28 January 2008

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Singapore Environment Institute and the Civil Service College on Monday to incorporate the PEEL programme as part of the CSCI's training programmes for international participants.

The signing ceremony, which was held in SEI, was attended by CSC International's management team led by Director (CSCI) Mr Roger Tan, and SEI's management team led by Director (SEI) Mr Ong Eng Kian.

SEI-CSC MOU Signing Ceremony

In his welcome speech, Mr Ong highlighted the synergy that could be created by maximising on the strengths of each institute: "As a focal institution for public governance and administration, CSC shares Singapore’s experience and best practices in the development and management of the public service. Zooming in on environmental governance, SEI provides the expertise, practical know-how and some of the answers to sustainable development."

SEI and CSCI delegates

The event was preceded by a PEEL trail for the media in the earlier part of the day, where local news journalists were given a treat to a sampler trail of PEEL. A guided tour took the journalists to the NUS Satellite Centre, EHI Mosquito Laboratory and the Singapore River, to experience a sample of the Clean Air, Pubic Health and Clean Water trails respectively.

Journalists get a glimpse of the operations in NEA's Mosquito Laboratory

Below is an excerpt from Straits Times Online on the tour:

Tours on How Singapore Stays Clean and Green
By Tania Tan (ST Online 28 January 2008)

FROM a scenic boat ride down the Singapore River to labs filled with live mosquitoes, the National Environment Agency is pulling out the stops to get the green message across.

The Programme for Environmental Experiential Learning launched on Monday will provide rare inside glimpses into how Singapore is kept clean and green.

Also known as Peel, the new programme includes four full-day thematic trails covering air, land, water and public health. For instance, participants on the land-themed trail will follow the route of a piece of rubbish - from origin to landfill.

Targetted at environment industry professionals, Peel aims to give participants a better idea of how they fit into the bigger picture of keeping the environment clean, said Mr Kwok Wai Choong, head of training and development at the NEA's Singapore Environment Insitute, which organised the programme.

Participants will spend a full-day touring various sites, including a visit to CRISP (Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing) - a satellite imaging lab, where scientists track hotspots in Indonesia and the region.

Other stops include the Environmental Health Institute - the only authorised mosquito breeding facility here, where vector studies are being conducted to help combat Singapore's mosquito problem.

At $98 per session, the programme is also open to members of the public.

A memorandum of understanding signed with the Civil Service College on Monday, will also see the Peel programme being rolled out to foreign delegates, as part of the college's training programmes.

For more information, visit www.nea.gov.sg/sei.

Last updated on 25 Jun 08