PUB Scholar Melvin Chin has made ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal) his professional mandate in the fight against climate change. The environmental engineer holds an MSc from the Imperial College London and a BEng from the University College London. He had joined PUB on the Singapore Sustainability Scholarship. Read on as Melvin shares his water perspectives and work responsibilities and addresses the commonly asked question about a scholar’s career pathway within Singapore’s national water agency.
An Engineer’s Motivation: Fighting Climate Change
I have always been intrigued by how human ingenuity has been applied time and again to solve mankind’s issues and problems. Spurred by climate change, access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene is now an even more pressing issue. I am motivated by how a career with PUB will allow me to contribute towards this fundamental human right and help Singapore secure her water future.
My four years of overseas engineering studies have exposed me to various schools of thought, shaping my perspectives and making me realise that the global fight against climate change and its issues requires an equally concerted effort from all. This open-mindedness to solutions, while staying cognisant of the challenges Singapore faces as a small nation-state with no natural resources.
Water Responsibilities
In my current role as an executive engineer at PUB, I manage equipment replacement contracts to ensure that works performed by contractors are executed according to contractual and budgetary requirements and that mechanical equipment used in plants are reliable to support operational requirements.
With PUB’s ongoing focus on smart operations and automation to improve work processes, I have also been placed in charge of an exciting project to employ robotic arms for the automated batching of chemicals used in the water treatment process.
In addition, given that we are a statutory board with operations in Johor, I am involved in cultivating our bilateral relationship with our Malaysian counterparts in working towards our common goal of ensuring a safe and reliable supply of good water to all.
Overcoming Challenges
I faced the initial language barrier when I was posted to the Johor River Waterworks, where Malay is the primary language. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that operations continued uninterrupted despite the border closure meant having to spend extended periods of time away from family and friends in Singapore. Fortunately, my colleagues are very welcoming and always willing to lend a helping hand.
Through experience, I have also learnt that communication is key to navigating contract management issues, especially with the many stakeholders’ considerations and the occasional conflicting interest.
Workplace Safety & Culture
PUB places a strong emphasis on safety, with zero tolerance for workplace mishaps, and this was constantly communicated to us.
There is a big sense of teamwork in the PUB people culture. Colleagues are always helpful, and we work as a team to achieve a common goal. I remember when I was fresh out of university with no real work experience, my colleagues took time off from their busy schedules to bring me up to speed on ongoing discussions with our contractors so that I could contribute meaningfully to the team. Our bosses are also approachable, and it feels comfortable highlighting any concerns we have.
PUB also ensures work-life balance for its employees. There is always a line-up of ongoing initiatives such as eat-with-your-family day, family care leave, family day, and sporting events to bring like-minded individuals together to share a common interest outside of work.
PUB Career Pathways
I am often asked by family and friends about a scholar’s career pathway within PUB. Engineering scholars will start out in an operational role (engineering), which will help themone gain the ground experience to understand the ecosystem and its inner workings and prepare them well for future postings, be it stints in other operational departments or in policy planning and implementation.
Finally, I strongly encourage aspiring scholars to take on a scholarship to study overseas as the experience will greatly expand their horizons, benefitting their professional and personal development.
MELVIN CHIN
Singapore Sustainability Scholarship
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London; Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) w/ a minor in Business Finance, University College London
From: Tampines Junior College
Now: Executive Engineer, PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency