FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POLYS JOIN FORCES TO PROMOTE ENGINEERING AS A HOT CAREER AND SPRINGBOARD TO DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES

Minister for Education, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, officiates at Engineering Week opening 2004

SINGAPORE – 1 NOVEMBER 2004 – To be held in Singapore for the first time ever, Engineering Week is an initiative by the five local polytechnics to highlight the rich possibilities available to engineering students in today’s uncertain times. Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, will give a speech at the Opening Ceremony held at Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Convention Centre on 1 November 2004 at 2:30pm. Gracing the ceremony as well will be Mr Teo Ming Kian, Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB), as well as Prof Low Teck Seng, Principal & CEO of Republic Polytechnic, who is also the Chairman of the Taskforce on Engineering Education in Polytechnics.

Engineering Week will serve to encourage more post-secondary school students to consider engineering as a career option. All the five polytechnics have jointly collaborated to organise this, with the support and endorsement of EDB, MOE as well as the Singapore Science Centre.

“Even as we continue to promote the life sciences, we must raise awareness and re-kindle interest in engineering among students. Engineering has always been synonymous with ingenuity – people who use science and practical ingenuity, and identify problems and find solutions. Our economy – now and even more so in the future - needs this group of workers with skills in planning, combining, and adapting. Many people have found that being trained in Engineering has allowed them to pursue successful and high flying careers in industries and sectors, even outside Engineering. We want young people to realise that it presents unlimited opportunities to many doors, many paths. With passion, the choices are limitless,” commented Prof Low Teck Seng, Principal & CEO of Republic Polytechnic. As Chairman of the Engineering Taskforce, Prof Low will oversee the promotion of Engineering amongst the five polytechnics.

“Engineering: Passion and Possibilities” is the theme and tagline adopted by the polytechnics to promote engineering. The tagline emphasizes the wide range of choices that an engineering background provides. A panel of four illustrious ex-engineering graduates will be present at a Forum after the Opening Ceremony, to give their insights on their career choice, and to share their passion for engineering. The panel consists of Mr Bill Chang, Regional Managing Director, Cisco Systems (USA) Pte Ltd, Mr Sinnakaruppan, Managing Partner, IndusAge Advisors (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Ms Sharon Toh, Managing Director, Cadpo Asia Pte Ltd, and Mr Jameel Hussain, General Manager, MJ Labs.

The programme for the Opening Ceremony, which will start at 2:30 pm is given in Annex I.

A combined website for all the polytechnics has been set up at the following address: http://www.np.edu.sg/engineeringweek/. Further details of the activities that each polytechnic has lined up for Engineering Week can be found at the website.

Highlights of the Engineering Week can be found in Annex II for your easy reference.

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For more information on the Opening Ceremony, please contact:

Ms Lim Le-Anne

DID: 6510 3021

Email: lim_le_anne@rp.edu.sg

For more information on the individual polytechnic’s activities, please contact:

NANYANG POLYTECHNIC

Ms Sandra Tan

DID: 6550 0223

Email: sandra_tan@nyp.gov.sg

NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC

Ms Sheryl Sim

DID: 6460 7362

Email: sherylsim@np.edu.sg

SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC

Mr Eddie Sim

DID: 6772 1634

Email: esim@sp.edu.sg

TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC

Ms Vimala Christie

DID: 6780 5019

Email: vimalac@tp.edu.sg

ANNEX I

ENGINEERING WEEK OPENING CEREMONY

1 NOV 2004

NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC CONVENTION CENTRE

PROGRAMME

1:00 pm Registration of Guests

2:00 pm Guests to be seated

2:30 pm Arrival of Guest-of-Honour Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Minister for Education Welcome address by Prof Low Teck Seng Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Republic Polytechnic Chairman, Engineering Taskforce Steering Committee Keynote Address by Guest-of-Honour Speech by Mr Teo Ming Kian Chairman, Economic Development Board

"Engineering Our Future"

Multimedia presentation "The Magic of Engineering"

3:20 pm Engineering showcase and tea reception

4:00 pm FORUM: "ENGINEERING: PASSION AND POSSIBILITIES"

