Zestin Soh

In a rapidly urbanising world, can tropical cities become part of the solution to biodiversity loss?

I am a PhD researcher in urban ecology interested in how pollinators are  changing, and how we can better conserve them, in tropical cities across Southeast Asia. My research focuses on wild bees and butterflies in  Singapore, where I combine field surveys, community science datasets, and spatial environmental data to explore seasonality, spatial patterns, and trends in urban landscapes.

I am motivated by the belief that cities can actively support native  biodiversity alongside people. Through my work, I use ecological  monitoring to inform urban planning and strengthen the evidence base for practical, measurable conservation outcomes in rapidly urbanising environments.

Before embarking on this doctoral research, I focused on advancing fundamental  knowledge of Singapore’s bee fauna, co-authoring a national checklist,  conservation status assessments, taxonomic reviews, and a popular  guidebook on native bees. My PhD is based at the Australian National  University and co-supervised by Associate Professor Eleanor Slade (NTU  TEE lab), whose work in tropical community ecology and urban ecology closely aligns with my research. It is supported by Singapore’s National Parks Board, where I have worked across biodiversity research, land  management, and policy. Ultimately, I hope my work contributes to  building cities that are not only liveable for people, but resilient for native biodiversity.

When I’m not at my desk, I enjoy spending time with my family on hikes and pursuing nature photography.