Kong Man Jing (Biogirl MJ) inspires young audiences to care about science, nature and sustainability

This International Women’s Day, five women show us how everyday actions reshape workplaces, communities and cultures to impact lives around them. This series is created in partnership with Uniqlo.

Man Jing’s outfit: Premium Linen Long Sleeve Shirt, and Linen Blend Tiered Dress, Uniqlo

No two days are exactly the same for Kong Man Jing, a content creator better known as Biogirl MJ on her science, nature and sustainability channel, Just Keep Thinking. The former science teacher spends her time primarily dissecting complex issues surrounding marine conservation and climate change.

In a week, Man Jing divides her time between Just Keep Thinking’s four main pillars: online media, programming, design and animation, and special projects. The 31-year-old has her hand in multiple pots, from generating ideas, to writing scripts, filming and editing with a team for Youtube and social media. She also often gives assembly talks in a school, and conducts workshops or nature-guided walks for her clients.

Most recently, she spent six days at sea on a hackathon with Ocean Xplorer, a research and exploration vessel which doubles as a floating laboratory and media production studio. As a digital creator, her role there was to communicate ocean science in a way that is engaging and effective for the general public.

“When I first started Just Keep Thinking, I just wanted to share knowledge in a fun manner,” Man Jing says. She launched the channel in 2019 with co-founder Raye Ng, and never expected it to take off and command its current global audience reach of over 700,000 people.

“Now, it’s evolved into a platform that inspires and sparks curiosity,” she shares.

Man Jing realised her impact a year after Just Keep Thinking kicked off, when Naomi, a Primary 5 student, sent her a message to say that thanks to her, she started a nature club in her primary school.

“It’s a privilege to have a voice and platform that people listen to. It reminds me that I have a responsibility not to say things lightly, and that everything should be science-backed,” she continues.

Her wish for Just Keep Thinking is to scale up and move to a larger space – or even their own building – to create a bigger impact in the future.

“We could possibly have our own studio in it, and a space to host people for programmes and workshops,” she remarks. “I want to be able to give back and fund youth-led initiatives on wildlife and sustainability projects.”

Man Jing, who names the great primatologist Jane Goodall as her inspiration, wants to be remembered for nurturing a love for science, especially in children. “I think it’ll be very nice if the younger generation think back fondly of me as a character who taught them to love science – just like how we think about our own childhood heroes on television.”

ART DIRECTION Adeline Eng & Ray Ticsay
STYLING Bryan Goh
HAIR Wong Ying Cui
MAKEUP Lasalle Lee
COORDINATION Sophie Hong & Cheryl Chan