12 Nov (Thu): "It’s Not A ‘Clamity’! Navigating through Marine Conservation in Singapore"

A marine biologist working on Singapore shores, Dr Neo Mei Lin will share more about what inspires her. Best known for her work on Giant clams, Dr Neo will also highlight the important role of scientists in public engagement.

Dr Neo with a Giant clam on Pulau Jong
with the Singapore city skyline on the horizon.

Date: 12 Nov (Thu)

Time: 5pm, Singapore (GMT+8)

Register online here.

Dr Neo Mei Lin says: "Singapore’s marine environment has undergone dramatic changes over the century, which had led to substantial losses of coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. Local marine conservation workers, including several notable academics in NUS, had led several research projects and campaigns in an attempt to call for more protection of our marine environment.

As a young scientist, these stories inspired me to take on my generation’s challenges in marine conservation. In this talk, I will share my journey which sees my role as a marine volunteer and advocate intertwining with my career as a marine scientist and conservationist. Finally, my talk will also highlight why scientists have a big role to play in science communication and public engagement, in order for science to remain relevant in everyone’s lives."

Dr Neo is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Tropical Marine Science Institute, NUS and the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory. She received her BSc and PhD from the Faculty of Science, NUS. While pursuing her degrees, she became inspired by her lecturers and local conservation workers, and later took a strong interest in marine conservation issues. Known for her work on the giant clams, Dr Neo has published over 20 first-authored articles on their population ecology and conservation. 

She is also a science communicator, believing that science can be used to change people’s mindsets on environmental issues, but science needs to be relevant and relatable to people. Through her research, she strives to make science accessible to people through collaborations and public engagements – pushing the path to use science to generate positive societal impacts. Dr Neo was selected as Singapore’s only TED Fellow in 2017, and a recipient of the Singapore Youth Award in 2019.

More about Dr Neo Mei Lin on her blog.

This free public webinar is part of a series organised by the Faculty of Science at the National University of Singapore. More about their other webinars here.