Diving into Singapore's Marine Ecology with Dr. Siti Maryam Yaakub (International Blue Carbon Institute)

We all know Singapore as a Garden City, but what about seeing Singapore as an island country? We dive into the lesser-known marine elements of Singapore's tropical environments with Dr. Siti Maryam Yaakub, Senior Director of the International Blue Carbon Institute. We talk about her passion for unsung underwater heroes like seagrass, her journey to becoming a marine ecologist, and what makes mangroves and coastal habitats so important in the fight against climate change.Episode HighlightsThe surprising fact that Singapore has more seagrass species than the entire United StatesHow blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves and seagrass are secret superheroes in the fight against climate changeThe fascinating world of seagrass - not to be confused with seaweed or seagrapes!Why corals bleach, and how seagrass produces its own natural “sunscreen”The crucial link between dugongs and seagrass, and why protecting one means saving the otherHow everyone, from chefs to economists, can contribute to marine conservation using their unique skillsTimestamps00:00 Preview00:36 Intro01:52 What is blue carbon, and what are mangroves?05:31 Seagrass vs. seaweed vs. seagrapes07:14 Interesting fieldwork and overseas experiences10:17 Misconceptions about marine ecologists11:40 Does Singapore have a lot of native seagrass?12:41 Dr. Siti’s career path17:20 International Blue Carbon Institute’s contributions and COP2920:37 Advice on taking climate action23:39 Mid-roll ad: Climate Changed exhibition at Science Centre Singapore24:07 Paiseh question: how bad is the state of our marine environments, really?25:28 Effects of heat stress on marine life, e.g. coral bleaching29:55 Word association game33:07 OutroGuest BioDr. Siti Maryam Yaakub, Senior Director of the International Blue Carbon Institute at Conservation International, leads the institute's global efforts in translating blue carbon science into tools and methodologies for climate mitigation and adaptation. Based in Singapore, she spearheads initiatives aimed at fostering multidisciplinary expertise and cultivating a resource hub for knowledge exchange. Siti is a marine ecologist and works across tropical marine and coastal habitats. Her work and research interests broadly lie in the areas of ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation in marine environments. Within this, she is specifically interested in using seagrass habitats as a model system for understanding ecological thresholds to stress, ecosystem resilience, and the effects of human activities and climate change on the marine environment.Read the full transcript & show notes at https://voiddeck.science.edu.sg/marineecology