The 27th Chem•Comm Challenge (27 May 2023)

Chemistry•Communication Challenge, aka “Chem-dot-Comm”, is a biennial scientific communication event organised by the Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore. This competition has a long history and started in the 1970s as the Chemistry Speech Contest. Its main objective is to provide secondary school students nationwide an introduction to advanced topics in chemical sciences and their vital role in our industry, economy and society. It is an opportunity to expose these students to public speaking before their peers and teachers, as well as to engage them in exploring new and advanced concepts in Chemistry. Through competition, we hope to motivate students towards attaining higher proficiencies in scientific oral communication by challenging them through peer- learning.

Chemistry•Communication Challenge is conducted in English using a web-based presentation format. The key advantages of Information Technology (IT) over live demonstrations is that it can leverage on the accessibility to a wide audience and connect with them through the interactivity of web-based media. Through this challenge, we hope participants will be able to develop innovative techniques to instruct difficult scientific concepts in Chemistry in a highly effective and informative manner.

Our theme for the 27^th CHEM•COMM CHALLENGE is “The role of Chemistry in Singapore Green Plan 2030”. Compared to the present, Singapore in 2030 and beyond is envisaged to be a more sustainable and resilient country. For example, emissions will have peaked at 65 millions tonnes and decreasing.¹ 30% of the food Singapore needs will be home-grown.² The Green Plan charts ambitious and concrete targets over the next 10 years, strengthening Singapore’s commitments under the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement, and positioning us to achieve our long-term net zero emissions aspiration as soon as viable. In this competition, we can explore how chemistry can assist in achieving the targets.

The competition will be conducted face to face.

[1] https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/budget-debate-singapore-wants-to-halve-emissions-from-2030-levels-by-2050

[2] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/spore-sets-30-goal-for-home-grown-food-by-2030

Prizes

1. Champion: the team will receive the Champion Trophy + S$210 vouchers + Certificates
2. 1^st Runner-up:  the team will receive the 1st Runner-up Trophy + S$180 vouchers + Certificates
3. 2^nd Runner-up: the team will receive the 2nd Runner-up Trophy + S$150 vouchers + Certificates
4. Meritorious Award 1: the team will receive S$90 vouchers + Certificates
5. Meritorious Award 2: the team will receive S$90 vouchers + Certificates

Participant Criteria

1. This challenge is opened to all secondary school students from Year 1 to Y4 (at the point of competition).
2. Each Team is comprised of 3 participants.
3. Each school can register a maximum 2 teams.

Rules

1. Each team member has to participate in the speech, presenting, and answering question on the team’s topic. The presentation from each team will consist of 2 parts, i.e. a web site and presentation slide.
   • Website: The site should consist of a minimum of 5 pages, including references and images and/or movies. Unless produced by you, all media used in the web site MUST reference a source, either scanned from a book or downloaded from other media or web site. The website must be available online at the point of judging. It is strongly recommended that the team uses the Windows PC provided by the organiser for their presentation. If the team decides to use their own computer, they must be responsible for bringing the necessary connectors/adaptors (if necessary) to connect to the projector.
   • Presentation: The presentation is not simply a demonstration of the web site. It should present the important points of the team’s chosen topic, and then showcase the contents of the web site to provide more information about the topic. The web site therefore serves to supplement the presentation.
   • The following guidelines may offer some help to participating teams:
     • Speaker 1 will act as a Chairperson for the team. He/She will introduce the presenters, and the topic to be presented.
     • The presenters (speaker 2) will deliver the slide presentation, followed by a brief demonstration of the website by speaker 3.
     • After the presentation, speaker 1 will highlight the main points, before thanking the presenters and closing the team’s presentation.
2. Each team is to submit 2 different topics on the theme by 6 March 2023. The Organising Committee will select one from the topics submitted and inform the participating teams of their respective topics in advance.
3. Participants will design their own presentations and web sites based on the topic.
4. The team is only allowed to refer to the presentation and web site during the speech. No other props are allowed.
5. The time allocated is 12 minutes. A warning will be given at the 10^th minute.
6. After the presentation, question(s) will be put to each team by the judges. The question(s) will be based strictly on the topic presented. ANY of the three team members can provide the answer(s) on behalf of the team. The question period will be no longer than 10 minutes. Students must answer the questions by themselves and NOT seek any help, electronically or otherwise.
7. Depending on the total number of participating teams, a preliminary round may be arranged before the finals.
8. Decisions of the judges are final.

Judging Criteria

Timeline

Registration

• Registration fee: SGD 60.00 per team (3 students) + GST
• No refund will be provided for any cancellations.
• Registration fee payment deadline is 15 April 2023 (Sat). 
• First come, first served basis
• Lunch will be provided.
• Registration is closed.