What's on this week for nature activities in Singapore

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK?!
Nature activities and events happening this week

4-10 Sep 06

8 Sep (Fri): Meteors, and many more, By Video

Mr Chia Yeong Kwong (a.k.a ykChia) will enlighten on meteor fundamentals, share an insight on the interesting people he has met which comprises of half of the world's leading meteor researchers (in his Leonids meteor storms' overseas expeditions, et cetera). He will also engage the audience with the evolution of video techniques/hardwares over recent years. He will also touch on satellites, birds, airplanes and Iridium flares

ykChia had developed a fond interest on astronomy since he was a young lad in the 1970s. He had a particular interest in comets, meteors and Man-made Satellite-observations. Over the years he had traveled to several countries to witness Leonids meteor showers (in chilly Jordan's desert camp and Korea's mountain tops) and even participated in a futile air-borne charted flight to attempt to watch the de-orbiting of the Russian spacecraft, MIR, in the Southern Pacific Ocean. In recent years he had been monitoring the sky for meteors/satellites or anything else up in the sky using a simple video lens propped outside his 12-storey apartment study-room window whenever there was an opportunity of clear star-lit nights.

Note: There will be a follow-up stargazing session after the talk, weather permitting.

More details on the Singastro forum
For more about ykChia see his nightevents blog which features wild stuff that we can see in the sky from Singapore

Time: 6.30pm followed by stargazing session
Venue: National University of Singapore, Science Faculty (Block S13, 2nd Level Seminar Room 14 - designation S13-02-14)

9 Sep (Sun): Growing Unusual Vegetables

Mr Wilson Wong, Founder and Administrator of Green Culture Singapore. Tired and bored of growing the usual greens and gourds in your garden patch? Let Wilson introduce you to the various new and exotic vegetable and herbs that are seldom grown in Singapore. He will distribute some seeds that the adventurous home or community gardener can try to grow in their own garden patch. In addition, he will also share useful tips tropical gardeners can use to grow some of the temperate edibles in our hot and humid climate.

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Bishan Community Library
Contact: Lim Poh Poh Poh_Poh_LIM@nlb.gov.sg

9 Sep (Sun): Kusu Island Reefwalk with the Blue Water Volunteers

Don't need to swim, don't need to dive. Let the enthusiastic volunteer guides from BWV share this wild reef with you. Places are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis, so do register early!

What's a ReefWalk? more on the BWV website

Meeting Time: 4.30am
Meeting point: To be confirmed
Cost: $15 per person
Contact: To register reefwalk@bluewatervolunteers.org with this info: full name, contact number, email, total number of participants, contact of next-of-kin, age of children (if any).

9 Sep (Sat): Kids’ Fun With Insects

With the Nature Society (Singapore) Education Group and friends. If you are between the ages of 5 and 9, and love insects, come enjoy an insect hunt with us today! We will learn more about butterflies and moths, praying mantises and katydids, ladybirds and weevils, dragonflies and damselflies. You will also have a chance to play BUG MATCH, Singapore's one and only insect memory game!

To register, email vilma.drozario@nie.edu.sg and Zaki bpelari@yahoo.com by 6 September.

Time: 2pm. Meet outside Nature’s Niche at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

9 Sep (Sat): Facing our Environmental Challenges with Science & Technology

The emphasis on our environment is embodied in the Singapore Green Plan 2012. New frontiers in science and technology are helping globally in monitoring the environment, reducing pollution and in improving the environmental quality by means of remediation. Coinciding with Tech Month, Sci06, The Singapore Institute of Biology and the National Library Board have jointly organised a forum to create awareness of the recent developments in these fields in improving our environment and lives. Featuring talks by leading scientists and a panel discussion, the three main topics are: Environmental impact on marine ecology; Environmental impact on human health; Environmental "greening" by renewable energy.

All are welcomed to attend.

More details on the SIBiol website including registration form

Time: 9am-1pm
Venue: Possibility Room, Level 5, National Library (100 Victoria Street)
Contact: Ms Yong Ann Nee dbsyan@nus.edu.sg

9 Sep (Sat): Native Plant Hunt at Hindhede Nature Park

Here's a chance to learn at least 8 native plant species in a fun way! Form a team of 3 to 5 members and pick up a set of clues at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre anytime from 10.00 am to 11.00 am. You have one hour to complete your hunt.

Registration for the free plant hunt is limited to maximum of 20 people per registrant.

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Begin at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call :6554 5127.

