Page 75 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2020

CHEW LI HONG 73

Why did you choose the I am currently working as an Engineer at the What do you enjoy about
National Environment & Water Environment Technology Department (ETD), working in NEA?
supporting the team's work in research &
(NEW) Scholarship? development management. My role there Working in NEA allows me to interact with
The values of the agencies offering the includes mapping the local environmental a diverse group of people, both within and
outside the public sector. NEA’s work touches
scholarship resonated with me. I wanted to R&D eco-system, as well as taking stock of many aspects of Singaporeans’ lives. It is
be part of an organisation’s mission where the various R&D projects, and capabilities. I interesting to understand every stakeholder’s
I can make a positive impact on people’s am also involved in the formulation of NEA's role and contributions in advancing
everyday lives. Certainly, the opportunity to Intellectual Property (IP) Policy, which will sustainability, and I am constantly learning
study abroad, to challenge myself in a foreign help NEA actively manage our growing IP something new or gaining fresh perspectives.
environment, was attractive too. At that portfolio more holistically. The work in ETD Colleagues in NEA are down-to-earth people,
age, I wanted to experience living outside of exposes me to a wide variety of topics, from for which I am very grateful.
Singapore to broaden my perspectives. the environmental landscape, to the digital
landscape, and it is interesting to know what
What course did you graduate multi-disciplinary sustainability work entails. What advice can you give
in and why did you choose this Prior to this, I was with the Resource to aspiring scholars who are
discipline? Conservation Department (RCD) where I considering taking the NEW
I pursued a Diplôme d’Ingénieur in Materials worked on a wide range of work and had scholarship?
Science and Engineering from the Institut the opportunities to work with partners on Talk to the people working at NEA, PUB, or
National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon promoting industrial energy effi ciency. I was MEWR, as well as the working scholars at
in France, followed by a Master’s degree in part of the planning team for the Energy various stages of their career. Understand
Environment and Sustainable Development Effi ciency National Partnership (EENP), yourself, motivations and aspirations. Expect
at University College London, UK. Like many and we oversaw an incentive scheme to change and challenges along the way.
other 18 year olds, I was not entirely sure encourage industrial companies to implement
about what I wanted to do. I chose to study energy effi ciency improvement measures.
engineering as it was a subject that is broad We also organised the annual EENP Awards
yet applicable to so many fi elds. and conference. I was also working on a
few key and interesting projects, such as
the development of the Energy Effi ciency
During my undergraduate studies, I
worked on projects and sought internships Technology Centre (EETC), which provided me
the opportunity to collaborate with partners
opportunities that were related to the topics like Singapore Institute of Technology and
on sustainability. I did a research project on SkillsFuture Singapore, to ensure the successful
applications in carbon capture during my year
in Stockholm, and another project on valorising implementation of the programme. I was
waste from the wood pulp industry in Sweden. also involved in planning and implementing
the Energy Effi ciency Opportunities (EEO)
Through these stints, I decided that I wanted Assessors Certifi cation Scheme, which
to have a more holistic education in the area supports the legislative requirement of the
of sustainable development. Hence I chose to
pursue a MSc in Environment and Sustainable enhanced Energy Conservation Act. I had the
Development in University College London, chance to work with different agencies and
stakeholders of industrial and energy services
UK where I learnt about how the world works, companies. This gave me the opportunity to
how the social and environmental change are better appreciate their challenges and broaden National Environment & Water
inextricably linked, and how power relations
shape the environment we live in. my perspectives. (NEW) Scholarship
Chew Li Hong
Share with us your working Besides my core work, I was appointed as Age
liaison offi cer for an international event where
experience in NEA. What are I was exposed to the area of international 28
some of the notable projects relations and I had the opportunities to get Attained
that you are currently working to know the foreign delegates on a more Masters in Science in Environment and
personal basis. I recalled playing host to a
or have worked on? delegate of the United Nations Framework Sustainable Development, University
I had the opportunity to work in the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I College London, UK
Resource Conservation Department (RCD) also worked with other offi cers from NEA
and Environment Technology Department more closely, which I see as an important Now
(ETD) over the span of 3 years in NEA. In both opportunity to establish networks, and better Engineer,
departments, I have been involved in various understand the work of other divisions at the Technology & Systems Integration
processes, which are essential to programme same time. I felt a sense of fulfi lment to be Division, Environment Technology
planning and supporting policy-making. part of a well-executed event. Department
From
Hwa Chong Institution