ISSUE 2014/2015 – NUS ESESC

ISSUE 2014/2015 – NUS ESESC

Foreword by Professor Phoon Kok Kwang 02Message from President 03Message from Vice-Presidents 05

STUDENT LIFEX’mas Party 08CNY Celebration 09Freshmen Orientation Camp 10Sports Day 11Welfare Pack Giveaway 12About Win Advisors 13ESESC Appreciation Day 15Graduation Night 17Project OceaNUS 2015 18Summer School - UC Berkeley 20Summer School - Seoul 24Student Exchange Program - Stockholm 26Student Exchange Program - Canada 28Industrial Attachment Programme - PUB 32Industrial Attachment Programme - Veolia 34

ESE Lifestyle 36ESESC Reflections 39

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Contents

Dear Final Year Students,

I hope you have had a good break. Welcome back!

I hope you found life as an undergraduate student at

NUS to be enriching on intellectual, emotional, and social

levels. The past three years have allowed you to do plenty

of academic exploration, and provided you with many

varied experiences to become well-rounded individuals.

As you have made it to your final year, you are obviously doing well in terms of being self-motivated and goal-

oriented. Think about what has gotten you through up

till now, and be proud of all your achievements.

The last year of your academic journey can result in

many different feelings: excitement, relief, worries about the future, burnt out, and even panic. Freshmen will be

arriving on campus soon with full of enthusiasm, hope,

and questions. They will look up to you for inspiration

and guidance. You will turn out to be the most sought-

after individuals! At the same time, you will have to study

a range of subjects, work on your design and final year research projects, firm up your career plans, communicate with your prospective employers and secure jobs of your

choice. Undoubtedly, it will be a struggle to manage all

these tasks as they are very demanding, but will enable

you to accomplish your ambitions. Aim for excellence

in your academic pursuits, but also remember that

EVERYONE has bad days. Keep the bigger picture in

FOREWORDDistinguished Professor Phoon Kok KwangHead of the Department Of Civil and Environmental Engineering

A Message to Final Year Students

perspective, and don’t sweat the small disappointments

and failures.

Time management and organization are critical key

factors to success in life. Know your priorities and

make sure your actions are aligned with them. Our

CEE department provides a supportive and collegial

environment, and it is a place that allocates priority to

help you when you are struggling. Never be afraid to ask

your mentors for help. They are easily approachable, use

them! We know that securing a good job is an important

first step to a fulfilling career and we will continue to organise activities to connect you to our valued industry

partners.

Slow down every now and then, breath deeply, and

remember what an amazing environment you are in.

University provides a wealth of opportunities, and these

are all extremely rewarding in many ways. Don’t forget

to take it all in – in the future, you will remember a lot

of details from your University days and you want these

memories to be more meaningful than sweating over

deadlines.

We really do expect you, as an engineering graduate

from NUS with its illustrious forebears, to go out and in

some way change the world. Acquire skills that are hard

to get outside the campus. Stay motivated. Be positive.

And most importantly have fun along the way!

2SEED • 2014/2015

Annual Year 14/15 has been a revolutionary year for Environmental Science & Engineering Students’ Club (ESESC) as we took up many new initiatives and events and I am delighted to share with our student body. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ESE cohort for your relentless support. We would not have been able to achieve our objectives and all these events and activities would not have been possible without your continuous support.

The annual publication of SEED magazine allows us to remember the highlights of the annual year and share with the entire cohort the latest activities that we have had. I hope that down the road, we will use SEED magazine to remember the days we had in our university life. Since photos depict a thousand words, I hope that the photos in this magazine will bring back fond memories of yours.

ESESC was first formed with the objective of bringing the ESE cohort together as one. With this objective in mind, the committee worked hard to make the events and activities successful. Some of the exciting events include our ESE Sports Day in Semester 1 and Christmas Celebration at the end of 2014. We believed that having such activities will provide students with a platform to bond and enjoy the festive season amidst their busy schedules. As we approached the exam periods, we had welfare pack giveaways as we showed our unwavering support to our fellow course mates. These welfare packs

MessagePresident / Chairman

Oh Guo Liang

7th Management Committee NUS Environmental Science &

Engineering Students’ Club

included food to boost their morale for the finals and stationary to help them with their work. In Semester 2, we held the Graduation Night 2015 at Beaulieu House. Songs and performances were put up for the final year students to commemorate the end of their student life while their friendship continue from here on. Congratulations, Class Of 2015!

Last but not least, we have our very own OCIP team, Project OCEANUS. This is only our third year running the OCIP project but I am very proud of them as their effort throughout the year paid off eventually. Good job guys!

As the annual year 14/15 comes to an end, preparations for the Freshmen Orientation Camp were made. For the first time in history, Civil and Environmental Engineering had a combined camp also known as CESE. It was an initiative supported by Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department and it was a great success. From the bright smiles seen on each of the freshmen faces, we knew that we have successfully welcomed them and they have all made new friends in NUS. To the freshmen, welcome to the ESE family! Do look out for one another for the next 4 years of your university life. I hope that each and every one of you will step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges besides striving hard for academic excellence.

>>>

3 SEED • 2014/2015

It has been a wonderful and rewarding journey for the past 12 months as the president of ESESC. I have seen each of the ESESC members mature through this period as they grew into a leader on their own. It was not a smooth sailing journey, but I believe that they have gained a lot of experience and satisfaction by overcoming the obstacles they faced. I would like to express my gratitude towards my committee for giving their utmost contribution to ESESC and most importantly, for ESE. I am really thankful that I can count on you guys!

Another special group of people that I would like to mention would be our CEE department. The CEE department has always given us the freedom and support in all aspects of our club activities. They include: Prof Phoon, our head of Department, Prof Oliver and Prof Gin, our faculty club advisors and last but not least, our department staff, Peggy and Mdm Sarimah, who has always give their relentless support and advice to us.

With the 8th Management Committee of ESESC taking over, ESESC with continue to serve the student body and will strive for another great academic year. I will be handing over this legacy to Xin Huei, Andrew and Teck Heng who will take on the roles of leading the 8th Management Committee. Do continue to support them and the new committee and once again, thank you for your support for the past year and have a good year ahead!

>>> Message from ESESC President

4SEED • 2014/2015

Dear ESE friends! Hope you will enjoy reading this year’s publication of the SEED magazine, put together by our publicity team! This magazine serves as a memento to capture all those wonderful memories we have had with our ESE friends! You will find many familiar faces in this magazine, from photos we have taken of you during ESESC’s events, as well as seniors with student exchange and internship experiences to share. All the fun and laughter while cheering each other on during games, and the good times spent will be dearly missed a few years down the road.

To the freshmen batch, I would like to urge everyone to join a CCA or two, sign up for camps and activities, or even volunteer to plan them and live out your own vibrant student life at NUS! Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zones. Before you know it, you will be surrounded by the best of friends to accompany you through university life.

To the seniors, many thanks to all of you for supporting ESESC, and for your guidance towards the juniors. Your advice (and of course lab reports) is invaluable, like a lifebuoy that keeps us afloat amidst the stressful periods. For those who are graduating soon, do look out for future Alumni events to catch up with old friends, and to stay in touch!

To the ESESC 7th MC, thank you for creating so many wonderful memories in the past year! We overcame many challenges as a team, and achieved what we thought was impossible at the start.

MessageVice-President (External)

Adam Kua7th Management Committee

NUS Environmental Science & Engineering Students’ Club

I would like to thank the following people, who were instrumental in making a difference to ESESC and the ESE community:

• Guo Liang, for his insights and for establishing a strong relationship with the department.

• Sherin, for managing the internal cells and unwavering support for my crazy ideas.

• Yang Jun, for taking good care of External Relations and bringing them to greater heights.

• Benjamin, for being the most enthusiastic secretary, and advisor to OCIP.

• Chern Yi, for keeping our money safe and helping with troublesome claims.

• Rena, Meeling & Valerie for being the best ER team I can possibly hope for.

• Xin Huei, Ben, Teck Heng & Ying Xin for being such capable and independent OCIP leaders.

• Simone & Zhang Yuxi for your creative inputs and artistic talents.

• Sin Kuan and Cui Yuxi for being really supportive and receptive to new marketing strategies.

As we hand over the reins to the 8th MC led by Xin Huei, Teck Heng and Andrew, don’t forget to keep showing our support towards ESESC events, and continue to foster the ESE spirit. After all, we are still one ESE family!

This journey has been an incredible one. It was a real pleasure to have been part of the 7th MC!

5 SEED • 2014/2015

Another Academic year has come and gone, and this is one step closer to the end of our time here at NUS. I had the privilege to serve the ESE community for the past two years. While these two years were not easy, the experience was enriching and fruitful nonetheless.

To be honest, after my first year, I didn’t want to continue my service in ESESC, but I am glad that I did. In the 6th MC, I was given the chance to be on the foreground, planning and carrying out the activities for the cohort, in the 7th MC, I took a step back, oversee and observed.

Through the 7th MC, I was given the privilege to observe a typical university lifespan from the start to the end. From watching freshies adapt to the university lifestyle to watching graduating seniors saying their farewell to their time in ESE at NUS. As the internal Vice-Chairperson, I had to oversee the works of the Logistics, Welfare and Events cell.

The Events cell did a wonderful job planning and conducting various events. The Welfare cell not only brought joy within ESESC through planning our appreciation BBQ and chalet, but they also brought happiness to ESE students through the welfare packs given in semesters 1 and 2. They were also in-charge of organizing the graduation night of our seniors (Graduating class of 2015). Lastly, the behind-the-scenes team, the logistics cell. Without their help, the events would not be a success.

