Introduction
The Singapore Science Centre (or SSC for short) is an educational organization which aim is to introduce the wonders of science and technology to students and members of the public. It hosts a list of events each year and has Singapore’s widest collection of educational exhibitions regarding science and it is acknowledged as one of the science centres worldwide. More than a million visitors, both locals and tourist alike, visit the Singapore Science Centre each year. They not only have a large number of permanent exhibitions, they also hold a number of traveling exhibitions such as the Grossology exhibition and the Robot Zoo.

Nurturing Young Minds Each year, the Singapore Science Centre hosts competitions such as: NJRC (National junior Robotics Competition), which is a robotics competition for students between Primary 3 to Secondary 3. Students use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics kit and do things like assemble and programme robots. Participants must also keep a team Journal, which keeps track of their progress and their entire learning journey. First Robotics Singapore (FRS), which is another robotics competition for students between Secondary 1 to JC 2. It was first known as the National Senior Robotics League (NSRL), before it changed to its present name in 2004. Participants are given 8 weeks to complete their robot. NSTS (National Science Talent Search), which was launched in 1995, is a competition for students aged 15 to 18 years and shows potential in pursuing a career in scientific research & development. Participants are required to do a Bibliography, a project report etc.

A scene at the NJRC Competition Finals 2004

They also organize events such as “Meet the Scientist”, an event which provides both students and adults with the chance to meet up with researchers and scientists, view demonstrations and listen to talks etc.

Educating the Public
In their mission to educate the public about the wonders of science, The Science Centre, houses exhibitions such as:

• Space Science, where u can learn about our solar system such as nebulae, quasars etc. You will also learn many things about our Sun, Moon, Earth and other planets which you never knew!
• The Mind’s Eye, where the exhibitions are all about optical illusions. One exhibit even makes your body magically “disappear”, leaving your head on the platter!
• Web of Life highlights the Biodiversity of life and focuses on the various interactions and adaptations for survival found in nature. Here, you will also dispel any myths or misunderstandings about plants and animals. The exhibition is divided into a few main sections, such as “ Diversity all around”,” Home sweet home”, “ Rainforest”, “Mangrove”, “ Ocean” etc.

They have recently opened a DNA Learning Lab to educate both, students and the general public as well as an Omni-Theatre, which showcase movies about Science and change the movies on a regular basis. The patented OMNIMAX Projection System utilizes the largest film size format in the history of motion picture - a film frame 10 times larger than the everyday 35 mm film and 3 times larger than a 70 mm frame. Projected through a fish-eye lens, it fills the hemispheric screen with brilliant images. On the take-up, a full reel of 60-minute film weighs 100 kg.

The OMNIMAX Projection System is so large it weighs 910 kg and stands at nearly 1.65m tall. A 15,000 Watt, water-cooled xenon lamp in the projector - equivalent to that used to light NASA's launching pads - is used to produce the necessary brightness. Seventy-two speakers in 12 huge 4-way cluster and 12 sub-bass speakers are strategically placed behind the hemispheric screen which allow the 6-track stereophonic sound, powered by a 20,000 Watt sound system, to "move" across the theatre in synchronization with the action on the screen. It is a viewing system that stretches to the limits of the audience's vision as the theatre's screen is a 23m dome, 5 storey high, tilted at a 30 degree angle to the horizon as well as their sense of time and space, enveloping them in an engrossing, or even startling audio-visual experience.

Special programmes
As mentioned, the Science Centre holds various exhibitions and events. These educational exhibitions and events are there encourage and inspire a new generation of inventors and scientists. As our society becomes more technologically advanced, we need to keep up with the times, or risk losing out to the rest of the world. The Science Centre hopes to educate the public about science and its uses and importance, thus making Singapore a better and more comfortable place to live in.