I am a Singaporean writer and researcher based in the ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī, where I'm pursuing a Master’s in Geography and Environment at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
I am a Singaporean writer and researcher based in the ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī, where I'm pursuing a Master’s in Geography and Environment at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
My thesis focuses on the political ecology of ecotourism and human-nature interactions in Southeast Asia. Using ethnographic fieldwork, I investigate how captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) are re-valued and commodified in global ecotourism.
My thesis focuses on the political ecology of ecotourism and human-nature interactions in Southeast Asia. Using ethnographic fieldwork, I investigate how captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) are re-valued and commodified in global ecotourism.
Outside of coursework, I volunteer with sustainability & environmental initiatives including Waikīkī Aquarium, Mānoa Heritage Center, and the EWC Food Security Task Force. I undertook two Academic Training stints while a Master's Candidate -- as a Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy Intern for Purple Mai'a Foundation, and subsequently a Part-Time School Group Educator with Mānoa Heritage Center. I also invested in my climate science education as a Terra.do Climate Fellow, to lean into a green job that will support the climate transition in Hawaiʻi (and Singapore in the future!).
Outside of coursework, I volunteer with sustainability & environmental initiatives including Waikīkī Aquarium, Mānoa Heritage Center, and the EWC Food Security Task Force. I undertook two Academic Training stints while a Master's Candidate -- as a Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy Intern for Purple Mai'a Foundation, and subsequently a Part-Time School Group Educator with Mānoa Heritage Center. I also invested in my climate science education as a Terra.do Climate Fellow, to lean into a green job that will support the climate transition in Hawaiʻi (and Singapore in the future!).
Prior to Master's, I worked for the Singapore public service for five years, gaining valuable insight and experience in policy analysis and development, safety regulation, international diplomacy, and stakeholder management. I also gained skills in organizational outreach, communication, project coordination, and budget management.
Prior to Master's, I worked for the Singapore public service for five years, gaining valuable insight and experience in policy analysis and development, safety regulation, international diplomacy, and stakeholder management. I also gained skills in organizational outreach, communication, project coordination, and budget management.
Concurrently, I worked part-time and volunteered with place-based initiatives in regenerative farming, community building, and biodiversity education. Guiding and educating for five years with The Untamed Paths and Ground-Up Initiative gifted me deep connection with a diverse array of local environments in Singapore.
Concurrently, I worked part-time and volunteered with place-based initiatives in regenerative farming, community building, and biodiversity education. Guiding and educating for five years with The Untamed Paths and Ground-Up Initiative gifted me deep connection with a diverse array of local environments in Singapore.
My belief in place-based, land-based, community-based attachment motivates me. I would like to continue curating programs and experiences to cultivate human reconnection with nature and the environment. This is driving how I would like to relate to my PhD research on my next journey.
My belief in place-based, land-based, community-based attachment motivates me. I would like to continue curating programs and experiences to cultivate human reconnection with nature and the environment. This is driving how I would like to relate to my PhD research on my next journey.
