where creativity and technology merge...
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CONNECTING TO THE WORLDCONNECTING TO THE WORLD“Being on exchange gave me a whole new level of experience living and studying in a new environment.”
Around Sydney in 9 Days
Connecting to the World
Discovering the Magic of Materials Science
New Undergraduate Degree Programmes Cater to Demand in Emerging Industries
NTU Bridge Design Competition 2016
Continue on Pages 2 & 3
W H E R E C R E A T I V I T Y A N D T E C H N O L O G Y M E R G E
CoE Open House 2015
CoE Tea Party 2016
Hi Profs!
PEOPLE AND EVENTS
Putting a Brain on a Chip
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
LIFE AT COE
NTU College of Engineering Issue 05, 2016
online-version
http://bit.ly/1SlJZML
College of EngineeringSchool of Civil and Environmental EngineeringSchool of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
SCSE: School of Computer Science and Engineering
School of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringSchool of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
CoE: CEE:
EEE:
MAE:
MSE: SCBE:
Travelling around the country with fellow NTU exchange students on weekends
Jian Beng (first row on the extreme left) with colleagues from Union Multimedia where he worked part-time in
At NTU, we offer enriching student mobility programmes with more than 100 leading companies and 150 partner universities in more than 30 countries through our Global Education and Mobility (GEM) initiatives such as GEM Explorer and GEM Discoverer. These programmes, that range from two-week summer exchanges to semester-long experiences, offer students regional and international exposure, while developing global-mindedness and inter-cultural competency.
Connecting to the World
Let’s hear from some of our Engineering students who have participated in these global exchange programmes!
NTU offers several overseas exchange and attachment programmes that help undergraduates broaden their learning experience and develop global perspective. Find out more at: bit.ly/1Tv8xI7
POH CHAO YAN JACQIE
EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY: Aston University of Waterloo, United Kingdom
“Going on exchange was one of the biggest
decisions of my life, and I will definitely never
regret it. Going to a foreign land forces a
person out of the comfort zone. And by
leaving my comfort zone, I saw and learnt
things that I have never seen or experienced
before. I started to appreciate everything
around me and reminisce about the times I
had in Singapore.
TEO ZHI HAO
EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY:
Aalto University, Finland
CHAN TUCK GING
EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY: University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
“Participating in a semester-long exchange in
a foreign country is challenging at best – and
daunting at worst.
As expected, with conversations beginning
with 'bonjour' and street signs ending in
'straße', I encountered communication
barriers wherever I travelled.
Interacting with people of other nationalities
made me realise that, as much as we think
we understand our world, there is so much
that we do not understand about other
people’s lives; they have entire worlds of
their own experiences, cultures and beliefs,
and we typically only ever scratch the
surface.
I learnt that sometimes, the obstacle that
keeps us from exploring is more internally
induced than externally imposed. Picking up
new skills should be embraced. In today’s
rapidly changing world, an appetite for
learning new things is central to keeping
up with developments and contributing to
our future.
The exchange programme also entails a
unique period of independent learning. In
addition to learning how to feed myself and
carry myself in public, I also got to know
myself a lot better in terms of my strengths,
weaknesses, priorities and character.
Venturing out of my comfort zone allowed
me to explore not only Europe, but my own
identity as a young adult as well.”
“Their lab sessions are more free-style as
compared to Singapore. We have a good lab
manual to follow closely in Singapore but in
Waterloo, we have to figure out everything
by ourselves. Instead of completing the lab
project during the lab session, the lab session
serves more as a time for us to ask questions
of the technical assistants. We usually have
to complete the lab project outside of normal
curriculum time, unlike in Singapore. This really
gives me the freedom to explore the various
aspects of the lab and to figure things out by
trial and error. That gives me the best results.
People from Canada were all very friendly and
speaking to them exposed me to their culture
and way of life. I think the biggest takeaway
is the friendships forged there and the
exposure to a different culture. Even though
the studies were difficult, the interactions
and experiences I had outweighed the
tough times. This is really a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity and I wouldn’t do it any differently
if I were given the choice again.”
