Singapore’s first natural history museum finally opens its doors to the public

Once they walk in, visitors are immersed in a slightly mystical atmosphere that might remind one of “Night at the Museum.” Three dinosaurs at the center of the exhibition, as well as the magic of this dimly lit space, definitely help to set the cinematic mood. Although many come here for dinosaurs, the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum has a lot more to offer; the Biodiversity Gallery is comprised of 15 zones, with exhibits ranging from sea stars to apes.

Attention-grabbing giants: Prince, Apollonia, and Twinky. Photo by Anna Sorokina.

The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Singapore’s only museum that showcases Southeast Asian biodiversity, held its opening ceremony on April 28, 2015. Located next to National University of Singapore and easily accessible by public transport, this modern building easily attracts visitors. Even from outside, it looks spacious, environmentally friendly, and gives off the vibe of a modern art museum.

Entrance into the museum. Photo by Anna Sorokina.

On the main floor, visitors can learn about the history and diversity of life in Southeast Asia. Some of the most impressive collections are of bugs and butterflies, the intricacy of which can’t fail to amaze even those visitors who are not fond of these small creatures.

An amazing collection of intricate, but underappreciated creatures. Photo by Anna Sorokina.

The mezzanine floor is divided into the Heritage Gallery and the Singapore Today area, highlighting Singapore’s past and present. They explore the geology of the island and showcase conservation work that’s being undertaken in the country.

Creatures of the ocean. Photo by Anna Sorokina.

Once on the second floor, don’t forget to go to the balcony to check out the Mangroves, Swamps, and Dryland Forest section and the Beach to Land Forest area. Although quite small, these sunlit areas serve as a nice contrast to the main part of the museum. They feature plants that exist anywhere from rainforest to coastal habitats.

Rafflesia Arnoldii, the largest flower on Earth. Photo by Anna Sorokina.

Overall, the exhibition is quite interactive and kid-friendly. Easy-to-understand videos and entertaining presentations seem to outnumber the text descriptions of the displayed plants and animals. However, those who like to read scientific information will not be disappointed, since the text is both informative and interesting.

The displayed collection of sculls ranges from the oldest human fossils to the modern Homo sapiens. Photo by Anna Sorokina.

After visiting the museum, one can browse the souvenir shop, conveniently located next to the entrance. With snacks, drinks, toys, and books, it can serve as a nice ending to this educational trip.

The only way to buy tickets to the museum is in advance through SISTIC. Another thing to note is that the museum sells admission tickets in six one-and-a-half hour slots, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Although an hour-and-a-half slot is plenty of time to explore the museum, visitors who enter the exhibition on time are welcome to stay for as long as they want.

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Address: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377

Phone number: 66013333

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday & PH 10am-7pm

Singapore resident rate: Adult- $16, Child/Student/Senior citizen-$9

Standard rate: Adult- $21, Child/Student/Senior citizen-$13

Emmy award winning journalist gives advice to SAS students

Last airborne reporter on September 11th. Reported on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Melinda Murphy, an Emmy award winning journalist, can talk about these events from her personal experience. Having worked as a producer, writer, editor and on-air correspondent, she is now the editor-in-chief of Singapore American Newspaper. Murphy is the kind of person who isn’t afraid to take risks: her assignments have taken her to a range of places, from a showgirl stage in Vegas to a snake pit in Texas.

Murphy came to SAS as a part of the speaker series offered by the SAS Communications and Alumni Relations Work Study Program. Presented with such a great opportunity to meet someone working in the journalism field, I interviewed Murphy about her experiences and struggles in this fast-changing industry. Although the questions she answered were mainly about journalism, Murphy’s stories serve as great advice to people interested in any career.

Q: What is it like competing with other journalists for a story?

A: Journalism is a tough, cut-throat field, but if you’re naturally not competitive, it doesn’t mean that it’s not for you. Confidence and friendliness are the key to success. Firstly, you have to continue believing in yourself even when people pick at you. Secondly, since journalism is all about being a part of a team, treat your team well. When I first moved from Texas to New York, I remember telling the new fellow correspondents, “Let’s go have lunch!” and they were all surprised because that’s not something they would usually do. Eventually, we all became friends, so being an easy-going person definitely helped me.

Q: For someone going into journalism, is it important to choose between print and broadcast right off the bat?

Image taken from melindamurphy.info

A: It’s always good to have a plan so you can be prepared for whatever it is you want to achieve. However, you never know what’s waiting for you around the corner. Sometimes you have to be flexible, follow the journey, and enjoy the ride instead of being determined to get to your originally planned destination. After all, just because you made a decision at the age of 17 doesn’t mean that that’s what you’re actually going to do for the rest of your life. What you do in college doesn’t have to define you forever and it’s important to not be afraid to change your mind.

Q: In terms of college, is it more beneficial for an aspiring journalist to major in something else, like politics or economics?

A: If you know what you want to focus on in journalism, it is beneficial to major or minor in the area of your interest. However, in the end, you will still need to know how to write and report.

Q: Do you think a master’s degree is beneficial for journalists?

A: No. Instead, go out, knock on the doors, interview people, and get experience in the industry.

Image created with recite.com

Q: What are some of the challenges that you faced as a writer and reporter?

A: When I decided to create a family, I had to give up being an on-air correspondent. Right now, I’m working for the Singapore American Newspaper and it’s great, but I miss the hectic environment that you face as a correspondent. Being in the middle of things is completely different from everything else and once you experience it, you crave breaking news stories.

Q: What’s the one piece of advice you would give to aspiring journalists?

A: When I sent one of my stories to my agent, she said, “Your stuff is weird but because of that, you’re gonna be a star.” It’s important to find your voice, your niche. Being different is the key and it will get you far.