Day 3 Reflection

1. What have you learnt about chemical production?

I have learnt that chemical production is not an easy task as it often requires countless hours of sampling, analysing and fine tuning to ensure that the final product is acceptable. Moreover, chemical production is not simply a single task as it involves many processes and machinery working together to finish the task.

Another factor that cannot be neglected is time. Learning to work under pressure is essential in chemical production.

1. What have you recognised the full of  sampling and analysis?

A fundamental component of sampling and analysis is collaborative work. For example, to ensure stable progress and high efficiency, one member has to obtain a sample while another member analyses an existing sample to ensure constant progress.

Sampling and analysis also requires much precision and care to ensure that the results are both reliable and accurate. For example, if equipment such as the string is not cleaned well, the contamination might cause ‘strange’ results.

1. What have you learnt about Science and Engineering?

In Science and Engineering, all the fields are interconnected. Thus, one who is studying in one field is able to collaborate with person in another field on a huge project and accomplish greater feats.

1. What have you learnt about yourself?

I learned I might be more interested in Chemistry than I had initially thought after the activities and that passion and interest is a major driving force of accomplishments.

Day 2 Reflections

What did you do today?

I received a briefing on how distillation column works and its purpose. We learnt how to use gas chromatography to obtain a small sample from the top and bottom of the distillation column to determine the effectiveness of purifying a percentage of ethanol in water. Afterwards, we applied this knowledge to attempt to use the distillation column to purify a mixture of 77 mole % of ethanol in water.

What did you learn today?

I learnt about the purpose of a distillation column. Also, we learnt about how gas chromatography works and how it is involved in analyzing samples from the distillation column to ensure that a sufficient percentage of ethanol in water is purified. From today’s activities, I also learnt that collaborative effort plays a big role in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of science experiments.

How do you feel about today’s activities?

Today’s activities has not only given me experience of using acquired knowledge to accomplish a task, but also working under pressure. I have also learnt to view Chemistry from a wider perspective and appreciate the complicated mechanics behind the creation of many household items. The skills learnt from this experience will prove to be useful in a future career.

Day 1 Reflections

First Day

Pre Camp:

What sounds interesting about this project ?

This project gives me an opportunity to apply my knowledge in chemistry in real 

case scenario. In the projects, I can understand how the usage of variables to formulate equations can help in creating an effective distillation model. 

What do you think you can learn from this project?

From this project, I can understand more about how the study of chemistry is fundamental in daily life and the importance of its role in industries. Furthermore, I can gain skills in chemistry that can possibly help me in a future career.

Immediate questions regarding the project:

What do the equations and variables mean?

What are the benefits of a fractional distillation column?

Plenary Sessions: 

Earthquake Research on the Coral Reefs of Sumatra : 

Earthquakes can not only cause adverse effects on corals by causing a change the water level, but also cause the damage to agriculture of the villagers living near where the earthquake occurred.

IT for Animation: 

IT has not only greatly enhanced 2D animation but has also created new innovative methods for both 2D animation and 3D animation. For example, with the use of a program, animations can be made more effectively and efficiently. With the usage of IT for animation, everybody can be an inventor.

Innovation Breakthroughs in Nano-Science and Nano-technology: 

Nanotechnology allows for medical breakthroughs which cannot accomplished by traditional methods such as medicine. For example, machines, which are powered by chemical reactions with ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), are small enough to enter a person's bloodstream.