This past year in ESESC was an amazing experience. I saw memories made and friendships forged - not only within the ESE cohort, but also with our civil friends. This brings us one step closer to breaking down barriers

MessageVice-President (Internal) Sherin Koh7th Management Committee NUS Environmental Science & Engineering Students’ Club

between the two courses, and further bonding the CEE family.

Through ESESC, I was able to interact and work with many people from different walks of life. These lessons learned, memories and experiences created a more holistic university life for me.

These undergraduate years are the last official years of your student life. I strongly urge you to treasure your student life and make the most of it. We might not get a chance like this in the working world. Spend time doing things you like, or try something different; never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and make mistakes. We are all here to learn, make the best of it.

I would like to take this opportunity to firstly, thank the CEE department for their undying support for ESESC - the head of department, Prof Phoon, ESESC’s faculty advisor Prof Gin and Prof Olivier, as well as our department staff, Peggy and Sarimah. Secondly, I would like to thank Guo Liang and Adam for being the backbone of this club and for your guidance and patience. Next, the external cells for your tireless efforts, because without sponsors and funding, we would not be able to carry out any of the internal plans. Lastly, the directors and deputies of the internal cells – Logistics (Kairen and Andrew), Events (Jonathan, Yong Chen, Sir Sing, Lloyd and Jie Rui) and Welfare (Seng Leong, Jassy and Jia Ren) – for your hard work and endless support.

As ESESC is moving on to our 8th year, I would like to wish Xin Huei, Andrew, Teck Heng and their new committee all the best for the upcoming academic year.

6SEED • 2014/2015

StudentLife

This year, the ESESC’s Events Cell decided to spice up the December break with a Christmas Party for the whole ESE Community. Students gathered at the EA Pavilion on the 29th of December 2014 for food,

games, and of course a gift exchange. The spirit of giving lingered in the air as students and staff from the ESE cohort mingled and celebrated this joyous occasion. As ESE is a young course, the event objective was not only to bond the students from the different cohorts but to promote interaction between the staff and professors.

The event started off with a light drizzle as the professors and students registered and placed their gift under the Christmas tree. Thankfully, the skies cleared and we were able to start the outdoor BBQ. The event was a major success as a balanced number of students from different cohorts attended. To promote interaction between the different cohorts, the Events Cell grouped the students accordingly for the party games. Simple interactive games such as ‘Christmas Charades’ and ‘Guess that Christmas Song’ were conducted, after which the delicious BBQ food of chicken wings, satay, stingray and corn was served. The event concluded with a secret Santa gift exchange and a photo taking session. It was a great evening with friends and the Christmas spirit was indeed felt that night.

X’mas Party29th Dec 2014

8SEED • 2014/2015

‘ESESC Chinese New Year Karaoke Session’ was an advanced celebration of CNY with ESE peers and to welcome ESE students into the start of Semester two. It was held on 6 Feburary 2015, Wednesday at NTU Alumni Clubhouse. It was a great avenue for ESE students to belt their lungs out to their favourite tunes to unwind and recharge before the academic and co-curriculum commitments kick in. After singing various hit songs, the event ended off with the tossing of Lo Hei to wish for good fortune and prosperity in the year of goat. A customised bookmark was also given out as a token of appreciation for attendance of the event.

‘ESESC Chinese New Year K session’ will never be possible with the unwavering support from the ESE peers and committees. Being an amateur in event organization has indeed posted lots of challenges for me in turns of logistic, finance and manpower management. Nevertheless, thanks to the guidance and support of my ESESC committees, the event was able to be executed smoothly and on schedule. This event has also being a valuable learning experience on event organization, where every meticulous details have to be look into to prevent hiccups during the actual event. Last but not least, seeing the smile on the faces of all the participants of the events after the event have made all the efforts behind the scene worthwhile. This strongly resonates with the motto of ESESC - to bond and grow as one ESE family.

Chinese New YearCelebration

9 SEED • 2014/2015

F R E S H M E N Orientation Camp

CESE Camp 2015 was the first ever combined freshman orientation camp between the Environmental Engineering and Civil Engineering students and it was organised jointly by the student clubs of each course.

The name for this year’s camp was - CESE Camp 2015: Reminisce, and the theme was “Reliving Childhood Memories”. The committee felt that the theme was appropriate since orientation camps were deemed to be one of the last times for students to have fun before the academic year began. Since it was a childhood theme, the 4 houses were Pokémon, Bikini Bottom, Looney Tunes and Sesame Street.

One key highlight for this 4 day camp was the jumping session at Skyhigh Trampoline Park. The students had an enjoyable time bouncing on trampoline mats and executing gravity defying stunts. Another unforgettable event was the Laser Tag session where the houses battled against each other with electronic guns. With such fun-filled activities in the camp, the 64 freshmen who attended this year certainly had a blast. They also learned more about the respective courses that they were being enrolled into.

It was definitely a fun, fulfilling and unforgettable camp for everyone involved in the camp. The freshmen got to mingle together and new friendships were forged and it built up the camaraderie of the CEE family.

10SEED • 2014/2015

ESESC organized the annual sports day for all ESE

students on the 30th of October 2014. On event day, 60

students, decked in sports attire turned up for the

event at the NUS Sports and Recreation Centre. The

weather threatened to dampen the energetic spirits

of the students as dark clouds started to gather over

the sky. Thankfully, it was just passing clouds and the

games - Frisbee and Captain’s Ball started promptly.

The shrill sound of the whistle signalled the start of

the event and all the teams started out in full force. The

Captain’s Ball matches kicked off with high intensity and both sides jostled and hustled for the ball. All the

students participated spontaneously and they displayed

their athleticism. The atmosphere at the Frisbee Matches

was also lively as participants demonstrated various

tricks and skills to get past their opponents.

It was a sight to behold with all teams giving their all and

displaying their sportsmanship concurrently. After nearly 3

hours of tough competition, the winners from both games

emerged.

The teams who emerged victorious were presented

with huge hampers of food and drinks. Everyone who

participated were also rewarded with small food packets.

The winners showed their generosity by sharing their food

with everyone.

With everyone mingling around and chatting with their

new friends, the event drew to a close. It was a fruitful

experience and what mattered most were the friendships

and camaraderie forged over the games.

SPORTS DAY

11 SEED • 2014/2015

Towards the end of each semester, it is obvious that students are increasingly cranky and tired from the lack of sleep due to rushing of

assignments, projects or studying for exams. There comes the ESE welfare pack! The primary aim of the welfare pack is to fuel them to complete the final stretch of their semester. Treasures such as foolscap, highlighters or snacks that have the potential to fuel the students can be found in the packs! Occasionally, some insightful magazines can also be found to motivate students to study harder and persevere through the final lap.

Semester 1’s welfare pack included some basic stationery materials and simple snacks whereas more can be found in Semester 2’s. An interesting magazine to provide a lot of insights on future job applications, more foolscaps, highlighters and snacks such as chocolate were found in the pack! However, only 150 welfare packs are given each semester and it is on a first come first serve basis and all 150 packs were fully redeemed by the end of the day!

We are thankful to Du Yi bookstore for sponsoring the stationeries and we are also thankful to GTI Asia Pte Ltd for sponsoring the magazine to enlighten us on how to ace interviews for our future career. It is with the help of these sponsors that we are able to create such a successful event. Last but not least, we would like to extend our thanks to ESESC for providing budget to buy snacks to fuel those late-night study sessions!

Although the contents in the welfare pack are important, we feel that it is the coming-together of students to collect the welfare pack, and at the same time, catching up with each other that is more significant. The welfare pack giveaway each semester is something most people look forward to as they are able to get freebies and also catch up with others that they have missed due to the hectic schedules. It is this that motivates ESESC team to continue to serve and inspire.

Thank you to all who have been giving us support for our giveaways and we hope to see you coming each semester! Look forward to the next welfare giveaway!

WELFARE PACKGiveaway

12SEED • 2014/2015

SP-WIN (“Win Advisors”), representing AIA Singapore

Private Limited, is a team of young and energetic Financial

Services Consultants (FSCs), who seek to improve the

quality of their lives through career building.

Here in Win Advisors, our consultants come from

differing backgrounds and professions. Harnessing each other’s strengths and the power of teamwork, our

Team has made remarkable achievements over the past

years. Consistently, we have attained AIA Pinnacle Club

consecutively for the past 12 years from 2002 to 2014.

Amongst our many accolades, we achieved First Runner-

Financial Advising is not

a career that one can “try

on”. It is a profession, just

like law or medicine, and it

requires a professional level

of commitment. Like law

and medicine, our career

requires additional education,

specialized training, intense effort and some sacrifice. For this reason, the same level of thought you would

put into choosing law or medicine school should go into

your decision to pursue a career in financial services.

This is a journey for those who are truly committed. And

for those few, the rewards are high. You will experience

the 4 “I”s of this career : Impact, Independence, Income

and Interaction.

Impact : Financial advising is not about selling. It is

about helping others to prepare for the risks we all face

and being there when they need it most. In this career,

you will literally change the course of people’s lives

up in Life Business in the New District Category for Year

2005. We were also the Top New District in Accident &

Health Business for Year 2005. Till date, we have groomed

2 successful business units towards District level.

Believing that success can be duplicated, we pride

ourselves in having a success system (“STAR”) to

nurture our members to achieve his or her best potential.

A unique system that centers on Supervision, Training,

Activity and Reward. We firmly believe that our team members deserve the very best, to be empowered, to

serve the needs of our customers.

Independence : You will have freedom over your practice.

You will decide who your clients are and how you spend

your time. Becoming an FSC is like going into business

for yourself, but without the capital investment required

in starting a business. You will also receive extensive

support from AIA and Win Advisors.

Interaction : The job of an FSC involves meeting people,

establishing relationships and implementing solutions to

help them build a secured financial future. For someone who desires a people career, the job of an FSC will be

both interesting and fulfilling.

