Figure 1: View of GE3255 students measuring flow in the Kallang River
(Photo credit: Lee Yi Hui)
Close your eyes and think about Singapore, what is the first image that comes to mind? Despite, holding the title of a City in Nature, many results when you Google ‘Singapore’ are pictures of skyscrapers and the unique Marina Bay Sands skyline. Therefore, the importance of nature and river restoration stood out to me on my NUS GE3255 Aquatic, Riparian and Coastal Systems class field trip in September 2023 as it served multiple purposes including flood management, ecosystem restoration, enhancing of biodiversity, and recreational green spaces. Let me bring you on a tour to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park! Kallang River, which was once a concrete canal, is now a meandering stream with lush greenery and teeming biodiversity that is integrated into the surrounding residential areas (Figure 1).