NTU Hey Novdec14.Indd a NTU Hey 7/11/14 1:12 Pm W C

THE NTU MAGAZINE NOV–DEC 2014 NO. 19

M Y PRWEEK AWARD ASIA 2014; GLOBAL ALLIANCE COMM PRIX AWARD & IPRA GOLDEN WORLD AWARD 2013 F IR ST O Lingo bingo VE RSEA WHAT FOREIGN LANGUAGE S JOB SHOULD YOU LEARN?

Placesto chow and chill oncampus DoublethefunDouble the fun or twice the trouble Is your smartphone making you smarter or lazier you are my sunshine StefanieStefanie SSun’sun’s latestlatest hhonouronour & nnextext aadventuredventure

WIN! KARAOKE VOUCHERS • SHOPPING SPREE • ICE-SKATING PASSES • LYON FLASH DRIVES & LUGGAGE COVERS

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd a NTU Hey 7/11/14 1:12 pm W c

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd b NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:43 am KEEP IN TOUCH! We welcome your ideas, views and contributions. Email us at [email protected]

™ 2 FYI 4 FEATURE THREE FOR THE WIN Irish acclaim youtube.com/NTUsgb /NTU for NTU trio 5 FEATURE FIRST AND FOREMOST #1 in more ways than one 6 FEATURE WHERE I facebook.com/NTUsg WENT LAST SUMMER Globe-trotting interns

twitter.com/NTUsg 11 FEATURE THE BIG DRAW Mural of the story 12 FEATURE TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE Twin linkedin.com/company/ntusg tales 18 FEATURE IS YOUR SMARTPHONE MAKING CHIEF EDITOR Dr Vivien Chiong YOU LAZIER, SMARTER OR MORE POLITE? Pocket friend or ﬁ end? EDITOR Eileen Tan 21 HOT SHOTS MAKE A DATE ASSISTANT EDITOR WITH US Join the fun in 2015 Chrystal Chan WRITERS 22 FEATURE LINGO BINGO Derek Rodriguez Aaron Corbett Merits of multilingualism Jeremy Ee Siddiqua Ovais 24 FEATURE CHOW AND CHILL VIDEO PRODUCER Ei Ei Thei Yummy galore 27 FEATURE CONTRIBUTORS AND THE WINNERS ARE… Aloysius Boh (Class of 2016) Andrew Toh (Class of 2015) Alumni wisdom and wit Goh Wei Choon (Class of 2014) Sam Chin (Class of 2012) 28 UNPLUGGED YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE Stefanie Sun shines brighter Zach Chia (Class of 2014) DESIGN 31 THE P FILES INSPIRING TIM(E) Loo Lay Hua Chat and learn 32 THINKING ALOUD HEY! GO GREEN Share your copy of the magazine, or return it to us and we STOCKHOLM SYNDROME Andrew Toh will recycle it. reporting from Sweden 35 FEATURE HEY! is a publication of the Corporate Communications Oﬃ ce, Nanyang Technological University. All rights reserved. ©2014 by Nanyang FANCY A BATTERY THAT LASTS 20 YEARS? Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. Reproduction in whole or part Battery tech makes a quantum leap without permission is prohibited. T. (65) 6790 5116. F. (65) 6791 8494. Reg No 200604393R 36 MY SPACE BEDSIDE MANNERS Future Printer: Times Printers Pte Ltd doctors’ pad 37 FEATURE WE ASKED… YOU VOTED Poll position

HEY! CATCH US ON... GET MORE FROM HEY! When you see the icon, you can enjoy exclusive stories, videos or photos via the desktop, mobile and tablet versions of HEY! Online at www.hey.ntu.edu.sg.

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 1 NTU Hey 7/11/14 1:16 pm Here’s one to be charged up about. Electric cars may become a practical reality sooner, with more space in the car for bigger batteries that can go the distance. Scientists at NTU and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have invented a two-in-one electric DOUBLE car motor by combining the motor and air-conditioning compressor. The space-saving and effi cient design DUTY makes possible the use of bigger batteries, so electric vehicles can stay up to 20% longer on the roads before WONDER needing to be juiced up again. Sm Life’s go Univers take th Creative agreem NTU’s Dr Tony Bloom London In the near future, you can design very own at Buck and print your own jewellery student and accessories. An NTU Wall Street team showed how with Wall Street has arrived at Nanyang a 3D-printed metal orchid that was named Business School, which has just Best Creative Part set up the largest fi nance lab in in an international Singapore, named the Centre for competition in Sweden. Applied Financial Education. The The orchid jewellery was designed by a team led by lab has more than 80 terminals engineering PhD student with direct links to live data from Tan Yu Jun and art, design Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters, & media students Audrey Ng, so students can access Jin Su Huan and Liew Ming Jia, before it was 3D printed in metal real-time fi nancial, economic by Dr Tan Xipeng at NTU. and business information. ARTOF MEDICINE The inaugural batch of students at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine made history in August last year as the fi rst NTU medical students. Now they are putting their creative work down for posterity by helping to create a wall mural made of clay tiles. The clay tiles are handmade by the students and personalised with their creative imprints of what it means to become a doctor. About two hundred pieces will be used for the unique wall mural called Apollo’s Dream, which will become a permanent feature at the school’s upcoming Experimentall Medicine Building at the Yunnan Garden campus.

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mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 2 NTU Hey 7/11/14 1:27 pm l he

CONGRATULATIONS...

n y e Smart sign of the times Life’s going to get better for your parents or grandparents. NTU and the University of Bristol will work on smart, wearable healthcare innovations that take the strain out of ageing. NTU President Prof Bertil Andersson signed the agreement between the two universities, witnessed by Singapore President s Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, who was on a state visit to the United Kingdom. In London, Prof Andersson attended a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II n at Buckingham Palace, spoke at a Royal Society panel discussion, and met NTU et students on exchange at Imperial College London. ang ust b in for The nals om ers, ess BRAINY BEAUTY mic It was triple joy for communication undergrad on. Kimberly Lam when she walked away with the First Runner-up title at Miss Singapore World 2014, as well as the Miss Personality and Miss Photogenic titles. Kimberly was also our November girl in the Flower 2014 NTU calendar. Way to go, gal! GOOD CATCH power Motorists who’ve illegally modifi ed their vehicles with Used as a natural blue dye in Malay loud exhausts may need to make a return trip back to the workshop. A traffi c noise-monitoring system and Peranakan cuisine, Clitoria developed by Research Associate Apoorv Agha and ternatea – commonly known as Assoc Prof Gan Woon Seng clinched a top award at the blue pea fl ower – may have the regional 2014 Engineering Impact Awards. The important uses outside the kitchen. system works by helping traffi c cops automatically Researchers from the School of capture the licence plate numbers of any illegally Biological Sciences successfully modifi ed vehicles passing by. extracted a new enzyme from the plant, which can join together

chains of amino acids. This Correction: breakthrough can potentially speed In the story “Extreme profs” in the previous issue of HEY!, it was incorrectly stated that Assoc Prof May Oo Lwin had won a medal in up the development of new drugs the Asian Games. She actually won in the Asian Championships. to ﬁ ght cancer. We are sorry for the error.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 3

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 3 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:45 am Feature THREE FOR THE WIN

TThreehree NNTUTU sstudentstudents hhaveave ccomeome upup topstops inin theirtheir ﬁ elds,elds, beatingbeating outout contenderscontenders fromfrom universitiesuniversities likelike HHarvard,arvard, OOxfordxford aandnd YaleYale atat thethe Dublin-basedDublin-based UndergraduateUndergraduate AwardsAwards 2014,2014, andand getget anan all-expenses-paidall-expenses-paid ttriprip ttoo IIrelandreland ttoo aattendttend a ggloballobal ssummit.ummit. ZZachach CChiahia sspeakspeaks ttoo tthehe ttriorio ttoo ﬁ nndd ooutut mmoreore aaboutbout ttheirheir pprize-winningrize-winning woworkrk

WILFRED LIM ART, DESIGN & MEDIA HOME SPUN ANDY LIM ART, DESIGN & MEDIA Wilfred grew up in the Malaysian town of Pengerang, which is currently being redeveloped into an oil reﬁ nery. The relocation of homes brought to his attention the idea that living space is one of the most basic human needs. His project has been showcased at the Singapore International Photography Festival and at Singapore’s newest art space, DECK. “ is series for my nal-year project is made up of 12 photographs. e project allowed me to explore how humans de ne their living space. To get the photos I wanted, I had to overcome unpleasant conditions like submerging myself in a pool of lthy water, but this project gave me an opportunity to reconnect with my homeland. I have also learnt a lot about myself through self-portraiture.”

TEST FLY The challenge was to design an unmanned ﬂ ying vehicle that can travel continuously REMEMBER for 24 hours on solar power at a fairly high altitude. To help make this happen, THIS Kim Siang designed and tested a scale model of a wind tunnel and even went abroad Mnemonics are memory devices that help to test his vehicle. people remember information, but few know how to use them properly. Andy created a “My solar drone and test report was part of an industry “memory toolbox” as part of a course project to project with DSO, so I knew it would come with plenty illustrate how mnemonics can help boost our long-term memory. of deadlines and expectations. But how o en do you get to learn from experts in the aerospace “ e mnemonics kit I designed introduces the principles industry? I even got to travel to India to and techniques of mnemonics. It functions as a training conduct a test in a professional wind kit to help students learn in a smarter way. Working on tunnel facility. ere, all that this project, I’ve realised it is important to keep an open I learnt in my intercultural mind, take a break and have a co ee when you feel communication classes at NTU you’re running out of ideas.” came alive.”

NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 4 7/11/14 1:38 pm EXTRA FeatureFeature Video: Ones to watch

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HEY!HEY! NONOV–DECV–DEC 20142014 5

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 5 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:45 am Feature

A ca WHERE I WENT tod at N ﬁ r s inte NT LAST SUMMER ﬁ r s

by D

my" country" won Has your country ever won the World Cup? Mine Th has. Well, my adopted country of fi ve months the a anyway. Watching the World Cup with German main the World Cup football fans was truly electrifying; witnessing the I wan entire town explode with spontaneous celebration enco WEEWEE HOHONGNG JJIEIEE was something I will never forget. Germ SCHOOLSCCHOOLO OOFF MEMECHANICALCHANICI ALA & Th e World Cup took place at the tail end of explo AEROSPAEA ROSPACACEE ENENGINEERINGNGIG NEERRING my internship in Braunschweig with DLR, the On INTERNEDINNTET RNEDE AT DLDLR,LR, BBRAUNSCHWEIG,RAUNSCS HWWEIE GG, NASA of Germany. Th ere wasn’t much to cheer with GEGERMANYERMANY about at the beginning of my internship as I very took some time to adapt to the climate. It was It’s as absolutely freezing! local I soon settled quickly into my work. Aft er amaz learning more about air traffi c management On and getting acquainted with the soft ware I had sudd to use, I was given a project in which I had to purp conduct human trials. Th is was the fi rst time I looke was entrusted with such a huge responsibility and that I I gained a lot of confi dence from it. studi

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mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 6 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:46 am I worked A career abroad is a reality in today’s global workplace and with at NTU, undergraduates get the fi rst taste of it through overseas models internships. HEY! talks to fi ve NTU students about that coveted LOURENCE STEVEN R RENAISSANCE ENGINEERING PROGRAMME fi rst overseas work experience INTERNED AT CARL ZEISS MEDITEC, CALIFORNIA,RNIA, USUSAA

by Derek Rodriguez and Chrystal Chan One of the highlights of the Renaissaince Engineering Programme was getting to internn at a company in the USA. I landeded a 10-week internship at Carl Zeissss where I worked with models – CAD models. I mastered Creo Elements/ Direct Modelling Express 18.1, a CAD soft ware. It was new to me but with the 3D modelling techniques I learnt in NTU, I picked it up within a few days. I was ggraduallyraddually givengiven moremore projects and am proud to say I really pulled my weight. It was important that I did well – I was the fi rst NTU student interning at the company and how I performed was going to determine if Carl Zeiss hired more NTU students in the future. I worked very closely with my mentor, the director of mechanical engineering. Our daily meetings lasted almost four hours and his insights always left me thinking: “Why didn’t I think of that?” Outside of work, he also helped me to settle down. He invited me over to his place to meet his family, and brought me for a concert and a picnic dinner. Working in the USA is diff erent from working in Singapore. Th e work culture is fl exible, and this gives room Mine Th e internshipintn ere nship wawass a blblast.ast. IInn SiSingapore,ngaporee, for creativity. s the aerospace industry focuses mainly on I felt really sad on my last day at Carl Zeiss. But I had an maintenance, repair and overhaul work and a lot of fun and left with a sense of satisfaction. As I was g the I wanted a unique experience. I wanted to walking past the cubicles, the VP of R&D called me over ation encounter a diff erent working culture and and told me he appreciated my work and that I was always Germany was also a good base from which to welcome there. Getting recognition from someone like f explore Europe on my days off . him even thoughggj I waswas justjust anan internintern waswas indescribable.indescribable. e One thing I didn’t expect was to fall in love er with Braunschweig. It’s a small town that isn’t very cosmopolitan, but therein lies its charm. s It’s as German as they come and dripping in local culture. I lapped it all up, not least of all the amazing beer. On my second last day, I was imbued with d sudden clarity. I took a helicopter ride for research purposes – the fi rst time I was on one – and I looked down. It hit me then; the moment I knew y and that I was on the right track with my work and studies. Th is was where I belonged.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 7

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 7 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:46 am mountains F Moving c LAU SCH ELEC INTE

Lik All sum out Of ride dra Hem all t I spe faci def leav a lit jou ISELLA LIM was NANYANG BUSINESS SCHOOL wh INTERNEDINTE AT NEC CORPORATION, TOKYO, JAPAN fi rs sele Th ere’s an old Japanese express myselflff adequately.d t l includingildi theirthi workk culture.lt O sayings that goes: “He who Th e internship turned out I have also grown to become qui climbsc Mount Fuji once is to be very fulfi lling as NEC more independent. Th is is of h a wise man; he who climbs invested time and eff ort in especially true since I was living scie iti twice is a fool.” So by interns like me. I was assigned alone abroad in a country whose join all accounts, I must be work just like a permanent language I did not speak. It lear pretty wise. staff and allowed to attend was really quite something to rese I didn’t feel quite so seminars as a representative experience the hospitality of the and wise, though, halfway up of the company. My boss and Japanese and their impressive A the 3,776m-high mountain colleagues also heard me out and work ethic. was at 3am in the morning. I seriously considered someme ofof mymy Th e wasw starting to regret my ideas – even bringing themem ind impromptu decision as to the implementation stage.age. exp the climb was extremely On weekends, I spent I w strenuousstren and gruelling, most of my time travellingng cho especially in the cold. around Japan, visiting out Th at was on week six of the outskirts of Tokyo. par my eight-week internship in I travelled alone half thee (un Tokyo with NEC Corporation, time, but I found that I w where I worked on business extremely refreshing andd me development plans. memorable, as I made Th Before the internship, I was many new friends along was fi lled with uncertainties about the way. env what to expect as well as the job It was a short two- and etiquette. Also, as I was unable to month stint, but I got to the speak a single word of Japanese, I experience the day-to- dea was worried I wouldn’t be able to day life of the Japanese, was

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mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 8 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:47 am French s connection LAUREN TAN SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNED AT DSO, FRANCE

Like a character in a Woody Allen movie, I spent my summer in Paris, in the outskirts of the City of Light. Of course, I didn’t take a ride back in time in a horse- drawn carriage or meet Ernest Hemingway. But it was magical all the same. I interned with DSO and spent six months in a SONDRA facility, Singapore’s only off shore defence R&D laboratory. Before leaving for France, I was feeling a little tentative about the journey ahead, mostly because I was going alone and wasn’t sure what to expect since this was the fi rst time an NTU student was selected for the programme. On the other hand, I was Internship advantage quite excited with the prospect of hobnobbing with high-level Each year, over 4,300 NTU students ng scientists within SONDRA, a go on internships at about 1,500 ose joint laboratory comprising companies, both in Singapore and learning institutions and top overseas, with about 30% receiving a research companies in Singapore job oﬀ er at the end of the internship. he and France. In the last three years, two in At work, my main duty On weekends, I ventured three graduating NTU students was to program a sensor unit. out to the cities in France – my secured a job before leaving Th e nature of the job was favourites were Lyon and Cannes. university, an impressive statistic individualistic and I was One such weekend, I visited that is helped by NTU’s expected to work independently. Cannes during the Festival de industrial attachment programmes. I was given the freedom to Cannes and caught a fi lm there. choose how I wanted to carry I had a two-week Easter break “Internships are very important. out my work. My favourite and travelled to Amsterdam and They allow students to have exposure part was getting to pilot a UAV Brussels, to catch up with my to the working world and to see how (unmanned aerial vehicle) while friends who were studying there. I things you have learnt in class work I was working on its orientation also went to London for Singapore in real life,” says Prof Kam Chan Hin, measurement unit. Day. It was great seeing so many Senior Associate Provost Th roughout the internship, I fellow Singaporeans and to have a (Undergraduate Education) at NTU. was part of a multidisciplinary taste of Singapore food again. NTU students have interned in environment with researchers Th is internship made me a lot organisations in Asia, Europe, and PhD students from all over more self-reliant, besides giving North America and Africa. The most the world. Th ere was a good me a clearer idea of my career popular countries include Switzerland, deal of cultural exchange, which goals. I’d be glad to work abroad the United States, France, was enriching. in future, that’s for sure. China and Japan.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 9

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 9 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:47 am Fe T NT com tha – T the wa

Bro “Es me for The loc wit Culture. vultures don but sca MOHAMMAD HARIZ BIN BAHARUDIN larg WEE KIM WEE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION upp INTERNED AT NEPALI TIMES, KATHMANDU, NEPAL Say Kathmandu is like a labyrinth. I found another story. We saw “Es that out the hard way on my very fi rst 50 vultures strip the meat ove day at work. I misread some directions off a fully-grown cow to was and ended up on a slightly more scenic bare bones in less than ann exe route to work. Th ere was no help from hour. I felt like I’d steppedd I to the offi ce or my editor, so I had to put my right into the pages of it, f rudimentary knowledge of conversational National Geographic. init Nepali into action that morning and One of the biggest takeaways of the WIN to m fi gure out how to get to the offi ce. internship is learning how to appreciate this! pie I only found out later that my editor what I have, and I now know for sure that last had met with an accident. Such is life this path is the one I want to be on. I am on in the densely populated city that is already counting down to the day when a go Kathmandu, where I interned at Nepali I make my return trip. new Times as a reporter for six months. des Like many students my age, larg travelling is one of my passions. So glu is reporting. When I was off ered bef the chance to do both, I jumped just at it. Besides, Nepal has always at N fascinated me. 30 snazzy Lyon luggage My internship was fi lled with covers up for grabs Prim memorable moments. I was given A compilation To win a luggage cover featuring the “It’s relative freedom to roam around of portraits NTU mascot, name three countries tha and work on my own stories, one I took for NTU students do their internships in. am of which was a piece on vulture Women’s Day Email your answer, with “Lyon cover giveaway” as the aud subject line, to [email protected] by 10 December conservationism. made it to the 2014. Include your full name, NTU school and year sca Vultures in Nepal are dying of study or graduation, contact number and email dis front page of address in your entry. Multiple entries from the and conservationists are trying the paper. same person will not be accepted. Winners will be Esp to save them. My friend and I picked from among entries with the correct answer pop in a lucky draw and informed via email. All prizes are chanced upon a feeding session to be collected from the Corporate Communications the Oﬃ ce, NTU.

