Blue Water Heroes Awards 2023 finalists and judges

ONE°15 has announced that it has set aside S$250,000 in conservation funding to support a range of initiatives with local universities including Singapore Management University (SMU). The announcement was made in the wake of the second Blue Water EduFest at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove.

The marine conservation funding initiative encompasses a three-year marine sustainability scholarship programme for low-income students; a five-year conservation project to develop coral and marine biodiversity at ONE°15 Marina Nirup Island off Batam; and seed funding for early career researchers in marine science over three years.

ONE°15 also pledged to support ‘The Young Sustainability Champion Programme’, a nationwide youth design challenge in partnership with the Science Centre Singapore. This initiative will involve mentoring selected secondary school students as they work on solutions to address marine-related challenges.

Arthur Tay, Chairman and CEO of SUTL Group

Arthur Tay, Chairman and CEO of SUTL Group, initiated the three-day Blue Water EduFest last year and was happy with the second edition, which again included The Ocean Collective Summit, Blue Water Heroes Awards and ONE15 Clean Up.

“The event has grown in depth since its inception, with a chorus of positive feedback highlighting its substantial impact,” Tay said. “The increased presence of influential decision-makers signifies our potential to drive real change. Let’s seize this opportunity not only to push for tangible action but also to sow the seeds of change in the hearts and minds of those new to marine conservation.”

Fabien Cousteau and Jeremy McKane

The Ocean Collective Summit’s key speakers including Fabien Cousteau, founder of the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre and Proteus Ocean Group; Jeremy McKane, CEO of OCN.ai; Rena Lee, Ambassador for International Law; and Zoe Ong, Senior Assistant Director, Coastal Protection Department, PUB, The National Water Agency Singapore.

Cousteau said: “Once again The Ocean Collective Summit brought together a diverse global community dedicated to fostering a shift in mindset and providing a vital platform for sharing knowledge on critical ocean conservation and sustainability. With a strong focus on educating younger generations, it sets the stage for a brighter and more sustainable future for our ocean.”

Julian Chang, President of Seakeepers Asia

Julian Chang, President, The International SeaKeepers Society, Asia, added: “We believe that through education, in its many forms, we can create a better awareness of the threats to our oceans and drive meaningful change in our interaction with the oceans.

“The Ocean Collective Summit is at the top of that education agenda and the sharing of knowledge via different perspectives and solutions places an emphasis on the power of collaboration and action. Regardless of the scale of our contributions, we each can make an impact.”

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