Teachers’ Briefing 7 Feb 2011 Keppel Club

1. LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT Teachers’ Briefing 7 Feb 2011 Keppel Club

2. Partnership IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. This includes doing what we can to help create a world where we take better care of the environment, the earth’s resources, and each other. IKEA has forged long-term cooperative relationships with partners in the field of social & environmental issues – such as UNICEF, Save the Children and WWF. • WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by • Conserving the world's biological diversity • Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable • Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT IKEA and WWF HQ began working together in 2002 to promote responsible forestry, support better cotton production and address climate change issues. In 2007, IKEA Singapore and WWF Singapore forged a local partnership promoting responsible consumer behavior through IKEA’s “Say No To Plastic Bags” campaign. The proceeds from the sale of the plastic bags is donated to WWF for community livehood projects in support of forest conservation in Indonesia.

3. Partnership LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT • An extension to IKEA’s “Say No To Plastic Bags” campaign • Proceeds from the sale of the plastic bags will go towards the LITTLE GREEN DOT Student Research Grant • In collaboration with Nature Society (Singapore): administer the grant application, selection, awarding, mentorship and research process. Nature Society (Singapore) is a non-government, non-profit organisation dedicated to the appreciation, conservation, study and enjoyment of the natural heritage in Singapore and the surrounding regions.

4. What is the Little Green Dot? • A student research grant that promote learning of Singapore’s natural environment through direct study and discovery. • Aims to facilitate the development of a new generation of leaders in conservation and biodiversity studies. • Launching in January 2011, the grant calls for students to form groups and submit proposal for a nature conservation research project. • Eleven groups with the best proposals will receive funding to carry out their research. • At the end of their research, students will share their findings with the public in presentations and exhibitions. • It is a collaborative effort by IKEA Singapore, WWF Singapore and Nature Society (Singapore). LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

5. Theme for year 2011 • Marine and Freshwater Conservation • Supports UN’s International Year of Biodiversity 2010 to protect and conserve the Marine, Coastal and Freshwater biodiversity. • Complements PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programme. • Conservation of marine biodiversity and wise use of freshwater wetlands are important options for climate change mitigation and adaptation LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

6. ADMIN MATTERS

7. Research process LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

8. LITTLE GREEN DOT WORKFLOW LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

9. APPLICATION FOR GRANT • Call for applications: 3 January 2011 • Theme for 2011: Marine and Freshwater Conservation • Complete application form available on http://www.nss.org.sg/lgd.html . • Submit form via email to: littlegreendot@nss.org.sg. • Application deadline: 21 March 2011 • Open to students from: • Secondary 3 & 4 • Junior College 1 & 2 • International School Grade 9, 10, 11 & 12 • Grant will be awarded for a 7-month research period LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

10. SELECTION FOR GRANT • Selection panel made up of NSS, WWF Singapore and IKEA Singapore • Five groups from Sec 3 & 4/ Grade 9 & 10 - $3,000 per project • Six groups from JC 1 & 2/ Grade 11 & 12 - $5,000 per project • Interview for short-listed projects in April 2011 • Panel may suggest modifications to successful projects LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

11. SELECTION FOR GRANT • Results will be announced on 29 April 2011. Successful project proposals will be put up on NSS website. • Successful groups will be notified directly via email for further action. • Media announcement from May 2011. • Not the end for unsuccessful project proposals LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

12. TIMELINE Year 2011 Year 2012 25 Nov & 2 Dec Q1 (date tbc) 3 Jan – 21 Mar 22 Mar – 28 Apr 29 Apr 1 May – 24 Nov Application for Grant Announce Grant Awardees Study Period Share Findings Selection Submission LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

13. MENTORSHIP • Local practicing environmentalists will be assigned as mentor to each group • Mentors will provide guidance on • methodology and study design • analysis of results LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

14. MENTORSHIP • Mentors will not • physically supervise students during field work • prepare/ provide materials on behalf of students • Take over the field work should research projects not proceed as intended (but may be consulted for trouble shooting) • ensure deadlines are met LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

15. MONEY MATTERS • Grant covers project expenses, eg: transport, meals in the field, field equipment. • Does not cover non-specific equipment, eg: digital cameras, computers. • Receipts and written evidence of purchase to be retained by group members. • Unused money, receipts and written evidence of purchase to be returned to NSS by: • Secondary & International Schools: 25 November 2011 • Junior Colleges: 2 December 2011 LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

16. POST-STUDY PERIOD • Submit academic report to NSS by: • Secondary & International Schools: 25 November 2011 • Junior Colleges: 2 December 2011 • Collate and share findings on websites, in workshops and exhibitions LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

17. POST-STUDY PERIOD • NSS will reclaim the full grant amount if: • Groups fail to submit academic reports before deadlines without valid reason. • Instances of plagiarism are discovered in submitted academic reports. LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

18. CONTACT DETAILS • Nature Society (Singapore) Goh Ter Yang littlegreendot@nss.org.sg Tel: 6741 2036 Fax: 6741 0871 Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/lgd.html LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT

19. Q&A

20. TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP MAKE SINGAPORE A LITTLE GREEN DOT THANK YOU! LITTLE GREEN DOT STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT