NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of NUS, celebrated the opening of BLOCK71 Tokyo, its second office in Japan on 28 March 2025. The new Tokyo office strengthens NUS’ role in the global start-up ecosystem and opens new doors for entrepreneurs, made possible by strong collaborations with Japanese partners like JR East, its key partner for BLOCK71 Tokyo.

The partnership between NUS and JR East began in September 2023 with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote entrepreneurial opportunities between Singapore and Japan. That same year, NUS launched the NUS Enterprise Market Immersion Programme in Japan, with JR East as one of its partners. This programme has enabled NUS start-ups like M.I. Cloud Technologies and Mycotech Lab to explore the Japanese market and connect with potential corporate partners.

Building on this momentum, NUS teamed up earlier this year with JR East and ICMG Group, a leading business co-creation partner for Japanese companies, to launch a programme aimed at advancing open innovation strategies in Southeast Asia. This initiative encourages Japanese companies to collaborate with start-ups to create new products and services, accelerate growth, and bring innovative solutions to market faster.

The opening of BLOCK71 Tokyo marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between NUS and its Japanese partners, reinforcing the shared commitment to developing robust start-up ecosystems in both countries. Located at TAKANAWA GATEWAY Link Scholars’ Hub, BLOCK71 Tokyo will support the growth of Southeast Asian technology-driven start-ups in Japan, contributing to an urban development focus on environmental sustainability, mobility and robotics, and smart health. It will also provide Japanese start-ups with the resources needed to expand into Southeast Asia and beyond.

"Japan’s strong foundation in technology and research makes it an ideal environment for start-up growth. It ranks among the world’s top three countries for patent applications and invests over 3 per cent of its GDP in R&D, one of the highest globally,” said NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye at the opening of BLOCK71 Tokyo.

“This creates immense potential for innovation. With BLOCK71 Tokyo located in the country’s latest innovation hub, we have a strategic platform to connect start-ups and drive cross-border collaboration. To amplify our impact, we are partnering one of Japan’s top universities, a major corporation, and a leading venture capital firm, all sharing our vision to foster deep tech innovation and build a robust global ecosystem,” he added.     

The BLOCK71 Japan team has since supported over 15 start-ups following the successful launch of BLOCK71 Nagoya in November 2024. BLOCK71 is NUS Enterprise’s global network of physical accelerators, providing start-ups with resources, mentorship, and access to international markets across 11 cities.

NUS collaborates with Japanese partners, who will invest about S$10 million to spur global venture creation

To deepen its impact, NUS inked three new partnerships in the lead-up to the opening of BLOCK71 Tokyo. Through these strategic collaborations, NUS will reinforce its position as a leading start-up university in the global innovation landscape, nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets and empowering the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.  

Central Japan Innovation Capital

The first partnership is with Central Japan Innovation Capital (CJIC), a subsidiary of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System. CJIC will invest up to 5 per cent of its assets under management in NUS-affiliated deep tech start-ups, supporting their growth and expansion into the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets. The fund aims to raise over S$40 million by November 2025. This collaboration will also provide broader opportunities for knowledge exchange and cross-border innovation.

Kyoto University

Beyond funding, NUS is enhancing entrepreneurial support for deep tech start-ups through its partnership with Kyoto University. As a first step, Kyoto University will send start-ups to join the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (NUS GRIP). They will also become the first overseas university partner to offer a localised version of the programme. This will empower Kyoto University’s graduate students, researchers, and alumni to transform research into impactful deep tech ventures, addressing some of the social challenges in Asia and seizing new opportunities.

Both universities will also offer exchange programmes to foster cross-border entrepreneurial experiences. Kyoto University students will have the opportunity to intern at NUS GRIP start-ups, while NUS GRIP start-ups can gain hands-on experience from Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co. Ltd, the university’s venture capital arm.

TIS Inc

NUS will expand its entrepreneurship efforts to build a globally connected start-up ecosystem through a partnership with TIS Inc, one of Japan's leading IT companies. Together, they will launch the Deep Tech Seed to A Growth Expansion Programme (Deep-SAGE), a tailored start-up acceleration initiative to help seed-stage start-ups worldwide scale towards pre-Series A and Series A funding.

Over the next three years, TIS Inc will invest a total of S$7.6 million in Deep-SAGE, supporting up to 30 start-ups. As part of this commitment, at least S$500,000 will be allocated annually to fund a minimum of two start-ups per cohort. The programme, delivered by BLOCK71, will provide structured support through virtual mentorship sessions and workshops. Additionally, start-ups will gain access to incubation opportunities at BLOCK71 offices in 11 cities, including Singapore, Silicon Valley, Saigon and Suzhou.

Deepening market immersion and cultural exchange in Tokyo

Building on the collaboration between NUS and JR East, and riding on the success of its second Japan Immersion Programme in Nagoya held in 2024, BLOCK71 Japan will launch the third edition in Tokyo in May 2025. Start-ups that participated in the 2024 programme have gained valuable insights into Japan’s manufacturing landscape and went on to build industry connections, secure customers, and develop proof-of-concept projects, all of which are crucial for breaking into Japan’s competitive market.

Robotics firm RoPlus had a fruitful experience participating in the Japan Immersion Programme organised by BLOCK71 Japan in 2024, said Mr Low Jin Huat, the start-up’s co-founder. “We had the opportunity to engage in individual meetings with stakeholders, including end-users and potential investors. Additionally, we showcased our products at Messe Nagoya, where we connected with various industry partners and increased market awareness.”

“Through this programme, we successfully secured a distributor for the Japanese market and engaged two potential end-users,” Mr Low added, as he thanked BLOCK71 Japan for “fostering a supportive ecosystem and providing a strategic platform for NUS spin-offs to enter the Japanese market.”

Another start-up said the programme enabled it to make valuable connections with Japanese companies. “We were able to secure a pilot project with one of the companies we met during this programme. It has helped us shape our strategy for entering the Japanese market,” said Mr Zaid Ahmed Khan, CEO of M.I. Cloud Technologies.

The 2025 edition will focus on the three key themes of TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, namely, environmental sustainability, mobility and robotics, and smart health. It will welcome five Southeast Asian start-ups, who will have the chance to showcase their solutions at the upcoming GATEWAY Tech TAKANAWA, an event for large corporations and start-ups to exchange innovative ideas and solutions. This immersive experience will further strengthen ties between Southeast Asia and Japan, equipping start-ups with the knowledge and networks they need to enter new markets and drive innovation.

By NUS Enterprise

• 8world Online, 1 April 2025
• The Straits Times, 2 April 2025, Singapore, pB14
• Lianhe Zaobao, 2 April 2025, Singapore, p5

• The Business Times Online, 28 March 2025
• CNA Online, 29 March 2025
• The Straits Times, 2 April 2025, Singapore, pA14

• CNA Online, 1 April 2025
• Suria News Online, 1 April 2025
• The Straits Times, 2 April 2025, Life, pC8
• Lianhe Zaobao, 2 April 2025, Singapore, p6

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is collaborating with Microsoft Research Asia to drive deep scientific exploration in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing while fostering the next generation of tech talent across Asia and beyond.

NUS will focus on AI-driven research with Microsoft Research Asia in key areas such as healthcare, societal AI, spatial intelligence, as well as data-intensive computing. This collaboration will boost progress in these fields, enhance cross-disciplinary research capability, and aim to strengthen the region’s role in shaping the future of AI and computing on a global scale.

Talent is the key driver behind the development of AI. NUS has signed a five-year research collaboration agreement with Microsoft Research Asia for a Joint PhD Supervision Programme, bringing together NUS' academic and research excellence with Microsoft Research Asia’s global leadership in AI, computing research, and industrial applications to cultivate talent. As part of this collaboration, NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will nurture PhD students through the Industrial Postgraduate Programme (IPP), a programme supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) that enables globally leading companies to develop talent aligned with industry needs, as well as PhD programmes offered by the NUS School of Computing. This initiative will help to cultivate interdisciplinary, high-calibre tech professionals and drive the integration of AI technology across industries.

Through strategic research projects and workshops, NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will strive to strengthen Asia’s integration with the global AI research community and amplify the region’s impact on international technology innovation.

Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President, said, “In line with Singapore’s AI strategy to accelerate the growth of the digital economy, the collaboration between NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will strengthen local AI capabilities and create meaningful impact for society and industries. As a leader in AI research and innovation, Microsoft Research Asia has a strong track record of pioneering breakthroughs and fostering deep academic collaborations. By joining forces with Microsoft Research Asia, we hope to drive cutting-edge advancements, translate research into real-world applications, and nurture AI talent with a global perspective.”

Dr Lidong Zhou, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia, added, “Microsoft Research Asia is committed to driving technological innovation through cutting-edge open research and establishing long-term collaboration with leading academic institutions worldwide. Asia is a key global hub for AI innovation with a robust research ecosystem, strong industrial foundation, and international outlook. NUS, as one of the most influential academic institutions in Asia and beyond, has been our longstanding partner. We believe this collaboration will significantly advance AI technology and its applications and contribute to the global AI ecosystem.”

Mr Jermaine Loy, Managing Director, EDB said, "Talent development is central to Singapore’s vision to become a globally leading AI innovation hub. This collaboration between NUS and Microsoft Research Asia will offer our local students the opportunity to advance the development of frontier AI technology in Singapore under the mentorship of world-class researchers. At the same time, by fostering interdisciplinary expertise and industry-academia collaboration, this initiative will further strengthen Singapore’s AI talent pipeline and enhance the competitiveness of our companies and industries here."

The Department of History at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has announced that the call for submissions for the 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize is now open.

Set up in 2014 on a generous endowment by an anonymous donor, the NUS Singapore History Prize has been awarded to fiction and non-fiction books in 2018, 2021 and 2024 with the aim to spur interest in the understanding of Singapore’s history.

The 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize will, for the first time, recognise a non-print media work that engages deeply with Singapore’s history under the new ‘Arts and Multimedia’ category. Moving forward, the Prize will alternate between the ‘Books’ and ‘Arts and Multimedia’ categories every three years.

Thanks to a doubling of the endowment by the donor, prize money for the 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize winner will also increase twofold, from S$50,000 to S$100,000, to inspire more impactful works and submissions in the coming years.

These new developments broaden the Prize’s reach and seeks to further the objective of the Prize – that is, to make Singapore’s unique and complex history more accessible to non-academic audiences and to encourage greater discussion among Singaporeans and the world of Singapore’s rich and vibrant history, and its place in the world.

Head of the FASS Department of History, Associate Professor Joey Long said, “We firmly support our donor’s belief that Singaporeans can learn a lot more about Singapore’s rich history from different mediums. These include documentaries, films, visual arts, performing arts, installation art, podcasts, and videos (excluding audiobooks, books in printed form, and e-books). As such, we are glad that the Prize has now been expanded to recognise works beyond books, which also reflects NUS’ commitment to foster a comprehensive appreciation of Singapore’s past through accessible and modern platforms.”

A distinguished Jury Panel chaired by Mr Kishore Mahbubani will judge the Prize and announce a winner in 2027. Mr Mahbubani is a Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute.

Mr Mahbubani said, “Thanks to our donor who has doubled the prize money and encouraged the creation of a new category, Singaporeans will be able to engage more deeply with their rich history. There is no doubt that for the next phase of Singapore’s national development, the Singaporean sense of national identity must be deepened and strengthened. The best way to do this is to develop a deep and common understanding of Singapore’s history. Hence, in addition to its academic and scholarly contributions, the NUS Singapore History Prize is also supporting a strong national imperative.”

Details of the 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize

The new Arts and Multimedia category will mirror the Book category in its selection process, with the winner determined through an open, public and global competition. For the 2025-2027 competition, the organisers will accept nominations from any artist, author, playwright, performer, producer, or publisher of a multimedia and artistic historical work delivered in the English language (works translated into the English language are also acceptable). There will be no limitations on the date of production as the goal is to open the admission window as wide as possible. The work should address any field, theme, or period of Singaporean history, with the goal of providing either new insights or new ways of exciting the imagination of Singaporeans about Singapore’s history. Nominations will be restricted to a maximum of three works per applicant and will have to be submitted by 31 May 2027.

For more information about the NUS Singapore History Prize, please email: hisbox11@nus.edu.sg.

• CNA Online, 28 March 2025

• The Straits Times, 29 March 2025, Life, pC5

• 8world Online, 27 March 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao, 28 March 2025, Singapore, p6

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have demonstrated that a single, standard silicon transistor, the fundamental building block of microchips used in computers, smartphones and almost every electronic system, can function like a biological neuron and synapse when operated in a specific, unconventional way.

Led by Associate Professor Mario Lanza from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering, NUS, the research team’s work presents a highly scalable and energy-efficient solution for hardware-based artificial neural networks (ANNs). This brings neuromorphic computing — where chips could process information more efficiently, much like the human brain — closer to reality. Their study was published in the journal Nature on 26 March 2025.

Putting the brains in silicon

The world’s most sophisticated computers already exist inside our heads. Studies show that the human brain is, by and large, more energy-efficient than electronic processors, thanks to almost 90 billion neurons that form some 100 trillion connections with each other, and synapses that tune their strength over time — a process known as synaptic plasticity, which underpins learning and memory.

For decades, scientists have sought to replicate this efficiency using artificial neural networks (ANNs). ANNs have recently driven remarkable advances in artificial intelligence (AI), loosely inspired by how the brain processes information. But while they borrow biological terminology, the similarities run only skin deep — software-based ANNs, such as those powering large language models like ChatGPT, have a voracious appetite for computational resources, and hence, electricity. This makes them impractical for many applications.

Neuromorphic computing aims to mimic the computing power and energy efficiency of the brain. This requires not only re-designing system architecture to carry out memory and computation at the same place — the so-called in-memory computing (IMC) — but also to develop electronic devices that exploit physical and electronic phenomena capable of replicating more faithfully how neurons and synapses work. However, current neuromorphic computing systems are stymied by the need for complicated multi-transistor circuits or emerging materials that are yet to be validated for large-scale manufacturing.

“To enable true neuromorphic computing, where microchips behave like biological neurons and synapses, we need hardware that is both scalable and energy-efficient,” said Professor Lanza.

The NUS research team has now demonstrated that a single, standard silicon transistor, when arranged and operated in a specific way, can replicate both neural firing and synaptic weight changes — the fundamental mechanisms of biological neurons and synapses. This was achieved through adjusting the resistance of the bulk terminal to specific values, which allow controlling two physical phenomena taking place into the transistor: punch through impact ionisation and charge trapping. Moreover, the team built a two-transistor cell capable of operating either in neuron or synaptic regime, which the researchers have called "Neuro-Synaptic Random Access Memory", or NS-RAM.

“Other approaches require complex transistor arrays or novel materials with uncertain manufacturability, but our method makes use of commercial CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology, the same platform found in modern computer processors and memory microchips,” explained Professor Lanza. “This means it’s scalable, reliable and compatible with existing semiconductor fabrication processes.”

Through experiments, the NS-RAM cell demonstrated low power consumption, maintained stable performance over many cycles of operation and exhibited consistent, predictable behaviour across different devices — all of which are desired attributes for building reliable ANN hardware suited for real-world applications. The team’s breakthrough marks a step change in the development of compact, power-efficient AI processors that could enable faster, more responsive computing.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 27 February 2025, Fukan, p3

Professor Ariando and Dr Stephen Lin Er Chow from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Physics have designed and synthesised a groundbreaking new material—a copper-free superconducting oxide—capable of superconducting at approximately 40 Kelvin (K), or about minus 233 degrees Celsius (deg C), under ambient pressure. This discovery further advances NUS’ and Singapore’s leadership at the forefront of high-temperature superconductivity research.

Nearly four decades after the discovery of copper oxide superconductivity, which earned the 1987 Nobel Prize in Physics, the NUS researchers have now identified another high-temperature superconducting oxide that expands the understanding of unconventional superconductivity beyond copper oxides. 

The promise of superconductors

Modern electronics generate heat and consume energy during operation. Superconductors, however, possess a unique property known as the zero-resistance state, which eliminates energy loss due to electrical resistance. In theory, this makes them ideal for modern electronic applications, addressing the world's growing energy demands.

Despite the discovery of thousands of superconducting materials, the vast majority function only at extremely low temperatures near absolute zero (0 K), or about minus 273 deg C, making them impractical for widespread use. 

The 1987 Nobel Prize Breakthrough

Nearly 40 years ago, physicists Johannes Bednorz and Karl Müller discovered a new class of superconductors—copper oxides—which exhibit superconductivity at temperatures above 30 K, significantly higher than any previously known superconductors.

This breakthrough, which earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics, laid the foundation for high-temperature superconductivity research. To this day, copper oxides remain the only superconducting oxides that function at temperatures above 30 K, or about minus 243 dec C, under ambient pressure, without requiring lattice compression.

A breakthrough beyond copper

In a series of studies, Prof Ariando and Dr Chow identified a direct correlation between interlayer interactions in layered systems and superconducting temperatures.

Building on this insight, the researchers developed a phenomenological model that predicted several compounds capable of high-temperature superconductivity, similar to copper oxides, but without copper.

The team successfully synthesised (Sm-Eu-Ca)NiO₂ nickel oxide, one of the predicted materials, and confirmed zero electrical resistance (superconductivity) well above 30 K in this compound.

Dr Chow stated, "As we predicted and designed, this non-copper-based superconducting oxide demonstrates high-temperature superconductivity under atmospheric pressure at sea level, without the need for additional compression—just like copper oxides. This finding suggests that unconventional high-temperature superconductivity is not exclusive to copper but could be a more widespread property among elements in the periodic table."

“This observation has profound implications for both theoretical understanding and experimental realisation of a broader scope of superconducting materials with practical applications in modern electronics,” added Prof Ariando.

The research breakthrough was published in the scientific journal Nature on 20 March 2025.

Expanding the frontier of high-temperature superconductors 

"This is the first time since the Nobel-winning discovery that a copper-free high-temperature superconducting oxide has been found to function under ambient pressure," emphasised Prof Ariando.

"Additionally, this new material is highly stable under ambient conditions, significantly improving its accessibility."

This discovery has sparked growing interest, not only in the material itself but also in the broader potential for a new class of high-temperature superconductors.

Further research and future implications

The research team continues to investigate the material’s unique properties, exploring tuning parameters such as electronic occupancy shifting and hydrostatic pressure. These efforts aim to deepen the understanding of high-temperature superconducting mechanisms and pave the way for synthesising a broader family of superconductors with even higher operating temperatures.

Another contributor to this work includes Mr Zhaoyang Luo, an NUS PhD student with the research team, who demonstrated the high crystallinity and pure-phase nature of the synthesised material using electron microscopy.

This breakthrough represents a major step toward the development of next-generation superconducting materials, with practical applications in modern electronics and energy-efficient technologies.

• The Straits Times, 26 March 2025, Singapore, pA15

• Vasantham News Online, 25 March 2025

By Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, Senior Lecturer from the Dept of Malay Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Berita Minggu, 23 March 2025, p12

• The Business Times, 26 February 2025, p10

When visiting Singapore, most people immediately notice the city’s cleanliness, and so did Professor Myles Allen of Oxford University when he visited for the first time at the invitation of the NUS Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) to be its keynote presenter at the SGFIN Sustainability Summit 2025 held on 13-14 March 2025.

He observed that maintaining Singapore’s clean streets takes not just extensive cleaning efforts, but also a sense of social responsibility to recognise that littering transfers the cost of disposal onto other people and is simply “not okay”.

“When are we going to get to the stage where dumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and imposing the cost of disposing of or coping with the impact of your carbon dioxide on other people is also not okay?” asked Prof Allen, who is Head of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics in the Department of Physics and Professor of Geosystem Science in the School of Geography and Environment, both at the University of Oxford.

Calling for climate policy to be reframed from the traditional focus on changing corporate and citizen behaviour to a focus on product and waste disposal, Prof Allen’s keynote presentation outlined a roadmap to halt global warming within 30 years, which would limit future warming to less than the amount that has occurred since the 2000s.

“We could stop global warming within a generation, but it requires a fresh approach to climate policy, and one that I think should be inspired by the turbulence we’re seeing over climate policy around the world,” he said.

Prof Allen’s suggestion was among several cautiously optimistic messages about climate action shared during the summit, held to the theme “Commitments, Challenges, and Innovations in the Transition to Sustainable Economy”. The event was attended by about 200 representatives from the global sustainable finance community, including academics, industry leaders, policymakers and regulators, financial institutions, and legal experts.

Optimism amid policy turbulence

In her opening address, Guest of Honour Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, noted that the challenges in the fight against climate change are “complex… but not insurmountable.”

Although global momentum appears to be wavering, Singapore is pressing forward with collaborations and contributions to key enablers of the green transition, she said.

Similarly, industry keynote speaker Ms Emily Chew, Head of Sustainability at GIC, said the sovereign wealth fund’s assessment of global climate policies indicates that “despite the headlines, it’s not a one-way pullback on climate policy around the world.”

Policy momentum in the European Union, China, Australia, and the United Kingdom remains strong, and Europe’s focus on renewable energy and related products has intensified, driven by energy cost concerns due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a desire to compete with China on key components in the clean energy value chain.

Ms Chew noted that demand for energy continues to outstrip supply at a pace that cannot be met with fossil fuel energy alone. This will drive growth in renewable energy capacity, as renewable energy technology development, advances in energy efficiency, improvements in grid management, and innovations in energy storage like battery technology and liquid storage are expected to ramp up even more rapidly to fill the gap.

Nevertheless, through its climate scenarios research, GIC sees growing conviction that the world may face a “too little, too late” scenario when it comes to the global transition. In this scenario, policy responses to address emissions would be insufficient to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. It is thus looking at investing in not just climate solutions and climate transition, but also climate adaptation, which will be inevitable in a world that is 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer by 2100.

Achieving Geological Net Zero

To avert this crisis, the world must address the issue of carbon dioxide disposal, said Prof Allen.

Progress on replacing fossil fuels with clean energy and reversing deforestation has been far from satisfactory, especially with the reluctance of certain economies and industries to give up fossil fuels. In addition, these methods do not reduce carbon emissions enough to meet net-zero goals.

“If we don’t avoid producing carbon dioxide, we have to take up the slack by increasing the amount we put back in the Earth’s crust, because the amount we can store at the surface by restoring forests is actually quite limited,” Prof Allen said.

“We need to stop fossil fuels from causing global warming, and we need to do it before the world stops using fossil fuels.”

The climate goal should be Geological Net Zero, incorporating capture and storage of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s crust to balance the existing and ongoing emissions, he said. With this approach, getting to net zero by 2055 would entail capturing and storing underground 10 per cent of carbon dioxide produced from fossil sources by 2035, 50 per cent by 2045, and 100 per cent by 2055.

Carbon capture solutions are already available and effective, but more capital is needed to scale up such projects, which currently receive less than 1 per cent of transition investments.  The high cost of direct air capture of carbon dioxide, about US$600 per tonne, could be managed by pricing it into fossil fuel costs over time, Prof Allen argued. For example, he estimates that doing so for petrol would increase prices by only 60 US cents per litre over 30 years.

Prof Allen also warned that there is a risk of miscalculating the emissions reduction needed to achieve net-zero targets, due to ambiguous wording in Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. The article calls for striking a balance between carbon emissions and removals to stop global warming but does not specify exactly what removals are included, which leaves the door open for natural carbon uptake by forests and oceans to be “double counted” as part of removal efforts.

“If we only aim for net zero with this definition of emissions, then we stabilise the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, rather than allowing it to fall as it should. We would see constant concentrations (of carbon dioxide) resulting, and that allows ongoing warming,” Prof Allen said.

He ended on a positive note, urging those present to take the helm and not wait for direction from elsewhere.

“There is an opportunity here for Asia to lead the way to a more effective, less intrusive, more pragmatic climate future based on the principle that if you generate carbon dioxide, you have the responsibility to dispose of it responsibly and not just dump it into the atmosphere for somebody else to clean up – a policy that I might say is inspired by the clean streets of Singapore.”

By Dr Goh Jing Wen, Research Fellow, and Dr Lia Troeung, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Ageing Research & Education at Duke-NUS Medical School

• CNA Online, 26 February 2025

Diabetic wounds often lead to severe complications that can result in amputations. These chronic and non-healing wounds are marked by persistent inflammation, affecting more than six per cent of the global population. In Singapore, there are about four lower limb amputations daily due to non-healing diabetic wounds. A study focusing on diabetic wounds in Singapore estimated that the gross amputation-related healthcare cost per patient was S$23,000 in 2017.

To address this challenge of great national and global importance, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed two microneedle technologies that have shown efficacy in accelerating diabetic wound healing in preclinical models by preserving the functions of proteins called growth factors, and removing undesirable inflammatory compounds.

The two novel innovations were developed by a team of scientists led by Assistant Professor Andy Tay from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, and the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology. “Growth factors are important for wound healing because they regulate key cellular functions. However, in diabetic wounds, these growth factors are rapidly broken down by other enzymes known as proteases. This dramatically slows down wound recovery. At the same time, diabetic wounds are characterised by persistently high levels of inflammation,” he explained.

“We wanted to tackle these two issues by using microneedles for both delivery and extraction. It is minimally invasive, can be fabricated with precision, and allows for the active compounds to be painlessly administered directly into wounds. Microneedle patches are excellent materials for wound healing,” he said.

The results of the two related studies, which were published online in the scientific journals Biomaterials and Advanced Functional Materials on 4 July 2024 and 24 July 2024 respectively, demonstrate the potential of this innovative approach in treating various skin conditions such as psoriasis or chronic diabetic wounds.

Two unique approaches to accelerate wound healing  

In the market, hydrogel is used to deliver growth factors to wounds. However, this method is not as effective because the protease-rich environment of chronic wounds rapidly degrades and inactivates the growth factors. This means that the growth factors need to be delivered in high doses repeatedly, which can be costly and time-consuming.

In the first approach developed by the NUS research team, instead of delivering the growth factors directly, they first increased the production of growth factors within the wound.

They achieved this by developing sucralfate microneedles (SUC-MN) to deliver an important immunomodulatory protein, interleukin-4 (IL-4), to stimulate the production of growth factors in diabetic tissues. IL-4 helps to regulate the immune response and promote tissue regeneration, while sucralfate, a medication commonly used to treat gastrointestinal ulcers, protects growth factors from degradation.

The microneedles dissolve in the wound, delivering IL-4 and sucralfate directly to the wound. This localised delivery system minimises systemic side effects, and also avoids secondary damage to delicate, newly formed tissues caused by traditional adhesive dressing that is currently used clinically. The researchers found that SUC-MN significantly accelerated wound healing twice as fast when compared to traditional treatments.

First-of-its-kind extractive microneedles to remove pro-inflammatory compounds

Although a majority of microneedle technology uses the material for delivery, the NUS team explored the novel use of microneedles to extract undesirable pro-inflammatory proteins and immune cells in the second approach. To do so, the NUS team needed to find a suitable coating material that could act as a sponge to soak up pro-inflammatory compounds, known as chemokines, which are ‘messenger’ molecules that recruit and trap pro-inflammatory immune cells called monocytes in wound tissues.

The research team screened different materials and eventually used heparin-coated porous microneedles (HPMN) to address the issue of persistent inflammation in skin wounds at the source. Based on previous studies, heparin has been found to bind readily to chemokines. The team demonstrated that HPMN could effectively deplete chemokines and monocytes from the wound site, leading to a 50 per cent reduction in tissue inflammation as well as a 90 per cent reduction in wound size by the 14^th day of treatment.

These initial findings highlight the potential of HPMN as a promising strategy for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders. The ability of HPMN to remove chemokines and inflammatory cells deep within the skin tissue offers a unique advantage over existing treatments that only target surface-level inflammation. HPMN could be further developed for personalised wound care and tailored treatment of various inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis.

