Ep 30 - LSS at Scale: Leading the Singapore Oceanarium with Mike Bajek

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Mike Bajek, Senior Director of Life Support Systems at the Singapore Oceanarium, to explore what it takes to design, manage, and scale one of the largest and most advanced aquarium facilities in the world. Mike shares his journey from Pittsburgh to Singapore and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the engineering, innovation, and leadership required to support massive aquatic habitats housing diverse marine life. The conversation dives into the complexity of high-volume filtration systems, redundancy planning, water quality control, and the intersection of sustainability and technology in modern oceanariums. In this episode, you'll learn: What it takes to operate multi-million-gallon LSS systems at scale How the Singapore Oceanarium approaches water quality, reliability, and efficiency The role of design thinking and collaboration in large-scale aquarium projects Why leadership and long-term planning are critical in complex aquatic environments Emerging trends shaping the future of aquarium engineering and life support systems Whether you're an LSS operator, engineer, designer, or aquatic facilities professional, this episode delivers valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of running life support systems on a global scale. Stay connected with INFLOW at: https://inflowlsspodcast.com/