while out on assignment for PEI LIN TAN HARIZ BAHARUDIN, PHOTOS: JR DIOS VINCOY PHOTO: hot

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mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 10 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:47 am Feature The big draw NTU graduate Wong Weiloong, 25, was recently commissioned to create a larger-than-life murall that has been drawing attention at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Aaron Corbett ﬁ nds that the intrepid designer doesn’t let himself hit the wall in his quest for artistic expression

Broad strokes Great brush with art “Esplanade approached “Th ough I didn’t take formalal me to do an illustration art classes before joining for National Day this year. NTU’s School of Art, Designn They wanted to feature & Media, I drew a lot in local characters interacting my spare time. In junior Go abroadb d with the defined space. I’ve college, I started to think “My fi rst NTU internship Wong Weiloong’s mural, Sprout, was commissioned done small posters before, about what I really wanted was at a local start-up that did by Esplanade to kick off the but never a mural of this to do. Previously, I just branding communications centre’s festival to celebrate scale which took up two assumed I was going to do a for a very diverse clientele. Singapore’s National Day and large walls at Esplanade’s professional degree like law or I created everything from is on display till January 2015. upper concourse.” architecture. Researching the brochures to interface “Esplanade constantly seeks local universities, I found that design. Th is experience new and rising artists, giving Say it with pictures NTU’s visual communication helped me secure my second them opportunities to gain “Esplanade defined the course matched my interest internship in the US in my exposure and showcase their overall concept, but I in doing something creative, fi nal year.” works to the community,” saysy was given the freedom to and it would also allow me Agnes Lim, Prodducuceerr at Th e Espllaanaadede Co Ltd. execute it in my own style. to experiment.” A bite of the Big Apple I took a month to complete “I wanted to get more it, from sketching the Reach for the moon exposure by interning initial designs on paper “Our NTU professors overseas. My professors WIN to making sure the final expected a lot of us, but also at Emily Carr University piece fits the walls. The gave us the freedom to defi ne of Art + Design in his! last part was colouring how far we wanted to go. Th is Canada – where I did on a computer, so it was gave me a lot of drive. I also my exchange in my third a good blend of old and enjoyed the courses we were year – recommended that new techniques. The required to take outside of our I go to New York as it’s a designs were printed on main discipline, especially the major centre of design. large strips of laminate and science ones like astronomy, I managed to secure a glued to the walls the night which I applied to my four-month internship to work there. In the before National Day and work, Moongrazing (2013). with an e-commerce fi rm meantime, I’m doing just after my convocation Looking back, I’m glad I did aft er contacting over 50 graphic design work for at NTU.” visual communication – it’s companies. NTU gave me companies like Esplanade a versatile fi eld and the job a term off to complete the and Sentosa.” Prime spot opportunities are very varied.” internship during my fi nal “It’s a panoramic image year, which was great.” Art and soul that’s mainly narrative but Art rules “I’m young, so it’s a n. ambiguous, too. I hope the “Most people assume that So far so good great time for me to try the audience will spend time the visual arts is a free and “I love the work culture in out as many things as I mber year scanning through it to unrestrictive fi eld, but New York, where people can. Like the historical mail discover the little details. actually, there are many rules have a way of pacing polymath Leonardo the l be Esplanade tells me it’s very to respect. And paradoxical themselves and getting da Vinci and Chinese swer popular with children, and as it sounds, it’s easier to things done at the same strategist Zhuge Liang, I are ions the walls now seem to be a be creative when you set time. So I’m in the process hope to cross boundaries

PHOTOS: HARIZ BAHARUDIN, TAN PEI LIN TAN HARIZ BAHARUDIN, PHOTOS: JR DIOS VINCOY PHOTO: hot spot for photos.” boundaries for yourself.” of applying for a visa and be truly creative.”

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 11

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 11 NTU Hey 7/11/14 1:33 pm FeatureFeature ne Two is better than o

AreAArre ttwinswwinsins double the funfun or ttwicewice tthehe trtrouble?ououble?ble? CChrystalhhrryystalstal CChanhhanan anandd DerDDerekerekek RoRodrRodriguezdriiguezguez tatalktallkk to ffourour ppairsairs ooff twinstwins in NNTUTU anandd ﬁ nndd out wwherewherhere theitheirr similasimilaritiessimilarrities end

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mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 1122 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:48 am one Twin findings Twins, who sometimes look like carbon copies of each other, are often raised in the same environment. Are they also the same beneath their skin?

Do twins mirror Twwoo peas in a pod each other? “Twins who are brought up together tend to share more similar experiences than even Lee Wen Di and Wen Li are How about hobbies? NTU freshmen on the CN Yang Wen Di: Our parents close siblings, so they can appear Scholars Programme. Wen Di exposed us to music from to have very similar likes and is a materials science student, a young age and it is a big dislikes. Naturally, variation while her younger-by-four- part of our lives. We were in experiences abounds and it minutes sister is a chemical in the Chinese orchestra would be dangerous to assume and biomolecular engineering group throughout secondary that such likes and dislikes undergraduate. Th ey both chose school and junior college. extend to all pairs of twins or to apply to NTU because of the I play the suona, a Chinese all situations,” said Assoc Prof exciting opportunities available trumpet. And both of us Kerry Lee, Head of the Research, and their interest in research. play the piano and guitar. Education & Cognitive We like classical symphonies Development Lab at the National Are you best friends? and Romantic composers Wen Li: We have been close like Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Institute of Education. since young. She’s more than a Brahms and Chopin. best friend; we share everything. Wen Li: We like sports, too. Do relationships diﬀ er Our mum is a twin too, so she We run and play badminton between fraternal twins knew how to bring us up and together. There’s two of us, and identical twins? keep us close. so it’s very easy to find a “I found that parents Wen Di: I think we are one of partner to do things with. of twins, whether fraternal the closest twins. Although or identical, reported their we quarrel, we patch up very In what ways are you diﬀ erent? children as spending all their quickly. I always have someone Wen Li: Our personalities time together. The caveat is that to talk to that I trust completely. are diff erent. People usually this study was with six- to And she totally understands me. diff erentiate us by our 11-year-olds, so it could be personalities. She’s calm, Do twins have special powers? reliable and quite crazy. She’s for pragmatic reasons.” Wen Di: We have telepathy! the more outgoing one. “Parents of fraternal twins and Sometimes, she’ll be humming Wen Di: She’s quite lively identical twins show a similar a tune from a classical piece when you get to know her behaviour in giving their children and I’ll be thinking of the same better. She’s also meticulous similar sounding names, dressing segment of the tune, too. and thoughtful. People tell us the way we smile is them alike and preferring that Do you have the same taste diff erent too. they participate in the same in fashion? activities,” said Asst Prof Setoh Wen Di: Our parents used to buy Have you ever been mistaken Pei Pei from the Division of us the same clothes, because we for each other? Psychology, School of Humanities always wanted to dress the same Wen Li: Actually, yes, though & Social Sciences. way. When we look at old photos, we weren’t the ones being we usually identify ourselves by mixed up. We thought our the colour of our hair ties. We mum’s twin was our mum. still share the same fashion sense She had to tell us: “I’m not

and the same wardrobe. your mummy.” DEREK RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS:

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 13

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 13 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:48 am Playing doubles You can tell Syahirah (Hirah) and Syahidah (Sya) Rostam apart easily from the colour of their clothes, but the gregarious pair is similar in many other ways. Now into their second year at NTU, they are pursuing Sport Science & Management degrees and have the same passion for soccer and silat. To complicate matters, they are close friends with another set of twins whom they met on campus. Rashiqah and Rasyidah Tumiran hate beansprouts and horror movies, and are studying Sport Science & Management and Mechanical Engineering respectively. PHOTOS: AMIN SHAH, DEREK RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS:

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mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 14 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:48 am Can you describe Why did you decide to come to NTU? he explains the subject clearly. each other? Hirah: We were working at When he solves a question, he Hirah: She’s Fandi Ahmad Academy as sales shows us how he arrived at the unpredictable and marketing managers before answer step by step. and random. She we entered NTU. Our family looks at things wanted us to continue working Have you had any strange in diff erent there as we were drawing a good “twin moment”? ways and thinks salary, but we wanted to broaden Rashiqah: When we are doing outside the box. our knowledge in sports something together, I can tell But what I really management, so we decided to what she is going to do next. For admire about her pursue this degree. example, when we are playing is her patience. hockey, I can tell what her next Sya: She’s very What’s your best memory of NTU move is going to be. And she’ll direct and so far? know when I have questions on needs every Rashiqah: Th is year’s freshman my mind even if I keep quiet. instruction to be justifi ed. And orientation camp that we Rasyidah: One time, aft er we ate she is huggable. organised for the juniors. My roti kirai, she got a stomachache. course has a small intake, so the I had a stomachache a few days What’s the best part about being organising committee was about later for no reason. And in a twin? a quarter of the class. We got to Secondary Two, she fell sick for a Hirah: We have each other as know our classmates better and long period of time. And then I our daily diaries. We tell each formed close bonds with them. got sick too for no reason again. other how we feel and give and Rasyidah: Mine is playing hockey receive feedback as to how we for Hall 14. It’s a sport that I can improve ourselves. really love and the end of the match that clinched us a spot in What’s the downside of being the fi nal was a touching moment. a twin? Hirah: For us, it’s our names. Who are your favourite professors? They are almost the same, so Rashiqah: Asst Prof Yang Yifan sometimes our lecturers or the and Asst Prof Veni Kong. Th eir system will overlook one of us. classes are always full. I like the We also need to tolerate each way they teach; they make their other’s attitudes because we subjects interesting and easy to are always together. understand. Sya: I look the same as her, Rasyidah: For me, it’s Asst Prof so I feel responsible for her Hirotaka Sato, who teaches image and I’m conscious of engineering dynamics. His

