Why did you choose to study at the University of Melbourne?
Moving to Melbourne from Malaysia was the first time I had moved away from my home, so I was somewhat afraid I would feel very lonely and homesick – but after finding a tight group of friends, I felt very connected. We are all studying wildly different areas so it has made studying more enjoyable as we have study sessions together.
I chose to study at Melbourne because I wasn't sure what I was going to study for my major, I knew it was probably going to be some form of engineering, but I couldn't decide. The Bachelor of Science course structure allowed me to delve into my other interests, and even new areas and subjects that I didn't know I was interested in, all while working through the foundations for many future major. For example, I took a class that taught the basics of programming in Python, which was not a required subject for engineering, and this was before I first had any experience in coding, but after that class I absolutely loved Python and programming, even using it in various projects outside of University.
What inspires you about your current area of study?
I'm passionate about making renewable energy sources more prevalent, as due to global warming, the continued use of fossil fuels is not feasible. There's plenty of problems stopping renewable energy sources from being more widely used, such as the dependency on nature, which can be unpredictable. This can cause the frequency we receive our power from to deviate from our current standards, affecting many of our appliances and electronics. I’m interested in applying control theory to help solve this issue, by controlling and changing how much energy the renewable energy sources produce and thus is supplied to the power grid.
What has been your favourite experience as a science student at Melbourne?
There are so many opportunities available to you as a science student – both hidden and advertised - and exploring these has been my favourite part about being a student at University. There is so much available to you if you just ask your lecturers, get involved in programs offered by the Faculty and talk to your fellow students.
For example, near the end of my first year, I was interested in getting some experience in research, so I reached out to my Physics lecturer, who then introduced me to a researcher who took me on to help out with his physics research project.
I've also participated in the Mathematics and Statistic's Vacation Scholarship, where I spent 4 weeks working on a research project, while under the supervision of a lecturer in the department. It was a fun experience diving into research papers with some help and guidance from my supervisor, and in the end, made a poster to show some of the results of what I did in those 4 weeks.
What advice would you give someone interested in your course or studying science?
With how flexible the Bachelor of Science is, it is genuinely important to plan out your subject choices early, so you keep your options open and take subjects that interest you, so you can make sure you graduate on time! I think another good piece of advice I heard from a lecturer in my first year was this: "It's not about making the right decision, it's about making your decisions right", and that really rings true to me.
At university, what you put in, like the effort you put into getting involved with clubs and asking questions when you're uncertain, will largely dictate what you get out of it. So if you do put in the effort, you will find it to be a rewarding, memorable and enjoyable experience, as you get to meet new people and get out of your comfort zone!
Have you received any scholarships?
I've been fortunate enough to receive the International Undergraduate Scholarship and the Mathematics and Statistics Vacation Scholarship while I’ve been completing my Bachelor of Science.
The International Undergraduate Scholarship has seriously helped me focus on my studies and helps reduce stress during my studies, for both me and my parents. I don't think I would have been able to study and do well academically without it.
The Maths and Stats scholarship has also been a great experience for me, as I got to read research papers, and do some research into mathematics. All while being guided by a supporting and helpful lecturer from the department. This has given me a great first taster for research, as I did have an inclination to perhaps do some research in the future.
Have you completed any research projects?
Near the end of my first year, I got into contact with a researcher in the School of Physics, where I helped him write software to run tests on his experimental memory chips. This was a great experience for me to help him out in his research, learn more about electronics, and to speak to him about research and experiences. Soon, I'll also be heading to ANSTO at Sydney to run radiation tests on the experimental chips, which will be a great experience for me.
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