On 25 August 2017, The HEAD Foundation (THF) had the pleasure of welcoming Professor David Gross, Nobel Laureate in Physics 2004, and his wife Dr Jacquelyn Savani for a visit to the Foundation’s office. They were joined by the Foundation’s other special guests, Prof Christine Ennew, Provost of the University of Warwick; Prof Khoo Hoon Eng, Associate Dean (Academic Affair) of Yale-NUS; Mr Sriven Naidu, Director of Programme Development and Partnerships of SMU; Prof Phua Kok Khoo, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies of NTU and Mr Amarjit Singh Wasan.
Prof Gross and other guests were welcomed by members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and senior management. This was followed by a presentation and a tour of the office.
Prof Gross, who graciously agreed to be interviewed for THink: The HEAD Foundation Digest’s Leadership Spotlight feature, spoke with guest interviewer Dr Xiong Chi of the Institute of Advanced Studies, NTU.
If you don’t have people who are skilled in science and mathematics, those who are would have enormous opportunities, but they are not going to go be teachers who are underpaid and not respected. Then you’re not going to produce good science and math students — it’s a vicious circle.
As his visit coincided with the on-going Professional Learning Programme on improving schooling quality, jointly organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and THF, Prof Gross also had a one-hour dialogue with the education specialists and policymakers from six Asian countries who participated at the programme. During the dialogue, he spoke about his thoughts on STEM education, its issues and progress in the United States and Asia, and addressed questions from the participants.
Prof Gross visit at the Foundation’s office was followed by his public lecture at Science Centre Singapore entitled Looking to the Frontiers of Fundamental Science, jointly organised by THF and the Institute of Advanced Studies of NTU.
