18/19 Science Centre Board's
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Science Centre Board’s 18/19 ANNUAL REPORT Message From Group Of The Top Attractions > Chairman’s Review > KidsSTOP™ > Chief Executive’s Review > Snow City > Omni-Theatre > Butterflies Up-Close Our Team > Board Members > Management Team Community CONTENTS & Partners > Volunteer Programme Achievements > List of Sponsors > Sponsorship Fund & Awards > Distinguished Guests > Visitorship & Enrichment Programmes > Sub-Board Committees > List of Awards > Project Committees Exhibitions & Programmes Financial Statement > Exhibitions > Science Outreach & Competitions > Science Programmes > STEM Inc > CRADLΣ > Singapore Science Centre Global Pte Ltd CONTENTS Message From The Top > Science Centre Board’s Annual Report 18/19 MESSAGE FROM THE TOP > Chairman’s Review > Chief Executive’s Review < Contents MESSAGE FROM THE TOP Chairman’s Review > Science Centre Board’s Annual Report 18/19 Introduction This led to forging meaningful partnerships with companies and organisations getting together to offer 2018 has been a fruitful year for Science Centre Board: more drone-related events including the PS Invaders we played to our STEM strengths by harnessing new event held at Plaza Singapura which achieved the technologies that would impact people and society, Largest Indoor Drone Festival certification from the and incorporated the arts to make science relevant and Singapore Book of Records. This January, the Science approachable for the masses. These combined efforts Centre collaborated with the Institute of Technical CHAIRMAN’S aim to equip the future generation with a holistic set of Education to launch the inaugural Drone Technology knowledge and skills that would be highly applicable to for Urban Solutions Conference for industry players to a workforce involved in realising Singapore’s dream of share best practices. REVIEW becoming a Smart Nation. Moving forward, the Centre will continue to nurture the local drone ecosystem through the Drone Odyssey Technology at the Forefront initiative and in the process, advocate for greater awareness and interest in STEM fields. Drone technology has been a trending topic in recent years and with that focus in mind, the Centre rolled out Yet another form of technology took centre stage its Drone Odyssey initiative with several flagship events during the annual Singapore Science Festival (SSF) and fringe activities. These included the Drone Odyssey aptly themed “Hello World, A.I. You Ready?”. SSF 2018 Challenge, a first-of-its-kind primary and secondary level hosted a spectrum of events and activities to address drone competition, and the Asia Drone Championship, the increasing interest in artificial intelligence and the largest and most prestigious drone racing event to- the vast areas it can be applied to, from industries to date for local and regional adult pilots. even simply checking bus arrival timings. SSF 2018 also clinched a Silver at the PR Awards, under the Best Use of Technology category for its innovative integrated communications campaign. With eyes on the future, the Centre probed into the past to understand how modern technology evolved. Ms Tan Yen Yen Chairman Launched in October 2018, The Inventions of Ancient Science Centre Board Greece: Origins of Our Modern Technology exhibition < Contents MESSAGE FROM THE TOP Chief Executive’s Review > Science Centre Board’s Annual Report 18/19 brought to fore technologies invented and used by The same applies to the drama competitions the Centre Support and Appreciation Ancient Greeks that laid the foundation for modern co-organises every year – from Abbott Grow Show You engineering and technology. This travelling exhibition Can! for pre-schoolers, to the International Science We could not have achieved what we have without followed successful stints in Paris and Athens and Drama Competition for primary school students from the continuous support of partners, sponsors and the showcased inventions that spanned a multitude all over Southeast Asia - these events have harnessed community. Through partnerships and assistance, we of disciplines from automation to programming, the science knowledge and theatre background of have been able to create engaging content and build on timekeeping, astronomy, and music. participants, challenging their creativity as they attempt our existing STEM resources of exhibitions, education to merge the two disciplines together through their programmes and events to reach out and inspire all performances. who visit and interact with the Centre. I would like to thank the Board for their efforts and Inspiring a Smarter Nation contributions over the past year, and my gratitude towards exiting members Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Mr Lim Aside from new initiatives, the