The Singapore Science Festival 2013 kicks off on 19th July 2013 at Marina Square with the launch of X-periment! by Guest-of-Honour Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). This year’s Festival, running from July 19 to August 4, is co-sponsored by A*STAR and Science Centre Singapore, with marketing partner Cityneon and will bring together close to 70 exciting events, activities, and exhibitions islandwide. The festival will feature 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.
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.
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
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® 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.
For more information, check out Singapore Science Festival 2013 website and their Facebook Page!
For more information on the events listing during Singapore Science Festival 2013, here’s the link!
Information and details courtesy of Singapore Science Festival organisers, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Science Centre Singapore.