2019 Overseas Trip: Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
BY REUBEN, TEDDY AND CLAUDIA
Reuben:
Nearly halfway across the world, our visit to Karolinska Institutet was both refreshing and awe-inspiring. We were greeted with lovely hospitality from not only our campus tour guide, but also the staff and students there who were all eager to share with us about the research institute. With its stunning façade and cutting-edge research facilities, our tour at Karolinska Institutet never ceased to amaze. We were exposed to their various forms of research namely flow cytometry techniques, aging research, and twin studies – we even tried our hand at learning a bit of Swedish from one of the students! Undoubtedly, our valuable learning experiences at the institute were a testament to its reputation as a hallmark in global medical research.
The city itself was no less amazing – with its beautiful, idyllic architecture and iconic city skyline that remains memorable till this day. From the streets of Gamla Stan rich in historical cultures, to the picturesque sunrises we caught at four in the morning, the sights and scenes around Stockholm were yet another marvel to behold. Nonetheless, the calmness of its setting seemed to contrast with the highly driven, work-oriented environment at the institute. In truth, the Swedes have mastered the balance between work and personal life, evident from their comparatively shorter working days, as well as the daily tradition of fika (loosely translates to a coffee break) that is undeniably instrumental in Swedish culture. All in all, my experiences in Sweden and Karolinska Institutet have no doubt been worthwhile, and I am certain that each and every one of us had valuable takeaways from this trip, be it the enriching learning experiences and exposure, or the unforgettable memories and bonds we shared together!
Teddy:
The trip to KI was an eye opening one as we got to see and learn about the lab techniques that we learnt in our bio lectures such as those of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. While at KI, we were also privileged to learn more about the post graduate programmes they have available for NTU students and got to immerse in their fika culture. We got closer as a batch through sightseeing and playing together after an intense 1st year in university. We are thankful to the CN Yang office and student committee for organising the trip to stretch our horizon and to grow as a batch through out of school experiences.
Claudia:
The trip to Sweden was very eye opening and enriching—I was impressed at how Karolinska Institutet managed to incorporate a ‘Traffic Light System’ for students to find suitable supervisors and mentors, something that has yet to be established in most workplaces and labs in Singapore. I got to see many equipment that I have yet to see before and I also got to see first hand how researchers use them. Not to mention, Sweden has breath taking sceneries—we were always caught up in the amazing atmosphere and stunning sunsets. I had a really memorable time trying different Swedish cuisine and getting to learn more about their culture.
Gallery: 2019 Overseas Trip to KI, Sweden
2019 Overseas Trip: CERN
BY LINA, YI SHIUAN AND ZHENG HAO
Lina:
The trip has been one of my most memorable experiences this year! To be able to visit CERN, learn from knowledgeable lecturers, and look at all the different aspects of CERN that work together in the name of science is something that I’m extremely grateful for. Particularly, going down to see the Compact Muon Solenoid of the Large Hadron Collider was really breathtaking in its own way! It’s amazing to see theory in practice, and to see this massive structure that’s been critical in scientific development is pretty cool. It’s one of those experiences that rarely come along, and I’m happy to have had it. 🙂
Yi Shiuan:
My 9-day overseas trip to Geneva, Switzerland over the summer break of 2019 was certainly one of the most unforgettable ones I’ve had. This trip was primarily centered around CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research), which is renowned for being one of the world’s prominent research facility with never-ending novel discoveries which push the frontiers of not just particle physics but any field of science imaginable. One of the highlights of our CERN trip was certainly being able to physically visit two detectors of the large hadron collider, ATLAS and CMS. Just being at the site of where groundbreaking discoveries such as the discovery of the Higgs boson were made was such a surreal experience. It made us really experience first hand what a scientific marvel this facility was. But beyond just particle physics, we got to see other departments such as the data centre (where we got to know of how the World Wide Web was founded in CERN), which really highlighted to me how multi-disciplinary CERN as a whole is. The functioning of the whole institute thrives on the expertise of professionals from the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering etc., and the collaborative effort from these fields is what makes CERN so outstanding in its research pursuits.
Beyond just the CERN experience, my trip also involved sightseeing and cultural appreciation of Geneva, which was such a breath-taking experience. Through our museum and factory visits, shopping sprees, mountain climbs and so much more, we got to have a glimpse into the local flavour and the beauty of nature which we are unable to experience in Singapore. Overall, this trip was both a great learning experience and a breath of fresh air in terms of my knowledge as a global citizen. It was certainly an extremely memorable one that I will not easily forget.
Zheng Hao:
This is a picture of the Globe of Science and Innovation. It is 27 m high and 40 m in diameter, and symbolizes the Earth and CERN serving science and innovation. The Globe is a landmark for CERN visitors and it houses the “Universe of Particles” exhibition, which introduces visitors to the world of particle physics and showcases CERN’s research in particle physics, the technology CERN developed, the scientific apparatus they use, and the stories of the people who work at CERN. We had a wonderful time exploring the exhibition and were absolutely impressed by the exhibits.
In the background, to the left of the Globe, stands the flags of the European nations involved in CERN. It reminds us that great science often results from collaboration, not isolation.