Organising the Hip Science Symposium

I finished my Thursday night MW5202 Science Communication class with a ‘how to organise a symposium’ methods tutorial which explores proximal and ultimate causes.

And then it was time for the 14 to organise a symposium! In the process, they are using IT tools to facilitate collaboration and communicating as they.

Last year, we cooked up “Bucket Science Symposium”. This group is pondering “The Hip Science Symposium”.

The idea for shifting the venue to the Science Centre Singapore was made to inspire the students at a new location and a cosy venue known for science discovery.

Family and friends come along for support and invitations go out to Science Centre members.

See last year’s webpage: http://bucketscience2013.wordpress.com

Principles and techniques of Station Guiding in background

Japanese Otterman observes giant river otters at River Safari

Hiroshi Sasaki, who has studied Asian otters since the 90’s, dropped by Singapore to observe the giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) at the River Safari.

We watched the pair swim for an hour until they retired to their dens. The otters can be observed from above, along the side of the tank and from the middle. It was fascinating and soothing.

Then I rushed off to my meeting.

Hiroshi and I caught up early morning in the taxi ride from Mackenzie Road, chatting about research, friends and students dating back to the 90’s. He asked me about Pat Foster-Turley’s spraint item identification, and realised she had discussed crab prey items with someone, but who?

I revealed that was Peter Ng, our crabman, and that Foster-Turley had stopped by to chat with Peter in 1990. She left behind some spraint items in a box which looked to be fiddler crab remains from small-clawed otter remains from Perak.

Peter tossed that box at me in a conversation after my honours year, and suggested I study a wild mammal. That’s how it started.

When we got out the cab, who else did we bump into but Peter!

And we enjoyed a brief reminiscent moment next to the Changi tree sculptures at the zoo entrance today.

Honours poster! 2011-2014

Civetgirl Fung Tze Kwan, who has a great sense of occasion, posted this compilation to Facebook, of my honours students with their posters on the day of their oral exams, from her honours year, 2011 to the present.

It’s a long transforming journey to this fateful day. When the photo is taken, the students would have survived the scrutiny of their examiners and are mostly elated!

I’m usually missing, busy torturing the examinees I would have been allocated. This would be three or four other classmates of theirs.

The seniors are a critical part of their preparation and come by to support, view the other students posters and take this important photo!