Tue 18 Apr 2017: 7.00pm @ NUS RVRC – Amanda Tan on “10 years to tool use with the sea monkeys of Thailand”

NUS Toddycats & Ridge View Residential College, NUS present:

“10 years to tool use with the sea monkeys of Thailand”

By Amanda Tan

Tuesday, 18th April 2017: 7.00pm
Seminar Room, Level 1
Ridge View Residential College
National University of Singapore

All are welcome [click to register]

About the talk:

Dr Amanda Tan recently graduated with her PhD in which she studied tool use by long-tailed macaques in Thailand. She shares the research about these monkeys this past decade by primatologist Michael Gumert and collaborators at NTU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences and her own most recent work in shedding insight on the fascinating behaviour of these long-tailed macaque inhabitants of small Thai islands.

Stone-tool use, previously only identified by scientists in chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys, has been explored by the team over the past decade in Burmese long-tailed macaques. She is an excellent public speaker who chroncles a decade of research in an approachable but scientific manner for a general audience.

Amanda who graduated from NUS Psychology and fulfilled a life-long passion of understanding animals by joining Gumert Lab to pursue her PhD in primate behaviour, is now about to embark on post-doctoral studies in the US. Just recently back from Thailand, we are glad to have share her insights just before she leaves!

Fri 11 Mar 2016: 4.00pm – Dan Friess – “What’s driving mangrove deforestation in Southeast Asia?”

After a recent breakfast meeting with Dan Friess about mangroves, we chatted briefly about his recent mangrove paper as we were standing. And so much was revealed in that short conversation that I said we should mount a technical seminar at the department.

The schedule of speakers are filled well in advance but this Friday’s slot suddenly opened up a week ago and Dan was game. An Nee had the poster ready by the end of week and it was circulated to the university and seminar notice subscribers this Monday. You can join us – just sign up with name and email at Eventbrite. A number of mangrove workers are coming!

Other details at NUS Biodiversity Crew.

Tue 01 Mar 2016: 7.00pm – Tony O’Dempsey on “Conservation Engagement in Singapore and the Cross-Island Line”

We put this together for undergraduates to learn from “Uncle Tony” about the engagement process and how it has evolved over the years. Since it is to be held in a very large LT, all are welcome, i.e. it is open to the public; just register at http://bejc-crl.eventbrite.com.

—
Biodiversity & Ecology Journal Club
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore
Tuesday 01 March 2016: 7.00pm – 8.30pm @ Lecture Theatre 27

“Conservation Engagement in Singapore and the Cross-Island Line”

By Tony O’Dempsey
Council Member
Nature Society (Singapore)

Tuesday 01 March 2016: 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Lecture Theatre 27
Science Drive 1
National University of Singapore

All are welcome.
Please register at http://bejc-crl.eventbrite.com.

Hosted by: N. Sivasothi & Joelle Lai

About the talk – From early 2013, Tony O’Dempsey and other conservation experts in Singapore were in working group discussions with LTA since the announcement of the Cross Island Line in early 2013. He will present and contrast a historical view of conservation engagement over the past 50 years with a focus on the recent Cross Island Line engagement with government agencies. He will also reflect on the working group’s experience with the EIA process and review important lessons learned about how nature groups could improve the technical approach to EIA for our Nature Reserves in future engagements.

About the speaker – Tony is a GIS and Remote Sensing professional who has been living in Singapore for the past 20 years. He is a council member of Nature Society (Singapore) and is currently serving as Chairman of the Plant Group. Tony has participated in flora and fauna surveys throughout Singapore, his interests are in botany and history and sometimes mixes them up. He has been actively involved in Nature Conservation in Singapore for the past 15 years and most recently played an active role in NSS’ proposals and representations to government agencies for the Cross Island Line proposal.

