Earthchild

Dear Reader,

RE: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER

I came to the U.K. four years ago to pursue a BSc in Applied Environmental and Resource Science. I made arrangements to work as a trainee on an organic farm back in my home country, Singapore during my university year out in 2000/01. This year, I am pleased to graduate with a First Class Honours degree from the University of Salford.

My career aim is to enter the environmental field to work as a respected environmental manager/consultant dealing with soil and water. At present, equipped with generic knowledge in energy resources, mineral resources and mining, earth surface processes, and ecology, supported with limited practical knowledge in EIA and EMS, VIM (in tourism management), analytical chemistry, biological impact assessment, and satellite remote sensing, I am able to offer the employer an interdisciplinary approach to environmental problems.

While a basic degree has provided me with sufficient grounding to understand environmental issues, in order to manage environmental problems with responsibility, competency and professionalism, I must specialize my environmental skills and knowledge. Within the broad scope of environmental studies, I have deliberated that for a worker to make an insightful ecological assessment of a pollution event, the worker will first need to achieve a sound understanding of the nature and behaviour of pollutants present in the environment and their transport pathways. I have applied to a few U.K. universities to pursue related MSc in this aspect of pollution science (see list of universities and MSc courses that I am interested in). However, at the moment, I have unfortunately not been able to secure any funds for MSc studies.

Please contact my tutors, Dr Simon Hutchinson (s.m.hutchinson@salford.ac.uk) or Dr John Lippiatt (j.h.lippiatt@salford.ac.uk) at Salford University for references.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Choon Ming Tan

Choon Ming Tan ()

Residential Address:
58 Senkang East Way
Singapore 548597

Tel (Home): 6386 7532

Website: http://members.lycos.co.uk/earthchild77

E-mail: choon_ming_tan@hotmail.com
(Alternatively: choonming_tan@pacific.net.sg, earthchild77@lycos.co.uk)

Date of Birth: 29th Mar 1977

Nationality: Singaporean

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

1998 - 2002
University of Salford, U.K.
BSc (Hons) Applied Environmental and Resource Science (First Class)

Within the course cohort, I was awarded the first, second and final year prizes for exemplary academic performance. A year out was taken in my third year of study to undertake an apprenticeship placement at an organic farm in Singapore. My dissertation project examined the effects of rainfall characteristics (intensity and timing) on nitrate concentration in organic agricultural surface runoff. The project, which is a laboratory-based simulation experiment, is a follow up to observations that I made during my farm placement. Final year course modules that I opted to study are:
- Renewable Energy Resources
- Geological Resources and Mining
- EIA and EMS (ISO 14001 and EMAS)
- Tourism Impacts
- Environmental Geomorphology
- Applied Hydrobiology
- Satellite Remote Sensing
- Analytical Chemistry

(Dissertation write-up, essays and other work that I have done since 1998 are accessible from the directory.)

1994 - 1995
Victoria Junior College, Singapore
A levels (Cambridge)
- Mathematics (B)
- Chemistry (B)
- Physics (B)
- Biology (A)

1990 - 1993
Victoria School, Singapore
O levels (Cambridge)
7 subjects including:
- Geography (A)
- Chemistry (A)
- Physics (A)
- Biology (A)

WORK EXPERIENCES

Jun - Jul 2002
Laboratory Assistant, University of Salford
I assisted my course tutor with the preparation and analysis (magnetic susceptibility) of sediment core samples taken from a lake, which in the past was a receptor of effluent discharges from lead and iron works.

Jul - Sep 2001
Wetland Conservation, Singapore
My participation in NGO efforts to transplant sea grass from a sand flat targeted for land reclamation to a new location quickly turned into a personal endeavour to conserve the threatened wetland. Conservation initiatives included flyer distribution, writing and circulating appeal letters via Internet and fax to encourage public participation, etc. A local tabloid published one of these letters; an unedited version can be viewed at http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/literature/tcm6aug2001.html.

Sep 2000 - Jun 2001
Job Placement at Green Circle Eco-Farm, Singapore
Green Circle practices biointensive cultivation; the arable farm subscribes to Rudolf Steiner's Biodynamic farming methods. Most tasks are carried out manually including soil tillage with hand hoes. The following are some areas that I have gained skills and understanding in:
- Medium scale compost making
- Farm waste recycling
- Irrigation set-up
- Hoe handling and tractor manoeuvring
- Mixed cropping and crop rotation
- Raised bed cultivation
- Crop protection
- Trellis construction with bamboo

Summer 1999
Volunteer Tutor for The Salvation Army, Singapore
I tuition primary and secondary school children in science and maths at a children's home (Gracehaven) run by The Salvation Army.

