Page 62 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2019

60 NURUL REKHA

“When choosing faces, we waited. It must’ve been a couple of hours only able to measure the effectiveness of our con-
a scholarship, before we saw anything, but eventually, huddled up servation initiatives over time, but also gain a deeper
knowledge of what animals live in the reserve and
in our blankets, we watched the Northern Lights in
it is important the sky. the type of environment they thrive in, to facilitate the
development of future conservation initiatives.

My field trips were also some of the most memo-
I’m also a member of the Otter Working Group
to remember rable experiences during my studies. One of my class- (OWG) in Singapore, as part of my work as a Conser-
es involved a 2-week field study in Antarctica and
that you are Argentina. In Ushuaia, Argentina, we went for a cou- vation Manager. My work in OWG comprises of man-
also choosing ple of hikes in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. aging human-otter interactions, pre-empting possible
conflict, and some outreach initiatives. One of the
The views were absurdly stunning, and I remember
a career, and thinking that I could easily spend months trekking highlights of working in NParks, and being a part of
through Patagonia.
the OWG, was facilitating the South East Asian Ot-
thus it is crucial Finally, I don’t think anything else can compare to ter Workshop. The 4-day workshop invited esteemed
that the goals being on a ship and getting the first glimpse of the icy otter scientists from all over the region to Singapore
continent of Antarctica. It was honestly magical.
with the aim of developing an Action Plan for Asian
and aims of Please share with us about your working otters. One of the agenda items involved bringing the
scientists out to observe wild otters in Singapore.
the organisation experience in the Conservation Division. Many of these scientists spent years studying otters,
but have never seen them in the wild, except through
Do also share about any notable projects you
are something are currently working or have worked on. camera traps. Watching their faces as they observed
you believe in A Conservation Manager, as aptly described by a col- the otters in Singapore for the first time is something
league, is a custodian of the nature reserve. While
I would never forget. It made me appreciate so much
as well. ” ensuring that the reserve is safe for public use is of more the privilege we have of seeing otters in our ur-
utmost importance, a Conservation Manager must
ban environment.
additionally be responsible for the flora and fauna of
the area. This involves forest restoration works, native What advice would you have for those who
seed propagation, as well as enforcement to stop the are exploring for their scholarship options?
poaching of wildlife. 18- or 19-year-olds should know that taking on a
Being in the Conservation Division means being scholarship is a big decision. When choosing a schol-
exposed to a good mix of research, outreach, and op- arship, it is important to remember that you are also
erations work. Through my months working here, I’ve choosing a career, and thus it is crucial that the goals
learnt to appreciate the importance of each of these as- and aims of the organisation are something you be-
pects towards the success of a conservation project. lieve in as well.
Some of the projects I’ve enjoyed assisting with It is also important to choose a course of study
include the study of macaque troops in MacRitchie, that you are passionate about. Scholarship providers
and biodiversity surveys. Macaques are such dynam- often have preferred subject choices for university,
ic creatures, and hours observing them have allowed but don’t be discouraged if your subject of choice
us to distinguish between individuals and further un- is not listed. If you are confident you will be able to
derstand their troop dynamics and behaviour. We also contribute to the aims and goals of the organisation
conduct biodiversity surveys in the nature reserve, in through your choice of study, don’t be afraid to let
order to develop a better understanding of the fauna them know. Your years in university will shape you,
that inhabit the different areas. In doing so, we are not and it is important you enjoy what you are studying.