“The most important thing I have gained
from my exchange in the USA is the ability
to be flexible. As we all know, America
is very different from Singapore. You can
find differences in almost everything: daily
life, the education system and culture. In
the process of adapting, I believe I have
become a much more flexible person.
With everything so new and having few
familiar persons to help you out, the only
way forward is to discover and handle
them yourself. The different culture also
introduces one to new perspectives. That
allowed me to understand why locals act in
a certain way and see problems or issues
from different perspectives. Mixing with
people of various nationalities allowed
me to compare cultural differences and
to work with groups of different cultural
backgrounds.
In conclusion, I would say that overseas
exchange opens up the world to you.”
Duke of Wellington Statue (George Square). The cone is not an intended permanent feature. Sometimes it’s also found atop the Duke’s head!
Exchange student network tour in Helsinki
Weekend adventures with fellow NTU exchange students
Orientation day: tug-o-war
2 3CONVERGENCELIFE AT COE
Going on exchange has also taught me
to manage my time better and be more
independent.
With the same 24 hours as before, I now
have to squeeze in time for cooking, washing,
cleaning and catching up with family and
friends (despite the difference in the time
zones), on top of studying and going to school.
The biggest takeaway I have from this
exchange is learning how to communicate
effectively. And to do this, I had to adapt;
adapt to their way of speaking, working, and
way of life.”
“Being on exchange gave me a whole new
level of experience living and studying in a
new environment.
Studying in Aalto University was very
different as compared to studying in NTU.
Courses taught in NTU are more structured
and easy to understand whereas learning
here takes place mostly outside class and
students are required to read up more on the
classroom materials. It is tough getting used
to the way they teach here and to studying
on my own. I’ve become more independent
in my study habits since I arrived.”
KHOO HOE CHIN
EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY:
University of Waterloo, Canada
YAP JIAN BENG
EXCHANGE UNIVERSITY:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
In an effort to bring engineering to people,
our faculty, staff and students treated the
visitors to a fulfilling and interactive afternoon
at Marina Bay Sands.
The Dean, Prof Chen commenced the
programme by addressing the importance
of engineers and their contributions to our
lives, followed by Prof Goh Wang Ling’s
presentation on the engineering programmes
offered by CoE.
Mr Teng Ting Shien, a recent graduate who
was an ex-Chairman of the NTU Student
Union Council and an ex-President of the
SCBE club, shared his personal experiences
as an engineering student on the accelerated
Bachelor’s Programme, and talked about the
academic and non-academic activities that
he had participated during his enriching 3.5
years in NTU. Following the student’s sharing
session was the Q&A segment which received
an overwhelming response from the floor.
Scrumptious food and refreshments were
prepared for the visitors as they visited the
booths of the six engineering schools and
the Renaissance Engineering Programme
thereafter. The booths proved to be popular
with the guests as they got to engage in more
intimate conversations with the professors
and current students. We are sure that our invited guests have
enjoyed themselves as much as we did.
We welcome more potential students to
join CoE in future outreach events, like this
Tea Party, and discover the wonders of
Engineering at NTU College of Engineering!
“We had the opportunity to interact face-to-face with the professors and staff, who genuinely had the students’ interests in mind. The current students were also competent in their own fields and responded to our queries to the point.”
CoE Tea Party 20162016 started with a bang as the College of Engineering held its inaugural CoE Tea Party on 23rd January and welcomed about 300 prospective students and parents.
PEOPLE AND EVENTS4 5CONVERGENCE
New Undergraduate Degree Programmes Cater to Demand in Emerging Industries NTU CoE has launched four new highly interdisciplinary engineering programmes with second majors in rapidly expanding fields to cater to the rising demand for engineers with qualifications and broad skills beyond their core disciplines. These programmes allow students to develop their expertise in additional areas such as medical biology, pharmaceutical engineering, and food science technology.