Income : FSCs invest a great deal of time and effort early in their career. But those who stay the course, the

rewards can be high. The compensation scheme for FSCs

allow them to build a passive income over time. As your

practice grows, you may actually work less, not more.

Successful FSCs enjoy financial independence early in their lives and a truly balanced lifestyle.

About Win Advisors

Why be a Financial Services Consultant?

13 SEED • 2014/2015

Adrian Ang, B. E.ENG, AFPCMAssociate Financial Services Manager

NUS Engineering, 2002

Dovanson Quah, B. E.ENGFinancial Services Consultant

NTU Engineering, 2014

Kevin Goh, AFPCMFinancial Services Consultant

NUS Business, Year 2

Email us at Career@winadvisors.com.sg to explore Win Advisors Varsity Entrepreneur Internship (VEIN) Program.

To find out more about us, visit winadvisors.com.sg

“I started out as an Undergrad FSC and I am glad to have joined Win Advisors.

There are many good strategies and systems in place to help every FSC excel in

our industry. These programs help to create togetherness, sales activity and a

continuous learning environment.

Our Senior Director, Winnie, is very pro-active on social media platforms and this

helps our team members a lot in terms of marketing and branding. On top of that,

Winnie is also great people developer. She has developed managers and promoted

2 Directors to date. With her guidance and leadership, we certainly believe more

managers and directors will emerge.”

Why did I Join Win Advisors?

“I joined Win Advisors as an undergrad consultant while studying in NTU. It all

started when my mother asked me to talk to Winnie about part time employment

opportunities during my semester break. In the midst of working for her, she found

me suitable to be in the financial services industry and that was how my career in Win Advisors began.

By the time I graduated, I have developed a sense of belonging in Win Advisors

and a passion for this career. I made my decision to be a full time FSC without any

hesitation.”

“My venture into this career began through a purely incidental encounter. For

a long time, I was always interested in the field of finance. In addition, I never believed in being an employee. I was rather sceptical at first. It was only after reading more about being an FSC that I realised that there is no other career as

purposeful as this. Therefore, I joined the industry right after NS.

Currently in my second year in NUS, I am earning a full time income and do not

need to depend on my parents for my school and hostel fees. I am really looking

forward to joining Win Advisors as a full time FSC upon my graduation!“

14SEED • 2014/2015

Team members of the ESESC are always working behind the scenes, planning events and ensuring the events go smoothly. Therefore, to reward the members and to motivate them, the ESESC Welfare committee planned 2 appreciation sessions, in semester 1 and 2 to fuel the members to strive for the better! These appreciation

sessions were also held to allow members from different committees to bond together so as to further increase the efficiencies between the various committees to allow for better communication and more successful events!

For the first session, we went for a barbeque session together at the East Coast Park. It was a time where we had fun cooking for each other while enjoying the sea breeze. It was a rare moment for us to gather together just to relax outside of our work commitment.

A 3 days 2 nights chalet was booked for the second appreciation. We had steamboat for dinner and also played games that bonded the members further. As most of the events have ended by the second session, the members were more relaxed and it was very successful.

The ESESC Welfare team would like to congratulate and thank all the members for their hard work during the past year and hope that everyone had fun and learnt new stuff! Of course, we would like to thank everyone who supported the events and hope all of you had as much fun as we did!

ESE Appreciation

15 SEED • 2014/2015

On 15 May 2015, the Welfare Committee organized the Graduation Night to celebrate the graduation of the ESE Year 4s at Beaulieu

House in Sembawang Park. It was a cosy night filled with laughter and unforgettable moments.

Dinner was served at 7pm with a scrumptious buffet. Many mingled around, catching up with each other about their lives and sharing about their job-seeking experiences. Some also took

some time after dinner to write notes of appreciation for each other to put in their “ESE time capsule”, which will be opened a few

years later when they meet again.

Our Guests-of-Honor for the night were Prof Andrew Palmer, Prof Hu Jiangyong, Prof Karina Gin and Prof Olivier Patrick. After dinner, Prof Hu Jiangyong gave an opening speech where she congratulated the Class of 2015 on competing their university education and also gave words of advice as they move into the next chapter of their lives.

Our Year 2 juniors - vocalists Adam Kua and Lim Yang Jun and guitarist Sherin Koh put up a performance for the seniors. Their performance definitely livened up the atmosphere as the Year 4s sang along with them. A band, S.H.E., formed by the Year 4s - Sean Chua, Henry Koh and Ee Peng, also performed. Ee Peng even composed a song for her ESE friends which definitely brought back memories of what they have gone through these 4 years. After the performances, A short montage was also played, showing all the fond memories of their four years in NUS.

Next, came the lucky draw, with many attractive prizes to be won. The winners came onto stage happily to receive their prizes. Everyone also received a door gift consisting of pen holder, Dunkin’ doughnuts voucher, a Linus plush toy, kindly sponsored by AlumNUS, and a ESE coaster specially designed by the Year 4s themselves!

Before the end of the event, the Year 4s even created their own ESE Day where they will meet on the 1st weekend of every new academic year. It was definitely heartwarming to see how bonded the Year 4s are! Though their university life may have ended, but their friendships will definitely go way beyond these 4 years. The ESESC wishes all the best for the Graduating Class of 2015!

Graduation Night

17 SEED • 2014/2015

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15

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Completed water tanks left to dry

Walling up the plasma membrane

Hard at work - Mixing concrete manually

Hard at work - Filling up the moulds with concrete

In its fourth year running, Project OceaNUS 2015 comprised of 25 members from different backgrounds going to An Hiep Commune, one of the poorest commune in the Ba Tri District of Vietnam, with a poverty rate of 26.7%.

Located near the seashore, the groundwater in An Hiep is too saline for consumption or farming purposes. Thus, villagers only have access to a limited supply of fresh water throughout the year and the major source of clean, fresh water is from the rain. Meanwhile, fresh water from canals are also contaminated, which limits its uses to a great extent. The local water-filtering factory can only support one-third of people’s demands and the water supplied is also not sufficiently clean for cooking or drinking.

Therefore, through collaboration with Mr Pham Van Anh, Harry, from ECO Vietnam Group, Project OceaNUS aimed to improve the basic living standards of the community through education, technology and knowledge transfer. The water tanks are built from scratch so that rainwater can be stored and be used efficiently in their everyday lives even during dry season. Furthermore, the “Filter of Hope”, uses hollow fibre membrane to filter the water that is attached in between two water tanks. This sanitises the rainwater into potable water for consumption and lessens the impact of purchasing relatively expensive clean, potable water for the poor villagers. Clean water provides basic sanitation and can prevent many water-borne diseases. By installing filters, contaminants and bacteria are removed from the water, enhancing the quality of water for the households.

Moreover, the team managed to set up a plasma membrane filtration system in one of the largest primary school in the An Hiep commune. The sharing of knowledge and skills between the team members and the research students from Hoa Sen University helping to install the plasma membrane filtration system managed to improve the system. This sharing benefited the team members as they were able to serve and learn things outside the university curriculum at the same time. This plasma membrane filtration system is meaningful to the primary school children as clean water is finally available for them to use.

Project OceaNUS is an Overseas Community Involvement Programme (OCIP) organised by NUS Environmental Science & Engineering Students’ Club. This is an annual project conducted by student leaders and the objective is to improve the living conditions of communities through environmentally sustainable technology and education.

18SEED • 2014/2015

Basic information for the villagers on how to use and maintain the filters and system were passed on so that the filters and system will help to resolve their water shortage problem in the long run, contributing to the sustainability of the project.

The team also interacted with the primary school mentioned above. The team shared with them their knowledge of English by conducting English lessons daily using interesting ways such as games or sports.

In addition to the overseas expedition, by participating in the Youth Expedition Project (YEP) by National Youth Council (NYC), the team also worked with ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre and Lakeside Family Centre for their local efforts. The team members were able to acclimatise to different working environments as well as prepared themselves for the overseas expedition by interacting with the children as well as homework supervision. For many months, the members had worked hard in their various committees in preparation for the overseas expedition, regardless of fundraising efforts, programmes, planning or logistical and welfare support.

One of their members recounted - “The best parts of the trip for me was not the food nor the tractor rides or the sessions when we taught the children but, ironically, it was when we were manually shovelling and mixing the thick, lumpy mess of concrete. The work was gruelling and physically challenging, yet not one of us yield to the task at hand. Instead, we stood by each other, taking turns to bear the burden and rejuvenated our group mates by feeding them the food or drinks prepared for us.” Apart from contributing to the community, this project had created opportunities for people to forge bonds, to discover their strengths and weaknesses and most importantly, to observe and learn about the world from a different perspective. Certainly, it is one of the most memorable experience one could have in university.

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” --Helen Keller

Interacting with students

The team at the gate of An Hiep Primary

With the students of An Hiep Primary

One OceaNUS Family

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

--Henry Ford

PR

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EC

T O

CE

AN

US

15’

19 SEED • 2014/2015

The best summer ever. It was a trip filled with plenty of adventures,

new friends and of course, some really awesome food. I would love to visit UC Berkeley again someday!

It started as a last minute decision. I was browsing through the International Relations Office (IRO) website when I came across the Summer School programme. Being a freshie at that time, I had no clue on what was happening in school,

University of California, Berkeley by Adam Kua

much less the international programmes administered by IRO. But on that list of partner schools, were a few familiar prestigious universities, with many application deadlines coming to a close soon. With that, I hurriedly scanned through what they had to offer, and applied for UC Berkeley.

