When your strengths align with your passion, the path ahead becomes clear and purposeful. For Low Hwee Keng, choosing the Singapore Sustainability Scholarship (SFA) is a natural decision as it enables her to pursue a career where she can use her knowledge of chemistry to fortify Singapore’s food resilience.
Currently pursuing her Master of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry at Oxford University, Hwee Keng fondly recalls her journey as an undergraduate living and studying abroad for the first time. She reflects on the learning opportunities she had and the invaluable internship experience at the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Through her story, she hopes to inspire prospective scholars to follow their passion.
Connecting Passion with Purpose
I chose the Singapore Sustainability Scholarship (SFA) because its mission of ensuring and securing a supply of safe food resonated strongly with my desire to contribute to a sustainable Singapore, as well as with my academic interest in Chemistry. Chemistry has always been my strongest subject, and the scholarship enabled me to connect this passion with greater purpose. I knew I wanted a career where science would directly benefit people, and SFA provided the ideal platform to apply my knowledge of chemistry to help ensure that Singapore’s food system remains safe, innovative, and resilient.
During my scholarship programme, I had the opportunity to connect with other SFA scholars, each pursuing different degrees and at various stages of their lives. Yet, one thing we had in common was a collective commitment to strengthening Singapore’s food safety and security. My internship at SFA also provided me with an opportunity to see how the various divisions work together to achieve our shared goals.
Stepping Out of Comfort Zone
People often ask why I chose to study abroad. My answer is simple: studying overseas opens up opportunities to see more, do more, and dream bigger. The decision to go overseas for my undergraduate studies was the most challenging and memorable experience of my journey so far. Having neither lived alone nor visited the United Kingdom before, adapting to a new environment while balancing rigorous academic demands was no easy task. However, it was also at Imperial and Oxford where I met professors and peers from diverse backgrounds, all of whom were deeply passionate about their work. I attended seminars and conferences led by distinguished scientists and professionals in the field, which enriched my learning and deepened my understanding of the latest global developments in science.
With the support of SFA, I stepped out of my comfort zone and participated in the Global Summer School at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, where I explored the evolution of farming technologies and the efficient production of leafy vegetables. Through this experience, I learnt the value of interdisciplinary approaches and how digital tools can transform the agri-food sector. I aim to explore how computational methods can be further incorporated into SFA’s work. I believe that such methods hold immense potential to strengthen food safety research and enhance data analysis.
The Formula For Success
For future scholarship applicants, my advice is to be authentic and honest. Reflect on your past experiences and use those lessons to reflect on how your academic interests align with the agency’s mission. Above all, be sincere and confidently express who you are. Finally, view scholarship not merely as financial support, but as a commitment to personal and professional growth and a contribution to society. Stay curious, embrace challenges, and use every opportunity to learn and give back.
LOW HWEE KENG
Singapore Sustainability Scholarship (SFA)
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Imperial College London (First Class Honours)
Now: Pursuing Master of Science in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry at the Oxford University