ASE Science Discovery camp 2026: Ecology day lab tour

On 18 June 2026,  the Tropical Ecology and Entomology (TEE Lab) held the second run of CoS Science Discovery Camp Ecology Day lab tour. This event shed insights to the world of ecology and conservation for a group of 50 pre-university student participants.

The morning started with an introduction by Project Officer Wan Lin to the students on what is ecology and why do we study ecology. This gives the student an understanding of the importance of ecological studies and the kind of research projects that TEE Lab is current working on.

For this year's lab tour, we have the following members of the TEE Lab introducing their projects and the lab spaces where we conduct our research work at.

Each station was intentionally curated for the students to understand what goes on in TEE Lab, together with hands-on demonstrations, firsthand research stories, and thoughtful Q&A sessions regarding student life and career paths.

Dr Ong Xin Rui carefully introduced the molecular lab and how modern genetic tools are transforming biodiversity research and conservation monitoring.

Our PhD student, Zann, showcased TEE Lab's curated pinned and spirit insect collections in our curation and imaging lab.

Students listening to Research Associate Poorvi's work revolving around terrestrial nutrient cycling works below ground and different factors affecting the cycle were quantified in the Forest Ecology wet lab.

Our PhD Student, Calvin, shares about his work on saproxylic insects and forest regeneration in the soil lab.

Project Officer Wan Lin showcases the AMBER Project and the use of technology in the field to monitor nocturnal insects.

Our Research Associate, Sonia, also prepared a mini summary of the day's activities for the students to remember the lab tour's takeaways.

We hope the students had a wonderful time learning about TEE Lab's work and hope to continuously inspire future generations of scientists and ecologists!