When thinking about the manufacturing process, the first thing that comes to my mind are the automations in assembly lines of a factory, producing goods from raw materials. However, the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, called Industry 4.0, is more than just machines and computers in a factory. The visit to the Manufacturing Control Tower (MCT) at SIMTech was insightful as we were able to understand the workings of a “smart factory” in Industry 4.0, which utilises a cyber-physical system to improve efficiency of manufacturing processes.
The MCT contains 4 main demonstrator areas, namely Timely Supply Chain and Logistics (TSCL), Predictive Enterprise, Worry-free Shopfloor, and Eco-Efficient Resource Management. Each of these areas focuses on the application of computing and Internet of Things (IoT) in order to solve existing problems in the manufacturing industry. For instance, the TSCL showcases the optimisation technologies in MCT, which allows customer orders to be automatically optimised and allocated to meet due dates and reduce fulfilment costs more effectively. With the SIMTech-developed Vehicle Routing Programme (VRP) optimisation engine, automated planning of driver assignments, real-time monitoring of operations and dispatching becomes a smooth and easy process. All the planner is required to do is simply adjust the routes based on any sudden changes or events and the drivers will be notified via the On-the-go Planning and Monitoring Solution application instantly, providing flexibility to meet customers’ requirements.
The aim of MCT is to reach out to manufacturing companies with these solutions to help them increase their overall operational efficiency and effectiveness, while also providing aspiring researchers with the opportunities to join them in their ventures to conduct R&D in the manufacturing environment. Those who are interested in manufacturing research should definitely visit the MCT website for more information regarding the current manufacturing technologies.
SERIS is the key institute in Singapore focusing on applied solar energy research. It is located at National University of Singapore (NUS), having operations over several floors. Unlike other solar module manufacturing factories, SERIS is more oriented towards the research and development aspect of solar energy technologies and their integration into power systems and the urban setting. In particular, researchers at SERIS study the efficiency of solar cells and aim to improve the power output from them given the rather low conversion efficiency from solar energy to electricity. Furthermore, SERIS works closely with government agencies regarding applying solar energy technologies in Singapore.
Our first activity at SERIS was an introductory lecture on the motivation behind solar energy use. Dr Thomas, the Deputy CEO, gave us a very interesting overview on the use of energy in the world, and then continued to explain the relevance of the use of solar energy in Singapore. Undoubtedly, as a country with little to no natural resources, Singapore constantly faces the problem of having to cope with the increasing energy usage. While solar energy seems to be the solution, there are also several problems in implementing the use of solar energy because of land scarcity issues in Singapore. Only less than 10% of our current energy usage comes from solar energy. Nonetheless, it is still a very promising field of research as it is a virtually limitless source, especially since Singapore is a tropical country situated very close to the Equator.
A lecture session at SERIS
Next, we were split into 2 groups for our laboratory tours. First, we went to the Photovoltaic (PV) Monitoring Laboratory, where we were greeted by Dr Stephen Tay, the Head of the National Solarisation Centre. In the lab, the first thing that caught our eyes was a 4-by-2 wide screen, displaying a choropleth map of Singapore. We were curious about what it displayed, but before that, Dr Tay introduced us to a device that measures wind speed, wind direction, solar irradiance and relative humidity. He then explained that there are 26 such devices placed around Singapore, capturing these respective parameters, and these recordings are then displayed live on the wide screen. The data shown on the screen is updated every second, showing the intensity of insolation at each and every part of Singapore. There are even some cameras capturing real-life footage at each station! Then, Dr Tay also introduced us to another map of Singapore, asking us questions on the government’s proposal on the possible locations of installing solar modules. Our group was very active and overall the experience in the lab was very pleasant.
Then, we were greeted by Dr Tan who explained the manufacturing process of a solar module to us. He was very knowledgeable and detailed in his explanations on how a silicon monocrystalline raw wafer can be turned into a solar cell. However, these explanations were done outside of the actual PV Module Development Laboratory as the lab is a full cleanroom and proper lab outfits have to be worn and a full body dry shower has to be done before entering the lab. Hence, we were only able to see some parts of the lab while Dr Tan did the explanations.
After that, we headed to the Solar Cell Characterisation Laboratory, where solar cells are tested and characterised. There are many interesting and complicated machines in the lab. We saw the Lifetime Tester, Resistance Tester, Photoluminescence Tester and an even more advanced Lifetime tester. Every tester is used to test the efficiency, feasibility, and quality of the solar cell made. A lab assistant guided us through every tester, and briefly demonstrated how each one works. It was a rather fascinating experience to see how the equipment worked.
Last but not least, we went back to the lecture room for a sharing session by Dr Stephen Tay. During the sharing, Dr Tay spoke about how he eventually ended up in a career in the solar energy, and hiss motivations behind going into solar energy. It was a very personal sharing, and Dr Tay was very engaging. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience at SERIS, and it definitely helped us to better understand the use and application of solar energy in Singapore.
