Researchers and Team Members
NTU-NIE Researchers
Principal Investigator
Dr Michael Chia
Professor Michael Chia, a tenured Professor of Pediatric Exercise Science at NIE, NTU, Singapore, advocates for transforming obesogenic lifestyles into energetic ones in early childhood through collective efforts.
He highlights the transformative power of nature play, which fosters creativity, resilience, and environmental connection. For urban children, it offers a break from screens and indoor routines, nurturing life skills, emotional well-being, and a sense of wonder. This approach, he believes, cultivates resilient individuals who, like trees, provide shade and bear fruit for society.
Professor Chia fondly recalls his childhood outdoor adventures—swimming in canals, fishing for eels, biking down slopes, and playing soccer in the rain. He reflects, “In the rain, we found joy. In the mud, camaraderie. In the struggle, strength. Life is about dancing in the rain!” His later experiences, such as leading a youth delegation to Hong Kong and sailing to the Philippines, where they faced pirates and storms, taught him the indomitable human spirit. “No matter how fierce the storm,” he says, “the ships come out sailing”
Professor Chia believes life is meant to be lived in nature’s boundless embrace, where the soul breathes, the mind wanders, and the heart rediscovers its rhythm. Nature, he emphasizes, nurtures and nourishes, and it is our duty to respect, cherish, and protect it.
His philosophy underscores the importance of outdoor experiences in building resilience, fostering connections, and nurturing well-being, urging society to prioritize nature play for future generations.
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr Chung Ho Jin
Dr Chung is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS), National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
As a child, he was always drawn to outdoor activities - riding bicycles, sledding during the winter, playing tag, hide and seek, sliding down playgrounds, and enjoying the simple pleasures of exploring nature with friends. These experiences shaped who he is today and fostered a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors. Reflecting on his own childhood, he feels incredibly fortunate to now be researching how nature and outdoor play can enrich the lives of children, our future generation.
As the Co-PI for the Leave No Child Indoors project, he is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge in this area. He hopes that our research will help shape policies that will promote healthier, more fulfilling lifestyles for children, encouraging them to connect with nature and embrace outdoor activities in a world that is becoming increasingly digital.
Through this project, he hopes to not only contribute valuable research but also inspire others to recognise the importance of childhood experiences in shaping lifelong well-being.
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr Tommy Ng
Dr Tommy is a faculty member at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS), National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
He lives an active lifestyle with a particular love for running, trekking, and skiing. These pursuits are a reflection of his love and appreciation for the great outdoors. The intricate relationship between the natural elements and human wellness is undeniable.
Nature has a profound impact on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being, offering a sanctuary for rejuvenation and growth.
When he laces up his running shoes and hits the trails, the fresh air fills his lungs, and he feels his whole-being invigorated. Trekking through rugged terrain or gliding down snow-covered slopes, he relishes the sense of awe in the face of nature's grandeur, reminding him of his place in the larger ecosystem.
The serendipity of the great outdoors often leads us to discover things about ourselves or the world that were previously unknown.
Let us embrace it, respect it, and treasure it.
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr Jernice Tan
Dr Jernice serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS), National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Her passion for the field is evident in her research interests and dedication to child development.
Her driving force behind the “Leave No Child Indoors” project is her deep interest in exploring how play environments, particularly outdoor spaces, impact children's physical development, especially gross motor skills. Working with the team, she assesses the impact of a nature-inspired intervention program, with a specific focus on how it supports the physical and socio-emotional growth of children from under-resourced families in Singapore.
Her energetic spirit is also reflected in her personal preferences. She favors cold climates, fast-paced activities, and sunny weather. Her love for the sea and nature is clear as sea sports are a source of joy and reinforce her connection to her favored environments.
It is this appreciation for the outdoors that drives her aspiration for every child to experience its wonders. For her, the "Leave No Child Indoors" project is not just a study, but a meaningful endeavor deeply rooted in her personal values.
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr Hanin Binte Hussain
Dr Hanin is a senior lecturer at the Psychology and Child & Human Development department. She specializes in early childhood education and has a keen interest in outdoor learning and physically active play for young children.
