SG60 plus 60: What Singapore's youngest citizens envision for SG120 in 2085

Straits Times

3 days ago

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The kids of Singapore imagine what the Republic will be like in 2085, 60 years from SG60.
SINGAPORE – Singapore, when it celebrates SG120, is a floating green city where robo-animals roam and cars fly. Teleportation, often explored in science fiction, is becoming a reality. Social harmony abounds.
Singapore's youngest citizens have imagined these scenarios for 2085, another 60 years from now.
Following a call by The Straits Times in July, almost 70 children aged six to 12 have described their hopes and dreams for the future Singapore.
While every response is unique, there are four overarching themes: green city, social harmony, advanced technology and cutting-edge transportation.
Many of the responses revolve around teleportation.
As 11-year-old Tan Hui En points out, with teleportation, there will be 'no more long and tedious flights', whether travel lovers are eyeing Tokyo in Japan or distant Quito in Ecuador.
After all, space transportation company SpaceX is envisioning this as well. Founder Elon Musk reposted a Jan 17 post on social media platform X that said SpaceX's future 'Earth to Earth' system could ferry passengers from
'Tokyo to Singapore in 28 minutes'.
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While astronautical engineers sort this out, Cedric Ng Jun Xi, 11, suggests taking a cue from the world's most popular video game. 'I predict that scientists will invent real-life Ender Pearls,' he says. 'Ender Pearls are items in Minecraft that you can throw and they will teleport you to wherever you throw them.'
Many responses allude to current concerns: climate change, the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) and even rising GST (goods and services tax).
However, 11-year-old Heng Su Fern believes Singapore's City In A Garden ethos will be undiminished in 2085. 'Singapore will be a shimmering garden city with vertical forests rising alongside solar towers that provide clean energy,' she says.
'Tall, floating greenhouses that grow all the food for Singaporeans will glide gently on the water, adapting to sea level to rise with grace and Singapore's lack of space.'
Many children also anticipate that the pursuit of nation-building and pace of urban development will not relent. Still, they wish for peace and harmony.
As nine-year-old Wee Jing Wen Abby says: 'Though we do not know what the future holds for us, I choose to believe our future will be bright and beautiful.'
Ahead of National Day, when SG60 celebrations crescendo, ST looks ahead to SG120 with a two-part Born Tomorrow series. Read on for part one, featuring pearls of wisdom from the future pioneers of the land, as reinterpreted by ST executive artists Lee Yu Hui and Billy Ker.
Sustainable urban growth
ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER, LEE YU HUI
'In 2085, Singapore is a city in the sky. I hope that the new homes will have solar panels and greenery on the roof of all new buildings.' Utin Nurqaseh Rina Upu Jallauddin, 12
'We live way up in the sky on floating gardens with trees that glow at night. My school is in a giant glass bubble, and sometimes we learn while flying.' Hugo Veeramallu, nine
'By 2085, Singapore will be a literal city in nature, with green skyscrapers covering every rooftop and actively giving air and giving a home to wildlife.' Queena Ng Suan Lu, 11
'I hope that Singapore can have a machine that sucks up all the smoke and bad air that is not good for our health. I also hope that all our classrooms will have air-conditioning as Singapore is very hot.' Gracelynn Chan Xin Rou, 10
New methods of transport
ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER, LEE YU HUI
'Our roads will be multifunctional: one lane of water, another of concrete and a third, a runway, so that Singaporeans have a choice to use a boat, a car or a flying mini-vehicle to go to school or work.' Chugh Hridhaan, nine
'I wish for underwater trains, so we will be able to see all the fishes under the water.' Lim Kun Yuen Daelen, 12
'Power planes will help us travel much faster. For example, the flight from Singapore to Beijing usually takes six hours, but power planes will be able to make that trip in just one hour.' Clare Ho Qi En, eight
'Cars may become obsolete. We will commute by boats instead, as global warming dominates. No more need for bus stops and the MRT.' Anjali Kaur Galvinderpal Singh, 10
Advanced technology
ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER, LEE YU HUI
'Schools will disappear and will be replaced with a device that can transfer the parent's knowledge.' Pan Boyu, 11
'Scientists could make drinkable potions. The effects could be to make you stronger, faster or more intelligent, or make you not tired at all.' Aaliyah Mohamad Mazlan, 10
'Future phones and tablets may be miniaturised to fit into small accessories, like jewellery, and can be controlled and interacted with through holographic interfaces and allow for gestures and voice commands.' Wee Jing Wen Abby, nine
'With bio-engineering, Singaporeans will be telepathic and able to teleport.' Zita Elizabeth Nyan Ching Yi, 11
'There will be more new animals, some old animals and robo-animals.' Goh Ruiyang Ryden, eight
Social harmony for all
ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER, LEE YU HUI
'Singaporeans will live in high-tech kampungs, a way to help preserve history in daily lives as well as incorporate things in the future.' Heng Su Fern, 11
'Hopefully, inflation will not be too bad.' Queena Ng Suan Lu, 10
'There is something I do not want to change, like our teachers giving us lessons instead of AI, and encouraging children to generate their own ideas.' Clare Ho Qi En, eight
'People from all races and ages will live happily together. There will be more parks, kind people and exciting inventions. I hope Singapore will be safe, peaceful and full of joy.' Xue Jin Chen, 12