By Liaw Wy-Cin

TO GET students hooked on research early, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) has set its sights on reeling in its youngest group of potential Einsteins yet.

It is wooing Secondary 3 students here by giving them money for the last two years of their secondary-school education, which they can spend on books and computers, for example.

More than 120 such awards - each in a lump sum of $2,000 - will go out to students from 30 schools in the first year of the scholarship programme.

Acting Manpower minister Gan Kim Yong, the guest of honour at A*Star's scholarship presentation ceremony yesterday, said the award was an effort by the Government to cultivate the next generation of research scientists and engineers.

The event was held at the Biopolis in North Buona Vista.

'We want to excite our young in science and technology,' he said.

He also announced another new scholarship - this time for those at the other end of a science research journey.

This new one will pay for post-doctoral studies of those who have completed their

PhDs at the National University of Singapore or the Nanyang Technological University.

A*Star will pay for up to 30 of them to continue their training at top universities or private laboratories overseas every year.

For serious scientists, additional training after attaining a PhD is a must-have.

Offering scholarships is a key way of shoring up the pool of scientists here, as recipients are required to work for A*Star upon completing their studies.

Scientists, both home- grown and foreign, have cited a strong stable of local scientists as being vital to the long-term success of Singapore's quest to become a major science research player, especially in biomedical sciences.

A*Star chairman Lim Chuan Poh said: 'The scholarships provide young people with the best education and research opportunities for pursuing their passion in scientific research or administration.

'They will eventually feed into the pool of research talent that will help transform Singapore into a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy.'

Mr Gan spoke to the 300 recipients of scholarships and awards yesterday about the opportunities that awaited them upon returning from their studies, backing it up with growth figures in the research and development and biomedical sciences sectors.

A*Star has given out about 800 scholarships since the birth of its scholarship programme in 2001.

Ninety scholarship holders have since started work at A*Star research institutes on completing their PhD studies.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on July 26, 2008.