Marcus Benedict Tan

Republic Polytechnic (RP) School of Applied Science (SAS) opened the Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture (DMAC) booth for the second time this year, with the pioneer batch of students. This year’s booth aims to educate potential students about the marine life and environment conservation.

 

In 2014, RP was the first polytechnic in Singapore to offer such a diploma. RP’s open house took place on the 8th to 10th of January this year. The pioneer batch of students is here to share their experiences with potential students this year.

 

“This is the first course in all of the polytechnics, and I think this plays a huge role, because we don’t really know in depth about the marine life in Singapore. I can embrace my passion and understand more of this (marine aquaculture),” said Nur Zuhairah Zulkiflee, 18, Madrasah Al Irsyad student.

 

Mr Oliver Chang, 30, Marine Science and Aquaculture lecturer, highlighted today’s growing problems: over harvesting the ocean. “We are now running short of seafood. Because too many people harvest the seafood. So we need to do farming, fish farming. So in this course, they will be learning high technology to do sustainable seafood farming,” said Mr Chang. Singapore imports an average of 140,000 tonnes of seafood a year.

 

Afiqah Binte Kamruzzaman, 17, a first-year Marine Science and Aquaculture student said: “the course focus mostly on sustainable seafood, because the number of fishes are dropping depleting. Through this course we learn what causes it to deplete and how we can help it increase so it won’t be gone forever.”

 

The fish tanks at the DMAC booth allows the public to touch and feel horseshoe crabs up close, as well as to see a variety of freshwater anemone on display. The course identifies the threats and teaches students how to conserve the environment.