5. CONCLUSION
On reflection, Andy describes himself as osmotic, absorbing many influences from working in institutions around the world. Today, he regards his career as ‘balanced’ by such influences on his scholarship, teaching, and service. For instance, he detects some American aggressiveness and drive and also the survival instinct characteristic of people from Hong Kong in the way he pursues his research agenda and secures research funding and opportunities. When it comes to his teaching, he detects a more genteel approach, excelling in highquality interactions with small groups of students, an influence no doubt from his years at Oxford. When it comes to administrative duties and service to the wider society, he detects a Singaporean side to his character. In Singapore, a small place with few universities, the links between academia, community, industry, and policymakers are many and strong. Many academics here understand the importance of serving and making an impact beyond the ivory tower, though not everyone acts upon it.
Reflection 40: Would you describe yourself as ‘open’ or ‘osmotic’? What are the main influences on your research, teaching, and service practices? Which of these would you regard as ‘good’ and which as ‘bad’?
In May 2010, Andy received an out-of-the-blue invitation from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to head its Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE). True to form and almost without hesitation, Andy accepted this challenge of a full-time job managing a major research institute. To Andy, the decision was a natural step in the progress of his academic life, an ideal opportunity, as he describes it, ‘to put in practice my faith in the synergies among education, research, and management’.
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