Contrary to the misconception that scientists spend long hours in their laboratories and hardly have time to pursue other interests, A*STAR scholars Dr Tan Wui Siew and Jiang Sizun demonstrate that it’s possible to be part of a world-class research organisation and still keep a good work-life balance.

By Renee Seow

When Dr Tan Wui Siew is not pushing the boundaries of materials science, the trim and tanned 28-year-old research scientist indulges in sports and occasionally travels to neighbouring countries to immerse in nature.

Her fellow compatriot, Jiang Sizun, is also a researcher, albeit in the field of structural biology and biochemistry. However, away from the microscope, the bespectacled 23-year-old enjoys running half marathons.

Besides their similar active lifestyles, both Wui Siew and Sizun are also recipients of one of Singapore’s most reputed science scholarships, the National Science Scholarship under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

The OCBC Local Undergraduate Scholarship has been the gateway to dreams once thought unachievable, the light that illuminates the path to a brighter future. We talk to two OCBC scholars who tell us how the scholarship has enabled them to reach for the stars.

By Farhan Shah

“Happiness can be found; even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,” Albus Dumbledore had said in the movie ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’. Our two protagonists in this story would understand this line better than most, having survived a difficult childhood to emerge stronger and wiser with the help of the OCBC Local Undergraduate Scholarship.

Effective communication is said to be the pillar of everything we do. Miscommunication has more than often resulted in chaos and unnecessary panic. To ensure Singapore doesn’t suffer such a fate, MICA ensures that the Government conveys its key priorities to its people through a variety of communication channels.

By Eliza Hamizah

When I walked into Bey Mui Leng’s office, she was busy sending out an email to one of the divisions at the Ministry of Health (MOH). After a cheerful hello and a hasty apology, she promised to devote her full attention to us to share more about the Information Service (IS).

“There is so much to share that I wouldn’t do justice to the IS in just half an hour!” Mui Leng laughs.

Smiling, Mui Leng explained that she had been kept busy over the past two days as the Ministry had to conduct a technical briefing on tuberculosis (TB).

By Mabel Tan

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of environmentalists? Does an image of green crusaders with a penchant for preaching to anyone who is willing to listen come to mind?

Meet two students who are certainly not the tree-huggers or Armageddon prophets some people perceive them to be.

Both 26-year-old Melvin Tang and 29-year-old Ng Jiawei are pursuing their doctorate in civil and environmental engineering with the help of the Environmental & Water Technologies scholarship administered by the National Research Foundation and PUB’s Environment & Water Industry Programme Office.

The environment and water industry has been identified as one of Singapore’s key growth areas. To strengthen the country’s research capability, a PhD scholarship offered by EWI of PUB, the national water agency, was set up to groom experts for this burgeoning sector. Meet two recipients who share how the scholarship has allowed them to pursue their research interests.

By Ruth Wong

Regarded as the most intelligent man in Egypt, the current director of the Library of Alexandria Ismail Serageldin had warned in 1995 that “if the wars of this century were fought over oil, the wars of the next century will be fought over water."

Helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into profit-making ventures is an exciting endeavour, as Beatrice Wong from SPRING Singapore will tell you.
By Yvette Lim

The world of entrepreneurship is, at once, full of barriers and possibilities. Given that there's so much to learn and do, being in the department of New Business Support in SPRING Singapore is definitely an enriching experience. Beatrice Wong joined the organisation after graduating from the National University of Singapore (NUS), and has been with SPRING for close to three years now. Yet the Senior Manager with a degree in Geography still feels that the company has so much more to offer her.

IRAS strongly believes that its staff is critical to the success of the organisation. IRAS is therefore committed to hiring talented individuals and developing the potential of its people. Two IRAS scholars share their experiences.

by Md Sufyan Saad

A government body that deals with taxation policy and administration, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) is committed to actively shaping an individual’s future through its scholarship programme.

IRAS scholars can look forward to reaping the many benefits that come with the IRAS scholarship awards. All scholars will be assigned both a mentor and a buddy, with the former being a member of the Senior Management and the latter a returned scholar.

SPRING’s main focus may be oriented towards small-medium enterprises. But there’s nothing small about Evan Foo’s and Johnny Teo’s dreams.

By Jannelle Lau

Evan Foo first heard about the SPRING Executive Development Scholarship (EDS) in an email with the subject line “Be your OWN boss”. It described one of his goals so precisely that he read on, and what he saw appealed to him. He learnt that as part of SPRING, he would be able to participate in and contribute to the growth of local SMEs - a niche industry that accounts for 60% of the Singapore workforce and 50% of our GDP.

Experiencing a different culture
With his desire to contribute to this meaningful mission, Evan applied for EDS and went through four rounds of selection before he was selected as a mid-term scholar. Other than being sponsored for his final two and a half years at the National University of Singapore (NUS), he was also funded for his one-year overseas programme at the Silicon Valley in the United States.

“SPRING believes in a holistic and global education and encourages their scholars to gain overseas experiences by going for student exchange programmes and to take up foreign languages,” the mechanical engineering student says.

Evan’s experience at the Silicon Valley in United States had been eye-opening. Under the National University of Singapore Overseas College programme, he worked in an American start-up for one year while studying technopreneurship and engineering modules at Stanford University.

While there is no doubt most scholarship applications will have been painstakingly put together, some seemingly negligible points can make or break your chances of a successful application.

by Wendy Ng

The end of ‘A’ levels doesn’t mark the end of an education path; instead it represents more of a water point, a slight breather, before you continue down the route to getting that degree.

You have studied hard and achieved good grades you’ll gladly flaunt. Having drawn a rough map of your ideal future, you have taken that first step by researching on the relevant university courses.

At this point in time, a scholarship will be the icing on the cake.

However, applying for scholarships can be an overwhelming process that usually starts out exciting but might end up more disheartening than anything if the results are not delivered.