Achieving without investing in Achieving without investing in physical infrastructure: physical infrastructure:

Experiences from the Singapore Experiences from the Singapore

National Academy of ScienceNational Academy of Science Prof Leo Tan Wee HinProf Leo Tan Wee Hin

President President Singapore National Academy of ScienceSingapore National Academy of Science

Scientists as building Scientists as building blocks for national science blocks for national science

academiesacademies Scientists in a country work in various fields Scientists in a country work in various fields

and agencies – civil service, universities, and agencies – civil service, universities, research institutes, polytechnics, and private research institutes, polytechnics, and private sector sector

Their distribution in various agencies come in Their distribution in various agencies come in the way of tapping their skills for collective the way of tapping their skills for collective gains even though they are doing a good job on gains even though they are doing a good job on their owntheir own

When they are affiliated to a national science When they are affiliated to a national science academy, pooling of talent opens up more academy, pooling of talent opens up more opportunities for science promotion and opportunities for science promotion and science education as well as collaboration with science education as well as collaboration with their parent agencies their parent agencies

Singapore National Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS)Academy of Science (SNAS)

Established in 1967Established in 1967 Operating without a building – has been Operating without a building – has been

having a virtual office even before the having a virtual office even before the advent of the Internetadvent of the Internet

Mailing address: c/o Singapore Science Mailing address: c/o Singapore Science Centre Centre

No full time employees – all volunteers No full time employees – all volunteers Only source of regular income is the Only source of regular income is the

S$500 paid by each of its nine constituent S$500 paid by each of its nine constituent societies for their annual subscription fees societies for their annual subscription fees

Principal mission objectives Principal mission objectives of SNASof SNAS

Promotion of science and technology to Promotion of science and technology to students and the public students and the public

Even though the entire government Even though the entire government machinery supports a culture of S & T, SNAS machinery supports a culture of S & T, SNAS still plays a role by supporting capacity still plays a role by supporting capacity building through its various initiativesbuilding through its various initiatives

Big science is generally not the aim of SNASBig science is generally not the aim of SNAS Emphasis is more on initiatives and Emphasis is more on initiatives and

programmes which popularize S & T as well programmes which popularize S & T as well as those which meet certain needs of as those which meet certain needs of scientists since these can reach out to a wide scientists since these can reach out to a wide audience and be done with minimal funding audience and be done with minimal funding

Constituent Societies of Constituent Societies of SNASSNAS

Singapore Association for the Advancement Singapore Association for the Advancement of Science of Science

Singapore National Institute of Chemistry Singapore National Institute of Chemistry Institute of Physics Singapore Institute of Physics Singapore Singapore Institute of BiologySingapore Institute of Biology Singapore Mathematical Society Singapore Mathematical Society Singapore Society for Biochemistry & Singapore Society for Biochemistry &

Molecular Biology Molecular Biology Singapore Society for Microbiology & Singapore Society for Microbiology &

Biotechnology Biotechnology Singapore Institute of Statistics Singapore Institute of Statistics Science Teachers’ Association of Singapore Science Teachers’ Association of Singapore

Council of SNASCouncil of SNAS Composition: Composition: (a) President (a) President (b) 2 Vice Presidents(b) 2 Vice Presidents(c) Honorary Secretary (c) Honorary Secretary (d) Honorary Treasurer (d) Honorary Treasurer (e) Presidents and Honorary Secretaries of its 9 (e) Presidents and Honorary Secretaries of its 9

constituent societies (18 members) constituent societies (18 members) Having a lean Council found to be very important in Having a lean Council found to be very important in

getting things done and moving forward with getting things done and moving forward with mission objectives mission objectives

Structure involving nine constituent societies Structure involving nine constituent societies reporting to SNAS provides multiplier effect for reporting to SNAS provides multiplier effect for realizing mission objectives; the nine constituent realizing mission objectives; the nine constituent societies are like chapters but in different disciplines societies are like chapters but in different disciplines

Programs for Science Programs for Science Education Education

In collaboration with the Singapore Science In collaboration with the Singapore Science Centre, the Singapore Association for the Centre, the Singapore Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Science Advancement of Science, and the Science Teachers’ Association of Singapore, SNAS Teachers’ Association of Singapore, SNAS administers the Young Scientist Badge administers the Young Scientist Badge Scheme for primary students and the Scheme for primary students and the Questa Club scheme for secondary Questa Club scheme for secondary students. These initiatives promote inquiry students. These initiatives promote inquiry learning. learning.

Other educational programmes run by each Other educational programmes run by each of our nine constituent societiesof our nine constituent societies

Young Scientist Badge Young Scientist Badge SchemeScheme

Allows students to engage in project-based Allows students to engage in project-based investigations in 15 disciplines: investigations in 15 disciplines: Geology , Zoology, Mathematics Geology , Zoology, Mathematics Physics, Ornithology, BotanyPhysics, Ornithology, BotanyAstronomy , Chemistry, EntomologyAstronomy , Chemistry, EntomologyEcology, Meteorology, EnvironmentEcology, Meteorology, EnvironmentInformation Technology, Food Technology and Information Technology, Food Technology and Water Water

Students need to complete tasks in an Activity Card Students need to complete tasks in an Activity Card and then get these certified by the class teacherand then get these certified by the class teacher

Successful completion of Activity Card gets student Successful completion of Activity Card gets student a highly coveted ‘I am a Young Scientist’ Badge in a highly coveted ‘I am a Young Scientist’ Badge in the appropriate discipline the appropriate discipline

Over 60,000 badges awarded annually Over 60,000 badges awarded annually

Young Scientist Activity Young Scientist Activity Card in Physics Card in Physics

Questa Club Scheme Questa Club Scheme

Not structured like that of Young Not structured like that of Young Scientist badge scheme but more open-Scientist badge scheme but more open-ended ended

