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Dunman Secondary School

STEM Talent Development

Explore how the ELIXiR⁺ Science Programme nurtures young STEM talent, from primary outreach to secondary leadership, through hands-on challenges, competitions, and enrichment activities.

Last updated on 7 September 2026

STEM Talent Development

A speaker presents at the Design Education Summit on stage with a slide about school-based design programmes, Nov 2023.

Student STEM project featured at Biennial Design Singapore Summit, Nov 2023

As part of the Centre’s effort to outreach to schools in the East Zone and to cultivate the passion for learning Science, the ELIXiR+ Science Programme is extended to Upper Primary Students from schools in the East Zone.

ELIXiR+ Science Programme activity types and eligibility

Introductory Class series

STEM Design Challenge

Eligible for: Upper Primary students

Eligible for Primary 5 students only

Comprises of 4 online modular classes of 1 to 1.5 hour each on ZOOM covering the following theme:

- Introduction to STEM
- Sustainability and Emerging Technology
- A Gentle Introduction to AI
- Introduction to Design Thinking

At each of each class, every student will be invited to a STEM game challenge and he/she can win exciting prizes

Identified students will form a team of 4 (maximum 2 teams per school). They will be required to solve a challenge together as a team using the given material.

This challenge will take place online for a duration of 5 hours (inclusive of 2 hours of hands-on activity)

At the end of the challenge, each student from the top 3 teams will receive exciting prize.

This STEM Design Challenge will serve as the qualifying criteria to apply for DSA-STEM to Dunman Secondary School in 2022.

Students who are posted to Dunman Secondary School through the DSA-STEM programme will join a STEM related CCA as well as students in this CCA will be part of the ELIXiR+ programme.

Minister Chan uses a Bernina sewing machine to make a tote bag from upcycled materials, assisted by a masked woman.

Minister Chan making a tote bag using upcycled materials

Minister Chan speaks with a student beside vertical hydroponic racks with green plants, while a group watches nearby.

Minister Chan visits our school's hydroponics facility

The ELIXiR+ program aims to develop and support our Dunmanities from young STEM Innovators to STEM leaders. The table summarises some of the activities that students have participated in previous years to grow their STEM competencies.

ELIXiR+ programme activities by secondary school level

Lower Secondary

Secondary 1

  • Used programmable Bernina sewing machines to upcycle jeans into tote bags

Grew and harvested plants in commercial grade hydroponics equipment.

Secondary 2

  • Science Center STEM Playground Challenge to design a load bearing chair without tape/glue

  • VJC Science Fair Silver Medalist (Lower Secondary)

  • Science-Geography STEM Outdoor Learning at Tampines Ecogreen

Upper Secondary

Secondary 3 and 4

  • Science Olympiads, with training provided

  • Youth Digital Currency Programme for coding fundamentals with Temasek Polytechnic

  • Compete at the National STEM Challenge (Quarterfinalists 2024), National Design Challenge, GMAC Poster Design Competition, National Biodiversity Race, IgNITE challenge and other national platforms

Four students in uniform stand beside a CRISPR-themed poster, winning GMAC Most Creative Poster Design 2024.

Most Creative Poster Design Award for Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Competition