By Jalelah Abu Baker

A WHIRLING pattern of colour is drawing curious minds to a park in Bishan.

The exhibit was launched at the Bishan Active Park at Street 22 yesterday.

It is an effort to introduce science to the heartland.

The exhibit - a giant kaleidoscope which creates changing patterns and images when a pair of identical lines placed together are misaligned - now stands within the park's playground.

'The idea is to put the exhibit in a public location to make residents interested in and aware of science that is happening everywhere around them,' said Mr Andrew Oh, an assistant director at Science Centre Singapore.

The feature has already drawn curious students from the neighbouring Catholic High Primary School, an active partner of the park.

'Wow, it is like a spider's web!' 11-year-old Jeremy Goh exclaimed, unable to take his eyes off the spinning visual.

Near the exhibit, four boys from Catholic High Primary School set up a booth showcasing toys made to demonstrate scientific principles.

The one-year-old park - popular for a 'beach volleyball' court that comes complete with real sand - attracts people from the Bishan and Toa Payoh estates, said MP Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), who attended the exhibit launch.

He said that in future, the park might also boast a sculpture designed by residents in the constituency.

'We are making this park as interesting as possible,' he said.

This is the first science exhibit in a public neighbourhood park so far.

Science Centre Singapore is trying to engage other constituencies to follow suit.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.