SINGAPORE – A landmark national research initiative on marine science was officially launched on Sept 22, with a remit to help Singapore and the broader South-east Asian region deal with challenges ranging from coastal development to climate change.
The $60 million National Institute for Marine and Ocean Sciences, dubbed NIMOS, was established by the National Parks Board (NParks) with the National University of Singapore (NUS).
This builds on two earlier marine research programmes, which were funded to the tune of $25 million each. The five-year programmes focused more on applying science to domestic challenges, such as identifying sustainable engineering measures and solutions to create new marine habitats.
The launch event for NIMOS at the NUS University Hall Auditorium was attended by Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, as well as some 150 other guests, including researchers, university representatives and government officials.
NIMOS director Huang Danwei, a coral biologist, said the launch of the new institute comes as several changes are expected in Singapore’s sea spaces. Regionally, too, the waters of South-east Asia are under stress from coastal development and climate change.
Huang pointed to the recently announced plans for a new western island in Singapore as an example of how partnerships between scientists and government agencies will be paramount for securing a sustainable sea space for the country.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had in August announced plans to merge several southern islands to reclaim a new western island for industry, energy and defence needs.
At the same time, Singapore will soon welcome its second marine park at the nearby Lazarus-South Kusu reef. This park was first announced in May 2024, but has not been officially gazetted.
Said Huang: “As a small, highly urbanised island nation at the centre of one of the world’s most intensively used marine regions, Singapore can serve as a living laboratory for the future of tropical coastal environments.
“Our goal is therefore larger than understanding Singapore’s seas. It is to develop the science and tools for sustaining marine ecosystems alongside economic development – solutions that Singapore can demonstrate locally and contribute to a rapidly changing South-east Asia.”
He noted that coastal cities in South-east Asia are expanding and becoming more urbanised, taking the path that Singapore took years earlier.
Huang added that the Republic has played a prominent role in the High Seas Treaty, a hard-fought global deal that aims to protect the marine life of two-thirds of the ocean.
Speaking to the media at the launch event, Huang said he hopes NIMOS can help decision-makers weigh the value and services that ecosystems provide, especially for the upcoming Long Island and western island developments.
Long Island will be reclaimed off the East Coast shoreline to create new land while serving as a buffer to protect the country from rising sea levels.
NUS said in a statement that NIMOS will start by operating as a virtual institute while its longer-term facilities are being developed.
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