Page 38 - HSBC NYAA Youth Environmental Award 25th Anniversary

Choo Le Min

An environmental leader, Choo Le Min, has significantly
improved biodiversity conservation. As Nature Guiding
Director of Earthlink, NTU's premier environmental
club, she expanded nature walks into impactful
educational programmes that foster a deeper
understanding of environmental conservation among
students. Her passion extends to marine biology, where
she volunteered with the Comprehensive Marine
Biodiversity Survey and Team Seagrass, playing a pivotal
role in cataloguing species and monitoring ecosystems.

In 2014, Le Min's efforts were recognised when she
received the HSBC NYAA Youth Environmental Award,
a testament to her exemplary leadership. After winning
the award, she participated in an Earthwatch expedition
to the Arctic Edge, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, which
solidified her interest in fieldwork. This experience led
to a research attachment with Dr Shawn Lum at NTU,
where she studied plant diversity in Singapore's Central
Catchment Nature Reserve. Upon completing her degree
in 2016, she pursued a Master's in Plant and Fungal
Taxonomy at Queen Mary University of London and the Choo Le Min
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, sponsored by NParks. Research Staff, Herbarium, Botanical Research,
Singapore Botanic Gardens,
National Parks Board
Her academic journey saw her undertake a botanical Postgraduate studies, UK
expedition to Madagascar and produce research using
genetic sequencing for her Master's thesis. Returning to
Singapore, Le Min joined the Singapore Botanic Gardens
as a researcher. There, she played a role in rediscovering
the rare Sindora velutina tree species in Singapore and
worked on its propagation to support reforestation
efforts.

Beyond her professional commitments, Le Min continues
volunteering in biodiversity projects, including guiding
at Sisters' Islands Marine Park and St John's Island and
contributing to coastal reforestation at Kranji Coastal
Nature Park. In 2023, she received an NParks scholarship
to pursue her PhD at the University of Exeter, focusing
on the evolution of tropical rainforest trees in Southeast
Asia, hoping to advance conservation efforts in the
region.

36 The Journey of Sustainability: 25 Years and Beyond