Transcending disciplines to create value

Adrian Tan

​Adrian Tan is the inaugural recipient of the Quantedge - Lee Kuan Yew Masters Scholarship. Not letting his financial circumstances and past academic results define him, Adrian worked hard towards his dream of pursuing a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Social Anthropology at Cambridge.
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Combining his interests in data analytics, UX design and anthropology, Adrian looks forward to studying how socio-cultural backgrounds affect communication and the usage of digital technology, to create impactful, user-friendly applications​

Tell us more about yourself and your unique combination of interests in Data Analytics, UX Design and Anthropology.

I have always had very varied interests and am, by nature, curious about the world we live in. This has led me to explore different fields and undertake an inter-disciplinary approach to my academic and professional pursuits.
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I enjoy designing and solving problems!
I am a Data Analyst and User Experience (UX) Designer by profession. In my work, I try to leverage data/research to develop innovative solutions to improve the visual design and user experience of different applications. Before heading to Cambridge, I was working on a research project to create a new application that facilitates urban planning in Singapore, marrying my training in urban planning and policy making with my interest in impacting people’s way of life through better design.
"I have always had very varied interests and am, by nature, curious about the world we live in. This has led me to explore different fields and undertake an inter-disciplinary approach to my academic and professional pursuits."

Why did you choose to study Social Anthropology at Cambridge? ​

Anthropology is a field that interacts with many pertinent aspects of our lives today - from the way we spend our money to the way we make decisions on politics and global affairs. I have been interested in Anthropology since my undergraduate days at National University of Singapore (NUS), where I had taken several Anthropology electives at the postgraduate level. This interest propelled me to pursue a Master of Science in Urban Science, Policy and Planning at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to further explore how planning can concretely affect people’s lives and their relationships with the planners. ​
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My first fieldwork experience in Amarapura, Myanmar in 2016.
I believe that a stronger grounding in Social Anthropology is beneficial to my professional growth as a UX Designer. My work has taught me that designs that are aesthetically pleasing and functional at the same time are a challenge to achieve. One needs to understand how people respond to different possible designs to meet a certain desired function. 

​I believe that I will acquire the necessary perspectives and user ethnography research skills from my Anthropology courses to produce more sophisticated and functional digital products that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but responsive to user needs and value-adding to the society.

What are your plans post-graduation?

I’m keeping my options open. One possibility is to continue with a PhD after my MPhil in Social Anthropology to fully explore my research interests.

​Eventually, I hope to be able to apply my experiences and training at Cambridge to develop meaningful applications that can improve people’s lives and contribute back to the society as a UX designer. 
"Eventually, I hope to be able to apply my experiences and training at Cambridge to develop meaningful applications that can improve people’s lives and contribute back to the society as a UX designer. "​

How has your experience at Cambridge been so far and what do you look forward to doing outside of the classroom?

It is amazing to be in Cambridge!  I enjoy the abundance of green spaces available for recreation and take delight in spending my afternoons trekking through forests or cycling around town. Hopefully, with COVID-19 under control in the UK, face-to-face classes can resume. I am looking forward to more in-person classroom discussions, which are important for graduate studies. Outside of school, I plan to spend my time socializing by taking language classes, helping out at soup kitchens (if they are still open!), and travelling with friends.

You have a keen interest in languages, especially in Arabic and French. How did you pick them up?​

I have always been interested to understand things from different perspectives and each new language offers a new lens through which we can view the world.
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I enjoyed attending Arabic classes at International Language House, Cairo, with my Egyptian teacher, Nancy (3rd from left)!
"I have always been interested to understand things from different perspectives and each new language offers a new lens through which we can view the world."
My interest in Arabic happened by chance. I was learning about the Arab-Israeli war in Junior College from the Zionist perspective and was intrigued to find out more about how the Palestinians perceived the war since it concerns their homeland. 

This led me to pick up Arabic whilst serving my National Service so that I can understand the experiences of the Palestinians better. I was fortunate to study under very entertaining teachers and with keen classmates at Al-Markaz Singapore, an Arabic learning centre.

​It was an eye-opening experience as I learnt not just Arabic language but also Arab culture and history! 

​My interest in the Arabic language also led me to discover new places. I put my Arabic proficiency to a “real” test with a trip to Cairo, Egypt in 2016 and it turned out to be the most memorable travel experience I have had so far!

​From the very moment I landed in Cairo, everything was in Arabic. On my first taxi ride, I discovered the differences between Egyptian Arabic (which I had zero knowledge of!) and Modern Standard Arabic. However, my proficiency in Arabic improved as the trip progressed, and along with it, my courage to go off the beaten track around Egypt. I travelled to far-flung rural places where I met friendly and passionate locals who were keen to introduce me to their families (one even wanted to matchmake me!). ​
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My first visit to Luxor, Egypt in 2016 where I was overwhelmed by the majestic ancient ruins.

What does being the inaugural Quantedge - Lee Kuan Yew Masters scholar mean to you and what advice would you give to others from similar backgrounds?

To be the inaugural Quantedge – Lee Kuan Yew Masters Scholarship recipient is an honour for me, especially coming from a financially disadvantaged background. It has always been a dream of mine to study in the UK and experience living in a different country, but I never had the financial resources to do so. Furthermore, as a late bloomer and a student from the Normal Academic stream in secondary school, I did not think that it would be possible to qualify for admission into Cambridge, let alone admission with a scholarship!​
To other aspiring students, I would say to them "It is important to keep an open mind and make the most of what you have. Who knows what the future holds?”
When I was considering postgraduate studies, I decided to apply to Cambridge because I heard that Cambridge offers rigorous research training (and having been here for a few weeks, I can certainly attest to it!). The professors here are extremely engaging and often challenge us to think broadly and deeply.

I am thankful that I am given this opportunity to pursue my dream of further studies and work towards a better future ahead! I hope to inspire more students from financially disadvantaged background to be ambitious and believe in their dreams. 
 
To other aspiring students, I would say to them “It is important to keep an open mind and make the most of what you have. Who knows what the future holds?” 
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