2013 Issue 4: Oct 2013
UTLOOK
Featuring
SR of the Year
David Smith
Featuring
iHMA Execs
Tiffanie Sugianto
Neil Chen
Bernie Lim
Movie to watch
in OCT and NOV
MAJOR event in
OCT and NOV
Catching Fire
STUVAC
Suppers
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
3 | Feature
IHMA Executives:
Tiffanie Sugianto, Neil Chen,
and Bernie Lim
8 | Biomedical
Sciences
Cancer Nanotechnology
5 | Feature
9 | Leisure
7 | Science and
Technology
10 | What’s up in
Sydney
A New Camera
David Smith
About Space
11 | Recommended
Movies
IHMA OUTLOOK IS OPEN TO
FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS!
SEND US AN EMAIL AT
[email protected]
Cover photo by Shun Yang Ch’ng
IHMA Execs
3
The end of the academic year is almost upon us and a new round of IHMA Executives
will soon to be challenged into steping up to the high standards achieved by this year’s
exec team: Tiffanie Sugianto, Neil Chen, and Bernie Lim. In this interview, the current
execs reveal some interesting and important tips for the future execs.
Interview by Shun Yang Ch’ng
FEATURE
Featuring
Chairperson: Tiffanie
Treasurer: Neil
Secretary: Bernie
What is your
role and
what is it
about?
As the IHMA Chairperson, my
roles are to oversee the activities
of IHMA, to actively listen to
feedback from residents and to
represent IHMA’s views in meetings with the IH Office, Senior
Leadership Team, IH Council,
SUIHAA and organisations
external to IH. In consultation
with the other Execs and/or the
IHMA Committee, I give recommendations for IHMA programs
and ensure all IHMA Committee
members have all the resources
and they need to implement
them.
My principal role as the IHMA treasurer
is to manage the society’s finance, ensuring that all activities throughout the year
have sufficient financial resources to proceed. Some of my duties include preparation of the annual budget, establish a
proper financial record system and make
sure all transactions are duly authorized
and documented. I also communicate
with the office and external parties
regarding all matters financial. Despite
my role is predominantly about money, I
also play an important role as part of the
executive team in facilitating a smooth
operation of the IHMA committee.
I am currently serving as the
Secretary of IHMA. This means
that I act as the liaison between
the Committee and the rest of my
house. My responsibilities include
assisting in coordinating IHMA’s
events and activities, taking minutes at the meetings, collecting
IHMA mail, handling magazine
subscriptions and attending SUIHAA and Council meetings.
Why did
you decide
to nominate
yourself last
year?
Ever since I came here last year,
I have always strongly identified
with the welcoming and diverse
culture of IH. I had a wonderful
learning experience in the IHMA
Committee as a Food Coordinator and would like to greatly
extend my contribution to the
IH community as I gain valuable
leadership experience.
I nominated myself for this role primarily for professional reasons. Since I am
studying an accounting related degree I
really wish to be able to put some of that
theoretical knowledge into practice. A
unique advantage about being the IHMA
treasurer is the relative lack of strict
rules and regulations that governs the
role. Though there are certain rules and
procedures to follow, such as preparation
of semester financial reports or preparing refunds, the process how I choose to
do them is very flexible. This allows me
to constantly try new approaches and
always learn from my mistakes.
The reason why I nominated
myself was because I wanted to
get more involved with the House.
I had been on the general IHMA
committee as a photographer and
I thought that being Secretary
would help me to get a better understanding of iH and allow me to
get more involved in the community! Also it sounded like a cool
job and I like taking notes :D
What
are some
important
personal
qualities that
your roles
involve?
Organisational skills, time- and
stress-management skills, confidence, commitment, creativity,
ability to delegate, communication skills, flexibility, openness
in accepting and implementing
feedback and optimism. This is
my first chairperson experience
and most of the qualities I listed
are qualities I actually acquired
from this experience.
