Illustration by Lim Zhen Ping

What exactly is “FLAME”?

Depending on who you ask in the School of Biosciences, it’s either a mentoring initiative, a team-building night, or, as one senior told me, “a spark to light up the fire in your heart.” On 12 November at Bellevue, Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (TUSOB) Club turned that spark into a lively evening of science-themed games, campus adventures, and unexpected connections. I arrived slightly anxious (introvert instinct), but by the end, I understood exactly what that “flame” was supposed to mean.

Photo by Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (TUSOB) Club

Registration kicked off at 4 PM, where participants were greeted with TUSOB’s mascot keychains and stickers—small but instantly morale-boosting souvenirs. Before the event officially began, the club announced the winner of their T-shirt design competition. In TUSOB fashion, committee members transformed the stage into a mini catwalk, proudly showing off the newly designed shirts and setting an energetic tone for the rest of the evening.

Instead of the usual round-the-circle introductions, the event opened with something far more chaotic: a warmup dance session to Big Bang’s Bang Bang Bang. Even lecturers from the School of Biosciences joined in, proving that coordination (or the lack of it) was a universal bonding tool.

Then came the first major icebreaker: participants drew paper slips labelled A, T, G, C, and “bonds,” and were tasked with forming DNA strands. For the non-science crowd: A pairs with T using two bonds, while G pairs with C using three. Groups of four to five then sat in circles for structured icebreakers, giving seniors and juniors the chance to mingle naturally within these “DNA” groups.

Photo by Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (TUSOB) Club

Just when everyone thought the activities would calm down, participants linked hands to form one giant “plasma membrane.” The mission is to prevent the chaser (the “bad cell”) from catching the runner (the “good cell”) while also allowing the runner to escape the membrane whenever necessary.

It was loud, confusing, surprisingly strategic, and, most importantly, a lot of fun. Even as someone who usually avoids physical games, I found myself laughing in the middle of the human membrane, getting pulled along by the collective energy.

For the highlight of the night, participants were split into groups again for a campus-wide race. Each team had to hunt for QR codes, follow clues, and complete mini games at various locations. 

Tasks included:

Teams raced through spots like the recharge room, the Food Innovation Lab, the Purple Room, and more, places some students admitted they’d never visited before. The best part was seeing juniors working together with seniors to solve puzzles and navigate the campus. In a school with four programmes (Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Food Science, and Applied Science), this kind of cross-major bonding doesn’t happen every day.

As the race wrapped up, the winning team was announced and rewarded with snacks to share. A small but wholesome prize after an hour of running around campus. One enthusiastic senior even took the mic to thank his groupmates and the committee for the memorable night, which received loud cheers from the crowd.

TUSOB’s advisor, Mr Chan Kai Sze, also delivered a heartfelt message, thanking everyone for participating and expressing his hope that students from different programmes made new friends beyond their usual class circles.

The evening ended with a group photo session, followed by food, drinks, and lingering conversations as people continued to mingle with their newfound connections.

Though FLAME x TUSOB was open only to bioscience students and TUSOB members, the spirit behind it was universal: finding community, stepping out of your comfort zone, and realising that meaningful friendships often start with small moments like dancing badly together or getting lost on a campus race.

As an introvert who was initially scared to join (and definitely not a fan of physical activities), I ended up having a genuinely good time. I met new friends, exchanged advice with juniors, and felt the warmth of a community I didn’t expect to be so welcoming. It reminded me that university life isn’t just about deadlines and lab reports; it’s also about discovering little pockets of joy in places you least expect.

And maybe that’s the quiet message behind FLAME: you don’t need to be loud, sporty, or extroverted to belong somewhere. Sometimes, you just need to show up.

Even if this event was exclusive to bioscience students, it’s a small encouragement for anyone in Taylor’s:  join a club or society that sparks your interest, explore something you’re passionate about, or just try something fun. Uni goes by fast, and these experiences are what make the memories stick a little longer.

And for those curious, TUSOB’s president, Emily Tan Li Hui and vice president Khoo Yu Shen shared a little insider teaser: a Christmas bonding session is on the way. Another chance for students under the School of Bioscience to ignite the flame again.