Role of Science Education in knowledge- based economy: Experiences from Singapore R. Subramaniam and Leo Tan Wee Hin Singapore National Academy of Science

Factors driving innovations in science education Globalization Globalization Information and Communication Technologies Information and Communication Technologies Capitalism Capitalism Downsizing Downsizing Outsourcing Outsourcing Off-shoring Off-shoring New developments in science & technology New developments in science & technology

Need for Innovations Need for Innovations In knowledge-based economy, creativity, innovation, inventiveness and entrepreneurship are crucial In knowledge-based economy, creativity, innovation, inventiveness and entrepreneurship are crucial Curricula need to prepare students to be effective participants in new economy Curricula need to prepare students to be effective participants in new economy For a country to remain relevant in this age of globalization, science curricula has to be internationally competitive For a country to remain relevant in this age of globalization, science curricula has to be internationally competitive

Inquiry learning Learning of science has often little to do with the way science knowledge is created Learning of science has often little to do with the way science knowledge is created Inquiry learning mirrors the way scientists work, and so can be useful in getting students to be interested in science Inquiry learning mirrors the way scientists work, and so can be useful in getting students to be interested in science

Institutional-based inquiry learning initiatives in Singapore Young Scientist Badge – primary students can get the requisite ‘I am a Young Scientist’ Badge in any of 15 disciplines by engaging in project work that entails completion of a set of investigative tasks Young Scientist Badge – primary students can get the requisite ‘I am a Young Scientist’ Badge in any of 15 disciplines by engaging in project work that entails completion of a set of investigative tasks Tan Kah Kee Young Inventor’s Award – annual event to ferret out inventions lurking in students’ minds Tan Kah Kee Young Inventor’s Award – annual event to ferret out inventions lurking in students’ minds Sony Creative Science Award – annual event to encourage primary students to invent toys based on scientific principles Sony Creative Science Award – annual event to encourage primary students to invent toys based on scientific principles

Young Scientist Activity Card

Aeroponics Technology: Project- based inquiry learning Method of growing plants whereby roots are suspended in mid-air and sprayed with a fine mist of nutrients Method of growing plants whereby roots are suspended in mid-air and sprayed with a fine mist of nutrients Singapore has achieved landmark recognition in using this technology to grow crops in its land-scarce island under protected conditions using minimal water Singapore has achieved landmark recognition in using this technology to grow crops in its land-scarce island under protected conditions using minimal water School-based projects on aeroponics help to reinforce the point that ‘thinking out of the box’ can provide unorthodox solutions to problems School-based projects on aeroponics help to reinforce the point that ‘thinking out of the box’ can provide unorthodox solutions to problems

Aeroponics Technology (cont’d)

Sowing seeds of entrepreneurship among students Challenges of new economy Challenges of new economy (i) Because of globalization, downsizing, corporate restructuring and outsourcing, jobs are taking flight (ii) Many jobs are moving up the value chain while scopes of other jobs are coalescing to create less number of jobs (iii) Jobs may not be that easy to get in the new economy Those who are creative, entrepreneurial and inventive will ride the new wave in the economy Those who are creative, entrepreneurial and inventive will ride the new wave in the economy

Inculcating entrepreneurship and research among students in Singapore (a) Rise of student entrepreneurs (a) Rise of student entrepreneurs (b) Setting up of research laboratories in schools (b) Setting up of research laboratories in schools

Student Businessmen!

DNA test kit developed by students

Orchid Hybridization Program Orchid Hybridization Program Nurtures scientific temper and technopreneurship among students Nurtures scientific temper and technopreneurship among students Trains teachers in simple genetic techniques first Trains teachers in simple genetic techniques first Students then taught to create new strains of orchids Students then taught to create new strains of orchids Rewards available Rewards available

Rewards in Orchid Hybridization Programme Students can register new strain of orchid at the Royal Horticultural Society in London Students can register new strain of orchid at the Royal Horticultural Society in London Can name it after themselves Can name it after themselves Can name it after their school Can name it after their school Can sell it to orchid nurseries Can sell it to orchid nurseries Can auction it in order to raise funds for the school Can auction it in order to raise funds for the school Can sell it to organizations wishing to boost their corporate identity further Can sell it to organizations wishing to boost their corporate identity further

Orchid named after a school

Research internships for school students National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore represent a concentration of talent and expertise National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore represent a concentration of talent and expertise Scientists are natural role models for science students Scientists are natural role models for science students Two initiatives in place for school students to work with scientists on their research: Science Research Programme of NUS and Technology, Engineering & Research Programme of NTU Two initiatives in place for school students to work with scientists on their research: Science Research Programme of NUS and Technology, Engineering & Research Programme of NTU

Summarizing comments Science education needs to prepare students to be active participants in new economy Science education needs to prepare students to be active participants in new economy Nation building is very much dependent on having people with skills in science, mathematics and technology Nation building is very much dependent on having people with skills in science, mathematics and technology Innovations in teaching and learning can stimulate the mind and promote interest in the sciences Innovations in teaching and learning can stimulate the mind and promote interest in the sciences Science offers immense opportunities to create new products and ideas which can provide a country an economic advantage Science offers immense opportunities to create new products and ideas which can provide a country an economic advantage In the knowledge-based economy, people with ideas, those who can create new products, and those who are entrepreneurial will help their countries to move forward In the knowledge-based economy, people with ideas, those who can create new products, and those who are entrepreneurial will help their countries to move forward