Next steps

The development of SUC-MN and HPMN represents a significant step forward in the field of wound healing and skin disease management. The team intends to conduct further studies to explore the potential of this technology and bring it to market.

For extractive microneedles in particular, the team will fabricate microneedles with more controllable pore sizes using advanced technologies, such as 3D printing, and integrate antibacterial properties into the microneedles as clinical non-healing wounds often accompany infections. They are also designing flexible microneedle patches to ensure that they fit well to various tissue shapes.

“We are excited about the potential impact of our research and look forward to advancing this technology towards clinical translation. The two approaches developed by our team would provide much-needed relief for patients with diabetic wounds, as well as many patients suffering from skin conditions like atopic dermatitis or psoriasis,” said Asst Prof Tay.

• The Straits Times, 24 March 2025, Science, pA16
• The New Paper, 24 March 2025

• The Straits Times, 22 March 2025, Life, pC3

• CNA, 22 March 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 22 March 2025, Singapore, p7

• The Business Times, 20 March 2025, p7
• Lianhe Zaobao, 20 March 2025, Business, p25
• Money 89.3FM, 20 March 2025

By Dr Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, and Ms Isabelle Tan, Research Assistant, both at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Straits Times, 20 March 2025, Opinion, pB3

By NUS Business School students Jung Yu Min, Ji Tianqi, Neo Hui Min Chloe, Sahana Asogan and V C Sateiish

• The Business Times, 20 March 2025, p20

• 8world Online, 25 February 2025

Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), has been inducted into the prestigious Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame, in honour of her outstanding contributions as a scientist, engineer, innovator, and academic leader. The Induction Ceremony was held on 21 March 2025, during the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations’ (SCWO) 45th Anniversary Gala Dinner. As an honouree of the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame, Prof Liu joins an esteemed community of trailblazing women who have shaped our nation, pushed boundaries in their fields and paved the way for future generations.

The Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame was launched by SCWO on 14 March 2014 as an expansion of the Wall of Fame that was established earlier to honour Singapore’s pioneering women activists, educators, and philanthropists. The Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame aims to recognise and salute the outstanding women of Singapore in all fields of endeavour.

“I am deeply honoured and grateful to be inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame alongside other outstanding women who have made profound impact on Singapore. This recognition affirms my commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and my role as an academic leader and mentor. I hope it serves as an inspiration for more young women to pursue their passions and make their own meaningful contributions that help shape a better, more inclusive world for all,” said Prof Liu.

From a childhood passion to global impact

Since young, Prof Liu had a wide range of interests ─ she was passionate about mathematics and chemistry. She was also interested in artwork and cooking. Despite having a background in arts and social sciences, Prof Liu’s father understood the crucial role that science plays in shaping our world and he encouraged her to pursue a career in science and engineering.

Prof Liu enrolled into NUS to further her studies and earned her PhD in Chemistry, after obtaining her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Nanjing University. Soon after completing her postdoctoral training at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Prof Liu returned to NUS in 2005 to serve as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS.

Prof Liu is world-renowned in the field of organic functional materials, particularly for her work in polymer chemistry and applications of organic nanomaterials in medicine, environmental monitoring, and energy systems. One of her most significant research contributions to the study of biocompatible luminogens began in 2011. Her findings led to the development of highly sensitive light-up molecular probes and nanoparticle probes that allow for long-term cell tracing and tumour imaging, crucial for cancer research and cell-based therapies.

Leveraging her research on biocompatible luminogens, Prof Liu co-founded Luminicell, an NUS start-up, to commercialise this cutting-edge technology.

Throughout her academic career, Prof Liu has received numerous accolades in recognition of her innovative and groundbreaking research. Some notable ones from the past year include the President’s Science Award 2024 for her team’s breakthrough discovery of the role of carbazole isomers in room temperature phosphorescence of carbazole, an organic semiconductor, resolving a 95-year debate in the field. She was also inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows Class of 2024, in recognition of her distinguished contributions to the development of nanomaterials for biomedical and energy applications.

Shaping the future of research through visionary leadership and mentorship

Prof Liu has been a key driver in elevating NUS’ international research reputation, forging strong partnerships with leading global universities to promote knowledge exchange and collaborative research initiatives. As NUS’ Deputy President (Research and Technology), Prof Liu’s leadership has been instrumental in fostering innovation across faculties at NUS. A notable initiative, where Prof Liu played a crucial role, was the development of the NUS Sustainability Cluster, which aligned the University’s research efforts with global priorities in sustainable development.

Prof Liu is a strong advocate for women in STEM and encourages more women to pursue careers in science and engineering. She believes that girls should be granted the same opportunities as boys to pursue their interests and thrive in STEM fields. Prof Liu’s active interest in promoting opportunities for girls and women in science and engineering has contributed to the diversity and inclusivity of Singapore's scientific community.

Prof Liu is also committed to nurturing the next generation of research leaders and innovators. During her 18 years at NUS, she has mentored 36 PhD students and 63 post-doctoral fellows and visiting professors.

Taking great pride in her multiple roles - as a researcher, academic leader, and mentor - Prof Liu aims to continue to inspire innovation, foster collaboration, and empower emerging scientists to achieve groundbreaking advancements in their respective fields.

When asked to share some advice with young women aspiring to excel in their fields, Prof Liu said, “As we progress in scientific fields, the number of female scientists tends to decrease. I encourage young women interested in STEM to believe in their potential and boldly pursue their passions. Don’t let fears or assumptions limit what you can achieve. Seek out mentors who can support and guide you along the way.”

By Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice-Dean (Global Health) from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS, and Director of the Asia Centre for Health Security at the same school

• CNA Online, 24 March 2025

• The Straits Times, 19 March 2025, Business, pA19
• Berita Harian, 20 March 2025, p6

• The Straits Times, 19 March 2025, Life, pC4

By Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, Senior Lecturer from the Dept of Malay Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Suria News Online, 18 March 2025

• The Straits Times, 17 March 2025, Science, pA16

• Tamil Murasu, 17 March 2025, p3

By Prof Joseph Chinyong Liow, Chairman of the Middle East Institute at NUS

• The Straits Times, 17 March 2025, Opinion, pB3

The National University of Singapore (NUS) will appoint a distinguished scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, to its Board of Trustees on 1 April 2025.

Dr Swaminathan is former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization and previously Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research. She is a paediatrician from India and a globally recognised expert in tuberculosis and HIV research. She is now Chairperson at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Principal Advisor to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in India.

As part of board renewal, two members of the NUS Board of Trustees, Professor Cheong Koon Hean and Mr Loh Chin Hua, will retire from the Board on 31 March 2025 after serving for 12 years and 9 years respectively. Prof Cheong is Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities and former Chief Executive Officer of the Housing & Development Board, while Mr Loh is Chief Executive Officer of Keppel Ltd.

Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, Chairman of the NUS Board, said, “We warmly welcome Soumya to our Board. With her expertise and deep experience in research translation, she will bring valuable insights to guide the University’s thrusts in this respect. Her international perspective will enrich discussions on charting the growth of NUS towards becoming a leading global university.”

“We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to Koon Hean and Chin Hua for their many contributions and dedication to NUS. Both have served the Board and its committees very well. From their broad experience, they have provided guidance on many strategic issues. We will miss them indeed,” Mr Hsieh added.

With the latest changes, the NUS Board of Trustees will have 19 members.

Members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by the Minister for Education. The Board is made up of eminent leaders from the public sector, academia, business and various professions. The Board works closely with the management and stakeholders of the University to shape its vision, chart major directions, and guide significant initiatives to produce a strong and enduring impact for the University, and for Singapore and beyond.

More information on new Trustee Dr Soumya Swaminathan can be found in Annexe 1. The full list of Trustees can be found in Annexe 2.

A new national programme that aims to position Singapore at the forefront of advancements in RNA science and applications was officially launched today. This new initiative – named National Initiative for RNA Biology and Its Applications (NIRBA) – is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) with total funding of S$130 million over seven years. NIRBA will engage scientists and clinicians from leading institutions like the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Duke-NUS Medical School.

RNA biology and its applications has been identified as a rapidly expanding field of critical importance to Singapore’s future health and economic needs. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, who is also Chairman of NRF, officiated at the inauguration of NIRBA at NUS.

NIRBA is led by Professor Ashok Venkitaraman, a Distinguished Professor of Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Director of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at NUS, and Research Director at the Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, A*STAR. He will work closely with a team of leading local experts in the field, to establish globally leading foundational research in RNA science, with strong translational potential for diverse applications. While the primary focus will be on human health, the research will also have relevance to areas such as agriculture, food safety, veterinary medicine, and synthetic biology.

Unlocking the vast potential of RNA

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules are present in all living organisms and in many viruses. RNA molecules, transcribed from DNA, serve as vital messengers that translate genetic information into proteins, driving the biological processes essential to life.

Recent research has uncovered that structurally diverse RNA molecules perform a remarkable range of biological functions, with many more yet to be discovered. As a result, RNA has emerged as a vital macromolecule, with its pivotal role in human health and disease only starting to unfold.

The potential of RNA research was both validated and significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which offered compelling proof of the power and adaptability of RNA platforms in vaccine development and their capacity for rapid manufacturing scale-up. The pandemic also greatly advanced various aspects of RNA science and technology worldwide. Of note, this potential impact extends beyond human health to multiple fields, including agriculture, food safety, veterinary medicine, and synthetic biology.

To further strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in RNA research and translation, NIRBA aims to achieve the following goals:

• Swiftly build world-leading foundational research peaks in differentiated challenge areas in RNA research where there are current global gaps, leveraging Singapore’s competitive advantages.
• Develop an agile framework of ‘Innovation Clusters’ to create and sustain competitive research peaks, while drawing on relevant expertise from the local and global research community in a nimble and dynamic way.
• Operationalise innovative pathways to build an upstream pipeline that fuels the capabilities of Singapore’s downstream units, to fully capitalise on their health and economic value for the nation and beyond.

Prof Venkitaraman said, “NIRBA will serve as a vital force-multiplier for Singapore’s RNA research. It will integrate Singapore’s existing strengths to build internationally competitive innovation in carefully chosen challenge areas, and synergise between academic and industrial partners, to create short-term and longer-term health and economic benefits. Groundbreaking scientific discoveries are a necessary foundation for translation into economic, health, and societal impact.”

NIRBA’s innovation clusters will draw on a dynamic pool of multidisciplinary researchers from different institutions to promote island-wide inter-organisational collaborations between NUS, NTU Singapore, A*STAR, public health institutions, and industry.

Cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research to address knowledge gaps

NIRBA aims to build four peaks of excellence that are of strategic importance to Singapore. It will differentiate its work by focusing on areas where Singapore has a competitive advantage, such as in the RNA biology of diseases prevalent amongst the Asian population.

Cluster 1 focuses on how Asian genetic diversity impacts the RNA biology of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions relevant to Singapore. Scientists will examine whether Asian genomic variants affect RNA expression, modification and function in different cell types linked to these diseases.

Cluster 2 explores how chemical modifications on RNA alter host immunity. RNA modifications, or small chemical changes made to RNA molecules, play a crucial role in helping our body balance immune responses, enabling the body to fight off infections while protecting our own healthy cells.

Cluster 3 explores how RNA molecules enter cells and are transported within them to lay scientific foundations for effective RNA-based therapeutics that selectively target diseased tissues.

Cluster 4 focuses on how RNA-based drugs exert their effects and are cleared from the body after administration, a critical enabler for the development of RNA-based therapies and vaccines in Singapore.

Central hub to foster collaborations

To promote impactful and meaningful interactions, NIRBA will deploy a ‘hub and spoke’ model where new collaborative research programmes, international academic and industrial collaborations, as well as unique core research resources will be co-located in a central ‘hub’ based physically at NUS. This 2,000-sqm space will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructure to meet the biological, structural, chemical and computational needs of NIRBA. NIRBA will harness diverse research talents from different institutions across Singapore working at the central ‘hub’, enabling synergistic interdisciplinary collaborations with a broad range of partners. Other activities using existing research infrastructure will be performed in distributed ‘spokes’.

Over the next seven years with NRF funding support, NIRBA aims to add considerable value to the RNA research landscape across Singapore, through the training of researchers, recruitment of overseas talent, access to shared infrastructure and unique core resources, and exposure of local research staff to collaborative projects. The peaks of excellence in science, people and platforms established by NIRBA will help to future-proof Singapore’s investments in RNA research, advance precision health for Asian populations and diseases, and generate economic value through spinouts and industrial partnerships.

A new national programme that aims to position Singapore at the forefront of advancements in RNA science and applications was officially launched on 24 March 2025. This new initiative – named National Initiative for RNA Biology and Its Applications (NIRBA) – is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) with total funding of S$130 million over seven years. NIRBA will engage scientists and clinicians from leading institutions like the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Duke-NUS Medical School.

RNA biology and its applications has been identified as a rapidly expanding field of critical importance to Singapore’s future health and economic needs. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, who is also Chairman of NRF, officiated at the inauguration of NIRBA at NUS.

NIRBA is led by Professor Ashok Venkitaraman, a Distinguished Professor of Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Director of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at NUS, and Research Director at the Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, A*STAR. He will work closely with a team of leading local experts in the field, to establish globally leading foundational research in RNA science, with strong translational potential for diverse applications. While the primary focus will be on human health, the research will also have relevance to areas such as agriculture, food safety, veterinary medicine, and synthetic biology.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr Heng highlighted that RNA biology in and its applications is an important domain in foundational research, citing the example of the COVID-19 pandemic when the rapid development and deployment of mRNA vaccines saved countless lives. He said, “Today's launch of NIRBA is therefore very timely to strengthen our RNA Research and Innovation capabilities.”

Mr Heng further elaborated, “It is an exciting new chapter that we are writing in our biomedical journey, and I look forward to the breakthroughs and achievements from this new initiative in the years ahead.”

