Hear the Past See the Present

Touch the Future

Inaugural Annual Report 1996-1998

S INGAPORE DISCOVERY CENTRE

1 H e a r t h e P a s t

S e e t h e P r e s e n t

T o u c h t h e F u t u r e

Chairman's Statement

Board of Directors

Steering Committee

Management Team

Attractions at SDC

New Attractions

Promotion & Publicity Activities

National Education Programmes & Activities

Corporate Membership Scheme

c o n t e n t s 2

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The Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC) has made an impact on Nat iona l Educat ion

since it was officially opened by the President of Singapore, M r Ong Teng Cheong,

on 23 November 1996.

I am pleased to report that in our first seventeen months of operation from October 1996

to March 1998, we received more than half a mi l l ion visitors. Feedback from our

visitors indicates that they thoroughly enjoyed the unique SDC experience. They found

educational value in our attractions and also had a good time.

School children today make up about 30% of our visitorship. With its emphasis on National

Education, provided by hi-tech and interactive exhibits, the SDC has become an important

destination for school visits. We are one of the 20 nat ional institut ions listed in

"Learning Journeys", a programme initiated by the Ministry of Education to instil pride in young

Singaporeans and foster an understanding of the factors that have contributed to Singapore's

success. Ou r l ink with the schools has also been strengthened by our successful

I n s t i t u t i o n a l M e m b e r s h i p Scheme and by our p o p u l a r Schoo l R o a d s h o w s .

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) also recognise

our role in National Education. The scheme for active servicemen to visit the SDC has now

been extended to include Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). Personnel from

the Police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force also visit the SDC as part of their

training curriculum.

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Chairman's Statement

The SDC, while focused on its educational role, has also emphasised fun and entertainment

in its programmes. Through this "edu-tainment" approach, the SDC has successfully organised

many fun-filled events, activities and promot ions to attract visitors. At the same

time, we have also introduced new attractions, upgraded and replaced existing exhibits to

offer visitors new and exciting experiences, as well as to attract repeat visits. We strongly

believe that the continuous introduction of new and unique attractions will determine, to

a large extent, the success of the SDC. To this end, a masterplan for the long-term

development of the SDC will be developed.

As a new attraction, the SDC has worked hard to attract tourists. Our vision for the

future is also to position ourselves as a unique attraction which will enable tourists to

have a deeper insight into Singapore's past, present and future.

I would like to thank all our sponsors, the SAF, the Police, the SCDF, the schools and corporations

which have supported us. I would also like to record my deepest appreciation to members of the

SDC Board and Steering Committee for their vision and ideas

which have helped make the SDC what it is today.

Finally, my thanks to the management and

staff of SDC for their dedication and

hard work throughout the year.

Peter Ho

C h a i r m a n , SDC

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From left: B G Stephen Wong Kong Yip, Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean, B G (Ret) Chin ChowYoon and LTC Soh Poh Theen (Absent: Mr Chiang Chie Foo)

Board of Direetors

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Members

Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean

Permanent Secretary (Defence Development)

BG Stephen Wong Kong Yip

Commandant, SAFTI Military Institute

Mr Chiang Chie Foo

2nd Permanent Secretary (Education)

BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon

Executive Director, SDC & CEO Bintan Resort Management

LTC Soh Poh Theen

Commander ASB, RSAF

Past Members of the Board of Directors:

LTC (NS) Lim Boon Wee

Mr Ng Yoke Weng

COL Soon Eng Boon

LTC (NS) William Yap Guan Hong

(10 July 1995 - 10 October 1996)

(19 October 1994 - 20 May 1997)

(25 October 1993 - 19 October 1994)

(19 October 1994- 10 July 1995)

Standing (from left): C O L Chong Kim Chye, Adj Prof Kwa Chong Guan, C O L Soon Eng Boon, Mr Lai Kim Fatt, LTC Soh Poh Theen and Ms Chong Phit Lian Seating (from left): Prof Leo Tan, B G Stephen Wong Kong Yip, Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean & B G (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon (Absent: Mr Chiang Chie Foo)

Chairman

Members

Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean

Permanent Secretary (Defence Development)

Mr Chiang Chie Foo

2nd Permanent Secretary

(Education)

BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon

Executive Director SDC &

CEO Bintan Resort Management

COL Chong Kim Chye

Director Public Affairs,

MINDEF

Ms Chong Phit Lian

Group GM , SAFE Enterprises

Adj Prof Kwa Chong Guan

Head of External Programmes,

Institute of Defence &

Strategic Studies

Mr Lai Kim Fatt

Director Systems &

Computer Organisation,

MINDEF

Prof Leo Tan

Dean School of Science,

NIE

LTC Soh Poh Theen

Commander ASB, RSAF

COL Soon Eng Boon

Dy Comdt/Head Curriculum Dept,

SAFTI Military Institute

BG Stephen Wong Kong Yip

Commandant,

SAFTI Military Institute

Past Members of Steering Committee

COL (Ret) Kwan Yue Yeong

COL (Ret) Lee Seng Kong

Prof Lui Pao Chuen

COL (Ret) Ramachandran Menon

Mr Shih Chih Chung

LTC Sng Seow Lian

(20 March 1990 - 22 January 1997)

(15 October 1994 - 27 March 1997)

(22 August 1991 - 13 November 1992)

(20 March 1990- 15 October 1994)

(20 March 1990 - 26 February 1996)

(26 February 1996 - 22 October 1996)

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Steering Committee

From left: Mr Lawrence Low, Mr G.K. Pillai, Ms France Goh. LTC (Ret) Victor Pinto. B G (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon, Ms Faye Kee, Ms Jan Chang & Mr Lee Choon Nam

Management Team

Executive Director

General Manager (Operations)

Finance & Administration Manager

Education Manager

Marketing Manager

Operations Manager

Technical Manager

Deputy Estate Manager

BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon

LTC (Ret) Victor Pinto

Ms Faye Kee

Ms France Goh

Ms Jan Chang

Mr G. K. Pillai

Mr Lawrence Low

Mr Lee Choon Nam

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The SDC has strong outdoor and indoor dimensions. Its outdoor perspective includes a lake, the

nearby wooded hills and the colourful elements of its architecture. It has a unique triangular

roof structure and supporting rectangular buildings. The relationship of these geometric forms

and luminous colours instantly identify the SDC as a compelling public attraction. Indoors, the

SDC has been designed to an "open gallery " concept.

A . Scenes of Singapore's past are authentically re-created.

Technology Gallery

The highly interactive Technology Gallery

presents the impact of technology on warfare

over the years. "Must-sees" in this Gallery

are Technology Theatre, Jungle Survival,

Super Troopers, Great Armies, Soldier 21,

Shipbridge 21, Guardian of Our Skies and

Military Body Shop.

Tactics Gallery

As its name suggests, the Tactics Gallery

showcases the wonders of tactics in history

and modern life. The Gallery's attractions

include Everyday Park, Tintoy Theatre,

Swiss Success, Safe & Happy Home ,

Urban Survival, Global Situation Room,

Faces of Battle and What If ?

iWERKS Theatre

The 350-seat iWERKS Theatre works the magic

of story-telling through large format films.

The highly successful show A New Day

has been screened since SDC's opening.

It captures the contributions of ordinary

Singaporeans to the success of the nation.

• An exciting moment during the screening of the show A New Day at the iWERKS Theatre.

Singapore Dynamics Gallery

This Gallery traces Singapore's development

and vision. Singapore's milestones are

creatively captured through a combination of

thought-provoking dioramas and interactive

exhibits. A total of fourteen significant

span the country's

years in 1942 to what

it hopes to be in

future. The Gallery

compr ises three

main sections, the

development years

from 1942 to 1987,

Singapore Today and

Promise of Peace.

Attractions at SDC...

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Shooting Gallery

The Shooting Gallery is a four-lane computerised

simulated firing range for aspiring marksmen

to put their shooting skills to the test. First-time

visitors to this Gallery

are often surprised

by the level of

co-ordinat ion and

quick reflex needed in

target shooting.

Simulator Ride

The 60-seat simulator has six-degree-of-freedom

movement, making the experience real and

enjoyable. Strike Force, a film which captures

the three services of the SAF in an exciting

exercise, is immensely popular and has been

screened since SDC's opening.

