20 Jul, 2013

Singapore Science Festival 2013 Opens Bigger and Better

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Singapore, July 19, 2013 – (ACN Newswire) – The Singapore Science Festival 2013 kicks off today with the launch of X-periment!, a weekend science carnival held from July 19th to July 21st, by Guest-of-Honour Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) at the Central Atrium in Marina Square.

The Festival, co-sponsored by A*STAR and Science Centre Singapore with marketing partner Cityneon, brings together close to 70 exciting events, activities, and exhibitions island wide, from July 19th to August 4th, featuring world-class speakers and science performers from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. Taglined, ‘Science is Fun’, the nation’s largest annual science event collectively celebrates and showcases science in an attractive, experiential, and relevant manner to everyday life.

X-PERIMENT!

This year, X-periment! is headlined by internationally renowned science entertainer, Dr Ken Farquhar, who will be performing his ‘Entertaining Science Circus Show’ that demonstrates the science behind some of the common circus feats performed by acrobats across the world.

“The Singapore Science Festival is an eagerly anticipated event on our national calendar. This year’s festival is bigger and better and promises to demonstrate how science can be fun through the wide range of events, activities, and exhibitions lined up in the upcoming weeks, including crowd favourites like X-periment!, STAR Lecture, and the Singapore Mini Maker Faire,” said Associate Professor (A/P) Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore.

Visitors at X-periment! will also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, meet local scientists, and witness up close the innovations created by A*STAR’s research institutes, local universities, and polytechnics. Some of these include printable solar cell batteries from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and a giant robotic snake that can mimic real snakes in its movement from Nanyang Polytechnic.

“At X-periment!, visitors will discover the importance of scientific research to Singapore’s economy by witnessing first-hand some of the innovative discoveries that have been made in recent times and learn how they contribute to our society,” said Dr Lim Khiang Wee, Executive Director, A*STAR Graduate Academy. “The many events lined up this year were selected to underscore to visitors how science can be fun and relevant in everything we do.”

RETURNING CROWD FAVOURITES

Another returning favourite this year is the STAR Lecture, co-sponsored by Procter & Gamble, from July 29th to July 31st, which will take visitors on a journey of scientific discovery and inspiration. Targeted at school-going students between the ages of 13 and 18, the STAR Lecture draws from the Christmas Lectures approach of teaching science to youths in an engaging and relevant manner. This year, Dr Peter Wothers, Teaching Fellow at the University of Cambridge, will delve into the chemistry of the world around us – looking at three original Greek ‘elements’ of Air, Water, and Earth, through his show, ‘The Modern Alchemist’.

Celebrating the spirit of innovation and Do-It-Yourself crafts, the Singapore Mini Maker Faire, sponsored by Intel, will gather inventors, hobbyists, crafters, and artists from Singapore and abroad to demonstrate their projects, share their skills, conduct workshops, and even sell their work. Happening from July 27th to July 28th at *SCAPE Warehouse, this year’s event has two new forums lined up in the mix, one on 3D painting and another on the Maker Movement in Singapore. Some of the highlights visitors can look forward to include eco-friendly jewellery making, creating animated wall paintings, and automating home appliances and equipment from the single touch of a smart phone. Participants can also hop over to watch some interesting science busking at the Science Buskers Festival, also happening at *SCAPE Warehouse during the same period as the Singapore Mini Maker Faire.

“The festival continues to promote interaction between the scientific community and the general public. This is an important step in inspiring young Singaporeans to become passionate about science and subsequently pursue a career in it,” said Mr Lim Chuan Poh.

PARTNERING UP

This year’s Festival will be the biggest edition yet with over 50 partners from local attractions, education, and research industries teaming up to show how fun science can be; this marks a 20% increase in the number of participating partners from last year’s Festival.

Exploring the science of ancient burial practices in Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb exhibition at the ArtScience Museum, discovering the science behind roller coasters at the Universal Studios Singapore Physics(R) Programme in Resorts World Sentosa, and learning how over 8,000 animals are kept in the pink of health in Animal in the PinK! at the Wildlife Reserves Singapore are just some of the many partner events, activities, and exhibitions that are offered as part of the Festival.

“With many partners on board from various industries and offering such a diverse range of events, activities, and exhibitions, this year the festival will be bigger and better. We hope there will be something for everyone to enjoy and learn from. Science is all around us, and we hope by attending some of these events, visitors will be able to enjoy and appreciate that,” Prof Lim added.

More information about the Singapore Science Festival 2013 can be found on the Festival website ( http://www.sciencefest.sg ).