4 December 2024 – Blue Water EduFest 2024: Making Waves for a Sustainable Future
Blue Water EduFest 2024: Making Waves for a Sustainable Future
The event’s third edition united thought leaders, eco-champions, and the community to advance ocean protection and sustainability initiatives.
L-R: Arthur Tay, Chairman & CEO of SUTL Group, Tan Mae Shen, MD of Dalio Family Office Singapore, Ng Lee Kiang, Co-Founder of Young Nautilus, Rose Huizenga, Founder of Coral Catch, Dr Sylvia Earle, Founder of Deep Hope and Leon Boey, Founder of LivingSeas Foundation.
SINGAPORE, 20 November 2024 — The third edition of Blue Water EduFest, organised by ONE°15 Marina, inspired purposeful discussions on fostering marine conservation awareness and empowering the next generation of ocean stewards.
From 7 to 9 November 2024, the event brought together leaders, sustainability decision-makers, and passionate advocates to tackle pressing oceanic issues and explore innovative solutions for protecting marine ecosystems. Through a holistic programme including the purpose-driven Blue Eco Summit, the prestigious Blue Water Heroes Awards, and a community-led beach clean-up, Blue Water EduFest continues to serve as a vital platform for inspiring collaborative action in marine conservation.
“Blue Water EduFest is more than just an event; it’s a call to action,” shared Arthur Tay, Chairman and CEO of SUTL Group and Founder of Blue Water EduFest. “Dr. Sylvia Earle’s relentless passion reminds us that hope endures, even as the planet reaches its tipping point. This year’s event strengthened our resolve by uniting key voices in marine and coastal conservation and creating impactful experiences that connect people to the urgency of protecting our oceans. Together, we can drive meaningful, lasting change.”
Blue Eco Summit: Exploring the Depths of Conservation
The two-day Blue Eco Summit, held in partnership with Ocean Geographic, united international experts and thought leaders to address key topics such as Blue Carbon, Deep-Sea Exploration, and the High Seas Treaty. This year’s theme, “Blue Space,” elevated the summit’s emotional and visual impact, capturing the breathtaking beauty of marine life. The imagery was truly awe-inspiring, featuring the mesmerising bioluminescent creatures of the deep sea and the majestic whales that serve as natural carbon sinks.
The conference boasted an international line-up of renowned speakers and was anchored by keynote speaker Dr. Sylvia Earle, an acclaimed oceanographer and Founder of Deep Hope, who inspired the audience with a powerful message on the urgency of ocean protection: “What should be the overarching goal? It’s hope. Knowing that on our watch in the 21st century, we’ve got the best chance we will ever have. Armed with the knowledge that did not and could not exist until right about now, we are so fortunate to know what is now known”. Her words served as a rallying call, underscoring the critical need to act now to preserve the oceans. She also emphasised the need to better understand our deep seas, reminding all of the devastating impact of deep-sea mining for rare minerals, which threatens to destroy invaluable marine ecosystems crucial for sustaining ocean health at great depths.
Blue Water Heroes Awards 2024: Honouring Eco-Champions
The Blue Water Heroes Awards recognised three exceptional individuals leading marine conservation efforts in Southeast Asia: Rose Huizenga, founder of Coral Catch, for building a network of Indonesian ‘superwomen’ driving marine conservation efforts; Leon Boey, founder of Livingseas Foundation, for spearheading coral reef restoration projects in Indonesia; and Ng Lee Kiang, co-founder of Young Nautilus, for inspiring the next generation of marine stewards through biodiversity walks, workshops, and advocacy programmes. The winners walked away with S$50,000 in total cash prizes, as well as valuable opportunities for mentorship, collaboration and networking.
Upon being awarded first place, Rose Huizenga, founder of Coral Catch, who was visibly moved, shared, “This award means a lot, but what really excites me is the momentum we’re building. Ocean conservation isn’t something any one of us can do alone — we need everyone on board, from businesses to the community. I hope this inspires more people to get involved and take action to help safeguard our oceans.”
Beach Clean-Up: A Hands-On Approach to Conservation
The event culminated in a meaningful beach clean-up at East Coast Park on 9 November, where about 90 volunteers, including members of the Blue Water EduFest community, came together to clean the beach and ensure the proper recycling of collected waste materials. Volunteers collected six bags of 19kg of trash within two hours. Among the waste were plastics, cigarette butts, tissue paper, and confetti, which volunteers noted was particularly challenging to remove. Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Adviser to East Coast GRC Grassroots Organisations, who joined the effort, emphasised the importance of collective action in preserving Singapore’s marine heritage.
Visual and Written Narratives: A Celebration of Ocean Exploration and Climate Action
This year’s Blue Eco Summit also featured the launch of SOULS – Stories of Our Underwater Legends and the world premiere of ‘2009: Power in Us’. The memoir, SOULS, highlights the extraordinary lives of six ocean pioneers, including Dr. Sylvia Earle and Michael Aw, Founder of Ocean Geographic, whose groundbreaking achievements have inspired countless others in reshaping marine science. This compelling narrative was complemented by ‘2009: Power in Us’, a stirring documentary of the 2023 Antarctic Climate Expedition. Organized by Ocean Geographic, this expedition took 120 extraordinary individuals to the South Pole on a daring mission to document Antarctica in the time of climate change. Dr. Earle narrates this documentary, and it serves as a rallying cry for urgent action, reminding us of the power we have in us to preserve a liveable planet for future generations. Together, these two launches encapsulate the spirit of collaboration and action that Blue Water EduFest embodies.
Adding to the event’s excitement, Porsche, one the event sponsors, showcased their latest all-electric vehicle, the Taycan, during the event. Featuring rapid-charging capabilities that achieve a full charge in as little as 18 minutes, the Taycan combines performance with sustainability, making it ideal for both short trips and long adventures.
Blue Water EduFest 2024 aims to inspire lasting collaboration and meaningful action in marine conservation, creating a comprehensive experience that raises awareness, celebrates achievements, and motivates participants to take tangible steps toward protecting our oceans. The event illuminated the need for collective action to safeguard marine ecosystems. As Dr. Sylvia Earle emphasised, “We have to come together with a common goal of protecting the ocean as if our lives depend on it, because they do.”
For more information on Blue Water EduFest 2024, please visit – Blue Water EduFest.
–ENDS—
