By RSBS EXCO ‘25
Why didn’t anyone want the biologist’s new book?
It was a hard cell. But you know what isn’t a hard sell though – joining our CCA!
Have you ever thought of wanting to explore the realm of biology through fun and interactive experiences with like-minded people? Have you ever looked at pictures of pristine nature and cool animals on Instagram and thought, “Wow! I really need more of that in my life”? Or maybe, have you ever just wanted to expand your horizons and pique your interest in biology?
Well then, you are welcome to join the Raffles Society of Biological Sciences (RSBS), otherwise affectionately known as BioSoc!
As a student-led CCA, we decide on what we want to explore every session. As a result, our sessions are packed with fun-filled activities and our members also get to bond with each other along the way. We’ll introduce you to some of our activities further below, including interest-based lectures (they are more fun than they sound, by the way), lab practicals, field trips and outings, as well as activities in the sensory garden and along the Mendelian walkway that we help to maintain. RSBS is not only a club, but a family, where you will undoubtedly make many friendships and probably take many cell-fies along the way.
To start your BioSoc journey off with a BANG, we have our annual RSBS Camp, where you can meet your fellow CCA mates (and your amazing seniors :)) and form strong (disulfide covalent) bonds with them! The annual RSBS Camp spans over 2 fun days, with one of the days filled with enjoyable activities that will not only fuel your Biology knowledge, but also encourage team bonding and allow you to forge core memories that will keep you going throughout JC life! The other day of the camp will be mostly dedicated to a much anticipated field-trip! In 2024, RSBS went to Berlayer Creek to do a nature walk, where we were introduced to many of the local flora and fauna that lined the boardwalk.
Apart from the March camp, we also have other field trips as part of our regular CCA sessions! Such field trips are often visits to various biology-related museums around the country. This year, RSBS visited the Seed Bank at Botanic Gardens to learn more about the seed collection and preservation processes. We also visited the Pathology and Anatomy Museums at NUS.
Other than field trips, you can also look forward to immersive practicals. Some of our favorite sessions every year are animal dissections! For example we had a prawn dissection session where students learnt about the internal anatomy and systems of prawns.
Rather than boring, conventional lecture-based sessions, we try to conduct sessions that seek to interest and exhilarate you. Even our most “boring” lecture sessions include interactive activities and competitive games. This is so that we can guarantee that you will not want to miss a single session. Our lectures are also interest-based, where you will have a say in what you learn. One of our more recent sessions included a lecture on oncology, the study of cancer! We aim to keep our lectures to such novel and interesting topics that you will seldom get to learn about elsewhere.
We will also carry out various different activities in the sensory garden and along the Mendelian corridor. They include gardening sessions (don’t be fooled by the small plot of land—gardening is much tougher than it looks!), as well as insect-catching where you can see the many insect species in our school up-close. Many members commented on this experience as one they would remember for a long time.
In 2025, our CCA sessions will take place once a week on Wednesdays, from 8am to 10am, at the Innovation Centre. Session timings may be changed slightly in the event of field trips.
Now, you might be wondering what RSBS requires of you as a member. Well, as an interest-based CCA, we’re looking for inquisitive, like-minded friends with a strong passion for Biology! Individuals offering all subject combinations are welcomed here.
We hope you’re interested in joining us and we look forward to seeing you in CCA in 2025!
Love,
RSBS EXCO 2024-2025
Jared Xu Xinrui, 25S03N
Elisa Tho Shi En, 25S03N
Tay Ethan, 25S03A
Sarah Liew Sun Yu, 25S03L
Tham Shu Min Rachel, 25S03J
Neha Saravanan, 25S03B