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Adrian Loo

Academic Qualifications

Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (Distinction), National Institute of Education, Singapore

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The National University of Singapore, Faculty of Science

Degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours in Botany (Upper Division), The National University of Singapore, Faculty of Science

Research areas

Illegal Wildlife Trade, Conservation Technology, Ecology, Botany

Research interests

Adrian’s research will focus on harnessing conservation technology to tackle environmental challenges like the illegal wildlife trade and biodiversity discovery. He is particularly interested in bioacoustics, eDNA and artificial intelligence.

Biography

Adrian obtained his PhD in 2001 from the National University of Singapore (NUS) studying palms in the montane forests of Peninsular Malaysia. He was then a postdoctoral research fellow in Kew Gardens, London and later at the NUS Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) on a Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Following that, he pursued his passion for teaching and education with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the National Institute of Education, before embarking on a seven-year stint nurturing young talent at Raffles Junior College.

He went on to serve as the Director of Research & Horticulture at Gardens by the Bay, bringing to life Singapore’s vision of being a City in a Garden.

After which, Adrian joined the National Parks Board (NParks) in 2016. Most recently, he was the Group Director for Wildlife Management and Senior Director for Community Projects, Corporate Development and Services. He led the division to reduce human-wildlife conflicts through science-based management, education and community stewardship. Working with international partners, he led efforts in fighting illegal wildlife trade as well. He also led stakeholder-engagement in the One Million Trees movement in Singapore to plant native trees to enhance well-being, and as a nature-based solution.

Today, he is the mentor for the CITES Global Youth Network, engaging youth in the protection of endangered species from unsustainable trade and illegal trade. He is on the XPrize panel of judges for the Rainforest Prize and a member of the XPrize Biodiversity and Conservation Brain Trust too.

In 2024, he returned to NUS DBS as an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, where he will work with colleagues, agencies and global partners in fighting illegal wildlife trade and advancing conservation technologies.

Selected publications

  1. M. Choo, E.J.J. Chia, Zaki Jamil, M.A. Niissalo, W.L. Neo, Z.Y. Ooi, W.F. Ang, Loo, A.H.B., L.G. Saw, R.C.K. Chung & K.B.H. Er (2024). Conservation genetics and status of Orania sylvicola palms in Singapore – native relicts or historical re-introductions?  Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 76(1): 1-30. 2024.  http://dx.doi.org/10.26492/gbs76(1).2024-01
  2. Yeo HHT, Ng SJW, Lee JSR, Soh MCK, Wong AMS, Loo, A.H.B., Er KBH (2024). A systematic survey of the online trade in elephant ivory in Singapore before and after a domestic trade ban.  Oryx, 2024;58(1):48-55.  doi:10.1017/S0030605323000728
  3. Lamperty, T., Chiok, W. X., Khoo, M. D. Y., Amir, Z., Baker, N., Chua, M. A. H., Chung, Y. F., Chua, Y. K., Koh, J. J.-M., Lee, B.-H., Lum, S. K. Y., Mendes, C. P., Ngiam, J., ODempsey, A., Png, K. G. C., Sovie, A. R., Tan, L., Teo, R., Thomas, N., Li, TJ, Lim B.T.M., Loo, A.H.B., Wardle D.A., Luskin, M. S. (2023).  Rewilding in Southeast Asia: Singapore as a case study.  Conservation Science and Practice, e12899.  https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12899
  4. Yeo D, Joo ACH, Chew HK, Ong J, Yuan NJ, Min LJ, Zhang W, Lim SR, Fernandez CJ, May-Shih AW, Lee BPY, Khoo M, Wei TCX, Tze-Ming BL, Theng HYH, Quan MTM, Guat WSB, Spykerman SA, Foong AW, Beng HC, Renhui X, Wasser SK, Finch KN, Loo, A.H.B., Hoo YH, Chiew LC, Hwee KEB (2023). Uncovering the magnitude of African pangolin poaching with extensive nanopore DNA genotyping of seized scales.  Conservation Biology, 2023 Aug 8.  doi: 10.1111/cobi.14162.  Epub ahead of print.  PMID: 37551767.
  5. Choo, L.M., Loo, A.H.B., Yeoh, Y.S., Ng, X.Y., Ang, W.F. & Er, K.B.H. (2023). Phanera ferruginea griffithiana (Fabaceae, Cercidoideae): resolving the status of a lesser-known climbing legume in Singapore.  Gardens' Bulletin Singapore.  https://doi.org/10.26492/gbs73(2).2021-03
  6. Lim, K. N., Soh, M. C. K., Leong, D. Y. W., Loo, A.H.B., Lee, B. P. Y. H., & Er, K. B. H. (2023). Proximity to anthropogenic food sources determine roosting and nesting prevalence of feral pigeons (Columba livia) in a tropical city.  Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 4, e12234.  https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12234
  7. Ow, S., Chan, S., Toh, Y. H., Chan, S. H., Lakshminarayanan, J., Jabbar, S., Ang, A., & Loo, A.H.B. (2022). Bridging the gap: assessing the effectiveness of rope bridges for wildlife in Singapore.  Folia Primatologica, 93(3-6), 287-298.  https://doi.org/10.1163/14219980-20211110
  8. M. Choo L.M., Ang, W.F., Loo, A.H.B. & Er K.B.H. (2022). Unravelling the identity of Sindora (Fabaceae, Detarioideae) trees in the historical landscapes of Singapore.  Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 74(2): 159–181. 2022 159.  doi: 10.26492/gbs74(2).2022-04
  9. Khoo, M.D.Y., Lim B.T.M., Soh, M.C.K., Loy, R.H.Y., Lua H.K., Lee, B.P.Y.-H., Loo, A.H.B. & Er, K.B.H. (2021). Persistence of a locally endangered mouse-deer amidst the re-emergence of two ungulates in small rainforest fragments within a tropical city state.  Global Ecology & Conservation (30).  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01807
  10. Bates, A.E., Primack, R.B., et al. (2021). Global COVID-19 lockdown highlights humans as both threats and custodians of the environment. Biological Conservation: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.10 (347 authors, including Soh, M.C.K., Ng, B.X.K., Lee, B.P.Y.-H., Loo, A.H.B. & Er, K.B.H.)
  11. Li, D., Davison, G., Lisovski, S., Battley, P.F., Ma, Z., Yang, S., How, C.B., Watkins, D., Round, P., Yee, A., Srinivasan, V., Teo, C., Teo, R., Loo, A.H.B., Leong, C.C. & Er, K. (2020). Shorebirds wintering in Southeast Asia demonstrate trans-Himalayan flights. Scientific reports 10: 21232.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77897-z
  12. Tan, CTY & Loo, A.H.B. (2017). Processes and Issues in Concept-Based Curriculum for Science. In: Curriculum for High Ability Learners.  Pp 205–221.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2697-3_13
  13. Loo, A.H.B., Ang W.F., Baker, W.J., Tan & H.T.W. (2015). An Introduction to the Native Palms of Singapore.  Palms 59(3): 109-126.  https://www.palms.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/vol59n3p109-126.pdf
  14. Loo, A.H.B., John Dransfield, Mark W. Chase, William J. Baker (2006). Low-copy nuclear DNA, phylogeny and the evolution of dichogamy in the betel nut palms and their relatives (Arecinae; Arecaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39:598–618.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.006