The number one quality required is dedication. Accounting can at times seem
pretty repetitive and tedious, but one
must constantly stick to the parameters
you establish for keeping your records so
as to ensure the integrity of data is not
compromised. Second is a willingness to
learn – always learn from your mistakes
and try to come up with better ways of
doing things. Last but not least, the ability to work as part of a team. It’s important to realize that the role does not exist
independent of others.
I think that the job involves good
time management and communication skills. Time management is
important for managing my various commitments and communication is important when working
with everyone on the committee.
tThe importance of creating and
maintaining rapport and communication in inspiring actions.
They involve always having
a good attitude, sensitivity to
feedbacks, carrying out routine
follow-ups and understanding
people in both professional and
personal levels.
I would perhaps say that I am much
I’ve learnt to trust my own judgmore financial literate as a result of serv- ment.
ing on this position. I learn how to look
at finance from a holistic perspective, I
learn how to use accounting software,
and basically I get to deal with all sorts of
stuff that I wouldn’t have had the chance
to experience before. This role is like a
window to the real commercial world for
me.
How much
time/dedication/commitment per
week does
your role
involve?
I actually never count how
much time I spend. I think it
really varies from time to time,
depending on the number and
scale of IHMA events happening,
availability of resources and my
own and Committee members’
academic workload.
It varies depending on the times of the
year. I would perhaps say at the start
of each year it’s always the busiest time
because of the amount of learning that
is required to get ready for the year
(such as learning how to deal with the
software, take over management of the
bank account, analyze previous budget/
actual patterns and then make your own
budget). As the semester goes along it
will then be more about keeping a tight
record of income and expenditures,
monitoring the budget, and be actively
engaging with the general committee
regarding the operations of all events.
I wouldn’t be able to assign a set
amount of hours that my role involves as it varies with the amount
of events on. I would say that it
just requires you to be dedicated
to IHMA for the whole year.
How would
you recommend
potential
nominees to
prepare for
your role?
Create good relationships with
various groups of residents, build
confidence, gather lots of determination and start planning!
It would be helpful if you have some basic understanding of accounting prior to
starting, so that you won’t find the whole
thing too overwhelming. Other than
that, just remember to always be willing
to learn, and you will pretty much get on
track in no time once you get started.
Make sure that you are able to
commit the time and effort to the
role. Being on IHMA Exec isn’t
going to be an easy job, but it is
a great experience and will teach
you many things.
Any other
comments?
-
Based on the current situation, the much I’m super excited for IHMA
feared incorporation is perhaps not going elections!
ahead for 2014, so the role of treasurer
still has the benefits I mentioned above
regarding the degree of flexibility enjoyed.
FEATURE
What is the
most important thing
you’ve learnt
from this
role so far?
DAVID SMITH
David Smith was voted as the Senior Resident (SR) of the Year in the recent IH Ball. In this
interview, David reveals some of his secrets being an SR...
FEATURE
Featuring
Interview by Shun Yang Ch’ng
5
Where are you from, what are you studying,
and why are you here (in IH)?
I hail from the overpopulated state of New
Jersey in the United States of the USA. I’m
studying Chemical Engineering, and I decided to stay at International House for the
convenience. I’m so close to the engineering
buildings I can wake up late for class and still
get there on time!
Why did you decide to be an SR?
I wanted a key to everyone’s room so I can
sneak in and take pictures of people as they
sleep. Just kidding, I don’t take pictures because it wakes them up :P. I also felt that I had
been here long enough (3 years and ongoing!),
and knew I should give back to the house in
some way. When I found out there were a few
openings for SR, I went for it. I’m glad I did
because I gained a new group of friends that
are great to work with.
What characteristics do you think an ideal SR
have?