She also enjoys designing programmes and curricula for a range of contexts. In her previous lives, she was a PE teacher in Singapore and an early childhood teacher in New Zealand.
Hanin enjoys the outdoors and is grateful to have had many outdoor experiences. In her childhood, she and her friends used to spend a lot of time outdoors, playing football and softball, chasing kites, catching guppies and exploring ‘haunted houses’.
As a student at NTU in the 1980s, she used to run on campus and at the Chua Chu Kang cemetery. When she became a PE teacher, she led students for hikes to various places, including Pulau Ubin. Later, Hanin lived in New Zealand where she and her family went camping, hiking and canoeing in the country’s bountiful nature.
Nowadays, her time in nature is spent in Punggol where she runs, walks or does yoga in the neighbourhood parks or along the Park Connectors every morning.
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr Fannie Khng Kiat Hui
Dr Fannie Khng is co-Deputy Centre Director and Senior Education Research Scientist at the Centre for Research in Child Development (CRCD), National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
Her research focuses on executive functions and self-regulation, including their development and role in the cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical well-being of children and adolescents. With a particular interest in holistic, biopsychosocial models of well-being and development, her research includes examining the quality of provision of motor-skill-related spaces and activities in early childhood education classrooms and early fine and gross motor skill development; the interplay between early cognitive and motor skills in early school readiness and later cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical well-being; and mind-body interventions that enhance executive functioning, self-regulation and well-being in children, such as breathing-, movement- and mindfulness-based activities.
In her younger days, Dr Khng was an avid trail cyclist. She continues seeking to learn outdoors, especially on her travels abroad, like exploring the Angkor Wat inner circuit by riding the backtrails on a mountain bike, or chasing down dinosaur tracks in the (recently) coastal cliffs in Portugal, and (upcoming) mountain ridges in Colorado.
Research Fellow & Team Member
Dr Li Dan
Dr Li Dan is a research fellow at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS), National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
Her research focuses on promoting the healthy development of preschool children, with a special interest in how nature and outdoor play can support their physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Personally, Dan enjoys spending time outdoors and appreciates the simple yet profound connection between nature and well-being. She has participated in marathons and loves hiking as a way to challenge herself and stay active. For her, being in beautiful natural surroundings — closing her eyes to feel the breeze, soaking in the sunshine — is a way to relax, recharge, and reconnect with herself.
Through the "Leave No Child Indoors" project, Dan hopes to inspire more opportunities for children to experience the joy and benefits of nature, encouraging healthier and happier childhoods. She believes that even simple outdoor moments — like feeling the sun or walking among trees — can bring comfort, strength, and a sense of wonder to children growing up in an increasingly digital world.
PhD Scholar & Team Member
Ms Low Seow Ting
Ms Seow Ting is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS), National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
An avid outdoor enthusiast, Seow Ting believes in the profound impact that spending time outdoors has on well-being, resilience, and perspective. Her love for exploration has taken her to breathtaking landscapes, particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, where she has embarked on exhilarating hikes through rugged terrains and towering peaks. From traversing the serene valleys and boglands of the Wicklow Mountains to conquering Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK, and wandering through the enchanting glens of the Isle of Skye, she finds solace and inspiration in the raw beauty of the natural world.
For Seow Ting, the outdoors is more than just an escape – it is a space for reflection, renewal, and personal growth. She values the lessons nature teaches her: resilience in the face of tough trails, patience through changing weather, joy of reaching new heights and the humility that comes with standing before vast, untamed landscapes.
Whether she is immersed in her academic work or reaching new heights on a mountain, she faces each challenge with a spirit of determination and a thirst for discovery. She looks forward to many more adventures, where each hike and journey adds to her ongoing passion for the natural world.
