Ulu but free: Catch Pixie Lott, Nathan Hartono and a cleaner "F1" race at Changi this weekend

Discover interesting new methods of powering cars at the same time.

Martino Tan | March 18, 2017, 10:24 AM

Something surprisingly cool is happening at Changi this weekend.

And it's free.

It's called "Shell's Make the Future Festival" — a exhibition-concert-race of fun, ideas and solutions that address the global energy challenge.

As part of the festival, nine Singapore teams will compete against around 120 teams from around Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Shell Eco-marathon Asia (SEMA), a student design-and-build competition showcasing the region’s most energy-efficient vehicles.

Here are the five things that will make you sound like a smart and happening scientist after this weekend —

1) The fun:

Because all work and no play makes Jack (or Jill) a dull boy (or girl).

Pixie Lott, British singer and actress, will headline the weekend concert.

Lott's last concert in Singapore was in 2012 and she starred as Holly Golightly for an adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the London’s West End last year.

For fans of local acts, we have our very own Nathan Hartono to kickstart the weekend concerts.

The first runner-up of Sing! China and Milo fan will perform at noon on the main stage of the festival.

When:

Saturday March 18, 12pm – Nathan Hartono


Saturday March 18, 1.30pm - Pixie Lott


Sunday March 19, 11.30am - Disco Hue


Sunday 19 March, 1pm and 4pm – Take Two

Where: Main Stage

2) Discover a cleaner, younger and smarter F1 race:

Cleaner?

Yes, the competitors will compete to push the boundaries of energy efficiency.

Younger?

The participants are students and they were given a year to design, build and test their vehicles before the competition.

Smarter?

Because winning the competition is about the right combination of energy source, streamlined design, lightweight materials and driving strategy.

To give you a sense of how smart these students are — the farthest distance recorded is 1,796 km on the equivalent of one litre of fuel.

That's like driving from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and back. On one litre of fuel.

3) You vote:

You participate in direct democracy when you vote in the Bright Ideas Challenge.

The Bright Ideas Challenge asks students aged between 13 and 16 to imagine creative ideas for how cities of the future might be powered.

And no, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean isn't the one canvassing for votes this time.

It's the secondary school students seeking a mandate to win some cash and a school trip to London, one of the upcoming destinations for the Shell Eco-marathon.

4) You run:

[video width="848" height="480" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2017/03/IMG_3759.mp4"][/video]

In these three giant Zorb balls connected to a power generator, you become like a human guinea pig.

Instead of wasting energy on iPhones, you are now generating energy to power them.

5) You create:

Step 1: Get a free salt water car kit.

Step 2: Build the car and give it five drops of salt water.

Step 3: Compete with young and old adults in a race.

What are you waiting for?

Still nursing last night's hangover?

Top photo: Screenshot from video

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