1996 - 1998
National Service, Army, Singapore Armed Forces
Served as a Third Sergeant. I have been to Brunei and Taiwan for training courses. My end-of-service soldier overall performance assessment is given as "Very Good".

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Software Competency - I own a laptop and it has become an essential tool in my university work. I am proficient with most Microsoft Office applications. On my own, I have learnt the use of AutoCAD Map 2000; 2-D maps were generated using AutoCAD, one of which is seen in my BSc dissertation. I also regularly employ CorelFLOW 3 to create network diagrams to illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of environmental studies. I am very familiar with manoeuvring in ERDAS IMAGINE to process (classify) satellite images. I have also been acquainted with ESRI ArcView in GIS applications.

Field Data Management - I have during my BSc course participated in river water quality surveys in the U.K., collecting both chemical and biological data. Biotic indices were applied to interpret macro-invertebrate inventories. Also in the U.K., I was involved in the survey of fish populations found in a lake located at a FSC field centre. Data amassed from this survey was huge; it was systematically and efficiently processed with Microsoft Excel using established techniques such as the length frequency distribution. With respects to impact assessments, I have undertaken EIA scoping for a proposed solvent recovery plant, and applied VIM to evaluate tourism impacts on an urban park.

Laboratory Knowledge - I have conducted numerous QA and VA experiments as a student. Equipments on which I have had hands-on experiences are the spectrophotometer and ion chromatograph; those which operations that have been demonstrated to me during my BSc course are the GCMS and AAS. With respects to radioactivity measurements, I have been shown and understand the use of High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry and Liquid Scintillation.

Languages - Although not as fluent as my use of the English language, I am capable of conversing and writing in Chinese. I can also converse in Hokkien, which is a Chinese dialect.

Map Literacy - My love for maps, hiking and orienteering have developed to a stage where I can acknowledge myself as a seasoned hiker. I plan to embark on a number of cross-country hikes in the U.K. this summer.

REFEREES

Mr Lim Tian Soo and
Mrs Evelyn Eng-Lim (Proprietors)
Green Circle Eco-Farm
155 Neo Tiew Road
Singapore 710000
E-mail: soo@pacific.net.sg

Dr Simon Hutchinson (Course Tutor)
School of Environment and Life Sciences
University of Salford
Allerton Building, Frederick Road
Salford M6 6PU, U.K.
E-mail: s.m.hutchinson@salford.ac.uk

Dr John Lippiatt
(Faculty Widening Participation Officer)
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Environment
University of Salford, Peel Building
Salford M5 4WT, U.K.
E-mail: j.h.lippiatt@salford.ac.uk

QUICK GLANCE AT CV
Contact Information
Education and Qualifications	University of Salford
	Victoria Junior College
	Victoria School
Work Experiences	Laboratory Assistant, Lake Sediment Core
	Wetland Conservation
	Organic Farming, Green Circle Eco-Farm
	Volunteer Tutor, Children's Home
	National Service, Army
Additional Skills	Software Competency - Personal Laptop / Microsoft Office Applications / AutoCAD Map 2000 / CorelFLOW 3 / ERDAS IMAGINE / ESRI ArcView GIS
	Field Data Management - River Water Quality Survey / Biotic Indices / Fish Growth Assessment / EIA Scoping / VIM
	Laboratory Knowledge - QA and VA / Spectrophotometer / Ion Chromatograph / GCMS / AAS / High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry / Liquid Scintillation
	Languages - English / Chinese / Hokkien
	Map Literacy - Hiking
Referees	Mr and Mrs Lim Tian Soo
	Dr Simon Hutchinson
	Dr John Lippiatt

Year 1 (1998/1999)		Year 2 (1999/2000)
Semester 1		Semester 1
Environmental Networks	87%	Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution	A
Socio-Economics I (Law)	73%	Hydrology and Water Pollution	A
Chemistry I	92%	Natural Resources and Conservation I	B
Biology I	81%	Project	A
Laboratory Techniques (Biol)	80%
Semester 2		Semester 2
Geology	71%	Energy Resources (Non-Renewable)	A
Socio-Economics II	80%	Land Use and the Environment	A
Chemistry II	98%	Natural Resources and Conservation II	A
Biology II	78%	Project	A
Laboratory Techniques (Chem)	100%
Project	83%