Our Collaborators
Our collaborators from Forest School Singapore (FSS)
Principal of FSS
Mr Darren Quek
Darren is the Principal of Forest School Singapore (FSS) and a trailblazer for the Forest School movement in Singapore. He started the first Forest School in Singapore in 2016, after learning from and understudying his mentor Atsuko sensei, a Forest Kindergarten practitioner and parent in Japan. He earned his Forest School Level 3 Practitioner Certification through time spent in Manchester and Sheffield undergoing training and assessments.
He has spent 17 years in the field of education. Before Forest School, Darren was the Head of Physical Development for Nurture Education Group managing the sports program for 30 staff, 12 centres and 1000 over children. He also spent 2 years understudying an Occupational Therapist with 20 years experience in working with Special Needs children. All the experience and training led him to the realisation of the importance of community and Nature in our children’s education.
Darren planted seeds and inspired the creation of many Nature-based programs and Forest School in Singapore and Internationally. He encourages them to go out to start their own establishment. Darren enjoys actively providing his advisory on how to raise the value of their work, and find that balance of the Forest School ways.
Darren is also currently the Board of Director of 3pumpkins (Tak Takut Kids Club), a charity organisation who focus on attending to the issues of children in the rental flat area in Boon Lay. He is also serving as a Grassroot Leader with the Telok Blangah Citizen Consultative Committee, and an Executive Committee member of the Fen Yang Guo Clan Association.
Master Coach at FSS
Ms Genevieve Ong
Genevieve is a master coach at Forest School Singapore (FSS). She credits her time in FSS for her development of an enduring appreciation of the outdoors in tropical Singapore. She discovered Forest School when it was time to re-venture into the world after the global pandemic.
She spent over 1000 hours in forest school sessions and training sessions with Forest School Singapore. In her pre-FSS-life, being outdoors in Singapore was not a priority for her. It was the power of the community and the ways of being in Nature that FSS showed her that kept her going.
As a person who used to have debilitating social anxiety, she is proof of what committing to the practice of FSS ways can do for the revealing and reintegration of self.
She continues her Forest School Practice as a facilitator and co-regulator with The Facilitator’s Project, supporting beneficiaries in transition facilities on monthly Forest Walks designed to build resilience, stamina and achieve greater self-regulation.
Her FS practice was material in her founding of The Stranger Space, an experimental third place on Pearl’s Hill Terrace.
The Stranger Space is where she applies FSS ways in an indoor setting with adults, co-managing the shared space within a collective. Where over 200 initiatives/activities (and counting) have taken place since May 2024.
She dreams to “play” for the “rest” of her life; and is proof of how to nudge one’s way from hikikomori-ness to community builder, one stretch zone at a time
Our International Collaborators
Our collaborators from around the world! 🌍
Consultant and Finland Collaborator
Dr Arja Sääkslahti
Dr Arja Sääkslahti is an associate professor in Sport Pedagogy at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences in University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
Her research interests are focused on young children’s physical activity, motor development, health and well-being. Her large variation of publications gathers scientific highly valued articles to material targeted to large audience. She has been active in different national working groups in Finland, such as National physical education curriculum for basic education and national physical activity recommendations for preschool-aged and school-aged children during last 20 years. Bringing the research results to the stakeholders is needed to make a change in society.
She is passionate to protect children’s outdoor play in different environments, such as nature and aquatics. Her longitudinal research projects have shown the power of natural environment to support children’s holistic development. She has also long experience among intervention studies and therefore, she is collaborator and consultant in Leave No Child Indoors -project.
Japan Collaborator
Dr Kim Hyunshik
Dr Kim, a Professor at the Department of Exercise Education for Children at Sendai University (SU) in Japan, conducts research on various aspects of outdoor play, ranging from structured physical activities to unstructured, creative interactions with nature. His work examines how these experiences contribute to positive developmental outcomes in children, including physical fitness, health-related quality of life, and mental well-being.
He is engaged in the Leave No Child Indoors project, an initiative that highlights the critical need to provide children with opportunities to explore and connect with the natural world. This project not only advocates for greater access to outdoor environments but also seeks to inform policy and educational practices that promote child well-being.
By deepening the understanding of how environmental factors shape child development, he strives to develop strategies that encourage a balanced and active lifestyle for future generations.
