Shaping sustainability leaders: Real-world experience in conservation science

For Seraphina CHIA, a Year 4 student majoring in Life Sciences and minoring in Psychology, the love for nature and wildlife prompted her to participate in the Undergraduate Professional Internship Programme (UPIP) at Sentosa Development Corporation as an Environmental Management Conservation Intern.

“The field trips to nature areas were very memorable experiences and a refreshing change from classroom learning…the elements of exploration and discovery never failed to enhance my learning,” she says.

During her internship, Seraphina focused on conservation, ecology and biodiversity monitoring, including swiftlet research, studying the hymenopteran - one of the largest orders of insects - as well as working on Sentosa’s biodiversity database and tree registry system.

She also conducted public education programmes on Sentosa’s Northern coastline with the Siloso Headland Intertidal Programme and Tails of Sentosa.

Although she lacked knowledge about plant species and had limited skills in using geographic information system tools, she learned gradually by asking questions and familiarising herself with the tools. Learning on the job, she discovered, is a skill in itself.

“I gained hands-on insights and experience, and forged new relationships in the industry, which gave me a clearer idea of how to shape my career and what to expect in the workplace in the future,” she said.

Seraphina hopes to pursue a career in the sustainability field, to contribute to finding solutions for the climate crisis.

Find out more on UPIP at https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/industry/upip-for-employers/