Secondary students can engage in a Secondary students can engage in a science project of their liking science project of their liking

Successful completion of project gets Successful completion of project gets them a coveted Gold or Silver Questa them a coveted Gold or Silver Questa badge, depending on the quality of the badge, depending on the quality of the project project

About 10,000 Badges awarded annually About 10,000 Badges awarded annually

Programmes for Science Programmes for Science Research - SNAS Young Research - SNAS Young

Scientist Awards Scientist Awards Two categories: Two categories: (a) Physical, Information & Engineering (a) Physical, Information & Engineering

SciencesSciences(b) Biological & Biomedical Sciences(b) Biological & Biomedical Sciences Each Award carries a cash prize of Each Award carries a cash prize of

S$10,000, a certificate and a trophy S$10,000, a certificate and a trophy Criteria: Below 35 years of age and Criteria: Below 35 years of age and

resident in Singapore for two years resident in Singapore for two years Have been instrumental in nurturing and Have been instrumental in nurturing and

encouraging young researchers in the encouraging young researchers in the sciencessciences

Programmes for Science Programmes for Science Research – COSMOS Research – COSMOS

Formerly known as the Journal of the Formerly known as the Journal of the Singapore National Academy of Science Singapore National Academy of Science

Revamped Editorial Board comprises Revamped Editorial Board comprises eminent scientists, including Nobel eminent scientists, including Nobel Laureates and Fellows of the Royal Laureates and Fellows of the Royal SocietySociety

Published by World Scientific Published by World Scientific Currently subscribed by over 370 Currently subscribed by over 370

institutional libraries in the worldinstitutional libraries in the world

Programmes for Science Programmes for Science Research – International Research – International

Conferences Conferences Each year, SNAS co-organizes an Each year, SNAS co-organizes an

international conference with at least one of international conference with at least one of its constituent societiesits constituent societies

Variety of themes have been addressed over Variety of themes have been addressed over the years the years

Attracts international delegates to Singapore Attracts international delegates to Singapore Recent programmes - Forum on Creativity in Recent programmes - Forum on Creativity in

the Arts, Sciences and Technology, and 37the Arts, Sciences and Technology, and 37thth International Physics Olympiad held in International Physics Olympiad held in Singapore Singapore

Programs to give students Programs to give students national recognition national recognition

By virtue of its position as a national By virtue of its position as a national organization, SNAS awards certificates organization, SNAS awards certificates and $S100 book vouchers to students and $S100 book vouchers to students from the National University of from the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University who excel in Technological University who excel in their final year examinations in the their final year examinations in the various science subjects: various science subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Mathematics and Statistics Mathematics and Statistics

Defacto commentator in Defacto commentator in international scholarly international scholarly

literature on issues related literature on issues related to S & T in Singapore to S & T in Singapore New role which SNAS embraced recently – not in New role which SNAS embraced recently – not in

our original charter our original charter Several articles relating to Singapore: for example, Several articles relating to Singapore: for example,

world’s first nationwide broadband network, first use world’s first nationwide broadband network, first use of electronic road pricing to control traffic of electronic road pricing to control traffic congestion, how SNAS is carving a niche for itself congestion, how SNAS is carving a niche for itself despite not having its own premises and full time despite not having its own premises and full time staff, E-government, etc have been addressed in staff, E-government, etc have been addressed in journals such as Nature, Science, New Scientist, etc journals such as Nature, Science, New Scientist, etc as well as in book chapters of international as well as in book chapters of international publishers. (publishers. (No funding needed for writing these No funding needed for writing these articles)articles)

Serves to raise profile of academy – all articles bear Serves to raise profile of academy – all articles bear the SNAS bylinethe SNAS byline

Scientists generally not keen to include other Scientists generally not keen to include other affiliations in their journal papersaffiliations in their journal papers

Funding Funding Always a constraint for any academy and SNAS is no Always a constraint for any academy and SNAS is no

exceptionexception Circumvented by:Circumvented by:(a) riding on the commitment and enthusiasm of the SNAS (a) riding on the commitment and enthusiasm of the SNAS

Council Council (b) leveraging on SNAS Council members’ parent institutions (b) leveraging on SNAS Council members’ parent institutions

for use of premises in organizing programs – contributes to for use of premises in organizing programs – contributes to more effective utilization of a country’s built-up more effective utilization of a country’s built-up infrastructure infrastructure

(c) seeking opportunities for collaboration – for example, (c) seeking opportunities for collaboration – for example, SNAS Young Scientist Awards done in collaboration with SNAS Young Scientist Awards done in collaboration with A*STAR, the national funding agency for R & D. A*STAR, the national funding agency for R & D.

(c) building a track record first and then seeking funds from (c) building a track record first and then seeking funds from other agencies – SNAS experience has been very positive other agencies – SNAS experience has been very positive

(d) riding on the Internet – saving on postal expenses, etc. (d) riding on the Internet – saving on postal expenses, etc.

Summarizing Comments Summarizing Comments Spirit of volunteerism very much alive among Spirit of volunteerism very much alive among

scientists, and needs to be harnessed for national scientists, and needs to be harnessed for national good good

A national science academy can open up a A national science academy can open up a parallel track for the promotion of S & T, and parallel track for the promotion of S & T, and thus complement government efforts in this thus complement government efforts in this direction direction

Science academies have a role to play in nation Science academies have a role to play in nation building efforts but they need to do more to building efforts but they need to do more to realize their true potential realize their true potential

In developing countries, science academies can In developing countries, science academies can make a difference by sensitizing government to make a difference by sensitizing government to the role of S & T in socio-economic development the role of S & T in socio-economic development as well as reaching out to the public through as well as reaching out to the public through their outreach programmes their outreach programmes