Outdoor Exhibits and Children's

Adventureland

Beyond the Galleries, eight items of real

military hardware from the Army, Navy

and Air Force are on display in the Outdoor

Exhibits Area. The beautifully landscaped

Children's Adventureland

is next to the Outdoor

Exhibits and is popular

with children.

A . This 60-seat simulator which offers visitors a thrilling ride, is a first in this region.

SAFTI Coach Tour

Visi tors to the SDC can also enjoy

a comp l imen t a ry coach tour of the

SAFTI Military Institute. The 20-minute

tour highlights interesting buildings and

landmarks in SAFTI.

^ The Children's Adventureland is a hit with adults and children alike.

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• The Shooting Gallery offers plenty of fun & excitement for all visitors.

True to its spirit of education and entertainment, the SDC always explores new attractions

and upgrades existing ones. This is to ensure the SDC experience is always fresh and

inspiring for first-time and repeat visitors.

• The virtual reality attraction allows visitors to be the hero of the day!

Niagara : Miracles, Myths and Magic

In April 1997, SDC began screening a second

70mm film at the iWERKS Theatre. This was

Niagara : Miracles, Myths and Magic, a very

popular show. Well-received by visitors, Niagara

ended its run in January 1998.

RGB Adventure

In June 1997, a second simulator ride film

entitled RGB Adventure was introduced. This

show is especially popular with younger visitors.

Second Virtual Reality Game

In August 1997, a second Virtual Reality

Mandala System was introduced. Three new

games were also brought in - Turbo Kourier,

N e t m i n d e r and C o l o u r Tr i p :

Digital Drums/Body Paint. So far, this

new virtual reality

attraction has

proved to be

popular, just like

the first virtual

rea l i ty game ,

Airborne Rangers.

4 Witty Little George will entertain you with his wisecracks when you

"".entre.

Interactive Robot - Little George

In May 1997, a new interactive robot named

Little George joined the SDC. It was first

used for the TechLabs Exhibi t ion and

School Roadshows. Later, in September 1997,

Little George found its home at SDC's main

entrance, the ideal spot to welcome and exchange

greetings with visitors.

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New Attractions

r

See Sparky and his family zoom "out ^ of the screen" as they introduce

Singapore in the 21 st century..

3-D Laser &

Film Spectacular

In J anua ry 1998, the 3-D Laser &

Film Spectacular 8th Wonder of the World was

launched in the iWERKS Theatre. This highly

animated experience tells the Singapore story

dramatically and colourfully through laser

animation, special visual and sound effects.

Visual Dynamics Theatre

This 50-seat Visual Dynamics Theatre

was o p e n e d in N o v e m b e r 1 997 .

Serving Singaporeans: Today & Tomorrow, a 3-D video show first produced for the

PS21 Exhibition, is now screened in this theatre.

Sonar, Thermal Imaging and Tunnel of

Illusions

These three attractions were introduced in

October 1997. They teach the technology

of sound, heat and vision by inviting visitor

participation. These attractions are very

popular with our visitors.

Infra-red technology at work at Thermal Imaging.

Headlines, Lifelines

In October 1997, the Headlines, Lifelines m u l t i m e d i a p r o g r a m m e a t t h e

G loba l Si tuat ion Room was launched.

This was a joint effort with The New Paper.

Focusing on the events of the 1940s.

Headlines, Lifelines brings alive the events

and facts of the past in an interesting

manner.

Black Box

The Black Box was also opened in

October 1997. This 25-seat sound-proof, dark

room is equipped with high quality sound

equipment. A combination of unique 3-D effects

and state-of-the-art technology features an

authentic re-creation of life during the

Japanese Occupation (1942 - 45). High in

education and emotional content, Black Box is

open to schools and organised groups only.

Audiences were captivated by the high-tech 3-D laser effects.

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/ ince the SDC's opening, it has hosted a wide number of events - some fun, others for charily and

many which underline the role of ordinary Singaporeans in Singapore's success story, past, present

and future. From photograph exhibitions to footballers, from actors to art competitions, the SDC

has been a venue which marries education and entertainment, fun and knowledge.