The Bachelor of Engineering in Materials
Engineering with a Second Major in Medical
Biology will enable students to interface
seamlessly between engineering and
life sciences. This new programme will
equip students with the skills to tackle
emerging healthcare developments such
as regenerative medicine. Designed for
students who possess a special interest
in biomaterials and biomedical devices
field, it also equips candidates with the
fundamentals of medical biology, placing
a special emphasis on the principles of
biological science. Graduates can look
forward to engaging in research and
development work in this dynamic and
rapidly evolving field.
Students taking the Bachelor of Engineering
in Bioengineering or the Bachelor of
Engineering in Materials Engineering will
be able to take up a Second Major in
Pharmaceutical Engineering. Students
in these two programmes will gain
specialised knowledge in drug design
and development. They will also have
opportunities to work with leading
biopharmaceutical companies to gain
first-hand experience in drug design and
development. This programme prepares
students for exciting and meaningful
careers in the vital pharmaceutical
industries spanning key sectors such as
pharmacy and biotechnology, biomedical
and clinical sciences, healthcare and
research and development.
T h e B a c h e l o r o f E n g i n e e r i n g i n
Bioengineering with a Second Major in
Food Science and Technology will open
up myriad career opportunities in food
industries including MNCs, government
regulatory agencies, research institutions
and local SMEs. NTU’s Second
Major in Food Science Technology
is offered in collaboration with the
prestigious Wageningen University from
the Netherlands, whose Food Technology
programme is one of the best and most
innovative in Europe. Students will be
For more information on these programmes, please visit www.coe.ntu.edu.sg
at the forefront of resolving current and
future challenges in Food Security for
Singapore and beyond. These include
system integration for enhanced food
production, novel technologies for food
waste reduction and conversion, food
nutrition for an ageing population, as
well as risk analysis and management in
food safety.
LIFE AT COE
76 CONVERGENCE LIFE AT COE
NTU Bridge Design Competition 2016The NTU Bridge Design Competition (BDC) is an annual event organised by NTU’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Club, to provide a platform for engineering students, especially – Civil Engineering students – to simulate the experience of engineering structural designs before they join the industry.
Themed “Sustainable Bridge Design”, the
BDC 2016 attracted a total of 68 teams
from universities and polytechnics in
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. There
were 42 teams competing in the University
category and 26 teams in the Polytechnic
category.
During the two-day competition, the teams
were given limited resources and tasked
to design bridges not only for maximum
load-bearing properties, but also for
aesthetic appeal. On the first day, each
team had to construct a 3D-model of
their bridge using the materials provided
(balsa wood and adhesive). Two teams
caught everyone’s attention with their
arch-shaped bridges. It was interesting
to see how they had managed to bend
the balsa wood into graceful curves,
given that the wood itself is very fragile.
from NTU, NUS and BCA. The judging
was based on aesthetics, sustained
load–bearing and presentation, weighted
with a 20:60:20 ratio respectively. The
competition ended with an awards
ceremony honouring the top five teams
in each category, followed by a group
photo and dinner. The teams from Institut
Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia and the
BCA Academy won the First Place in the
University and Polytechnic categories
respectively.
A wide array of bridges by participating teams
Teams hard at work constructing their bridges
On the second day, participants were
required to present their designs to a
panel of judges composed of professors
The College of Engineering organised its first Open House on 11 December 2015, drawing student participants from 16 Junior Colleges. The half-day event provided a platform for them to gain a better understanding of the college and its engineering courses through informative and interactive sessions.
It was a fun-filled afternoon that followed
the Dean’s warm address and Prof Timothy
Tan’s sharing session. Participants got to
view project demonstrations and take part
in the hands-on activities brought to them
by our 6 engineering schools during the
Engineering in Action! segment.
The participants were fascinated by
the ‘hands-free’ activities at EEE’s mind-
controlled Mastermind game and SCSE’s
gesture-controlled quadcopter drone. They
also racked their brains to transfer the
theories they had learnt to the action-packed
challenges by SCBE (Chem-E-Car Challenge)
and MAE (Flying of foam planes). Over at
CEE and MSE, participants were treated to
an exciting time at the driving simulator and
the project demonstrations.
