I remembered the exact moment I decided I wanted to pursue marine conservation. I was 19, interning at St Johns Island National Marine Laboratory, Singapore. I had just come back from a 5am field trip at Cyrene Reefs and was in awe of the amazing range of diversity we had on our shores. Why had I never heard about this growing up?
Imagine standing on a large piece of rock (reef flat) that was only visible during low tide, surrounded entirely by the ocean. You could hear nothing but the waves breaking on the corals, snapping shrimps indicating healthy reefs, and footsteps of your colleagues. The sun rose beside you, taking over the dark sky with a beautiful shade of orange for a brief moment. Growing up in a bustling city like Singapore, I felt at peace for the first time.
This was in 2019, when it was still considered unrealistic to pursue Marine Biology as a Singaporean because there was no such thing here. It was a brave and honestly selfish decision I’ve made, considering my financial situation back home. It would be better for everyone if I chose a stable and well paying job.
But I was determined to make this my career. I never knew what to do growing up. I remembered feeling left behind in school; my friends knew what they wanted to do after our O levels, but I had no clue. I cried and thought I would amount to nothing because I lack the same drive as my peers. I applied to Republic Polytechnic’s Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture simply because I remembered I liked dolphins when I was 6 (foreshadowing my career). It took me 2 years, from when I was 17, to decide that this was what I wanted to continue pursuing.
Now, close to a decade in this field since 2017, I wish I was prepared for the reality of the field. While networking and volunteering is important, these are lessons I wish I knew.
Science is not always the only answer
This becomes clear the moment you start working with traditional or coastal communities. What you learn in your education or read in research papers cannot be your only reference. Talk to people and listen. You learn more outside of school. Do not try to impose what you think is right simply because it is popular in Western conservation spaces, it is not a one size fits all puzzle. Their cultural practices have sustained their environment for generations. Conservation must begin with humility and understanding.
Always consider how your work affects the livelihood of others
Scientists love data – fisheries data, catch per unit effort, species composition. These numbers help shape policies and regulation. But behind every datapoint, someone’s livelihood is on the line.
What would their source of income be if these are taken away from them? How will it affect their way of life? Remember, you’re analyzing your data in an air-conditioned cafe with your overpriced coffee, without thinking about your next paycheck. As a scientist, you have to think of an alternative too. Protect both the ocean and the people, never one at the expense of the other.
Burn outs are inevitable, comparison is constant
It is tough when everyone is so vocal about their achievements these days. Someone younger than you has had 5 internships across 3 continents, and you’re struggling to get by with working to afford tuition, and your education.
You need to be sure of yourself and your goals.
What do you want to do? What others do does not matter because this is your journey. Every top scientist I’ve spoken to has given the same advice – catch your burnout before it catches you. You don’t have to always be saving the Earth. You need to save yourself too. Do what you like, what calms you down and grounds you. You deserve rest, you’re trying to save the ocean, animals and critters. That’s a huge deal.
People always have something to say about you
I had people whom I considered my friends mock me for not knowing things that are supposedly “common sense”. I’ve had researchers I look up to mock me for wanting to pursue something as unrealistic as marine mammals. It definitely took a toll on my confidence, but I know myself best.
If you are founded in your values and intentions, what others say does not matter. Be brave enough to speak up, even if it makes people uncomfortable. Stand up for what you believe in, especially when it comes to advocating for the voiceless – the animals, the oceans, and the communities who might not even be aware of what is happening to them.
The truth is, conservation is competitive, exhausting, confusing and often political. I wished these were things I knew beforehand, but I am also glad to have found it out myself. It has shaped me into the kind of person I am, and the kind of scientist I want to be. As Singaporeans, we might not have as many nature spaces, and our community might not be as diverse, but that should not hold you back from pursuing your dreams. The ocean will always welcome you.
Upcoming events…
Wild Conversations: Regenerating soils, foods & lives with Kampung Architect, Cai Bingyu from Ground-Up Initiative (GUI). GUI guides people to understand the wisdom of working with nature, reviving soils, nurturing mindful relationships with food, and inspiring everyday regenerative practices.
Date & Time: Tues, 16 Dec 2025, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Strangers Conversation, 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace #02-38D