Christmas Charity (December 1996)

A Christmas Charity was organised on 26 December 1996. About $4,000 worth of gifts

were presented to five charities. These included the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home

and the Boys' Town.

West Coast Attractions (March 1997)

On 15 March 1997, the SDC joined seven other attractions located in the western part

of the island to form West Coast Attractions, an initiative supported by the Singapore

Tourism Board. To encourage more visitors to West Coast Attractions, a 10% discount was

offered for visits to second and subsequent attractions.

Jk. The contestants had great fun during the competition as they get to exchange ideas with others.

National Students On-the-Spot Art Competition

(April 1997)

The SDC co-hosted the 1997 Na t i o n a l Students

On-the-Spot Art Competition with Singapore Press Holdings

on 5, 6, 12 and 13 April 1997. A total of 8,000 students

from 4 to 16 years old participated in the competition.

Mr Peter Chen, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education,

was the guest-of-honour. One of the highlights of the event

was an education event entitled A Walk Down Memory Lane. Stalls selling foodstuffs and games were set up amidst

a carnival-like atmosphere.

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Promotion Publicity

Activities

Charity Activity - Joint Promotion with The New Paper and Friday Weekly

(June 1997)

The promotion took off on 8 June 1997 during which 20% discount was given on ticket

prices. As part of the Charity Drive, the SDC donated 50% of the amount collected from

admission tickets sale of that day to the Down Syndrome Association.

Photography Contest and Exhibition (August - September 1997)

The Photography Contest and Exhibition, which coincided with National Day celebrations,

was jointly organised by the SDC and the Photographic Society of Singapore. The theme

for the contest was "Singapore's Past, Present and Future". The contest was divided into

two categories - Junior (below 21 years) and Adult (21 years and older). Three top prizes

and three merit prizes were awarded in each category. A school prize was also awarded

to the school that had the most winners in the Junior Category.

TCS Photo Exhibition for Drama Serial "The Price of Peace" (August 1997)

Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) held a photo exhibition at the SDC for the

Chinese drama serial "The Price of Peace" from 10 to 17 August. The lead artistes in the

drama serial made an appearance at the SDC on the first day to support the event.

•A. BG (Ret) Chin ChowYoon, Executive Director SDC,

welcoming the stars of the popular show "The Price of Peace".

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A . The fans took the opportunity to meet Fandi when the Warriors visited the SDC.

Meet the members of the SAF Football Club - The Warriors (August 1997)

On 31 August 1997, members of the SAF Football Club including Fandi Ahmad visited the SDC

together with their families. The Warriors took the opportunity to meet up with their fans

for an autograph session.

Army Open House (September 1997)

In conjunct ion with Army Open House, held on 6 and 7 September 1997 at the

SAFTI Military Institute, the SDC offered special admission packages for all SAF personnel and

their families.

Bikers' Carnival (October 1997)

Jointly organised by the SDC and Two Wheelers, this Carnival was held at the SDC on

18 and 19 October 1997. On display were the latest motorcycles from Honda and

Harley Davidson. There was also a display of vintage motorcycles, all dated before the 1940s.

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The SDC's 1st Anniversary Celebration (November 1997)

The S D C c e l e b r a t e d o u r f i r s t a n n i v e r s a r y on 23 N o v e m b e r 1 9 9 7 .

M r Matth ias Yao, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, was the guest-of-honour.

One of the highlights was the 421,123rd visitor to the SDC. The number 421,123 was

significant as "42" represented the 420,000 visitors we had at the SDC as at 23 November 1997,

while " 1123" represented the date of the SDC's anniversary.

^ From left BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon, Executive Director SDC; the 421,123 d visitor Mr John Chao and family

with the guest-of-honour, Mr Matthias Yao, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (6th from left). Extreme right. BG Stephen Wong, Deputy Chairman, SDC.

Roadshows at Shopping Centres (October 1996 - December 1997)

In order to create a greater awareness of the SDC among the public, roadshows were held

at shopping centres around the island. At the roadshows, a light-hearted skit gave

audiences a feel of the SDC experience. It was also an opportunity for the public to discover

more about the SDC. The roadshows were held at Jurong Point Shopping Centre,

Parkway Parade, N T U C Hougang Ma l l , Suntec City Ma l l and Tiong Bahru Plaza.

