IMPACT 0560: FROM DOING POORLY IN SCIENCE TO BECOMING A SCIENCE PROFESSOR

Hi! I’m Dr Edison H. Ang, and I’m 34 years old this year! I am an assistant professor currently teaching chemistry courses at the National Institute of Education, an institute of Nanyang Technological University. I’ve also been noted for my pioneering design of zinc batteries and filtration membranes based on the use of nanotechnology!

I started Nanotech Lab in 2020 and have since developed a unique two-dimensional nanomaterials ink (graphene) which can be 3D printed, paving the way for new industrial opportunities in the fields of rechargeable batteries and membrane filtering.

In 2021, I was awarded the Outstanding ASIAN Science Diplomat Award and Vebleo Fellow Award in recognition of my outstanding research work and leadership in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. As a young scientist, I have managed to publish over 60 publications and six patents in my research career to date, and as a result of these achievements, I was invited by the International Association of Advanced Materials to give a Young Scientist Medal Lecture on “The Chemistry of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Energy-Water Nexus” in 2022.

Despite all of these accomplishments, no one knows that I used to fail chemistry, biology, and physics in secondary school except my classmates, teachers, and parents. At the time I was not particularly fond of the sciences, but that changed when I was given the opportunity to conduct research on the use of magnetic nanoparticles to kill cancer cells during my polytechnic years, and that was when my interests began to turn around.

When I was ten years old, my beloved grandfather passed away in front of me from lung cancer, and to this day I will never forget how painful that experience was. This inspired me to pursue my PhD and become a professor at one of the world’s best universities, so that I can continue undertaking high-level research and development (R&D), contribute to humanity, and nurture the next generation of youth. I believe that the young generation is humanity’s greatest asset, and they are also the future of sustainability.

My conviction has inspired me to become a “mentor (NIE professor) of mentors (MOE teachers)”, so that I can continue to empower more teachers to inspire the next generation of young scientists and engineers who will change the world.

But all this being said, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth and my family could not afford to pay for higher education. So in order to achieve this dream, I began working two to three part-time jobs to help pay for my polytechnic and university tuition fees. It was a trying time, but when you really believe in something, you would do whatever it takes!

As a faculty at NTU now, I try to support others by donating my annual leave every year to support students in need of financial assistance because I do not want other underprivileged students to go through the same ordeal of finances like I did.

I also use YouTube (Eaversity) during my free time to create content and help students grasp certain scientific concepts that they acquired in class. In the grand scheme of things, I believe that combining social media into education will enable more students who cannot afford higher education to gain access to more relevant science knowledge.

This article was published on May 5, 2022