Blog Post reproduced with permission from Biotec Newsletter
Student training is an important part of any research institute activity. The process of mentor and mentee adds dynamic to research environment. As Dr. Kanyawim said in her NATION Byteline article “Young minds are far too valuable to be left floundering”.

On December 2, student trainees from Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore concluded their 3 month training session by presenting their research work. Attending the presentation were BIOTEC research colleagues and supervisors. Dr. Kanyawim and Aj. Yodhathai also took time off from their busy schedule to attend the presentation.

Nanyang Polytechnic students are:
1. Nurdayana Binte Nordin:
Virology and Cell Technology Laboratory
Supervisor : Dr. Nanchaya Wanasen
2. Wong Jin Liang, Julius
Virology and Cell Technology Laboratory
Supervisor : Dr. Anan Jongkaewwattana
3. Chan Wei Chun, Vincent
Protein-Ligand Engineering and Molecular Biology
Supervisor : Dr. Chairat Uthaipibull
4. Cheung Tsz Man
Fermentation and Biochemical Engineering Laboratory
Supervisor : Dr. Wai Prathumpai

L-R: Nurdayana, Cheung, Wong, and Chan

Students receiving Training Certificates from Dr. Kanyawim

The next group of student trainees from Nanyang Polytechnic is due to arrive in a few weeks.

Want to know what to the journal. “The Scientist” are the top 10 innovations in life sciences in 2009? …..check them out here.

Blog Post by Dionis Tan, PS0701

On 7^th May 2009, PS0701 had our annual birthday celebration for March, April and May babies.  They are  Sin Keong (March),Nadrah ,Hui Yan, Justin (April), & Janella(May).We had ordered pastries from Ritz Apple Strudel, including swiss rolls, vanilla and chocolate puffs, mini eclaire and custard puffs. The class rep, Janella sponsored her own birthday cake for the class celebration. So kind and generous of her!

Pastries and cakes were superbly delicious.
 

Lecturers like Mr Kelvin Tan, Ms Geraldine Yong, Ms Evonne Ong, Ms Teng, Ms Annie Ng and Mr Tan Chee Boon joined in as well.

The birthday peeps were sabotaged by our class. HAHA. They had to do a duck walk around the meeting room, which is our “classroom”. They were so embarrassed and the class had a good time laughing at them.

After that round of fooling around, it was time for cutting the birthday cake! Then, gathered around to sing Happy Birthday. Sin Keong was the joking around by repeating the birthday song for like five times or so. It became a never ending song. Lecturers and us were laughing like mad. It became like our class song or something. After that took lots of class photos! Candid shots were hilarious.

This would be the last year that we are celebrating each other’s birthdays as a class. Time really flies. We have started this birthday tradition since year 1, when we were still freshies. Now, at a blink of an eye, we are already year 3’s, the school’s most senior.  What I am going to miss most are probably my classmates and the times we had together. I hope that this birthday tradition can still continue even after we graduate.

The birthday people!

 

Caught in action – Gossiping. This is PS0701’s favourite past time! HAHA.

Blog Post by Malini, MB0702

Amidst heavy thunderstorm, the evening of 31^st Nov 2009 turned out to be one filled with lots of fun. I had organised a Deepavali Dinner Party cum class gathering on that day. We had loud and entertaining gossips, as everyone had stories to tell from their own attachments. Laughter was the only sound heard that night and none of us could stop that! The highlight of the night had to be when we celebrated 3 of our classmates’ birthday and of course the fun time we had playing sparkles and stuff below the block. I guess we had to be the loudest bunch playing down and that didn’t bother us, as we hadn’t seen each other since the attachment had started and missed one another. We felt like kids and really let ourselves loose! It was an awesome night and can’t wait for the next gathering!

-Malini-
[MB0702]

Blog Post by Joel, FS0901

The ’school mood’ has finally caught up to us. It is week 7 and we have already done many small scale projects, presentations, and tests. Our first communication skills presentation was also our first individual presentation. But still, many of us presented fluently.

