Science Centre Singapore will open ONE Ocean: Every Action Ripples on 30 May, presenting the global debut of a new immersive exhibition centred on ocean science, climate and biodiversity.
Developed with Tara Ocean Foundation and experiential studio Ride FX, the exhibition turns two decades of marine research into a public-facing experience designed to make ocean systems, and the consequences of human action, easier to understand.
ONE Ocean combines 360-degree projections, free-roaming virtual reality, spatial soundscapes and interactive installations to move visitors through coral reefs, Arctic environments, bioluminescent marine zones, ocean currents, microscopic life and Singapore’s own coastal biodiversity.
The exhibition is designed as a self-paced journey lasting between 60 and 100 minutes.
Tham Mun See, Chief Executive of the Science Centre Board, said: “As an island nation, Singaporeans have always lived alongside the sea, yet how often do we truly think about what the ocean means to our survival, our climate, our future? This exhibition is designed to bring that to light. We want every visitor, regardless of age or background, to leave with a felt sense of connection to the ocean, and the belief that their actions, however small, send ripples far beyond what they can see.”
She added that S$1 from every ticket sold will be channelled towards bringing vulnerable communities to the exhibition free of charge.
Among the main highlights is 7 Wonders of the Ocean, a 360-degree projection environment that surrounds visitors with the abyss, coral reefs, whale migrations and bioluminescent life.
Another installation, Symphonies of the Ocean, allows visitors to mix real sounds captured above and below the waves, while Tara Polar Station recreates a drifting Arctic observatory to show what research in extreme polar conditions looks like.
The exhibition also leans heavily on interactivity. In Ocean Currents: Ever Flowing, visitors follow the thousand-year journey of global ocean circulation.
In Colours of the Ocean: Coral Beds Under Pressure, a manual slider reveals how reefs shift from vivid colour to grey under environmental stress. Microscopic Life: The Superheroes of the Ocean introduces six tiny but essential marine organisms that play an outsized role in keeping ocean systems alive.
Myriam Thomas, Director of Tara Ocean Foundation, said: “Each expedition undertaken by the Tara schooner and Tara Polar Station is an opportunity to share the thrill of discovery with the public. ONE Ocean exhibition takes that further, creating new ways to reach new audiences and make ocean science part of our shared culture.”
Tides of the Red Dot focuses on Singapore’s marine biodiversity and conservation work, using real specimens and contributions from researchers and volunteers linked to the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.
For visitors who want an additional layer of immersion, Secrets of the Blue is a paid free-roaming VR add-on that takes them through kelp forests, mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs, before shrinking the experience down into the microscopic world of plankton.
The exhibition also uses scent as part of its design, with Givaudan contributing ocean-inspired olfactory elements intended to make the environment feel more physical and immediate.
Elia Vermander, Executive Producer at Ride FX, said: “Each environment gives visitors a different way to experience ocean science through space, sound and interaction. Whether visitors are surrounded by a 360-degree seascape, listening to hidden ocean soundscapes or moving through ecosystems in VR, the message remains the same: what happens in one part of the ocean ripples much further than we think.”
ONE Ocean: Every Action Ripples opens on 30 May at Science Centre Singapore and runs from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with the venue closed on Mondays except public holidays and gazetted school holidays.
Ticket prices range from S$10 to S$24, with bundles offering up to 40 per cent savings and including Science Centre admission. The Secrets of the Blue VR experience is priced as a S$10 add-on.
The general exhibition is recommended for ages five and above, while the VR component is recommended for ages nine and above, with children aged nine to 12 requiring adult accompaniment.
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