The Next Generation

Global Young Scientists Summit 2013, Singapore, Jan. 20–25

By Katie Kervin S

ingapore has established itself as one of the premier meeting destinations in Southeast Asia, attracting many large conventions in a variety of industries, from Herb-

alife’s Singapore Extravaganza in 2012 to the Aviation Secu- rity Conference and Pharma-Nutrition this year. But for the small island city-state with a population of about 5.2 million, meetings aren’t just about attracting dollars and visitors — they’re about creating and sustaining a knowledge economy that is second to none. “Singapore has found success in today’s interconnected

world as a global hub in many sectors such as transporta- tion, commerce, and finance,” Singapore President Tony Tan said during closing remarks at the inaugural Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS), which Singapore hosted in January. “… Through sustained investments in R&D over the last 20 years, Singapore has built up a strong base of local expertise housed in several world-class research universities, leading-edge research centers, institutes, and corporate labs.” Convene accepted the Singapore Tourism Board’s invita- tion to join approximately 280 scientists in Singapore’s one- north vicinity — a research hub that includes private- and public-sector research labs and institutions, hospitals, and universities — for GYSS on Jan. 20–25. The event took place primarily at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) University Town, an educational complex with student residences and teaching and research facilities, including the Centre for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), which houses Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) — the division of the prime minister’s office that created GYSS. “Singapore’s hope is that GYSS@one-north will excite and inspire the next generation of bright young scientists,” Teo Chee Hean, the country’s deputy prime minister and chairman of the NRF, said at GYSS’s opening ceremony, “to embark on research that addresses global challenges and the future needs of mankind.”

SKILLED SCIENTISTS When I first heard “young scientists,” I assumed that GYSS

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On Site GYSS programming included site visits to various research labs, giving participants a chance to experience Singapore’s research areas first hand.