Unlocking the vast potential of RNA

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules are present in all living organisms and in many viruses. RNA molecules, transcribed from DNA, serve as vital messengers that translate genetic information into proteins, driving the biological processes essential to life.

Recent research has uncovered that structurally diverse RNA molecules perform a remarkable range of biological functions, with many more yet to be discovered. As a result, RNA has emerged as a vital macromolecule, with its pivotal role in human health and disease only starting to unfold.

The potential of RNA research was both validated and significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which offered compelling proof of the power and adaptability of RNA platforms in vaccine development and their capacity for rapid manufacturing scale-up. The pandemic also greatly advanced various aspects of RNA science and technology worldwide. Of note, this potential impact extends beyond human health to multiple fields, including agriculture, food safety, veterinary medicine, and synthetic biology.

To further strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in RNA research and translation, NIRBA aims to achieve the following goals:

• Swiftly build world-leading foundational research peaks in differentiated challenge areas in RNA research where there are current global gaps, leveraging Singapore’s competitive advantages.
• Develop an agile framework of ‘Innovation Clusters’ to create and sustain competitive research peaks, while drawing on relevant expertise from the local and global research community in a nimble and dynamic way.
• Operationalise innovative pathways to build an upstream pipeline that fuels the capabilities of Singapore’s downstream units, to fully capitalise on their health and economic value for the nation and beyond.

Prof Venkitaraman said, “NIRBA will serve as a vital force-multiplier for Singapore’s RNA research. It will integrate Singapore’s existing strengths to build internationally competitive innovation in carefully chosen challenge areas, and synergise between academic and industrial partners, to create short-term and longer-term health and economic benefits. Groundbreaking scientific discoveries are a necessary foundation for translation into economic, health, and societal impact.”

NIRBA’s innovation clusters will draw on a dynamic pool of multidisciplinary researchers from different institutions to promote island-wide inter-organisational collaborations between NUS, NTU Singapore, A*STAR, public health institutions, and industry.

Cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research to address knowledge gaps

NIRBA aims to build four peaks of excellence that are of strategic importance to Singapore. It will differentiate its work by focusing on areas where Singapore has a competitive advantage, such as in the RNA biology of diseases prevalent amongst the Asian population.

Cluster 1 focuses on how Asian genetic diversity impacts the RNA biology of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions relevant to Singapore. Scientists will examine whether Asian genomic variants affect RNA expression, modification and function in different cell types linked to these diseases.

Cluster 2 explores how chemical modifications on RNA alter host immunity. RNA modifications, or small chemical changes made to RNA molecules, play a crucial role in helping our body balance immune responses, enabling the body to fight off infections while protecting our own healthy cells.

Cluster 3 explores how RNA molecules enter cells and are transported within them to lay scientific foundations for effective RNA-based therapeutics that selectively target diseased tissues.

Cluster 4 focuses on how RNA-based drugs exert their effects and are cleared from the body after administration, a critical enabler for the development of RNA-based therapies and vaccines in Singapore.

Central hub to foster collaborations

To promote impactful and meaningful interactions, NIRBA will deploy a ‘hub and spoke’ model where new collaborative research programmes, international academic and industrial collaborations, as well as unique core research resources will be co-located in a central ‘hub’ based physically at NUS. This 2,000-sqm space will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructure to meet the biological, structural, chemical and computational needs of NIRBA. NIRBA will harness diverse research talents from different institutions across Singapore working at the central ‘hub’, enabling synergistic interdisciplinary collaborations with a broad range of partners. Other activities using existing research infrastructure will be performed in distributed ‘spokes’.

Over the next seven years with NRF funding support, NIRBA aims to add considerable value to the RNA research landscape across Singapore, through the training of researchers, recruitment of overseas talent, access to shared infrastructure and unique core resources, and exposure of local research staff to collaborative projects. The peaks of excellence in science, people and platforms established by NIRBA will help to future-proof Singapore’s investments in RNA research, advance precision health for Asian populations and diseases, and generate economic value through spinouts and industrial partnerships.

RNA biology: Potential impact and its wide-ranging applications

A highlight of the launch event was a panel discussion titled “RNA Biology & Its Applications in Human Diseases – The Singapore Perspective”. Prominent leaders in the field - Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Permanent Secretary of National Research and Development and Chairman of A*STAR; Dr Mohamed ElSayed, Chief Scientific Officer at Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi); and Dr Tan Si Hui, an RNA biotech entrepreneur – shared insightful perspectives on the topic. The session was moderated by Prof Venkitaraman.

The growing number of people falling prey to scams in Singapore is a worrying trend, with victims often unaware of the legal avenues available when seeking recourse from financial institutions. This knowledge gap led NUS Law students Ernest Chua and Jadie Tan to galvanise efforts to raise awareness about the potential for low-cost mediation and adjudication for scam victims via the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC).

Recognising the language barrier between beneficiaries and volunteers in the Syariah Law Friends project which supports organisations that provide Syariah Law legal aid, NUS Law undergraduates Akhilaa Yogarajah and Fatema Maimoon developed a document of Syariah Law legal terms to help volunteers assist non-English speaking clients effectively.

These individuals and their impactful initiatives were among the many recognised at this year’s NUS Law Pro Bono Awards ceremony.

Empowering scam victims and initiating legal clinics in the Mountbatten neighbourhood

In the past, the NUS-FIDReC Collaboration pro-bono project (a collaboration between the NUS Law Pro Bono Group and the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre) focused on raising public awareness about FIDReC’s affordable alternative dispute resolution processes in cases involving financial misrepresentations (particularly in the insurance industry), and unauthorised credit card transactions.

However, when FIDReC and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) highlighted the rising number of scam victims, co-Project Directors Ernest and Jadie decisively shifted the project’s focus and redirected efforts toward educating the public on FIDReC’s services that scam victims can turn to for assistance such as mediation and adjudication. “We wanted to let people know that if they get scammed, FIDReC may have services that they can turn to for help after reviewing their case,” said Jadie.

The pair revamped their outreach materials, and together with other student volunteers in NUS-FIDReC, collaborated with external partners like NCPC to deliver talks on scam awareness and the legal aid that FIDReC offers to NCPC-partner organisations across the island. These sessions reached diverse groups, such as nurses at Changi General Hospital and foreign workers at Land Transport Authority construction sites. The students also volunteered as translators during FIDReC adjudication processes when needed.

In addition, Ernest, in the course of his volunteer grassroots work in Mountbatten, frequently encountered vulnerable constituents with a variety of legal concerns. Recognising this need, he spearheaded the establishment of a legal clinic that connects constituents with pro bono lawyers, helping them obtain valuable legal advice. He also launched a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) campaign to help Mountbatten constituents understand the legal significance of an LPA and help them get their LPAs certified. With the help of NUS Law’s Centre for Pro Bono and Clinical Legal Education (CPBCLE), he also managed to involve NUS Law students in these activities.

Both Jadie and Ernest were accorded the Pro Bono Special Recognition Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to these initiatives.

Ernest shared how his experience in pro bono work has been incredibly fulfilling. “A lot of the things you learn in law school are theoretical so you don’t always see the direct impact of your work, but with pro bono work, you get to witness the tangible effect of the law on people’s lives.”

Supporting the Muslim community in navigating Syariah Law

When Akhilaa and Fatema led the Syariah Law Friends project in 2023, they noticed that their non-Malay-speaking volunteers had trouble note-taking in the pro bono legal clinics organised by their partner organisations, the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations and Jamiyah Singapore. These clinics linked Syariah law practitioners with beneficiaries seeking legal assistance on issues ranging from matrimonial to inheritance-related matters.

Volunteers had to take notes in these sessions to maintain consistent records of the issues raised and the legal advice given, but some did not understand the Malay/Arabic terms used. Akhilaa explained, “Volunteers who were unfamiliar with Syariah Law would sometimes misspell the words or would leave question marks when they hear unfamiliar words such as talak or cerai taklik.”

To help volunteers better understand these terms and assist non-English-speaking clients more effectively, the pair developed an internal document for notetakers which highlighted and explained such terms. They also proactively expanded the volunteer pool by recruiting more Malay-speaking students to meet the demands of ongoing legal clinic work, and like their seniors before them, organised lectures to educate volunteers on Syariah Law. For their efforts, Akhilaa and Fatema were recognised with the Pro Bono Innovation Award.

Akhilaa said the experience has deepened her sense of responsibility as a future lawyer as it was incredibly inspiring to see dedicated pro bono lawyers generously offer their time and expertise to those in need.

She elaborated, “Witnessing lawyers provide reassurance and peace of mind to clients facing uncertain futures in broken homes has made me more aware of the profound impact legal assistance can have on a person’s livelihood. Further, it has implored me to strengthen my commitment to wanting to use my legal education to aid marginalised and underprivileged clients even after I graduate.” 

NUS Law Pro Bono Awards Ceremony

Over the past year, students have contributed to a wide range of pro bono initiatives, including assisting with Criminal Legal Aid Scheme cases, conducting legal awareness talks for migrant workers and sexual assault survivors and organising mentorship programmes for at-risk youth. Beyond Singapore, their efforts involved delivering educational talks to underprivileged children in Bangkok’s Klong Toey slums on their legal rights and the consequences of crimes such as human trafficking and domestic violence.

These student projects won accolades at the NUS Law Pro Bono Awards Ceremony this year. Organised annually by CPBCLE, the ceremony honours the achievements and exceptional leadership displayed by students in pro bono work. Additionally, financial grants were awarded to deserving pro bono initiatives.

Addressing the awardees, Guest of Honour Mr Murali Pillai, Minister of State for Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, praised the award recipients for their outstanding contributions to the community and commended CPBCLE for their efforts in cultivating a strong sense of community and a pro bono culture in the legal fraternity.

The former lawyer shared how serving the community through pro bono practice is one of the highest levels of contributions that a lawyer can make. Pro bono work, he noted, is essential. He said, “From my own experience, pro bono work centres us and helps us to remain true to why we joined the profession in the first place.”

A total of 18 students and one faculty member received awards across three categories. Seven pro bono projects were given financial grants. Please click here for the full list of award winners and projects.

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on leadership training and development during a visit to NUS by His Excellency Mr Tô Lâm, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam on 12 March 2025.

The MOU will deliver programmes to Vietnamese senior party cadres, government officials and senior civil servants, covering topics like good governance, digital transformation, green transition and public administration reforms.

The agreement was one of three initiatives announced by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye during Mr Lâm’s visit to LKYSPP, where the Vietnamese leader delivered a policy speech and participated in a dialogue session chaired by Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Mr Teo Chee Hean.

In his speech at the event, Prof Tan emphasised NUS’ commitment to forging strong partnerships with institutions around the world to advance education, research and innovation across different ecosystems.

“Your visit today marks a major milestone in our university’s engagement with Vietnam. It will inspire our NUS community to take bold strides in deepening our engagement with Vietnam,” said Prof Tan to Mr Lâm, noting that NUS has many partnerships with Vietnamese institutions like the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

The event was one of Mr Lâm’s various engagements during his official three-day visit to Singapore, during which both countries agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership – the highest diplomatic tier.

In an opening speech at the event, Mr Teo said Singapore and Vietnam aim to strengthen their strong bilateral ties, with enhanced partnerships in new and emerging areas as Vietnam continues its remarkable rise.

Having made visits to Vietnam over the past three decades, Mr Teo has personally witnessed its exponential growth. “In 1993, I had the honour of accompanying Mr Lee Kuan Yew – then Senior Minister – on his first official visit to Vietnam.” The 1993 visit “laid the foundation that continues to guide the strong relations between our two countries”, Mr Teo recounted, citing enduring collaborations such as the 20 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks across 14 provinces that have created over 320,000 jobs and attracted more than US$23 billion in foreign investment.

In his policy address titled “Vietnam’s Policy for Scientific and Technological Development, Innovation, and National Digital Transformation in a New Era: Opportunities for Vietnam–Singapore Cooperation”, Mr Lâm cited Singapore’s remarkable progress with its Smart Nation initiative, noting that Vietnam is also pursuing advancements in its government institutions, legislation and infrastructure development.

“We must adopt a new mindset in legislation to meet governance requirements and encourage innovation,” he said, calling NUS “a premier beacon of academic excellence and innovation in the region and the world”.

Collaborations in research, innovation and human capital development

Addressing an audience of more than 300, Mr Lâm shared how Vietnam intends to learn from Singapore’s expertise in science and technology to achieve its two goals: to become a modern industrial country by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045.

Scientific innovation and digital transformation, he added, provide the “golden key” for Vietnam to avoid the middle-income trap and keep pace in an era of globalisation and economic integration.

Given the complementary strengths of both countries – Singapore’s managerial expertise and abundant capital, and Vietnam’s large workforce and market – scientific and technological cooperation will remain a key foundation of the Vietnam-Singapore partnership, said Mr Lâm. 

To this end, he proposed strengthening collaboration in several areas, ranging from research to human capital development.

By stepping up joint research initiatives, both countries will open up opportunities for knowledge sharing and technology exchange. “This requires extensive collaboration among research institutes and universities of international standing in both countries, facilitating the exchange of experience and specialised resources,” he explained.   

Human resource development and the acceleration of technology transfer are other areas where both sides can work together, with Singapore’s world-class education and research institutions sharing its educational model, specialised training programmes, and hands-on managerial expertise with Vietnam.

The session concluded with a question-and-answer dialogue moderated by Mr Teo, with Mr Lâm addressing various topics, including how ASEAN youth can adapt to a volatile world.

Mr Lam’s visit to LKYSPP was followed by an event later that evening at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), where the Vietnamese delegation – joined by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat – was treated to a joint musical performance by the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra, and students from YST, who performed works by Vietnamese composers alongside well-known pieces from Western classical music repertoire.

In his welcome address, Professor Peter Tornquist, Dean of YST, said the performance was a celebration of the enduring friendship between Vietnam and Singapore and a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to deepening ties between both nations.