UC Berkeley, with their Golden Bear mascot, more affectionately known as “Cal”, is located in the small town of Berkeley, right by the Bay Area of San Francisco. The first thing I noticed upon arrival was the climate. At first, I did not quite comprehend IRO’s advise to not pack shorts into my luggage, despite being summer in San

Francisco. I quickly understood why. Upon arrival, I actually had to put on an extra jacket, as the temperature hovered around 18 °C.

Maximino Martinez was my chosen hall of residence. It was the newest hostel UC Berkeley had to offer, similar to the UTown Residences. They had either twin or triple sharing rooms, as well as apartments. I shared an apartment with a fully furnished kitchen, living room, and common toilet with 3 other roommates. Kostas from Greece, was the only full-time student at UC Berkeley. Stephen from Texas, and Andy from Taiwan were there only for summer school.

They invited friends over every other night to chill and play pool. It was totally different from how students would behave in back in Singapore. They were really cool people, and it was a great experience living and interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Just a little warning though. People’s Park which is right behind Maximino, is well known for being a place for the homeless and for weed. Car robberies happen every other

>>>

Summer School Programme

20SEED • 2014/2015

day. But fret not. 24/7 Campus security patrols the area every night, and safety beacons are located at every corner. Living there made me appreciate the safety we take for granted in Singapore.

Maximino was surrounded by quaint brown shingle houses and plenty of restaurants by the street. Must try restaurants on Telegraph street include: Thai Noodle, Cream, Top Dog, and Artichoke Pizza, which are all within a 5 minutes walk from Maximino. Although I am a huge fan of burgers and pizzas, there were some days that I would really miss asian food. Having rice and noodles occasionally made me feel at home.

>>>

>>> University of California, Berkeley

Fisherman’s Wharf @ San Francisco Bus F from campus (free if you have your Cal

1 card) takes you straight there. Don’t miss their divine clam chowder that comes in a

bread bowl. For ultra fresh seafood, you’ve got to visit Scoma. It also offers first class

view of fireworks on 4th of July.

If you ever visit UC Berkeley, these are some attractions you have to check out:

I enrolled in 2 classes at UC Berkeley - Environmental Design and Zero Energy Building. I would say that those were the best classes I have ever taken in university life so far. There were plenty of hands-on projects, from creating contraptions using recycled materials, to sketching Sather Tower while sitting on grass lawns and to modelling building comfort + energy usage. I enjoyed every bit of class - even 3 hour long lectures which were made engaging by interesting discussions among students. This is quite unlike the NUS culture, where the lecturer is the only person speaking for the entire duration of the class.

21 SEED • 2014/2015

>>> University of California, Berkeley

Golden Gate Bridge The symbol of San Francisco. It is accessible by bikes, with proper trails to follow, and beautiful scenes of the bay area all the way to the bridge. You can cycle across the iconic bridge too! Bike rentals are available at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Yosemite National Park A huge nature park with natural waterfalls and

beautiful rock formations for hiking enthusiasts. It’s about a 2 hours drive from Berkeley. When we say park

in Singapore, we think of those in our neighbourhood. But in US, their parks are huge! Yosemite takes up 1169

square miles of land, and without maps, you will get lost! It’s better to go with a huge group of friends and

someone with a good sense of direction as there are not many signages along the way. Watch out for bears too as

it’s a common sighting there!

Twin Peaks The highest point in San Francisco that offers a 180 degrees view of the bay area. Public bus takes you there, but a short

hike up to the summit is required. The view from there is really breathtaking, and a picture is mandatory. Don’t get blown off

the cliffs by strong winds though!

Alcatraz @ San Francisco

One of the most famous prisons in the world and a must visit place in San Francisco. Inmates such as “Al Capone” and “Birdman” have done time in there. It’s a short boat ride from Fisherman’s Wharf, followed by guided audio tours of cell blocks. But be sure to book tickets at least 2 weeks in advance as they are always sold out.

>>>

22SEED • 2014/2015

>>> University of California, Berkeley

Silicon Valley About an hour’s drive from Berkeley, Silicon Valley needs no introduction. It’s home to Google, Apple, Facebook, and other giant tech companies you can think of. Many of these companies took off from startups in rented garages right at Silicon Valley.

So, plan your trip well, and go on a journey of self-discovery. It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing and finding themselves.

23 SEED • 2014/2015

Summer School Programme

Going to the Korea

summer exchange

was one of the best

decisions I have ever made. It

was quite scary at first, as I was still a freshie who just finished my Year One. In the end, I mustered up my courage to go

overseas with one of my best friends, Jean. Both of us had never travelled overseas without our parents so it

was really exciting for us.

The first place we went to was Busan. The weather over there was really nice and cooling. The guesthouse we

stayed in was near the Haeundae station, Haeundae beach and the Busan sea aquarium, so it was a good location for us to explore Busan. On our first night, we had a mini party with the people there and they are

really very friendly. We had Korean chicken and soju, a true experience of the Korean lifestyle. We had a really

fun time at busan and were sad that we had to leave after

3 days.

The next place we went to was Seoul. Seoul, being the capital of Korea was much more

modern and busier than Busan. Several times while taking the public transport, strangers would approach us, recommending interesting

>>>

Hanyang University Seoul by Venessa Cha

24SEED • 2014/2015

places to us. Such behaviour really warmed our hearts as

we were in a foreign country. Seoul was also very much

like Singapore, where were able to walk around at ease even at nights.

In Hanyang University, I took two modules - Entrepreneurship and the Korean Beginner Class. It was a good chance for me to learn some basic Korean

since I was in the right environment where I could

learn faster. Each module is 3 hours per day and there

was no school on Wednesdays. This was the day where

school trips for some culture immersion were organized.

During the weekends, we also travelled out of Seoul. One memorable activity was the water sport which were

really affordable. The “fly fish” is something that I would strongly recommend as it is something that we cannot do

in many countries.

Besides the fun that we had, we experienced some difficulty as well. Module mapping was one of them as there are many modules for us to choose from and we were

unfamiliar with the Korean education system. On top of

it was the major language barrier. We had difficulties communicating with the locals as they generally do not

speak much English. In addition, the train system was much more complicated than in Singapore, on top of it being entirely in Korean characters. Because of this, there

>>> Hanyang University Seoul

were instances where we could not find the right place despite spending hours travelling.

Through this trip, I have learnt to be independent, made many friends from all over the world and forged a greater

friendship with my friend. We depended on each other

like a family and overcame many difficulties together. Overall, I feel that I have truly grown up and have learnt to take care of myself. I would highly encourage

everyone to step out of your comfort zone and embark

on an exchange overseas, as it would not be the same as going overseas when you graduate.

25 SEED • 2014/2015

Learning Culture

In the modules that I was enrolled in at the KTH

Royal Institute of Technology, the course syllabus

was taught through a mix of lectures, seminars,

laboratory and field trips.

As the courses taken were master level modules, the class

sizes were significantly smaller than what I was used to at NUS. This enabled more interactive learning where questions were openly asked and discussed during the lecture sessions.

Some of the lectures at KTH can span 4 hours long, which can be very draining. I especially liked the field trips for some of my modules, as it enabled me to appreciate how municipalities in Sweden operate their state of the art plants. I was peculiarly impressed with the level of automation in their newly built wastewater treatment

plant.

Module registration for exchange

students is very

flexible. Although the school has a cap of 30 ECTS per semester, appeals to take more modules are usually accepted. Clashes in timetable for different modules are to be expected as the school does not have a fixed time slot for each module every week. However, it is recommended to check with the module coordinator for

compulsory sessions and ensure that such sessions do not clash before enrolling in the chosen modules.

AccommodationI stayed in Lappkärrsberget (Lappis), a student hostel, during my stay in Sweden. It is about 3-4 km from KTH. This lodging was secured through KTH accommodation

as estimated waiting time to get a room through Lappis itself is a few years long according to local students.

local students. I would strongly recommend this accommodation to future exchange students due to its

close proximity and for exposure to the vibrant culture in Lappis (like the famous Lappis scream every Tuesday night at 10pm to distress!). It is also one of the closest

>>>

KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Sweden

by Lau Yong Feng

Student Exchange Program

Field Trip to a Waste Treatment Plant

26SEED • 2014/2015

lodging to KTH main campus, hence one could opt to purchase a bike and cycle to and fro school. The downside to this hostel is the absence of a large supermarket nearby. Nonetheless, there is a convenience store within Lappis for those who don’t mind paying slightly more for reduced hassle.

However, accommodation provided by KTH might not be available before the school term starts. Hence, for those who opt to arrive before school term starts, accommodation would have to be sourced elsewhere,

like on AirBnb. When me and my friends arrived in Stockholm, we shared an rented apartment for 2 weeks before we were allowed to move into Lappis.

ActivitiesThere are some interesting CCA groups for the adventurous to explore, which includes beer brewing club and wine tasting club.

In the winter, student organisations organise many trips to Lapland for students who want to venture into the frozen wasteland of the Scandinavian countries. For those who are interested, it is best to check the aurora

forecasts before choosing a tour date for increased chance

of catching the stunning Aurora Borealis within the

wilderness up North.

>>> KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm Sweden

During Spring, Squvalp organized by Quarnevalen offers an enthralling experience for the brave who dare to build and ride their own raft in the beautiful archipelago of Stockholm.

Numerous pub crawls offer students the chance to mingle with the local students and conquer the unique

drinks belonging to eight chapter house of KTH.

For updates on upcoming events, exchange students could join the ‘THS (KTH Student Union) International Students’ Facebook group for regular updates on events organized by the union or other students.

