It is not easy to put pen to paper and produce a piece that engages on intellectual and emotional fronts. This task becomes even more daunting when we consider the communication of science. How does one navigate past jargon and complexity whilst retaining interest? Can one communicate without oversimplifying or trivialising the science? The answer…
Author: blogscs
Learning how plants ‘drink’ water— A classroom activity
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore Another classroom activity I introduced to teachers on ‘How to make your class alive where students really learn’ in Jakarta on 9 May 2015 was about the vascular system in plants. This activity was organised as a competition – how many straws can one…
Learning about the human digestive system the fun way
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore During a workshop for teachers on ‘How to make your class alive where students really learn’ in Jakarta on 9 May 2015, I introduced a classroom activity for students to learn about the human digestive system. Often students learn from textbook the anatomy of…
A mission-driven experience
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore Science Centre Singapore was invited to take part in a STEAM Education Conference by The Ganesha83 ITB Foundation. The conference was held at the Office of the Ministry of Education and Culture in Jakarta on 9 May 2015. I gave a talk on ‘The…
The charisma of numbers
Yen is a PR professional at Science Centre Singapore. Was it by chance that I attended the Science and Engineering in the world’s fastest car talk last Saturday, and then go home to watch Superman Returns on television? I didn’t realise I kept seeing Wing Commander Andy Green in that Superman outfit that evening! Me and…
More than meets the eyes
Yen is a PR professional at Science Centre Singapore. My own favourite corner of the entire Science Centre Singapore is definitely the Mind’s Eye. Because to me, the eyes don’t see everything. Even if they do, our mind may not interpret everything correctly. And then again, the world is how we made it out to be so…
Taking Science Outside The Classroom
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore Many students when asked about their perception of science often associate it with “Formulae”, “Equations”, “Exams”, “Experiments”, “Chemistry / Biology / Physics”. Undoubtedly, many of you would have probably thought the same if you were asked the question. I lament the fact that the…
35 Years of Science Centre Singapore
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore As the Science Centre Singapore celebrates its 35th year, we look back with fond memories and count the blessing of having inspired generations of Singaporeans and guests through the engaging world of science. Together with the Omni-Theatre and Snow City, the Centre has seen almost…
Breakthrough in leukemia treatment using T cell gene therapy
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore A breakthrough study was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine and Science Translational Medicine which described the first demonstration of the use of gene transfer therapy to create T cells aimed at killing leukemia cancerous cells. T cells are immune cells…
Uniquely You, Uniquely Beautiful
“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it”. — Confucius Another oft heard of phrase connects beauty and the act of appreciation; “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. It is never easy to define beauty, or even claim that one has beheld ideal beauty; that one true encapsulation of ethereal perfection. As…
Lessons from two Mynas
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore When I was an undergraduate student decades ago, I did a bird behaviour field survey comparing two species of myna, the Common or Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) and the Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus), also known as the White-vented Myna or the Buffalo Myna. The…
The brave new world at the molecular level: Synthetic Biology
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore Last week I received an email from a teacher asking me to check out a competition called iGEM. I went to the website and found this descriptor: The International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) is the premiere undergraduate Synthetic Biology competition. Student teams are given…
Heart and Gut
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore The heart is a vital organ in our body, serving as a mechanical pump to circulate blood to all body parts. It is also like an exchange depot for oxygenated and deoxygenated blood circulation to and from the lungs, without mixing the flows. The…
Love is…
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore It’s the season, or rather, day of cherubic angels, love bands, flowers, and spontaneous, elaborate declarations of affection. Everywhere one turns, the intangible becomes really evident on this one day we all celebrate either willingly, or through some form of compulsion! Romantic love has…
What do Rabbits teach us?
Written by A/Prof Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore As we usher in the Year of the Rabbit, and this being my first blog article, my ‘teacher-at-heart’ nature makes me ask this question: “what can we learn from the rabbits?” I think one lesson we learn from them is not to judge by…