Institute of Physics Singapore
Fellowship for Physicists and the Promotion of Physics in Singapore
Highlights include talks on a variety of astronomy and physics related topics, conducted by professors, experienced amateur astronomers, and other subject-matter experts, as well as stargazing at night (weather permitting).
More details are available in the brochure
This retreat was a moderate-sized group of 43 people, from 2 schools (SST, and NUS High), the NUS Astronomical Society, and the public. In attendance from IPS were Dr. Abel Yang and Assoc Prof. Phil Chan.
There were two contributed workshops and three contributed talks on various aspects of physics, astronomy and science as well as a planetarium show conducted by the NUS Astronomical Society. The activities were designed to be more hands-on to better accomodate the diverse backgrounds of the participants and to take advantage of the darker skies and radio-quiet environment.
The workshops were
- Satellite Workshop by Mr. Tan Hoe Teck
- Building Telescopes by Dr. Abel Yang
The talks were
- Capturing Our Universe by Mr. Remus Chua
- Bridging the gap: talking astronomy to non astronomers by Mr. Yuen Xiang Hao
- Birdwatching for Beginners by Ms Cecillia Yip and Dr. Lee Lay Tin
This year's retreat was a large group of 87 people, from 5 schools (SST, RI, RI(JC), NJC and ITE College East) and the public. In attendance from IPS were Dr. Abel Yang, Assoc Prof. Phil Chan and Dr. Lim Kim Yong.
There were three contributed workshops and three contributed talks on various aspects of physics, astronomy and science. The activities were designed to be more hands-on and less technical, also in order to better accomodate the diverse backgrounds of the participants. Participants were organised into groups that comprised of students from different schools and levels, with an icebreaker activity contributed by the NUS Astronomical Society.
The workshops were
- High Resolution Solar Imaging by Mr. Alfred Tan
- Fox Hunting by Mr. Tan Hoe Teck.
- Some Fun Demos by Dr. Lim Kim Yong
The talks were
- 20 Years of Dark Energy by Dr. Leek Meng Lee
- The various types of Astrophotography by Mr. Michael Mathews
- Capturing Flux and Streams by Mr. Remus Chua
Stargazing during the retreat was available for two nights out of three due to rain on the first night. Despite cloud cover throughout, participants managed to observe Jupiter, Saturn and the Milky Way.
About 31 participants comprising members of public as well as students and teachers from Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution, NTU, and NUS gathered at Harbourfront Ferry Terminal on the morning of 11th June. The journey to the resort was smooth: it took 1.5 hours by ferry and coach.
The Retreat kicked off with an opening address by Associate Professor Phil Chan, NUS Physics. Dr. Abel Yang, an astrophysics lecturer from NUS, gave a briefing on format of the competition for this year's retreat, instead of the usual quizzes. Mr. Tan Hoe Teck from SST managed the interactive and interesting "Fox Hunting" event for the students to explore the entire resort and win attractive prizes. The participants were also invited to be a part of the group photo outside the Harris Barlerang Function Hall:
Over the next two days, participants enjoyed the following activities:
- High Resolution Solar imaging and Post-processing by Mr. Alfred Tan, Vice-Principal, NJC
- The Great American Eclipse of 2017 by Mr. Koh Joo Beng
- Demos for Fun by Dr. Lim Kim Yong, Lecturer, NTU Physics
- Quantum Red Dot by Dr. Tan Peng Kian, Lecturer, NTU Physics
- Physics in the Environment by Dr. Koh Wee Shing, Adjunct Associate Professor, NUS Physics
- Stephen Hawkings - The Man and His Science by Dr. Lim Jit Ning (Hwa Chong Institution) and Leek Meng Lee, Lecturer, NTU Physics
There was reasonably clear sky on the last third night – the Milky Way was visible to the naked eye, and Jupiter and Saturn were both easy to spot. The stargazing area, near the beach of the resort, gave a wide and unblocked view to the east, which gave stargazers a good window of opportunity for observation and astrophotography.
Participants returned home safe and satisfied on the 14th June 2018.
About 95 participants comprising members of public as well as students and teachers from Nanyang Polytechnic, Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution, NUS High, and NUS gathered at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on the morning of 13th June. The journey to the resort was smooth: it took only three hours by ferry and coach.
The Retreat kicked off with an opening address by Mr. Jeremy Chong, NYP's astronomy club advisor and NYP's representative at IPS Astronomy activities. Dr. Abel Yang, an astrophysics lecturer from NUS, gave a briefing on the quizzes, which participants could take part in to give themselves a chance to win attractive prizes. Mr. Chin Zong Yang from NTU Astronomy Club and the students from NYP Astronomy Club conducted the ice-breakers for the participants. The participants were also invited to be a part of the group photo:
Over the next two days, participants enjoyed the following activities:
- Birdwatching talk and birdwatching expedition by Ms. Cecilia Yip and Dr. Lee Lay Tin, members of the Nature Society
- Introduction to Particle Physics at CERN by Dr. Wang Wei Yang, Lecturer, NUS RC4
- Geometries of Special Relativity and Curved Spaces by Dr. Leek Meng Lee, Lecturer, NTU Physics
- Photos from the Outback by Mr. Remus Chua, renowned local astrophotographer Water Rocket Workshop and Water Rocket Competition by Mr. Chin Zong Yang, NTU Astronomy Club
- Planetarium Visits by Mr. Clarence Liu, Mr. Ooi Qi En, and Mr. Lim Kia Yee from NUS Astronomical Society
- Large Telescopes by Dr. Abel Yang, Lecturer, NUS Physics
There were good skies on two out of the three nights – the Milky Way was visible to the naked eye on the first night, and Jupiter and Saturn were both easy to spot. The stargazing area, on the rooftop of the resort, gave a wide and unblocked view to the east, which gave stargazers a good window of opportunity for observation and astrophotography each night before moonrise.
Participants returned home safe and happy – they had learned, through experience, what it is like to stargaze at a dark sky site with minimal light pollution; interacted and made friends with students from other schools who shared a common interest; and learned about astronomy's many facets through the various talks and workshops. On the journey back to Singapore, several of the students recalled their experience with joy and expressed an interest in next year's event – the 25th NYP–IPS Astronomy Retreat 2018.
There were 5 Astrophysics Lectures, one Bird Lecture, 2 Physics Workshops plus 7 Planetarium shows (assisted by our summer student from UC Berkeley, Ms. Megan A.) with ~ 90 participants.
Participating schools : Hwa Chong, Raffles : RI & RGS, NUS High Sch, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Sch, S'pore Science & Tech Sch. Nanyang Poly and several members of the public.
We specially like to thank the following Council and IPS Members : Jeremy Chong (NYP), Qixiang(NUS), Jit Ning(HCI), Hoe Teck (SSTS), Meng Lee (NTU) and Abel Yang(NUS) for their enthusiastic and assistance and support for another very successful year of this long running series of Astro-Retreats … way back to 1994.
A big thank you to Ms Carole Au (Cosmoscraft) for organising the massive logistics for us.
About 130 amateur astronomers made up of students, teachers, and members of the public took part. Participants were entertained and informed by a series of nine lectures on physics and astronomy, as well as a very enjoyable bird-watching expedition led by Dr. Lee Lay Tin and Ms. Cecilia Yip. Eight pairs of binoculars and several astronomy-themed quiz prizes were given out. The skies were great on the final night of the retreat – the Milky Way and stars showed their colours and majesty!
Last Updated on 2024-03-25