PHOTOS: AMIN SHAH, DEREK RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS: my own behaviour. presentations are engaging and

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 15

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 15 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:49 am T INT

A HE

Res Alw Transatlantic twins the che on it As I was What do you like the most about and pos telling her my each other? or jo “microwave Jia Xin: We are willing to be story”, she burst honest with each other, be Plan out laughing serious when the other has Bein and said she opinions or troubles to share, the Figu just realised she and advise each other. Find couldn’t start Jia Min: I like how we’re so close deta Twins Seah Jia Min and Jia the washing we can laugh at each other aft er Xin have never been more machine because she also an argument. Be p Arriv than a quick car journey away forgot to set the time! befo from each other. Th e past few How did you both end up in the you months, though, they have How close were the two of you same course in NTU? mee been separated by an ocean. Jia growing up? Jia Min: We wanted to do Xin is in Oslo, Norway, while Jia Xin: We were very close Accountancy and Business Reh Alw Jia Min is in Montreal, Canada. because we were always in the because it is a practical que Th e third-year students, who same school, took the same choice, and also because the inte are both pursuing a double subjects (except in university Nanyang Business School has perf degree in accountancy and now), and always had the a strong tradition of producing Dre business at the Nanyang same co-curricular activity successful business graduates. As a Business School, are on a six- – badminton. We did almost dete month exchange programme. everything together such that How are you two most alike? con when there was something that Jia Xin: We have similar Be w What’s the funniest “twin involved only one of us, the tastes in movies, food Kee this moment” you both had? other would feel slightly lonely. and hobbies, but that’s mak Jia Xin: Recently, I was trying where the similarities ask to use the microwave at my What’s the hardest part about end. We have diff erent clar hostel and was wondering why being a twin? tastes in fashion and Brin it wasn’t working. I realised I Jia Min: Being associated with boys. While we might Hav had forgotten to set the time! her when she does something defi ne the perfect guy port Th at week, when I Skyped Jia wrong and hence getting in similar ways, we requ Min in Montreal, she happened judged despite not doing eventually end up liking mat to be doing the laundry and anything wrong. But no matter diff erent types of boys. Pre was having some diffi culty how hard it might get, it is still Perhaps you could call it Onc starting the washing machine. worth it. same tastes, diff erent fates. you

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mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 1166 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:59 am Advertorial

ACE THAT JOB INTERVIEW

A LITTLE PREPARATION GOES A LONG WAY HERE’S HOW TO GET A DISTINCT EDGE OVER OTHER JOB APPLICANTS

Research the company proper. Ladies, touch up your makeup to give yourself a more polished Always do your homework and fi nd out as much as you can about look. While waiting for the interviewer, switch off your mobile phone Transatlantic twins the company and job you’re applying for. Visit the company’s website, to prevent any interruptions during the interview. Before entering the check its social media sites and do simple Google searches. Read up meeting room, take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves. on its future plans and be prepared to talk in-depth about the company and the job with your interviewer. This shows your enthusiasm for the Be courteous position, which is vital. Having zero knowledge about the business Be personable and show courtesy to everyone during, before and or job is a big no-no and leaves a bad impression. after the interview, from the reception staff to the interviewer. Look everyone in the eye, smile radiantly and remember their names. Plan your route You can only make a fi rst impression once, so make it a good one. Being late is another scenario to avoid. Carefully plan your route to the company. Don’t sabotage your chances before you even arrive. Sell yourself Figure out how long the trip will be, either by car or public transport. The interview is a golden opportunity to get on your prospective Find out where to park once you arrive and always have the contact employer’s good side. Highlight all your strengths, experiences details of the person you’re meeting, just in case you’re held up. and unique selling points. Be confi dent and talk audibly with precise enunciation. Tell your interviewer how you can contribute Be punctual to the company with your skills and talents. Arriving too early is better than being late. Reach at least 15 minutes before the interview to give yourself time to rest and to compose Ask good questions yourself. It’s bad to look all hurried and fl ustered, and to enter the No one is impressed by a candidate who sits and nods in silence. meeting room with a sweaty shirt or blouse. Participate actively during the interview. Ask your interviewer at least three thought-provoking questions that refl ect your interest in the Rehearse company and the job. To show your enthusiasm, instead of giving Always rehearse the interview beforehand. Review classic interview monosyllabic answers, probe your interviewer for more details. questions and prepare intelligent answers for them. Conduct a mock If you’re not sure about something, it’s okay to admit it. Tell the interview with friends or family members to get a feel for how you’ll interviewer you’ll get back about it soon. perform on that important day. Follow up Dress professionally and conservatively Don’t forget to follow up with the company at an appropriate time, As a rule of thumb, dress professionally for the interview. Your attire restating your interest in the job. If there’s no reply after a week, determines how seriously you’ll be taken by the interviewer. Dress call and politely ask when a decision will be made. conservatively and ensure your clothing is neat and well-pressed. Preparation is a prerequisite for success, so do it right. You just Be well groomed with clean nails and neatly-trimmed facial hair. might land the job of your dreams! Keep any tattoos under wraps and remove facial piercings. Ladies, this is not a party or a date, so don’t wear loud accessories or heavy makeup. Feel free to call up the company’s HR representative to ask about the appropriate attire for the interview. It’s always better to Source: This article was brought to you by clarify than to get there under-dressed. STJobs.sg is a comprehensive and informative platform for job seekers to post their resumes and get matched with potential jobs. The website has almost Bring along important documents 40,000* updated job listings spanning across a broad spectrum of industries Have all necessary documentation with you, such as your resume, posted by employers in Singapore. Additionally, users can fi nd information portfolio, identifi cation card and a recent photograph. If the company and interesting tools on STJobs such as Salary Benchmarker, where they can requires other documents that you didn’t bring, provide the necessary view the average salary for a variety of job functions and industries locally; or Career Resources, where they can get employment tips from articles published materials as soon as possible after the interview. by Singapore Press Holdings. STJobs received a Silver Award in the General Website Categories (Employment) of the 2013 W3 Awards, organised by The Prep yourself just before the interview International Academy of Visual Arts (IAVA). The entries were judged based on standards of excellence determined by IAVA. Once you have reached the company, visit the restroom to tidy yourself up. Wipe off any perspiration and ensure you look neat and *As of October 2014

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 17

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 17 NTU Hey 7/11/14 8:59 am Feature

It’ m tw en an

My friends and I are lounging Always “there” Th ese days, mobile phone is th by the pool in Bali. On vacation, “People these days can’t do ownership brings with it so y none of us are relaxing. One without their smartphone problems our smartphone-less late is talking to her boyfriend because it off ers great ancestors never had to face, else on FaceTime. Another is on convenience in serving many such as a culture of immediacy. Pat Google Maps, searching for the of our needs,” says Prof Richard People today want everything in c location of dinner tonight. I’m Ling, a media technology expert and they want it at once. neu frowning at my screen, trying at the Wee Kim Wee School of Unlike in the days of “snail to edit my photos so they’ll look Communication & Information. mail”, a reply is generally Fien good on Instagram. “Th rough it, we expect others expected within the hour, Th e Th is is the era we live in, to be ‘there’. One of the reasons I whether by text message or via atte where nary a day goes by make sure I have my phone with a phone call. Th is puts plenty of not without our mobile phones – me is in case someone wants to stress on us, be it self-imposed me even when we are on holiday contact me.” or from peer pressure. view – and where social media He added that there is also “Your friends should be able As a channels like Instagram and habitual use, where we fi nd to understand that you may be inte Facebook are tools for us to ourselves automatically reaching busy with something and can’t grou connect to the world and all our for our phones as we have repeated text back immediately. What stud 800 friends. this process so many times. I like about instant messaging call

