Top Picks of Singapore Science Festival 2014

 Media Invite

Science can be serious stuff at times, but it can be fun too! Just ask both Ash and Ayd, who count viewing videos of science experiements on YouTube as their fave pastime now. So in a bid to continue rocking minds and pushing further the buttons of curiosity among the young, the Singapore Science Festival (SSF) is back for the fourteenth year running. And the festival officially opens TODAY (18 July 2014)!

Co-organised by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Singapore Science Centre, SSF is an annual celebration of the latest scientific innovations, new technologies, and cutting-edge research, and engineering, making them relevant to everyday life.

Differentiating itself from previous editions, this year’s SSF will take on a fresh theme, You Can be a Rock Star with Science. The festival will celebrate scientists who are rock stars in their own right, making a difference to the world we live in, and changing the way we learn science.

Singapore Science Festival is happening from 18 July to 3 August 2014 and needless to say, there will be a range of exciting hands-on activities, events, workshops, and guest performances lined up all over Singapore for both the young and old alike.

So if you are looking to bring your kids down for some exploding science fun over the next three weekends, here are some of my TOP PICKS from this year's Singapore Science Festival:

X-periment! @ Marina Square 

X-periment! is a three-day science carnival which celebrates the developments and research work in the field of science and technology in Singapore. Carnival goers will get a chance to see how a heart works in the flesh through a 4D heart simulation at A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) booth, as well as leverage a trash can as a weapon spitting air vortex shells to knock over foam cups and empty plastic bottles at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences’ booth.

There will also be performances by internationally renowned science entertainer ‘The Dancing Scientist’ Jeffrey Vinokur from the US as well as interactive, hands-on experiments for both kids and families at the booths manned by local researchers and scientists. One of the highlights for kids has got to be the S.E.A Aquarium booth where they will get the opportunity to touch sea creatures!

"Dancing Scientist” Show times at X-periment! @ Marina Square (30 mins per show):
18 July: 2.30pm; 5pm and 7.30pm
19 July: 12pm; 2.30pm; 5pm and 7.30pm
20 July: 12pm; 2.30pm; 5pm and 6.30pm

Date: 18 - 20 July 2014
Time: 18 & 19 July: 11am - 8pm daily | 20 July: 11am - 7pm
Venue: Marina Square Central Atrium
Admission: FREE

"The Dancing Scientist Shows" by Jeffrey Vinokur

Speaking of The Dancing Scientist, this is one show that I highly recommend bringing your children to watch, no matter how young they are.

Jeffrey Vinokur, The Dancing Scientist and his show "So You Think You Can Do Science" provide an unforgettable combination of education & entertainment that can only be described as high-energy, ingenious, jaw-dropping, and inspiring. "So You Think You Can Do Science" is a presentation that combines science education with hip hop music and dancing. The show is unique in being able to target young student audiences, and SSF marks the first time that he will be performing in Asia! The media was treated to a short snippet of his show as he demonstrated the neutralization effect between acids and alkali:

Date: 18 - 22 July 2014
Show times at X-periment! @ Marina Square (30 mins per show):
18 July: 2.30pm; 5pm and 7.30pm
19 July: 12pm; 2.30pm; 5pm and 7.30pm
20 July: 12pm; 2.30pm; 5pm and 6.30pm
Admission is FREE.

Show times at Science Centre (30 mins per show):
21 July : 2pm and 4pm
22 July: 2pm and 4pm
Admission to Science Centre applies.

Rhys Thomas's Science Circus

Rhys's “Science Circus” shows feature interactive comedy and high level circus tricks, with an addition of Newtonian Physics to this mix of hilarity and dexterity! Clean comedy, amazing tricks, interactive shenanigans and an educational option make this a show you don't want to miss!

Date: 25 - 28 July 2014
Time: 2pm – 2:30pm & 4pm – 4.30pm
Venue: Science Centre Singapore
Show is FREE, but admission to Science Centre applies.

Singapore Mini Maker Faire

Back for a third year, the Singapore Mini Maker Faire is a celebration of DIY (do-it-yourself) culture in Singapore, bringing Makers off all ages to showcase their range of fun, creative projects in science, arts, engineering, electronics and technology.


Date: 26 & 27 July 2014
Time: 26 July: 12pm - 9pm | 27 July: 10am - 6pm
Venue: Senja-Cashew Community Centre, 101 Bukit Panjang road, Singapore 679910
Admission: FREE
*Preregister online at http://goo.gl/VLjGgr to receive an exclusive Maker kit upon arrival!





"Sidewalk Astronomy" sessions

Ever wonder how planets look like viewed through a telescope? Curious to look at the stars but no idea where to go? Look no further, in this coming Singapore Science Festival, see the wonders of night sky with telescopes set up in your neighbourhood such as heartland busy streets, outside MRT stations or on the rooftop of shopping malls! Join “Sidewalk Astronomy” to know more about the night sky & cosmos!

Date: 1 Aug 2014
Time: 8pm - 10pm
Venues:
1. SCOB – Science Centre Observatory (15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081)
2. Yew Tee : Outside Yew Tee MRT (Between Yew Tee Square & Yew Tee Shopping Mall)
3. Paya Lebar Methodist School - Basketball court at level 3 (298 Lorong Ah Soo, Singapore 536741)
4. Christchurch Secondary School (20 Woodlands Drive 17, Singapore 737924)

Science Buskers Festival

The Science Buskers Festival provides an opportunity to see Singaporeans from all walks of life convene to show off their ability to communicate and express science in fun, creative manners. Participants will do a “show-and-tell” on any science topic in the most engaging manner possible. Visitors to the Science Buskers Festival will have a chance to vote for their favourite buskers.

Date: 2 & 3 Aug 2014
Time: 2 Aug: 12pm – 6pm | 3 Aug: 11am – 6pm
Venue: NEX Atrium, 23 Serangoon Central Singapore 556083
Admission: FREE

Be a Panda Researcher

This programme allows one to hone your skills as a Panda Researcher! Visit various stations to identify panda tracks, examine panda poo and paw prints. You will gain insights into tracking methodology in the wild and how results from tracking pandas help us understand more about these bears and ultimately save them from extinction. Recommended for ages 9 and up.

Date: 3 Aug 2014
Time: 10am - 11:30am
Venue: River Safari
Tickets: Adult 13yrs and above: $39 | Child below 13yrs: $29
*River Safari membership card holders: $11 for all ages
*Pre-registration is required, and cut-off date for registration is 31 July 2014. To register, email haniman.b@wrs.com.sg.

For more information on more programmes and activities, visit Singapore Science Festival's website at www.sciencefest.sg/index.php