THE ECOLOGY OF RESILIENCE: FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Nature and Mindful Awareness Study Book Launch and Wee Sin Tho Lecture
This event was held on Saturday, 24 October 2020 at the Hort Park, and was attended by esteemed guests as well as specially invited guests via Zoom (live streaming). The emcee Ms Angelia Sia, Deputy Director of the Centre for Urban Greenery & Ecology at National Parks Board, engaged the audience with a short and sweet speech, and also introduced MSC Centre Director, Associate Prof John Wong, who delivered the welcome address. Associate Prof Wong is the Lin Jo Yan and Yeo Boon Khim Professor in Mental Health and Neuroscience.
Welcome Address
Keynote speaker Professor Kua Ee Heok, the Tan Geok Yin Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience, presented the Wee Sin Tho lecture in remembrance of the late Mr Wee Sin Tho, who was a pillar of inspiration and a driver of Mind Science Centre’s journey in its earlier years. In honour of Mr Wee, a memorial fund was set up to support the mission to build emotional resilience and cognitive performance in the community, through research and community programmes.
Keynote Wee Sin Tho Lecture, Book Launch and Presentation of book to Minister Desmond Lee, by Mrs Teo Poh Yim, Patron, Mind Science Centre
The Nature and Mindful Awareness Study is a study that seeks to enhance cognition and mental well-being of seniors through mindful walking in the forest. The 10-week pilot study which involved 22 seniors on NaMAS was successfully completed with positive results, and during the study duration, the seniors met up every Saturday morning for a walk through the Singapore Botanic Garden rainforest. For two hours, seniors participated in mindful walking to learn about botany, trees and plants, and each session concluded with a 30-minute health reflection discussion. They also continued their group discussions post-walk via social platforms. The findings of these discussions have been employed in a qualitative assessment on physical, mental, and social health for the study.
Professor Kua also launched a book on the Nature and Mindful Awareness Study (NaMAS). Titled “Nature. Health. Happiness.”, the book by Professor Kua and various experienced collaborators talks about Mindful Walking, Therapeutic Gardens, the Science of Nature-based programmes, and more. The book is available at major bookstores such as Popular and Kinokuniya, at $38++.
The second part of the lecture included experienced panellists Professor Vincent Chong and Mrs Wee Geok Hua who shared interesting insights on Therapeutic Gardens and Mindful Walking. Both panelists have many years of experience and it was certainly an engaging and rewarding sharing session. Mrs Wee Geok Hua’s segment also included a short mindfulness session, in which viewers could close their eyes, breathe, and follow along the guided session.
Therapeutic Gardens by Prof Vincent Chong
Mindful Walking by Mrs Wee Geok Hua
The sharing concluded with a Q&A session with panelists Prof Vincent Chong, Mrs Wee, Prof Kua, and chaired by Associate Prof John Wong.
Mind Science Centre has shared the videos for educational purposes, in line with our goals to share knowledge and benefit the community. We hope you enjoyed this webinar, and we look forward to seeing you at the next webinar on 7 Nov.