YST and the Vietnam National Academy of Music also signed an MOU on 13 March 2025. Apart from promoting joint research and development activities between both institutions, it will encourage exchanges among faculty, students and visiting artists, building on the growing collaboration between Singapore and Vietnam in music. The signing was witnessed by the Honourable Spouse Mdm Ngo Phuong Ly, who was present at the ceremony as Guest-of-Honour, along with other members of the delegation.

NUS is also set to expand the growing collaboration between Vietnam and Singapore with another initiative. A new start-up acceleration programme by NUS Enterprise called Univentures@BLOCK71 will help Vietnamese start-ups seize emerging opportunities and scale beyond local markets. The programme is supported by the Vietnam National Innovation Centre and Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, in partnership with Temasek Foundation.

By Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, Senior Lecturer from the Dept of Malay Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Suria News Online, 14 March 2025

By Dr Teo Kay Key, Research Fellow at IPS Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• CNA Online, 14 March 2025

By Dr Stefan Huebner, Senior Research Fellow from the Asia Research Institute at NUS

• CNA Online, 14 March 2025

By Prof (Practice) Mak Yuen Teen, Director of the Centre for Investor Protection, and Assoc Prof Susan See Tho, both from the Dept of Accounting and the Centre at the NUS Business School

• The Business Times, 14 March 2024, p16

• Lianhe Zaobao, 14 March 2024, Singapore, p6
• The Business Times, 17 March 2025, p18

By Dr Timothy Wong, Senior Lecturer from the Dept of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• CNA Online, 18 March 2025

• CNA, 11 March 2025
• 8world Online, 11 March 2025
• CNA938, 11 March 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 11 March 2025

By Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, Senior Lecturer from the Dept of Malay Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Berita Minggu, 9 March 2025, p12

By Adjunct Prof Chong Siow Ann, from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS

• The Sunday Times, 9 March 2025, Views, pA18

• zbSunday, 9 March 2025, News, p8

• The Sunday Times, 9 March 2025, Life, pC2 and pC3

• The Business Times, 13 March 2025, p18

• Channel 5 News, 12 March 2025
• CNA938, 12 March 2025
• Warna 94.2FM, 12 March 2025
• CNA Online, 12 March 2025
• 8world Online, 12 March 2025
• Suria News Online, 12 March 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 13 March 2025, Singapore, p11

• CNA Online, 12 March 2025
• The Straits Times, 13 March 2025, The Big Story, pA1 and pA6
• The Business Times, 13 March 2025, Front Page and p2
• Lianhe Zaobao, 13 March 2025, Focus, p4
• Lianhe Zaobao, 14 March 2025, Focus, p4
• Money 89.3FM, 14 March 2025
   

Creating integrated healthcare programmes, enabling older persons to be more active socially and physically, and strengthening trust and cohesion within the community are key efforts undertaken by Health District @ Queenstown (HD@QT) to promote purposeful and healthy longevity. Findings from a new study conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences reinforces HD@QT’s commitment towards a holistic and integrated approach to health and well-being.

Led by Associate Professor Jia Lile from the NUS Department of Psychology, the research team conducted the Baseline Study for Health District @ Queenstown using surveys, interviews and focus groups discussions to gain a comprehensive understanding of Queenstown residents’ well-being, health and health-related experiences. The team was also guided by Associate Professor Lim Yee Wei from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Professor Leonard Lee from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk at NUS and NUS Business School.

A major part of the Baseline Study consists of a multi-wave survey. Phase 1 of the survey was conducted from September 2023 to May 2024, engaging over 5,000 Queenstown residents from all walks of life; for example, participants are aged between 21 to 102 years old, and staying in various types of housing. Residents responded to questions pertaining to diverse domains such as productivity, physical and psychological well-being, and social cohesion.

Assoc Prof Jia said, “The Baseline Study is a pulse-taking project that adopts a bottom-up approach to engage residents, allowing us to hear their voices and gain a deeper understanding of their current needs and future aspirations. The insights gathered will serve as the foundation for future programmes. To ensure ongoing engagement, we are forming a resident panel to continuously gather insights into their evolving needs. Through this platform, we aim to co-develop programmes that best address and serve these needs.”

The results of the Baseline Study were shared by Senior Minister of State for National Development & Digital Development and Information Mr Tan Kiat How at the opening of Happy Village @ Mei Ling on 15 March 2025. This is a new community space that brings together health and social care partners, as well as volunteers, to holistically take care of health and well-being needs within the community.

At Happy Village @ Mei Ling, the National University Health System (NUHS) is piloting an innovative care model known as the Blended Care Team (BCT), which will work closely with residents to co-develop personalised care plans, seamlessly integrating health and social expertise with strong community engagement to improve the physical, mental and social well-being of residents living in the Mei Ling and Stirling neighbourhoods.

The Baseline Study and Happy Village @ Mei Ling are the latest initiatives under HD@QT, a multi-stakeholder collaboration led by NUS, NUHS and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), working closely with multiple partners from the public, private and people sectors.

Multiple well-being factors play a crucial role in shaping overall health

Based on the findings of the Baseline Study, NUS researchers deduced that overall health is influenced by various physical, mental and psychological well-being factors such as social connections, environment, productivity and engagement.

Integrated solutions in national health programmes that consider these various factors can enhance the health and well-being of individuals across their life stages, enabling them to lead more active and fulfilling lives. Notably, the multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary approach of HD@QT enables the development of sustainable solutions to increase healthy longevity, enable purposeful longevity, promote intergenerational bonding, and empower residents to age in place.

Older adults are mentally healthy but could benefit from increased social and physical activity

In the Baseline Study, most respondents above 65 years old reported that they have good mental health, while about two-thirds revealed that they do not actively participate in activities such as exercising, volunteering and learning.

To enable older persons to stay meaningfully engaged through community-led interactions, HD@QT has introduced initiatives such as the FaithActs x Ibasho Centre at Magaret Drive, a proactive effort to create a mindset change in society where older persons are valued for their potential to contribute to the community. Regular digital clinics and upcycling craft workshops have been organised for Queenstown residents of all ages to mingle and acquire new skills. In addition, students from NUS’ Residential College 4 and Queenstown Secondary have designed creative approaches such as food hunts, cooking, and mahjong sessions to encourage older persons in Queenstown and young people to bond.

Additionally, construction for the pilot Active Health Fitness Trail at Mei Ling has begun, and Build-To-Order developments in Queenstown are designed with wellness offerings to complement the existing amenities in Queenstown. A wellness hub comprising fitness equipment for circuit workouts will be built atop the multi-storey car park at Queen’s Arc, while Queensway Canopy will have roof gardens integrated with a jogging track, fitness stations and mini obstacle courses to encourage residents to incorporate exercise into their daily routines.

Holistic care for future well-being

The researchers found that among the respondents, 25 per cent of younger adults (between 21 and 34 years old) reported less than optimal health. Limited mobility and sensory impairment may also begin earlier than 50 years old.

NUHS launched Health Together in May 2023, a community initiative alongside with its partners to support the health and wellness needs of residents in the western region of Singapore by empowering them to take ownership of their well-being and stay healthy. In addition, initiatives such as Happy Village @ Mei Ling will provide social care and healthcare services to address older persons’ social and physical health holistically.

Improve employment support for mature workers

The Baseline Study found that amongst those aged 36 years old and above, more than half have sufficient savings for short-term needs, i.e. they have sufficient savings to sustain six or more months of expenses. However, the study also showed that full-time employment starts to decline from 50 years old, which indicate risks for future financial security. Community initiatives to improve financial literacy and provide better employment support could be explored.

Strengthen trust and cohesion within the community

75 per cent of respondents in the Baseline Study enjoy strong social support from family and friends. In addition, 60 per cent said they trusted most people in the neighbourhood. This highlights a strong foundation for social cohesion, which can be further reinforced through community-driven initiatives.

To further strengthen trust and cohesion within the community, residents could come together with stakeholders and researchers at community spaces such as the recently launched Come4TeaLah! community engagement hub to co-create solutions tailored to Queenstown’s unique needs, learn about healthier lifestyles and interact with people of all ages. In addition, residents could gather with the Queenstown Kakis, a community of neighbours who hope to build kampung spirit with activities and food in a safe space for residents to interact.

Findings from the Baseline Study will help the team identify the needs of residents and enable the assessment of the overall impact of HD@QT initiatives to improve physical, mental and social well-being for Queenstown residents in the future.

Phase 2 of the Baseline Study survey is currently underway and is targeted for completion by mid-2025. The researchers will be surveying the same group of respondents to monitor if there are changes to the earlier factors over time and they will also examine new factors such as financial literacy and caregiving.

By Dr Qi Dongtao, Senior Research Fellow from the East Asian Institute at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 11 March 2025, Focus, p10

By Yong Pung How Prof Ramkishen S Rajan from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Business Times, 11 March 2025, p16

• Lianhe Zaobao, 11 March 2025, Singapore, p8

One of the University’s largest events of the year, the NUS120 Open House 2025 held on 8 March 2025 saw over 21,000 visitors pack the Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campuses for a vibrant, informative and diverse showcase of what NUS has to offer.

Coinciding with NUS’ 120th anniversary this year, the event, which included a six-day virtual segment, provided a glimpse into the distinctive educational approach of Singapore’s first higher education institution and flagship university.

Kicking off the online segment from 1 to 6 March were virtual talks by the Office of Admissions that acquainted prospective students with the University’s educational offerings. These include over 60 bachelor’s degree programmes, interdisciplinary and flexible pathways, as well as opportunities for career development and global experiences. Talks, webinars and social media sessions by NUS Business School, NUS Law and the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health were among the other presentations that took place during the online Open House.

The on-campus event saw throngs of prospective students and parents turn up to explore the various facets of NUS’ academic and student life. From programme booths, talks and masterclasses, to student life performances, campus tours and residential showcases, visitors got a taste of the well-rounded experience at NUS.

Nicole Yeo, a graduate from River Valley High School, said, “The Open House has provided me a glimpse into the school culture and I managed to clear my doubts, enabling me to make a more informed decision about my applications.

“I found the booths the most informative as not only were the programme booklets useful, the faculty members and students there were very eager to share with me about their programmes and answer my queries,” said Nicole, who is considering majors in Environmental Studies, Geography and Environmental and Sustainability Engineering.

Engineering the future of robotics

This year, the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) introduced the new Bachelor of Engineering in Robotics and Machine Intelligence, which will receive its first intake in August, at a combined talk for the Robotics & Machine Intelligence, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, and Systems Engineering programmes.

Prospective students learnt how the new robotics engineering specialisation will equip students with versatile skillsets that integrate mechanical, electrical and computer engineering with data science and artificial intelligence. Associate Professor Peter Chan also shared how the programme will prepare students for the future of intelligent robotics, through careers in industries such as defence, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and consumer electronics.

Pavithra Kannan from Raffles Institution, who plans to apply to Mechanical Engineering, found the talk informative. “I managed to learn about the course and possible career prospects. It was interesting to see how diverse the curriculum could be considering you can take different minors and specialisations to truly customise your own curriculum,” she said.

Over at CDE’s talk for Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Industrial Design, lecturers elaborated on the depth and breadth of the comprehensive curricula, faculty expertise, and career prospects for graduates, giving prospective students a well-rounded idea of the diverse skillsets and capabilities they will acquire.

Getting an edge in AI

Making its debut at the Computing showcase was the new Bachelor of Computing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) degree programme, also launching in August. Providing a strong foundation in mathematics, computer science and AI fundamentals, it will enable students to pursue specialisations in areas like robotics, computer vision and bioinformatics, opening doors to careers as AI engineers, machine learning engineers and data scientists.

Students also heard about the Bachelor in Business AI Systems programme. A revamp of the Information Systems degree, it involves solving business problems with AI systems and digital innovation. The programme offers three specialisations – AI governance and management, digital product and platform management, and financial technology – as well as internships with start-ups and multinational companies. 

A convergence of humanities and sciences

The College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), comprising the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) held talks throughout the day on its extensive range of programmes spanning the sciences, social sciences, humanities and languages.

Life Sciences – one of the biggest majors within CHS – presented its comprehensive programme that offers students the option of two specialisations: Biomedical Sciences; and Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity. Along with a range of minors like Aquatic Ecology and Forensic Science, it aims to nurture versatile scientists for careers in fields such as biotechnology, food security and environmental sustainability.

The joint programme talks organised by FASS included a Geography and Global Studies session that compared the two programmes. Highlighting their shared multidisciplinary approach, it contrasted Geography’s focus on the environment and society with Global Studies’ close examination of globalisation’s effects, emphasising the differing skill sets and career paths.   

Interdisciplinary insights

Along with talks and college tours, NUS College, Singapore’s first honours college, hosted special classes to showcase its stimulating interdisciplinary curriculum.

In Dr Roweena Yip’s class, “Tragedy, Culture, and Society”, students examined how societies are transformed by tragic events, using art, literature and pop culture to analyse the concept through historical, political and emotional dimensions. During Dr Chan Kiat Hwa’s class on nuclear waste and their implications on safety and acceptance, students explored the scientific basis of nuclear energy, the different approaches for storage and disposal, and the profound challenge of warning future generations of the long-term risks present in nuclear waste sites.

Prospective students also explored various avenues for artistic expression. In line with the new Arts For All framework, which aims to integrate the arts more deeply into student life and the academic journey at NUS, the myriad of opportunities for participation in the arts were discussed at a talk by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.

Various second major programmes and academic pathways were shared, such as the Second Major in Audio Arts and Sciences, which develops students into skilled audio engineers and sound designers with both technical expertise and an understanding of music. Prospective students also heard about the NUS Centre for the Arts’ Second Major in Performing Arts, which prepares students for careers not only in the performing arts but in the arts industry and beyond, through real-world performance experience and vocational learning.

