Science@Raffles aims to develop the scientific talent in students that will drive innovation and growth in Singapore. It provides students, who have exceptional ability and interest in science, with an early and sustained experience in science research work in niche areas such as the life sciences, materials engineering, photonics, chemical instrumentation and analysis, energy and communications.

Teachers collaborate with local and overseas tertiary institutions and research institutes such as Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA) and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), to provide opportunities for students to engage in authentic learning through research projects, advanced electives, internships and attachments, giving students early and sustained exposure to science research work. Students will have the opportunity to commit to long term research attachments of up to two years.

Together with research leaders at the local research institutes, teachers from the Raffles schools will also mentor the students in their progress and provide the basic skills training necessary for engagement in higher level research.

Science@Raffles is conducted in six special research laboratories at the RJC campus as well as at the partner research institutes. There are six components to Science@Raffles, namely:

• Electives@Raffles Research Labs
• Raffles Research Attachment Programme
• Overseas Science Programmes
• Special Science Lecture Series
• RJC Physics Building Competition
• Raffles Science Outreach Programmes
• Raffles Research Attachment Programme
• The RJC Toy Inventor’s Challenge

Electives @ Raffles Research Labs
Electives @ Raffles Research Labs provides students with the opportunity to engage in interesting and practical applications of scientific principles in niche areas such as the life sciences, materials engineering, photonics, chemical instrumentation and analysis, and communications in the six special research laboratories on campus. The electives are short courses on specialized topics and are developed and conducted either by teachers or with the help of external partners. Through the programme, students are exposed to advanced scientific theories and methods, and are engaged in applied science over and above the ‘A’ Level syllabus.

Raffles Research Attachment Programme
The Raffles Research Attachment Programme caters to students who are interested in being involved in a longer term science research programme, and in being mentored either by in-house Raffles teachers or research mentors/scientists at research institutes (RIs) or universities.

The RIs and universities include:

• Photonics Research Centre, Nanyang Technological University
• School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
• School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological Universit
• Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology
• Genome Institute of Singapore
• Institute of High Performance Computing
• Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology

Overseas Science Programmes
Overseas Science Programmes provide students with the opportunity to interact with participants from other countries besides attending lectures conducted by academic staff at prestigious universities and carrying out experiments under their tutelage. RJC students have so far benefited from the Science Summer School Programmes at the University of Cambridge (UK) and University of Western Australia. Other Overseas Programmes include MIT’s (USA) Centre for Excellence in Education Summer Programme, Professor Harry Messel International Science School (Australia), London International Youth Science Forum (United Kingdom), International Summer School for Young Physicists (Canada), International Science and Engineering Camp (Korea) and International Science Fair (Korea).

Special Science Lecture Series
The RJC Distinguished Visitors’ Lectures provide opportunities for students to listen to and interact with scientists from renowned local and overseas institutions who speak on their fields of expertise. Past speakers have included Nobel laureates.

The Raffles Science Lecture Series, conducted by RJC science teachers or invited speakers from tertiary institutions, focuses on a different theme each year. The theme for the lecture series in 2006 was Quantum Mechanics – The 20th Century Revolution which covered the historical development of Quantum Theory, its applications as well as unsettled controversies of the theory. In 2007, the focus was on Functional & Smart Materials for the Future, with lectures conducted by guest speakers from NTU.

RJC Physics Building Competition
The annual RJC Physics Building Competition provides opportunities for all JC1 physics students to work in groups and apply physics and scientific principles in constructing models which include bridges, towers, cranes, land yachts and Gravity-Mobiles.

Raffles Science Outreach Programmes
RJC also organises science outreach programmes as a platform for the college and students to reach out to students outside the college.

The Raffles Eureka Quiz
An annual mathematics and science quiz organized for secondary school students. The objective of the Eureka Quiz is to encourage students to apply theoretical knowledge and exercise their creativity in solving science and mathematics problems.

The RJC Toy Inventor’s Challenge
Students’ creative skills are honed through the development of an original toy that can be used as a teaching tool, or simply just for fun. The Challenge helps inspire the spirit of innovation and enterprise in all students as they look beyond their textbooks to apply their knowledge and imagination in novel ways.