What’s new at NUS Sustainability CONNECT: Events and activities to watch

What's new at NUS Sustainability CONNECT: Events and activities to watch

NUS Sustainability CONNECTreturns this year from 14 to 21 September 2024, focusing on the theme Rethink Sustainability: Innovation and Impact. With over 30 activities, it will showcase the University's commitment to exploring and advancing new ways to create a more sustainable future.

As the University's first large-scale sustainability festival, NUS Sustainability CONNECT was launched last year to provide a platform to share NUS' sustainability efforts in research and innovation, education, campus operations and thought leadership - with the wider community. This year, the more condensed Highlight edition of the festival - comprising a week-long programme of talks, tours and workshops - continues to champion sustainability while connecting communities.

Professor Low Teck Seng, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Resilience, said, "This year's festival has grown not just in size but also in scope. We have more events covering a broader range of topics in depth, including leadership in environmental management, future of carbon trading, green building valuation, sustainability education and nature journaling. Through these events, we hope to bring out the multifaceted nature of sustainability and reach out to a wider audience."

There are also several other new elements in this year's festival.

New NUS Environmental Management Leadership Lecture

NUS' flagship post-graduate course in sustainability gets an upgrade! A new segment - NUS Environmental Management Leadership Lecture series - will be added to the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary Master of Science (Environmental Management) graduate degree programme. The lecture series, which will be held annually, aims to encourage collaborative discussions about key issues in environmental management.

The inaugural lecture series will focus on the role of transformative leadership in successful environmental management efforts. Kicking off the discussion is Mr Ravi Menon, Singapore's first Ambassador for Climate Action, who is also a member of the NUS Board of Trustees and the former Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Having helped built a green finance ecosystem to support Singapore's and Asia's transition towards a low-carbon future, Mr Menon will be speaking on "Preparing for a Low-Carbon and Climate-Impaired World".

Exploring nature up close

In addition to classroom-based learning, NUS Sustainability CONNECT also offers out-of-classroom sessions where participants can get up close and personal with nature!

A new tour, Of Ancient Cycad, Elephant Fruit and Alligator Flag: Fascinating Tales from Plant Tour near UHall, has been added to this year's line-up. Conducted by Dr Amy Choong, senior lecturer from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences, the tour will change your view of plants and provide insights into the unique role that the different plants play in the ecosystem.

Ever wondered what is nature journaling? Conducted by the Ridge View Residential College, nature journaling allows participants to appreciate and experience the outdoors at their own pace, while recording their observations and thoughts through notes, poems, sketches or any other form of journaling. This activity encourages participants to develop their observational and questioning skills independently, while making connections with nature!

Back by popular demand are the activities conducted by NUS Toddycats! Working closely with the University Campus Infrastructureteam, the group has been part of an ongoing reforestation project of Kent Ridge forest and is extending an invitation to the rest of the NUS community to be a part of this meaningful activity. Through a careful selection of plant mix, the group hopes to enhance the habitat quality and connectivity of the Kent Ridge forest and contribute towards Singapore's OneMillionTrees movement.

Collaborating with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy to offer a wider range of events and workshops

For the first time ever, NUS Sustainability CONNECT is partnering with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policyon its Festival of Ideasfor the events under its Environment and Sustainability track. From topical discussions on water and carbon, to macro issues like health and environmental impacts of climate change in Singapore and the region, the festival offers a wide variety of programmes ranging from a series of lectures, panel discussions, dialogues, workshops and many more!

To learn more about NUS Sustainability CONNECT or register your interest for the above events, please click here.