Those interested in starting a healthcare career had the chance to discover NUS’ academic programmes in Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy and gain insights from alumni in the industry about their professional journeys. Pharmacy, which offers the only degree programme in Singapore training undergraduates as registered pharmacists, held a talk discussing the multi-faceted roles of pharmacists across different sectors, from healthcare and research to manufacturing and regulation. Nursing’s immersive special class employed virtual reality simulations and hands-on training using a mannequin, giving students the chance to try their hand at various clinical procedures.

At Bukit Timah Campus, students joined Law's ever-popular mock moot and attended masterclasses on legal topics such as criminal justice and international arbitration.

NUS’ strong entrepreneurial culture was also underscored through NUS Enterprise’s showcase of key initiatives like NUS Overseas Colleges, NUS Enterprise Summer and Winter Programmes in Entrepreneurship, and BLOCK71, highlighting the University’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the many opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to tap on its networks.

For the first time, the programme included a fireside chat featuring Olympic champion Joseph Schooling, which saw him share about his life journey and emphasise the importance of self-belief, family support, and taking calculated risks. He also credited his Olympic achievement to dedication and pushing boundaries— attributes that are core to entrepreneurship.

Spotlight on student and campus life

Visitors at the Student Village were treated to a vibrant kaleidoscope of performances and showcases from diverse student clubs and interest groups, featuring some of NUS’ brightest talents in the performing arts. Serenading visitors across a range of genres including pop, rock, indie and R&B were the Sheares Band and Raffles Hall’s acapella group RHythm, along with other acts.

The performances and activities gave visitors a taste of NUS life beyond academics, driving home the mission of NUS’ latest NUSOne initiative, which aims to encourage greater self-directed personal growth and development among students, as well as synergise the University’s formal classroom learning with out-of-classroom experiences.

Masters, Resident Fellows, and student leaders from the Residential Colleges (RC), Halls, and Houses were also present to offer prospective students the inside scoop through talks, sample classes and guided tours.

NUS’ two newest residential units also made their debut at this year’s Open House. Valour House showcased its active and inclusive culture with an informative booth and exciting games and prizes. Acacia College, an upcoming RC focusing on artificial and human intelligences, shared how students will explore the relationship between AI and all facets of life and work while acquiring AI-related skills.

Besides engaging prospective students with anecdotes of on-campus living and information on their signature initiatives and pastoral care, the hostels also showcased the diverse student life and interest groups available, such as the uplifting band performances by the College of Alice and Peter Tan and Tembusu College.

Amber Lee, a graduate of Victoria Junior College who is considering Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) and Tembusu College, found the RC booths helpful. “There were many professors and students in the programme enthusiastically answering my questions of anything and everything about the RC, such as the professor at the RVRC booth who gave me a very thorough breakdown of modules and type of content taught at RVRC.”

Professor Ashok Venkitaraman, who is Director of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore), Distinguished Professor of Medicine at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Research Director at the Agency for Science, Technology & Research’s (A*STAR) Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, has been elected to the 2025 class of Fellows of the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy. Standings among an exceptional group of 33 newly inducted Fellows this year, he is honoured for his pioneering contributions to cancer research.

Prof Venkitaraman’s research has elucidated the tumour suppressive functions of the hereditary breast cancer gene, BRCA2, in genome maintenance. His work has been instrumental in uncovering the mechanisms responsible for carcinogenesis in BRCA2 mutation carriers, and advancing technologies to accelerate drug discovery, thereby establishing a foundation for the development of novel cancer therapies.

“I am deeply honoured to be elected to the AACR Academy, the world’s oldest and largest cancer research organisation. It is a great privilege to join such a distinguished group of global colleagues who have made transformative contributions for the lasting benefit of patients,” said Prof Venkitaraman.

He added, “This recognition is not mine alone—it also felicitates the achievements of a far-flung family of staff, students, fellows, and collaborators in my team whose contributions and camaraderie have made my work possible. It also underscores the excellence of research conducted at CSI Singapore, made possible through the generous support of our funders and donors. I am proud to be part of the remarkable scientific community at NUS and A*STAR in Singapore, and remain committed to advancing discoveries that improve patient outcomes worldwide.”

The AACR Academy honours outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions in driving innovation and progress in the fight against cancer. Fellows of the AACR Academy serve as a global brain trust of leading experts in cancer science and medicine, working to advance the AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, collaboration, communication, advocacy, and funding for cancer research.

Fellows of the AACR Academy are nominated and elected through a meticulous peer-reviewed process that rigorously evaluates each candidate’s scientific achievements and contributions to the global cancer research community. Scientists whose work have made a deep and lasting impact on cancer research and related fields are considered for election and induction into the AACR Academy.

“The 2025 class of Fellows of the AACR Academy perfectly exemplifies the pinnacle of scientific innovation and excellence, with their collective scientific contributions fundamentally advancing our understanding of cancer biology and treatment. We are thrilled to welcome them to our distinguished group of Fellows of the AACR Academy, now numbering 375, and look forward to celebrating their groundbreaking achievements at our upcoming Annual Meeting in April 2025,” said AACR Chief Executive Officer Dr Margaret Foti.

By Xiao Siming, an undergraduate student majoring in Economics and Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 March 2025, Opinion, p22

By Dr Lance Gore Liangping, Senior Research Fellow from the East Asian Institute at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 March 2025, Opinion, p22

NUS has been placed among the global top 10 for 22 subjects and top 20 for 36 subjects, according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS WUR) by Subject 2025 released on 12 March 2025. This marks the highest-ever number of NUS subjects to be ranked among the global top 10.

Notably, NUS boasts six subjects ranking top five in the world. History of Art retained its global number two ranking, while Civil & Structural Engineering as well as Social Policy & Administration both climbed to third place worldwide, reaffirming NUS’ excellence in these fields. Chemical Engineering, Computer Science & Information Systems and Electrical & Electronic Engineering secured fourth place globally.

Nursing made its debut in the global top 10, jumping 12 places to eighth. Pharmacy & Pharmacology also saw a significant improvement, advancing six places to share the eighth spot.

Steady improvements across the board

Among the five broad faculty areas, NUS has achieved a global top 10 position for Social Sciences and Management and a top 20 position for Engineering and Technology. Over the past three years, the University saw a consistent improvement in the rankings across all broad faculty areas, reflecting the University’s strong interdisciplinary focus.

Professor Aaron Thean, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, said: “We are immensely proud that NUS has achieved its best-ever performance this year in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, with 22 subjects in the global top 10, and 36 subjects in global top 20. The results reflect the University’s consistent trajectory of excellence, with steady improvements in education and research across disciplines over the years. 

In particular, our strong performance across STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Humanities subjects underscores the deep expertise and interdisciplinary approach that define NUS. This achievement is the result of the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. As we continue to push boundaries in research, innovation, and education, we remain committed to nurturing future-ready graduates and contributing meaningfully to Singapore and the world.”

NUS leads the pack locally, with three out of five entries from Singapore in world’s top three

The QS WUR by Subject is an independent comparative analysis of the reputation and research output of more than 21,000 academic offerings across 55 subjects and five broad faculty areas. In the 2025 edition, 5,200 institutions from 148 locations were analysed with rankings published for 1,747 institutions.

Mr Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President at QS, said: “Singapore shines in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with four entries breaking into the global top three for the first time—highlighting the nation’s rise as a leading hub for world-class education and research.”

According to QS, nearly one-third (30 per cent) of Singapore’s 114 ranked entries secured top 10 positions in their respective subjects—an unparalleled achievement that sets the nation apart from all other countries and territories.

“With just six universities contributing 114 ranked entries—including 12 in the broad faculty areas—Singapore consistently outperforms its scale. Despite its relatively small system, it competes at the highest level globally, delivering excellence in teaching, research, and graduate outcomes,” Mr Sowter added.

Overall, NUS is represented in 41 subjects and five broad faculty areas, highlighting its extensive academic reach and strength in multidisciplinary education and research.

By Dr Fadzil Hamzah, Community Director for the SingHealth Duke-NUS Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre

• Berita Harian, 10 March 2025, p11

• The Straits Times, 10 March 2025, Singapore, pA16

• The Straits Times, 10 March 2025, Singapore, pA16

• The Straits Times, 10 March 2025, World, pA7

By Huang Jiaqi, a student from the Dept of Chinese Language at the Faulty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 8 March 2025, Opinion, p14

• 8world Online, 7 March 2025

By Dr Samer Elhajjar, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Marketing at NUS Business School

• CNA Online, 6 March 2025

By Yong Pung How Prof Ramkishen S. Rajan, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Business Times, 6 March 2025, p17

By Prof Teo Yik Ying, NUS Vice President for Global Health and Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS

• The Straits Times, 6 March 2025, Opinion, pB1 & B2

By NUS Business School students, Lee Kah Shing Vanessa, Prissha Nair, Quah Shi Ting, Tan Ethan John and Tang Shaojun Samuel

• The Business Times, 6 March 2025, p18

• The Straits Times, 6 March 2025, Singapore, pA15

Picture this: you wake up on a bright and sunny Wednesday and it’s time for class. All morning you sit attentively in front of the screen and take notes, occasionally checking with your friends when the professor introduces new terms. When the clock strikes twelve, you collect your items, stuff them into your bag and head to the nearest canteen.

After lunch, there is a surprising twist: instead of going to your next class, you head to a family service centre to meet your mentees, whom you’ve been getting to know over the past few weeks. Laughter and fun ensue during the tutoring session, complete with games, quizzes and hard work on both sides, and the day ends on a high note. The best part? Volunteering at the centre counts towards your graduation requirements.

This is not a new concept for students at NUS, many of whom have chosen to participate in initiatives like Teach Singapore (Teach SG) to mentor children and youth from disadvantaged families. Part of a range of community engagement activities under NUSOne, Teach SG aims to promote social mobility and inclusiveness by providing access to positive role models and enhancing learning opportunities.

NUSOne is a new initiative that started in August 2024 and aims to broaden students’ access to and encourage their participation in a wide range of out-of-classroom activities. As part of efforts to transform higher education, it elevates the emphasis on student life activities and develops well-rounded, resilient and dynamic individuals who can thrive and flourish during and beyond their time at University.

Another example is the “Dabble & Discover” (D&D) series, which comprises a variety of workshops ranging from coffee mindfulness to a learn-to-play series on Wednesday afternoons. One such workshop was The Gimbap Roll-volution - Its History & Nutrition, organised by NUS Libraries in collaboration with BeyondFST Classroom (a student society from the Department of Food Science and Technology) and Good Day Café at the Medicine+Science Library. Participants learned about the role of gimbap (Korean rice rolls wrapped in seaweed) in Korean culture, its nutritional benefits and how to roll it. They were also given a primer on how to discover the authoritative resources on food science and technology in NUS Libraries’ collections. Other D&D activities – comprising sports, arts, wellness, and leadership workshops – also offer students opportunities to explore new interests, develop self-awareness, and build friendships.

Beyond a designated day for holistic experiences, opportunities to serve have also been embedded in an informal capacity. The NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine)’s Health, Humanitarian, and Leadership (HHL) Programme provides a space outside the formal curriculum for students to transform their ideas into real-world interventions for underserved communities, empowering them to lead service-learning projects that make a real-world impact.

Project Health Empowerment for Youth (HEY) is a community health initiative by the NUS Medical Society comprising students from various faculties including NUS Medicine, the School of Computing, and the College of Design and Engineering. They aim to enhance the awareness of primary school students on the importance of both physical and mental well-being. 

Together with families, teachers, and friends, HEY members act as pillars of support for these students, “elder brothers and sisters” with whom they can share concerns and challenges that may otherwise be difficult to express. Several workshops have been successfully conducted, with the students participating in health screening sessions and mini games which cover topics such as diet, exercise, phone usage, and environmental awareness. Learning journeys to various locations have also enabled them to forge stronger mentor-mentee bonds.

Founding Project Director of HEY and third-year NUS Medicine student Collin Chu shared that he had been inspired by Teach SG, where he served as a mentor in his first year. “We recognise that primary school students juggle various demands, such as their academics and co-curricular activities, and we hope Project HEY can provide them with useful strategies and resources to adopt a healthier lifestyle,” Collin said. 

“Through HEY, my team and I have learned about the importance of communication not only within the team, but also with beneficiaries and community organisations, as each stakeholder has unique needs and ideas. Moreover, as role models, fostering a conducive learning environment is integral to gaining mentees’ trust, especially when they are still at an early stage of life and require more guidance and support. The experience with HEY has strengthened our motivation to create a positive and sustainable impact,” he added.

SIGNapse is another service-learning initiative that is making an impact. It started as an interest group among NUS Medicine students and has now grown into a thriving initiative spanning six disciplines in NUS: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Social Work, and Psychology. Since its inception in 2016, SIGNapse has been dedicated to equipping future healthcare professionals with a foundational knowledge of Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) and a deeper appreciation of Deaf culture. SIGNapse works to bridge communication gaps between the Deaf and hearing communities through structured learning, immersive experiences, and advocacy.

One of SIGNapse’s key initiatives is the provision of Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) classes. In line with NUSOne’s move to encourage out-of-classroom learning, the classes are scheduled on Wednesday afternoons and are open to the wider NUS student body. Conducted in collaboration with NUS Enablers (a student interest group promoting accessibility and inclusivity for students with accessibility needs on campus) and led by trained Deaf instructors from Equal Dreams (a social business that provides consultancy, services and training for disability inclusion and accessibility), these classes emphasise the deep connection between language, identity, and inclusion.

In addition, SIGNapse hosts interactive half-day exposure workshops together with The Singapore Association For The Deaf (SADeaf), designed to introduce participants to Deaf culture and communication, with discussions on Deaf identity, the importance of inclusive communication, and hands-on SgSL practice. SIGNapse has also worked with SADeaf to launch the "In Another Shoes" video campaign, an ongoing initiative which features interviews with Deaf representatives who work closely with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) community. Through personal stories, the campaign highlights the everyday challenges Deaf individuals face, the crucial role of interpreters and the significance of inclusive communication in healthcare settings.

