Volume IV Issue 1 August – December 2007 A Nanyang Technological University, Wee Kim Wee School CONNEXSCIONS of Communication and Information Alumni Newsletter CONTENTS Chair’s MessaGE 02 Chair’s MessaGE By the time you receive this, you probably would have heard the news about the an Jinli T FEATURES 15th anniversary dinner party we had on 04 15 years and a Party September 21 — it was a blast. 06 An Afternoon With The Wee Family We had an overflow crowd — 430 Photo by Dr Ang Peng Hua. persons turned up. More than 100 who AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS did not meet the RSVP deadline were 07 Crowbar Awards turned away. We could have been more have added a floor to the building; the 08 National Day Awards forgiving of the missed deadline but the CI Club has a room at the top floor; PROJECTS & PUBLICATIONS hotel room was simply filled to capacity. there is small reference collection of 09 24 PURE Talents An overflow room had to be booked. media materials at the ACRC (Asian 10 IAMCR Conference The event marked the 10th Communication Resource Centre); and Photo by Johnathan Loh 10 ICA Conference anniversary of the graduation of the of course we continue to attract good, Yang Huiwen, 23, works the ground in Kampong Angke, one of 11 Final Year Projects Go From Strength to Strength pioneer batch of 1997. It was also an with-it students. Jakarta’s biggest railway communities. 13 Knowledge Management: Tools and Techniques Now in For many of you who missed the 2nd Edition opportunity to thank five companies 13 International Conference on Metadata Applications who have offered the School internship event, see pages 4-5 in this issue of CREDITS 14 When The Children Cry positions from the start. Those who have connexscions. We will also be putting some 16 A Land Laos In Time photos and videos taken at the dinner Art Directors helped deserve credit for contributing to online; and there is a book to mark the Jared Lai, Sabina Lim TEACher’s NOTES the success of the School. developments of the School. This book Editors 18 Big Grants – Mobile Tagging The lessons learnt? CS alum do 19 The Chair’s Instructor want to meet and catch up. We had an is very well put together. In CS tradition, Geraldine Yeo, Nadia Bte Md Ismail 19 New EBM Faculty alumna who was overseas (ok, Malaysia) praise and compliments were not all Photographer 20 New PPC Faculty and came just for the occasion. And unadulterated in the book. For many, Tan Jinli 22 Five New Things About ACRC they want to talk (it was a loud party SCS then and WKWSCI now has given 23 The Researcher, The Family Man Project Managers them some of their best memories. 23 Prof Zhou Shu Hua is Mr Versatile — but can we expect anything less from Chai Min How, Lee Chaang Ru 24 New Staff CS grads?) Interestingly, the older the Memories are part of our identity. Writers & Layout Team group, the noisier they were. Some were And so we are all a part of each other. Carene Chew, Charlene Ho, Fahima Bte Nayib Thalib, Daphne STUDENT LIFE surprised that their business associates I wished I could have met more of you. 25 Multi-Faceted Graduate Student Chui, Hashirin Nurin Hashimi, Leow Xue Ling Shallyn, Nur or superiors in the company were CS Perhaps in the next big bash. Idayu Bt Suparto, Thong Wai Mun, Wee Li Lin 26 Press Pedia - The New Wikipedia 26 My Word! Students Dream Big And Win alumni. Which shows that our CS grads Advisors 27 Students Get Professional had quite a bit of weight to throw around Lim Kim Yang, Dr Angela Mak, Christopher Yaw, Dr Yeoh Kok — figuratively if not literally. Cheow CLASS NOTES Those who had lost touch wanted Ang Peng Hwa Special Thanks 28 Serene Loo to know the progress of the School: we Dr Ang Peng Hwa, Dr Lee Chun Wah, 28 Donna Wong Dr May Lwin, Mr Ng Heng Ghee 29 Douglas Hendry, the Unconventional Graduate 30 Alumni Updates CONNEXSCIONS is written and produced entirely by students. Send us your news to include in the next issue at [email protected]. 31 @BREWERKS 4 CONNEXSCIONS CONNEXSCIONS 5 FEATURES an Jinli T Photos by Class of 2006. the guests. The self-proclaimed “guy who finished at the bottom of the class” is now the producer of Bamboo Pictures, a video production house. He expressed his appreciation toward the faculty for their encouragement and trust through the years, “even though we sometimes didn’t even believe in ourselves.” It was this encouragement, he jokingly said, that enabled him to stay true to an Jinli his interests rather than become a doctor or lawyer. T 92:07 – A walk down Rodney’s speech definitely seemed to evoke a great deal of memory lane. nostalgia among alumni and longstanding faculty as he recounted Photos by memories of