The SR needs to be at the right place at the
right time, acting and reacting to situations in
a manner that allows the House to run properly. This means ensuring that the majority of
the House is comfortable, happy, and able to
go about their academia. They must be quick
on their feet and forthright in their methodologies. They must also be the person that
individuals can go to if they need help with
something personal, academic, or professional. Honestly, as the SR of the year, any characteristics I have are essentially characteristics
an ideal SR should have. Look no further. I’m
there at the right place at the right time, forthright in our methodologies whilst keeping
the House’s best interest at heart, even if that
means looking the other way when
“Honestly, as the SR of the
year, any characteristics I have
are essentially characteristics
an ideal SR should have. Look
no further.”
- David, on the ideal SR characteristics
FEATURE
needed. Other SRs may have read handbooks. I wrote the handbook. Other SRs may seek to
build strong relationships with residents so they may listen to them when needed. I don’t need
to, as residents know what’s going to happen when they disobey. Because at the end of the day,
I’m thriving in this role.
What have been some of the challenges you have faced as an SR and how did you solve them?
I can’t say there has ever been a challenge so hard, a day too rough, or a resident too tough to
handle. But people will nevertheless try thinking for themselves and asking questions like, ‘but
why can’t I take my food to my room and take the plate down later?’, or ‘what happens at 11 pm
that makes the roof an unsafe place to be?’ Proper explanation of the rules and complete disregard for their drivel generally gets them to walk away, their place reaffirmed.
If you are to give potential new SRs one advice, what would it be?
Quid pro quo. Tit for tat. If you have provided some kind of special service for someone, they
will listen when you need them. If you keep them down and ensure they know their place, they
will start looking up to you. And remember that I AM THE SR OF THE YEAR. PRAISE ME!
Interviewer Yang approaching David
for an interview for the Outlook
soon after David was voted the SR of
the Year at the IH Ball.
Interviewer Yang befriending David
a year and a half ago knowing that
he could potentially be the SR of the
Year.
Interviewer Yang co-directed this
year’s i-Night SR Short Film together
with David.
ABOUT SPACE
SCITECH
Science and Technology
Written by Samanvay Karambhe
7
Take a moment to reflect on your own
achievements in retrospect of our collective achievements as a human race in
the past 100 years. Certainly you might
say that your achievements are merely
a spec of dust compared to the latter
but as a race we have been undoubtedly
productive compared to other animal
species.
To put this into perspective, the astrophysicist Neil De Grasse Tyson
once suggested that chimpanzees and humans were 99% similar genetically.
However we owe our greatest discoveries to that 1% difference, within
that 1% we have created global cities, mastered the natural sciences,
stretched our presence to the edge of the solar system, and many more
things that make us distinctly advanced. This raises a question: what
if we were to find an alien species that were to be 1% more intelligent
than us? We would likely be no more than babies to them. This is one
of the exciting questions that sprung off space exploration.
Space exploration is a necessity that have often been mistakenly treated
as a leisurely activity by governments such as the US which infamously
allocated only $1.6 billion to NASA research funds while open-heartedly spending up to $1 trillion on warfare. This could be blamed on
the government’s pre-occupation with short-term benefits rather than
the much-needed foresight into the scientific future of NASA research.
You might be wondering that how could any space exploration possibly
be beneficial to us in Australia, a country that lacks a space race. Well,
the answer lies with the side effects of space research. You might be
unaware of it, but a large majority of the technology surrounding us
are the offspring of the NASA space research program that wouldn’t be
possible otherwise.
You don’t have to look very far for examples of NASA’s space-research-inspired technology. Just have a look at your running shoes. It
contains shock-absorbing soles similar to the ones used in space boots.
Your plasma screen computer monitors and television screens would
not be possible without NASA scientists. Ear thermometers that you often see at medical centres are yet another example of NASA’s technology. In addition of all these “inspired” technology, NASA has even aided
in improving the water purification systems used by various countries.
