ESSEC and A*STAR collaborate to host science communications competition at one-north Festival

Inaugural Science Communicators’ Challenge encourages scientists and students in Singapore to
“change the world in three minutes through science”

ESSEC Business School and the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) announced their first-ever, jointly organised Science Communicators’ Challenge, set to be launched at this year’s one-north Festival.

In hosting the competition for the first time, ESSEC and A*STAR hope to spark meaningful discussions around science and technology, while boosting awareness of the need for science literacy. The competition aims to encourage a diversity of entrepreneurial ideas around how science betters our world and shapes a tech-enabled future. The competition encompasses two categories – one for local and international students from tertiary-level institutions and the other for A*STAR
scientists passionate about communicating their work to the public.

In line with creativity being a pillar of the one-north Festival, participants will have just three minutes to present a topic of their choice relating to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. They will be allowed to use props they are able to carry on stage themselves, without the aid of any electronic media or presentation formats. The heats and finals for both categories will be held at one-north Festival at Fusionopolis One and open to the public to view the action onstage. The winners will be determined through three judging criteria – quality of content, clarity of presentation, and charisma. Winners of the Challenge stand to win attractive prizes including ESSEC Executive Workshops that are worth up to S$3,000.

Speaking about the school’s participation and collaboration with A*STAR in this year’s Festival, Professor Kevyn Yong, Dean, ESSEC Asia-Pacific and Associate Professor of Management at ESSEC Business School, said, “ESSEC has always championed initiatives around innovation and creativity, and we are excited that this collaboration with A*STAR will help to provide a platform for the younger generation to push the boundaries in creative thinking around science and technology. As a business school, we highly encourage all students to step outside their comfort zones and discover the joy in learning. The Science Communicators’ Challenge will be another reminder of why that’s important.”

Mr Suresh Sachi, Deputy Managing Director of A*STAR, said, “A*STAR aims to grow a strong interest in science and technology and encourage public conversations on how it not only touches every facet of our lives but also brings economic benefits and betters society. The Science Communicators’ Challenge is a great way for the research community to spur important discussions around how science benefits the common man and gives participants a platform to engage the public in an interesting and dynamic manner. A*STAR is especially pleased that this inaugural challenge is one of the thought leadership platforms of the France-Singapore Year of Innovation 2018.”

The competition will be judged by Dr. Abhi Veerakumarasivam, winner of FameLab International 2016, A*STAR scientists and senior management, representatives from Science Centre Singapore, and lecturers and senior management from ESSEC Business School.

Moving into its third edition, the one-north Festival celebrates research, innovation, creativity, and enterprise, with an array of talks, workshops, tours and exhibits for the public which showcase the breakthroughs in technology and how this impacts our daily lives. The Festival is co-organised by A*STAR and JTC, and supported by Science Centre Singapore along with corporate, IHL (Institutes of Higher Learning) and public sector partners from one-north and beyond. Sign up for the A*STAR ESSEC Science Communicators’ Challenge at: http://www.competitions.onenorthfestival.sg/submissions/.

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Read the Press Release HERE