Essay on Science (to pursue the proposed field of study)

Prompt: In less than 1500 words, briefly describe why you want to pursue the proposed field of study and how your participation in past research / intellectual activities demonstrates your passion for science and R & D.

Are you amazed at the fact that you can extract things out of our imaginary plane by multiplying them with the imaginary number? Incredibly, getting Harry Potter's magical wand real by multiplying it with i takes my breath away. However, such fantasy can be nerve-wracking during the Singapore Physics Olympiad selection test. Right now I have to bypass this annoying expression sinh{pi/2}=2.301298. Clearly, the imaginary roots of my auxiliary equation indicate a simple harmonic motion with maximum velocity occurs at pi/2. Intuitively, the solution must be something elegant because irrational solution does not exist in the eyes of a rational Physicist. Had Einstein's famous equation been E=mc2.001, the world we live in would be a disastrous place.

I scratch my head in frustration.
I exile a few people to my Minkowsky space.
I multiply them by i.
I franticly look through my 2 pages of solving differential equation again and again. What is wrong with my simple harmonic motion? Not until the last five minutes that I realize sine function is actually spelled sin{}.

Sin{pi/2}=1!
At times like this, I almost scream out that I will never do Physics again. However, deep down in my heart, I know that this is what I am going to do for the rest of my life. Theoretical Physics has played a foundational role in my life. I find Physics a fascinating subject as it is the basis of all sciences; a science that predicts Nature using equations and laws. It amazes me how celestial movements are governed by Newton's simple gravitational law, how every electricity and magnetism phenomenon can be explained using only Maxwell's set of four equations. My exposure to the world of Physics since young shapes every corner of my central dogma. I believe that everything is governed by a law and it must be as beautiful as equations that represent it.

Two months after the test, I felt a burst of elation on learning that I had clung Honorable Mention in the Olympiad, placing me among the top 40 Physics students in Singapore. Most of my achievements, however, lie in research. If anybody told me that Physics geeks are only capable of blowing up teacher's desk, I took it as a challenge. I have worked on three research projects at I2R, IME and NUS. The first project studying virtual simulation of mixed reality won the merit award in the Science Mentorship Program and was presented at the Inaugural Independent Science Research Congress. The 2nd project on polarization waveguide was a finalist at the Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) 2009. My ongoing third project on nanomaterial fabrication has speaks of its promising contribution to the mass production of material that can bend light and generate invisibility. To me, doing research is immensely rewarding, because each of my discovery will never be made enticing before truly gratifies my inquiry spirit of science.

On the other hand, doing research allows me to reevaluate my life as a Physicist. It taught me a great deal on how dynamics a career in science would be. Being accustomed to the formulated world based on empirical observation, my view on Physics was once limited to piles of classical textbooks full of philosophical thoughts. My attachments at different research institutes provided me with opportunities to work with some of the world's cutting-edge technologies, learn from the best scientific minds in science community and expose to the world of R&D. More importantly, they allowed me to see the world on a wider perspective and tackle problems with different approaches. My professor at I2R showed me how a dry Physics concept such as conservation of momentum could be made fascinating once it is applied to mixed reality world. My research mentor at NUS taught me how to get away from my confined space-time continuum of differential equation and enter a multidisciplinary world of nanoscience. Undoubtedly, bringing concepts of different fields of science together has definitely broadened my understanding of Physics that I enjoy learning.

As I am applying to this scholarship, I understand that the point of getting it is neither a way to finance my study, nor a pathway to a high-paying job in the future. Rather, it is the opportunity to purse my passion and satisfy my thirst of knowledge. In retrospect, all the past experiences that I had with Physics and research are not only a worthy experience but also a preparation to step into a career of science. If you ask whether I still want to formulate my own world using differential equation, surely I would to say it is the coolest thing to do in life. It is my childhood dream to have a law to be named after me. Beyond that, I would love to apply my knowledge of the physical world into something beneficial to the world.

I do quite like this, especially the list of functions, and you're obviously a person with a considerable list of acheivements behind you and a skilled scientist, and this comes accross in the statement.

Few points of Grammar:


Not quite sure what this means


'How every electrical or magnetic phenomenon'


Not sure what this means, needs clarification. 'If anybody told me' and 'I took it as a challenge' don't work in the same sentance


Needs reworking. Your project was a finalist? Your project can speak? Or, you were a finalist and you say in your project that.


Good, but predictable and removed from the tone of the rest of the essay

This is a very likable essay, as Ugla said. However, try to give the ending more emotional power.