Dynamic duos: Meet the twins with matching dreams

These three pairs of twins not only share birthdays; their shared interests and passions have led them to pursue matching dreams at NUS.

Part of the graduating class of 2024, these twins specialising in food science and technology, computer engineering, and music share their experiences of learning, supporting and working with each other.

Michiryu Aquila and Michio Apollos: Enhancing public health through food science

A curiosity about a scientific discipline they were not exposed to before led fraternal twins Michio Apollos and Michiryu Aquila to pursue their undergraduate studies together at the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) under the NUS Faculty of Science.

From a young age, the duo has always shared a common interest in the sciences, and was drawn to both the novelty and relevance of food science and technology to everyday life.

“Food science is relevant to a lot of people and there’s a human connection. For example, I can learn about healthy eating and, in turn, teach others to do the same,” said older brother Aquila, who graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology with Honours (Distinction), citing the aspect which influenced the brothers’ decisions to take up a Minor in Public Health as well.

“Food is an industry that is growing and quite in demand. There are a lot of companies trying to develop novel foods and I believe that the potential is great,” added Apollos who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology with Honours (Highest Distinction) at their commencement ceremony on 12 July 2024.

For the twins, studying the same course strengthened their bond. On top of sharing the same schedule and group of friends, they also had the opportunity to collaborate on projects offered to them at NUS.

For instance, under NUS’ Design-Your-Own-Course scheme, they embarked on a journey to create an e-book which aimed to educate people about the science behind eggs. Over several months, they developed the content together with a groupmate, with Aquila and the groupmate illustrating the book, too. Their hard work eventually paid off – they clinched first prize at the inaugural geNiUSbooks awards, a competition launched by the University to recognise creative video and eBook resources produced by the NUS community.

They have also won individual awards. Apollos achieved the Kerry Prize, an award offered to NUS Food Science and Technology majors by Kerry Ingredients Singapore, for his outstanding academic results while Aquila received the A*STAR Research Internship Award during his internship stint.

Post-graduation, their bond remains unbreakable. The two hope to further their studies in human health and nutrition and eventually pursue a career in research.

Mahadevan Swati and Mahadevan Svetha: Programming with purpose

At 10 years old, Mahadevan Swati and Mahadevan Svetha took their first step into the world of programming, learning how to code and design basic algorithms. “We found programming very interesting and engaging, because it requires us to think on our feet and solve problems as we go,” elaborated Swati.

With both their parents being IT professionals, the twins’ passion for technology “runs in their blood”, explained Swati, the older sister.

“We saw what our parents were doing and were always quite curious about what coding was and what could be done with it,” added Svetha.

This interest that was sparked at a young age led to a passion for technology and a desire to contribute to Singapore’s vision of a smart nation, leading the twins to specialise in Computer Engineering at the NUS College of Design and Engineering. They will each be graduating on 17 July 2024 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering with Honours (Distinction).

Studying the same material was like “having a built-in study partner”, Svetha quipped, adding that their complementary strengths allowed them to collaborate seamlessly on projects. The two recalled teaming up during a self-driven summer programme at NUS to develop an application called “Modif”, a module review platform, from scratch. The app utilised advanced machine learning algorithms to offer new features such as chatbots, forums and a system that could rate modules based on reviews.

Their desire to put their coding skills to good use did not just stop there. Their mother also played a crucial role inspiring them to volunteer. “Our mother told us that we live in a society and not a vacuum. I think if we contribute even a little bit of time, it could help create a positive impact,” shared Swati.

As avid members of the Hougang Youth Network, a People’s Association grassroots committee, they regularly reach out to and host programmes for youths in the community. These include an upcoming 12-week tuition programme in collaboration with NUS Teach SG, an initiative that promotes social mobility and inclusiveness, to provide academic support for youths in need, as well as a series of robotics and coding workshops to expose youths to the field.

Their love for technology will continue in their careers. Swati will be working as a cybersecurity engineer, while Svetha is set to work as a software developer. They also plan to concurrently take up a part-time Master’s degree in computing or technology.

Zou Meng and Zou Zhang: Playing the same tune

For many, meeting a childhood idol would be a distant dream. Violinists Zou Meng and Zou Zhang, however, turned theirs into a reality when they chose to pursue their undergraduate studies in Music at the NUS Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST). They will both be graduating with a Bachelor of Music with Honours (Distinction) on 18 July 2024.

Hailing from a family of music lovers, the twins were exposed to classical music since childhood and began learning the violin at the age of five. It was then that they chanced upon a CD featuring Chinese-born American violinist Qian Zhou’s playing.

“I still remember it was the Dvorak collection, and it was so touching and magical,” older brother Zou Meng recalled, referencing Czech composer Antonin Dvorak.

They would soon make the decision to pursue music in middle school, where they had the honour of meeting their childhood idol. This marked the start of their close mentorship with Professor Qian, which continued when they made the shared decision to major in the violin under her tutelage at YST, where she is the Head of Strings.

Studying under the same mentor proved to be a valuable learning experience for Zou Meng and Zou Zhang as they could sit in on each other’s lessons and learn from one another. They were also able to share the stage in quartet and duet performances.

Even when they became rivals in music competitions, the tacit understanding between them allowed them to maintain a healthy sense of competition. Both are accomplished musicians who have received numerous prizes, notably clinching first and second place at the prestigious National Piano and Violin Competition 2023, organised by the Singapore Symphony Group.

Their success was made possible by the opportunities YST provided to hone their craft, expand their repertoire and perform with other talented musicians on fine violins from the esteemed Rin Collection courtesy of the Rin family.

YST also broadened their horizons to other areas of music. “I really enjoyed the diversity of the YST curriculum.  There are courses covering all aspects of music, from jazz to film music, even to marketing and outreach,” said Zou Zhang.

The music crescendos, as the twins plan to fine-tune their skills by pursuing Master’s degrees under Prof Qian at YST and sharpen their skills at competitions around the globe.

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2024, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2024. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2024 on our social media channels!