My key learning points from each session are as follows:
1.Importance of Water—Dirty and Clean ( by Prof. Ng Wun Jern )
I found out that it is a mistake to take water for granted. Besides that, some facts I learnt about the Singapore river when it was in it’s contaminated state 50 years ago is that there are pretty nasty diseases (bacteria) such as cholera, typhoid fever, brainerd diarrhea and dysentery. I also found out that Pollution has it’s societal and economic impacts as it gives humans chronic health risks and environmental degradation. I have also learnt that research based on water is a huge topic and research still continues now even though it has been going on for 2000 years. It can be interesting to know what pollutes water supply and studying waste may truly become exciting. Lastly, I found out that research can be time consuming but is worth it if there is sufficient interest.
2. Revolution of Microelectronics Technology ( by Prof. Yeo Kiat Seng )
I learnt that the microchip, even though it’s small, has the power to change and shape the future. Interesting facts that I have jotted down during the session was that Asia is becoming the focal point for electric studies and Singapore is located int he heart of Asia, so it is an important area to focus on. Something new that I have learnt that I would like to share is that I didn’t know that Konrad Zuse invented Z-1, the first freely programmed computer, in 1936! Another important note that I’ve jotted down ( mostly required to remember as a “request” from the Professor ) is the Acronym “BRAIN WAVE”. Professor Yeo has shared about the Integrated Program and Integrated Resort that we have in Singapore where both are excellently developed projects with the use of technology and that the next wave would be known as “Integrated Circuit”. The Acronym stands for Bio, Radio, Audio, Info, Nano, Water ( H20 ), Audio, Video & Energy ( m.c^2[two] ). Lastly, I found out that Singapore Government’s long-term goal is to become a research-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economy.
3. Biomedical Engineering & Technology ( by Prof. Ma Jan )
Through this plenary session, I found out about 3 key terms— Nano-technology, Bio-technology and Defense-technology. Though I knew that in science, smaller means that there is larger surface area, but today I learnt that when an object of the same volume is made smaller, there would be more energy. A quote that I managed to jot down was “There’s plenty of room at the bottom.” —Richard Feynman.
A fun fact that I picked up from the session was that different impurities give different color to gem stones. Besides that, honestly speaking I jotted down the term “Quantam Dots” but I am still quite clueless about the science or research behind it. Lastly, I learnt that even complicated technology such as the nano-technology can have flaws, such as the iris-pixelated army uniform which camouflages the soldier’s entire body except the head and boots, which are both important in warfare. ( as testing shows that the head and boots are visible on the screen )
4. IT for Animation by Prof Seah Hock Soon
This plenary session shed some light on animation for me, for I am a vivid anime lover, I have never really taught about the amount of labour put behind each episode of my anime or movie. I also learnt that mathematics is important in animation (which shows how mathematics are essential in about every subject), as an animator needs to know about linear, geometry, calculus and the laws of physics. A fun fact that I picked up from the session is that Toy Story was the first 3D Animated Movie and The Lion King is among the first traditional animated films produced with aid of computer technology. I also found out about the methods and advanced technology used in making Avatar, which were interesting and intriguing.
5. Disappearing Glaciers, Rising Sea Levels, and Why Gravity is Even More Important than You Think. ( by Asst. Prof. Emma Hill )
Before this plenary session, I didn’t know about the job “Geodesist”, where the person measures in great detail the shape and size of Earth, gravity field and how these things change overtime using space-based techniques (e.g GRACE satellite). The main point of the session is that the Sea-level rise will not be the same everywhere. This is due to “self-attraction and loading” from melting glaciers. Physics also play an important role in a Geodesist’s job, as the force of gravitational attraction is Fg= (Gm1m2)/(d^2). I also learnt that when a glacier melts, the land rebounds due to lighter load and sea level away will increase and sea-level nearby will drop. This is due to the depression released caused by the weight of the heavy glacier before it melts, which draws the sea-level to be higher towards the land and lower as it gets further away from the glacier. Lastly, even though we did not need to learn about it but when Asst. Professor Hill mentioned it it left quite the impression on me, that sea-level rises due to thermal expansion.
Day 1 (B):
Out of all five plenary sessions, the one which left the deepest impression on me was the last session on disappearing glaciers, rising sea levels and why gravity is even more important than I think. This session left me a deep impression not only because I share the same name as one of the technology being used to record the movement of mass on Earth, but because the job of a Geodesist is quite interesting. Besides that, knowing more about the planet we live on through such advanced technology is exciting and though similar to a Geologists’s job, the area being researched on is different.
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Day 3:
1. I chose this project because I wanted to find out more about the advanced technology being used to distil crude oils in industrial outlets and I wanted to know how to work the distillation column. Besides that, I also wanted to have a better understanding towards the importance of distillation.
2. My role in the group is to aid the leader, Joshua Loh, to help to get the team to work together and to get the ball rolling.
3. Challenges I / we encounter when working on this project in the last 2 days .... ( We did not encounter any problems with teamwork or communication, only minor errors in the procedure but overall we worked well together.)
4. Through this project, I / we discovered that all of our group members can agree with each other and work well and listen to each other when work has to be done, so there was not much conflict between our group. Teammates do not push responsibilities to each other and accept work when given.
5. As an individual, how I have benefitted from this programme is that I managed to work with two members from other classes and two classmates whom I have never worked with before in projects, so I was exposed to more different characters of teammates and this provided me a valuable experience to be able to work in such a group. Besides that, the plenary talks provided me with a lot more facts and tips to help me to make the right choice in future. Lastly, the Distillation programme helped me to be able to understand how a practical lesson would feel like and how to operate a distillation column. This programme is not only interesting and exciting but also fruitful as well.
6. My Aspirations are to be able to enter NTU after Junior College or Polytechnic (preferably Junior College) and to be able to join the courses of my choice, which are ADM and Biomedical Engineering.
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Day 3:
1. I chose this project because I wanted to find out more about the advanced technology being used to distil crude oils in industrial outlets and I wanted to know how to work the distillation column. Besides that, I also wanted to have a better understanding towards the importance of distillation.
2. My role in the group is to aid the leader, Joshua Loh, to help to get the team to work together and to get the ball rolling.
3. Challenges I / we encounter when working on this project in the last 2 days .... ( We did not encounter any problems with teamwork or communication, only minor errors in the procedure but overall we worked well together.)
4. Through this project, I / we discovered that all of our group members can agree with each other and work well and listen to each other when work has to be done, so there was not much conflict between our group. Teammates do not push responsibilities to each other and accept work when given.
5. As an individual, how I have benefitted from this programme is that I managed to work with two members from other classes and two classmates whom I have never worked with before in projects, so I was exposed to more different characters of teammates and this provided me a valuable experience to be able to work in such a group. Besides that, the plenary talks provided me with a lot more facts and tips to help me to make the right choice in future. Lastly, the Distillation programme helped me to be able to understand how a practical lesson would feel like and how to operate a distillation column. This programme is not only interesting and exciting but also fruitful as well.
6. My Aspirations are to be able to enter NTU after Junior College or Polytechnic (preferably Junior College) and to be able to join the courses of my choice, which are ADM and Biomedical Engineering.