Space Exploration can open up more doors than we realise and affect
us in many unforeseen ways. It might
someday hold the key to our future but
we will never know unless we try. It
should be seen as more of an obligation
(financially permitting) as this is the
hotbed for innovation. As Neil deGrasse
Tyson puts it ‘Space exploration is a
force of nature unto itself that no other
force in society can rival’.
Biomedical Science
BIOSCIENCES
CANCER
NANOTECH
Is cancer nanotechnology safe?
Written by Michael Teoh
As you all know, cancer is a disease which has affected our lives in
some way. This disease is primarily caused by mutations in the
DNA which cannot be controlled
and as such can be contracted by
anyone, anywhere at any time.
Currently, a cure for cancer has yet
to be found. Surgery never fully
removes malignant cells from the
body so the remission time is very
short.
Recently, there has been an
emergence of an idea of combating cancer with the use of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is
a rapidly developing field, with
many applications in a variety of
other fields, ranging from medicine and healthcare to engineering
and even to sports equipment.
Many scientists already think that
nanotechnology has other hidden
potentials which could prove to be
useful in cancer research.
There are many new research projects under way that are aimed at
developing cancer nanotechnology. There has been a recent breakthrough in cancer research with a
new innovation that can identify
and “filter out” circulating tumour
cells, or CTCs for short. CTCs are
an important factor in the metastasis, a.k.a spreading, of malignant
tumours in the body. They form
when tumour cells break off from
the group and travel to other parts
of the body in the blood stream.
They then latch on to other parts
of the body and form into more
tumours. Filtering out CTCs is a
relatively new technology that is
currently being researched. It is a
silicon wafer with “silicon nanopillar- covered substrates coated
with epithelial-cell-adhesion
molecule antibodies”. They are
used like filters to essentially filter
out circulating tumour cells from
the blood.
The new breakthroughs in cancer
nanotechnology all seem too good
to be true. However, there are potentially many unknown risks in
using nanotechnology which have
yet to be full assessed. A recent
study stated that there was no clear
data and information on the risks
of nanoparticles like its “toxicity
in humans” and there has been
very little investigation conducted
on the possible negative effects
of nanomedicine on the human
body. Currently, there are a variety
of programs being conducted in
the U.S. that are aimed at studying
these risks. However, it is because
of the fact that nanotechnology is
relatively new that such extensive
testing needs to be done first as
there is inadequate understanding
of the effects, whether long-term
or short-term, that nanomedicine
has on the body.
Other than studying the effects of
nanomedicine, there is also the
problem of communicating the
risks to the public as they are the
ones who will be exposed to these
new changes in medicine and
healthcare. In the book “Emerging
Issues in Nanomedicine and Ethics", Bawa and Johnson explained
that the public is still uncertain
of the implementation of “nanomedicine” due to its unknown
properties. Nanomedicine manufacturers and researchers will have
to educate the public on both the
benefits and risk of nanomedicine
and hold discussion sessions in
order to avoid offending the public
due to a lack of concern for their
opinions. In other words, cancer
nanotechnology may be a big step
towards a cure for cancer but as
a long way to go before it can be
considered a viable solution for
treating cancer.
A NEW CAMERA
What camera should you get for summer travels?
LEISURE
Leisure
Written by Shun Yang Ch’ng
I have made a list of highly rated cameras sorted by camera needs and ranked in order of price (option 1 being the
cheapest, and option 3 being the most expensive). Do remember, however, that you pay for you get.
Hipster
Option 1
Fuji X20
Option 2
Fuji X100S
Option 3
Fuji X-Pro 1
Snappers
Sony HX20V
Olympus XZ2
Sony RX100
Enthusiast Photographer DSLRs
Enthusiast Photographer CSC
Nikon D5200
Canon 70D
Nikon D610
Sony NEX-3
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Sony Alpha 7
The hipster need is catered for people who like to be different and own beautiful retro-styled cameras. The Fuji X20 is ideal for beginners who simply want great photos from
a beautifully crafted camera. The Fuji X100S and the Fuji X-Pro 1 on the other hand are
made for serious enthusiast and professionals as it includes full manual controls that imply
a steep learning curve. While the X-Pro 1 provides the flexibility of inter-changeable lenses,
the X100S utilizes a highly praised integrated fixed 23mm (35mm full frame equivalent)
lens.