Centre continued to Eng Hwee, Ms Melissa Ow and the late Ms Tricia Huang. strengthen its legacy and collaborations with various I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome partners through events such as A*STAR Talent Search, our new members, Ms Yasmin Zahid, Ms Hwang Yu- National Robotics Competition and Sony Creative Ning, Professor Ng Huck Hui and Mr Chang Chee Pey Science Award. These annual school competitions that who joined us this year. Additionally, I would also like Meshing Arts and Science target students and participants from various age groups to sincerely thank the management and every Science encouraged them to explore, experiment and innovate. Centre Board colleague for their unwavering dedication As a frontrunner for STEM education, the Centre Several competitions also provided opportunities for and for working as one united team to help realise the constantly explores creative formats and platforms to winners to then proceed onto international platforms, Board’s mission. connect with the young. Through One Kind of Science, where they could showcase their work and further hone the first-ever children’s musical conceptualised by their skills. KidsSTOP™ and Singapore Kindness Movement, young children learn the importance of kindness and are exposed to simple scientific concepts through creative drama and play. The encouraging reception by the audience proved how complex topics in science could be effectively communicated through compelling and relatable storytelling. < Contents MESSAGE FROM THE TOP Chief Executive’s Review > Science Centre Board’s Annual Report 18/19 Introduction Staying relevant and attuned to the latest trends has also helped the Centre gain prominence. For Over the decades, Science Centre Singapore has example, there has been much discussion on efforts established itself not only as an informal learning to encourage more women to pursue STEM and STEM- CHIEF institution for science and STEM, but also as one of the related careers. The Centre supported the movement by leading voices of Science, Technology, Engineering and organising DiscovHER, a series of activities that featured Mathematics. In reinforcing its branding, the Centre achievements by female scientists and researchers, EXECUTIVE’S raised greater awareness of its mission and vision to the and which also coincided with the International Day of public, which led to more extensive co-creation with the Women and Girls in Science. community. The good work and our achievements have REVIEW also reached foreign shores, and the Centre welcomed Astronomy continues to be a popular topic both for a number of overseas media and influencers eager to our audiences as well as media. I am heartened to explore the Science Centre and its many offerings last share that the Centre is seen as an authority and we year. witnessed a surge in public and media enquiries to help explain the phenomena or even debunk myths about certain phenomena. From television features Voice of Authority and Beyond on mainstream media (Channel 8 feature and Channel News Asia documentary) to year-end meteor showers The Centre’s STEM initiatives are highly regarded by and the February 19 super moon, the Centre has been both local and foreign agencies and organisations, invited on many occasions to share our knowledge with many expressing their interest to understand and enlighten the public on the science behind these and learn more from an industry leader on how to astronomical events. structure and launch programmes and workshops that would advocate better STEM education. From learning journeys for foreign counterparts, to visits by delegates and interview requests from regional media, we have been able to build our reputation. This year alone, the Centre, STEM Inc and the STEM Applied Learning Programme were featured in two Japanese publications Assoc Prof Lim Tit Meng Chief Executive and covered by the Thai Public Broadcasting Service. Science Centre Board < Chairman’s Review MESSAGE FROM THE TOP Our Team > Science Centre Board’s Annual Report 18/19 Our exhibitions and initiatives have also been featured Matthew Gardiner to helm workshops and share their These efforts, coupled with quality experiences and through opinion pieces attributed to the Centre and key craft with students and wider audiences. The Centre engagement have propelled the Centre and its people spokespeople. From addressing the ageing population also received requests to share simple DIY activities that to greater heights. The Science Centre Board and its issue with our Dialogue with Time – Embrace Ageing families could bond over for the March school holidays, Group of Attractions will continue to strive towards exhibition, to healthy habits with the new health-related which were eventually published in The Straits Times. promoting interest,