Of Whirlpools and Cyclones - Embracing and Enjoying Science by Prof Leo Tan

This morning, I attended a distinguished science lecture series organised by the Science Teachers Association of Singapore (STAS) and the Singapore Science Centre. This happened to be the first lecture series organised by STAS. The guest speaker to kick start the inaugural lecture series is Professor Leo Tan.

The first Distinguished Science Lecture Series.

Prof Leo Tan is a professor of Biological Sciences, Director of Special Projects, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore. He is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Science, Singapore.

My work attachment at RMBR

While my colleagues are already enjoying their long deserved holidays, I set aside two weeks of my holidays for a MOE Teacher's Work Attachment programme. I have chosen the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) for my work attachment programme.

My work attachment period was 3 - 14 December 2012.
I chose RMBR as it was one of the places which I was interested to find out how specimens, after collected from sites, are processed, preserved, document and kept in a biodiversity museum. Furthermore, the work description posted for this organisation allows me to work with the available specimens to create educational materials.

However the museum's gallery was closing soon in view of the big house moving to the new Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, set for completion in 2014. There was not much of a need to create educational materials at the moment.

I spent my two weeks of work attachment in the wet collections section of the museum, helping out Siong Kiat, the wet collections' curator. Wet collections refers to specimens (mostly marine animals) that requires storing in preservation liquids such as ethanol and formalin (formaldehyde). Majority of the specimens I worked with are stored in 75% ethanol.

Here's the blog post from RMBR about my work attachment stint with them.

Image capture of the blog post.

Raffles Museum of Biodiversity open house 2012

It's the day!
Today is the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity open house 2012.
Today's open house is one of the many programs from the National Heritage Board's Children Season 2012, a series of various museum programs for children to enjoy the fun of visiting the museum.

I reached the museum as early as 09:15 and a small quiet crowd was already going through their public gallery guided walk. I went to register for my 10:00 behind-the-scene guided walk. It was a slow long wait.
Nearing 10:00, the crowded started to arrive slowly. The level 3 lift lobby was starting to get crowded. So was the corridor leading to the museum as the various activity booths were being setup (masking making, face painting and mini excavation).
The participants gathered around the RMBR volunteer holding the signage to "Behind-the-scene".
One of the children participants bought the book "Private Lives: An Expose of Singapore's Mangroves" and he was so eager to read about it.

Shortly past 10:00, the group was lead to through a door in the museum and we entered the specimen collection area.

Festival of Biodiversity

Something big and exciting is happening on 26 and 27 May 2012.

source: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/festivalofbiodiversity/index.php 

The National Parks Board (NParks) Singapore is organising an inaugural Festival of Biodiversity to share the efforts made in conserving and enhancing biodiversity. The objective of this festival is to bring to general public a deeper appreciation of Singapore's rich biodiversity and it benefits, and how each can play a part in conserving our biodiversity.

Lining up for this festival are talks, art & craft workshops, film screening sessions, guided tours and storytelling sessions. There are also fun activities for the young and little ones at the festival, and exhibitions for all young and old. It will be two days of buzzing around and excitement.

Do mark the dates down on your calendar. Hope to see you there.

[Update] RMBR Open House on 19 May 2012

Great news to those planning to go for the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) Open House 2012!

A new activity has just been opened for registration.

"A Fish Out of Water"

Visit Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research on 19th May

What's so special about 19th May?
The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) is having an open house as part of the Children's Season 2012.

RMBR Children's Season Open House poster