This is probably the first time I am actually happy being a student in NUS! After being tormented by ridiculous education system and academic culture for three years, finally I have a chance to taste a life of a researcher in my home university. This really reminds me of my good life back in Denmark when I was there as a visiting student helping Prof. Nielsen with his action spectroscopy.
Yes, I am now a final year student and I am currently enrolled under Prof. Chan Yin Thai of NUS studying the effect of adding a metal tip on a semiconductor nano-rod with respect to its photocatalytic properties. This study actually involved the use of some semiconductor physics, synthetic chemistry skills and some unexplored region of nanoscience, which actually make the research even more exciting when I first heard about it.
Well, lately, I have to say that I am not into those hardcore organic functional group modification or the design of a certain synthetic pathways. Often, I regarded those as what Prof. Noyori would say, “19th century chemistry”.
The world is changing. “And chemistry is supposed to be the science of 21st century” said Prof. Schermann whom I met during my exchange to Seoul National University. And what is the Chemistry of 21st century? Prof. Noyori, the 2001 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry who always want to avoid camera, would say, “Catalysis design for the development of sustainable, green chemistry.”
Don’t believe me? Go and call him now. =P
And even more exciting, my peers in the current research group I am in was so supportive and talkative, making them a really fun conversation partners. I am really grateful that I made the right choice of being in this research group.
Now, all I need to do is to dedicate my whole brain energy to this project and as Enrico Fermi would say, “There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.”
To all the great days ahead (even though the water pressure in my hostel is not doing so great now), CHEERS!
peace
vixklen
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