While treading in the soft knee deep snow in the first month of my SEP, I missed people who I hold dear badly. Even amidst the rich culture and exquisite architecture of Europe, I felt lonely. Why does it feel this way? I yearned that they were here beside me, marveling at the same

ethereal landscape that loomed in front of me. It was far from the never-ending fun that I was told to expect of SEP. I trudged on, dragging my heavy snow boots into the

Spring, where I found several groups of friends that I was comfortable with. Life transformed from a monotonous hue into a colorful flurry, like the field outside flourishing with pretty flowers. Pretty soon, I found myself shouting out of the window with many other tenants of Lappis during the Lappis Scream, as exams and assignment deadlines engulfed us, and washed over us. As we broke through, the bright summer sun shone brightly into our

eyes. We donned our shades and went on a roller coaster ride. It was trilling and engaging, until it stopped. It was time, to go back. But where exactly was home? I felt at ease there, I felt at home. But as I gazed upon the surreal topography in the air, I knew that one day I will be back. I went SEP searching for answers, but I only found more questions. When things seem to come to an end, it is actually the beginning of a new journey.

27 SEED • 2014/2015

My SEP journey took me to the University of Waterloo, Canada. As this was an entirely new journey for me, the seniors who have went for

SEP showered me generously with the process of module mapping, things to bring and even travel destinations and tips.

During the SEP program in Canada, I managed to meet many fellow exchange students from all around the world. It was a hot pot of cultural exchange, where in a short span of 4 months, I managed to learn about the cultures of people not from Canada, and of course while experiencing the Canadian way of life. What I liked most about the education system in Canada was that there was a very interactive environment in class, where teachers do not merely provide knowledge, but rather collaborate with students to attain that knowledge. I joined the University of Waterloo Cultural Education and Language Center where I managed to pick up the basics of Canada’s second language; French. It was an enriching experience to learn a European language in an informal way, something like as part of a co-curricular activity.

Travelling around Canada was also highly insightful and easy. The country is linked with developed highways and coach buses which can bring you across the various states. During our reading week, we managed to plan a short getaway to Montreal and Quebec, the French cities in Canada, and I must admit the basic French I was learning in my CCA was undoubtedly helpful in getting around.

All the fun aside, through this SEP, I learnt to be independent, to manage my dormitory rents, manage my meals and even my travel plans. SEP is an excellent opportunity to try these life skills on your own. Moreover, SEP has broadened my perspective on life, like the diversity of different cultures in the world and how people in different cultures work and solve a problem. SEP has also allowed me to reflect on how we should be appreciative of Singapore’s development over these 50 years, and the fact we are still a very young country compared to Canada, and thus be anticipative of the challenges and differences between our societies.

Thus for all of you wanting to go for SEP, I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. For as mentioned in the Walt Disney Cartoon, Mulan, ‘The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.’

University of Waterloo, Canada by Tay Wei Liang

Student Exchange Program

In the Guelph Material Recovery Facility

28SEED • 2014/2015

Toronto is a vibrant global city and a popular immigration destination. You can find all sorts of cuisines and little “countries” here. Although

winter is especially cold, often hitting -10 degrees with frequent snowfalls, the Canadians are super warm and kind. They are chatty and welcoming to everyone! A snowy day seen from indoors is extremely captivating but not when you are walking along the streets where it can become wet and very cold.

I stayed in a double room with Jonathan Lee who shared most of my exchange experience with me. Eating out is expensive so we would cook our meals and try new dishes like ZQ fried chicken.We met several NUS exchangers too. We shared information about upcoming events, cooked and celebrated CNY together. It was always fun to gather as we were like a “family” in a foreign place.

I very much enjoyed my overseas semester at the University of Toronto. It is the top university in Canada and well known for its research and resources. I like the fact that students actively participate in class by asking and answering questions throughout the lesson. I had

the chance to interact with many students from different nations as the population is diverse. The campus is really beautiful with a few buildings dating back to the 1800s and some colleges looked like scenes out of movies.

Other than the academics, many events were happening in the campus. I saw the varsity ice hockey team in action, tried ice skating several times, went for a parkour class, attended a cooking session, learned a new language and witnessed a TA led strike. One of the most memorable event was a student organised snow ball fight during the term. A few hundred students participated and hurled snowballs everywhere, even at a news reporter.

Winter Homestay at Orillia

I was fortunate enough to participate in a home-stay program, one highlight of my exchange. The program was a “true” Canadian experience as I was hosted by an old couple from Orillia, a small town north of Toronto.

>>>

University of Toronto Canada by Ko Zheng Teng

Student Exchange Program

29 SEED • 2014/2015

Grandpa Jerry recalled his hunting adventures and Grandma Sharon told us about her stories with her kids and grandchildren. We also tried winter activities such as snow tubing, maple taffy, ice hockey on a frozen lake, ice fishing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. I loved the way the small community interacted and welcomed foreign students. The home-stay ended with a little gift exchange.

Of course, there was also travelling. My day trip to Hamilton was filled with adventures as I walked in knee deep snow, saw frozen waterfalls, met kind locals and waited for the bus in wet boots when it was freezing cold. Our trip to Quebec and Montreal during recess week happened to be the coldest week in winter and the temperature was -25 degrees. We stood on a frozen lake to see Montmorency Falls and visited the French cities of Canada in Montreal and Quebec city.

I had a road trip with several Singaporeans to Algonquin Park where we hiked in the snow, had a BBQ and saw the starry nights. Niagara Falls was majestic up close in the day and equally stunning when the lights came on at night. I also visited the Canadian Rockies which was extremely picturesque from all viewpoints. Snow-capped peaks, emerald lakes, narrow canyons and wildlife sightings are some attractions. The Rockies is a must visit in Canada.

I’ve learned and gained a lot during this journey from friends, travelling, meeting others. I appreciate this opportunity given and I know the next trip is not very far away!

>>> University of Toronto Canada

30SEED • 2014/2015

What a privilege to do an exchange programme

with the University of Toronto (UofT), in all

the frigid glory of winter. Toronto bustles with

people from all over the world, and the same is true

of the University. The strong school culture coupled

with its multi-ethnic diversity was really inclusive

and vibrant. I made many new friends from all over

the world whilst participating in various activities.

One of the highlights of exchange for me was being

part of the Canadian Winter Family Weekend, jointly

organised by the Orillia Rotary Club and the UofT Centre

for International Experience. I was hosted by Sandra

together with Keisuke - a fellow exchange student. We

participated in a suite of winter activities such as snow

tubing, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing. It was such an eye-opening thing for all the Singaporeans – it’s

possible to have fun at 30 below zero!

Many would often reference the fact that the US is nearby

should we like some fun. But Canada’s a beautiful and

wondrous place in its own right. Beyond the famed

Niagara Falls, there’s the Rockies to the west that

deserve a graduation trip of its own. Montreal and

Quebec City are fascinating places to behold some

history and architecture – a feature of its rich French

colonial past.

Shoutout to Ko Zheng Teng, fellow ESE coursemate

who was also my roommate during exchange. While it’s

great to get out there and meet people, it doesn’t hurt to

have someone familiar who shares the same passion for

good homecooked food and a sense of adventure!

It has indeed been a blessed 6 months away from home.

Give this opportunity of exchange a serious thought, and

go for it! You’ll come away with more than what you’d

expect :)

University of Toronto Canada by Jonathan Lee

Student Exchange Program

Sandra, Keisuke (both in red) and I snowtubing with some

friends!

31 SEED • 2014/2015

I did my industrial attachment programme at PUB Jurong Water Reclamation Plant (JWRP) for a period of 6 months. The time spent there was truly an

enriching one, as I had the luxury of experiencing first-hand the work and challenges a plant engineer faced. I still remember my first day in JWRP, dressing smartly in my formal wear, only to realise that I was severely overdressed for my field of work. Not to forget, the unique scent of greasy waste which greets me when I first stepped into the plant. However, I soon got accustomed to all these changes and was hitting the ground, getting myself dirty and busy. Having survived the rigorous 6 months program, below are some tips for my fellow juniors who are embarking on their own internship journey.

1. Be responsible for your own development, ask.

You are going to realise that everyone in office is busy, and no one is going to bother you if you are choose to keep quiet and hide behind your work cubicle. Most of us had probably heard about that friend who did nothing but photocopy documents for his/her internship, but should we place the blame entirely on the company? As an intern, you should take charge of your own learning. If you are ever stuck in

by Clement Quek

@ Public Utilities Board (PUB)

Industrial Attachment Programme

the predicament of being an office boy, take the initiative to ask around for work that showcase your capabilities. Remember, you have nothing to lose. Be thick skin, go around making small talks to your colleagues, as they know you better, they would be more inclined to hand responsibilities to you. Alternatively, you could always request to be attached to another department etc. the

golden rule is that if you want something, open your mouth and ask for it. No one is going to offer you anything unless you ask.

2. Think like an engineer, solve your own problems. This is something which I learnt over the course of the internship. While working on projects, you would definitely be dealt with problems that proves to be beyond your level of understanding. Be it that mass equation which never seems to be balanced, or the anomaly that makes your experimental data obscure. In the earlier month of my internship, I would readily seek the help of my supervisor whenever I encountered problems, who would then magically debug all my problems. As time passes, I realised this so called “magic” comes from

>>>

Final Sedimentation Tank

Permeate from the final sedi-mentation tank

32SEED • 2014/2015

water plant which still adopts the “open” concept, whereby most of the treatment systems can be seen (unlike the other two WRP whose systems are mostly underground or covered up). Because of this, I am able to observe how each treatment process works, from the influent all the way to the permeate produced. This experience had definitely helped consolidate my learning and allow me to have a clearer picture of the complexity of a treatment process.

However, while working in a wastewater treatment plant, it must be warned that there would be occasional exposure to unpleasant odours as well as the need to get dirty while doing field work. If the thought of getting sticky and dirty puts you off, you may want to reconsider your career options. Other than that, I would highly recommend everyone to apply for an internship position at PUB JWRP.