Japan Collaborator
Dr Ma Jiameng
Dr Ma is a faculty member in the Department of Sports Science at Sendai University.
Her research focuses on lifespan physical activity promotion, encompassing studies from early childhood to older adulthood, with a core mission to advance holistic health and well-being across generations.
She emphasizes that outdoor play and nature engagement during early childhood are critical for fostering holistic development, including physical health, cognitive growth, and socio-emotional skills. The project emphasizes how unstructured outdoor activities enhance motor coordination, creativity, and resilience, while simultaneously reducing stress and screen-time dependency. Furthermore, her work demonstrates that exposure to natural environments cultivates environmental stewardship and sensory awareness, thereby laying the foundation for lifelong well-being.
China Collaborator
Dr Li Xianxiong
Dr Li Xianxiong is a Professor at the School of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, China. His academic work centers on the role of physical activity in promoting health and development during early childhood, with an emphasis on integrating physical education into broader educational and caregiving systems.
With a strong background in health promotion and educational reform, Dr Li explores how culturally responsive physical activity models can be implemented within kindergartens, families, and communities. His research addresses the practical challenges of promoting active behaviors among young children in rapidly changing social environments, particularly in urban and rural China.
He is particularly interested in how early movement experiences can support foundational learning, emotional regulation, and social adaptability. Rather than focusing solely on structured activity, Dr Li underscores the importance of developing context-sensitive approaches that consider caregivers’ roles, school environments, and the child’s lived experience.
As part of the Leave No Child Indoors project, he contributes a local perspective rooted in Chinese educational contexts, aiming to build sustainable systems that connect health promotion with early childhood education. His work not only informs national strategies for active child development, but also contributes to international dialogues on equitable and holistic approaches to early years physical activity.
China Collaborator
Dr Mallikarjuna Korivi
Dr Mallikarjuna Korivi is a Professor in the College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China. Dr Korivi’s research is about the health promotional effects of physical activity among adults and children. Through his research, Dr Korivi demonstrated ‘physical activity’ as a non-pharmacological strategy to treat metabolic diseases. He further emphasized the importance of motor competence in early childhood. Development of fundamental motor skills in children is relied on the season of birth, gender or parenting type (parents or grandparents).
Dr Korivi believes that modern-day lifestyle and ease-access to gadgets, letting children to be physically inactive and behave sedentary. In addition, lack of motivation from their caregivers or teachers, and inadequate recreational environment around them also increasing sedentary behavior among children.
The project, Leave No Child Indoors (LNCI) can bring awareness among caregivers and teachers on the need of outdoor activity for proper development of children’s motor skills and cognitive function. Either unstructured play or structured play in outdoors, could increase motivation in children to engage in physical activities. The LNCI could help children with a greater motor competence and overall quality of life, which may proceed to their later adulthood life.
China Collaborator
Dr Ye Weibing
Dr Ye Weibing is from the College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, China. Dr Ye focuses on children's motor skills and physical activity. His research showed children's motor skills development is influenced by some key factors, including birth season of a child, gender and caregiving people.
Dr Ye strongly advocates limiting of daily screen time and decreasing of indoor sedentary time for children. He wishes quality outdoor experiences, including exploring green spaces, playing out with peers and physical activity largely contribute to improve motor competence in children. Through initiatives like Leave No Child Indoors (LNCI), children could explore nature and natural spaces, and develop their physical and psychological skills, which are important as they grow.
Egypt Collaborator
Dr Khaled Abdelkarem
Dr Khaled Abdelkarem is a faculty member in the Department of Training Science and Kinesiology at the Faculty of Sports Science at Assiut University, Egypt.
His research focuses on exercises based in water to enhance physical fitness for kids, the elderly and disabled people. And research for support survival and anti-drowning for people.
He believes in the importance of the Leave No Child Indoors project (LNCI) and its various beneficial effects through physical exercise, emotional and social skills, rich sensory sensations, overall well-being and mental health, the relationship between the environment, culture, and nature, and exploring and learning how to manage their emotions in a safe setting, which promotes resilience and empathy for others. As Exposure to a range of natural environments helps children develop well-rounded perspectives and think beyond their immediate surroundings.
