Sembcorp water technology prize (Sec 2 - JC2)

Just saw the poster below even though my colleagues have mentioned to me that they are involved in the competition. More details are found on PUB's webpage here. If you are considering to participate, the deadline is 18 Sep 2010.

Apparently, there is this push into membrane technology as the solution to getting clean water. Membrane technology is certainly cheaper and more energy efficient compared to traditional distillation. Theoretically, it can remove almost any impurity (salt, organic compound) in water. A membrane is basically a filter with very tiny pores. Depending on the specifications, some are small enough to block off microbes while others can block off even dissolved ions like sodium and chloride, allowing only water molecules to pass through. Seawater and heavily contaminated water can be made into potable water.

Naturally, pushing water through such tiny pores requires lots of pressure (and energy) so using membrane to purify water (e.g. reverse osmosis) is by no means cheap but prices seem to be dropping all the time.

Other challenges. Membrane fouling is a major problem. After some time, contaminants accumlate on the surface of the membrane till it can no longer function efficiently. It is time to either clean the membrane or replace it entirely. To prolong the operating life of a membrane, it is essential to have good pretreatment. In other words, you need to have many steps before the actual membrane itself to filter off increasingly smaller contaminants. Imagine having several filters of decreasing mesh size so that the final filter will not be stressed by a big load of contaminants.

Of course, this sort of setup comes with controls and maintenance operated by skilled personnel. Though there are now remote control interfaces, allowing a treatment unit in say, Africa to be controlled by a technician in America, you still need boots on the ground to attend to certain maintenance tasks. Therefore, this technology is still not so useful for rural areas without the presence of skilled personnel. Very often, even with skilled personnel present, the local population may not be able to operate the treatment unit once these personnel leave.

But for Singapore, sure, no problem. Membrane technology is the way to go!

Water Competitions for Students in Singapore

I have regularly been asked by school teachers whether Singapore has any competition based on a water theme for their students. That's right, participating (and winning) in competitions are pretty much part of the job scope of our teachers nowadays, from primary right up to tertiary level. Who knows, next time, even our kindergartens are not spared.

These are the few I can think of.

1. Singapore Junior Water Prize (by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Lien Foundation)
   This project based competition is as close to a water theme as you can get. Registration for 2010 closes on 26 Feb 2010 so hurry! Winners of this Prize will get to compete internationally in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
2. Singapore International Water Festival (SIWF) @ the Barrage (by Singapore Polytechnic and PUB)
   This is NOT a project based competition. Instead, it hosts a range of competitions - Environmental Quiz (a, b), Amazing Race, Walking on Water, Solar Boat Race, International Raft Race. The Festival is scheduled for Jun 2010 though the details have yet to be put up.
3. Green Wave Environmental Care Competition (by Sembawang Shipyard)
   Project based. Submission of proposal form closes on 31 Mar 2010. This competition covers more than water as it stretches over many aspects of the environment. Entries need not even be technical since social and educational projects can be accepted.
4. Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSSEF) (by Singapore Science Centre, MOE, A*star)
   
   Project based. It covers a diversity of topics in science, maths and engineering. Winners will represent Singapore to compete at the Intel ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair).
5. Weather Station Project Challenge (by Senoko Power Station)
   Project based. Related to geography, specifically weather. I am not sure whether this is a yearly competition. There seems to be little information about it.
6. Singapore Land Authority (SLA) Spatial Challenge
   This competition involves the use of GIS (geographic information system). The project obviously has a slant towards geography. The good news is the participants will get to be trained in GIS (a very useful tool - see my earlier post) for free.
7. Clean Water Challenge (by Singapore Polytechnic School of ABE)
   This competition involves the participants building a water filter with given materials on the spot. The winning filter produces the cleanest effluent in the shortest time.
8. Other inter-school science competitions at cluster or national level (by MOE)

Singapore International Water Festival (SIWF) Environmental Quiz... at last! (19 - 21 Jun 09)

Good food, healthy turn-out and a few lessons in event management...

Yup, that is all I have to say about this inter-secondary school environmental competition organised by yours truly on a bright and cheerful SUNDAY (the caps are intentional).