Almost a year on, NUSOne has already made a remarkable impact on students’ university experience. Associate Professor Wong Mun Loke, NUS’ Associate Provost for Integrated Education said, “These [out-of-classroom] activities allow them to explore new areas of interest and develop life skills such as communication, teamwork, adaptability. Together with their academic studies, this broader exposure on campus allows them to embrace a more holistic educational experience and enhance their future-readiness after graduation.”

Keen to kickstart a vibrant student life? Find out more about admission to NUS at this link.

Neuroscience is a fast-evolving discipline that closely intersects with other fields - including immunology, metabolism, cancer, and more recently, artificial intelligence (AI) – driving new discoveries and innovations. These intersections reflect the importance of global collaboration in neuroscience, as researchers integrate emerging technologies like AI and computational models into their research.

Amidst this backdrop, the NeuroFrontiers Symposium, held from 21 to 22 January 2025 at the NUS University Cultural Centre, brought together top neuroscience researchers, stakeholders, and students from the USA, China and Singapore, providing a dynamic platform for advancing global collaboration in brain research, particularly through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. The inaugural symposium was organised by the NUS Life Sciences Institute’s Neurobiology Research Programme in collaboration with IDG Capital, the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the McGovern Institute in Beijing Normal University, Peking University and Tsinghua University. It was sponsored by The Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute, IDG Capital (Singapore), and McGovern Institute.

“We are honoured to host this symposium and facilitate meaningful discussions among global experts in neuroscience and AI from MIT, China and Singapore, providing, a platform for enhanced global collaboration,” said Distinguished Professor Barry Halliwell from the Department of Biochemistry at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Programme Leader of the Neurobiology Research Programme at the NUS Life Sciences Institute.

“This symposium will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the future of neuroscience, shaping the direction of research and accelerating breakthroughs for years to come,” said NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye in his welcome remarks.

Fostering global collaboration in neuroscience

Themed ‘Bridging Molecules, Minds, and AI systems’, the symposium underscored the critical role of cross-border partnerships in tackling grand challenges in neuroscience and AI. More than 240 participants attended the event, including leading experts in computational neuroscience, AI, and neural engineering. Key sessions of the symposium, such as keynote talks, panel discussions, and poster presentations, fostered collaboration and inspired new research initiatives.

Ms Lore McGovern, Co-founder and Board Member of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, echoed the vital role of global collaboration, stating that "science and research collaboration reign above pretty much everything else” and that real power comes from “collaboration, respect, and friendship”.

Sessions at the symposium revolved around advancing global collaboration in neuroscience, particularly through emerging technologies like AI and computational models to drive brain research. The symposium also provided the opportunity for neuroscience researchers to present their work during the poster sessions, which generated enthusiastic discussions amongst participants.

Participants also appreciated the chance to engage in insightful discussions with leading neuroscience and AI experts during the panel discussions. One of the panel discussions, chaired by Prof Halliwell, covered the topic “Healthcare Impacts of Neuroscience”. The session highlighted breakthroughs in neuroimaging, brain-computer interfaces, and AI-driven diagnostics, emphasising the urgent need to revolutionise mental health care to better serve an ageing population.

Exploring intelligence, ethics, and the future of neuroscience and AI

Another highlight of the NeuroFrontiers Symposium was a panel discussion on “AI Implications in Neuroscience”, featuring leading global experts from psychology, computational neuroscience, and computer engineering.  

One of the panellists, Associate Professor Thomas Yeo Boon Thye from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, highlighted his work, which uses machine learning to develop individualised brain networks for precision psychiatry. He shared, “The hope is that we can use these individual-level networks for personalised brain stimulation and better treatment outcomes.”

Other leading experts, such as Professor Tomaso Poggio from MIT, Professor Wu Si from Peking University, Associate Professor Jia Xiaoxuan from Tsinghua University, and Professor Liu Chao from Beijing Normal University, also shared their perspectives on AI’s role in neuroscience research, the potential and limitations of brain-inspired computing, and the ethical concerns surrounding AI-driven intelligence.

The panelists agreed that while AI technologies such as deep learning have made rapid progress, understanding the human brain remains crucial for guiding AI’s development and addressing its shortcomings. Another key focus of the discussion was AI’s potential to advance neuroscience by improving brain modelling, disease prediction, and cognitive research. The panel concluded with a reflection on the ethical and societal implications of AI and the need for AI alignment.

Expanding global collaborations in brain research

The NeuroFrontiers Symposium successfully fostered meaningful dialogues and set the stage for deeper international partnerships in neuroscience and AI research. As AI technologies and brain science increasingly converge, global collaborations will be instrumental in driving the future of neuroscience innovation.

By Asst Prof Yvette van der Eijk at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS

• CNA Online, 5 March 2025

By Prof Sing Tien Foo, Provost's Chair Professor at the Dept of Real Estate at NUS Business School

• Lianhe Zaobao, 5 March 2025, Focus, p18

By Dr Kyle Tan, Adj Asst Prof from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS

• CNA Online, 4 March 2025

By Assoc Prof Mak Yuen Teen from the Department of Accounting at NUS Business School

• CNA Online, 4 March 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao, 4 March 2025, Singapore, p10

• Lianhe Zaobao, 4 March 2025, Singapore, p9

By Dr Kalpana Vignehsa, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Straits Times, 3 March 2025, Opinion, pB4 

• Tamil Murasu Online, 3 March 2025

• Tamil Murasu, 3 March 2025, p3

AutoCodeRover, an autonomous AI agent platform for software development which is a spin-off technology of the National University of Singapore (NUS), has been acquired by Sonar, a global leader in code quality and code security solutions. This innovative technology was developed by Professor Abhik Roychoudhury and his team from NUS School of Computing (NUS Computing).

The acquisition highlights the real-world impact of NUS’ research with the innovative platform boosting Sonar’s AI-agent-based code development, driving innovation in software engineering and agentic AI. This exciting partnership will also create new research and development (R&D) jobs in Singapore.

Enhancing the capabilities and efficiency of software developers

Automating software engineering tasks has long been a vision among software developers. Over the past decades, significant progress has been made to enhance developers' capabilities and efficiency by automating parts of the software development process.

AutoCodeRover is among the first AI agent platforms to combine state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs) with sophisticated code search capabilities to automatically solve software engineering issues. It automates key steps in the software development lifecycle, such as debugging, issue remediation, and code refactoring, enabling developers to address real-world engineering challenges more efficiently. This, in turn, accelerates software development lifecycle and reduces time-to-market. It is designed to work with a variety of AI language models, giving users the flexibility to choose the solution that best fits their needs.

By combining powerful LLMs with advanced code search capabilities, AutoCodeRover excels across multiple dimensions of software issue remediation. It ranks among the top three in the SWE-Bench evaluations, the most comprehensive benchmark for testing AI coding agents’ software issue remediation capability. With an average modest cost of S$0.80 (US$0.60) and a short runtime of 6.5 minutes, versus 2.68 days by a typical human developer, for each issue, it is a highly cost-effective agent for practical deployment at scale.

Prof Roychoudhury, co-founder of AutoCodeRover, commented, “By automating routine tasks, AutoCodeRover enables developers to dedicate more time to innovation and creative problem-solving, accelerating the delivery of high-quality applications.”

“At Sonar, we are committed to helping developers build better, faster by embracing new technologies and tools, like agentic AI. The work done by Professor Roychoudhury and the whole AutoCodeRover team is fundamentally redefining what it means to be a software engineer,” said Mr Tariq Shaukat, CEO of Sonar. “With AutoCodeRover, we’ll enable millions of developers and enterprises to accelerate development, improve code reviews, lower development costs, and free up developer time so they can focus more on creating and building. We’re excited to be bringing this to life through an expansion of our operations in Singapore, and continued collaboration with NUS and the Trustworthy and Secure Software research group led by Professor Roychoudhury.”

Fueling AI innovation and job opportunities

One of the key highlights of this acquisition is Sonar’s plan to establish an R&D team in Singapore, creating 15 R&D jobs between 2025 and 2026. The team will be led by Dr Ridwan Shariffdeen, CEO and co-founder of AutoCodeRover, and former NUS PhD student in Prof Roychoudhury’s Trustworthy and Secure Software research group in NUS Computing.

“This partnership is a win for both NUS and the broader tech ecosystem in Singapore,” said Prof Roychoudhury, who will also serve as Sonar’s Senior Advisor, providing guidance on AI-based software and security of AI-based code. “Not only are we creating R&D jobs locally, we are also transitioning NUS’ cutting-edge research in AI and Software Engineering for software developers. By collaborating with Sonar, we gain valuable feedback from their large global customer base, which enriches our research and ensures the relevance of our work to industry needs. This also allows us to truly dream and define the software landscape of tomorrow, right here, from NUS.”

The integration of AutoCodeRover into Sonar’s ecosystem marks a transformative shift in software development, enabling developers to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. As the world embraces AI-driven solutions, NUS remains at the forefront of innovation, delivering cutting-edge technologies that transform industries and improve lives.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has received a generous gift of S$200,000 from global F&B leader Food Empire to nurture future innovators for the food and beverage sector through education. The gift will be used to establish the “Food Empire Food Science & Technology Bursary” to provide financial support for undergraduates at the NUS Faculty of Science pursuing Food Science and Technology as a major. By providing these students with the resources to pursue their passion and excel in their studies, the Bursary will empower these aspiring food scientists to unlock their full potential and emerge as the next generation of industry leaders.

"We are deeply grateful to Food Empire for their generous gift, which will create a transformative impact on the lives of our students. We are committed to preparing our students to become innovative leaders capable of tackling tomorrow’s food challenges, and industry partnerships like this are invaluable in realising this vision. We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Food Empire to expand opportunities for our students and drive groundbreaking advancements in food science research," said Professor Zhou Weibiao, Head of the NUS Department of Food Science and Technology (NUS FST).

Beyond providing financial support for students, Food Empire will also explore research collaborations with NUS FST, creating pathways for innovation that will benefit students, as well as the broader industry and consumers.

Mr Tan Wang Cheow, Executive Chairman of Food Empire, said: “The Bursary enables us to give back to the community by providing financial assistance to students who have shown great potential and a strong interest in pursuing a career in our field, and creating opportunities for skills development and innovation for them. We hope our support will inspire the next generation of industry leaders to achieve new breakthroughs in food sciences that will raise Singapore’s profile in the global food and beverage industry.”

This Bursary is just a slice of Food Empire’s hearty commitment to social responsibility. The company actively contributes to the community through various initiatives, for example, staff from Food Empire had volunteered to clean, declutter, and repaint the home of a beneficiary of non-profit organisation Helping Joy. The company had also supported Singapore’s 59th National Day celebrations in the heartlands.

Through these community initiatives and the establishment of the Bursary, Food Empire exemplifies its commitment to driving meaningful social impact. By investing in education today, the company is laying the foundation for a future driven by innovation and excellence in food science and technology, ensuring that Singapore remains at the forefront of the global F&B industry.

Every brand has a story, and sometimes, it is just that – a story. But in the luxury market, a good brand story is key to winning over wealthy and discerning customers, especially as a newcomer competing against established brands.

At an event hosted by the NUS Business School and the JY Pillay Comparative Asia Research Centre under NUS Global Asia Institute on 19 February 2025, Mr Akio Naito, President of Seiko Watch Corporation and Senior Executive Vice President of Seiko Group Corporation, shared with about 100 attendees how brand storytelling helped the Japanese watchmaker to successfully break into the global luxury watch market, long dominated by Swiss watchmakers with loyal followings.

The event titled “Building a Luxury Brand from Japan – Grand Seiko” was part of the Asian Business Series by the Strategic Relations office of the NUS Business School, which invites senior executives from various industries to share insights on topics ranging from macroeconomics to business trends and global issues. About 30 such events have taken place since the series began in 2016, featuring top corporate leaders from local and international businesses including DBS, YouTrip, Google, Cartier, McKinsey & Company, and Disney.

As a key executive who oversaw Grand Seiko’s global expansion, Mr Naito was an ideal speaker who could inspire the NUS community with the story of how an Asian brand can succeed in the global market, said Associate Professor Joel Goh, Director of the JY Pillay Comparative Asia Research Centre.

“What was intriguing to us about Grand Seiko as a brand is how it has managed to carve a place for itself amidst this very challenging environment,” he said. “Moreover, it has done far more than just to ‘survive,’ but instead, has thrived by developing a unique branding approach and global growth strategy.”

Refocus on culture and heritage

Grand Seiko made its global debut in 2010 but struggled for several years to make headway in the US, its first major market outside of Japan. Mr Naito, who was placed in charge of the global expansion in 2016, realised that a different approach was needed to rise above the commodity segment, where the parent brand Seiko was known for affordable wristwatches, and move into the luxury segment where Grand Seiko could compete against the top Swiss watch brands.

“In commodity products, consumers compare different products on the basis of their functional value and pricing, so that cost or monetary value of the product is the element on which consumers make their purchasing choices,” said Mr Naito.

“On the other hand, in the luxury category, what is important is a brand story or signature story that emphasises the people behind the brand, the place where the brand was born and nurtured, and the history of the brand. Fans won't really compare their favourite brand against other brands on the basis of function or pricing.”

In 2018, the group established a company to handle Grand Seiko products exclusively, positioning Grand Seiko as a distinct brand and shifting the marketing focus away from the functional value of qualities like ease of use, durability, accuracy, and legibility to the emotional value of the history and heritage behind the product.

The decision paid off and while the brand does not disclose numbers, the group saw “significant and rapid expansion of Grand Seiko sales outside of Japan” from 2018, Mr Naito said.

Since 2019, it has been cultivating a brand philosophy called “The Nature of Time,” which emphasises both the essence of watchmaking and the Japanese forests, mountains, and lakes that surround its watchmaking studios and inspire Grand Seiko’s watch designs.

Grand Seiko’s Japanese heritage also figures large in its next phase of expansion as it looks to reach a broader market beyond traditional watch enthusiasts. Seiko has created videos showcasing Japanese culture, such as a five-minute video capturing the soundscape of modern Tokyo and a longer film called “The Gift of Time” that demonstrates the concept of time in the context of Japanese culture and tradition.