Fuji X100S
The snappers need is catered for beginners who just want a camera that is slightly
better than their smartphones. These cameras are simple, cheap, and easy to use. In other words: point and shoot! The Sony HX20V features a 20x optical zoom and is an ideal
compact travel camera. The Olympux XZ2 has a well-designed fast 28-112mm lens, which
makes it ideal for everyday use – be it in the morning or at night. Finally, the Sony RX100 is
an advanced compact camera that combines extensive features with great image quality.
Sony RX100
The enthusiast photographer DSLRs need is catered for enthusiast who
wants to have full manual controls paired with awesome image quality. DSLRs are ideal
cameras to learn photography with and offer a wide array of interchangeable lenses. The
Nikon D5200 features a vari-angle 3.0” screen that makes it ideal for videos or taking
photos from awkward angles. The Canon 70D features a touch screen capability and offer
an incredibly high ISO sensitivity of 12, 800. The Nikon D610 has a full frame sensor that
guarantees incredibly sharp photos and amazing low light performance. Do note that the
images produced by DSLRs are highly dependent on the lenses you choose.
Nikon D610
The enthusiast photographer CSC need is catered for enthusiast who wants
to have image quality as good as DSLRs, but at a smaller package. A new and upcoming
trend for enthusiasts and even professionals, CSC cameras also offer interchangeable lenses.
The Sony NEX-3 is a relatively cheap well-rounded beginner CSC camera that offers manual
controls. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is Olympus’ retro digital camera that claims to be the
fastest CSC camera at autofocusing. Sony Alpha 7 is an advanced full frame CSC that combines great ergonomics with amazing image quality.
Sony Alpha 7
9
Looking forward to summer travels (after the final exams, of course)? Want to take lots of beautiful and awe-inspiring photos? Dedicated to record down all the awesome memories?
Things to do in SYD
What’s up in Sydney?
So, you’re bored in Sydney (completely understandable) and you are wondering what
you can do. Fortunately, there is actually quite a bit to do in Sydney...This list contains
Compiled by Jieyang Low
things to do during the summer break too!
The Rocks Village
Bazaar: Ya’ll should clear
Eveleigh Artisan’s
Market: Put on your
Newtown Festival::
Glebe Street Fair:
Finders Keepers
Markets: For those of
The Lion King:
You know that town up the
your Fridays up for the thick-rimmed glasses, grow road from the house that
doesn’t really look new,
months of November and out your handlebar musDecember. Seriously. The taches and gingerly slip on but it’s named such anyweather is clearing up, and into your skinny jeans, be- way? There is going to be
getting nice and warm, so cause local indie artists have a festival in the early half
head on over down to The their stalls set up on the first of November, with over a
hundred stalls selling vinRocks and treat yourselves Sunday of every month,
to a vibrant village experi- showcasing as well as selling tage stuff, new stuff, exotic
ence. Art, music, food and their handmade art, fabrics foods, with tents set up to
feature panels of writers,
and jewelry. So head on
miscellaneous things to
plus lots of entertainment.
over to Eveleigh!
tickle your heart will make
Also, a dog show! Explore
this a great experience.
the deeper parts of Newtown you’ve never seen
before!
New Year’s Eve on the Harbour: Darling Harbour. New Year’s Eve. Fireworks, performances, and huge crowds. What else could you ask for? It’s gonna be a
beautiful night.
