Ocean exploration can teach students about teamwork, critical thinking and collaboration: Desmond Lee

Education Minister Desmond Lee touring the exhibition inside the R/V OceanXplorer vessel on the third day of the OceanX Summit on Oct 9, 2026. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Published Oct 09, 2026, 06:50 PM

Updated Oct 09, 2026, 06:50 PM

Exposure to ocean exploration helps Singapore students build teamwork, problem-solving and future skills, Education Minister Desmond Lee said at the OceanX summit aboard R/V OceanXplorer.

The summit brought scientists, innovators and educators together to discuss ocean technology, public engagement and marine education, including the 2025 OceanX-NUS Monsoon Rise expedition in the eastern Indian Ocean.

Lee said students need strong basics, critical thinking and lifelong curiosity, while teachers and partners like OceanX should give them real-world learning and teamwork experience.

SINGAPORE – Exposure to ocean exploration efforts helps students in Singapore grow in many ways, including understanding the importance of teamwork across disciplines, cultures, nationalities and generations.

These learning outcomes are important for students as they are growing up in a world where technologies are advancing rapidly, and information is increasingly accessible, said Minister for Education Desmond Lee on Oct 9.

“ 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,” he added.

He was speaking on the final day of the OceanX summit held aboard the OceanXplorer research vessel berthed at Marina at Keppel Bay.

OceanX is a US-based non-profit ocean-exploration initiative. It recently partnered with National University of Singapore scientists on an expedition to explore the biodiversity of the Monsoon Rise, a largely unexplored seamount chain in international waters off Christmas Island.

OceanX’s annual three-day summit brought together scientists, innovators and educators aboard the vessel to discuss the ocean’s future, focusing on technology, public engagement and marine education.

Education Minister Desmond Lee giving a speech on the third day of the OceanX Summit. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI The Straits Times

Education Minister Desmond Lee giving a speech on the third day of the OceanX Summit. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Lee said the oceans cover 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, sustaining life, supporting trade and regulating the climate.

“Yet much of it remains unexplored. As advances in science and technology create opportunities in ocean discovery and the blue economy, initiatives like OceanX help us to understand our oceans and inspire action to protect them,” he added.

Lee noted that OceanX has since 2024 been working with his ministry and the Science Centre Board on student programmes, as well as professional educators.

Over 570 students and educators have toured the OceanXplorer, and h undreds more from Singapore’s schools and higher learning institutes have participated in ship-to-shore livestreams during OceanX’s scientific expeditions, he said.

The research vessel is equipped with deep-sea submersibles, wet and dry laboratories, and media production facilities designed to translate complex scientific research for global audiences.

“These experiences bring science to life, inspiring our students and building their understanding of the ocean’s importance,” Lee added.

The exhibition inside the R/V OceanXplorer vessel. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI The Straits Times

The exhibition inside the R/V OceanXplorer vessel. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Lee noted that research expeditions bring together many professionals.

Marine scientists and engineers use robotics and imaging to explore difficult-to-reach parts of the ocean, while data specialists make sense of complex datasets with technologies like AI to mine data more deeply.

Educators work with communications professionals to bring the voyage to life for various audiences, he said.

“Imagine the wonder when our students see research in action, exploring unchartered waters, and making discoveries new to science,” Lee said. “These are concepts that help to bring science to life for our young students.

“By seeing these efforts, our students can also discover how the knowledge they pick up in the classroom and the laboratory can be applied in the real world and to achieve breakthrough,” he said.

For instance, a computer science student may see how data science supports marine research, while an engineering student may see technologies built for extreme environments put to the ultimate test, Lee said.

Meanwhile, a media student may learn how complex scientific discoveries can be translated into stories that inspire wider audiences and the effort it takes to turn complex science into something that everyday people can understand and relate to, he added.

The minister noted that literacy, numeracy and deep disciplinary knowledge remain important.

“At the same time, our students must also develop skills such as critical thinking, communication and collaboration, and the curiosity to keep learning throughout their lives,” he said.

Preparing the next generation for an increasingly uncertain future requires a significant collective effort, Lee said.

Schools build the foundation for learning, while community and industry partners like OceanX give students real-world experiences enrich learning through access to expertise and authentic real-world settings.

