New book, exhibition mark natural history museum's 10th year

Deep-sea expedition to Indian Ocean also on the cards for Lee Kong Chian museum

- Zachary Lim

A deep-sea expedition to the Indian Ocean and a year-end collaboration with the Science Centre on the region's natural heritage are on the cards for Singapore's only natural history museum, as it marks its 10th anniversary.

The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM), established in 2015, houses artefacts such as animal, plant, mineral and fossil specimens collected over two centuries. It also serves as a hub for research on South-east Asia's biodiversity, education and public outreach.

Associate Professor Darren Yeo, who heads the museum, said at its 10th anniversary event on May 6: "The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is rich in both legacy and youthful vibrancy. Our biodiversity collection traces back to the 1800s... and continues to grow."

With more than one million specimens in its collection – around double of what it began with a decade ago – Prof Yeo hopes to expand the museum space with a new floor.

A new book and a special exhibition to mark LKCNHM's anniversary were launched at the event by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was accompanied by his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi.

The book, titled