yester-year. Even though we were not students Chair Ang Peng Hwa toasts to 15 years of excellence. then, it was fascinating to hear from him about time spent in the Nanyang Heritage building, and how the pioneer batch had the privilege of choosing the colour of their graduation robes. A 15 YEARS AND A PARTY video presentation of the School’s history aroused cheers from the audience as they spotted familiar faces. Former student Ms Stepping into the air-conditioned coldness of the Mandarin The evening’s official activities kicked off with Chair Dr Ang Joanne Peh (2005) exclaimed, “I didn’t really realise that we had Oriental Singapore, we did not really know what to expect from Peng Hwa’s light-hearted opening address, which he claimed so many seniors before us! It feels good to know that I am part of such a grand occasion. was “presented in headline news format, without the good this young family that is slowly growing.” There were local celebrities and media professionals, looking news reader.” In his speech, he highlighted the School’s Appreciation awards for participation in the Professional excitedly waving across the room to former professors, buddies accomplishments and provided updates on the Wee Kim Wee Internship Programme were given out to five industry partners and classmates. Within minutes of the start of the reception, Legacy Fund. Dr Ang also acknowledged the successes of alumni which have supported the School for more than 10 years: Edelman the entire area was heaving with activity – any outsiders who who have made a name for themselves in the industry. “As Public Relations Worldwide, Huntington Communications, walked by must have been wondering what this celebration was alumni, many of you have proven yourselves to be wonderful MediaCorp, MTV Asia LDC and Singapore Press Holdings. Reminiscing the good old times. A proud member of the all about. It was, of course, the dinner to commemorate the role models.” Huntington Communications’ representative Ms Cindy Ng said, WKW SCI family. School’s 15th anniversary, held on September 21. After the speech, the School’s 15th anniversary “I am quite happy with the students from NTU; they are very Dr Hao Xiaoming gentlemanly accepted a dance with the Dim Sum The 400 guests included Founding Dean Professor Eddie commemorative book, Coming of Age 92:07, was unveiled. In efficient and mature.” Dolly, proving that he knew how to enjoy life outside academia. Kuo, current and former faculty and staff, alumni and industry recognition of their contributions, Dr Kuo and Dr Ang were It had been a lot of hard work to pull everything together, but, Like a proud father, Dr Ang summed up the essence of what partners. From what we overheard as we spied on conversations, each presented with a copy by the book’s editor, former student as Head of the Organising Committee Dr Brenda Chan commented, the 15th anniversary dinner was about. “It’s always good to see it seems the hottest topics for the night included everything Ms Nicolette Ho (1997). Associate Professor Dr Lee Chun Wah “There was no doubt about the effort being worthwhile when we smart, young people doing well,” he said. “We are both a part of from new-found jobs to recounting antics from school days. noted, “I’m very moved that we are honouring Founding Dean felt the warmth and camaraderie in the room.” each other’s lives in our memories of each other.” Mr Tan Tin Wee (1997) told us with a laugh about some of his Professor Eddie Kuo. He played such a critical role in establishing The evening ended on a high note with stand-up comedienne Ms Selena Tan entertaining the audience with song. She enlivened fondest SCI memories. “My significant moments are the really the School and we are so grateful to him.” Writers embarrassing ones, like standing in front of class during Speech On behalf of the pioneer batch of 1997 students, the audience with her funny antics and anecdotes about hostel Geraldine Yeo Communication and forgetting your lines.” “unconventional” former student, Mr Rodney Koh addressed living. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was when Vice-Dean Nadia bte Mohd Ismail 6 CONNEXSCIONS CONNEXSCIONS 7 AwARDS & RECOGNITION CREATIVITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS an Jinli T One year ago, Mr Adrian Yeap Shiqiang (2007) and Ms Esian Photos by Quek Yi Xian (2007) took home several prizes from the Crowbar The legacy of Mr Wee Kim Wee lives on for the Wee Family and the School. Mrs Wee enjoying the Chronicle. Awards 2006. This year, Ms Cherie Tan Weilin (2007) joined Adrian and Esian as they each took home trophies from this AN AFTERNOON WITH THE WEE FAMILY ever-more-popular advertising awards event.