Debby Ng
Disease Ecologist · Conservationist · National Geographic Explorer
Wildlife disease ecologist, photojournalist, conservationist, educator, environmental advocate, and author.
RESEARCH
My goal as a disease ecologist, is to create safe and productive landscapes for people and wildlife. I studied wildlife disease ecology at Colorado State University, and Zoology at the University of Tasmania. I am a Duke University Global Fellow in Conservation Biology.
COMMUNICATION
I have connected with global audiences through my exhibitions, public talks, and stories on print, television and radio. My work has featured in BBC, the Washington Post, and Forbes. I am a graduate of Ngee Ann Polytechnic's School of Film and Media Studies.
OUTREACH
I have committed over two decades to forge strong partnerships with communities to create solutions that are relevant, effective, and kind. I collaborate with government agencies and organisations that align with our approach to develop and shape policy.
Featured Projects
When my niece was born, I dreamt of creating a book about Southeast Asian animals. I grew up reading books about wildlife in Africa, Australia, and Europe, and grew up thinking that wildlife only existed in these far away places. It has been my wish that my niece, and the people around the world, would discover the splendour of this tiny but biodiverse region that I have had the privilege to grow up in and to explore.
Marvellous Mammals is authored by me, and features the beautiful artwork of Darel Seow.
Media
Conferences and presentations
-
2024 Seawater Microbiome in Seagrass Meadows: Patterns of Pathogen Prevalence. ISBW15 2024 World Seagrass Conference. Naples, Italy. June 17-21.
-
2023 How do seagrasses moderate bacterial pathogens? Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA. May 20-22.
-
2022 Nature-based countermeasures for marine water-borne pathogens. Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Emory University, Atlanta, USA. June 3-9.
-
2021 Dogs in the Himalaya: Management and risk of disease spillover to wildlife. Student Conference on Conservation Science, Bengaluru, India. September 27-30. Best Talk Award.
-
2020 Communicating Science in a Pandemic. Disease Ecology & Spillover, Guest Lecture. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. November 24.
-
2019 Distemper: A wildlife threat in Nepal’s Himalaya? National Geographic Explorers Festival, National Geographic Society, Washington DC, USA. 10-13 Jun.
-
2019 Village dogs in the Himalaya: Management and risk of disease spillover to wildlife. Student Conference for Conservation Science, Poster. Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. 26-28 Mar. Debby Ng, Scott Carver, Christopher N. Johnson.
-
2019 Village dogs in the Himalaya: Management and risk of disease spillover to wildlife. WildCRU Conservation Geopolitics Forum, Poster. Oxford University, Oxfordshire, UK. 19-22 Mar. Debby Ng, Scott Carver, Christopher N. Johnson.
-
2019 The relevance of local heroes for successful nature conservation. Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, Guest Lecture. James Cook University, Cairns, Australia. 7 Oct.
-
2019 Dogs and canine distemper in Annapurna Conservation Area. PechaKucha Night Kathmandu Vol 17, Presentation. Godavari Alumni Association, Kathmandu, Nepal. 25 Sep.
-
2019 Conservation in Nepal: Building partnerships for people and wildlife. College of Alice and Peter Tan, Guest Lecture. National University of Singapore. 22 Jan.
-
2018 Conservation in Nepal: Building partnerships for people and wildlife, Guest Lecture. National Institute of Education, Singapore. 26 Oct.
-
2017 Embracing wildlife: Conservation in Singapore and Nepal. Inspired by Values Speaker Series, Guest Lecture. Government of Singapore Investment Corporation. 29 Sept.
-
2016 Female education and nature conservation, Guest Lecture. Raffles Girls’ School, Singapore. 22 Jan.
-
2015 The Himalayan Mutt Project: Bringing modern and humane solutions to people and animals in the Himalaya, Guest Lecture. School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic. 11 Feb.
-
2015 The Himalayan Mutt Project: Bringing modern and humane solutions to people and animals in the Himalaya. Guest Lecture. Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. 28 Jan.
-
2014 The Himalayan Mutt Project: Bringing modern and humane solutions to people and animals in the Himalaya, Guest Lecture. Environment Week Talks, Nanyang Girls’ High School, Singapore. 22 Apr.
-
2012 Singapore’s Wild Coastlines: Mangroves to coral reefs, Guest Lecture. National Junior College, Singapore. 30 Oct.
-
2012 Utilising mass media as a tool for "preventative medicine". ActivAid Conference, Invited Seminar. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. 26 Aug.
-
2012 Marvels of Singapore’s urban marine life. Invited Seminar. Barclays Capital, Singapore. 2 Feb.
-
2011 Singapore’s Southern Haunt: How coral reefs cope with development, Public seminar. National Geographic Store, Singapore. 26 Nov.
-
2011 Life of my Sisters: Education amidst hardship and poverty, Guest Lecture. Ministry of Education, Singapore. 20 Apr. Debby Ng, Edwin Koo.
-
2010 Life of my Sisters: An Illustrated story about female education in Nepal, Public seminar. National Library, Singapore. 19 Nov.