Innovation and invention

Question 1

Timeline for science in Singapore

Answer 1

SCS (science council Singapore), National Science and Technology Board, A*STAR

Question 2

Two methods to foster science within early Singapore

Answer 2

The Science Centre and Science and Industry Quiz

Question 3

Current SG research budget

Answer 3

In the billions ($25 billion)

Question 4

What two global measures does SG peak in

Answer 4

TIMSS and Scope (both test maths and science knowledge of school children)

Question 5

Who coined scientist

Answer 5

William Whewell, Cambridge

Question 6

Scientific worldview

Answer 6

The world is understandable, all ideas are subject to change, knowledge is durable, cannot provide answers to all questions

Question 7

Three things science demands

Answer 7

Evidence, courage, hard work

Question 8

Three observation methods

Answer 8

Passive observation, collection, active probing

Question 9

What is mathematics

Answer 9

Maths is the science of patterns and relationships

Question 10

What is technology

Answer 10

extending our abilities to change the world

Question 11

What is engineering

Answer 11

Construing a problem, and coming up with a practical solution for it

Question 12

Hedges against failure

Answer 12

Redundancy (a backup) or overdesign

Question 13

Two issues in science

Answer 13

pseudoscience and science denialism

Question 14

Quadrants in Stoke’s quadrant

Answer 14

Pure basic research, Use-inspired basic research, pure applied research

Question 15

Axes of the Stoke’s quadrant

Answer 15

x = considerations of use
y = quest for fundamental understanding

Question 16

Cha-cha-cha

Answer 16

Three types of discoveries: charge, challenge and chance

Question 17

Explanation of cha-cha-cha

Answer 17

Challenge: response to an accumulation of unexplainable concepts
Chance: a chance discovery
Charge: discoveries to solve obvious problems in less obvious ways

Question 18

Types of innovation, explain them

Answer 18

administrative vs technical
process vs product vs service
radical vs incremental

Question 19

What is innovation

Answer 19

Creations and exploitations of new ideas. It is the work put in to make something happen as well as the inspiration to come up with that something

Question 20

Characteristics of innovation

Answer 20

uncertain: surrounding source, implementation, time frames etc
knowledge-intensive: generates and relies on knew knowledge
controversial: often undermines existing systems
imperialistic: interdisciplinary, crosses boundaries

Question 21

Scrabble - key points

Answer 21

Alfred Butts
Rejected until Brunot added the premium squares

Question 22

Seven sources of innovation

Answer 22

The unexpected, incongruities, process needs, industry market and structures, demographic changes, changes in public perception, new knowledge and discoveries (this one takes the longest)

Question 23

3M post its example

Answer 23

The unexpected
Looking to make a super strong adhesive

Question 24

Electric car starters

Answer 24

Kettering
Incongruity - without an easy way to start a car, only half the population were being sold to

Question 25

Lack of Film processers and dark rooms innovation?

Answer 25

Chnages in industry and structure (digitisation)

Question 26

Innovation: demographic changes

Answer 26

As we get older and busier, there is increasing need to automate household work

Question 27

Innovation due to changes in public perception

Answer 27

Cirque du Soleil used changing attitudes towards using animals in circuses

Question 28

The shipping box

Answer 28

McLean Replaced longshoremen. Used old military ships. Cost from $ per tonne to cents

Question 29

Segway

Answer 29

Kamen. Initially a medical product - was too expensive. Made a better dialysis machine.

Question 30

Bonsack machine

Answer 30

Automated cigarette rolling. James Bonsack (teen who won a contest). Machine could produce as many as 40 workers worth of cigs a day