Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli BMM, Senior Parlimentary Secretary, Ministry of Education, at the Enviro-Life Sciences Symposium cum Exhibition on Saturday, 25 August 2007, at Chongzheng Primary School at 0900 hrs

SPEECH BY MR MASAGOS ZULKIFLI BMM, SENIOR PARLIMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AT THE ENVIRO-LIFE SCIENCES SYMPOSIUM CUM EXHIBITION ON SATURDAY, 25 AUGUST 2007, AT CHONGZHENG PRIMARY SCHOOL AT 0900 HRS

1. It gives me great pleasure to join you this morning at the first East Zone Enviro-Life Sciences Symposium 2007. It is very heartening to see schools and the community working hand-in-hand to foster research into the Life Sciences and the environment, and leveraging on the element of fun in games and activities to instil in our students and the community the importance of protecting and preserving our environment.

Environmental concerns and the Environmental Industry
2. The world today faces many environmental issues. Climate change, mismanagement of chemicals, forest fires and haze, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity and marine pollution remain serious concerns. And as Asia becomes increasingly developed and more heavily populated, levels of pollution and amount of waste generation will rise correspondingly. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that more than 500,000 people in Asia are dying every year from diseases related to air pollution. In a World Bank study, the amount of waste generated in Asia is expected to increase almost two and a half times from 800,000 to 1.8 million tons per day by 2025. The gravity of these issues cannot be over-emphasized.

3. Fortunately, we live in an era of environmentally enlightened leadership. Good governance allows us to leverage on coordinated effort across countries to harness scientific endeavour and the innovations of technology, so that the environment receives the attention it deserves. Public education, proper environmental planning, investment in environmental infrastructure and the deployment of environmentally sound technologies, are ways in which environmentally-conscious governments work in concerted efforts to create a better world for ourselves.

4. In our current world climate, it is vital that we move beyond environmental protection to that of environmental sustainability. This means balancing the fulfilment of our economic and social needs with the protection of the natural environment, so that we hand over to future generations a high quality environment. Sustainable development is vital for it allows us to continue to make progress without continuing to damage our planet.

5. With sustainable development becoming an international concern, the global environmental technology market is expected to enjoy robust growth in the coming years. Globally worth approximately US$548 billion in 2004 and forecast to reach just under US$800 billion by 2015, the environmental industry has been earmarked by Singapore as a strategic growth area to help the country diversify the economy. Last year, the Singapore government announced the setting aside of S$330 million in research funds to drive the growth of the environmental and water technology industry. This translates into a doubling of employment opportunities to 11,000 positions by 2015.

6. Courses in our Institutions of Higher Learning are well-positioned to cater to this potential boom. Our polytechnics offer a comprehensive array of environmental science and engineering diplomas that systematically train our students in the intricacies of water and wastewater treatment, pollution control, waste management and recycling, and environmental health management. NTU and NUS offer rigorous undergraduate degrees and are equipped with research facilities in developing home-grown environmental technologies. Upon graduation, our students are primed for career opportunities in consultancy, research and entrepreneurship in the lucrative environmental industries.

Environmental education in schools
7. As educators interacting directly with young Singaporeans, we have the responsibility of nurturing our students to care for the environment and learn to live environmentally responsible lives. We can do this by creating awareness, instilling good environmental habits and inspiring novel and practical solutions to environmental concerns. The fact that our schools are involved in environmental projects and activities is indeed a plus point for Singapore. Our students can play an active role in encouraging their family members and relatives to reduce, reuse and recycle.

8. Organisations such as SIA, NEA and SENOKO Power must be highly commended for supporting schools and the community in such an important area that impacts the lives of all citizens. It is indeed gratifying to see they are actively supporting schools in their environmental endeavours.

Importance of the Life Sciences in education today
9. The Life Sciences is another field we recognise as being a major investment in our future. It is a vital thrust in Singapore’s strategy to move upstream, from being a reputable location for global manufacturing and service industries to being a centre for knowledge creation and management.

10. Centres of Excellence such as the Life Sciences Learning and Research Centre at Dunman Secondary are valuable platforms for teachers and students with a keen interest in a specialised area to try their hand at projects which will help them to seek new solutions to solving real life issues. Collaboration and sharing among schools serves to generate new ideas and enhance the capacities and capabilities of our staff and students.

Significance of the symposium
11. With the theme “Creative Solutions to a Better World”, today’s symposium provides opportunities for students to showcase their research and innovations related to the environment and the Life Sciences. The symposium is significant not only because it harnesses scientific endeavour for the betterment of our environment, but also because it engages our youth in developing a zest for inquiry and a passion for social responsibility. As we engage our students thus, we grow the skills, values and habits of mind that will gradually transform our society and create powerful social change and greater economic opportunities. I look forward to hearing the presentations of the winning teams later.

12. Finally, I would like to commend the East Zone Life-Sciences Learning and Research Centre at Dunman Secondary on its far-sightedness in rallying the community, parents and students from both the primary and secondary levels, to be part of this event and for their efforts in broadening the school curriculum to stretch students beyond the syllabuses in an innovative way. On this note, I wish everyone a fruitful day and an enjoyable time at this symposium.