by Donovan Loh, Subject Head/Applied Learning Programme
At Yusof Ishak Secondary School, biodiversity conservation has taken on a whole new meaning — one built with cardboard, coded with microcontrollers and driven by the curiosity of its Secondary 1 students.
In support of Go Green SG 2026, the school ran its Interdisciplinary Project Work (IPW) programme centred on the theme of Biodiversity Conservation and Human-Wildlife Coexistence. Over five days, students tackled real-world environmental problems: How might we reduce bird-window collisions? How can we prevent road kills along busy roads? How do we discourage macaques from entering homes without harming them?
The programme began with a learning journey to Bird Paradise and Mandai Wildlife West, where students encountered wildlife up close and attended a talk on sustainability at Mandai. Back in school, students were introduced to Design Thinking — a structured approach to creative problem-solving — and guided through a series of hands-on sessions. They researched existing solutions, brainstormed ideas and took on the perspective of the animals affected by human activity, writing short stories imagining life as a bird navigating a glass-fronted building or a macaque foraging near a busy coffee shop. This perspective-taking exercise encouraged students to see urban wildlife not as a nuisance, but as neighbours deserving of thoughtful consideration.
Beyond the exhibits: students discover how Mandai Wildlife Reserve is pioneering sustainability behind the scenes.
For many, this shift was the most lasting takeaway. "I used to think that animals were simply dangerous or aggressive," reflected one student, Adam Carlo, "but I realised that humans also play a big part in creating conflict. Instead of creating something that only keeps animals away, we focused on finding a solution that could protect both humans and wildlife." Another student, Charlyn Choong, put it even more plainly: "Singapore is also their home, and we will maintain that."
Students then built physical prototypes using cardboard and recycled materials, and participated in Code for Fun, an MOE and IMDA programme, where they learnt how to program a micro:bit microcontroller, which many groups incorporated into their designs. The experience opened students' eyes to the broader possibilities of STEM. "I used to think STEM was simply about coding and robots," student Zhao Siran shared. "Now I think that STEM has a lot of different uses — not just for coding, but to contribute to society."
Every great invention starts on paper: students mapping out their designs before bringing them to life
From sketch to reality: students get hands-on, crafting cardboard prototypes and coding micro:bit microcontrollers to tackle human-wildlife conflict head-on.
The programme culminated in a class presentation where groups pitched their prototype and explained how it addressed their chosen problem. This ranged from sensor-activated windows to help birds see them better, to holograms of predators to deter macaques from entering homes.
Students also submitted individual reflections which revealed genuine shifts in their perspectives. "The world does not belong to us alone,” said Chao Yu Jie. “We share it with the animals, and we should solve problems that make the world better — because even a small difference can impact a person or animal positively."
By weaving together science, technology, design and empathy, Yusof Ishak Secondary's IPW gave its students not just knowledge about biodiversity, but the tools and the motivation to do something about it.