Thu 25 Feb 2016: 7.00pm @ The Hangar – Richer De Forges on “Oceans Undiscovered: The Deep”

Conservation International Asia Pacific presents

“Oceans Undiscovered: The Deep,”
by Dr Bertrand Richer De Forges
Visiting Scientist,
National University Of Singapore

Thu 25 Feb 2016: 7.00pm to 8.00pm
(registration opens at 6.30pm)
@ The Hangar, 25 Arab Street, Singapore 199724
Register for the talk at: http://goo.gl/forms/RHs1osZjy5

Oceans cover 71% of our planet, rendering our world an aquatic haven, mostly very deep and unexplored. The deep sea is one of the largest ecosystems on Earth, yet, the area is poorly known – scientists have a better map of Mars than of the ocean oor.
In the deep sea, it is cold, with high pressure, no light and limited food. Remarkably, there is life. Bountiful and biodiverse. Life thrives in the Bathyal zone (200-2500 metres) across a wide range of habitats, from continental margins to hydrothermal vents pumping out water as hot as 400°C, to whale carcasses.

World renowned deep sea biologist Dr. Bertrand Richer de Forges will take you on his journey of exploring the deep sea – a mysterious yet mesmerising place where light is not essential, but where knowledge is wanting. He will share his discoveries, along with the impact the deep sea has on humans, and vice versa.
The era for deep sea exploration is far from over – much remains to be discovered – to find out what lies in the depths of the oceans.

Sat 07 Nov 2015: 5.30pm – “Otters of Singapore” – A talk and sharing session at Sentosa’s Palawan Amphitheatre (registration by email required)

From the good folk at Sentosa:

“Otters of Singapore” – A talk and sharing session
About the “water dogs” of Southeast Asia and their ‘return’ to Singapore.

About the talk – Smooth-coated otters have excited the Singapore public as they recolonise recovering habitats around the country. These strong swimming fish eaters are one of four species of otters in Southeast Asia, which are endangered or vulnerable throughout their range. In this talk, Otterman will introduce the biology of the animals, trace their occurrence in Singapore and explain the many intriguing sightings and observations the public have shared with him in recent years.

About the speaker – N. Sivasothi aka Otterman is a lecturer with the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore where he teaches biodiversity and ecology. His cohort of research students (Otterman Holt) includes Ottergirl Meryl Theng and they investigate mammals, mangroves, wildlife conservation and human impact. A Research Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, he coordinates the museum volunteer group, Toddycats! who play an active role in public education. Seen an interesting mammal in Singapore? Contribute mammal sightings to his team at http://mammal.sivasothi.com

Date: Sat 07 Nov 2015: 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Cost: Free (Admission charges to Sentosa apply)
Venue: Palawan Amphitheatre (At Animal Encounters, Opposite POLW)
Sign up at nature@sentosa.com.sg today!

Wed 16 Sep 2015: 8.00pm @ Hackerspace SG – “On Trails Through Jungles and Poetry”

Get to know some local writers and nature guides with a great love for the nature in Singapore – they speak at Hackerspace SG this Wednesday 16 Sep 2015 at 8.00pm. Registration details on Facebook.

Love Macritchie guides from NUS Toddycats, Chloe Tan and Sean Yap share some of the amazing biodiversity that we have right here in our backyard in the MacRitchie forest and about the threats that nature faces.

Next is the team behind the book, “From Woodlands to Walden, an interfaith anthology of writing about nature in Singapore.” They explore the relationship we have with our environment, providing the opportunity to explore Singapore through “reading trails”.

Wed 16 Sep 2015: 6.00pm – Mark McDonnell on “The Role of the Science of Urban Ecology in Creating … Liveable Cities”

Mark McDonnell (Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Urban Ecology) is currently teaching a class on urban ecology and design for the Master of Landscape Architecture at NUS.

He will be giving a guest lecture “The Role of the Science of Urban Ecology in Creating Green, Healthy, Resilient and Liveable Cities in the Future” on Wed 16 Sep 2015: 6.00pm at Dept. of Architecture’s LR423 (SDE 03-04). To register, visit this link.

Click for pdf of poster.