18 HEY!

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 18 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:00 am However, as phones get “smarter”, there is the worry we’ll eventually lose the ability to do things now easily done by technology. One extreme example is penmanship becoming a forgotten ability since typing is so much simpler and more effi cient. And with all the numbers we need conveniently stored in our Contacts list, we don’t give our brains a workout remembering phone numbers anymore. “A recent study showed that when we believe something will be saved on our computer or phone, we’re less likely to make the eff ort to remember it,” says Asst Prof Patterson. But this is not all bad. “When cars started becoming popular, people were worried they would It’s hard to go anywhere without our eventually lose the skills needed to saddle a horse,” says Prof Ling. mobile phone, so what happens when “Th at’s true, but when was the last two students forgo their phones for an time you had to rely on a horse?” So our skill sets are essentially entire day? Chrystal Chan investigates changing, says Prof Ling. Humans aren’t becoming less intelligent, and hears from a few experts but simply doing things in diff erent ways. In fact, believe it or not, smartphones can make us smarter in increasing our ability to multi-task. Brain booster A study conducted by Asst Prof Patterson and graduate student Adam Oei found that participants who played more complex games like Cut the Rope is that it allows multi-tasking, “Th e overdependence on and for as little as an hour a day for so you can respond a little excessive use of mobile phones a month could switch between s later while doing something is a problem we all feel strongly tasks 33% faster. Th ey were else,” says Asst Prof Michael about,” says Chan Jing Hao. also 60% better at blocking out y. Patterson, who does research “But it wasn’t until we spoke distractions and staying focused in cognitive psychology and to our peers that we discovered on tasks. neuroscience. how widespread the problem is. It’s not just games that make We wanted to raise awareness of us more eff ective. Th e apps Fiend or friend? this ‘anti-social’ behaviour and on our phones help us do Th ere have been various organised correct it through this campaign.” everything under the sun, from a attempts to encourage people On the other hand, experts tracking the number of steps of not to use their phones during believe the transition from calling we take to telling us how much d meals, an act which can be to texting has made people more we’ve spent this month. It’s viewed as rude and “anti-social”. polite and less disruptive. even possible to learn a foreign e As a reminder to prize face-to-face “When you call someone, language on the go. e interaction over our phones, a everyone else around you knows One thing’s for sure, our t group of fi nal-year communication you’re doing it. Now you can sit phones will continue to pervade students carried out a project quietly and text, and not disturb our consciousness in various g called Put It On Friend Mode. others,” explains Prof Ling. ways. So use it wisely.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 19

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 19 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:00 am A day without my smartphone H

“I“I havhavee all ththe social media “The fi rst thing I do every morning is check WhatsApp and M channelschannels likelik Instagram my Instagram and Facebook feeds. Th and Facebook,Facebo but I’m not During this one-day challenge, I instinctively reached Ca oobsessedbsessed wwith updating for my phone a few times to discover it wasn’t there, tthem.hem. MyMy friendsf call me a and found myself thinking about all the text messages ‘‘lazylazy ttexter’exte as I don’t reply I could be missing. mmessagesess promptly. The withdrawal symptoms escalated during lunch when I PPerhapserh that was why was alone with no one to talk to over the meal. This would’ve I ffeltelt I could survive been fi ne if I had my phone to turn to. This time, I decided to witwithoutho my phone. just observe what was going DuringDur class, I on around me. ddiscoverediscove the fi rst Before the challenge, I ininconvenience.conve I couldn’t had set a time and place to ttakeake ddownow important meet a friend for dinner. After ppointsoints uusings the Notes app waiting for 10 minutes, he still on my phphone. Nor could I didn’t appear. I later found out tatakeke phophotos of the lesson, he’d tried to call me to tell anandd I hahad to fall back on me he ppenen andan paper. would AfterAft class, I starting be late. ffeelingeelin a little lost After wwithoutith my phone dinner, as I had to attend a I walked prproject meeting and faster than wwas worried I might usual to get notn know about a back to my hall changechan in the meeting room at NTU. The fi rst BEST FR placeplace or time. thing I did was launch better AsideAside from the occasional myself onto my desk nagging ffeelingeelin that I might and seize my phone. It bbee missing calls and texts, felt like I was reunited I copedcoped well.w In fact, I with a part of myself. ffoundound myselfm a lot more I’m glad this challenge ffocusedocused during tutorials. wasn’t done on a day I But I couldcou no longer use had to travel further, my phonphonee as a security because I doubt I’d be blblanket.anket. FFor example, when I able to survive without mamakeke acaccidentalci eye contact my music, Google Maps witwithh strastrangers,n I usually and just knowing I’m tatakeke my pphone out and look connected to the world.” ddistracted.istracted. This time, I could – Isaac Lim, Sociology ononlyly llookook awaway awkwardly. I think the best part of this mobile-free day was how liberated I felt, as there was less pressure to reply text messages immediately. I am going to try to be less attached to my phone as I feel it’s bad to be a slave to technology and miss out on what’s happening around me.” – Sabrina Ng, Economics PICT of t

20 HEY!

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 20 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:00 am Hot Shots Make a date with us and There’s never a dull moment at NTU, the world’s best young university. Catch the action in NTU’s 2015 desktopp calendar – aandnd wwhenhe you’re on campus

I d’ve d to

GLIDE ON No ice-breakers needed with cool NTU President Prof Bertil Andersson.

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER You make the good times better and the bad times easier.

MILESTMILESTONONESES WaWatctch ouout wwoorldrld, hherere wewe ccoomme!e!

20 calendars to be won! PICTURE PERFECT Th e NTU campus is listed as one Look out for the NTU calendar giveaway on of the top 15 most beautiful in the world. NTUsg Facebook in November. Or get your copy at the Union Shop (Student Activities Centre) from December. HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 21

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 21 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:00 am Feature Holala BonjourB HellLingL o binggogo Guten tag

by Derek Rodriguez

eff ectively with the outside major, taking the Korean world and therefore enhance language module lets her “kill the political, economic and many birds with one stone”. cultural ties between Singapore “First, it’s a great way to clear and other parts of the world.” electives. Second, I get to attend lessons I fi nd interesting. And The Asian wave best of all, I have an avenue to Th e two most popular practise the language.” While languages are Korean Th ai language coordinator on exchange and Japanese, which make Dr Sureenate Jaratjarungkiat in Japan, Li Ruixue (above) up more than half of this conducted a survey of her found that being able to speak semester’s intake. students over two semesters and Japanese helped her make Lecturer Agnes Ryoo found that almost half of those friends easily with the locals. attributes the popularity of surveyed learnt Th ai so they Says Ruixue, who is pursuing Korean to three broad could speak the language while a double degree in information reasons. travelling in Th ailand. Th is is engineering & media and “Other than the K-Wave, also true for students taking economics: “Most of the there are compelling reasons Vietnamese. international students hung out to learn Korean. Th is year, Th ird-year accountancy with other international students, about 600 NTU students went student Trixy Fong (right) is but I became fi rm friends with to 10 Korean universities for a case in point. She picked the Japanese students.” summer studies. Students up the language before her Ruixue is one of about seeking to make the most of latest trip to Th ailand and 2,500 students taking various these exchange programmes was rewarded with a richer language modules each oft en take the Korean language experience. “I could appreciate semester at NTU’s Centre for course,” she explains. “And what was happening around me Modern Languages, which runs with the key Korean industries – what the buskers’ signs said, courses on Arabic, Chinese, growing rapidly, learning and what they were singing French, German, Hindi, Italian, Korean is a wise career on the streets. I Japanese, Korean, Malay, investment.” could converse Spanish, Th ai and Vietnamese. For business with the street Assoc Prof Francesco student Melissa vendors. Cavallaro, director of the Phang (right), I felt less centre, says: “Students who who is in her like a learn another language here are graduating tourist, equipped with the linguistic and semester as a and more cultural knowledge that will tourism and like a enable them to communicate hospitality traveller.”

22 HEY!

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 22 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:01 am French language you can feel the warmth, the module fi lls us happiness and the sunshine in on details of the Spanish-speaking about the countries.” French lifestyle.” Th e number of students In the case taking Chinese has been rising of the German steadily over the last few language, tutor years. Th is, says lecturer Dr Patricia Lorenz He Xiaoling, is because more explains: “Many international exchange students students learn German are learning the language. for practical reasons, mainly “China has become the second because they want to study largest economy in the world in Germany. Engineering and its economic and political students, for example, are infl uence is growing.” Second-year communication drawn to the precision of Aft er Spanish, English and student Pang Xue Qiang (above), German expertise and learning Chinese, Hindi is the fourth too, got a better deal. Bargaining the language enables them to most spoken language in the for the best prices was not a understand it more fully.” world and Arabic is fi ft h. Both problem, as he practises haggling Th ink learning a new have grown in importance in his Th ai classes. “We get to language is too hard? Try for Singapore in terms of role-play situations like ordering Italian, Malay or Spanish, commerce. Th ai food and going shopping,” which are three of the easiest “Th e Middle East has a he explains. languages to pick up. Spanish leading role in the global language coordinator Ms energy market,” says Arabic A taste of Europe Cristina Ruiz says: “Th e language coordinator Mr Among the European language Spanish vocabulary is simple Shuaib Silm. “Th e ability to courses, the French module and straightforward, and speak basic Arabic will open up has the most students. the words are in most cases more business opportunities for Dr Karen McCloskey written exactly as they are those venturing there.” says: “Some students pronounced.” take it because they With over 400 million have a connection people in the world speaking with someone the language, Spanish is who is French, but more widely spoken usually it’s because than English. “It is they are drawn to an extremely useful the elegance of the language, especially language. Sometimes, if we consider all it takes is the bite of the fact that a macaron to unleash Latin American the desire to fi nd out more economies are about the French culture booming,” adds and language.” Ms Ruiz. Jenzi Chua believes French Second-year has a certain je ne sais quoi, civil engineering or pleasing, elusive quality. student Zhang Says the fourth-year biological Qiyu (right) spent sciences student: “I took it the summer practising because I thought it sounded the language in Spain, beautiful. I also love everything where she witnessed the French – the country, the crowning of King Felipe. She pastries and the clothes. NTU’s says: “When you learn Spanish,

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 23

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 2233 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:01 am 24

NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 24 7/11/14 10:42 am Feature

ChowNTU has been dubbed and the “foodiest university chill in the world” by Makansutra guru KF Seetoh, and its range of yummy delights just grew wider. Third-year undergrad Aloysius Boh gives the lowdown on the new campus eateries

LLOOL Bakery & Cafe by: MM.I.S. With LOVE LocatedL by the pool at theth open courtyard of thet newly refurbished CampusC Clubhouse, thistht café and bakery sellss freshly toasted sandwiches,s pastries and othero local delights from noonn to 8pm daily. An idealid place for lunch, teat or chit-chat sessions withw friends. On Wednesdays,Weddnesdda enjoy a bowl of mee siam for just $2.80.