Environmental issues

教育部长李智陞于2026年10月9日，在OceanX峰会第三天参观了R/V OceanXplorer科考船上的展览。（海峡时报摄影：AZMI ATHNI）

发布于2026年10月9日下午6:50

更新于2026年10月9日下午6:50

教育部长李智陞在海洋探索者号科考船上举行的 OceanX 峰会上表示，接触海洋探索有助于新加坡学生培养团队合作、解决问题和未来技能。

此次峰会将科学家、创新者和教育工作者聚集在一起，讨论海洋技术、公众参与和海洋教育，其中包括 2025 年 OceanX-NUS 在印度洋东部开展的季风隆起考察。

李表示，学生需要扎实的基础、批判性思维和终身好奇心，而教师和像 OceanX 这样的合作伙伴应该为他们提供真实的学习和团队合作经验。

新加坡——接触海洋探索活动有助于新加坡的学生在很多方面成长，包括了解跨学科、跨文化、跨国籍和跨世代团队合作的重要性。

教育部长李智陞于10月9日表示，这些学习成果对学生来说非常重要，因为他们成长在一个技术飞速发展、信息越来越容易获取的世界。

他补充道：“要解决我们今天面临的许多问题，需要运用各种学科的知识，要有与拥有不同技能的人合作的态度，并且要谦逊地参与团队合作，这样才能取得大于个体之和的成果。”

他是在 OceanX 峰会的最后一天发表讲话的，峰会在停泊于吉宝湾码头的 OceanXplorer 研究船上举行。

OceanX是一家总部位于美国的非营利性海洋探索组织。它最近与新加坡国立大学的科学家合作，开展了一项探险活动，探索圣诞岛附近国际水域中一条尚未被充分探索的海山链——季风隆起的生物多样性。

OceanX 举办的年度为期三天的峰会将科学家、创新者和教育工作者聚集在船上，讨论海洋的未来，重点关注技术、公众参与和海洋教育。

教育部长李智陞在OceanX峰会第三天发表讲话。（海峡时报图片：AZMI ATHNI）

教育部长李智陞在OceanX峰会第三天发表讲话。（海峡时报图片：AZMI ATHNI）

李说，海洋覆盖了地球表面 70% 的面积，维持着生命，支持着贸易，并调节着气候。

“然而，海洋的许多区域仍未被探索。随着科学技术的进步为海洋发现和蓝色经济创造了机遇，像OceanX这样的项目有助于我们了解海洋，并激励人们采取行动保护海洋，”他补充道。

李指出，OceanX 自 2024 年以来一直与他的部门和科学中心董事会合作开展学生项目以及专业教育工作者项目。

他说，已有超过 570 名学生和教育工作者参观了 OceanXplorer 号，还有数百名来自新加坡中小学和高等院校的学生参加了 OceanX 科学考察期间的船岸直播。

该研究船配备了深海潜水器、干湿实验室和媒体制作设施，旨在将复杂的科学研究成果转化为全球观众能够理解的内容。

李补充说：“这些经历让科学变得生动有趣，激励了我们的学生，并加深了他们对海洋重要性的理解。”

海洋探索者号科考船内部的展览。（海峡时报照片：AZMI ATHNI）

展览在“海洋探索者号”科考船上进行。ST 摄影：AZMI ATHNI

李指出，科考探险会将许多专业人士聚集在一起。

海洋科学家和工程师利用机器人和成像技术探索难以到达的海洋区域，而数据专家则利用人工智能等技术对复杂的数据集进行深入挖掘，从而更好地理解数据。

他说，教育工作者与传播专业人士合作，将这段旅程生动地展现给不同的受众。

李说：“想象一下，当我们的学生亲眼目睹科研活动，探索未知领域，并做出科学新发现时，他们会有多么惊奇。这些概念有助于让我们的年轻学生感受到科学的魅力。”

他说：“通过观察这些努力，我们的学生还可以发现，他们在课堂和实验室里学到的知识如何应用于现实世界，并取得突破。”

李说，例如，计算机科学专业的学生可能会看到数据科学如何支持海洋研究，而工程专业的学生可能会看到为极端环境而开发的技术如何经受终极考验。

与此同时，他还补充说，媒体专业的学生可能会学习如何将复杂的科学发现转化为能够激励更广泛受众的故事，以及将复杂的科学转化为普通人能够理解和产生共鸣的内容需要付出怎样的努力。

部长指出，读写能力、计算能力和深厚的学科知识仍然非常重要。

“与此同时，我们的学生还必须培养批判性思维、沟通和协作等技能，以及终身学习的好奇心，”他说。

李说，要让下一代为日益不确定的未来做好准备，需要付出巨大的集体努力。

学校为学习奠定基础，而像 OceanX 这样的社区和行业合作伙伴则为学生提供真实世界的经验，通过接触专业知识和真实的真实世界环境来丰富学习。

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