Picture the ever lovely
Glebe Markets. It’s alright,
but swing on over down
to Glebe Point Road on
the 17th of November and
feast your eyes on a kilometer-long (0.6 miles for some
of you) stretch of stalls
and entertainment. With
a smorgasbord of things to
choose form to look at or
eat, you will not run out of
things to treat yourself to!
you staying on through the
summer after the contract
ends, you might want to
check out this colossal indie
market in Eveleigh. With
hundreds of emerging designers and artists striving
to become stallholders, this
event is one to keep an eye
out for, on the 6th and 7th
of December! Check out
the cool garbs and get some
fairy-floss!
NAAAAAANTS INGOOOOOONYAAAAAAMAAAAAA
BAAAAAAGITHI BABAAAAAA! I’m sorry. I
could not resist, but hey, it’s
The Lion King musical, at
the Capitol Theatre, starting
in the middle of December,
and going on for a good few
months. You know what
that means? It means no
worries, for the rest of your
days. It’s also a problem-free
philosophy. If you have
about fifty bucks to blow, go
see it!
RECOMMENDED 11
Movies-to-watch in
OCT/NOV
The Hunger Games: Catching
Fire:
It’s returning, and the film series adaptation of the acclaimed book series looks to
be better than ever. With the dreamy Liam
Hemsworth being in this movie, how can
you say no?
Ender’s Game
Science fiction meets war, with the movie
adaptation of the book being highly anticipated. Humans and aliens and soldiers. It’s
looking to be like the conventional science
fiction movie, yet not at all.
Muse – Live: As of typ- Surfest 2014: You’re not
ing, there are limited tickdoing it right if you come
ets left for sale, and by the to Australia and don’t even
time you read this, you just try to learn how to surf. It’s
might have a few seconds
harder than it looks, much
left to be able to secure a
more fun than it looks and
ticket to catch the phenomfar more rewarding an
enal rock band live in Sydexperience than it looks.
ney. Known for putting on
It’s a bit far away, located
amazing live performances,
at Merewether Beach in
Muse is one of those bands Newcastle, but totally worth
that are just that much bet- the journey to see a few of
ter live. Ready your bodies the top surfers in the world
and ears for the Friday the competing.form to look at
13th of December. Luck is or eat, you will not run out
on your side.
of things to treat yourself
to!
Summer Wrap Up:
This isn’t an event, but more
of a suggestion. If you’re in
Sydney for the summer, be
it for school or just chilling out, go out and explore. Go up the coast. You
won’t regret it. Go down
the coast. You won’t regret
it. Although up the coast
seems pretty cool. Australia
is beautiful, but you have to
go looking for it. It doesn’t
come to you easily. With
stellar views and impressive
attractions, you shouldn’t
linger around a city if you
can. Go out, and have fun!
CONTACT US
if you guys have any questions, comments, opinions, recommendations, suggestions
Shun Yang Ch’ng
Jieyang Low
[email protected]
Tiffanie Sugianto - Chairperson
Bernadette Lim Lo Suy - Secretary
Neil Chen - Treasurer
Neil Fraser - Social Coordinator
Amar Arsiwala - Social Coordinator
Jess Hoorda - Social Coordinator
Katie Croaker - Social Coordinator
Samuel Lee - Shop Coordinator
Friska Ruslim - Shop Coordinator
Andre Sugianto - Shop Coordinator
Donny Ha - Sports Coordinator
Bo Yun Lu - Sports Coordinator
Bella Draeger - Food Coordinator
Evan Voroney - Food Coordinator
Tess Bennetts - Food Coordinator
Elaine Xue - Intercollegiate Rep.
Shannon Tay - Intercollegiate Rep.
Shun Yang Ch ng - Publications Officer
Jieyang Low - Publications Officer
Mai Nguyen - Environmental/ Welfare
Officer
Ashan Dias - Environmental/ Welfare
Officer
Julie Chow - Photographer
Timothy King - Photographer
Fei Xue Jin - Advertising Officer
Karina Sathar - Advertising Officer
Jun Ming Kong - Advertising Officer