This month we started on our Project 1 trials. It has been fun and yet stressful for most of us, as there is much planning, meetings, going out to buy ingredients, and brainstorming needed weekly. The food products we are modifying are, tang yuan, rice dumpling, yam paste, rice cakes, and popiah. Many blunders have been made in the kitchen but it’s normal to have mistakes during our first few trials I guess. Some of the groups have already perfected their recipe and have been serving breakfast to the class for 2 weeks so far. For example, the ‘jalapiah’ group has been generously giving their delicious product for us for ‘testing’ frequently. Others are yet to come up with a suitable modification or procedure. Well, all the best guys! (:

Our common tests are coming soon, but after that will be our much awaited 2 week break and Christmas! And then it will be a new year already. Oh and don’t forget we have a Christmas gift exchange and celebration on the last day of our common test. Everyone should be present for this if not we’re not able to use our 4 x 25 bucks, like in our previous class outings.

Blog Post by Gan Heng Hui, Lecturer

Blog Post by Kevin Neo, MB0704

I’ve been visiting this website for quite a long time and I find the videos there very educating and interesting. All the videos are related to science and it gives you an insight of what scientist are doing around the world and how certain discoveries have impact our society. Here are some of the topics you can find from the site: 

Marathon Mouse
With an “exercise pill,” researchers turn couch-potato rodents into champion runners.

Profile: Luis von Ahn
A computer scientist finds novel ways to stop spammers and harness the brainpower                                          of millions of people.

The Science of Picky Eaters
Don’t like broccoli? Your DNA may explain why.

Profile: Sangeeta Bhatia – July 2009
Intrigued by the idea of artificial organs, a biomedical engineer uses computer-chip                                     technology to craft tiny livers.

You can find many more other interesting videos from the website.

Do visit them when you have the time.

Here’s the link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/

Blog Post by Rain Lim, Staff

Blog Post by Ng Wen Teng, Belinda, FS0703

Welcome to the adulthood! He was totally clueless about it and yes! this surprise birthday celebration was a success! Many thanks to people who were there: Esther, Yun Xuan, Xinyi, Li Juan, Ria, Fiona, Patrick, Jerald, Betrand and of course myself (Belinda). Cheers to Esther and Yun Xuan for planning this party.

On 30 September, everyone gathered outside the lift and gave him the 1^st surprise.

Look at the black and white decorations on the wall. Hours of hardwork were spent on these decorations.

Then we had our individual shots with the birthday boy, or should I say man.

With abusive Ria.

With crazy teacher Belinda.

With Li Juan.

With Betrand.

With Yun Xuan.

With wire-loose Esther.

With bunny Xinyi.

With princess Fiona.

Two old men.

With Jerald.

Food scientists cooking up a storm!

Our carbonara!

Taboo session in progress.

The 2^nd surprise, he was looking at the presents with such seriousness.

All getting into REAL business, “swimming” exercise!

Yay! That sums up the whole entire evening, we all enjoyed ourselves! Once again, 3 cheers for everybody who made this party possible!

Blog Post by Er Jin Jack, FS0801

Food Science Singapore Food Manufacturing Association Competition 2009

Participants : Geoff Ang Xun , Er Gin Jack ( Me ) , Jeremy, Winnie, Germaine , Bao Ru from FS0801

We would like to thank our lecturers for giving us the chance to participate in the contest.
We also like to thank them for all the help they have given us over the course of the competition as well.
Thank you Mr Richard Khaw , Mr Thomas Teh , Ms Gan.

Over 20 teams from different institutes including NUS participated, we all given our own unique presentation to go along with our food product.

We arrived at the location via our chartered bus and our mr friendly “Driver”

We had to prepare our food and slides plus rehearsal so no time to take photos of the event occurring during the competition itself. Our lecturers might have some though

After the competition there was a buffet and we all sat around feast on the food while we took photos of ourself =O

The 3 girls from NYP!
Germaine , Winnie and Bao Ru

The 3 guys from NYP!
Jeremy , Jack , Geoff + Winnie

The rest are just cam-whoring pictures
Jeremy and Winnie

Geoff And Germaine

Jack & Germaine

*The media took photos of our product and will be publishing them on the “New Paper” on 20th-22th November
Be sure to vote for us! “Sugar-free cookies & Beet-root sauce”

Cookie 4 2day

Beet root sauce!