 Conference and presentations

  1. Loo AHB (2024). Cities in Nature: Mitigating Human Wildlife Conflict.  NUS Cities Invited Lecture.  National University of Singapore.
  2. Chow-Battersby, B., Masenga, E., Loo AHB, Aung, K.S., Kohi, E., Mjingo, E.E., (2023). Migratory routes, home range sizes and site fidelity of GPS satellite collared Western White Bearded Wildebeest in the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem.  The 14th TAWIRI International Scientific Conference.  6 – 8 Dec 2023.  Arusha, Tanzania.
  3. Loo AHB (2023). Cities in Nature: what does it take?  NUS Cities Symposium, “The Science of Cities”.  31 Aug – 1 Sep 2023.  National University of Singapore.
  4. Loo AHB (2023). Environmental Youth Leadership in the Face of the Triple Planetary Crisis.  5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Education, Teaching & Technology 2023.  20-21 Jul 2023.
  5. Loo AHB (2023). "Future of Education and Role of Technology”, Invited Panellist.  5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Education, Teaching & Technology 2023, 20-21 Jul 2023.
  6. Loo AHB (2023). Singapore's Centre for Wildlife Forensics - Using Science and Tech to Fight Illegal Wildlife Trade.  Tech with a Green Governance Conscience: Exploring the Technology-Environmental Policy Nexus.  26 – 27 Jan 2023.  Ontario Tech University.
  7. Loo AHB & Tan C (2009). What Happens When You Put Highly Able Students on an Offshore Island?  18th World Conference on Gifted and Talented Children, Vancouver.
  8. Maria Norup, Bill Baker, Lewis, C., Loo AHB & Dransfield, J. (2003).  A molecular phylogeny of two problematic arecoid palm genera based on two low-copy nuclear genes.  Systematics 2003, The fourth biennial meeting of The Systematics Association, Trinity College Dublin.  18 – 23 Aug 2003.

Events

(2024) The connection between art and nature ~ https://www.nationalgallery.sg/lighttonight2024/programmes/artsplaining-ft-adrian-loo-curator-clarissa-chikiamco/