found a copy of this application when my mom was clearing out her treasure (?!) trove. she's a keeper, while i'm a thrower. i tend to throw out lotsa things while she tends to store lots of things. LOTS. of. things. she even keeps plastic spoons from kfc.
i know.
anyway, for this application, i had to answer, or rather, write an essay and mail it back to the then national science & tech board, now the agency for sci tech and research.
i still can't believe these words came from me cos i believe in one word answers. i was never good in essays cos i dont have the knack to elaborate.
and no, i didn't get it, although i don't see why not when i was an average 6 pointer (out of 7) in my first year.
i guess a 6 is not good enough.
or my essay sucked. hahaha.
so here goes:

(a) What are your career aspirations?

The 20th century was the century of the physical sciences, however the 21st century is likely to be the century of the biological sciences, mainly related to the advances in medical research and treatment. This is evident in the recent complete mapping of the human genome. I see myself working in the biomedical field doing research after my degree. I would like to be involved and be in the frontline of the rapid development and growth of the life sciences industry in Singapore. This would mean playing a part in improving the quality of biomedical research in Singapore.

(b) In less than two pages, briefly describe why you want to pursue the proposed field of study and how your participation in past research/intellectual activities demonstrates your passion for science and R&D.

I am going on to my second year of the Bachelor of Science at the University of Queenland, Australia and will be majoring in genetics as I would like to major in a field of study that is at a molecular level. The field of genetics is exploding and I believe every hand has to be on deck when it happens. Research is the only way to plumb the depths of life's mystery encoded in our DNA. Man regards himself as the most sophistaced of all creatures yet we are fallen by the weaknesses inherent in our own bodies. Genetics may seem to some as something remote and far-removed from themselves. But, we sometimes forget that this mystery we are living in called life hinges on the building blocks of DNA itself. We, with all our strengths and weaknesses are the living breathing products of gene expression. Illneses cured and diseases eradicated, depends on our ability to look inwards to find the solution within ourselves. For far too long, we have tried to address bodily malfunctions with external treatments. These efforts have always been limited by fears of upsetting or even destroying our unbelievably strong yet invariant fragile body. Our expansion of knowledge in the field of genetics is undeniable.

It is not until an industrial attachment stint at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Auto-Immune Research Laboratory (ARL) did I realise that I really wanted to devote myself to research. Although I was only there for three months, it was enough to fuel my passion for research. It was the sight of DNA in a test-tube that illuminated the light bulb above my head. That tiny double-stranded alpha helical structure was the key to life. Now, that the human genome is completely mapped, it is not the end. It is, instead, the beginning of unchartered possibilities. The human genome may be completely mapped, but we are still clueless as to what the majority of the genes do. With the majority of diseases genetically linked, it is a race against time to find a cure and it does not take a day or two. It may take months, even years.

I chose the University of Queensland (UQ)to do my Bachelor of Science as its Faculty of Biology and Chemical Sciences, the School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, and the School of Biomedical Sciences are the major recipients of funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) in Australia. The university also has associations with other biomedical research institutes such as the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), the Sir Albert Sakewski Virus Research Centre and the Mater Medical Research Institute. Also, when completed at the St Lucia campus of UQ, the Institute of Molecular Bioscience will be the largest biologically-based biomedical research institue in the southern hemisphere. Therefore making Queensland the centre of biomedical research is Australiasia. This is the stated objective of the Premier of Queensland, Mr. Peter Beattie.

Our expansion of knowledge in the field of genetics is undeniable. It is now or never to seize the day and make this century one where we explore the depths of our body and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. My contributions, small as it may be in the sea of uncharted genetics territory, is my own way of discovering who we are and what we are truly capable of.

luv, nat