Environment: 'Think global, act local'
YOUNG Singaporeans must become more interested in their neighbour’s backyard, as environmental issues have a direct relevance to all.
"We do not have to become Nosey Parkers, but we need to think global and act local," said Dr Leo Tan, director of the National Institute of Education and dean of Science at the Nanyang Technological University.
He added that those above 40 years of age have a mind-set, and it takes too much energy to get them to change their ways.
Further, many Singaporeans do not see the direct relevance of environmental issues. They do not realise that the world is a global village, and that a fire in Brazil could affect people in Singapore.
Dr Tan spoke at the inauguration of the Science and Technology Lecture Series held at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic yesterday. The lecture series was inaugurated by Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment) Ho Kah Leong.
These lectures, targeting environmental awareness, were designed after discussions with Professor Gareth Roberts, the vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield,
Dr Tan Gee Paw, principal of Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and Dr Chia Woon Kim, director of the Singapore Science Centre.
Some of the topics include the Greenhouse Effect, deforestation, remote sensing and coastal zone management. The two professors handling the talks and discussions for the four-day event are Professor Ian Woodward and Professor Shaun Quegan, both from the University of Sheffield in Britain.
Prof Woodward’s inaugural lecture on "Remotely Sensible Pictures From Space?" showed satellite pictures of clouds, eddies-in oceans, agricultural fields and the I masses at Antarctica The au~ hence was absorbed as they watched the pictures taken t~ remote sensing from satellites as high as 36,000 km.
Three third-year Radiography students from Nanyang Polytechnic, who had taken time off from their hospital attachment to attend the talk, said they had come because they were curious and want~ to know from the experts to what extent climatic changes could affect people.
The talks go on until Friday at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Lecture Theatre 26.
Source : The Straits Times29th Mar 1995
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