I will henceforth let my figures do the talking (L-R, T-B):
Our MCs practising their scripts on 19 Jun 09, prior to the actual event on 21 Jun 09 (by the way, they did a marvellous job!);
Other helpers going through their designated roles on 19 Jun - you can certainly see that stress is not on their minds;
The actual day - student competitors in the front, teachers at the back (no, the teachers are not supposed to help);
A side event - my short and sweet poster presented at the concurrent exhibition manned by 3 of my students;
Dragon boaters in formation warming up for the competition (NOT my quiz but their dragon boat race);
The quiz finalists with our director in the customary photo shoot at the end.

Singapore International Water Festival (SIWF) (20-21 June 2009): Environmental Quiz Challenge

This job is quite unlike any water quality monitoring I have done. Heck, it isn't even water quality work (despite the "Water" in the title). I had the fortune to be tasked with organising the event "Environmental Quiz Challenge" under the umbrella of SIWF. SIWF is an appetiser of sorts before the main event, Singapore International Water Convention which stretches for 1 week.

Quite simply, the Quiz is a competition for secondary schools to fight it out for the top 3 prizes. But what is really NEW and DIFFERENT is the venue - this event (and the Festival) is held at the Marina Barrage. What a way to launch our nation's latest (and very expensive) water infrastructure!

You probably can gather by now - this event is organised by PUB (no surprise) and Singapore Polytechnic (SP).

If you are interested to know more the Festival, check out this page.

If the Environmental Quiz Challenge is your target, check here.

Figures (L-R, T-B): Inspirational vista of the main courtyard; the CBD (and IR) as viewed from the Barrage; the actual barrage itself; Courtyard Room - where the Quiz is held

NUS-LKYSPP Climate Change Essay Competition

15 Dec 2008


To: All Tertiary Institution Council for Environment (TICE) members


NUS Office of Environmental Sustainability and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) jointly present
Climate Change Essay Competition

Theme: Climate Change: Implications for Singapore

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that anthropogenic climate change is now unequivocal, citing evidence from rising global average sea levels, global average air and ocean temperatures and widespread melting of snow and ice. In response to the IPCC scientific consensus on climate change, Singapore released its National Climate Change Strategy in late Feb 2008 to address various aspects of climate change from vulnerability, adaptation, mitigation and competency building to international participation. At the same time, the government announced the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development to formulate a clear, national framework and strategy for Singapore's sustainable development in the context of emerging global and domestic challenges, especially if the current international negotiations on climate change culminate in a post-2012 agreement that results in a carbon constrained world.

As a small island state, Singapore faces several domestic constraints including limited natural resources, geographical constraints which prevent the effective deployment of renewable energy, and an open economy that relies heavily on fossil fuels. Given these domestic challenges and that international negotiations on climate change are still evolving, what are the implications for Singapore's economy, governance and society?

NUS Office of Environmental Sustainability and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy cordially invite you to take part in our climate change essay competition. We are seeking essays that:

a. Critically assess and provide insights to Singapore's climate change policy.
b. Provide innovative solutions that address both the global climate challenge and the country's domestic concerns.

Eligibility
All students studying at Singapore's tertiary institutions (universities and polytechnics) are eligible to apply for the competition.

Requirements
All essays should not exceed 2000 words (excluding tables, charts and references) and should be accompanied by a 200 word abstract (included in word count). Each essay can have up to 3 authors. Essays should observe 1.5 spacing and Times New Roman font size 12. Normal academic standards regarding footnotes, references, etc. apply.

Awards
1^st prize: cash prize of S$1000 and certificate
2^nd prize: cash prize of S$500 and certificate
3^RD prize: cash prize of $300 and certificate
The top 3 winners of the competition will present at the National Sustainability Conference 2009 on 20, 21 and 22 February, which is hosted by NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan. Essays will be judged by two professors from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Submission
The deadline for submission is 16 January 2009. Send a softcopy addressed to Mr Loo Deliang at oesld@nus.edu.sg. Please provide authors' names, institution of study, email addresses and contact details.

Resources
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, http://www.ipcc.ch/
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), http://unfccc.int/2860.php
National Climate Change Strategy, http://www.climatechange.gov.sg.
Sustainable Singapore, http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/Contents/ContentsSSS.aspx?ContId=1034


For enquiries, please contact Mr Loo Deliang at oesld@nus.edu.sg or at 6516 1983.

SSBMB Pre-University Essay Competition 2008

Asian Geographic photojournalism competition 2008

For those environmental types out there, this competition has biodiveristy as one of the three themes.