Mr Bill Chang Regional Managing Director, Cisco Systems (USA) Pte Ltd

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan Managing Partner, IndusAge Advisors (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd Ms Sharon Toh Managing Director, Cadpo Asia Pte Ltd Mr Jameel Hussain General Manager, MJ Labs

5:30 pm End of Programme

ANNEX II

SUMMARY OF SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF ENGINEERING WEEK

Polytechnic	Title of activity/workshop/programme	Interesting Points to Note:
NANYANG POLYTECHNIC	1. Knowing about MEMS - the Next Big Thing in Singapore!	The next big thing in Singapore is all about small miniatures. This workshop will show how students can create micro devices and microsystems, using cutting-edge technology such as Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems, an integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators and electronics.
	2. iTech Robotics Challenge	This is the ultimate robotic challenge as students create and programme their own robots. It will be a fun time of blending creativity, technology and engineering.
	3. Design and Build Your Dream Product	It is creativity galore at this workshop as students create their own car, house or mobile phone using rapid prototyping technology. Understand how this technology forms the basis of every gadget and product.
NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC	1. Wonders of Electricity In this workshop, participants learn the main structure of a home wiring system and possible causes for a sudden ‘blackout’, through ‘live’ demonstrations. Participants will also learn how a protective device can provide the necessary protection for them and their family members in the event of an electrical fault. Participants get to build a ‘dancing coil’ and see how it dances under the influence of a magnetic field.	Response to this workshop has been overwhelming. This is a very practical workshop for secondary school students as it unravels the mysterious wonders of electricity, which is essential to our everyday living.
	2. Creative Modeling Think out of the box! And create the ‘Timepiece’ of the 21^st century using Pro/DESKTOP software. Prizes will be given to top 3 most creative designs. Participants will find the use of 3-D modelers helpful in visualization, hence shortening their learning curve.	See how imagination can run wild as secondary school students come up with their own timepiece designs!
	3. Fun with Flashing LEDs Through designing and building a picture of a clown juggling a few flashing balls or a flashing Christmas card, students learn about series and parallel circuits in a fun way.	Fancy getting flashing greetings this Christmas? That could be the reason why many students have signed up for this workshop.
REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC	1. Tee Off with Robix!	This hands-on workshop will give participants the opportunity to learn more about robotics by working on a robotic golfer. During the workshop, participants will experiment and find the best way for the robot to hit the golf ball cleanly off the tee and finish with a good follow-through.
	2. Workshop - Fun with Design and Modeling	Participants will be exposed to simple 3D software modeling techniques used in engineering design and prototyping. They will work in a team to create a simple model, using CAD tools.
	3. Workshop - Fun with Electronics!	In this fun and hands-on workshop, participants will be introduced to the exciting world of electronics. Through a series of engaging activities, participants will learn how to create sounds and flash lights, which are triggered by real world phenomena such as temperature and light.
SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC	1. Seminar: Free Energy! How can I use it? Witness free energy in action @ Singapore Poly!	Imagine this scenario for the future: wind turbines on the rooftops of high buildings and around the island to generate energy for Singapore’s energy needs. Discover basics of Renewable (Solar) Energy and ways it can be used to power various objects in daily life. Marvel at Singapore Poly-built solar and wind farm with practical application of solar energy that includes lighting up the corridors of a building.
	2. Singapore Poly’s Carnival of Robots @ NP Convention Centre	Here’s your chance to interact with a variety of robots like humanoid robot, autonomous robot and spy robot on display. Learn how robots operate autonomously or by remote-control. Witness how robots can be used for everyday tasks as well as for entertainment.
	3. Understanding a wonderful “machine” – Our Human Body (Seminar on Biomedical Engineering)	Come find out how you walk (gait), sit and jump and other functions. Physiological signals could now be monitored and studies to assist you to devise ways and products to enhance your lives. Advances in Engineering enable us to understand our human bodies better.
TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC	1. Aerospace – Reach for the Sky	Using recycled material (eg. water bottle) to build a rocket based on aerodynamic principles and launch it as far into the sky as possible. The design that launches the farthest wins.
	2. The Energy Game	Discover how energy in a building can be managed and used to serve human beings. Energy conservation in an energy scarce environment.
	3. Antenna Design	Design and build your own antenna for TV reception. Not as easy as you think it would be.