The Open House also showcased per-
formances by NTU student clubs – Guitar
Ensemble, Breakers, as well as Soul Funky
Pop and Lock. A photo booth was available
for participants to bring home their photo
memories, and snacks and lunch were also
served. We would like to thank all students,
staff and faculty for their enthusiastic
participation. We look forward to future events
for spreading the CoE spirit to more potential
students!
CoE Open House 2015
The participants were fascinated by the different activities and racked their brains trying to put what they had learnt into practice
The participants were treated to an exciting time at the driving simulator and other project demonstrations
Not only did the participants have fun, they also gained insights and learnt about the engineering science behind these innovations.
“I enjoyed the day’s various activities and I learnt many things. The staff also answered my questions. Thank you for the awesome event!”
PEOPLE AND EVENTS
“Our prototype can give meaning to the data by matching it with knowledge obtained from patient databases, so it can give useful, refined information to users instead of raw data.”
Prof. Basu (extreme right) with his team members
The researchers tested the small and light-
weight prototype, that can be mounted
on headgear, and were able to decode a
monkey’s brain waves and predict how
it wanted to move its fingers with 99.3%
accuracy. This could pave the way for
creating implants or portable devices to help
paralysed people regain use of their limbs.
The researchers exploited manufacturing
imperfections to make their smart chip
smaller, lighter and less power-hungry than
counterparts on the market. Electronic
devices consist of transistors that amplify
electric currents or act as switches to start
and stop various processes. While transistors
are supposed to have specified sizes and
properties, they invariably deviate to some
degree because of design differences and
manufacturing inconsistencies.
The NTU chip takes advantage of these
unintended variations in the transistors’
threshold voltage, which determines their
ability to produce current for a given input
voltage. It uses mathematical formulas
that multiply input signals such as brain
waves, temperatures, pressure, sounds and
images using the array of transistors with
varying threshold voltages. This fleshes out
similarities and differences among the signals.
The chip can then better compare each signal
to specified patterns.
Prof. Basu of EEE said the the chip’s low
power usage and compact size allows it to
be embedded in sensors so that they can sort
through raw data and transmit only refined or
specified information. He added that wearable
medical devices that monitor physiological
parameters such as heartbeats, blood oxygen
levels and brain activity are becoming more
common, but that most of them simply collect
the data and display it in visual form with a
smart-phone.
The team has received funding from the
Singapore – MIT Alliance for Research
and Technology to improve its prototype,
including its ability to recognise images.
ASST. PROF. JAMES JING KWAN,
SCBE
Kungfu Master:
When Prof. James is not teaching or doing
research, he would be practising his moves
in martial arts. Having practised martial arts
since childhood, it has become part of his
life, and was in some aspects, his inspiration
for his passion towards teaching.
Students would describe me as:
“A good teacher, friendly, and thorough in
regards to the course material. Many have
mentioned that they are engaged in my
classes because of my emphasis on the
“real world” application of what is being
taught. I also try to make the concepts I am
explaining more memorable and intuitive.
I think that students would also consider
me very approachable, and appreciate the
open door policy I maintain. I try to remain
available to them as much as possible, which
I believe they will appreciate.”
Advice to students:
“Always be open to new opportunities - take
chances and be OK with making mistakes.
It is the risks, and ultimately mistakes which
you make now that will help give you insight
on determining the important things later
in life.”
ASST. PROF. LEONG WEILIN,
SCBE AND EEE
Giving back to NTU:
Prof. Leong obtained both her Bachelor of
Engineering degree and Ph.D. degree at
NTU. She hopes that she can give back to
NTU through her scientific contributions
and the students she mentors.
Secret recipe for effective teaching:
“I believe that a truly successful teacher
is one who motivates the students to
understand and appreciate the beauty
of the subject. Students should be able
to know the ‘why’ of learning the subject.
