Han Xuan was awarded the A*STAR’s National Science Scholarship (NSS) after he graduated from NJC back in 2015. Currently, he is pursuing his undergraduate studies in Material Science and Engineering at Imperial College London. An outstanding air pistol shooter who was on the Singapore National Shooting Team for the past 6 years, Han Xuan clinched multiple shooting awards back during his days in NJC, such as the TNP School Sports Stars Award 2015, as well as the third award in the junior category of the 38th Southeast Asia Shooting Championships. He was also selected to represent Singapore in the 2015 International Shooting Sports Federation Junior Cup held in Germany. In this article, Han Xuan shares about his experiences studying in the UK, as well as tips for juggling a high workload in school.
Could you share a bit about yourself and what you are currently doing?
I’m a Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate student at Imperial College London, and I'm about to start my third and final year. I also do electronics as a hobby, and until very recently I was an air pistol shooter in the Singapore national team. Right now I’m doing a research attachment at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, synthesizing antimicrobial nanoparticles. Essentially, I’m someone who does science and engineering because I want to improve lives.
What got you interested to pursue Materials Science and Engineering in Imperial College London?
Materials, because I believe it’s one of the key limiters of technology. For example, even as innovations in the construction of solar cells increase their efficiency, the maximum theoretical efficiency is very much limited by available semiconductor materials. Nano-engineered materials are particularly exciting to me because they can do the traditionally ‘impossible’ – such as focusing light while being flat.
I had originally intended to study locally, but after managing to secure an overseas scholarship, I was urged by my parents to expand my horizons, and chose the UK for its reputation, security and English-speaking population. Imperial College was mainly because it was the top-ranked UK university with a 3-year Materials course.
How is your experience studying in London, a bustling, cosmopolitan city so far? Does the teaching style in the UK differ greatly from the one you were used to in Singapore?
The biggest adjustment was having to cook almost all my meals, since eating out is expensive in London. But after getting the hang of it, being in control of what, when and how much I eat is pretty liberating too. This responsibility-freedom duality extends to everything, essentially, when you study away from home. London might be a bit wasted on me, since I don’t appreciate history, art, or nightlife, but the weather is good and it’s easy to get around. Hardware and craft materials (except wood) is generally more expensive, which is painful if you like to build things, like me.
The course structure in Imperial is quite fixed – everyone in the same course takes the same modules at the same times, except in the final year where students may specialize. In that sense, it is very similar to the ‘A’ level curriculum, but different from the module-bidding system in NUS and NTU. This can be both reassuring and restricting. The teaching style itself is standard for university education, I believe – less guidance, requiring students to take charge of consolidating and filling in their own knowledge, because what is taught in lectures is not the full picture, but a ‘skeleton’. That’s the homework, essentially.
But an important difference I observe is the deliberate de-emphasis on paper results. Imperial does not use a bell-curve grading system, and does not publish rankings. Only two years worth of past year papers are made available, and at most one or two exam-type questions are shown in the course of each module. This leads to some anxiety for those of us used to drilling for exams to secure marks, but I personally like the focus on learning and understanding. I can’t speak for other UK universities, though.
What is your daily routine like as a college student?
My lectures are normally 9am-12pm, with weekly lab sessions and the occasional workshop in the afternoon. If my afternoon is free, I might work on coursework, re-watch difficult lectures (Imperial lectures are recorded), compile notes, work on my own projects, train with my air pistol, or exercise. Or slack off. Then it’s time to cook dinner and lunch for the next day, and then probably more of the same. On weekends I might do laundry and cleaning, or play badminton. Occasionally, I eat out with friends.
What was your experience like as the Vice-President of NJCians in the UK (NUK)? What kind of events does NUK organise?
The title is really just for show, since only the Treasurer actually has an exclusive role, and the rest of us simply divide up what needs to be done on a case-by-case basis, informally. Which is simply organizing get-togethers for the NJCians in the UK, be they studying or working. There aren’t many of us, so it’s usually a cozy lunch or dinner, a few times a year. We were initially ambitious enough to plan things like day trips, but everyone has conflicting schedules and preferences. Meals are probably the most inclusive activity.
You chose a career in research by taking on the A*STAR National Science Scholarship. What inspired you to devote your life to the lab?
I wouldn’t say there was a definite moment of inspiration. I like science, because to me there’s profound meaning in understanding how the world works at the deepest level. It’s like glimpsing divinity. And throughout history, science and technology has drastically improved the quality of life for human beings. I want to be part of that progress. And finally, there’s the joy of creating something new, that no one else has seen before.
Back in NJ, you were actively involved in shooting, clinching multiple awards such as the winner of the TNP School Sports Stars Award 2015, third in the junior category of the 38th Southeast Asia Shooting Championships, and even representing Singapore overseas in the 2015 International Shooting Sports Federation Junior Cup held in Germany. What is the biggest takeaway from your journey in shooting? Are you still currently involved in shooting?
Shooting has given me a lot, but the biggest takeaway would be metacognition. As a sport where performance is heavily dependent on mental state, shooting requires one to maintain focus on execution and control over emotions, in spite of internal or external distractions. Being aware of one’s own beliefs, motivations, and thought processes, then regulating them, is critical to achieving this. And having self-knowledge, practicing self-improvement, leads to self-assurance.
I would train with the national team during summer breaks, and I practice on my own while I’m in the UK. Of course, I’m not at the same level now as when I was training and coaching full-time in 2018, between NS and university. The two electronics projects I’ve been working on are also related to shooting – one is an acoustic electronic target, and another is an optical aim tracer.
Could you share with us more about the electronics projects you’ve been working on during your leisure time?
About my electronics hobby: I guess it started in 2014, during my time in H3 Research. My mentor, Dr Nikolai, was someone who put together his own instruments when what he needed wasn't available commercially (which was often). This involved a fair bit of electronics and tinkering with building materials, and this was where I picked up many hardware-related skills. Later that year, I learnt that the shooting range used for national competitions would be upgrading to electronic targets, which were a few thousand dollars a unit. Inspired by how my mentor managed to build his own high-precision instruments out of inexpensive components, I decided to try and build a low-cost electronic target for NJ's range, together with my friend Meenatchi, who handled the software. It turns out it wasn't that easy - I still had a lot to learn about electronics, and I'm still working on it today. Along the way, when we felt stumped, we added a simpler, related project - the aim tracer, another expensive piece of shooting equipment.
Having to juggle between academics, your shooting activities and your leadership responsibilities as the President of the Shooting club was definitely no easy feat back in NJC. How did you manage your time and stress levels?
SH1 was definitely the craziest year for me. In addition to the usual subjects, add on PW and H3 research. Surprisingly, being in the national youth team helped, since I could train on weekends, and work with the club or go to the lab on weekdays. I also had a great vice-president, and reliable captains who made it easier for me. I was also fortunate that the intensive periods from these different commitments rarely clashed, and I could afford to prioritize them in turn. That said, compartmentalization was very important. Whether I was training or studying, I’d make sure I was fully engaged in the activity at hand, and not worrying about the others. And when I couldn’t do anything productive, like during long commutes, I would try to get some rest. SH2 was a much more relaxing year, even with ‘A’ levels. Although I probably wouldn’t do something like that again.
What is one piece of advice you would give to your juniors back in NJC?
Study smart, not hard. Know how you learn best, and practice it. Understand instead of memorize where possible, and understand as deeply as possible. Reshape information into a form that makes the most sense for you, and consolidate it. Get help if you need it, and also help others, because explaining your knowledge to others strengthens it. Now with all the time you’ve saved, pursue your interests, and achieve something you can be proud of.