RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS VIE FOR TOP PRIZE AT AMAZING SCIENCE-X CHALLENGE

It was a sight to behold: Audiences were greeted with machines which generated clouds in a bottle, electricity from urine, and even one that allowed them to switch on a floating light bulb without having to touch it.

These were some of the fascinating physical science phenomena demonstrated by entries in this year's Amazing Science-X Challenge (ASCX), which saw a record participation of 480 primary and tertiary students.

In his keynote address, guest of honour 2nd Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing noted the importance of scientists to the development of Singapore. Citing examples such as using the latest technology to recycle and collect water in order to make Singapore self-sufficient with water, he said: "They never let current limitations stop them from realising their dream.

"When they had a dream, and they realised that the dream could not be fulfilled because there were no standards to achieve the dream, they created the standards, and that is how we have survived and thrived as a country."

Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive of Science Centre Singapore, shared the same sentiments, and emphasised the importance of creativity in his welcome address. "We are making textbooks come alive. This process is creative, and creativity is one of the key things we aspire to achieve.

"And we all know that...without creativity, we cannot survive as a nation."

Jointly organised by DSO National Laboratories (DSO), the National University of Singapore, and Science Centre Singapore, the ASXC is part of the DSO Amazing Series of Competitions.

In this competition, teams are tasked to design and build a stand-alone exhibit that best explains a physical science phenomenon in an engaging and interactive way. Teams are grouped into four categories - category A for Primary One to Six; B for Secondary One to Four; C for Junior Colleges; and D is an open category.

One of the gold award winners for Category C was team ASPIRE from Serangoon Junior College, consisting of 17-year-olds Santhiya, Htet San, and Bram. Their project, "The Secret Painting", utilised rotating polarising filters to reveal an impression of the Mona Lisa.

Despite the many challenges that the team had faced, team member Santhiya noted it had been a rewarding experience working on the project: "We had to stay back for a few hours every week, even during our school holidays.

"But we learnt that hard work pays off, and seeing the end product come together made it all worth it."