Profile

Dr. Ng Chin Soon Lionel

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Dr. Ng Chin Soon Lionel

RESEARCH FELLOW

lionelng@nus.edu.sg

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Lionel's research focuses on identifying priority species and developing innovative approaches to accelerate the recovery of structure and ecosystem functioning in degraded coral reefs and urbanised marine environments. His work examines key biological traits across diverse reef organisms to better understand their roles in ecosystem rehabilitation and improve the effectiveness of restoration strategies.

As a member of Singapore's team in the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, Lionel contributes toward long-term reef monitoring that supports regional assessments and strengthens our understanding and management of coral reefs across East Asia. He is also a volunteer scientist with Our Singapore Reefs, where he participates in public outreach initiatives that promote marine biodiversity awareness, conservation, and community engagement.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore (2021)
  • M.Sc. in Environmental Management, National University of Singapore (2015)
  • B.Sc. (Hons) in Life Sciences, National University of Singapore (2008)

Research Interests

  • Coral reef ecology
  • Reef restoration
  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Environmental management

Current Projects

  • 2025 – 2028: Site-specific restoration of degraded light-limited reef areas in Singapore: novel solutions and the next frontier
  • 2025 – 2026: Enhancing biodiversity value of a tropical marina with non-scleractinians
  • 2024 – 2034: The 100k Corals Initiative

Selected Publications

  1. Ng CSL, Ow Yong WL, Khaw JCH, Tanzil JTI. 2026. Farming corals vertically – a modularised approach to increase yield in space-constrained aquarium facilities. Aquaculture, 613(1):743390
  2. Ng CSL, Chan YKS, Poquita-Du RC, Tun K, Huang D. 2025. Conservation Status of Corals in Singapore. In: Chou LM, Huang D (eds.) Coral Reefs of Singapore's Urbanised Sea. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 23. Springer, Singapore
  3. Ng CSL, Sam SQ, Kikuzawa YP, Toh TC, Chou LM. 2024. Coral reef ecosystem enhancement in Singapore’s highly urbanized port. In: Ting DSK, Stagner JA (eds.), Reclaiming Eden: Responsible Living, Engineering, and Architectures. Singapore: Jenny Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd., pp. 251–278.
  4. Ng CSL, Toh TC, Toh KB, Sam SQ, Kikuzawa YP, Chou LM, Huang D. 2023. Enhancing reef restoration by assessing stakeholder knowledge, attitudes, and preferences. Restoration Ecology e13854
  5. Ng CSL, Chan YKS, Nhung NTH, Kikuzawa YP, Sam SQ, Toh TC, Mock AYJ, Chou LM, Huang D. 2021. Coral community composition and carbonate production in an urbanized seascape. Marine Environmental Research 168: 105322
  6. Ng CSL, Huang D, Toh KB, Sam SQ, Kikuzawa YP, Toh TC, Taira D, Chan YKS, Hung LZT, Sim WT, Rashid AR, Afiq-Rosli L, Ng NK, Chou LM. 2020. Responses of urban reef corals during the 2016 mass bleaching event. Marine Pollution Bulletin 154: 111111
  7. Ng CSL, Lim JX, Sam SQ, Kikuzawa YP, Toh TC, Wee TW, Sim WT, Ng NK, Huang D, Chou LM. 2019. Variability in skeletal bulk densities of common hard corals in Southeast Asia. Coral Reefs 38: 1133–1143
  8. Ng CSL, Jain SS, Nguyen NTH, Sam SQ, Kikuzawa YP, Chou LM, Huang D. 2019. New genus and species record of reef coral Micromussa amakusensis in the southern South China Sea. Marine Biodiversity Records 12:17
  9. Ng CSL, Chou LM. 2017. Coral reef restoration in Singapore – Past, present and future. In: Lye LH, Neo H, Kondepudi S, Yew WS, Sng JGK (eds) Sustainability Matters: Environmental Management in the Anthropocene. World Scientific. Pp. 3-23.
  10. Ng CSL, Toh TC, Chou LM. 2017. Artificial reefs as a reef restoration strategy in sediment-impacted environments: Insights from long-term monitoring. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 27(5): 976-985.

More at: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jLoo9bYAAAAJ&hl=en