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33. Emcee for SSEF 2026 | Singapore Science & Engineering Fair
What an Afternoon at Singapore EXPO
On 11 March 2026, I had the privilege of emceeing the Public Day of the 26th Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF 2026) at Singapore EXPO!
SSEF is a national competition co-organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Science Centre Singapore. It is affiliated to the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), often considered the Olympics of science competitions.
This year, over 300 student research projects were on display across categories ranging from Biomedical Engineering and Robotics to Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and many more. The hall was packed! Hundreds of students, teachers, families, and industry professionals all under one roof. You could feel the buzz the moment you walked in.
The 26th edition — 26 categories of student research on full display
A Hall Buzzing with STEM
Before the awards segment began, the hall was already alive with activity. Students were presenting their research at their booths, while visitors explored hands-on activities and interactive exhibits from partner organizations including A*STAR, DSO National Laboratories, the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), AI Singapore, Altimate Nutrition, CTRL+SHIFT, Stick 'Em, and Space Faculty.
There was also the STEM Explorer experience — a STEM-focused Education and Career Guidance programme featuring a Human Library career exploration segment, where students could have informal conversations with STEM professionals about different career paths.
Everywhere you turned, there was something happening — students explaining their research, visitors trying out hands-on demos, conversations about STEM careers. I loved it!
The hall buzzing with students, teachers, and visitors exploring over 300 research projects.
The Awards Parade — Celebrating Every Winner
The awards segment started with something I found really special — the Awards Parade!
Unlike a traditional ceremony where winners walk up to a stage, the Awards Parade brought the presenters to the students. An entourage walked through the exhibition hall, stopping at each winning finalist's booth to present the Merit awards right there on the spot.
My job? Build anticipation over the PA system as the entourage made its way through the hall. The booth boards are were tall that the audience could not see the parade approaching, but they could hear everything. So it became about creating moments through voice alone: building suspense before each announcement, calling out each project code and student name, and making sure every Merit award winner felt celebrated right there at their booth.
Before the Awards Parade — presenters had to mak their way through the busy hall!
The Awards Ceremony — From Special Awards to ISEF
After the parade, it was time to head to the stage to emcee the Awards Ceremony!
This segment covered a lot of ground. The Special Awards were sponsored by organizations from across research, academia, and industry — including SUTD, AI Singapore, Amgen Singapore Manufacturing, A*STAR SIMTech and ARTC, the James Dyson Foundation, L'Oréal, MPA and SP CEMS, NUS Chemistry, the Singapore Mathematical Society, the Singapore Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (SSMB), Space Faculty, and the Electrochemical Society (ECS).
Each Special Award had its own presenter, and the students were called up in batches for their award and a group photo. From there, we moved into the Main Category awards — Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
The ceremony wrapped up with the announcement of Singapore's representatives to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), to be held in Phoenix, Arizona, USA! What a way to close the afternoon!
The stage all set for the Awards Ceremony
My Approach as Emcee
For an event like SSEF, hosting style really matters. These students have spent months — sometimes over a year — on their research. The audience includes proud parents, supportive teachers, and senior figures from government and industry. So you need to bring the energy without losing the professionalism.
That was exactly my approach: keep things lively, keep them moving, and make sure the students feel like the stars they are. The ceremony was packed with awards, so pacing was key — I wanted to keep the audience engaged all the way through while making sure every transition felt natural.
I'm so grateful to the team at Twist Media for the seamless coordination and for having me as emcee for this event. Thank you!
What a crowd, what an event. Grateful to have been part of SSEF 2026
Looking Forward
Looking forward to the highlights video from the production team — will share it here once it is out!
[PLACEHOLDER: YouTube video embed]
To the students, teachers, mentors, judges, organizers, and everyone who made SSEF 2026 possible — congratulations and thank you! It was truly a privilege to be part of this.
Work With Me
If you are looking for an emcee for your next awards ceremony, education event, or large-scale function, I'd love to hear from you!! Reach me at melvin@EmceeMelvin.com :)