Catholic High School (CHS) made history by winning its first-ever National STEM Championship, beating three other top teams, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), NUS High School and St. Joseph’s Institution, in a high-pressure Grand Final.
The 2025 edition of the National STEM Championship featured intense rounds of scientific problem-solving, teamwork and real-world challenges designed to test young innovators. The Grand Final, broadcast on Channel 5 with simulcast on CNA, mewatch and Mediacorp Entertainment on YouTube, also saw celebrity guests Germaine Tan (Mediacorp 987), Ravi G (Mediacorp OLI 968), Hafiz Aziz and Jernelle Oh cheering the finalists on.
The six-part series, hosted by Mediacorp 987 personality Sonia Chew, ran through quarter finals, semi-finals and a Wild Card round before leading to the final showdown on October 8.
Speaking about the win, CHS team member Ho Kiat Chun told Connected to India, “I felt very proud as we were the first in our school’s history to emerge as champions, and it was also only the second time Catholic High managed to reach the finals.”
Kiat Chun added that the entire experience was personally transformative. “I discovered how to become more confident, presenting to a live audience about scientific concepts in an engaging manner was not something I thought I could do before this competition.”
Another finalist, Bryan Sim from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), said the championship was a powerful learning journey. “Our team really learnt a lot from this entire experience. It not only broadened our knowledge on STEM but also allowed us to understand how theoretical knowledge can be applied in real life contexts and to change lives.”
The National STEM Championship is organised by Science Centre Singapore and is open to all Secondary 3 students across the country. Every participating school fields one team of four students, and this year saw 45 teams registering for the contest.
The format consists of four phases: the Qualifying Round (with both theory and practical components), Quarter Finals and Wild Card Round, Semi-Finals and the Grand Finals. The competition was filmed across partner institutions and aired during prime time on Channel 5, with repeat telecasts on CNA and full on-demand viewing on mewatch and YouTube.
This year’s NSTEMC leaned heavily on authentic scientific environments and specialist expertise. Students took on complex challenges across topics such as blood splatter analysis, DNA decoding, quantum physics, autonomous robotics and climate research. These challenges were hosted at leading research and academic institutions, giving students rare backstage access and deeper understanding of real-world STEM work.
Speaking to Connected to India, Tham Mun See, Chief Executive of the Science Centre Board, said the championship reinforces the Centre’s commitment to building Singapore’s next generation of thinkers. “The National STEM Championship represents the Centre’s commitment to nurturing Singapore’s future innovators and problem-solvers. By partnering with leading institutions including ASTAR Quantum Innovation Centre (Q.InC), ASTAR Skin Research Labs, Earth Observatory of Singapore at Nanyang Technological University, National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Temasek Polytechnic, we expose students to authentic scientific challenges that mirror real-world research and engineering problems.
“Our vision extends far beyond identifying winners as we aim to ignite a lifelong passion for STEM disciplines and cultivate the critical thinking capabilities essential for Singapore’s continued evolution as a Smart Nation and global innovation leader. This championship embodies our belief that hands-on, collaborative learning experiences are fundamental to developing the scientific minds that will shape Singapore’s future,” she added.
Judges said that what stood out this year was the quality of thought and creativity among teams.
Dr. Chandrima Chatterjee, Senior Lecturer at Singapore University of Technology and Design, said, “What sets each team apart is their thought process, the way they put their ideas into actions and how they pitch them. While some teams demonstrated excellent teamwork, others displayed novelty in their creations.” Varian Lim, Deputy Director at Temasek Polytechnic, added, “These competitions offer students a fun, early glimpse into the real world of work, sparking curiosity and inspiring their journey into STEM.”
