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| For a whole month last year,
17-year-old Eugene Chua worked with a group of research scientists
at the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology who were trying
to mutate a gene in order to modify transport across membranes.
At the end of the four-week stint, he came away with a deeper
understanding and appreciation of what it means to be a researcher.
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| Name |
: |
Liu Yan |
| Age |
: |
19 |
| College |
: |
Raffles Junior College
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| RI |
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Institute of Infocomm Research (I2R)
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| Project |
: |
Testing potential and limitations
of software for automated video editing |
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| Name |
: |
Zubaidah Said |
| Age |
: |
17 |
| College |
: |
Temasek Junior College |
| RI |
: |
Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS),
Stem Cell Department |
| Project |
: |
Controlled differentiation of embryonic
stem cells to measure response |
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| Name |
: |
Eugene Chua |
| Age |
: |
17 |
| College |
: |
Hwa Chong Junior College |
| RI |
: |
Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology
(IMCB), Membrane Transport Laboratory |
| Project |
: |
Mutation of ADP-ribosylation factors
(ARFs) |
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"IT IS NOT LIKE
your stereotype of people sitting in a lab, not talking to each
other, just doing their work," says Eugene, who is from Hwa
Chong Junior College. "It's actually a very alive place, with
a lot of interaction among the researchers and what they are
doing."
Beyond textbooks
Eugene was among 127 junior college (JC) students who were selected
to participate in a Student Attachment Programme jointly organised
by the Youth Science Programme Department of the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and MOE.
The students were attached to one of 11 A*STAR Research Institutes
(RIs), which conduct research in the biomedical and science
and engineering fields. They were paired with a researcher as
a mentor and got to work on real research projects.
It was initially overwhelming for these first-year JC students
because many of the terms, concepts and procedures were new
to them. "It was an enriching experience because you actually
get to work with them and know what they go through every day,"
says Zubaidah Said of Temasek Junior College.
"Through
research work, you learn more than what you learn from textbooks,"
adds Eugene. "Now I'm better able to relate to what I've learnt
from the textbook, and that makes studying more exciting too."
Beyond stereotypes
The mentors played an important role in this learning process.
"They were always with us, and whenever we had problems, they
would sit down with us for hours and answer all our questions,"
says Eugene.
Through their interactions with the researchers, the students
gained more than scientific knowledge. For many of them, this
attachment dispelled many erroneous stereotypes they previously
had about research scientists.
"Before this attachment,
I thought researchers were serious and work-oriented people
who never had any kind of entertainment. But I found that they
are very friendly and helpful, and they have a great sense of
humour," shares Liu Yan of Raffles Junior College, who was particularly
impressed by the passion of the researchers at the Institute
of Infocomm Research exhibited. "They can sit there for 8 to
10 hours a day and not be distracted."
Beyond
the attachment
Although the attachment only lasted a month, these students
found their perspectives on science research challenged and
changed by the experience. They also learnt some important life
lessons that will not be quickly forgotten.
"Once,
my partner and I made an error right at the start of the experiment,
and when we realised this we were so disheartened," recalls
Eugene. "But our mentors were there to encourage us. We persevered,
we re-did the whole experiment, and in the end we were successful.
Through this I learnt not to bow down to failure and turn the
situation around."
They also came away with greater insights that will help them
to make more informed career decisions in future. As a result
of the attachment, Zubaidah realised that it takes more than
interest to be a research scientist.
"You need a lot
of patience, perseverance and passion for what you are doing
because more often than not, you will find yourself doing the
same thing again and again," she says. "As my mentor told me
at the end, that is why we call this 'research' and not just
'search', because you have to keep on doing it over and over
again."
"Research is really about passion," adds Eugene,
who is keen to carry out research into Chinese medicine one
day. "If I am really interested in it and I know that a lot
of people will benefit from the work I'm doing, then it's really
worthwhile, no matter how long I spend doing the research."
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