Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 5

Deadly beauty! How do stingers work? What are the advantages of being a colonial animal?

Why do most hydroids look like feathery plants while byozoans look like encrusting layers? We learn more about these fascinating animals during the last day of the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 4

More mind-boggling hydroids are revealed by Emeritus Prof John S. Ryland on Day 4 of the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

In the jellyfish stage of this hydroid, the animal does not swim about freely, but 'walks' about on its 'legs'. It can capture small crustaceans! When I learn more about our invertebrates, it's like exploring an alien planet!

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 3

Today, we learn more about hydroids. As it's a public holiday, there is a large turnout of volunteers for the afternoon lectures and lab at St John's Island.

What are hydroids? How do we find them? We learn these and more about these quirky creatures on Day 3 of the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Mangrove and freshwater bryozoans on Singapore's northern shores

A large team explores Lim Chu Kang mangroves to find the intriguing amphibious bryozoans that Dr Dennis has told us about during the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

We also stopped by Kranji Dam to find freshwater bryozoans. We had a great time with astonishing finds!

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 2

Today we learn more about the curious life style of bryozoans from Dr Dennis P. Gordon on Day 2 of the  Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Do bryozoans have sex? How do they do it? What do they eat? What would eat a bryozoan? And lots more!

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 1

Bryozoans are amazing creatures! We learn this from Dr Dennis P. Gordon on Day 1 of the much anticipated Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Dr Serena Teo introduces Dr Dennis.

The workshop is organized by the Tropical Marine Science Institute and held at St John’s Island Marine Laboratory.

Workshop on Bryozoans and Hydroids: 29 April- 4 May, 2013

Learn more about Singapore's fascinating bryozoans and hydroids at this Workshop! Ordinary people can join as day participants. Registration closes 19 April.

The workshop is organized by the Tropical Marine Science Institute and will be held at St John’s Island Marine Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute.

Bivalve Big Picture: Bivalve Workshop Day 4

People and bivalves interact in all kinds of ways. Bivalves are food and produce pretty things like pearls that support communities, while people in turn can mess up bivalves and the environment.

On this final day of the Bivalve Workshop, I learnt more about the efforts to understand these issues and the importance of bivalve identification in properly managing them.

Bivalves Surreal and Real: Bivalve Workshop Day 3

Bivalves that trick fishes, carnivorous bivalves, bivalves that form reefs and other bizarre bivalves! I learnt so much during the Bivalve Workshop today.

After the lectures, a few of the volunteers also decided to find out what bivalves ordinary people can see at the food court and supermarket.

Bivalve Workshop at Kranji with horseshoe crab rescue

The Bivalve Workshop heads out to the mudflats of Kranji early this morning to look for mangrove and mud clams! They were kind enough to let me join them.

We had lots of muddy fun! But sadly also came across an abandoned driftnet full of horseshoe crabs.

Bivalves Revealed: Bivalve Workshop Day 2

After the Cyrene Reef trip in the morning, I rushed off to another island. The beautiful St. John's Island for the Bivalve Workshop.

I learnt more about fascinating bivalves and had fun exploring St. John's too.

Bivalves Unleashed: Bivalve Workshop Day 1

Bivalves are fascinating complicated creatures, I learnt today at the Bivalve Workshop. Although they may appear boring at first glance, looking more closely, they have all kinds of tricks up their valves.

Dr Tan Koh Siang of the Tropical Marine Science Institute is conducting the Workshop: Introduction to Tropical Bivalves over the next week. I attended his fascinating lectures today.

Boggled by bivalves? Come for the Bivalve Workshop 23-27 Jul

Learn more about Singapore's fascinating clams at this Workshop! Ordinary people can join as day participants. Registration closes 15 Jul. The day lecture programme is now available.

The intriguing Hammer oyster is a bivalve!

Dr Tan Koh Siang of the Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore will be conducting a Workshop: Introduction to Tropical Bivalves on 23-27 July, 2012.

Join as a day participant in the Bivalve workshop, 23-27 July

Here's a chance for ordinary people to learn about our fascinating clams! From the awesome Giant clam to tiny ones in hidden places, there are many many bivalves that we can learn more about.

Dr Tan Koh Siang of the Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore will be conducting a Biodiversity & Taxonomy Workshop: Introduction to Tropical Bivalves on 23-27 July, 2012. Ordinary people who are interested can join as day participants!

Sea Anemone Workshop 2011: "The Sea Anemone Public Lecture" by Dr Daphne

Singapore has awesome sea anemones! Dr Daphne shares fascinating insights during her Sea Anemone Public Lecture today.

I also learnt more about the REAL (and somewhat tragic) story of Nemo.

The Sea Anemone Workshop 2011: Day 3

Dr Daphne leads the Workshop on another predawn field trip!

This time minus the wet weather, under a full moon in clear skies! We found lots of sea anemones, including some Dr Daphne has not seen before in Singapore. Wow! Plus a narrow escape from stepping on a stonefish!

The Sea Anemone Workshop 2011: Day 2

The day begins very early and very wet! Fortunately, the downpour with strong winds and massive lightning eased up well before the tide turned. It was still dark when Dr Daphne led us on a field exploration of St. John's Island for sea anemones.

It's amazing what marine life we can find, just a short distance from Singapore's main business district on the horizon!

The Sea Anemone Workshop 2011: Day 1

With great excitement, we gathered at the Tropical Marine Science Institute on St. John's Island to learn more about sea anemones from Dr Daphne Fautin, world authority on sea anemones!

As usual, Dr Daphne explains everything so clearly!

Join as a day participant in the Sea Anemone Workshop (15-21 Jun)

A chance for ordinary people to learn about our fascinating sea anemones! These lovely animals are not well studied, thus we know so little about them.

One of the many beautiful but unidentified anemones on our shores.

This is about to change! In June, Dr Daphne Fautin, the world authority on sea anemones, will be in Singapore to conduct a workshop on sea anemones with the Tropical Marine Science Institute. Ordinary people who are interested can join as day participants!

17-21 May: Ascidian Workshop, Singapore

Ascidians are intriguing blobs we often see on our shores.

Very little is known about these animals (yes, they are NOT plants!). So it's very exciting to hear of the Ascidian Workshop scheduled in May!