This course aims to develop an understanding of the fundamentals in polymer science covering:
1. The synthesis and characterisation of polymers, introducing students to polymers, their synthesis and reaction mechanism.
2. The relation between chemical structure, polymer morphology and physico-chemical properties, providing the students with an understanding of polymer behaviour in the solid and solution state, as well as characterisation techniques commonly used in polymer science.
It will prepare you for a job in industries where polymer chemistry knowledge is required ? from oils, paints and coatings, to food, cleaning agents and cosmetics, to medical, agricultural and aerospace technologies. This course is also great preparation for a PhD and a career in chemistry research
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Details: Mihaela Stuparu and Xing Ling Yi both teach this module. (spilt into first half taught by Ela, second half by Xing Xing)
First half of the module by Ela was wonderful. Easy to do, content was enjoyable. Just need to do an oral exam (1 on 1) with Ela and a TA to talk about whatever is taught IN THE MODULE. Content is not hard to master either, very logical and easy to memorise the parts required.
Video assignment was 8 10. Easy to do, very broad range of topics you could discuss. 1 point for being unable to choose your own teammates but understandable due to influx of exchange students. 1 point for not knowing the marking rubric what to look out for when making the video (i.e., too relaxed and broad assignment).
Second half by Xing Xing was trash. Absolute d gshit. Lecture slides have typos everywhere, lecture videos were not sufficient to understand the topics learnt and practice was nothing like what was tested in the midterms. Despite being a professor, she was unable to explain how certain concepts came about coherently.
Last minute opening of consult slot a DAY before the consult session.
Implied that students should skip other professors’ lectures to come down for her consult.
Unable to reply to emails and will regard as spam if you email her too much over her lack of coherence in her notes.
Never noted down how many students would be in the module to book a space large enough to accommodate the student body, making students sit side by side instead of 1 chair apart to take their mid term tests (violation).
Threatened students that she will not collect your exam papers and demanded they place them at a designated location by the time the paper is up (1 hour). Aka, you need to hand in your paper before the test ends.
Set a 1 hour paper with 3 long, multi structured questions which definitely cannot be completed within the time limit.
Expects all, or most, students to fail to “equilibrate” the bell curve and make it “better” distributed.
Also loves to see students in pain and mentally stressed and suffering.In conclusion, while most of us love Ela for being one of the best professors out there in NTU, Xing Ling Yi is not it. Do not take this mod if you want your CGPA to be pulled down by the second demon of a professor. The content may be easy, but it was not set for you to pass. It was set to make you fail by time constraints. Unfair and unjust paper.
Take something else like Quantum mechanics, at least you won’t feel frustrated knowing you know but can’t do the paper in time.
November 6, 2023