As an educator, it is important that I make
sure students are not just memorising the
lecture notes to score in examinations,
but are able to apply or integrate the
concepts and information to become good
engineers and scientists. My teaching
should not just be confined to the time
spent in the classroom. I shall maintain
an open door policy to allow students
to clear their doubts and extend their
understanding.”
Advice to students:
“Develop a genuine interest in your
courses rather than just looking from the
examination point of view.”
ASST. PROF. GRZEGORZ LISAK,
CEE
Globetrotter:
Prof. Lisak loves to travel around the world
to experience the different cultures and
cuisines. An avid explorer, he loves visiting
remote and unique places and basking in
the nature. Besides that, Prof. Lisak also
enjoys a good book and a good movie, a
glass of wine and the company of his friends
and occasionally, a game of badminton and
swimming.
Students would describe me as:
“My students would describe me as someone
whom they can turn to in times of need, and
seek advice in matters connected to their
studies and career development. They see
me as a person who is fair with them and
who is always willing to assist.”
Advice to students:
“The time of studies is a perfect opportunity
for you to get to know what you want to
do in life. Please remember, your future
work should be something that you enjoy
doing. Now is the time for you to explore
and decide what will make you happy and
fulfilled in your future career. Be determined
in your developmental goals and don't
forget to enjoy the student life in between.”
Putting a Brain on a ChipHi Profs! Inspired by the human brain, researchers at EEE have developed a smart chip that could imbue portable and wearable devices with artificial intelligence at minimal energy use and cost.
The Convergence team invites 3 new profs who have recently joined/will be joining NTU College of Engineering to tell us a bit more about themselves and dish out some advice for students.
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 98 CONVERGENCEPEOPLE AND EVENTS
It was a meaningful day as we helped
out at one of Australia’s largest disability
organisations – House with No Steps. It
is a not-for-profit packaging company
which employs and supports people with
disabilities. We were tasked to help the
employees with the packing of different
snacks and repackaging of tissue packs
into separate cartons for shipping. The
voluntary work at House with No Steps
not only displayed our teamwork and our
commitment to community service, but also
exposed us to Australian community work
and culture through our interactions with the
company representative and the employees.
To top off the trip, we visited the Featherdale
Wildlife Park where we had close contact
with kangaroos, koala bears, goats and
sheep, etc. We were all excited to have
some 'hands-on' experience with the
animals.
We took a tour of the School of Electrical and
Information Engineering (EIE) at the University
of Sydney to find out more about the offerings
of the school and some of their laboratories.
We were impressed with the instruments
at the laboratories, such as the equipment
provided by ABB Technologies for microgrid
simulation and classroom testing.
There was also a sharing session by two
Power and Biomedical Engineering research
students that shed a great deal of light on
the complications behind the integration of
renewable energies with the grid, as well as
on research life at the School of EIE.
Another highlight of the day was experiencing
their local sports scene. We managed to
watch one of the matches of the National
Rugby League 'live'. This is the top league
of professional clubs in Australasia (Australia,
New Zealand, New Guinea and neighbouring
islands in the Pacific Ocean).
It was an eventful day as we immersed in the
beauty of the people and sights of Sydney.
The trip was enriching and rewarding because we not only got to experience the local culture, but we also got to know one another better and forged new friendships.
Life in NTU as a student is never boring! 18 students from the EEE Leadership, Enrichment and Development (LEAD) programme, together with a staff member, embarked on an overseas cultural trip to Sydney, Australia. The trip sought to provide an opportunity for these students to learn more about the culture and way of life of the Australians and to gain some valuable life lessons.
Let them take you through their exciting and enriching journey in Sydney.
Around Sydney in 9 Days
We often have to squeeze with our ‘loot’ on
the bus during airport transfer but not this
time round! We got to travel in comfort with
ample space on the airport transfer shuttle
bus. This was made possible thanks to a
special trailer just for carrying our luggage.
Our first visit destination was the Paddy’s
Market – Sydney’s biggest market with a
wide variety of stalls selling everything from
food and fashion to gifts and gadgets. We
also visited Sydney’s Chinatown, a colourful
display of Asian culture, shopping and cuisine.
