16 LUMEN | PROGRAMMES
Greening SJI
Founded in 2016 , the Ecology Club is considered as one of the youngest CAS clubs under the IB programme in SJI . Despite its small size , the club is a platform for students to learn about sustainability of the environment or a new skill in gardening . Ms Isobel Lee , Colin Tan , Keith Law , Regine Ng , Summer Walters and Tran Minh An talk about how their Club brings the SJI community closer to Mother Nature .
As a CAS that works closely with the National Parks Board ( NParks ), many of our initiatives are geared towards national and global issues , addressing pressing concerns such as climate change . In order to enhance the school ’ s biodiversity , the Ecology Club started various initiatives to make SJI an eco-friendlier place . In April 2018 , a year-long collaboration with the NParks finally came to fruition with the successful planting of native plant species in the school compound located near the IB Biology laboratory . As this collaboration is entitled “ Community in Nature ”, the Ecology Club visited Hort Park and Commonwealth Secondary School to learn more about native species planting . NParks was invited to inspect the planting areas in SJI . The horticultural session and discussions went smoothly , with NParks approving the designated sites for native species planting and sending the plants to us ! Our secondary students from SJI ’ s Green Club as well as passionate alumni came to support us during the planting process . Through everyone ’ s collaborative efforts , the habitat enhancement project has blossomed , and the site is now host to a variety of native plant species , teeming with life and biodiversity !
As one of NParks ’ selected schools to take part in the national biodiversity movement - BioBlitz , the Ecology Club has been hard at work surveying the various species living within the school ’ s compound , acting as a pivotal bridge between NParks and our school ’ s wealth of biodiversity . Using materials provided by NParks such as stepby-step species identification guides and foldable binoculars , the Ecology Club takes weekly trips around the school , keeping a look out for the species inhabiting every nook and cranny . From Olive-Backed Sunbird nest sightings outside the Student Services Office to potamarcha congener
sightings in the area outside the IB Biology labs , each survey trip the club makes always reaps promising and unexpected results . This reveals the sheer diversity of the plants and animals that slips our attention in our most familiar setting . All our sightings are uploaded to the national biodiversity database via the “ SGBioAtlas ” mobile phone application , facilitating national habitat enhancement works and conservation efforts for Singapore ’ s biodiversity .
Last month , the Ecology Club took part in a green symposium themed “ Climate Change - Impact on Society and Economy ”. Members of the ecology club attended talks by Dr Lena Chan and Dr Winston Chow , both of whom are esteemed individuals in the field of climate change . This was followed by a team-based Future-Problem Solving , where we brainstormed with fellow passionate environmentalists from other schools on creative ways to solve a given climate change issue set in a fictional future .
Another activity we embarked on was a recent trip to the St John ' s Island where we learnt about the rich biodiversity in Singapore . We were shocked to discover the amount of trash found and swept onto the beach by the waves . Motivated to do something about this horrific sighting , the Ecology Club is planning to raise awareness about marine pollution , especially the disposal of plastic bags and styrofoam . Marine pollution deteriorates the quality of the ocean water , and contributes to the loss of biodiversity , as sea turtles are unable to differentiate between plastic bags and jellyfish . In an effort to invoke a schoolwide response , we will be launching an urgent and necessary “ The Last
This page ( top ): Club members doing the NParks survey
This page ( bottom ): Collaboration with Green Club and SJI Alumni to plant native species
Straw ” initiative . Concerned that our students use straws excessively to consume their drinks without regard for the dire environmental impacts such as marine pollution , the Club is determined to change this by advocating against the use of straws , to be accomplished through our educational posters , speeches and direct collaboration with the shops in the school canteen .
Through these efforts , the Ecology Club hopes to bring about greater environmental awareness within the SJI community , and invites everyone to join the green movement ! Be it helping to contribute to SJI @ BioBlitz , or doing one ’ s part to preserve the environment in the simplest of ways such as desisting from the usage of plastic , every little act counts towards the greater good . Together , as one SJI community , we hope to create a greener SJI - a place where all sorts of organisms can reside in , and a community that does not perpetuate climate change ! As stated in our school ’ s motto , let us all do a service to the community we are part of : Mother Earth .