February 01, 2017, 05:03 PM 
As news of a group of NUS students and alumni returning from a sailing trip to Indonesia's Riau Islands with giant clam shells as keepsake attracting online criticisms of their lack of awareness about marine conservation, it is perhaps a good time to learn more about marine life, in order to be a responsible global citizen.
Rising star in Asian scientific community
The NUS team in question actually do not have to go far to seek advice.
Meet 29-year-old local marine biologist Neo Mei Lin, a research fellow from the Tropical Marine Science Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
A rising star in the Asian scientific community, she clinched the 2015 L'oréal Singapore Award for Women in Science National Fellowship.
She was also named on the list of the Asian chapter of Forbes 30 under 30 (Healthcare and Science category) in 2016.
Only S'porean TED Fellow in 2017
Adding to her string of accolades, Neo has been recently selected as one of the 15 TED Fellows in 2017, where she will give her own TED Talk in Vancouver, Canada in April 2017. She is the only Singaporean to make the prestigious list this year.
Founded in 2009, the TED Fellows programme brings together outstanding young innovators across disciplines to solve tough problems in the world. The programme currently has 414 Fellows from 87 countries and has created a network of scientists, doctors, activists, artists, entrepreneurs, inventors, journalists and more.
Why giant clams are important
Giant clams are the world's largest bivalves (a type of shelled animal that can be found all over the world in different water environments), they have an ecological significance to the survival of coral reefs.
Source: Getty Images
Neo writes frequently on her website, sharing her passion about giant clams and marine conservation.
On giant clams:
"They (Giant clams) play significant roles in the coral reef ecosystems, as providers of food and shelter, contributors of calcium carbonate, and as water filters."
Neo's passion and knowledge on saving giant clams has also won her a nickname -- "Obsessive Speciologist" from the TED Team.
Here's a video of her sharing avidly about the wonders of the oceans at TEDxACSi in May 2015.
&feature=youtu.be
Top photo from NUS Faculty of Science
If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.
If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram to get the latest updates.