SUE, a true story

-Lo Tien Yin

DEFINITELY not your regular girl-next-door... Sue is a 15 tonner, and 20-foot tall. You will get a chance to meet this stunner – through the collaborative effort of NUS Faculty of Science and the Singapore Science Centre.

HERE SHE COMES: Artist’s impression of Sue in the flesh.

Dinosaurs! A T rex named SUE and Friends is now at the Singapore Science Centre till 20 August 2006. Sue is displayed for the first time in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Created by The Field Museum of Chicago, USA, this exhibit brings to life, the story of Sue, the world’s largest, most complete and best-preserved T rex – through an experience that combines visual, tactile, aural and aromatic activities with educational content. Sue will join Stan which is a 12.2 metre long life-sized cast of the world’s second most complete T rex, owned by the Singapore Science Centre.

The Field Museum is one of the world’s great natural history museums. It approached NUS Faculty of Science last year to bring Sue to Singapore . NUS Science Dean, Professor Tan Eng Chye said the joint effort will showcase how different fields in Science, such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computing come together to interpret, reveal and recreate the lives of extinct organisms.

SUE MEETS STAN: This exhibit of Sue is being displayed in Singapore and Southeast Asia for the first time. Stan (inset) is owned by the Singapore Science Centre.

“We are possibly facing one of the most severe extinction episodes in earth’s history. Therefore, we hope that this exhibition can help raise public awareness of conservation. We also hope to inspire those who are interested in Science to continue to pursue their passion,” said Professor Tan.

The Faculty’s Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research’s cutting-edge research work is also showcased at the exhibition. They will address interesting issues about palaeontology, evolution, extinction and conservation. Interesting exhibits include life-sized model of the extinct Dodo, which is to date, the most accurate representation of this bird. The Museum’s giant Moa, an extinct New Zealand flightless bird, will also be featured.