Alum Chat with Rebecca Tan: Making Science Accessible

By Ong Lishan (Industrial and Systems Engineering + USP, Class of 2016)

Scientific communication is not a well-known field in Singapore, at least, not yet. As an engineering student who values the societal contributions of science and technology, I was excited to meet USP alum, Dr Rebecca Tan (Life Sciences + USP, Class of 2008), the Managing Editor of Asian Scientist Magazine.

The magazine started off as an online publication launched in early 2011 by Singapore-based company, Asian Scientist Publishing Pte. Ltd. In January 2014, it launched a print magazine widely circulated across Asia, which aims to provide researchers, healthcare professionals, government agencies, educators and students with timely, close-to-the-scene news about science and technology in Asia.

Why scientific communication?

Rebecca speaks about the importance of scientific communication in being that bridge between scientific papers in academia and the general public.

As scientific issues affect our decisions in every sphere of life, she wants to help the science done in research papers be understood by a wider audience.

"The lack of understanding about how vaccines work has led to the resurgence of measles and other diseases which we have long defeated," says Rebecca.

"The misinformation that vaccines cause autism cause people to shun getting vaccinated or getting their children vaccinated. Then outbreaks happen, in Australia and the US, for instance."

She then cites other scientific matters affecting the everyday man - genetic modified food, food security and climate change.

"The framing of the problem is scientific; you’re measuring CO2 emissions and making mathematical models. Those are technical questions but they impinge on public life and indeed, global health."

Unfortunately, popular culture, rather than scientific discourse, tends to drive the way people interpret scientific information. The resulting distrust of Big Pharma (a nickname given by critics of the pharmaceutical industry) can be dangerous if people become wary or dismissive of science for no good reason.

"Sometimes, views are driven by celebrity opinion rather than facts, studies and evidence. When people don't understand science, they shut it off and believe what they choose," explains Rebecca.

Addressing the gap in Asia

On why the magazine has a focus on science happenings in Asia, Rebecca says, "There is a lot of very good science coming out of Asia. Singapore is producing so many papers every year, but we don't have that science communication scene or network."

The situation in Asia pales in comparison to that in countries with more developed networks and infrastructure who see the value of scientific communication. In the United States for instance, most institutions issue press releases when a scientific paper is published. Reports and in-depth discussions follow, in magazines such as Scientific American and MIT Tech Review. "There's so much more visibility and exposure for the scientist simply because they are in that system."

However, because English is not widely spoken, many people do not keep abreast of science news in Asia. "Japan is producing excellent science, such as the advancements in induced pluripotent stem cells, but how many people know about Japanese scientists?"

Fortunately, since English is the working language in Singapore, Rebecca believes Singapore is well-positioned to be the voice of Asia. She says, “I want to help scientists in the region to get their research noticed, so that we will not be marginalised in the global science scene.”

Her passion and journey in science and writing

Although working in the field of scientific communication was not planned, it seemed to me that much of Rebecca's university experience gave her a strong foundation in science and writing.

For instance, even before her undergraduate education in the Life Sciences, Rebecca has always had an interest in science and writing.

But it was USP's Writing and Critical Thinking module that was instrumental in giving her the skills she uses in her job now. The clear structure of the course, which progressed in difficulty, enabled her to slowly develop her confidence and writing abilities.

"Many students come in thinking that writing is difficult. But I appreciated the way the course was structured: Paper 1, then Paper 2 and Paper 3. It showed me that anyone can write; they just need to work at it," says Rebecca.

Associate Professor Don Favareau’s class on Biosemiotics: Signs in Nature also helped her break down the dichotomy between the sciences and the arts. "The class is a great launch pad. It has informed the way I write and think, exposing me to ideas that changed the way I see the world," she says. Till this day, Rebecca is still revisiting the texts read in that class.

Completing her PhD in Immunology was a struggle, however. Rebecca says that the five-year long process was filled with uncertainty and self-doubt. "You are trying to find something that no one else has found. It's not like, complete 10 modules, then you graduate. It's find something that no one else has found before, then you can graduate," she says.

Very often, it was also lonely and stressful. "You go into a tiny niche where no one else is, so no one can really help you. You also have to worry about being able to complete your degree before your scholarship runs out."

Nevertheless, she did manage to find time to be involved as the Managing Editor of The Triple Helix in NUS, a student-run journal that publishes articles discussing the intersections between science, society and the law. She also picked up skills in academic and grant writing, in a post-graduate module called Writing in the Biological Sciences taught by Dr David Kellogg, a visiting professor at the Department of Biological Sciences.

Choosing her job after graduation was yet another hurdle, as she was torn between a career in academia and working for Asian Scientist. "Working for Asian Scientist meant leaving academia, what I worked for 5 years for.”

Nevertheless, Rebecca is pleased that she took that risk in changing her career course. "Taking that risk is a luxury; take it while you can, especially when you are younger and don't have so many commitments," she advises.

Her work in Asian Scientist

Rebecca now loves the excitement and energy of working in Asian Scientist, a start-up. "You have ownership, you have to strongly identify with its values and where it is going." She also emphasises that whatever she does has real impact in a start-up, and she does not feel like a cog in a machine — a typical perception of some working in bigger companies.

Today, the Managing Editor focuses on producing four issues of the magazine every year, planning the themes, commissioning pieces, and working with writers and designers. She also attends conferences and interviews scientists and Nobel Laureates.

Looking ahead, Rebecca hopes that Asian Scientist Magazine will be the first place people will turn to for science news, analysis and commentary, and that the magazine can produce news that is useful, timely and in-depth.

As a fellow scientist, she wants to see more scientists in Asia become well-known internationally, served by better science communication. The magazine is currently sold at newsstands and book stores, but, thanks to Rebecca, you should be able to find complimentary issues scattered around USP — in the Reading Room, in Chatterbox, in the college lounges — when the new semester begins.

On making the most of university

Although she did not end up in academia eventually, possessing a PhD has certainly given Rebecca the industry knowledge and credibility while working as a Managing Editor. As a fellow scientist, she knows how scientists communicate their arguments via research papers and persuade using evidence. She understands where scientists are coming from and knows what to ask them at interviews. The scientists she interviews also treat her as a peer, and that provides credibility.

"An interview is a two-way process. If they see you as one of their own, they are more willing to share the details because they expect you to know what they are talking about," she says.

Her diverse experiences in USP have also allowed her to venture into other interests. For instance, she took part in three very different overseas trips while with USP. She did community theatre to raise awareness about AIDS amongst female sex workers in a Thai village, learnt about how heritage sites in Cambodia were appropriated as tourist sites, and explored the tensions between environmental conservation and economic activity in the mountainous regions of Dehradun, India.

"The USP modules, friends, and exposure to different perspectives when mixing with people from different faculties enriched and rounded up my experience in university. I don't like imagining what my time in university would be like without USP."

Lastly, Rebecca reminds undergraduates to do things that they really care about without thinking of where these are going to lead or whether these are advantageous to the CV. "When you prepare too much, you blinker yourself and restrict your options. The world will change and you have to be flexible," she says.