Hear from our very own ‘Plant Doctor’!

Karl PNG, Year 4, Life Sciences, is no stranger to nature and conservation. He co-founded Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity in year 2019 to encourage Singapore youths to step up to the challenge of biodiversity conservation.

Karl is also an active member of environmental groups such as the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, an international network of youth organisations who have united to preserve Earth’s natural resources; the Environmental Biology Interest Group; Project Sarimbun, which he started to transform the Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang into a biodiversity centre; the Nature Society (Singapore), and National Parks Board.

Karl, who goes by the moniker the ‘Plant Doctor’, tells us about his passion in environmental advocacy.

What led you to set up the Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB)?

My mentor, Dr Shawn LUM, President of Nature Society Singapore, a senior student and I were having drinks when we came up with the idea. While the nature community is doing a lot for biodiversity conservation, there is still room to bring the message out to more people.

SYVB seeks to empower Singapore youths to have a voice in biodiversity decision-making processes, locally and globally. We also hope to align the interests of various youth environment groups in Singapore, encourage collaboration and set directions towards the 2050 vision of ‘Living in harmony with nature’ articulated by the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity.

What are some of the ‘wow’ moments in your journey as a Life Sciences student?

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programmes in Science (UROPS) allowed me to do research on plants when I was only in my first year. I benefitted from the exposure, where I got to discuss environmental issues with my professors and involve them in my advocacy work. They gave me many opportunities to challenge, and improve myself in the field of biodiversity.

How did you earn the nickname the ‘Plant Doctor’?

The nickname came from my father when he wanted me to become a medical doctor. I pursued botany instead and thus became the ‘Plant Doctor’.

Karl describes his work in an interview at the National Library Board’s Human x Nature: Environmental Histories of Singapore exhibition: https://youtu.be/hBmi8mcXRxM