Speech by Professor Leo Tan, Chairman, Science Sub-Commission, Singapore National Commission for UNESCO,at the Ceremony on the Signing of Agreement on L’Oréal Singapore For Women in Science National Fellowship, 5 December 2008, 12.00 noon, Raffles Hotel Ballroom

Dr Sheldon Shaeffer, Director of the UNESCO Bangkok Office and Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific,

Ambassador Kesavapany, Director, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies,

Mr Jean-François Couvé, Managing Director, L’Oréal Singapore,

Dr Hazel Khoo, Director, Cross-Council Office, A*STAR,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

Introduction

On behalf of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO, I am pleased to be here to sign the agreement on L’Oréal Singapore For Women in Science National Fellowships. This marks another milestone in Singapore’s journey with UNESCO, since we officially rejoined the organization as its 193rd member at the 34th UNESCO General Conference in Paris last October.

The Singapore National Commission for UNESCO

In May this year, the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO was launched. We used that opportunity to organise a UNESCO Educators Workshop. It was attended by some 30 educators from the Asia Pacific who benefited from sharing experiences and learning about best practices in teaching and pedagogy.

Since then, the Singapore National Commission has been attending and organizing conferences and events, where we can share our experiences as well as learn from the experiences of other countries in the areas of education, science, culture and information.

Going forward, the National Commission will continue to do its part to promote greater exchanges among UNESCO countries and to further the goals of UNESCO among the educational, scientific and cultural communities in Singapore. The advancement of science is one of the key focus areas for the Singapore National Commission. This is also very much in line with Singapore’s emphasis on science, technology, research and development as a national priority.

Next year, one of the key events for the Singapore National Commission is the International Science Education Conference to be held in November. Some 600 policy-makers and educators, including those from UNESCO countries, are expected at the Conference. The theme of the Conference is “Science Education: Shared Issues, Common Future”. We hope that the Conference will be a useful platform for policy makers and science educators in Singapore and other UNESCO countries to discuss common issues in science education and to share experiences and best practices in teaching and research on science education.

L’Oréal Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowships

Today’s signing ceremony is a good example of how the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO has worked closely with industry and relevant agencies in Singapore to advance the goals of UNESCO, in this case, in the area of science and research.

The L’Oréal Singapore For Women in Science National Fellowships, which will be launched today, represent an important avenue to groom talent in science and research. In particular, the Fellowships seek to recognise the contributions of women scientists to the advancement of science and research in Singapore. The Singapore National Commission is committed to working closely with L’Oréal Singapore and A*Star to implement the National Fellowships programme. I am confident that the programme will help contribute to the next generation of scientists and researchers in Singapore.

Conclusion

In conclusion, on behalf of the Singapore National Commission, I would like to thank Dr Shaeffer for witnessing this signing ceremony. Let me also thank L’Oréal Singapore and A*STAR for their support in making this partnership possible.

Thank you.