Ocean exploration can teach students about teamwork, critical thinking and collaboration: Desmond Lee
Minister for Education Desmond Lee says exposure to ocean exploration nurtures skills in students.
Singapore's Minister for Education, Desmond Lee, highlighted the valuable lessons students can gain from exposure to ocean exploration efforts. In his speech at the OceanX summit on the final day of the event, Lee emphasized that such experiences help students understand the importance of teamwork across disciplines, cultures, nationalities, and generations.
As technologies advance and information becomes increasingly accessible, Lee stated, "Learning how to solve many of our problems today requires drawing upon a range of disciplines, having the attitude of wanting to work together with people with different skillsets, and the humility to participate as a team so that you get more than the sum of the individual parts."
OceanX, a U.S.-based non-profit organization focused on ocean exploration, partnered with the National University of Singapore for an expedition to explore the biodiversity of the Monsoon Rise. This largely unexplored seamount chain lies in international waters off Christmas Island. The OceanX three-day summit, held aboard the OceanXplorer research vessel, brought together scientists, innovators, and educators to discuss the ocean's future, focusing on technology, public engagement, and marine education.
Lee, who noted that the oceans cover 70 percent of Earth's surface and sustain life, support trade, and regulate climate, stressed that much of the ocean remains unexplored. He emphasized that initiatives like OceanX help us understand our oceans and inspire action to protect them. Since 2024, OceanX has been collaborating with Lee's ministry and the Science Centre Board on student programs and professional educator engagement.
Over 570 students and educators have toured the OceanXplorer, and hundreds more have participated in ship-to-shore livestreams during the organization's scientific expeditions.
Lee explained that the OceanXplorer is equipped with deep-sea submersibles, wet and dry laboratories, and media production facilities. These resources translate complex scientific research into engaging experiences for global audiences. By witnessing research in action and exploring uncharted waters, Lee said, students can grasp how classroom knowledge and laboratory skills can be applied in real-world situations, leading to breakthroughs.
For instance, a computer science student might observe how data science supports marine research, while an engineering student could witness technologies designed for extreme environments being tested to their limits. Media students, too, can learn how to translate complex scientific discoveries into relatable stories for a broader audience.
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