Riding the Tides pop-up at VivoCity

TIL that mean sea levels around Singapore are expected to rise by up to 5m in the next 75 years, and 30% of our island sits less than 5m above mean sea level. If you find yourself struggling to imagine what that might mean for us, it’s time to pay a visit to the Riding the Tides exhibition at VivoCity from 28th-31st August.

What can I expect at Riding the Tides?

Specially curated by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, this exhibition is designed for visitors of all ages.

The 4-day long pop-up at the VivoCity atrium features 5 zones that will take you on a journey through Singapore’s strategies to adapt to rising sea levels.

Singapore’s Coastal Challenges

Image adapted from: PUB

To drive home the point that we need to protect our coastline from literally going under, you can see the impact a 5m rise in sea waters would have on our island through AR projections in the first zone.

If we do nothing to protect our coasts, beloved places such as Changi Beach, Joo Chiat, and St James Power Station might be submerged, with AR projections at the exhibition revealing what they could look like in the next century.

How Singapore plans to implement coastal protection

Moving into the next zone, you’ll find touchscreen interactive multimedia kiosks where you will learn all about Singapore’s coastal protection approaches and the range of protection measures.

For something more hands-on that little ones are sure to enjoy, keep an eye out for the building block station, where they can pit their creativity to build coastal defences against the challenges that our island is facing.

Be swept up in artists’ impressions of our future coastlines and how they’ve been buoyed against the threat of rising sea levels. Then, step into the future with a simulator game – playable solo or with up to two others – to discover the considerations and trade-offs involved in protecting our island home.

Hands-on workshops & activities

It doesn’t stop there – running throughout the 4 days of the pop-up are workshops and activities for everyone to enjoy. There’s the Coral Reef Jumping Clay Workshop where you can craft your very own coral reef with jumping clay. Learn about the role they play in protecting our coasts while doubling up as habitats for marine life, and bring your artwork home at the end of the session.

Image credit: The Fort Studios

Or, make your own coastal protection pledge bracelet from recycled beads in support of coastal protection.

Image credit: PUB

Don’t forget to collect special stamps as you explore each zone of the exhibition. They’ll come together to form an Instagram-worthy piece of layered art on your card. Complete your card, and you’ll stand to win prizes in the lucky draw too.

Image credit: PUB

P.S.: Also at the exhibition are exclusive limited-edition pins – grab them while stocks last.

Visit PUB’s Riding the Tides exhibition at VivoCity

Learn about marine biology at the interactive booths in the pop-up.
Image Credit: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum 

75 years may seem like a very long time, but losing 30% of our low-lying land would have a significant impact on our land-scarce nation – we have nowhere else to go. Building coastal protection measures will take time, but thankfully it’s not too late to start now. There’s no time like the present to learn more about how we can protect our coasts for future generations and keep our little island afloat.

Find out more about the Coastal Protection Plan here

This post was brought to you by PUB.
Cover image adapted from: PUB, The Fort Studios