9 Sep (Sat): International Coastal Cleanup Singapore - Mangrove Cleanup

NOT just about picking up litter, but all about learning about marine debris, its impact on wildlife and our own lives and what we can do about it. More on the ICCS website.

9 Sep (Sat)-19 Sep (Tue): UNEP "Focus on Your World" Environment Photographic Exhibition

Eco 4 the World Foundation brings theUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) "Focus on Your World" Photographic Exhibition to Singapore which was created to increase global public awareness of environmental issues through the power of visual images. This exhibition is a part of the 'Passage of Hope' programme.

9 Sep (Sun) and 16 Sep (Sun): The Toddycats, volunteers from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, will be at the event to showcase Singapore's biodiversity and share with you what you can do for our wild places.

Time: 10am to 9pm
Venue: National Library, Victoria Street, Lee Kong Chian Reference Library (Level 1) The Plaza
Contact: Dinkim dinkim@eco4theworld.org or Patty Yunita patty@eco4theworld.com Tel: 6327 1182 Tel: 6327 1182

9-10 Sep (Sat-Sun): World Bank Youth Open Space Dialogue: How do we create a better future- the issues and opportunities

Presented by the World Bank Youth issues are a key priority at the IMF or World Bank Annual Meetings to be held in Singapore. The World Bank and other development partners place great importance on hearing youth voices and implementing them in practice and policy.

Singapore will join a number of other countries in the East Asia and Pacific region in holding an Open Space dialogue with youth participants.

Open Space is a format of dialogue where, under the guidance of a trained facilitator, participants set the agenda by identifying topics of concern to them that fall under the overarching theme, and then lead discussions on these topics. Anyone aged 16-24 is welcome to participate.

Registration is required- for further information on how to get involved, check out www.worldbank.org/sg. Admission if free.

Time: 9am-5pm
Venue: National Library, Victoria Street, Lee Kong Chian Reference Library (Level 1) The Plaza
Contact: National Library Board website

9 Sep (Sat): Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail free guided walk

A fabulously easy introduction to a rainforest with tall trees and other mysterious plants! Right in the heart of the city, within minutes of Orchard Road, this is the oldest remnant of rainforest in Singapore! more

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am, 4pm; Register 15 minutes before the tour at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: one hour. Suitable for young children.
A special Mandarin version of this tour is at 4pm.
Contact: Visitor Services, 64717361 or NPARKS_SBG_Visitor_Services@NPARKS.GOV.SG

9 Sep (Sat): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

9am: Marine Fish Tour, a 30-minute tour introducing the fascinating fishes of Buloh.

Time: 9am, 10am, 3pm, 4pm, for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

10 Sep (Sun): Dive Hantu!

Join the Hantu Bloggers for a unique and educational dive experience in our local waters. Discover what is truly, uniquely Singapore!

Your support helps the Hantu Bloggers monitor and document Hantu's reef on a regular basis.

More of what you can see during a dive at Hantu on the Hantu Blog

RSVP with the following:
1. Your name
2. IC/Passport number
3. Your email address
4. Your handphone number, and
5. Any rental equipment required incl number of weights.

Contact: For reservations and enquiries, email hantublog@gmail.com

10 Sep (Sun): Scaly Encounter at the Singapore Zoo

Join curator Francis Lim on a short talk on snakes followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of Reptile House. Francis has worked with reptiles for over 30 years and has written two books on snakes.

Time:11am-12noon
Venue: Meet @ Zoo Entrance (talk at Auditorium, then walk to Reptile Garden for behind-the-scenes )
Fee: $10 per person (Zoo admission applies), $8 per FOZ member
Registration: shaiah@zoo.com.sg or chiyung@zoo.com.sg

10 Sep (Sun): MacRitchie Prunus Trail free guided walk

You'll see breath-taking views of the reservoir and surrounding forests and learn more about the freshwater and land wildlife and plants there. more

Time: 9.30am and 10.30am. Meet at entrance of the trail, about 300m from the fishing ground, MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
Tour duration: about one hour.
To join the guided tour, you will need to pre-book.
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call :6554 5127.

10 Sep (Sun): Third Fall Migration Bird Census
for NSS members only

Calling all birdwatchers — join the Nature Society (Singapore) for this seasonal census! If you can help with this important survey, please contact coordinator Lim Kim Seng at 63695072 or email him at denislim@starhub.net.sg before 1 September.

Time: The census will start at 7.30am and end at around 10am.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

10 Sep (Sun): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

Time: 9am, 10am subject to availability of volunteer guides; for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

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