Lim Yan Chen's Blog

  The article “How green steel made with electricity could clean up a dirty industry" by Crownhart (2022) showed that   traditional steel-making produces around two tons of carbon dioxide emissions for every ton of steel produced, which is 10% of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. As the global steel market is set to expand around 30% by 2050, there is a need for alternative green methods as some of the largest steelmakers have since pledged to reach zero-emissions by the same date.  According to Casey (2022), fossil fuels are quintessential in the production of steel, being heated in blast furnaces. This reacts with the impure iron ores, which contain iron oxides and other minerals, removing the oxygen and leaving liquid iron. The byproduct of this process is released as carbon dioxide, which is harmful to the environment as it absorbs the sun’s energy and an excess of this gas will lead to global warming. According to the same article by Casey (2022), Boston Metal’...

  “I contend that we (engineers) are undervalued because of our widespread inability to explain what we do to the general public (and why it is so important). It is one of the hardest goals to accomplish, to be able to boil down difficult concepts into a short and easily understood presentation or elevator pitch.” Marybeth Miceli, President, Miceli Infrastructure Consulting, USA (2011) Explanation of the statement above is as follows: In her quote, Marybeth Miceli alludes to the miscommunication between engineers and the general public due to the inability of engineers to translate technical jargon into words the general public would understand. As a result, individuals may be deemed incapable, despite their capabilities. A presentation is challenging enough on its own, what more when one has to maintain audience interest and most importantly, have the audience understand what they are doing? My friends, who were not engineering majors, once asked me how I controlled my product wit...

Subject: Self-Introduction  Dear Professor, My name is Yan Chen and I am writing this email to provide a description of myself, my engineering background and motivations, as well as my communication strength and weakness. Having graduated from Temasek Polytechnic with a diploma in mechatronic engineering, I have learnt to visualise product designs using computer-aided drawing (CAD) software. I have also mastered the use of machinery such as milling machines and drill presses and I believe that these skills will be valuable in my future endeavours. The reasons behind my interest for engineering lie with my admiration for my father, who works as an officer in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). He served as a firefighter before an occupation incident caused an injury that has had a negative impact on his life. I am determined to find solutions that would prevent such incidents from occurring, thus improving public safety. In terms of communication, my strength lies in my a...