A keen curiosity about how the world works runs deep among scholars at HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency) like Bethany Chong. As a child, she drove her parents up the wall by constantly dismantling household items.
“I would break apart anything I could get my hands on, be it a remote control or a piano,” says the 23-year-old scholar. “If I felt that a bicycle was not working well, I would pull all the brake cables apart to see what was happening.”
Her parents would then insist that she fix those items.
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As she grew older, Bethany’s inquisitiveness evolved into a knack for crafting practical solutions using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted code and space-age materials.
While interning at a fragrance firm in 2023, she noticed an inefficient workflow: Fragrance-testing notes were written by hand, scanned and then passed along to be re-entered into an online platform. She decided to fix the cumbersome process.
“I watched videos on how people use the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) feature in Excel to automate things and studied others’ VBA code,” she says. “Then I tried to implement it myself. If I faced a problem, I would get generative AI to help me understand what went wrong.”
Within days, Bethany had automated the firm’s note-taking system.
“I am looking forward to exploring material solutions to contribute to public safety, an important aspect that is often overlooked in today’s digital age.”
– Bethany Chong, recipient of the PSC Scholarship (Engineering)
At Nanyang Technological University, where she studied materials engineering, Bethany spent months developing a silica-based nanomaterial capable of absorbing environmental pollutants. She would go on to graduate as the valedictorian of her faculty in 2025.
Yet, even with her talent for improvisation, Bethany recognises that innovations are only as good as their impact. This was why she chose to fulfil her Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship (Engineering) bond at HTX, where she felt she could best apply her capabilities in materials engineering.
As part of her scholarship requirement, she did an internship with HTX’s Human Factors and Simulation Centre of Expertise where she worked with other researchers to study how the weight of backpacks carried by Home Team officers affected their thermal comfort.
“We conducted tests using a robot that mimics sweating and walking,” she says. “The comfort of their uniforms is a big factor that affects their performance and safety.”
The project was close to her heart as among her family friends are a police officer and a firefighter.
“I always talk to my firefighter friend about what could be improved about his uniform to make it more lightweight yet still heat-resistant,” says Bethany.
The internship also reaffirmed her belief in HTX’s meaningful work in solving relevant challenges faced by Home Team officers.
To gain a broader perspective on the technological landscape, Bethany decided to pursue a master’s degree in technology policy at the University of Cambridge in Britain.
“This master’s course is a good way to do that as it focuses on designing frameworks or policies to support new technologies,” she says. “With HTX’s position at the forefront of science and technology, I wanted to know how to better manage these new technologies.”
She is also grateful for how the PSC Scholarship has given her the flexibility to explore the private sector before she starts work at HTX.
“We are encouraged to go on a gap year before coming back to work so we can learn skills from different sectors and countries and bring them back to Singapore. The opportunities, mentorship and exposure this scholarship offers can shape not only your career but also your perspective of the world,” she says.
Bethany is clear on what she wants to do at HTX when she returns: make a real impact in empowering the people who keep Singapore safe.
“I am looking forward to exploring material solutions to contribute to public safety, an important aspect that is often overlooked in today’s digital age,” she says.
| Join the HTX team HTX is looking for talented individuals with a strong interest and aptitude for advanced technology like robotics and AI to future-proof Singapore’s safety and security. Bright minds are required to help develop science and technology solutions to augment the Home Team’s capabilities in enhancing public safety. Outstanding students are invited to apply for the HTX Scholarship, a full-ride scholarship for STEM disciplines. |
This article is brought to you by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency.