ARMED with maps and mobile phones, some 350 pupils from 118 schools set out on a quest to learn more about global climate change at the Singapore Science Centre on Wednesday.

Programme was kicked off by Senior Minister of State for Education and Information, Communications and the Arts, RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew.

Harnessing 2D barcode technology on their mobile phones and ultra-mobile PCs, the students had to decode and answer questions related to exhibits.

Teams also have to create a blog and propose ideas that will raise awareness of climate change among their classmates back in school.

For example, Anusha Sharma, 15, and her team for CHIJ St Theresa's Convent plan to redecorate the dull and drab eco bins at their school to encourage more students to recycle paper and plastic.

The winners will be announced in August.

Learn@, which is in its ninth year, encourages students to use Information and Communication Technology and learn outside their classrooms.

Mr Lui was also given a tour of two new 3D animation and movie-making labs that have been set up at a cost of $2.3 million to inspire budding Steven Spielbergs here.

To be launched in August, it will enable students to explore areas such as storyboarding, special effects, and video-editing.