsustainable aquaculture and sea-level rise pose unprecedented threats to these fragile ecosystems now.

Join us in this sharing about the wonders of mangroves to people in Singapore and what they are doing to protect them. This sharing will feature voices from students Enya Wong from Nanyang Girls High School and Chloe DeCourcy Hallinan from Raffles Girls Primary School, as well as Dr. Siti M. Yaakub, Director of the International Blue Carbon Institute of Conservation International.

About the host: Conservation International Singapore is a non-profit with a focus on education and partnerships for the environment.

Moderator: Saravanan Sinniah, Senior Programme Coordinator, Conservation International Singapore

Wardrobes Make Waves: Fashion and Ocean Plastics Trivia

26 Aug (Sat), 11am-12pm
- Hosted by Thammika Songkaeo, Two Glasses LLP

Wardrobes Make Waves is a fact-finding, thought-provoking ‘call to action’ session, led by a fun trivia game and conversations that bring participants closer—not only to one another, but also to an understanding of how clothes produced and worn on land affect the ocean’s biodiversity, carbon sinks and pollution levels.  

During the session, participants will go through the fun of competition, slide into knowledge about how the brain and ocean are affected by clothes-shopping, and end gathering their initial surprise, thoughts, and learnings into a guided reflective and introspective space. Participants leave understanding that clothes, the ocean, and their internal worlds are so closely intertwined, and become better able to choose clothing that minimises damage to the ocean. 

About the host: Leading the talk will be 2022 National Geographic Explorer Thammika Songkaeo, the co-founder of Two Glasses LLP, a Singapore-based company that tackles environmental problems in multidisciplinary ways. She has a grant from National Geographic Society to produce ‘Changing Room’, a dance film that investigates how body criticism and human insecurities are related to fashion overconsumption and climate change. It premieres at The Projector this September. 

Rethinking Ocean Villains: A Fun and Adventurous Exploration of Sea Creatures

26 Aug (Sat), 1pm-2pm
- Hosted by Pamela Ng
Recommended for children aged 6 to 10

Rethinking Ocean Villains seeks to redefine and reconcile the commonly held notion of evilness within the depths of the ocean. In this interactive and immersive talk recommended for children aged 6 to 10 years old, we aim to challenge and replace deep-rooted fears with curiosity and newfound knowledge, to introduce fresh perspectives.

About the host: Pamela Ng is passionate about socio-ecological challenges which include biodiversity conservation, human-wildlife conflicts and climate concerns. She combines her interest in nature and the arts to communicate the value of nature and human-wildlife coexistence through storytelling, visuals and soundscapes. Professionally, Pam leverages her expertise in sustainability consulting to transform businesses by providing climate and sustainability advisory services. Outside of work, she facilitates immersive ecological programs at The Untamed Paths. Pam also volunteers as a Wildlife Rescue officer with ACRES, cultivating care and encouraging advocacy in action for the environment.

Art x Conservation: An Artistic Point of View

26 Aug (Sat), 2.30pm-3.30pm
- Hosted by Coastal Natives

Join us for an eclectic session of art and conservation as we bring together three wonderful artists who will delve into the intersection of their creative endeavors and the urgent need for environmental preservation.

In this thought-provoking discussion, each artist will share their unique perspectives, experiences and artistic practices that aim to raise awareness about conservation issues. From interactive installations to mesmerising soundscapes, these artists show us how they use their craft to showcase the fragile beauty of our planet and inspire action. Through sharing about their works and insightful narratives, audiences will be encouraged to reflect on our own role in protecting and preserving the natural world.

Whether you're an art enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply curious about the intersection of art and sustainability, this event seeks to be enlightening and inspiring for all. Together, let's explore the transformative power of art in shaping a more sustainable future.

Artists: Ho Yi Dan, Nathan Tan, Ng Sze Min

Learn about Citizen Science & Experience ReefX

26 Aug (Sat), 4pm-5pm
- Hosted by Marine Stewards and Coastal Natives

Curious about how you can contribute to science-based research without a science degree? Scientists can’t be everywhere and that’s where the rest of us can help fill the gap. In this session, you'll be introduced to various marine conservation citizen science projects by the team from Coastal Natives, providing you a global overview of projects where citizen scientists can share information and collect data that further scientific research and the protection of species and our environment.

In the second half of the session, learn about ReefX and jump straight into a marine life quiz! ReefX is an initiative for recreational scuba divers to contribute towards local reef conservation work in Singapore. On their expeditions, you will get involved with every aspect, from measuring sea cucumbers and recording depths of fish, to taking ID shots (maybe even creating a new biodiversity record!). Through this experience, you will help input data for researchers and undertake first-hand marine conservation work!

About the host: Marine Stewards is a non-profit organisation founded in 2019 that seeks to make marine conservation mainstream and accessible in Singapore. They currently manage the ReefX and FishX programmes, where they activate sea sports enthusiasts and empower them as citizen sientists.

Antarctica and Climate Change: It's Closer than You Think 

27 Aug (Sun), 11am-12pm
- Hosted by Biogirl MJ
Recommended for ages 12 and above.

In 2023, MJ participated in an expedition to Antarctica to document and learn more about climate change. Through this chat, MJ shares some behind-the-scenes experiences, as well as her key takeaways from the trip.

About the host: Biogirl MJ is the co-founder and host of science channel Just Keep Thinking, which spreads knowledge about science and wildlife to children and adults, alike.

Changi Beach Discovery: A Young Intertidal Explorers' Skit

27 Aug (Sun), 1pm-2pm
- Hosted by Young Nautilus 
Recommended for children aged 4 to 12

Changi Beach Discovery: A Young Intertidal Explorers' Skit is an engaging performance where participants will watch two friends (our educators acting) go on a journey to Singapore's very own Changi Beach! On their journey, they will encounter some of the fascinating marine animals that can be found on the shore! Apart from learning about these marine animals, the audience will have a new found appreciation for the marine ecosystem and how to conserve it through the three R's - reduce, reuse and recycle.

About the host: Young Nautilus is a Singapore-based education company focused on experiential learning that has shaped a new generation of ocean lovers through their programmes. 

Designing for Nature: Ecologically Engineering Artificial Coastal Defences

27 Aug (Sun), 2.30pm-3.30pm
- Hosted by Dr Peter Todd, National University of Singapore

Coastal urbanisation and climate change are driving the global proliferation of artificial coastal defences. These structures have significant effects on the ecology of marine habitats, leading to the loss of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. For example, seawalls are generally homogenous and steep. Due to these differences, artificial defences are poor surrogates for the habitats they replace. Ecological engineering—the integration of ecological principles and engineering for the benefit of both humans and nature—is a form of Nature Based Solution that is being increasingly adopted to alleviate the negative impacts associated with coastal defences by improving their ecological functioning. One of the more successful eco-engineering strategies is to add tiles with complex topographies, microhabitats, and water-retaining features. These can increase the richness and abundance of species reminiscent of native communities. Moving forward, how can we incorporate habitat complexity and green elements into new coastal defence designs, and what additional benefits may they be able to provide?

About the host: Dr Peter Todd is an experimental marine ecologist who focusses urban marine systems. He works on increasing understanding of the ecology and functioning of tropical coastal marine organisms and communities under environmental stress. His research is multidisciplinary, synthesising elements of biology, geography and engineering to answer ecological questions. His team has 18 years of experience in the conceptualisation, build, implementation, and analysis of novel experiments, and over a decade designing and testing a wide range of seawall enhancements. Dr Todd is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, where he runs the Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory and is director of the Bachelor of Environmental Studies programme. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers on coastal systems and his lab’s research is featured regularly in both local and international media.

Youth in Climate: Shaping Policies and Driving Action

27 Aug (Sun), 4pm-5pm
- Hosted by EB Impact

Today’s youth are the first generation to feel the impacts of climate change and the last that can do something about it. Youth leadership is real, and it is powerful. Putting them at the seat of change is needed now more than ever.

While there is often a misconception that youths are apathetic or are disengaged around climate policy and decision making, this session’s panelists represent just a handful of examples that demonstrate that youths are actually highly engaged and want to be empowered to drive change. This panel discussion aims to highlight some of the work that youths in Singapore are doing to push for policy changes and for impactful action to be taken to protect the Earth and climate.   

Moderator: Erin Gunanto, Programme Manager, EB Impact  

Panelists: Muhd Nasry, Executive Director, Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB), Rishika Selvan, Singapore Youth for Climate Action, Ashleen Tan Su Ying, Coastal Ecologist, Surbana Jurong