From STEM to STEAM
March 28, 2023
Are science and arts polar opposites where the twain shall not meet?
Not according to Year 2 College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) student LIM Jia Ying, who majors in Chemistry and minors in English Literature.
While passionate in pursuing her education in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field, Jia Ying believes that creativity is the fodder of both scientists and artists.
As a composer and performer in End of the Line, a jukebox musical which explores the trials and tribulations of life, loss and what it means to be Gen Z through theatre, dance and music, Jia Ying says, “I find myself trying to relate the things I have learnt to the outside world. For instance, some of the things I learnt in the course PC1101 (Frontiers of Physics) lent inspiration to a play I wrote.”
While there was no single inspiring influence in arts which led her down this path, she has always loved the arts since young. In secondary school, she participated in her school's musical theatre productions, and was frequently a vocalist for her band.
NUS Stage is especially memorable for her, as it is the place where the first play she wrote was staged, the first time a piece of work she wrote came into fruition. She also had the opportunity to learn more about production managing and to perform with an improvisation group, TMI: Too Much Improv, which enabled her to grow as an artist, beyond just an actor/vocalist.
Concurrently Vice President and Secretary of NUS Stage and President of NUS Amplified, Jia Ying derives equal joy in being able to organise performances, creating the platforms for others to perform.
She says, “Being in the ExCo means that I am able to be a part of many discussions and be an advocate for the groups I am in, and for the arts.”
Find out more on Jia Ying’s contributions to End of the Line at https://nus.edu.sg/osa/stories/details/Index/nus-arts-festival-2023-building-connection-through-the-arts.