Pizza Hut Express Basically a smaller version of your usual Pizza Hut, this outlet is also the fi rst of its kind in Singapore and Asia as it off ers pizza by the slice. Th e $5 – $6.90 combo meals are ideal quick bites for the busy NTU student who only has 30 minutes to KFC spare between lectures. If you need your fi x of fried chicken Pizza fl avours include Hawaiian, and soda in air-conditioned Pepperoni, BBQ Chicken, Veggie comfort, this is the place for you. Lover’s, Margherita and Meat Th ough with Pizza Hut Express Galore. If you aren’t in the mood right beside KFC in the same for pizza, sweet and spicy chicken enclosed space, you might be drumlets and garden salad are tempted by the pizzas too once available, too. But if you and your you’re here. friends have room for a 16-inch pizza, you can all share one for $21.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 25

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 2255 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:02 am Art Pastry @ ADM Ta No starving artists here. Nan Pastries and art meet Joll in NTU’s most unique bes Peach Garden Chinese Restaurant building. From chicken Cong If you have a hankering for pie to chocolate éclairs and thin roasted Peking duck and chilled even hot pasta meals and Hum osmanthus jelly, you can satisfy bento boxes, various yummy eve those cravings on campus now. treats are on tap to keep those You Yes, the gong has been sounded creative juices flowing. Tell for Peach Garden. Th is chain of nob restaurants has a loyal following I’m and has won numerous accolades Starbucks you for its Cantonese cuisine. Dim Th is popular American coff ee chain Wha sum, anyone? Look out for the is back again aft er a brief hiatus, Too opening specials. with an air-conditioned outlet hap beside Subway at the North Spine. was Now you can easily grab your kep clim North Spine Food Court Extension favourite brew with a sandwich You can’t miss the new food or wrap before going for your stalls just beside Peach Garden morning lecture at LT1. All food Chinese Restaurant. Th is is a very and drinks here are 10% cheaper international stretch, with everything than at stores off campus. from xi’an cuisine and Japanese and Korean food to Italian fare. Llaollao Te Nan Ever since it arrived in Singapore Pioneer Food Court from Spain, this frozen yoghurt 201 Th is is a food court with the usual chain (pronounced yow yow) has Sinc staples for ravenous students. When been wowing crowds, with snaking are fully open, there will be 12 stalls to queues at its 313@Somerset and Tim hav choose from. For an inexpensive and other outlets. You can soon have mor fi lling meal, the “economy rice” stall its healthy and delicious frozen love is a good choice. yoghurt at Canteen B – a great way OrO go for the ayam to reinvigorate Wha thin penyetp , a perennial your palate It h favourite,f which aft er a greasy you ccomes at $4.50 with lunch or dinner. dur a huge chicken leg Skimmed milk Wha aand a sizeable chunk and fruity or less oof tempeh. Th ere’s cookie toppings Har aalso Korean food if are part of You yyou’re craving some the nutritional a th rramyeon. A little package. han a ra bbird told us to expect FFrench cuisine at the WWestern stall, bringing sussuch cuisine to NTU

foffor the fi rst time. Oui! EILEEN TAN PIZZA HUT, GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT, SAM CHIN, PEACH PHOTOS:

266 HEY!

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 26 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:02 am Feature And the winners are... Chrystal Chan taps four winners of this year’s Nanyang Alumni Awards for their nuggets of wisdom and wit

Tan Chade-Meng, 43 Karen Wee, 28 Nanyang Alumni Achievement Award Nanyang Alumni Service Award Jolly Good Fellow at Google and New York Times TCM physician and founding Chairman of the NTU Chinese best-selling author Medicine Alumni Association Congrats on your win! Tell us what you Tell us the TCM cure for the Monday blues. think of this award in 10.5 words. There is no direct cure for the Monday Humbled they awarded me this blues. It is all about your mindset and even though I’m full of sh... (show) ﬁ nding interest in your job.

You are funny, smart and successful. What’s one problem you wish TCM could Tell us something about yourself that solve in a jiﬀ y? nobody knows. Age-related chronic illnesses, I’m actually very good-looking, but since we’re facing an you can’t tell just by looking at me. ageing population that needs more care What’s a happy problem to you? and attention. Growing Too much good sushi. Yes, it old is inevitable, so happened to me once. The sushi wouldn’t it be great was great, but the sushi chef if we could make kept serving us sushi, it was like this process more climbing sushi Everest. enjoyable, without any pain and suﬀ ering?

Teo Shun Xie, 25 Dr Marcel Thom, 38 Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2014 Commonwealth Games Air Pistol Gold medallist Partner and Managing Director at The Boston Consulting Group Since you have perfect aim, what are you shooting for next in life? You’re well-versed in business Time is always something I don’t strategy. How can this be applied to have enough of. I hope to get everyday life? more of it to spend with my In business strategy, you have to loved ones. combine long-term planning with short-term decision-making. This What would you say is the best applies directly to everyday life. thing about shooting as a sport? For example, preparing a merger It helps you learn how to control and preparing a wedding are not your thoughts and emotions that diﬀ erent! during stressful times. What advice would you give to What is the most important students who aspire to be like you? lesson you’ve learnt? It ain’t over till it’s over! Don’t give Hard work pays oﬀ eventually. up easily when things don’t turn You may be experiencing out the way you want them to. a thunderstorm now, but Always push ahead, because new hang on, because you’ll see opportunities will arise along a rainbow soon. the way. PHOTOS: SAM CHIN, PEACH GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT, PIZZA HUT, EILEEN TAN PIZZA HUT, GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT, SAM CHIN, PEACH PHOTOS:

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 27

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 27 NTU Hey 7/11/14 1:36 pm Unplugged

Life for third-time Nanyang Alumni Con Award winner, proud mum and Nan internationally renowned superstar Aw Stefanie Sun is looking pretty rosy acc to d right now, especially after her I w recent sell-out Kepler World Tour thir concerts. Chrystal Chan speaks priv with Singapore’s most successful con Mandopop singer to ﬁ nd out how I she’s keeping it all together my love it p furt pea

Bet awa a lo life you one be? to d bee and hav role sim me the

Ha cha tho I th dem mo mo be d boo defi wh W to, and and

Ha I th cha the are pur rec

28 HEY!

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 2288 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:03 am mni Congrats on winning NTU’s As a mum, are there challenges I’d wish them the knowledge to tell d Nanyang Distinguished Alumni career-wise that you didn’t have to between a life calling and a hobby. star Award! How do you feel about the worry about before? Scheduling osy accolade? Is there anyone you’d like of activities now requires more Th e last three years at NTU have to dedicate the award to? thought and I also try to avoid been ones of change. We have two r I would like to thank NTU for this longer trips away from home. new condo-like halls called Pioneer ur third honour. I feel especiallycially andand CrescentCresc Halls, a medical ks privileged to be able to schools and a soon-to-be- ful continue doing what I enjoy.njoy. readyr 24-hour learning ow I dedicate the award too hub.h Would any of these my family. Th eir steadfastst enticee you to come back love and support has madeade tot NTU as a student? it possible for me to go Th ese new facilities sound further in my career withh amazing.a Learning can be peace of mind. a lot of fun when it’s with like-mindedlil people and in Between your second comfortablec surroundings. award and this latest one,ne, I’veI always imagined myself a lot has happened in yourourr goingg back to school one life. If you could sum upp day.d I just have to fi nd the your past three years in rightrir course! one word, what would itt be? Th ere’s no one word WeW would love to have to describe it; there havee youyoy back! So what do you been too many emotionss thinktht your time at NTU and events. Although I wouldn’twow have been the have taken on additionall samesas without? It wouldn’t roles in life, life feels a lotot havehah been the same without simpler. Th e lack of timee HallHaH 6. I remember having to means I have to focus onn plan,plp a host and perform for the things that matter. a showsh during social night. I alsoala so remember performing Has being a parent ata NanyangN Lake with our changed your views andd residentrer si band. thoughts on life and yourur cacareer?reer? WhichWhich of youryour albumsalbums isis thethe momostst I think being a parent is special to you? I think my latest Your father was an NTU professor demanding and it has made me album, Kepler, signifi es a big moment and you are an NTU graduate. Will more self-refl ective. Even the of my life. It feels current to me. you send your son to NTU in the most mundane things have to future? Th at depends on his interest, be done; there is no instruction What’s the best or worst thing but it’ll be nice to see that happening! booklet tailored for you, and anyone has said to you or written defi nitely no entourage there about you? I try my best not to take Where do you see yourself in fi ve when your child cries. things personally. Articles that upset years? Still doing the things I enjoy, While it takes some getting used me are usually the ones written by and being more involved in my to, the journey has been fantastic, journalists who attempt to paint son’s developmental years. I would and I mean that both sincerely an unfair or untrue picture of my also like to find new areas in life and sarcastically. (Laughs) intentions. As for music or fashion to explore. critics, what they write about is too Has it also changed your songs? subjective to be malicious. If you weren’t Stefanie Sun, the I think parenthood has inevitably singer, you would be… Stefanie Sun, changed my artistic directions and What would you say to NTU the closet singer. the things I’m drawn to. Colours students and alumni keen on a are more exciting. Literal things are music career? No one person is What’s success to you? Having loved purely literal. Now’s a good time to the same. While I wouldn’t want ones around you no matter where recapture the purity of thought. to impose my opinions on them, your life is heading.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 29

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 29 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:03 am Bag a $40 shopping 300 LyonL n fl ash drivesdriv upp forf grabs!grabsabs! spree! Let tthehe lovableble NNTU mmascotasco helpp youyou storere yyouro mmostost Dazzle this holiday season! In Subscribe to our digital importantporta documentsocum in editions and you could onee place,plac andnd kekeep yyourour by walk away with $40 keysys ccloselo too yyou.ou worth of Zalora shopping It is To winin oneone, simplyy ansanswerw this: Ass vouchers to get yourself Namee threethre neww eaterieseate onn campus.cam s. T a party-worthy look. (Hint: CheckCheck ooutu Chow andnd chillchill iinn this issue.)ue.) the Bio Email yourour answer,answ with “LyonLyon fl ashash drive giveawayeaway” asas thee subjectsubjejeect line,line, toto [email protected]@ntu.edu.sggb byy kno 12 Decemberember 2014.20 Include youryour fulfulll name, NTUU school aand year of studstudy,y, ccontacto numberber and eemail tea Subscribe now at www.hey.ntu.edu.sg addresss in youryour entry. Multipleiple entriesentri from thee same personp will notnot bebe accepted.ac Winnersnners willwi be picked ffromrom amamongo entries ffromrom NTNTUU students wwithith tthehe correct answerwer in a llucky draw andand informedinfor mo Print. Online. Tablet. Mobile. TV. via email.ail. AllAll prizespriz are to bebe collectedcollect from thee CorporateCorporat Communicationsications OffiO ce, NTU. and sea wh Sing away… wit “ You could be one of dur Skate at 50 lucky readers to Chi und win a karaoke session atte for two. clas The Rink for free and Simply name two foreign que languages that students 40 pairs of ice-skating passes to be won us f can learn at NTU. Glide away with a friend for two hours. to k (Flip to Lingo bingo now.) our Inclusive of skate boots rental. us o To win, name a successful NTU alumnus who bar que received the Nanyang Alumni Award this year. 3 hours of singing (inclusive of KOD and cover charge) at Tang Music Box for two people. Inclusive of two drinks and one snack per person as well as a complimentary Tang Music Box membership. A (Tip: Check out the cover of this issue.) jud Email your answer, with “Tang Music Box giveaway” as the subject line, to [email protected] by 12 Email your answer, with “Free ice-skating” as the subject line, to [email protected] by 12 December December 2014. Include your full name, NTU matriculation card number, contact number and email the 2014. Include your full name, NTU school and year of study or graduation, contact number and address in your entry. Contact details of winners will be sent to Tang Music Box for the purpose of to a email address in your entry. Multiple entries from the same person will not be accepted. Winners prize collection only. Multiple entries from the same person will not be accepted. Winners will be A will be picked from among entries with the correct answer in a lucky draw and informed via email. informed via email, along with details of the prize redemption. The vouchers are not valid on Friday All prizes are to be collected from the Corporate Communications Offi ce, NTU. and Saturday nights (from 7pm to 1am). disp to e esp Lyon saves the day… may Lyon “ Lyon Flash Drive Just launched! Keychain Eng 2-in-1 flash drive and keychain with 8GB storage $5 stu to g bec 25% OFF Now only $18.90 lot I pl (Usual price: $25) the pre Take home NTU’s mascot at these was special prices at the Union Shop @ else

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Offers valid till 31 January 2015 O: LESTER K skil T

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30 HEY!

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 3300 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:04 am rrabsabs!abs! Inspiring Tim(e) by Jeremy Ee

It is hard to zone out during Science-sational Assoc Prof Timothy Tan’s class. Research is a big love of his, The Associate Chair at and he tries to get his students the School of Chemical & hooked by helping them connect Biomedical Engineering is the dots to see the relevance tu.edu.sgtu.edu.ssggbg byy known for his interactive of their studies beyond the ber andand emaile teaching style that sees him classroom, including the nners wiwill be anandd infinformedor move around the lecture theatre “downstream applications”. and even walk up to students seated at the back to tell them what’s on his mind. Tutorials with him are like chat sessions. “He’s never judgmental, “Th ere’s never a dull moment which gives even the during his tutorials,” says shyer students the Chinmayi Bhatt, a fi rst-year courage to ask questions.” undergraduate who faithfully attends his materials science classes. “He’s extremely friendly and welcomes all sorts of Dr Gladys Teo was one such questions in a way that makes undergraduate on the receiving us feel involved and motivated end of this. Assoc Prof Tan, to keep learning and clarifying 38, supervised her fi nal-year our doubts. In fact, he keeps project and aft er getting her us on our toes because of the undergraduate degree, she went barrage of thought-provoking on to pursue a PhD at Imperial questions he fi res our way.” College London under a ple. Inclusive membership. Adds Chinmayi: “He’s never scholarship. She graduated with judgmental, which gives even a doctorate in Materials this year edu.sg by 12 ber and email the shyer students the courage and has already fi led a patent in he purpose of to ask questions.” her short research career. nners will be Assoc Prof Tan’s personable Says Dr Teo about Assoc Prof alid on Friday disposition also enables him Tan’s teaching style: “He enjoys to empathise with his charges, what he does – you can see this especially the top students who through his sincere engagement may be under a lot of pressure. with his students during lessons. “For the class of Renaissance He reminds me to follow my Engineering Programme heart and to pursue my interests, 5 students I teach, I decided not saying it is important to excel to give them a mid-term test and to do things with passion because they already have a and excitement.” lot of tests and exams. Instead, Success stories like Dr Teo I planned lab sessions for are the “intangibles” that them and asked them to give a motivate the youthful professor presentation on a topic which with trendy threads. In fact, was then graded by everyone his own students oft en inspire else in class. I believe this will him. “I have come across

OK improve their creativity, team many students who speak with work and project management passion and maturity about

O: LESTER K skills, and also enhance their lives and what they like to T

PHO dynamic learning.” do, and I applaud that.”

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 31

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 3311 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:05 am Thinking Aloud STOCKHOLM SYNDROME by Andrew Toh

Stockholm, Sweden’s capital city, Th e choice of Stockholm for is known for many things, among this year’s Go-Far programme Andrew Toh is an aspiring journalist them, being the birthplace of was a departure from previous who hopes to go into the Nobel Prize, a melting pot years. It was the fi rst time the confl ict reporting of ethnicities and a darling of programme ventured out of the someday. Th e the developed world for its Asian hemisphere and was not former Opinions egalitarian values and socially involved in disaster reporting Editor of Th e progressive ideas. like the previous year’s trip to Nanyang Chronicle Underneath the city’s pristine Japan, which covered the 2011 developed a passion surface, however, tensions have tsunami recovery eff orts. for international been simmering. Th e 10th instalment of the and fi nancial In May last year, the city made programme also saw two Go-Far reporting aft er a six-month headlines around the world when alumni – Cheryl Ong and Jamie internship at it experienced one of its worst Lee – re-join the programme to Th omson Reuters. racial riots in decades. Th e scale provide guidance to their juniors. of the violence shattered the Cheryl, currently a sub- illusion of the Scandinavian state editor at Th e Straits Times, Speaking to construction workers to ﬁ nd out more about their w as a perfect society, and brought said accompanying the team my story on eroding labour standards in Sweden. its standing as a safe haven for to Stockholm was an entirely refugees into question. diff erent ball game from Alfred Nobel – ran in The and Rising income inequality and a her previous Go-Far trip to Sunday Times on 5 October of S surge in far-right nationalism in Bangladesh in 2009. while we were in Stockholm. F the recent national elections have “Th e past trips have tended the also left a blemish on Sweden’s to focus more on our regional of t previously spotless reputation. neighbours,” the 27-year-old diffi In September, 14 of us from said. “Th e challenge here was to Swe the Wee Kim Wee School of fi nd stories that resonate well “From day one, S Communication & Information with Singapore readers.” we hit the streets Zito made our way to Stockholm Prof Charles Salmon, the running to ﬁ nd to S as part of the school’s Going Chair of the Wee Kim Wee wer Overseas for Advanced Reporting School, was in Stockholm for the stories that O (Go-Far) programme, which the fi rst four days of the trip to best captured Zito challenges journalism students watch the team’s progress and the developments war to gather compelling news give advice. Th e instructors reu stories in a foreign environment. for the trip were Ms Hedwig in the city.” cam AAlfred, Mr Tay Kay Chin I aand Mr Samuel He. tog Th e timing of the arri ttrip coincided with the Tension and apprehension poc rrelease of the names We arrived in Stockholm on the oof the Nobel Prize 28 September to overcast skies F winners, the fi rst of and temperatures that were 20 stre which was announced degrees below what we were stor on 6 October. used to in sunny Singapore. dev A curtain-raiser Th ere was little trace of the B on the Nobel Prize violence that had disfi gured the jou presentation written city little more than a year ago. rep by one of the Go-Far It was not hard to discern the all s students – featuring cause of the tensions. On the F The broadcast team spends the night discussing ththee historyhist of the prize and streets, we saw large numbers of har

their shots and the next day’s shoot. background of its creator, immigrants from Asia, Africa SWEDEN TEAM GO-FAR PHOTOS: be u

32 HEY!

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 32 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:05 am Go-FarG photographers Tan Pei Lin (left) and HarizH Baharudin ready their equipment in a train station as they prepare to shoot membersm of the Planka.nu community – fare-dodgersf who jump or squeeze through thet fare gates to avoid paying for their ride.

