Congratulations that you have completed this weeks' hectic schedule on Science Research Competitions. This is the first year that SST have actually submitted such a large number of student projects for competitions:
SYSF - 3 teams
EZSF - 4 teams
WZSSS - 7 teams
This email is to affirm your contributions to Science Research, which is one of the few key signature programmes in SST. I do not see this event as the end of your learning in Science Research but the beginning.
Some of you may be stressed out by the Interviews by the judges and might have felt horrible after the judging. But this is a necessary process to ensure that the research is subjected to a rigorous evaluation. The good thing is that you are still young and can learn from your mistakes.
I want to share with you my learning experiences in Science Research here:
When I was a Sec 3 student, I volunteered to carry out a Physics Research Project and it was eventually published in our School Science magazine. It was a lonely process but it satisfied my curiosity in Science at that time.
When I was an undergraduate student in the University, every week in the Laboratory was an exciting journey for me, as I got excited about the Practical Lessons that I had to go through. Instead of following the "cook-book" style of Practical work in the lab, I modified them significantly and applied additional "codiments" to them, making them taste "better" than usual. That was the satisfaction that I received from doing experiments.
During my University holidays, I spent almost all my time in the jungle, collecting insect and plant specimens while trying to create a map using GPS technologies. Conversations with the professor that I worked under was always on scientific issues. I could not find any other better experience than talking to the greatest expert in insects in Singapore. The dragonfly and damselfly specimens eventually got their way into the Raffles Museum and Lee Kong Chian Museum.
During these processes, I sharpen my observational, experimental and research writing skills. I also learnt that participating in research is not just an activity but it involves a community of learners.
If you are still keen to dabble in Science Research, I welcome you to join the
SINGAPORE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR
Do indicate to me if you are up for more Scientific challenges.
Thanks
HT
