Share with us your own journey of studying physics in your university days.
I obtained my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). USTC is one of the top universities in China. During my undergraduate days, the curriculum was fixed for each major. There were more than 30 lecture and lab hours to attend each week. I often overloaded myself to 40 hours or so per week. With such a heavy workload, I naturally did not distribute my time to study all modules evenly. Instead, I spent more time on courses that I felt were useful, like theoretical physics courses. I focused less time on other courses like English, circuit designs, etc. Sometimes, even after the final examination, I would be back to study some subjects further in order to improve my own understanding. Due to timetable clashes, I had to self-study on many subjects. But that was also how I learned my physics.

Back in my university then, the use of technology was unheard of. Professors taught and wrote on blackboard and we took notes diligently in class. I still keep all my university lecture notes in my office. Occasionally, I would refer to them when there was a need for me to prepare teaching materials for any module.

A mediocre teacher tells while a great teacher inspires. Share with us your insight on what it takes to be a great teacher.
I believe that having a high regard for students’ understanding of the subject matter will empower one to be the best teacher. In my teaching, I also try to inspire critical thinking in students. Our students have varied background and different degrees of understanding of their subjects. They may even carry a lot of misconceptions which I try to debunk. Sometimes, I go slightly beyond the syllabus which I hope is a challenge to students and also food for thought for them. I also like to show interesting examples in class.

In learning physics, the stumbling block could be the details. But they are also the stepping stone. I always show step-by-step derivations in class to help students gain a more complete picture of the topics we are discussing. I hope my students not only learn the contents and verbalise the steps, but they are also able to break down any problems given to them and solve them from the beginning to the end.

What do you like to say to our students about learning physics? Are there any study tips you like to share?
One question I wish all students would ask is, Why am I studying here? When you have set your goal clearly, you may be more motivated to wade through the mud. Having interest in the subject matter will inspire you to be your best teacher. You will instinctively like to find out more about the subject and may even do self-study. All these will lead to a better learning outcome. The opposite will hold true if there is a lack of motivation or interest to learn. Learning is not always pleasant. There is no such a thing called “happy learning.” If you feel happy and easy, you should challenge yourself at a higher level. It is normal to struggle and feel that learning is hard. However, the mental reward that goes with finally having understood some physics is immense. If you find yourself unable to excel in every subject, perhaps the best thing to do may be to let go some of the topics. You can always figure them out later, when you need them.