SoC Infocomm Fest 2007 kicks off with a Lion Dance performance by NUS Centre of Arts at the opening ceremony of ACM ICPC Contest Singapore 2007, the first component contest of the festival.

(Front row, left to right) ACM ICPC Contest Singapore 2007 Director Dr Tan Sun Teck, ACM ICPC Asia Region Director Prof Jinshong Hwang, SoC Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies Prof Mohan Kankanhalli, SoC Vice Dean of Undergraduate Studies A/P Khoo Siau Cheng and Algo*Mania Chair Mr Aaron Tan enjoy the performance in the packed LT27.

ACM ICPC Contest Singapore 2007 Director Dr Tan Sun Teck shows off the scroll of well wishes that he has received from the Lion Dance performers.

SoC Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies Prof Mohan Kankanhalli delivers the opening remarks.

ACM ICPC Asia Region Director Prof Jinshong Hwang addresses the audience.

SoC Assistant Dean of Corporate Communications A/P Gary Tan enlivens the crowd as Master-of-Ceremony.

Contestants interact over morning tea after the ceremony.

Group shot with the event banner.

Colourful balloons, traditionally used at ACM ICPC contests to signal the successful solving of a problem, add to the festivity of the occasion.

Disregarding the festivity to focus on the task at hand…

Labouring over the solution alone…

...solving it with the group.

Judges at work.

Student helpers strike a pose during a well-earned reprieve from duties.

Algo*Mania Chair Mr Aaron Tan briefs participants ahead of the contest proper.

At the receiving end of the briefing...

Discussing what to do with the info...

…paying attention to further instructions.

Pondering over the information received.

In the lab, contestants receive guidance from a student assistant.

Tolling over a problem with their thinking caps on…

...delight at finding a way forward.

Making light of a problem solvable.

Deep in discussion over contest problems.

Taking nourishment for the body after getting the day’s worth of food for thought at the contest.

Learning and applying basic concepts in search and knowledge representation, and even in sub-areas of artificial intelligence, have their appeal to all ages: A young contestant fully savours each moment of hands-on fun at the contest…

Sharing the moment with his peer…

"Who says robots and probelm-solving are for boys only??"

Contestants work (left) on their robot while two officials look on.

Team work in operation...

Explaning the research and thinking behind their robot.

Jumping through a hoop to get his point across to the judges...

Words to match the deed in his explanation...

Presentation through more viable conventional means

Contestants arrive at University Cultural Centre for the announcement of contest results and prize giving ceremony.

Setting up exhibition for presentation to Guest of Honour and other guests attending the ceremony.

Arrival of Guest-of-Honour: RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of State for Education (centre); received by NUS Vice President (University and Global Relations) (second from left), SoC Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies Prof Mohan Kankanhalli (first from right), SoC Vice Dean of Undergraduate Studies Prof Khoo Siau Cheng (first from left) and SoC Assoc Prof Leong Hon Wai (second from right).

RAdm Lui views exhibit at foyer of University Cultural Centre and talks to contest participants before proceeding to the auditorium for the ceremony.

Master of Ceremony A/P Gary Tan inviting the audience to rise for the arrival of the Guest of Honour

Prof Lily Kong delivers the welcome address

Guest-of-Honour: Minister of State for Education RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew delivers the main address to the audience of invited guests and festival participants.

The prize-giving segment begins with Prof Kankanhalli presenting the fifth prize to the winning team in the ACM ICPC contest.

Prof Kankanhalli presents prizes to some winners in the Algo*Mania contest.

Prof Kong presents prizes to another round of winners in the ACM ICPC, Algo*Mania and FLL contests

RAdm Lui presents the top prizes to winners in the ACM ICPC, Algo*Mania and FLL contests

Group photo of top prize winners with RAdm Lui

Prof Kankanhalli presents a token of appreciation to RAdm Lui

Prof Kankanhalli presents a token of appreciation to Prof Kong

Prof Kankanhalli presents tokens of appreciation to sponsors and industry partners of the festival

RAdm Lui leaves the auditorium, accompanied by Prof Kankanhalli

The Guest-of-Honour, invited guests and festival participants interact in the dinner reception following the ceremony.

Participants arrive for registration.

Participants mingle before the lab session begins.

Sessions in the lab

Dr Golam Ashraf (standing in the background) and A/P Leong Hon Wai (standing foreground) conduct the lab session.

Lab Technologist Ms Siti Hajar Binte Abdul Rahman stands by to render technical assistance at the session.

Meal break between lab sessions.

IDA Deputy Director (Manpower Development Industry Group) Mr Harinderpal Grewal talks on powering the future with infocomm technology and knowledge to an interested audience.

Informal interaction in the lab between participants from Foon Yew High School JB (white shirt with blue collar) and participants from Singapore.

IDA Consultant (Technology Directions) Mr Eric Ang conducts a lab session as guest presenter.

Camp 2 (19 Dec) kicks off in a seminar room instead of a lab.

Break time during Camp 2 (19 Dec)

Lab session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) conducted by A/P Lee Wee Sun

Camp 2 rounds off with the Othello Challenge, a mini contest that quizzes participants about the AI principles that they have picked up.

More than simply winning: A/P Lee Wee Sun (in blue shirt) beams as he pose with (from left to right) Du Cheng (NJC), Lai Wui Sing (VJC) and Arron Li Pin Xian (TPJC) – participants who have thrived in learning about AI at the camp.