The Benefits of Involving Undergraduate Students in Outreach Programmes: a Case Study in Singapore

Education in Singapore has received international recognition. Schools are well supported in terms of facilities and technology. However due to the focus on examinations, most of the classroom time is dedicated to its preparation and teachers have little time to explore related topics out of the curriculum. As a consequence students (both proficient and weak) may often lose their fascination and interest in topics like science. This usually leads to a loss in motivation to pursue further studies in the subject. To improve this situation, the Faculty of Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and its Department of Chemistry conducts outreach programmes to engage young students in science subjects such as chemistry. One of the themes of this programme was the “Science of Cooking & Molecular Gastronomy”, adapted to local flavours and delicacies. An important feature of the programme was the involvement of undergraduates. Undergraduate students act as educators, demonstrators, facilitators and role models in this environment and inspire young school students. We also found that undergraduate themselves improved their own perceptions of chemistry and increased their motivation for independent learning. This talk will share the experiences and lessons learnt in the development and execution of the programme. We will highlight that with proper training and guidance, the participation of undergraduates in the outreach programme has a positive impact on their personal development, academic learning and career prospects.