very conscious and that’s a huge Stories by the barrier to cross. Th ey need time Go-Far Sweden Go-Far photographer Tan to trust you.” team will be Pei Lin, 22, for instance, based Th e story was almost lost until published in a her photo essay on the city’s she found a replacement for her compilation and Romanian beggars, many of main subject. distributed at a whom line the streets in the day. As the reporting picked up Go-Far exhibition Apart from the language pace, many in the team also had at the Wee Kim diffi culties she faced while trying to battle sickness as the stress Wee School of to interview them, there were and near-freezing temperatures Communication also other hurdles. took a toll on their health. & Information “It was hard to communicate However, it was through in January. with them because they’re wary such incidents that we learnt of foreigners, especially if you to work together. have a camera,” she said. We helped one another to ﬁ nd out more about their working conditions, as part of For a particular interviewee fi nd new angles when stories fell s in Sweden. she had fastened upon as the through and shored each other main subject of her story, up when the going got tough. and the Middle East, a reminder information wasn’t forthcoming. Ultimately, that was the of Stockholm’s racial diversity. “Suddenly, she didn’t want to objective of Go-Far: to hone . From our conversations with be photographed anymore. She the skills of journalism students, them, it was clear that many told her relatives about it and test their resolve in foreign of the immigrants still faced they told her the media wasn’t environments and prove their diffi culties integrating into the good for their lives,” she said, mettle in chasing stories. Swedish way of life. referring to previous media Our stories will speak for Stories like Mr Chamoun reports that had cast the beggars themselves when they are Zitou, 50, a Syrian who moved in a negative light. published in December, and, to Stockholm two years ago, She continued: “Th ese kinds hopefully, will be true to the were not hard to fi nd. of things take time. When you story of Sweden we have set Originally from Aleppo, Mr point a camera at them, they feel out to tell. Zitou left Syria to escape the civil war engulfi ng the country. He was reunited with his family when they came to join him in March. Immigrants like him banded together for support when they arrived in Stockholm, forming pockets of communities around the city. s From day one, we hit the 0 streets running to fi nd the stories that best captured the developments in the city. But for the budding he journalists with little experience o. reporting abroad, it was not he all smooth-sailing. For some, interviews proved of hard to secure, and stories had to

PHOTOS: GO-FAR SWEDEN TEAM GO-FAR PHOTOS: be unexpectedly shelved.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 33

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 33 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:06 am Advertorial X’mas foam party on ice at The Rink @ JCube Have you been naughty or nice? You can tell Santa yourself as you ring in the holiday Christmas at Th e Rink season with him, Santarina and his elves at Th e Rink, Singapore’s only Olympic-size 12 – 23 Dec 5.15pm – 7.15pm Santa on Ice ice-skating rink. 24 Dec 10.30am – 12.45am Christmas with Santa and Friends You won’t want to miss our sunny isle’s fi rst foam party on ice. A foam-tastic 9.45pm – 12.45am Foam Party Christmas Countdown time awaits you as you skate to a mashup of the latest hits at JCube’s very own winter 25 Dec 10.30am – 12.45am Christmas with Santa and Friends wonderland with Foam Party Christmas and New Year Countdowns on ice starting at 9.45pm – 12.45am Disco on Ice – Snow Fall Christmas 9.45pm. Still can’t get enough of a white Christmas? Join Santa on Ice daily from 12 to 23 December, or make a date with Santa and friends starting on Christmas Eve for a day 31 Dec 9.45pm – 12.45am Foam Party New Year Countdown of joyous fun. And stay tuned as Th e Rink introduces a special crew of Th e Rink just in time for Christmas. But don’t wait for the holiday season to get the party started – you can get your Fr ee flipbook @ J.Avenue Nan groove on every Friday and Saturday from 9.45pm to 11.45pm with Disco on Ice. And toN 2a From 15 November to 31 December 2014, the ﬁ rst 40 people to present at the twice-monthly Disco on Ice Th eme Nights, you’ll boogie to the music with snow to falling all around you. If you’re looking for something that sets the pulse racing, you a copy of HEY! at JCube’s new retail zone, J.Avenue (Level 2), will receive can’t go wrong with Broomball*. Form a team of eight and compete in this artic sport A t a free customised ﬂ ipbook worth $15. Redemption available from noon to Che that is similar to ice hockey and fl oorball. Special indoor shoes are provided so you res don’t need to know how to ice-skate to be part of the fun! 8pm daily. Terms and conditions apply. If you are new to ice-skating, Th e Rink’s Learn-to-Skate Class** will have you gliding around gracefully in no time so you can join the year-end fun. And with regular adult admission priced at an aff ordable $14 for a two-hour session (excluding $3.50 for skate boots rental), you can bet your bottom dollar that you’re going to have snow much fun.

The * Each Broomball package costs $735 with a maximum of 16 players (eight per team). Enjoy an hour’s Fou use of the facilities and a dedicated game referee. Bookings are available from Monday to Th ursday the during off -peak seasons. Tec ** Th e Learn-to-Skate course is priced at $171.20 for fi ve lessons. Each lesson comprises 30 minutes with a coach and two hours of practice.

33 Ano

Singapore'sSingapore'sSingapore's NoNoNo.1.1.1 HitHitHit MusicMusicMusic StStStaaationtiontion

Anod made graph

Durin throu the g powe

Anod made titani dioxid

The t the c ions t proce

HEY!

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 3344 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:06 am Feature be Fancy a battery that lasts ds wn Fancy a battery that lasts ds as 20 years? n 20 years? Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has developed next-generation batteries that have a lifespan of up toNanyang 20 years. Technological Infographics journalistUniversity TEOH (NTU) YI has CHIE developed takes a light-heartednext-generation look batteries at the technology that have a lifespan of up o present to 20 years. Infographics journalist TEOH YI CHIE takes a light-hearted look at the technology receive A team of four scientists led by Associate Professor By mixing titanium dioxide and sodium noon to Chen Xiaodong from NTU embarks on this battery hydroxide and stirring at a certain temperature, research project three years ago. a gel-like material is created that can replace the graphite-based electrodes (anode) typically used in lithium batteries.

Hi, guys, Titanium dioxide I’m a gel The titanium is an abundant, now. dioxide gel cheap and safe structure is made material that is also of nanotubes, commonly used in which are a sunscreen lotions. thousand times thinner than a strand of human hair. The project is funded by the National Research Tests have shown that the new battery Enjoy an hour’s Foundation, Prime Minister’s Ofﬁce, under technology can charge a battery up to 70 ay to Th ursday the Campus for Research Excellence and per cent in two minutes. Technological Enterprise programme. s 30 minutes

33 We’re now using titanium dioxide Anode instead of graphite as our anode. We have When charging a removed the battery, positively- doors so we charged lithium can pack more ions will move from lithium ions in the cathode to the faster. anode through the electrolyte in the circuit.

Cathode

How battery charging works

e Power source Li+ Separator Cathode made of Anode + lithium cobalt oxide made of Li Li+ graphite

Old battery technology

During charging, the positive lithium ions move Future impact of new through the electrolyte solution and attach to battery technology the graphite. The charged anode stores electric power.

e Power source Electrolyte Anode made of + titanium Li + dioxide Li+ Li New battery technology

The titanium dioxide’s gel-like properties increase Using the new titanium dioxide Electric cars will become more attractive, as the contact surface, which allows more lithium technology, batteries can now the time spent on recharging is on a par with ions to be attached to speed up the charging last up to 10,000 cycles because pumping petrol. There will also be cost process. they deteriorate slower. savings because the more durable batteries will not have to be replaced as often.

HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 35

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 3355 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:07 am I’ll have to make do with These snapshots from my Decor from Ikea – time This Polaroid photo this play-doctor kit from my 18th birthday celebrations seems to ﬂ y by so wall contains four seniors until I get a real one always cheer me up quickly in NTU years of memories

Halloween-themed treats that satisfy This photograph reminds me of the many A room-warming gift and my cravings for healthy snacks new friends I made at orientation camp my reliable bedfellow

My Space EXTRA Video: Future Bedside manners doctors’ pad

More time for shut-eye and more more than suffi cient meals, books room for shopping. “Th ey’re and even clothes and shoes for what I love to do in my spare both. “It’s fun having a roomie as time – sleep and shop!” says there’s always company around. medicine freshman Felicia Ng, And, having a double room means laughing. Having recently moved having more space when friends into her double room at the come over to chill.” brand-new Crescent Hall, she A doctor in the making, Felicia is all praise for her new “home” has known her calling since her and its lush, green surroundings. childhood days. Unlike other Air-conditioned reading rooms, kids, frequent trips to clinics a well-equipped gym, barbecues didn’t fill her with dread. “It’s by the water and the convenience because the doctors were so of a 12-stall canteen – what more friendly and the visits meant a can a student ask for? lot of lollipop treats,” she adds Living with a roommate – fellow cheekily. Also, she fi nds helping medicine freshie Chua Min Kuan – others and making them smile

is all about sharing, which means very rewarding. – Siddiqua Ovais AMIN SHAH PHOTOS:

36 HEY! NOV–DEC 2014 HEY!

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 36 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:08 am re d PHOTOS: AMIN SHAH PHOTOS:

2014 HEY! MAY–JUN 2014 37

mei xin NNTUTU HHeyey NNovDec14.inddovDec14.indd 3377 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:08 am TURNING GREEN INTO GOLD.

Champion

mei xin NTU Hey NovDec14.indd 38 NTU Hey 7/11/14 9:08 am