4 November 2000

ADDRESS BY REAR-ADMIRAL TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE RE-LAUNCH OF THE SINGAPORE SCIENCE CENTRE AND WORLD PREMIERE OF THE DINOSAURS ALIVE! EXHIBITION ON SATURDAY, 4 NOVEMBER 2000, AT 10 AM AT THE SINGAPORE SCIENCE CENTRE

BG Lee Hsien Yang

Chairman

Science Centre Board

Members of the Board of Governors

Dr Chew Tuan Chiong, Director and Chief Executive, Singapore Science Centre,

Excellencies

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Alive! exhibition open.

It is my pleasure to be here this morning for the re-launch of the Singapore Science Centre.
The idea of setting up a science centre in Singapore was mooted as early as 1968, at a time when the concept of a science centre was ahead of its times. Indeed, The Exploratorium in San Franscisco, which is generally considered to be the pioneer of the science centre movement, was just being set up and its effectiveness in popularizing science and technology among the general public was yet to be established. The Government was, however, convinced that a science centre had a role to play in the development of Singapore because it saw the relevance of promoting informal science learning among our people. It recognised that such efforts develop a strong science culture that would help our people to be more receptive towards the potential of science- and technology- driven socio-economic development in our nation. The Government thus went ahead to establish the Singapore Science Centre, which started operating in temporary premises in 1972 before being officially opened in 1977. The Science Centre has since become part of the educational and technological infrastructure of our nation.
The Singapore Science Centre has grown in strength over the years, and its range of science exhibitions, educational, and promotional programmes continues to be popular with our schools. It continues to play an important role in the promotion of science and technology and their relevance to everyday life to our school students and to the wider public. With its exhibits, laboratories and enrichment programmes, the Science Centre plays a vital role in complementing the formal science education that takes place in our schools. In view of this complementary role, the Ministry of Education provided the Centre with a grant of about $40 million from 1997 for a revamp of the Science Centre to upgrade its facilities and exhibitions.
The revamp of the Science Centre has given it a fresh look. It is better integrated now with the surrounding developments like the Omni theatre, and transport infrastructure. This will make the Science Centre more user-friendly to visitors. New exhibitions have been set up, older exhibitions and existing facilities have been upgraded, and new facilities are in operation. The Science Centre is now effectively a science complex, housing a traditional science centre, an omnitheatre, a multipurpose hall for staging science events, and even a snow city for edu-tainment. With its new and upgraded facilities, the Science Centre can become a focal point to stage major science exhibitions which appeal to students and the public. The Centre will also house a range of advanced laboratory and scientific equipment which students could use to conduct experiments which are beyond the scope of normal school laboratories.
I am also pleased to note that the new and upgraded exhibits are more novel and interactive in nature. This will enhance the teaching and learning of science, and enable the Science Centre to stimulate our students' sense of excitement, discovery and wonder in the learning of science. I recall that the Science Centre helped me to understand and visualize the developments in jet air travel and electronics as these were developing in the 70s, and we intend to have the Science Centre play the same important role in bringing the latest developments in the life sciences to our people – making the subject come alive, helping our people to grasp its workings, understand its significance, its consequences and potential. I hope that the interest generated will not only result in a greater awareness of the significance of science and technology in our lives, but also encourage some to consider careers in science and engineering.
I would like to wish the Science Centre every success in the fulfilment of its public mission to spearhead the broad-based promotion of science to our students and to the general public. The Science Centre in Singapore and other Science Centres around the world have given me hours of enjoyment and wonderment. The revamped Science Centre is now well positioned to draw in many visitors - new visitors, and re-visits from old ones too - to share in the delights of science.
It gives me great pleasure to re-launch the Singapore Science Centre and declare the Dinosaurs Alive! exhibition open.