DEWT Student awarded HSBC-NYAA Youth Environmental Award 2016
Xiang Tian was an active member of the SP Environment Club (SP ENV), and was involved in the planning of numerous activities, including the Freshmen Orientation Camp (FOC), multiple Beach clean-ups and upcycling workshops. He implemented Electronic-waste Bins in SP and started new initiatives for SP ENV, including Beach Clean-ups at non-recreational beaches, upcycling workshops in collaboration with SP Library MakerSpace, and Operation Green, to teach ordinary members of SP ENV to plan and execute their own events.
As part of his aspiration to learn more about environmental issues and contribute to solving them, Xiang Tian was also part of the Inter-Institute of Higher Learning collaboration between Singapore Polytechnic, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore University of Technology and Design, called Ditch Da Disposables (DDD). Under DDD, Xiang Tian was able to omit disposables from all SP ENV events, including catering during the FOC, and a barbeque during the sub-committee camp.
Xiang Tian worked closely with Hemispheres Foundation. He was a facilitator for the Summer and Winter editions of the Actions for Earth - Global Youth Summit in Singapore, and part of the sterling committee for Actions for Earth - Global Youth Summit in Hanoi, allowing him to gain valuable experience in working with other like-minded people.
As a Youth Environmental Envoy (YEE) with the NEA, Xiang Tian helped initiate a networking session and a trip to Semakau Landfill for his fellow YEEs.
Heavily involved in environmental activities in Singapore, Xiang Tian also volunteered with International Coastal Clean-up Singapore, and 350 Singapore. He was part of the ASEAN Power Shift Youth Organising Committee and in the Outreach Team of the People’s Movement to Stop Haze (PM.Haze), helping to coordinate numerous roadshows and outreach booths for PM.Haze.
In his own personal capacity, Xiang Tian also contributed to the local environment scene by starting up the Singapore Environment Networking Facebook group to connect the various environmental organisations and individuals in Singapore, and organising knowledge sharing and networking events for environmentalists in Singapore.
Xiang Tian also won prizes in several competitions, including 1st Prize for the National Climate Change Competition in 2014, 3rd Prize for the Social Engagement Entrepreneurship in 2014 and runner-up for the Energy Innovation Challenge in 2015, showing his desire to excel in extra-curricular activities
Due to his positive attitude, strong leadership and contributions to the environment, Xiang Tian has been selected as one of the five winners for this year’s HSBC-NYAA Youth Environmental Award 2016. The Award comprises of a Citation Plaque, $500.00 worth of book vouchers and a fully sponsored overseas trip to the Andorran Pyrenees, an independent principality situated between France and Spain in the scenic Pyrenees mountains to work alongside Catalan Scientists on Wildlife and Climate Change.