Scattered across Singapore are 255 registered Heritage Trees—remarkable for their majesty, cultural value, and the histories these green landmarks are rooted in. While some are native, many aren’t. So how did our heritage trees end up here, and what makes them worth conserving? In this episode, tropical forest ecologist Dr. Shawn Lum walks us through the hidden world of our heritage trees, the work that goes into conserving them, and why they matter more than we might think.

Episode Highlights

• The meaning behind Heritage Tree status - how trees earn this prestigious designation through their botanical value and cultural significance

• The extensive work that goes into conserving our natural heritage, from expert arborist inspections to lightning protection installation

• The journey of Singapore's most common Heritage Tree species, the Rain Tree, from South America to Southeast Asia

• Discovering century-old majestic trees in the Changi area that still stand as living witnesses to Singapore's changing landscape

• How everyday citizens can contribute to forest conservation, from nominating potential Heritage Trees to participating in the One Million Trees movement

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:59 Definition and Criteria for Heritage Trees

02:29 Nomination Process for Heritage Trees

04:27 Non-Native Species and Globalisation

07:34 Maintenance of Heritage Trees

10:44 Dr. Lum’s Favourite Heritage Trees

13:44 What You Can Do to Help Our Forests

15:14 Outro

Guest Bio: Dr. Shawn Lum joined the NTU Asian School of the Environment in January 2016 after spending more than twenty years as a Lecturer at the National Institute of Education. He joined NIE upon completion of his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. Shawn is a product of islands - he was born in Tokyo, raised in Honolulu, and has spent his working career in Singapore. Shawn's teaching has centered upon plant diversity, forest ecology, and conservation. In addition to his teaching and academic work, he works closely with local environment and nature-related agencies and is also active in nature conservation NGOs and civil society. [From NTU]

Read the full transcript and show notes at https://voiddeck.science.edu.sg/s2e4-ecology

According to a study by IMH, about 1 in 3 Singaporeans aged 15 - 65 are reported to have problematic amounts of smartphone usage in their daily lives. But what happens when we’re seeing our peers on their 5th couples trip to Japan on Instagram? Does it make us more “kiasu” about our own lives? Can our brains get so overloaded with digital content to the point of “brain rot?” What can we do to develop healthier relationships with our devices? Behavioural scientist Dr. Jean Liu shares her insights.

Episode Highlights

• How the “fear of missing out” (FOMO) drives problematic social media use—people who fear missing out are most vulnerable to excessive platform engagement and its negative effects, especially on social networking sites

• Why the pop science concept of social media providing "dopamine hits" might be oversimplified and what neuroscience actually tells us about our brains on screens

• The truth about "brain rot" and why consuming "mindless" content isn't necessarily harmful

• How our phones are changing the way we remember and behave, from search-engine-oriented memory patterns to the psychological impact of "phubbing" (phone snubbing)

• Practical strategies for digital wellness including the concept of "digital minimalism" that focuses on aligning device use with life goals rather than arbitrary screen time limits

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:52 What is Kiasu?

01:39 FOMO and Social Media

03:06 Why is Social Media So Addictive?

04:51 Debunking the Dopamine Hit

06:42 Brain Rot

09:10 Effects of Screentime on the Brain

11:03 Healthier Relationships with Devices

13:25 Being Present for Others

14:37 Final Thoughts: Is Your Phone Making You More Kiasu?

15:12 Outro

Guest Bio: Dr Jean Liu is a Director at the Centre for Evidence and Implementation, and adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. [Note: Since recording this episode, Dr. Jean Liu has been appointed as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Singapore Institute of Technology.] Her primary research area focuses on how digital devices impact our health and social relationships. To date, she has published >30 research papers on topics such as: how individuals use their phones during meals, how social media relates to mental health, how WhatsApp users transmit health messages, and whether following Taylor Swift predicts better mental health outcomes.

In recognition of her expertise, Dr Liu has served as consultant to the World Health Organisation, assisting with the roll-out of a new mental health framework for the Western Pacific Region. She is also a Council Member for the Agency for Care Effectiveness, expert panelist for the Health Promotion Board, and board member for several non-profit organisations. Her research insights have been discussed in parliament, and she speaks frequently in the media.

Read the full transcript and show notes at https://voiddeck.science.edu.sg/s2e3-psychology/

Durian is a beloved staple in Singapore, with over 12 million consumed annually. But what happens to the durian seeds and husks after it is consumed? As the nation strives for sustainability and a circular economy, how can we better manage the food waste we generate? Using the King of Fruits as an example, food technologist Prof. William Chen shows us how we can transform trash into treasure, from durian-derived antibacterial bandages, biodegradable food wraps, and natural food stabilisers.

Episode Highlights

• How scientists are transforming discarded durian husks into unexpected innovations from antimicrobial hydrogel bandages that soothe skin conditions to biodegradable food packaging

• Why the scale of Singapore's food waste problem – 700,000 tonnes of annual food waste (equivalent to two bowls per person daily) is driving creative solutions in food science and technology

• The fascinating potential of traditional culinary practices like fermentation in creating a circular food economy

• How Singapore's unique position as a small, nimble city-state with expertise in biomedical science, AI, and engineering is helping pioneer urban food solutions that could benefit cities worldwide

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:46 Upcycling Discarded Durians

06:28 Using Fermentation to Reduce Food Waste

11:12 Singapore's Potential for Food Science & Technology

13:46 Outro

Guest Bio: William Chen received his undergraduate and graduate education from l’Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. He is the Michael Fam Endowed Professor and Director of Food Science & Technology Programme at Nanyang Technological University Singapore. He is concurrently Director of Singapore Future Ready Food Safety Hub (FRESH), and also Director of Singapore Agri-food Innovation Lab (SAIL).

Professor Chen is active in securing and leading large competitive research grants from major government agencies as well as leading international food companies. His team’s food technology innovations in food waste upcycling towards the food circular economy have been extensively attracting global attention. In addition to publishing regularly in top food science journals, his team works closely with food industry to translate innovations into consumer products. His team’s food tech innovations and his views on food safety and food security have been regularly featured in major local and international media outlets. He is also advisor/consultant to overseas universities, Singapore government agencies, food industry, and international organizations (ADB, FAO, WEF, WHO among others).

Read the full transcript and show notes at https://voiddeck.science.edu.sg/s2e2-foodtech/