To sum up, I am really blessed to be given the opportunity to work at JWRP. The experience had been a largely positive one and I have learnt so much that school would not have been able to teach. I have also met wonderful colleagues who had pass on their knowledge to me graciously as well as integrating me to the JWRP family. This is an experience I would never have traded anything else for.

>>> Industrial Attachment Programme @ Public Utilities Board (PUB)

his years of working experience. I also become conscious that by over relying on my supervisor, I am stunting my own ability to solve problems. Hence, I decided to start finding my own “magic” (which comes in the form of Google, textbooks etc) and although the journey is much more arduous, it was definitely more rewarding. One additional tip would be that as NUS students, we have free excess to the NUS library which contains copious of information which may be useful in your field of work. Make use of it!

3. Time Management. The industrial attachment program is surely going to stretch you, both mentally and physically. Having to work and at the same time take night classes simultaneously, you would risk suffering from a burnout if now proper rest is catered. In my case, having the need to spend up to 3-4 hours of my time travelling to and fro did not make things any simpler. However, these 6 months allows me to learn to partition my time effectively, prioritising events respectively to ensure that despite the hectic schedules, I can still maintain a healthy work life balance.

Personally, I have to admit that this was my most challenging semester, yet when everything ends, I was glad that I have chosen this path as this journey allows me to discover more about myself, and also to have a glimpse of how working life is going to differ from studying.

Working in a wastewater treatment plant is akin to watching one of our module, ESE3401: water and wastewater treatment, coming to life. I am fortunate that JWRP is the only

Dewatering

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) at the grease plant

Repair Work on the Primary Sedimentation Plant

33 SEED • 2014/2015

For my industrial attachment, I was working in Veolia Water Technologies (SEA) Pte. Ltd. My company is the regional headquarters for the

Veolia Water in South East Asia and we are involved in projects that are in the region, i.e. Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Malaysia. The company deals with projects from the Microelectronics, F&B, Pharmaceutical, Oil and Gas industries. These projects are usually in the form of Wastewater, Process Water Treatment plants etc.

I was posted to the Project Execution Department in Veolia. I had the opportunity to be involved in the Project management for several projects. My main project is one that is based in Nong Khae District, Thailand. This project consists of 3 types of water treatment plants. The first one is a wastewater treatment plant which deals with

by Loh Wei Hao

@ Veolia Water Technologies

Industrial Attachment Programme

>>>

Storage Tanks with Mixers

Chemical Dosing Station Neutralization Tank Another commissioned plant in Singapore

the wastewater generated from the making of beverage drinks. The second one is a process water plant, which cleans up the ground water to make the beverage drinks. The last one is a reclaim plant, which cleans up the reject water from the process water plant, to recycle back into the process water plant.

During the course of my internship, I had the opportunity to manage the wastewater project on my own, with the guidance of my supervisor. I had to liaise with suppliers such as Andritz, AWH, Endress + Hauser, Grundfos, Kieselmann etc. to get the equipment for the plant. I was tasked to request for quotations from the vendors based on the datasheets that our engineering team had prepared. Since I am working from the Singapore office, I would need to purchase this equipment which are

manufactured in other countries, and then ship this equipment to the site in Thailand. Things don’t stop there as I would need to source for subcontractors to install these equipment.

Internally, as a project manager of the project, I have to coordinate the different specialist

34SEED • 2014/2015

>>> Industrial Attachment Programme @ Veolia Water Technologies

functions, engineering (from our Jakarta office), process (from our Singapore office) and procurement (from our Thailand office) to ensure that the project deliverables are met. We often converse through emails and a few occasions via video conferencing to coordinate the project. As the project manager, it is also my responsibility to ensure that the client’s expectations are met and managed in line with the contract.

I had the chance to visit one of the water treatment plants that was built and commissioned by my company. This allowed me to have a better understanding of the operations of the plant, rather than just reading diagrams and going through emails. This allowed me to bring out the knowledge that we have learnt in our ESE modules and see the application in water treatment plants.

Working in a fast-paced environment requires me to get things done and being efficient. Since there’s a lot of collaboration needed between the suppliers and internally with our colleagues, things often get spilled over the normal working hours. I made an effort to go through all the emails that were sent to me, so as to keep myself abreast of the progress. I motivate myself through

setting personal goals and seek to accomplish tasks. On the other hand, we have a good culture in the company as our management is generally very approachable. We are free to approach anyone to ask any question we have, be it the Managing Director or the Directors. They will try their best to answer the questions. This makes it easy for me to learn as I could just ask questions when I was unsure.

All in all, this internship has given me a general idea of what work in the engineering industry (more specifically, in the field of project management) is like. I could observe work cultures and ethics internally and in other companies which I have liaised with, which prepares me to work in the relevant industry. Lastly, the IA experience serves to allow me to see how theories are being applied in real life practical applications, in particular the CE2183 project which requires the use of Microsoft Project. :)

35 SEED • 2014/2015

Ready to start living a VIBRANT and fashion forward lifestyle now that you have

embarked on your university life? Let us first extend a warm welcome to you and

hope that you will enjoy your time here, being part of our ESE family.

Join ‘ESE OOTW’ , a campaign that encourages students to dress up and stand a chance to win

awesome prizes!

Create the legacy of a better world. Leave this world a better place than you found it.

ESE OOTW“Everyday is a fashion show and the world is your runway” - Coco Chanel

by Junn Tan

Past ESE OOTWSDenim Disaster Monochrome Madness

Back to School!

>>>36SEED • 2014/2015

ESE OOTW

Gear up for an exciting lifestyle in NUS with a few of these fashion essentials

Cardigan

Get a plain one that will match any outfit and save your life in some of the freezing lecture theatres. (Cotton On/Factorie - 2 for $30)

Denim Shorts

Get a comfortable pair of denim shorts that has a good fit so that you can just wear it on days you want to rock the casual girl-next-door-look(Bugis street - Montifs- $15-20)

On days you feel a little more

feminine!

Skater Skirt

Little Black Dress (LBD)

There are some modules that would require you

to wear formal wear for presentations. You can’t go wrong with a classy LBD. You can spice them up with a necklace of your choice.

>>>

37 SEED • 2014/2015

ESESC

REFLECTIONS

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

Throughout my journey as a Business Director of ESESC, I have gained a lot of

experience and knowledge which would be useful in building my character and

enhancing my pursue of studies in National University of Singapore. From my 2 years

of service in ESESC, it was indeed a good opportunity and learning experience for me in

picking up interpersonal skills that will definitely benefit me.

I am glad to be able to share my experiences with my peers and juniors to guide them such

that they know the roles of their respective positions. Personally, I feel that learning should

go both ways and through this academic year, I have indeed learnt a lot from working with them

which have created new insights to be reflected upon. I am very proud of my peers and juniors whom have worked closely with me and the achievements which we have achieved.

Overall, I feel that being in ESESC has made my University life more enriching and fulfilling. Through these 2 years, I made a lot of new friends and this small Students’ Club is filled with warmth and opportunities. This academic year has been a good one for ESESC as different directors have carried out their roles well and the Students’ Club has made tremendous progress. I hope that the spirit of the Students’ Club will continue to thrive

down the years and that the friendships formed will last a lifetime.

- Yang Jun, Business Director

I was roped in by my friend as a treasurer and the idea of contributing for the fellow

environmental engineers felt great. Initially, it was intimidating as there was a

pressure to do better or be on par with the seniors from the previous MC. Money

is a sensitive issue so transparency was critical, especially when dealing with huge

amounts of funds on behalf of the club.

There is good support by the executive committee due to their experience in the previous MC. The president, Guo Liang has an outgoing and funny personality hence managed to keep the working environment encouraging. In addition, he facilitated communications between

the club and the school, thus streamlining work processes. As for the vice presidents, Sherin and Adam, they

helped to supervise and ensure that things go according to plan. The ability to be firm and assertive especially during peak periods is remarkable as it allows deadlines to be met yet maintain a positive working environment.

As for the other departments, perhaps the only thing that can be improved on is the divide between the students

of different schooling years. Most working relations are kept within each department and the lack of interaction caused some hiccups along the way. Nevertheless, I feel that the majority of us are driven and able to contribute

within their own departments. Moreover, the club has made it possible for students to get themselves involved

in the different activities and have fun amidst the busy work schedule. Overall, it has been a pleasure to be part of the team albeit only overseeing the accounts and not directly involved in the planning and execution of events.

- Toh Chern Yi, Treasurer

39 SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

Holding 2 positions in ESESC was a tiring yet fruitful experience for me. Being the

Secretary, I had to organize meetings regularly and take minutes. This shaped my organizational skills as I had to juggle attendance and arrange presentation slides for

the various cells in ESESC. I also had to do email blasts to the entire ESE cohort, which

meant I had to vet each email thoroughly, training my observation skills.

As Deputy Director of Project OceaNUS, I attended the YEP Leaders Training Course, which further honed my skills to lead an expedition to Vietnam to do voluntary work. I

also had to plan my team the project, recruitment, do a site recce in Vietnam, and handle time-

consuming paperwork! Although conflicts arose due to conflicting opinions, my team was always able to settle it quickly and get the job done, which further improved our teamwork.

Juggling 2 positions along with schoolwork and my many other hall commitments was no easy task, but it

trained my time management skills greatly and also enriched my Year 1 life, hence making my time well spent!

- Benjamin Ng, Secretary

When I just joined NUS, I participated in the ESE Orientation camp and had lots of

fun. The camp was where I make my first few friends in this new environment. It urged me to appreciate the efforts of the previous ESESC members, so I decided to take up a role in the ESESC.

