Your learning, your way

At the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), every student writes their own story.

For Year 3’s George Sin Kai Jun, that story blends science, humanities – and a healthy dose of curiosity. He is pursuing a Major in Food Science and Technology (FST) with a Minor in Japanese Studies and a specialisation in FST Research and Innovation, embodying what it means to be a Versatilist – one who builds depth in a primary major with options for specialisation, while deliberately adding breadth through a minor and / or unrestricted electives.

George’s fascination with food science began with a deep interest in cultivated meat research. Determined to explore the field further, he took up an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) project to investigate how prolamin proteins (kafirin) extracted from the red sorghum plant can create a cell culture scaffold which facilitates cell attachment and proliferation. This allows animal cells to grow on the scaffold and ultimately form a whole cut of meat, similar to a steak or fillet.    

He says, “My research shows that kafirin is a promising candidate for making cultivated meat scaffolds, as it exhibits good properties for cell growth such as porosity and rigidity. It is also gluten free, which allows consumers to eat the product without developing allergies.” After his exchange, George plans to continue delving deeper into this research as an Final Year Project (FYP), where he will culture real animal cells in the laboratory to make meat.

Learning, for him, extends way beyond the laboratory or classroom. Drawn by a lifelong interest in Japanese language and culture, George signed up for language classes and trips to Aomori and Hiroshima, which broadened his cultural perspective and connected him with a community of peers equally passionate about the Japanese language and culture. These friendships, he says, became a key motivation that accelerated his language learning. Courses on business Japanese, contemporary Japanese and Japanese society and culture (‘Itadakimasu’) allowed him to hone his linguistic skills while also deepening his understanding of the unique relationship between food and traditions in Japan.

“Taking a humanities course outside of my major lets me step back and appreciate learning from a fresh angle,” he says. “It reminds me that science doesn’t exist in isolation - it’s part of a larger cultural and human context.”

To prospective students, he has this advice: “Use the diverse resources and faculty expertise at CHS to pick up a new interest or pursue a current passion at a higher level.”

He adds, “I intend to pursue a PhD in Japan to further my studies in cultivated meat research. My academic combination allows me to pursue my passions more intensely and in an academic way.”