15 Sep (Sat): Prof Leo Tan speaks on "Greening the Red Dot - Creating a Legacy for the future?"

Singapore is a tiny island with more than 5 million people and no natural resources. So what is the value of nature and biodiversity to the socio-economic progress of this red dot? We are often reminded that it is business/finance and technology that drives the economy, not natural history! Is this really the case?

This seminar examines some aspects of the need or otherwise for nature and the environment in keeping our island salubrious and liveable as we chase our economic goals. How important or sustainable are the tiny pockets of natural forest, coastal mangroves, coral reefs and parks for us now and as a legacy for our future generations?

21 Sep (Fri): The Wallace Lectures "Marine Biodiversity: Known and Unknown"

Dr. Bertrand Richer de Forges will share about what lives in the deep sea. Using deep sea vessels of all kinds, Dr Bertrand has explored places thousands of meters from the surface! He was recently in Singapore for the Mega Marine Survey's mini-expedition at Pulau Ubin where he directed the sampling of our seabed.

Dr Bertrand (in hat) with Prof Peter Ng and key expedition leaders
working out dredging locations for the expedition.

During the expedition, Dr Betrand also patiently taught volunteers and shared fascinating stories about his many adventures. Come for his talk to find out more!

Dr Bertrand at the sorting station with volunteers.

This is the second talk in the resurrected Wallace Lecture Series, originally a series of important lectures delivered in the 1960s by well-known biologists in the then University of Malaya.

Shell briefing on planned dredging

Today, Shell arranged to brief a few of us on their plans to replace the SBM pipeline which would involved dredging and other major works.

Ramon Martinez, who is leading the project, gave a friendly and very detailed briefing of the project.

Sharing about our shores

I had a great time speaking to students at the NUS High School today!

As the low tides ease up, I had time to catch up with some talks and this was one of them.

Oil spill off Sultan Shoal, Jurong Island on 9 Sep 2012

"Less than 60 metric tonnes of bunker fuel was spilled" in a collision between two bulk carriers, with "the area of spill concentrated within about 700 metres east of Sultan Shoal" it was reported in the media.

Shores that lie east of the spill the site include the pristine islands and submerged reefs of the Live Firing Area, Raffles Lighthouse. Further away are Pulau Hantu and the submerged reefs nearby.

Chek Jawa: teeming with volunteers!

I'm back at Chek Jawa with enthusiastic families for the Naked Hermit Crab's monthly FREE guided tour of the boardwalk.

There were lots of other volunteers at Chek Jawa too! Working hard on all kinds of threats that affect our shores. Bravo!