Science Programmes: Science Research Programme (SRP)

Aim

The aim of the SRP is to provide selected first-year Junior College H2 and Year 5 Integrated Programmes science students who have demonstrated interest in and an aptitude for scientific research the opportunity to participate in research projects under the guidance of scientists and engineers from NUS and established research centres.

Objective

• To encourage students to undertake research projects in a scientific and technological community
• To promote an early appreciation of the content, methods, culture and ethos of research through immersion in the process of scientific inquiry
• To enable students to engage actively in research by carrying our substantial parts of the research independently and responsibly

Programme Description

• Mentorship Attachment

  The SRP commences with a 2-week fulltime attachment during the June break. Students work on research projects in Science, Medicine and Engineering under the guidance of mentors from NUS and established research centres. Fortnightly meetings resume from July onwards through October and January the following year for experimentation, data collection and analysis, and write-up of the research paper. Interactions between the faculty research mentor and student need not be limited to on-site lab visits as the student can regularly communicate the status of his/her project through e-mail or meetings. Flexibility is provided for experimentation and duration of data collection, specific to the nature of the research project.

• Science Research Congress

  SRPians can offer their research projects either as a H3 subject or as a form of enrichment. The H3-SRPians present their findings through an oral defence in Feb/Mar while the Enrichment-SRPians, a poster preserntation at the annual Research Congress in May. A panel of assessors/judges comprising faculty staff assess the oral defence/poster presentation. On the successful completion of the research project, certificates of participation in the SRP will be presented to the SRPians at the Congress.

• Admission Criteria

  Prior to admission in the SRP in early May, interested prospective students must apply to attend the Research Methods Module (RMM) to be conducted in Apr/May to acquire specific research skills and to have an exposure to the current R&D available in the research community.

  The shortlisting criteria for participation in the RMM include: (a) above-average performance in an Aptitude Test; (b) demonstrated interest in scientific research-related activities in Secondary School; and (c) JC/School Principal's recommendation.

  The RMM enables students to identify and match a self-selected research topic with that of the prospective faculty research mentor, to conduct background literature search and to formulate a viable research plan. RMM students with Research Plans certified by a prospective research mentor and acknowledged by a teacher will be admitted in the SRP.

  Of the annual intake of around 130, around 100 RMM students with approved research plan are admitted in the SRP each year.

• Organisation

  The SRP is a joint collaboration between the Science Faculty of the National University of Singapore and the Gifted Education Branch of the Ministry of Education. The SRP is sponsored by Shaw Foundation.

Target Group

First-year Junior College H2 and Year 5 Integrated Programmes science students

For more information on the SRP, please visit the National University of Singapore's SRP website.