Last Friday, 17 CN Yang Scholars embarked on a visit to Duke-NUS to learn more about its graduate study options. It was a drizzling afternoon, marking the end of recess week. A week of not having seen much of one another gave way to excited conversation aboard a spacious bus chartered by Duke-NUS to the Outram campus.
The main hall was highly spacious and majestic, soaking us with a solemn air befitting an academic institution. Yet, the building’s highly modern architecture and unique design lent it an aura of freshness and dynamicity. The lower floors are exclusively for teaching and learning, with the upper floors entirely dedicated to cutting-edge research work.
Upon arriving at a classroom, we were greeted by a culturally diverse team of staff, representing the international community at Duke-NUS. We were each given a name tag and sorted into groups of four. This was promptly followed by a jovial Welcome Address by Mr Chris Lee, a senior admissions and outreach consultant who enthusiastically shared with us more about Duke-NUS. As the name suggests, Duke-NUS is a partnership between Duke University in the United States, and the National University of Singapore; graduates are conferred one degree by each university. Contrary to popular belief, the student body at Duke-NUS, Chris remarked, does not just comprise those with a degree in Biological Sciences or Medicine. In fact, a surprisingly large percentage – 20% – hail from an engineering background, and thrive at the medical school due to their analytical and systematic thinking.
Additionally, he sang the praises of the ethos behind the CN Yang Scholars Programme, affirming its highly interdisciplinary curriculum that intertwines innovative thinking and research. He then noted CNYSP’s similarities and synergy with the nature of the programmes at Duke-NUS, which strongly emphasise self-directed, collaborative learning and thinking out of the box.
As if to dispel any and all doubts regarding this claim, Chris immediately proceeded to the next activity, the Mini TeamLEAD exercise. To start off, each group was handed a folder of documents. Among them was a highly nostalgic OAS MCQ Answer Sheet, instantly reminding us of our Team-Based Learning (TBL) exercises at the Hive. The uncanny similarities did not stop there: the TeamLEAD exercise constituted an Individual Readiness Assessment (iRA) followed by a Team Readiness Assessment (tRA), centred on an article about the United States government’s efforts to curb smoking in the country. (On a side note, the questions were free of typographical mistakes.)
The OSA scratch sheets used for tRA – looks familiar?
During the tRA stage, heated discussions ensued within each group as we critically assessed various measures to encourage smokers in Singapore to quit, deeply analysing the issue by considering the social, economic and political aspects. Afterwards, the groups engaged in impassioned debate, with one camp supporting the use of advertisements featuring ex-smokers on the grounds of past success in the US, while the other questioned the effectiveness of campaigning here given the generally less-conforming Singaporean youth. The exercise concluded with Chris reiterating that the learning environment at Duke-NUS is highly self-directed yet collaborative.
Group discussions during a TBL session
It was then time for a refreshing tea break and some networking. We were introduced to 3 current Duke-NUS students, each enrolled in the MD, PhD and MD-PhD programmes. Notably, the MD student is a CNYSP alumnus, and was accordingly subjected to vigorous interrogation by scholars curious about her decision to do an MD at the institution. In Nanyang Technological University (NTU), she was a Chemistry major and explored widely during her undergraduate years, such as undertaking an Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) on coral health. However, she did not feel a strong calling for laboratory research, as she wanted to effect a more immediate impact on others’ lives. To current scholars, her main advice is to keep all options open, never stop trying new things and follow your heart to pursue your passion.
After the short but insightful networking session, we were brought on a tour around the campus. We were especially awed by the seminar style lecture theatre designed especially for team-based learning, not to mention the overall serene environment within the building
The subsequent activity was a Fundoscopy workshop, where we had the opportunity to use a fundoscope to examine the retina of a dummy and of one another, giving them a small taste of the repertoire of examinations performed by a doctor. It was indeed a FUN and EYE-opening hands-on experience! (puns intended)
Fundoscopy workshop: Learning to use a fundoscope to examine the retina of a dummy
To wrap up the event, Prof London Lucien Ooi, Associate Dean of Admissions, and Associate Prof Silke Vogel, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, gave highly informative talks on the MD and PhD programmes respectively. In summary, the MD programme trains those who have at least a Bachelor’s degree to become a doctor, while the PhD programmes in Integrated Biology and Medicine (IBM) and Integrated Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (IBB) prepare students for a research career. Lastly, the 7 year long MD-PhD track is available, complete with entitlements such as a full scholarship to offset the opportunity cost of time spent studying. Vanessa Koh, a year 1 CN Yang Scholar majoring in the Biological Sciences, is undaunted by the duration of this track, as she aspires to be a clinician scientist, a career requiring both a MD and a PhD. “I cannot be satisfied knowing that I am trying to help my patients with the limited resources I have as a doctor. Continuous clinical research will enable me to improve my treatment methods.”
Overall, this visit to Duke-NUS was a highly informative one that shed more light on a possible career route applicable not just to Biological Sciences majors, but also engineers and all others who feel a genuine calling for saving lives.
The CN Yang Scholars’ Club (CNYSC) is set up and run by the scholars of the CN Yang Scholars Programme. The management committee is elected by the scholars on an annual basis.
