Daily Lessons from Life 11 June 2011 - Students come up with simple solutions to everyday problems

Just a quick uplifting moment to share: The parents of the young probationers in this afternoon session broke into applauds at the end of my partner and my presentation. It is most gratifying to know that they felt that the session is useful for them and that they are encouraged!

"Students come up with simple solutions to everyday problems - CNA 11 June 2011

SINGAPORE: Students at Republic Polytechnic's Scientific Thinking Program are using simple solutions to answer some relevant and sometimes quirky questions.

Do worms like music? It is hard to say whether they like it, but according to students from Nan Hua Secondary School, listening to hard metal music makes them grow a little faster.

And worms are not the only ones affected by music - green beans prefer some groovy R&B to boost their growth.

Students from Assumption High Secondary School preferred a more serious topic, and one that is very relevant.

The junior scientists studied the anti-bacterial properties of copper, lead and zinc on E. coli bacteria.

One of the students, Winona Roxanne, said: "It's very surprising to have normal metals like copper to have distinctive and significant properties towards bacteria."

Some experiments even have some commercial potential. Students from Naval Base Secondary School used everyday ingredients like milk and salt to come up with a potent glue that can withstand up to 1kg of weight.

Dr Terence Chong, Director of School of Applied Science at Republic Polytechnic, said: "We actually ask the students, what do they see around them, what questions they have about nature, what's around, and they might seek to find out about it.

"So they come up with their own ideas about things, and we just help them ask better questions, make more rational sense out of the world and you get all sorts of interesting things."

The top four projects will be awarded a prize in the competition, which is into its eighth year."

It is gratifying to find that the kids are encouraged to come up with simple solutions to everyday problems for the last 8 years! Keep up the good work as nurturing the young scientists in 'science-scarce' Singapore is very important work!

Lessons for me are:

1. keep an open mind about young people looking at challenges and issues from a different angles than us!;

2. have faith that the young people can come up with different answers to the questions that we already had answers for! Every road we take can reach Rome. Just that the paths may be different, experiences different, and with mixed results of sourness and sweetness. Most importantly, the conclusion must come from the young people themselves!;

3. have the mindset that 'it is ok to fail as long as one learned from the failure and not repeat the same mistakes'!

Kudos to the young inquisitive and creative minds. Keep up the good work as one day you will sincerely find some breakthrough solutions that make a big difference for the good!!