Singapore Association For The Advancement Of Science

SINGAPORE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

(SAAS)

A CONSTITUENT MEMBER

OF THE

SINGAPORE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

46th ANNUAL REPORT

2013 / 2014

1 CONTENTS

Officials of the Association

Membership

Representation on SNAS Council

Activities

Links with other Organisations

Acknowledgements

ADDRESS

Singapore Association for the Advancement of Science c/o Science Centre Singapore 15 Science Centre Road Singapore 609081

Tel : 64252500 Fax : 65659533

1. Officials of the Association

2 1.1 Council 2013 / 2014

President A/Prof Lim Tit Meng 2012-2015

Vice Presidents Dr Koh Lip Lin 2011-2014 Mrs Irene Tan 2013-2016 Prof Tham Seong Chee 2012-2015

Hon Secretary Mrs Anne Dhanaraj 2011-2014

Hon Asst Secretary Dr R Subramaniam 2011-2014

Hon Treasurer Dr Jonathan Loh 2013-2016

Members Dr Chew Tuan Chiong 2013-2016 Mr Heng Chye Kiou 2013-2016 Dr Kenneth Ban 2013 -2016 Dr Adrian Loo 2013 -2016 Mrs Carmee Lim 2010 -2013 Mrs Catherine Seah 2012 -2015

1.2 Honorary Auditors Ms Nora Teo and Ms Kamaria A Ghani

2. Membership

2.2 Corresponding Fellows Dr R S Bhathal Prof Rayson L Huang Mr Stephen Sim

2.3 Life Members Mr Lim Chin Hua Prof Bernard Tan

2.5 General Membership

The strength of the general membership stands at 20.

3. Representation on the SNAS Council

3.1 The Association continues to be a Constituent Member of the Singapore National Academy of Science.

3.2 The Association is represented on the Council of the Academy by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng and Mrs Anne Dhanaraj.

4 Activities

4.1 Young Scientist Badge Scheme

3 The Young Scientist Badge scheme, organised by the Association, the Science Teachers’ Association of Singapore, the Science Centre Singapore and the Singapore National Academy of Science, continued to grow in number of participants. A total of 12,341 badges were awarded to students from primary schools in 2013. A total of 1,030,982 badges have so far been awarded since the inception of the Scheme in 1982. On the Primary Science Badge scheme, the revamp of all the cards was completed and the revised cards were launched last year in January. The Badge Presentation Ceremony was held on 24 Sept 2013 at Science Centre. The GOH was Dr Ang Wai Hoong, who was the initiator of the Young Scientist Badge scheme.

The Science Centre was also approached by National Library Board (NLB) to record memories of people having participated in the Young Scientist Scheme under the Singapore Memory Project (SMP). NLB had received feedback that many Singaporeans had recorded memories of working on the badges scheme. The Young Scientist Badge Scheme is featured under the science of memory making in Section D of the book (Pg 91 to 107) where Dr Loh Yuin-Han, a scientist who had memories of working on the scheme in his primary school days and Dr Ang Wai Hoong, a pioneer of the scheme, shared more about the scheme. Details can be found at http://www.singaporememory.sg/showcases/50/contents

SMP also commissioned an e-book on schools’ crests and badges and includes a section on the Young Scientist badges programme. The e-book is now live on SMP online platforms at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php? fbid=725227474161765&set=a.114929371858248.15858.114924071858778&type=1&s tream_ref=10

4.2 Questa Club The Questa club aims to stimulate interest in science among secondary students and to encourage them to work independently in the areas of science and mathematics. In 2013, a total of 4,859 badges (3,912 Silver and 947 Gold) were awarded to students from secondary schools Since the inception of the Scheme in 1988, a total of 98,935 badges have been awarded. Last year Questa Club turned 25. Mr Martin Tan, Founder, Halogen Foundation, and recipient of the Singapore Youth Award 2013 officiated at the ceremony.

4.3 SAAS Award for best NIE Trainee Teacher 2013 On the SAAS Prizes given to the best trainee teachers in the sciences and mathematics graduating from the National Institute of Education, the names of the Best Trainee Teachers were: a) Phang Yan Fen (Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary), b) Srinivasan Shyam (Postgraduate Diploma in Education Secondary/Junior College) c) Ng Hong Kin (Postgraduate Diploma in Education Secondary/Junior College) were awarded the SAAS Prize. Each received a cash prize of $500.

5 Links with other organisations

5.1 The Association continued to be a member of the International Federation of Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (IFAAST). 4 5.2 The Association continued to maintain links with other constituent societies of SNAS, tertiary institutions and government agencies.

5.3 A number of Association members serve on Statutory Boards and Government Committees as well as on International Scientific Committees.

6. Acknowledgements

6.1 The Council expresses its thanks to the following for their strong assistance and co- operation in the organising of the Association’s activities.

Science Centre Singapore National Institute of Education, NTU National University of Singapore Ministry of Education Singapore National Academy of Science and its Constituent Societies All primary and secondary schools in Singapore.