The image above is a photo of myself rowing on River Mersey near Liverpool in the UK, when I was a physics lecturer at the University of Liverpool.
Why did I choose this photo? Reasons:
1. I like trees, water and blue sky. (Ok, the sky was a bit grey. That’s because it always rains in England.)
2. The two oars produce waves that meets and give a distinctive interference pattern, an important topic in physics. See my blogs on wave motion and superposition.
3. There is a Chinese saying: Studying is like rowing against the flow of water – if we don’t move ahead, we lag behind.
The final reason is most obvious for adults who have left school. How many can still remember the maths or physics that they learnt at school? It is also what most students struggle with – if they to not practise often, it is hard to be ready for exams.
My Education Background and Teaching Experience
1985 – 1988 Cambridge University,
1st Class Honours
1988 summer Physics Relief Teaching,
Catholic Junior College
1988 – 1992 Cambridge University,
PhD in physics
1992 Physics Relief Teaching at
National Junior College (~ 1 month)
1992 – 1996 DSO National Laboratories, RnD
physics, engineering work
1996 – 2001 Sony Singapore RnD Centre,
maths modelling
2001 – 2006 Temasek Laboratories,
National University of Singapore
2006 – 2014 University of Liverpool, UK.
Research staff, then physics Lecturer.
2014 – 2024 DSO National Laboratories, RnD
physics, engineering work
2024 – present Maths and Physics Tutor
(predecessor of Maths Olympiad)