Being a marketing director was a challenging job as I did not have the required skill

sets and it was my first time touching on business. However, I had Adam and Yu Xi to support and back me up. They urged me not to give up and to try out those business ideas which we initially thought it was impossible.

Doing business in NUS was a whole new experience which I never expected to gain out of university life. The most memorable sales event was to sell our ESE t-shirt to the cohort. It is a very satisfying experience as we see

our fellow course mates wearing it around the school with pride. Joining ESESC is a decision that I will never

regret making.

- Tan Sin Kuan, Marketing Director

In the marketing cell, I was fortunate enough to have experienced firsthand, the many different sides of what goes into a marketing project. I am really thankful for the

great support from my teammates and the club. The process of working together has provided me with more insight into the different types of roles and responsibilities that I could perform in the marketing cell.

The marketing projects would not have run smoothly without the planning and contributions from the club members. The comfortable work environment made me feel

welcomed, which motivated me to do more for ESESC Although there were moments of

frustration, joining the club is the greatest choice that I’ve made. I love the club not only because

the knowledge that I have gained but also for the friendships that I have with the members. The numerous wonderful memories will stay in my mind and my life forever.

- Cui Yuxi, Marketing Deputy Director

40SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

I was approached by Sherin at the start of my Year 2 and she asked if I would want to

be a part of ESESC this year. I agreed because I thought it would be fun and fulfilling. I couldn’t be more right!

It was not an easy journey. We received many rejections from companies and met so

many hiccups along the way. However, with the help and support of some friends, we were able to obtain a considerable amount of cash sponsors by the end of the second

semester, an amount that surpassed our expectations!

I had many opportunities to go out and meet company leaders to discuss about possible collaborations with

our club. Through these meetings, I learnt things that are not taught in the classroom, such as soft skills and networking.

I want to thank Mee Ling, Valerie, Sherin, Adam, Yang Jun and Guo Liang. They provided encouragement, guidance and belief that I was capable of my role. This allowed me to see the importance of the friendships formed in ESESC.

It’s not all work and no play! I particularly enjoyed the 2 ESESC Appreciation Days planned out by the welfare

cell. I had so much fun mingling around the group and forging stronger bonds with others. These events added so much color to my ESESC life!

As a whole, I felt that ESESC worked quite well together and we owe this all to our leaders of the club. I am

extremely fortunate to have landed this role as the Director of External Relations as it was a really fruitful

experience. As my ESESC journey comes to a close, I really hope that the next group of lucky students to be

posted to external relations will learn as much as I did.

- Rena Tang, External Relations Director

Joining ESESC has allowed me to adapt to university life faster and broadened

my social networking circle as I was given an opportunity to interact with peers

and seniors from the same course. The seniors shared their experiences, advice and encouragement which made it easier to adapt.

Initially, being in External Relations was a challenge for me as I had no experience in

organising events and interacting with external organisations for sponsorship. During this

period, I was given many opportunities to learn how to organise events such as road shows, which enriched

my organising and public relation skills. Working in team also made me realise the importance of teamwork

and accepting suggestion from cell mates.

I was also a part of the freshmen camp organising committee, where I organised the sponsorship seminar. I was

able to observe the hard work that was put in by the committee work to pull out a successful camp, which make

me appreciate the camps that I have attended before. Through this process, I have learnt the importance of time management and most importantly, I have become more confident in presenting myself to others.

- Choo Mee Ling, External Relations Deputy Director

41 SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

One year in ESESC has taught me how to communicate and work together with

external vendors to look for sponsors. This journey was not as easy as what I thought it would be. However, with the help from my seniors and teammates, I am glad to say that we have made it through this semester together as one and have

accomplished things that we had thought were impossible.

- Valerie Khoo, External Relations Deputy Director

One year ago, after my ESE freshmen orientation camp, I told myself that I wanted

to join ESESC Events Cell to give back to the student community and use the

events that we plan as avenues for students to forge bonds among themselves. With

that goal in mind, I embarked on a one year long journey as the Director of Events Cell.

The journey started off on a good note during Sports Day where the sign up rate was quite high. The next events were the Christmas BBQ and Chinese New Year Celebrations. Similarly, many people turned up and gave positive reviews about the events. These events were a success to me as I felt the students enjoyed themselves and many of them made new friends.

However, as I reflected back upon the events, I realised that we did not really reach out to the entire student body and the ones who attended our events were normally the same few. Hence, I decided to try out something new for the Freshmen Orientation Camp. I wanted more students to attend the camp as helpers and through

this camp, make new friends and form a closely knitted CEE family. I succeeded in achieving my objective and

the strong camaraderie forged between the CE and ESE students at the end of the camp was one of the key

highlights for me. They entered our camp as strangers but they left the camp as one united CEE family.

The orientation camp was the most memorable event for me and I felt that the numerous months of effort put into the planning of this camp was thoroughly worthwhile. Being in ESESC Events Cell was really a fulfilling experience for me. There were many ups and downs throughout the process but the smiles and friendships formed at the end of our events made it a really special memory for me.

- Jonathan Tay, Events Director

ESESC has given me an experience I will never forget. It widened my perspective

as I learnt to compromise and work within our club’s resources, with people of

different natures. My journey in ESESC may not be smooth but one of the greatest takeaways was being able to plan for the annual christmas event for our ESE friends,

seniors and staffs. It was great seeing a large group of them coming back to school despite it being our holidays. I would like to thank all those who had supported me

throughout the event and the whole academic year!

- Ng Sir Sing, Events Deputy Director

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The friendship and camaraderie formed in ESESC between new and old members

of the committee helped me to adapt to university life quickly. There is nothing more welcoming than to see familiar faces in the same room during the meetings.

We reached out to the cohort of students in ESE – through different activities, which allowed me to engage with seniors and fellow freshmen on a non-academic basis and

get to know one another better.

One memorable event is the freshmen orientation camp in 2015. We collaborated with students

from Civil Engineering to organise a camp for students from both majors. I got to know students from civil

engineering better and this would open up more opportunities for us to work together in the future, especially

in common modules with group projects.

Lastly, I felt a sense of achievement as I saw smiles across the faces of the incoming freshmen, when they enjoyed the orientation cam. I would recommend freshmen of AY15/16 to join ESESC as it is a refreshing experience and

it is unlike any other student club back then in secondary school or junior college days.

- Lloyd Teo, Events Deputy Director

I decided to join ESESC after Sherin introduced me to it and told me that I will make

a difference to the university lives of fellow students. The journey allowed me to work with different types of people and learn that communication is critical in avoiding conflicts with others. I definitely had lots of fun in ESESC and it was a hell of a journey to plan a camp as VPD, a choice that I won’t regret. Lastly, I want to thank all the seniors for helping us out.

- Teng Yong Chen, Events Deputy Director

The completion of CESE Camp’2015 marks the end of our service in ESESC.

Despite being worn out physically and mentally on the last day of the camp, the

bonds and friendship established between the freshies made every effort worthwhile. I am honoured to be able to work alongside capable and passionate individuals who

contributed in many ways to bring ESESC to a greater height.

I am glad to be working with my band of brothers, Jonathan, Yong Chen, Lloyd and Sir Sing, for the successful launch of four events to reach out to ESESC students. Kudos to

Johnathan and Yong Chen who have led our team well. Despite our hectic schedules, we met

up and shared the progress of each individual cell every semester. The laughers during every meeting each semester will definitely be missed.

It is now time for the 7th MC to step down. It is indeed saddening to part with my fellow members but happy, in

the sense that new people will take up various leadership roles to continue the legacy of ESESC. From the bottom

of my heart, a big thank you to everyone who made my first year in NUS such a meaningful and enjoyable one!

- Ng Jie Rui, Events Deputy Director

43 SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

Being the Project Director for Project OceaNUS has allowed me to see how our

team gelled up throughout the course of this project when none of us knew each

other initially. At the end of the journey, I feel that all efforts made by my committee and I were worthwhile as we made a contribution not just to the community, but gave

our team a memorable experience as well. Leading a team encompasses decisiveness and willingness to listen to the other team members.

There are three key takeaways: Firstly, to give the attention and sincerity that you want to

receive from the others. In the reflection sessions, members were keener to share when we listen and reciprocate. Similarly, when we conducted lessons for the children, they can sense our sincerity and give us the respect even

though there is a language barrier. It was very satisfying to see the children being able to speak to us on their own

with what we have taught them. Secondly, it is important to convey the rationale of doing things to members

so it is easier for them to accept it even if it is not the idea that everyone is for. It is not possible to satisfy every

member of the team hence there are times where a compromise was reached. Thirdly, I’ve learnt to value my team members. We had many committees, all of which were essential building blocks for success. Even though

we were one of the committees in ESESC that had our own working dynamics and team, we realised these

lessons through helping or participating in other cell’s activities such as Valentine’s Day, Camp and Sports Day.

Before taking on the role as project director, I had been part of various community involvement projects

in Singapore, involving children, the environment or youths as well as taking on leadership roles. At first, participating in these projects were due to school but eventually, I saw the need and the benefits of it. Through this project, I discovered that there is not much you can do alone but you can do much more as a team. Hence, I do have thoughts to pursue leadership opportunities for OCIP or an even larger scale project or just to be part

of a large team. I feel that through observation of what others can do, the obstacles that everyone overcome

together, it can be a lot more beneficial to develop oneself and to see how you can push yourself to do more for the community.

- Wong Xin Huei, OCIP Director

My experience in esesc was a fulfilling one, as I got to oversee the progress of Project OceaNUS, alongside the 2 Bens and XH. When I first signed up to be a

part of ESESC (ocip), I did not know what to expect but I was ready for the workload.

