On 27 October 2023, Prof Maharaj Pandit, who is visiting NUS as a Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Professor, gave a public lecture entitled “Nativism in Ecology: A Xenophobic Metaphor?” An engaging tour de force of history, geology, geography, ecology and biodiversity, with particular focus on Singapore and Southeast Asia, the talk provoked the audience to ponder “if species’ geographic distribution is a natural phenomenon, is the native-alien debate, spurred by invasion biology, relevant or even necessary?”

On the economic and biodiversity fronts, Prof Pandit shared with the audience the 2023 findings of the United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) that the economic costs of invasive alien species are at more than $423 billion every year, while contributing to 60% of recorded plant and animal extinctions. This hits home the message that the issue of invasive species should be of concern to all of us.

Co-organised by Residential College 4, NUS College and Office of Alumni Relations, the lecture attracted students, faculty, staff and alumni.