The 60th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) was held in the heart of Kigali, Rwanda, where the rolling hills meet the bustling city. At this event, members of the Tropical Ecology and Entomology Lab (TEE Lab) from the Asian School of Environment (ASE), NTU – Associate Prof Eleanor Slade, Dr Friederike Gebert, and Dr Chiew Li Yuen hosted a symposium titled “It’s All About the Little Things – Insect Research Across the Tropics.” This symposium was aimed to showcase groundbreaking research in the field of entomology, highlighting the crucial but often overlooked role of insects in tropical ecosystems. The symposium featured eight speakers from around the world, who presented significant research on the scientific community gathered at ATBC.
Group photo of the symposium speakers and organizers (top left). Presentations by Dr Enoka P. Kudavidanage (bottom left), Ms Ko Chung Wing (bottom middle) and Dr Salwana Jaafar (top right). Poster presentation by Asst Prof Lam Weng Ngai (right).
Photos 2024 Chiew Li Yuen.
Additionally, Assistant Prof Lam Weng Ngai from ASE presented his research on leaf litter invertebrate communities across a peat swamp degradation gradient during the poster session. Dr Salwana Jaafar from the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), University Brunei Darussalam, also presented her work on soil nutrients, litterfall production, and leaf litter decomposition rates in Bornean heath forests in Brunei Darussalam. ASE PhD candidate Ms Ko Chung Wing gave a presentation on her research on the shifts in microbial communities and functions in tropical peat swamp forests. She even won the 1st Runner Up award in the Luis F. Bacardi Award for Advances in Tropical Conservation.
Award recipients at the ATBC 2024 closing ceremony. Photo 2024 Chiew Li Yuen.
Participating in ATBC 2024 was an excellent opportunity for the TEE Lab to showcase our research and network with fellow researchers. It also served as a key reminder on the importance of understanding and conserving tropical ecosystems. We look forward to continuing our efforts in advancing knowledge and fostering sustainable practices for biodiversity and environmental conservation.
Group photo of the ATBC 2024 participants from ASE, NTU & IBER, UBD. Photo 2024 Chiew Li Yuen.
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