Spain Collaborator
Dr Florentino Huertas Olmedo
Dr Florentino Huertas Olmedo is Professor at the Faculty of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, at Universidad Católica de Valencia (UCV) in Spain.
His research primarily focuses on the modulation of attention (alertness, spatial orienting, and executive control) influenced by physical activity and exercise variables, including the effects of physical or psychological fatigue, the type of practice (open vs. closed sports), stimulants, and the acute versus habitual effects of exercise on cognition.
In addition, Dr Huertas has investigated the impact of training, relative age, maturation, and both chronological and maturational age on various physical, cognitive, and technical-tactical variables in young athletes. His work offers valuable insights into how these factors affect athletic performance and development, particularly in youth sports.
Dr Huertas´s expertise in the cognitive and physical development of children, combined with his research on how exercise influences cognitive function, aligns closely with the goals of the LNCI project.
Spain Collaborator
Dr Ana Pablos Monzó
Dr Ana is a Professor in the Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at Universidad Católica de Valencia (UCV) in Spain. Her research is dedicated to promoting healthy habits among children and adolescents. Her work explores how different environments and activities can positively impact both the physical and mental well-being of younger generations.
From encouraging active lifestyles to mitigating the risks associated with sedentary behaviors, her research aims to identify ways to create healthier environments and foster long-term wellness.
In addition to her research, Dr Ana teaches Physical Activity in the Natural Environment and is a strong advocate for outdoor play. She views outdoor play not merely as recreation, but as a fundamental component of children’s overall development. It nurtures creativity, cooperation, and resilience, while also serving as an effective tool to reduce anxiety and stress.
Through her work, Dr Ana emphasizes that outdoor play is a crucial means of cultivating healthy habits that can benefit children and adolescents throughout their lives.
Dr Ana is also a collaborator in the Leave No Child Indoors project. She aims to provide children with opportunities to engage with the natural environment as a space for learning and physical and emotional growth. She passionately believes that outdoor play is far more than just fun—it is an essential tool for fostering healthy habits and ensuring a fulfilling life for future generations.
Brunei Collaborator
Dr Hj Muhammad Assyafie Hanif bin Abdul Rahman
Dr Hanif Abdul Rahman is an Assistant Professor at the PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He was a postdoctoral fellow for predictive analytics at the University of Michigan (2021–2022) and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the National University of Singapore School of Public Health, where he investigates the links between planetary health, global disease burden, and SDG progress.
Dr Hanif’s current research focuses strongly on physical activity and physical education as pathways to better health. He serves as co-principal investigator for the ASEAN-wide IPAPE project, promoting active lifestyles through schools, and is part of the Leave No Child Indoors initiative led by Prof. Michael Chia. His work integrates advanced analytics with real-world applications to create evidence-based strategies that improve wellbeing and quality of life across populations.
Malaysia Collaborator
Syaza Soraya Binti Sauli
Born and raised in a small Malaysian village, Syaza’s childhood was filled with trees, beaches, and open skies, experiences that shaped her lifelong belief that we protect what we love. Now a PhD Candidate at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, she investigates how nature-based learning can foster children’s connection with the natural world, supporting holistic development, curiosity, and environmental awareness from an early age. Her work focuses on integrating nature-rich experiences into early childhood education through innovative frameworks like the Alam to Nurture module.
She is a strong advocate of the Leave No Child Indoors (LNCI) project, which emphasises the importance of giving all children access to safe, outdoor learning environments. Through her “Green vs Screen” initiative and professional training at nature-based preschools in the USA and Australia, she explores strategies to engage children in meaningful, hands-on experiences that encourage exploration, creativity, and learning in nature.
By connecting Malaysian preschool education with international best practices in outdoor and nature-based learning, Syaza champions joyful, sustainable, and developmentally enriching experiences, helping children flourish in mind, body, and heart while cultivating a lifelong love and respect for the natural world!