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National Education

Programmes & Activities

Objective

The objective of national education of the SDC is to complement and supplement the history and

social studies syllabi of schools.

Target Groups

Target audiences are :

All schools in Singapore, ranging from Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, Pre-University, ITEs

and Polytechnics. Nat iona l Servicemen in the SAF, the SCDF and the Police Force.

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Education Programmes

The following programmes were introduced to maximise the national education benefits of the

attractions in SDC:

Worksheets and Teachers' Guides To ensure that the visits by the students are meaningful and that the students focus on the

salient aspects of the attractions, three sets of worksheets were produced, catering to each

of the three levels - Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Teachers' Guides were produced to

give teachers a better understanding of the exhibits as well as provide essential material

for them to conduct a tour of the SDC for their students.

^ Students were totally engrossed as they listened to the narrations of the guide.

Character Guided Tours Covering the attractions in the Singapore Dynamics Gallery, the Character Guided Tours were

led by hosts who dressed up as characters who had witnessed the significant milestones in

Singapore's history. The characters recounted these historical events in a personal and

heart-warming manner.

Attachment Scheme Eleven NUS Theatre Studies students were attached

to the SDC in December 1996. As part of their

assignment, they wrote a drama script for selected

exhibits and performed at the exhibits.

Talks-cum-Discussion On 29 October 1997, Dr Melanie Chew held a

talk-cum-discussion for 80 Junior College students.

Her talk, titled "Leaders of Singapore" was the first

in a series by distinguished or well known personalities

Ak. Dr Melanie Chew on earnest discussion with students.

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A . The students were totally immersed in the re-enactment of life under the Japanese.

POW-WOW Camp The Pow-Wow Camp was successfully carried out on 26 and 27 November 1997 for

30 Jurongville Secondary School students. 8 Hwa Chong Junior College students acted as Japanese

soldiers and 2 Jurongville teachers took on the role of civilians. Through this camp, the

students had a vivid experience of what life was like during the Japanese Occupation. This

camp will be organised yearly.

Besides conducting national education programmes and activities in SDC, an outreach programme

to the schools was undertaken.

School Roadshow A total of 54 schools benefited from the school roadshows in 1997. Through the use of laser

technology in the film show, the lessons of National Education were brought home by the students.

The school roadshows proved to | be highly popular among students. 18

Institutional Membership The Institutional Membership scheme was opened to schools from March 1997. So far,

more than 63% of schools are members. Institutional members are offered a range of

privileges ranging from priority booking for the roadshows to discounted admission and

simulator ride rates.

Education Programmes for National Servicemen In March 1997, MINDEF approved a scheme to enable active servicemen to visit the SDC, as

part of nat ional education. In October 1997, this scheme was extended to NSmen.

Worksheets on the salient aspects of the attractions in the SDC are distributed to national

servicemen on their visit to the SDC. To ensure that the NSmen understand certain key

messages, a short quiz is provided at the end of the worksheet. Successfully completed

quizzes are eligible for a lucky draw.

To enable national servicemen to benefit more from the Centre, we provide training to

selected SAF servicemen so that they can conduct tours for the men in their charge.

j* . Interpretive dramas effectively conveyed the feelings of ordinary Singaporeans during momentous times.

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Corporate j Membership

Scheme The Corporate Membership Scheme was launched in March 1997. Corporate members are given

special privileges when visiting the SDC or when holding corporate events at the SDC.

Corporate Events Held at the SDC

A total of 80 organisations and 225 SAF units held their corporate functions such as Family Day

and Anniversaries at the SDC's outdoor picnic area and indoor facilities. The Hospitality Suite

and the Discovery Gallery were some of the

facilities that are used. The size of these

corporate functions ranged from 100 to 8,000.

A total of 85,000 adults and children enjoyed

themselves at the SDC during these corporate

events.

Corporate events were held regularly at the SDC.

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SINGAPORE DISCOVERY CENTRE

510 Upper Jurong Road Singapore 638365 Tel: 792 6188 Fax: 792 1233 Website: http://www.sdc.com.sg