It was late at night when Tan Yeow Chien and Liang En Rui, both Threat Simulation & Mitigation Engineers at HTX Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Centre of Excellence (CBRNE CoE), were laying camera cables in a 6,000 square metre warehouse.
It was exhausting, but exciting, as each cable laid and camera connected brought them closer to conducting the first field trials for a Project to study the effectiveness of Mitigation solution against toxic chemical plumes in the air.
The field trials were to measure the effectiveness of water curtains, turbo jets, water jets and turbo hydro-jets against toxic fumes in the air.
As the team leading the charge against chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats, HTX’s CBRNE CoE conducted simulations using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to develop countermeasures against these incidents mentioned above, among others. Yeow Chien and En Rui, who joined HTX’s Associate Programme in 2021 and 2022 respectively, are part of the team that took the Chemical Plume Mitigation project to the testing phase.
Finding meaning and creating impact
What drew En Rui, who holds a Master of Science (Chemical Engineering) from the National University of Singapore (NUS), to HTX was the prospect of being involved in exciting work such as the Chemical Plume Mitigation project. Being under the Associate Programme also gave him reign to start his own greenfield project.
Yeow Chien’s story is similar. The NUS Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) graduate was “intrigued by how HTX uses science and technology to force multiply Home Team operations”.
After the month-long on-site trial ended and both En Rui and Yeow Chien were well-rested and back in the office, we got them together to do a fun video to see how well they knew each other after spending so many nights together. (Video: HTX)
They concur that the experience they have had under the Associate Programme so far has “exceeded expectations”. Yeow Chien enthusiastically describes how he has worked on key projects such as the eNose, a chemical sensor that can detect anomalies in the air, attended senior management meetings, and even produced the HTX bi-monthly eXpresso!, a unique term for HTX’s town hall.
For both of them, it has been a pleasant surprise to discover how much ownership they have over each task. “I thought I would do more computational work — I didn’t expect to get the chance to turn the results into reality,” Yeow Chien exclaims.
Both of them also have the opportunity to organise HTX events such as TechXplore 4 that showcases HTX’s science and tech work to partners and HTX’s Open House for Xponents and their families.
Never a boring day at work
Take for example the Chemical Plume Mitigation project field trials.
The process was worlds apart from the stifling lab work they were used to from their previous jobs. After running the simulation on their computers, the team has to plan for the trial to validate the simulated outcomes for the project. En Rui and Yeow Chien worked on-site to set up the actual test environment which spans across an area of 6,000 sqm. To avoid daytime atmospheric conditions that could affect the results of their trials, they started work only in the evening and there were times when they did not finish until 6am.
Out of the lab and into the fields: Members of the CBRNE team, including En Rui and Yeow Chien, set up the apparatus to do live trials in a 6,000 sqm tentage constructed on a sprawling field. (Photo: HTX)
“It’s a lot of teamwork and definitely not something you can do alone,” En Rui shares, recalling how the obstacles they encountered challenged them to think outside the box and tap into each other’s creativity.
The obstacles the team encountered challenged them to think outside the box and tap into each other’s creativity.
In one case, they had to build an adapter that allowed them to better control the gas output. Another time, they had to protect the sensors from water damage when the water curtain is turned on. “We ended up using zipper bags and plastic cups to build an impromptu barrier around the sensors without compromising their accuracy,” Yeow Chien chimes in with a laugh.
Community and camaraderie
When the trials finally went live, bringing them one step closer to the operational phase, it was “the best feeling of my life”, En Rui declares. He explains it is not only because of the completion of the project, but also because of the friendships made and deeper bonding forged by the team while working together towards the goal, and the concern shown by his supervisors to ensure he and the team had enough rest while working the night shift on-site.
He shares that this camaraderie between colleagues is part of what makes working at HTX so meaningful, adding that he and the team also enjoy getting together after work for activities like yoga and spin classes.
Yeow Chien agrees, noting that events such as Open House and Family Day at HTX play a big part in making the culture vibrant and welcoming. “It’s not just focused on work, and there is also a sense of belonging,” he affirms.
When asked who is suitable for such a role at HTX, the two are quick to respond, “Someone who wants to make a difference and is passionate about science,” Yeow Chien says.
“Is your job cooler than this? If not, then join HTX,” En Rui quips.
Looking for an exciting career with development opportunities? Find out more about the HTX Associate Programme here.