New centre for aquatic science set up at poly

The projects are mostly related to the ornamental fish industry

A NEW centre for Aquatic Science and Technology was unveiled yesterday.

Giving a boost to the $30-million ornamental-fish industry here, the centre at Ngee Ann Polytechnic features state-of-the-art technology.

The $500,000 centre at Ngee Ann Polytechnic features state-of-the-art technology developed here.

Dr Sushila Chang, director of the Centre for Life Sciences and Chemical Technology, said that it replaces the polytechnic's old Aquaculture Unit and has been built to accommodate the increasing number of life-sciences projects being researched there.

Many of the projects are related to Singapore's $30-million ornamental-fish industry, one of the largest in the world.

Students and lecturers have also been working closely with commercial fish farmers to study problems affecting fish in tropical waters, she added.

The research areas include the development of anti-bacterial fish vaccines, accelerating the growth cycles of ornamental fish and the mass breeding of a single sex of a species.

Professional fish farmer Kenny Yap of Qian Hu Corporation collaborated with researchers on one such project to distinguish between male and female Arowana fish and found the findings to be helpful.

Dr Chang said that although most projects are focused on local developments, the centre hopes to work with foreign institutions soon.

Said Professor Leo Tan, the guest of honour and director of the National Institute of Education: 'Ostensibly, the students will be learning about fish and aquatic biology. But what they are really learning are problem-solving skills and survival skills for the 21st century.'