DR JANE GOODALL: LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE & WILDLIFE
"Together we can save the world and together we will," pledged the 1,700 strong audience at the Living in Harmony with Nature & Wildlife: Dialogue with Dr. Jane Goodall, co-presented by Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) and Asia Environment Lecture.
Led by world-renowned conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace, the audience left with a strong take-home message - we can and we will protect the nature which we are part of.
Jointly organised by the NUS Masters of Environmental Management (MEM) programme, the NUS Bachelor of Environmental Studies programme and the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL), this year's lecture on 28 November was co-organized with the Jane Goodall Institute Singapore as part of their ConservAction Week.
Dr Goodall shared about her life journey, her views on environmental issues and conservation efforts, inspiring the audience to play their parts in saving the planet.
"We have inherited this planet from our parents, but we are stealing it from our children. When they said there was nothing they could do about it, I thought not. I still believe we have a window of time. When if we get together, we can start healing some of the harm we have impacted, and at least slowing down climate change."
Dr Goodall also encouraged the youth to channel their energies and passion into taking action on solving human, animal welfare, and environmental problems in their communities.
BIOPHILIC CITY IN A GARDEN
Guest speaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Heng Swee Keat spoke about the importance of embracing nature as part of Singapore's development.
"Over the years, we set aside land in our land-use masterplans, and carefully integrated green spaces in our planning and design. Despite our population growth and economic development over the years, Singapore today is among one of the world's greenest cities," said DPM Heng.
Associate Professor Audrey Chia, Chair, Programme Management Committee, MEM also highlighted the importance of sustainable development.
"Through our programmes, NUS aims to develop leaders who apply multi-disciplinary perspective to environmental problems and work effectively with different stakeholders. At NUS we know that we cannot address environmental challenges in an ivory tower. If we have to sustain development and thrive in harmony with nature, we must reach out and collaborate."
Inaugurated in 2013, the AEL features leaders in environmental thought and practice. The purpose of the AEL is to foster awareness, education and action on environmental issues such biodiversity, conservation and sustainability. The AEL series has been sponsored by City Developments Limited since 2015.
The MEM programme is mounted jointly by nine faculties and schools in NUS, demonstrating its broad-based approach to education in the field of the environment. It is hosted by the School of Design and Environment (SDE).
Visit the MEM website here for more details.
