Our External role

Government
We aim to keep regional governments informed about the EOS work, which benefits and affects them in many ways. Thus we work closely with policymakers in many branches of government for long-term planning and risk-assessment. This includes advisory meetings, targeted policy briefs, and background seminars about Earth science basics. In addition the EOS E&O arranges for EOS staff to provide targeted consultancy advice in response to government queries about key infrastructural and planning questions; for example, we advise the Singapore government about geological-engineering matters concerning the Jurong Underground Caverns storage facility. We also brief relevant hazard- and emergency-management agencies so they can be prepared for appropriate response during times of crisis.

An exciting project is our work to help the Singapore Ministry of Education develop new secondary geography and geology curricula. This includes assisting in the development of new Geographic Information System modules at secondary level. Thus we are helping Singapore students develop key skills for the future.

Teachers and students
The EOS E&O has a very strong engagement with various kinds of schools, plus teachers.

Our curriculum input to the Singapore Ministry of Education will also include a range of tailored supplementary Earth science learning resources for teachers and students.

EOS E&O works with Singapore’s National Institute of Education, and local teacher-associations directly, running workshops about teaching Earth sciences through enquiry-based learning. For teachers, we host field trips to Indonesian volcanoes and volcano-affected areas. These trips are extremely effective for illustrating the fundamentals of Earth sciences, and for enabling teachers to conduct such field trips themselves in future.

Students at all levels are a very important stakeholder group for us. Our frequent special talks in schools are warmly welcomed and appreciated.

We have also been involved in the 2009 and 2010 National Science Challenge competitions, hosting the semi-finals at the request of the Science Centre Singapore. In 2009 EOS E&O hosted the competitors at our premises, giving them educational talks about the GPS arrays on our building and megathrust earthquakes; for the competition, EOS staff adjudicated students’ implementation of this information through their use of an earthquake-simulator table. In 2010 we sent students on a mission into downtown Singapore to identify various rock types on the facades of prominent buildings. Again, EOS staff arbitrated how well students had applied what they had learned, deciding the competition winners.

For undergraduate students, EOS E&O manages the EOS student internship program. This will involve a limited intake once each year. Currently at a framing stage, we are defining the criteria and procedures to be used for accepting local Singapore students as EOS interns. We will be exposing interns to a working research environment, showing how science is done and why. Interested participants should check our website for details (www.earthobservatory.sg). 

We also invite media students from Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication to attend background scientific talks and workshops, as an extension to their science-writing module. The EOS E&O administers an elective course for NTU students on Natural Hazards and Society, taught by EOS staff.

Media
The media are vital partners for us in communicating the work of the EOS. EOS E&O liaises very closely with media organisations and journalists, facilitating uptake of EOS stories. For instance, the 2009 and 2010 Padang earthquakes gave us the opportunity to intensively communicate the EOS’ work over several weeks. We also operate an advisory and information service for media during times of emergency. EOS E&O provides background resources, including fact sheets and policy briefs, maintained on the EOS website.

Furthermore, to familiarise media staff with the basics of geosciences, EOS E&O runs workshops for journalist.



Other
The EOS E&O liaises with a variety of other organisations including a numerous non-government organisations around Asia. We support their efforts in relief and evacuation planning by providing them with up-to-date science.

We previously worked with the Science Centre Singapore on a six-month tsunami exhibit to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the 2004 Aceh tsunami. And we are again working with Science Centre Singapore to help design a full-scale interactive Earth science gallery for the new Science Centre opening in 2012.