We visited one of Australia’s most iconic
geographical formations – The Blue
Mountains. Enroute, we stopped by at
Lincoln’s Rock – a cliff face opening out into
the Blue Mountain valley. Our tour guide gave
us a deeper insight into the rich cultural and
geographical history of the Blue Mountains.
It was a day of fun at the Luna Park, one
of only two amusement parks in the world
protected by Government legislation.
Everyone on the team tried out the
different roller coaster rides and challenged
themselves to overcome their initial fears. It
was a good bonding session for the team
as we looked out for one another constantly.
Days
More leg space on the bus!
All smiles before the roller coaster rides at the Luna Park
Close encounter with the animals!
Posing at Wavetronics
Not forgetting to do community service while we were overseas
The Customs House and the Sydney Fish Market
Immersing in the local sports scene
We also spent a day visiting popular tourist
locations such as the Customs House, a
historical landmark that served as the
Customs Service headquarters until 1990.
It currently houses the Sydney City Library.
Following that, we visited the iconic Sydney
Opera House, Hyde Park and the Sydney
Fish Market.
1 2 3
4
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10 11CONVERGENCELIFE AT COE
On the fourth day, we visited Wavetronics,
a company that provides electronic manu-
facturing services such as the production of
circuit boards for other companies; and the
University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
At Wavetronics, we had the privilege of
touring the company and were shown the
manufacturing lines for the production of
circuit boards. The entire production process
was highly automated and precise, resulting
in higher efficiency with minimal errors.
Next on the itinerary was the visit to
UTS. We first visited Building 11, a new
building for the Faculty of Engineering and
Information Technology (FEIT). The lobby
has a high-tech interesting interactive
wall. Another interesting highlight of the
building is the new UTS Data Arena which is
a 360-degree interactive visualisation facility
exploring large databases, visualisation of
scientific data for education, research and
development, and for other purposes. We
also visited other facilities on campus such
as their technology-enabled classrooms,
laboratories, Learning Precinct, Student
Learning Commons, Centre for Autonomous
Systems – a.k.a. Robotics Workshop – and
others. We were shown some of the robots
developed to inspect buildings and provide
cleaning and maintenance works, etc.
How many of us have the chance to learn about the science and engineering behind materials we see and use every day? Studentswho attended the Materials Awareness Day did.
Discovering the Magic of Materials Science
СatchUs
Dean’s Offi ceCollege of EngineeringNanyang Technological University70 Nanyang Drive Block N1.3-B1-01 Singapore 637457
Convergence TeamTel: +65 6316 8896Fax: +65 6896 8757Email: [email protected]
To make the whole event more exciting, there
were also prizes to be won! One lucky student
from Temasek Junior College found herself
the unexpected winner and took home the
grand prize – an iPad Mini.
The feedback from the participants was
encouraging and positive and we are glad
that the participants enjoyed themselves and
discovered the interesting and exciting side
of Materials Science. For those who missed
out on this year’s Materials Awareness Day,
please join us next year!
Let’s hear from some of the participants:
“It was an interesting way of learning about materials, through magic.” — Nur from YJC
“I didn’t expect that science and engineering could be so interesting together.” — Michael from RVHS
12 CONVERGENCELIFE AT COE
The Materials Awareness Day is an annual
event by MSE to increase awareness among
prospective and current MSE students of
the importance of Materials Science and
Engineering in industry and in our daily
lives. Held on 20 February 2016, the event
welcomed about 100 students from various
junior colleges.
Participants had an enriching day where
they got to view project demonstrations and
participate in hands-on activities at the five
booths that MSE had put up.
Superabsorbent polymers that can turn water into solid and make it disappear.
Creating ferro fl uid using oil, toner and magnet.
Hydrophobic sand which is able to return to its original ‘dry’ state after being scooped out from water.
Some highlights at the booths were:
Instant crystallisation where the mysterious material inside the hand warmers
‘freezes’ almost instantly.
Lenz’ Law which explains how to implement and tune a spinstabilised magnetic levitation.
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