International Science Youth Forum 2022

The 14th International Science Youth Forum (ISYF) was held by Hwa Chong Institution digitally from 18 to 21 Jan 2022. With this year’s theme, “Sparking Innovation, Igniting Collaboration”, ISYF has united 111 delegates from 12 countries across the world including Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia and Australia to work together towards creating scientific ideas and solutions for hypothetical situations. ISYF aims to inspire passion for science among youths, establish cooperation and friendship amongst talented young science students and build the capacities of science educators. 

To guide and invigorate the talented delegates, HCI had cordially invited Guest-of-Honour Mr Frederick Chew (CEO of A*STAR) and Prof Stuart Parkin (Millennium Technology Laureate 2014) who was recently awarded the King Faisal Prize for Science 2021 for his research into three distinct classes of spintronic memories. 

Throughout the 4-day event, participants attended a myriad of events, such as the Team Project Challenge, where they were split into different teams and had to come up with a solution to a natural environmental crisis. The Cultural Sharing segment also saw many representatives from different countries explaining about their countries and cultures with everyone, which further deepened the bonds between the participants. 

Team Project Challenge Showcase

Delegates also had the opportunity to gain awareness and greater scientific knowledge in the Meet-the-STEM Changemaker sessions, where esteemed leaders from the research, industry and government sectors shared their respective expertise and fields of study to further enrich the delegates’ perspective on the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

One of the speakers for the Meet-the-STEM Changemaker sessions was Prof Joseph Sung – NTU distinguished University Professor, Senior Vice President (Health & Life Sciences), Dean at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and IAS NTU Distinguished Fellow, who shared that while artificial intelligence can be integrated to produce the best patient-centered management protocol, trust between such technologies and healthcare providers need to be built in order to resolve multiple issues associated with data driven and artificial intelligence guide machines.

Meet-the-STEM Changemaker sessions by Prof Joseph Sung, Prof Lee Pooi See and Prof Sierin Lim [clockwise direction]

Ho Pin Rui from NUS Hight Schools shared that the “talks by distinguished professors were truly enriching and gave me a deeper insight to many of the latest scientific topics.  I learnt a myriad of skills in scientific communication”. Phoebe Quek from CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School added that “ISYF is one of the most fun and memorable programmes that I have ever participated in. I really enjoyed making new friends among the delegates and facilitators, and it was very satisfying to complete the project challenge with them”.

While the pandemic has prevented us from meeting each other face to face, it did not stop the delegates from continuing to form close bonds with each other, nor has it prevented them from collaborating and making connections with each other. We certainly hope that ISYF will enlighten and inspire everyone to continue working hand in hand to innovate new ideas everyday, hence making the STEM community thrive even more.

Written by: Yong Cheng Yen Janice |Hwa Chong Institution

Pictures by: Yong Cheng Yen Janice  and He Yue |Hwa Chong Institution