Indeed, there were paperwork and planning aplenty. The start was quite uncertain for us as we had no one to guide us on the procedures etc. Hence we had to source for our own help etc and I am glad the final project turned out to achieve the aim we set in the first few meetings. I take away with me personal growth in terms of dealing with problems and also working with different personalities. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from and interact with people that share the same passion as I do.

- Phoon Ying Xin, OCIP Deputy Director

44SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

For me, ESESC was a platform for me to serve and dedicate myself to my fellow

course mates. It has been a fruitful experience for me and I made a lot of friends

within and outside my course. Most importantly, I stepped out from my comfort

zone and actively participated in many voluntary works.

It has been an enriching and pleasant journey for me to be able to serve the ESE

community. Since most of the members from Project OceaNUS 15’ are majoring in ESE,

we were able to bond with each other throughout the 14 days which coincides with the

objective of ESESC, which is to forge bonds between ESE students. I’m deeply grateful to the other 3 directors

who planned with me and made it such a wonderful and successful project.

Looking back, Project OceaNUS has inspired me to do more voluntary works. I was able to serve and learn in the same time and this opened up my eyes to the living environment outside Malaysia and Singapore. I was

able to improve myself as a person and contribute to the overseas community by building water tanks, water

filters as well as teaching English to the Vietnamese students. I learnt to see things from different perspectives, which helped me to grow and mature as a person!

I joined Project OceaNUS because I wanted to make a positive impact and difference in the life of others and my own. The satisfaction and the joy when I took part in activities under ESESC is the reason why my experience in ESESC has been a good time! I strongly believe that ESESC contributes a lot to the ESE community, which is

important as it adds more colours to the mundane university life.

“I’m not what I want to be. I’m not what I should be. I’m not what I one day will be. But I’m not what I once

was.”

- Neo Teck Heng, OCIP Deputy Director

It has been a year since I joined ESESC as Logistics Director. It wasn’t quite a tough job. I just had to supply the club with the things they needed for the events. But most

importantly, through ESESC, I managed to make more friends and learnt to coordinate

well with the team. I have also learnt to plan my schedule properly while handling

many events at one time. It was really a time of change where I felt that I made some

personal improvements and achieved goals that I have set. Moreover, many of the

club activities were fun and I believed many of the participants enjoyed it. For instance,

the CESE orientation camp say many of the freshmen enrolling into the course with such

joy and satisfaction. It really bonded the ESE and CE family. Of course, our camp leaders also

became more vocal and displayed improvement in leadership and organization skills through these camps. It

was a pleasure seeing everyone enjoying themselves.

Apart from camps, ESESC also serves as a platform to extend our network. We get to liaise directly with the

professors as well as other departments. More importantly, it is the joy and fun that we’ve had in doing such

activities. In all, I can say that I has been a meaningful time in ESESC.

- Goh Kai Ren, Logistics Director

45 SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

Being in ESESC for the past year was a very enjoyable experience for me. Even

though I was in the logistics cell and was mainly involved in the behind-the-

scenes work, it was a pleasure working with the rest of the ESESC members.

I had 2 things in mind when I first joined ESESC. Firstly, to make great friends and secondly, to have fun. Did I manage to fulfil the 2 aims? Yes. In ESESC, we are the

core of the environmental engineering course and we are involved in organizing events

such as the Welfare pack giveaway and the Valentine’s Day rose sale for the student body.

Naturally, you will interact and work together with the other members in ESESC and it’s through these events

that bond us and build up camaraderie among the members. Furthermore, you will get to know your cohort

better as they would participate in these events.

Also, it was extremely fun and satisfying when we organized successful events such as the combined Civil and

Environmental Engineering Freshman Orientation Camp. While it was really tiring, it was a tremendous joy

working with the rest of the committee and the smiles and laughter of the freshies made it very worthwhile.

All in all, being in ESESC was a great decision for me. I made many new and interesting friends and it was

awesome working with all of you!

- Andrew Chiang, Logistics Deputy Director

Time flies, and this marks the end of another year of university life. To be able to serve in ESESC in the welfare cell has been a wonderful experience for me. It

was not an easy journey but it was definitely fruitful and fun one for me.

Through Welfare Pack Giveaway, I learnt to rely on the other cells within ESESC. A welfare pack requires the involvement of various cells such as External Relations to

find sponsors and Publicity to help us to spread information around. To most people, it may be just a pack with snacks and folscap. However, there were many things to do behind the scenes to ensure that almost everyone in ESE can get something to motivate them to perform better for

the exams. Through Appreciation Day, we managed to foster bonds within the various cells and get to know each other better. It was a time for everyone to chill and feel appreciated for the work they have done. For

Graduation Night, we worked with our year 4 seniors which we barely have a chance to meet. The Graduation Night was one of the most challenging tasks as we had to plan everything from scratch, while balancing out

school work. It was indeed an experience to be directly involved in the planning of a Graduation Night.

At the end of the day, it is really satisfying to see people enjoying the events that we planned and seeing that

the hard work we put in is paid off. It has been a joy to walk this journey with the ESESC family. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that have helped us along the way. Thank my wonderful deputies (Jiaren & Jassy) for all the help you offered to lighten my load. Cheers =D

- Lim Seng Leong, Welfare Director

46SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

Over the past one year, it has been a privilege to be able to serve in ESESC 7th

MC’s welfare cell with my fellow ESE course mates. It was my first time being part of a welfare committee and it was a good experience for me.

In ESESC, the welfare cell is in charge of organizing the Welfare Pack Giveaway, Appreciation Day and Graduation Night. Through these events, I learnt a lot of soft

skills and got to know people from other cells among ESESC. Within the welfare cell, we

also managed to forge a closer bond with each other as we were comfortable with each other’s

working styles and worked very well together. Organizing these events required a lot of effort and time but it was made manageable and enjoyable with the support from my other welfare members, Seng Leong and Jassy, as well as people from other cells. Overall, being in the welfare cell is the spirit to serve and care for the student

well-being and the greatest satisfaction comes from seeing people giving good comments about our welfare

packs and enjoying our events. It has definitely been a great year!

- Ng Jia Ren, Welfare Deputy Director

I never thought that I would actually join ESESC in year 2. However, when Sherin approached me to join as a deputy director for the Welfare committee, I thought

maybe I should join for a different experience. Moreover, I thought that I needed to spend more time with my ESE course mates as I stay in hall and I am usually more

involved in hall life. And I really did not regret joining ESESC as a welfare committee

member.

Initially, we did not really know what to expect and do. But under the guidance of Seng Leong, we took one step at a time and just kept moving forward and improving. For our first welfare pack, we were quite unsure of who to buy the goods from, where to get sponsors and so on, so there were many hiccups along

the way but I am extremely thankful to my team mates for not complaining and we really tried our best to get

the best for ESE students.

Next, we prepared for Appreciation Day 1 and 2 which was slightly more relaxed as the scale was smaller (or

maybe it was because we are more efficient now, after working for a few activities together.)

I think the most stressful period would be preparing for the Graduation Night for the Year 4s. The preparation was during the period where most deadlines are due and exams are approaching. Everything was rather rushed

but I’m glad that I have this super reliable and responsible group of teammates to fall on.

I would like to take this chance to thank Seng Leong and Jia Ren for always being encouraging and for always reminding each other on the tasks to do. I did not regret joining ESESC at all! Also, I would urge all juniors

especially year 1s to take up some leadership position during your time in NUS and make more friends and

have fun!

- Jassy Teo, Welfare Deputy Director

47 SEED • 2014/2015

Reflections by ESESC MembersReflections by ESESC Members

A year ago, I was told that I would be the Director of the Publicity team in ESESC.

My job was to design posters for the different events that were organised and to create the SEED Magazine at the end of the year. When I heard about what I was

supposed to do, I honestly didn’t know how to go about doing it since I had no prior

experience in Photoshop, making event posters and much less, putting together a

magazine.

Poster after poster, I slowly picked up the necessary skills and the sense of satisfaction of

seeing the poster that Yuxi and I designed sent out to the ESE cohort was unlike any other. The most challenging tasks were the email blasts and the SEED magazine. The email blasts were the first piece of work that I was tasked to do and I had quite a hard time as it was my first time using Photoshop and I was super unfamiliar with the functions. For the SEED Magazine, I really had to think of different layouts for the many articles constantly. But looking at the final product, the hours put into it were really worthwhile.

I would like to thank Yuxi, for always designing amazing backgrounds and posters whenever I asked her for

help, Adam, for always making sure we could keep up with the workload and even helping us, especially for

this SEED Magazine. Lastly, a big thank you to everyone in ESESC for making this one year such a memorable experience!

- Simone Wang, Publicity Director

It has been one year since I joined ESESC and became a member of the Publicity

team. When I look back, all the experience and feelings that I had in the past

year still impress me today, and they are all about two crucial words which are

‘exhausting’ and ‘satisfaction’ .

The first year in university was not easy. We were all trying to cope with studies and extra-curricular activities. The job I had in ESESC brought me pleasure but also pressure. I felt quite relaxed when I did something I was really enthusiastic about like designing and

drawing. However, it was really hard to find time to do so sometimes. That was why I felt that the word ‘exhausting’ described some aspects of the work. Nevertheless, the feeling of achievement satisfied me and supported me to continue going ahead, which gave me ‘satisfaction’.

The work that I have taken part in last year include the designing of the Email blast layout design, ESE bulletin board design, EVE Open House brochure design, SEED design, and so on. In the process of coming up with new ideas and modifying the design based on others’ comments, I improved my design skills a lot and I developed

my own style of design gradually.

Thank you to everyone in ESESC for encouraging me and supporting me all this time. I would really love to work with all of you guys in the future to do more meaningful things for the rest of the university!

- Zhang Yuxi, Publicity Deputy Director

48SEED • 2014/2015