Professor Koh Lian Pin is Associate Vice President and Chief Sustainability Scientist at NUS. He oversees and champions sustainability-related research at the University, tackling the twin planetary crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, through a whole-of-university strategy that bridges academia, policy, industry and civil society. He also initiates and spearheads local and global engagements to promote societal understanding of the world we live in, as well as amplify NUS’ and Singapore’s contributions to global sustainability efforts. Prof Koh is presently also the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Conservation, Vice Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Science, Director of the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, and Director of the Tropical Marine Science Institute.

An internationally renowned name in the field of sustainability and environmental science, Prof Koh is one of the most highly cited conservation scientists in the world, with over 20 years of international research experience under his belt. His previous stints include Swiss National Science Foundation Professor at ETH Zurich, Chair of Applied Ecology and Conservation at the University of Adelaide, Vice President of Science Partnerships and Innovation at Conservation International Foundation, and Technical Director of the Marine Climate Change Science Programme at the National Research Foundation Singapore.

An NUS alumnus, Prof Koh joined the NUS Department of Biological Sciences in 2020, having returned to Singapore under the National Research Foundation’s Returning Singapore Scientists scheme. His research is centred on developing policy-relevant science, as well as science-based decision support tools, to reconcile humanity’s needs with environmental protection. This is complemented by his rich work in advocacy, which has seen him drive global sustainability efforts in his roles as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Founding Director of ConservationDrones.org, as well as offer a science-based perspective to socioeconomic and environmental issues on both local and global platforms, including the UN COP sessions, TEDGlobal and TEDx and, locally, the 14^th Parliament of Singapore as Nominated Member of Parliament (2021 – 2023), among others.

Prof Koh received a BSc (First Class Honours) and MSc in Biological Sciences from the National University of Singapore and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.