“We are targeting those customers who may be interested in Japan but not necessarily the watch world, drawing the interest of especially the young audience to see this interesting movie,” Mr Naito said. “This is the upper funnel (of the funnel marketing strategy) that will lead them to the lower funnel to eventually, hopefully become interested in Grand Seiko.”

In response to a question from an audience member about the challenges of marketing the understated Japanese-style watches to consumers who are used to more flashy designs from European brands, Mr Naito shared that the brand is benefitting from growing interest in Japan and a trend towards “quiet luxury” as opposed to ostentatious displays of wealth.

“Many of our young Grand Seiko fans do not want to follow what their fathers or parents' generations worship as prestigious luxury brands,” he said. “They would like to explore and collect information online and find out what's the true value in that brand.”

Asked by another audience member whether Grand Seiko will incorporate more digital capabilities into its watches to tap into the demand for smartwatches, Mr Naito revealed that Grand Seiko intends to steer clear of competing with smartwatches despite the exponential growth in that market.

This is because while Seiko prides itself on being at the forefront of watch technology, having launched world-firsts like the first quartz wristwatch, TV watch, and GPS solar watch, it does not have the software and communication technology capabilities needed for a smartwatch and would have to rely on outside providers to supply those components.

He has also observed that the smartwatch industry has become commoditised and prices are falling as cheap versions and quasi-smart watches flood the market. Meanwhile, the average price of high-end luxury Swiss watches has been increasing despite a decline in overall luxury watch sales volumes, indicating that there is more potential in the high-end luxury segment.

“Staying well away from the smart market has positioned us into a more high-end luxury segment to appeal to customers with the history and heritage of Grand Seiko. That, I think, is our core advantage as a brand,” Mr Naito said.

When World War II ended in 1945, the world learnt an important lesson: Countries need to be held accountable for their actions, and domestic laws and courts alone were insufficient to perform this role.

Subsequently, a large number of international treaties were signed and institutions set up. These included the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1945, the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and a network of international trade and investment treaties.

“The lofty aim was that more international law would foster global peace, economic cooperation, human rights and prosperity,” said Professor Stavros Brekoulakis in his inaugural lecture, Law and the Expansion of Politics: The Case of International Arbitration, on 20 February 2025.

Prof Brekoulakis, a leading global authority on international arbitration, is the first Chair appointed under the Michael and Laura Hwang Professorship in International Arbitration for an initial three-year term. He began his tenure at the NUS Faculty of Law in February 2024.

In his 45-minute lecture, he took the audience—which included Dr Michael Hwang SC, his wife Laura, along with about 200 legal academics, practitioners, and students—through the historical impact of international law on the global order, and its decline today as nations withdraw from international treaties.

Expanding the space where law and politics intersect

“Should a private international tribunal decide whether a decision of a foreign government on matters concerning its economy, public health and environment is lawful under international law?” Prof Brekoulakis asked in rhetoric, suggesting that while previously most people would have answered this question with a resounding ‘yes’, today a critical mass is likely to say that government decisions on public policy are essentially political questions that should be left to the discretion of the government.

The pushback against global rules and law is a result of countries finding themselves increasingly subjected to scrutiny by international tribunals on a wide range of matters.

“While initially the questions referred to international tribunals were relatively straightforward… there came a point where arbitrators were routinely asked to decide fundamental questions of public policy, including how states should respond to pandemics or to financial and climate crises,” noted Prof Brekoulakis.

“How can three people (from a private international tribunal) decide important questions of public policy? How can they hold damages of hundreds of millions against the state?”

Some solutions have been proposed, such as relooking the appointment of international arbitrators, or amending certain laws to provide states with more space to regulate their affairs. But these suggestions still “aim to preserve the status quo, and are underpinned by the familiar idea that a state’s decision of policy should be subject to international law and a system of independent justice”, he observed.

As a result, the current state of “unabashed international law is unsustainable, as political contestation always catches up with the law”, he concluded. Yet, this system cannot be dismantled as states should still be accountable to a system of independent justice that can act as a check and balance.

As the concept of public interest is one that transcends disciplines, he proposed that international law should adopt an interdisciplinary approach that involves contributions from diverse disciplines including political science, economics, sociology, public policy and environmental studies.

“We need to work across disciplines, and develop a coherent theory of public policy for the purpose of assessing questions about whether the protection of international public law and investment laws are sufficient,” he said.

Responding to a question from the audience on how the transition in international law would look like, he said: “We still need to understand how to develop another system that will account for public interest more effectively. That is one of the immediate tasks—then we can see how we can insert more interdisciplinarity into the decision-making process.”

Another audience member asked if Prof Brekoulakis’ proposal of a multi-disciplinary system would still run into the same issues confronting international arbitration today. To that, he replied: “Even if we left the legal principles today as they are…if we had the views of economists, of political scientists, and of sociologists, I believe that we might have come to a better outcome in many cases.”

A gift to nurture excellence

Prof Brekoulakis’ vision for arbitration as an integrated discipline of research, teaching and practice is aligned with the interdisciplinary approach that NUS Law believes in, noted Professor Andrew Simester, Dean of NUS Law, in his earlier welcome address.

“That is what we do—research-led teaching that treats the law as a living problem,” said Prof Simester, adding that NUS Law is very happy to have Prof Brekoulakis on board.

The Michael and Laura Hwang Professorship in International Arbitration was set up with a S$2 million endowment gift from Dr Hwang, an internationally recognised arbitrator and Senior Counsel.

Addressing the audience, Mrs Hwang said that the idea began from a family dinner where they agreed that the family’s philanthropy efforts should reflect Dr Hwang’s achievements in law and arbitration. “We are happy to be able to fund an endeavour that will help others attain excellence in these fields,” she said.

Dr Hwang said his wife had encouraged him to make the gift as a memorial of his commitment to the development of international arbitration in Singapore. “It is also an advance gift from me to my wife in celebration of our 50^th wedding anniversary which falls this year, though it has not stopped her from requesting additional gifts,” he quipped, to laughter from the room.

Dr Hwang’s affiliation with NUS dates back to the late 1960s when he joined the Faculty as a part-time lecturer, first in family law, and later in contract law, labour law and company law over a span of about 10 years. He continued to stay involved with the Faculty as an external examiner and thesis reviewer, and was later appointed as a member of the Faculty’s Consultative Committee which managed to persuade the Faculty to adopt new subjects relevant to international commercial law.

Commenting on Prof Brekoulakis’ appointment as the first professor under his and his wife’s namesake, Dr Hwang said: “I cannot think of a more appropriate choice, and I look forward to a new era of academic development of international arbitration jurisprudence in Singapore under his leadership.”

• Suria News Online, 22 February 2025
• Berita Minggu, 23 February 2025, p4

• The Straits Times, 25 February 2025, The Big Story, Page A2

• The Business Times, 25 February, Page 13  

• The Straits Times, 25 February 2025, Page A14

• Lianhe Zaobao, 25 February 2025, Singapore, Page 8

By Terence Ho, Adjunct Associate Professor (Practice) from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Straits Times, 25 February 2025, Opinion, Page B2

• The Straits Times, 24 February 2025, Singapore, pA14

• Tamil Murasu, 24 February 2025, p10

A team of NUS Law undergraduates comprising Mervyn Lin, Tianao Li, Taesha Tan and Joan Goh beat 47 other university teams from 32 countries to emerge victorious in the 20th International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris on 8 February 2025.

The annual ICC Mediation Competition is a globally renowned dispute resolution competition dedicated exclusively to international commercial mediation. It aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop practical skills in mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution, which are vital in international law and business. Teams participate in pairs (comprising one client and one counsel) in mock mediation sessions, where they simulate resolving business-related or commercial disputes with the help of a mediator.

The NUS Law team gained eligibility to compete in the Paris competition after winning the third ICC-Hong Kong International Commercial Mediation Competition last December. During the Paris finals, they went head-to-head and eventually emerged victorious against a team from the University of New South Wales as they tackled the mock mediation problem of unauthorised logging in protected timber harvesting zones.

Their victories in both competitions underscore the robust competitive tradition at NUS Law. The Faculty boasts an impressive track record in international competitions, with students regularly earning recognition and winning awards for their exceptional performances. For students, participating in these competitions is a crucial part of their academic journey, as it helps cultivate legal skills in analysis, writing, presentation and communication. It also provides valuable exposure to international legal practices. Additionally, the process fosters teamwork and collaboration, while the unwavering support provided to the team in Hong Kong and Paris exemplifies the strong sense of camaraderie that defines the culture at NUS Law.

The team held multiple practice sessions with alumni from the competition and NUS Law's Collaborative Disputes Resolution Club (CDRC) each week to strategise mediation approaches, hone the team’s negotiation and mediation skills and receive detailed feedback on their performances.

NUS Law Professor Joel Lee, Advisor to the CDRC, one of the faculty members who mentored the team in their preparation for the competitions, said, “The team deserves credit for their hard work, determination, initiative and skill in participating in and placing first in both these competitions.”

He also acknowledged the efforts of those who assisted the team on their journey, including their coaches, fellow students, and competition alumni, highlighting in particular alumnus Melvin Loh (Law ’11) who supported the team in Paris during the later rounds of the competition.

Thanks to the thorough preparation and support, Mervyn, Tianao, Taesha and Joan were able to stay nimbly prepared for each round despite the time constraints and adapt their mediation strategies when faced with the different mediation styles of competing teams from universities around the world.  

Taesha observed that legal concepts she learnt in her courses such as Contract Law, Equity and Trusts, and Company Law provided the foundation needed in such competitions.

The second-year student, who is the current CDRC Vice President, shared, “Regardless of whether we were playing the roles of client or counsel, we were required to fuse our knowledge with commercial understanding of the industry, while negotiating an appropriate outcome for our team. Aside from such technical knowledge, soft skills such as oral advocacy and the precision required in legal writing helped us frame sharp and effective communications throughout the competition.”

The team found the experience of participating in the competitions incredibly fulfilling. With both the semi-finals and the finals of the Hong Kong competition being held on the same day, Taesha recalled how heartwarming it was to witness the team members, each with their unique perspectives and styles, unite to strategise and ultimately emerge as winners.

The finals of the ICC competition in Paris, however, was a stressful experience, noted Tianao. Unlike the earlier rounds held behind closed doors, the finals took place in the Émile Boutmy Lecture Hall and were live-streamed worldwide.

“Having to speak into microphones in front of an audience – both in the hall and online – made the experience even more nerve-wracking. On top of that, our opponents were incredibly experienced, so the pressure was intense,” he explained.

“But thanks to my coaches and teammates, who helped me refine my strategy and build my confidence, I was able to stay composed and adapt to the challenges. It was definitely stressful, but also a really rewarding experience.”

By Dr Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Straits Times, 22 February 2025, Opinion, pB2

By Bao Rong, an undergraduate student in the Dept of Communications and New Media, Faculty of Arts and Social Science at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 22 February 2025, Opinion, p19

By Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, Senior Lecturer from the Dept of Malay Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Suria News Online, 22 February 2025

Every time you trade your car for public transport or take a reusable bag to the supermarket, you are helping Singapore inch toward its 2050 net zero target. But the most powerful climate action might be sitting right on your dinner plate – by cutting down on your meat consumption.

According to a 2022 study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ditching beef for one meal can almost halve a person’s carbon footprint for that day. Separate research has also suggested that animal-based products contribute to nearly 20 per cent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing meat consumption is getting more palatable, with technological advancements allowing for the development of better plant-based alternatives compared to past attempts, said Dr Michael Siegrist, Professor in Consumer Behaviour at the Institute for Environmental Decisions, ETH Zurich.

He was giving his keynote address at a workshop that brought together researchers and experts to explore the future of alternative proteins. It was co-hosted by Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR) and the new Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at NUS in January.

The challenge for Singapore on this front remains substantial: half of Singaporeans consider themselves active meat eaters, with only 5 per cent identifying as vegetarian or vegan.

However, there’s room for optimism. A study by IPUR found that 62 per cent of Singaporeans would be willing to reduce their meat consumption in the future.

How can this willingness be turned into action? The key lies in early education and effective communication.

Why cutting down meat is so tough

Alternative proteins are foods designed to replace traditional animal-based products and currently come in three main forms: plant-based meat, cultured meat, and insects.

With significant environmental and health benefits, the case for cutting down on meat is compelling.

Agri-food chains account for almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and most of that is linked to animal protein production, said Ms Chloe Tan, a Research Assistant from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences.

Excessive meat intake is also linked to health issues such as diabetes, added IPUR Director, Professor Leonard Lee. The research institute’s recent collaboration with Diabetes Singapore found that an alarming 40 per cent of Singaporeans are pre-diabetic.

But shifting dietary habits is no easy task, and alternative proteins remain a tough sell.

Cultural values and psychological factors play an important role in the acceptance of novel food technologies. For example, there is food neophobia, or the fear of trying new foods.

“Meat is a highly valued product by most consumers; for some it’s almost part of their identity,” said Prof Siegrist.

Discussions about cell-based meat are also often dominated by negative sentiments, said Professor Zhang Weiyu from the NUS Department of Communications and New Media, who analysed public discourse on Facebook from 2014 to 2024.

Many view such alternatives as unnatural, disgusting, and unhealthy, noted Prof Siegrist. It does not help that many plant-based alternatives are classified as “ultra-processed” under systems like the NOVA classification, which labels them as less healthy than traditional meat.

The overlooked alternatives

Adding to this challenge is the lack of knowledge about existing sustainable proteins that are not carbon-intensive, observed Associate Professor Alberto Salvo from the NUS Department of Economics. His survey found that about two in three people were not aware that beans and chickpeas are rich in protein.

“Many people misperceive plant proteins as being low in protein but it is quite the opposite. Cooked chickpeas and lentils can contain nearly as much protein as chicken,” said Assoc Prof Salvo, who is also one of the Principal Investigators of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein.

Furthermore, not only are these unprocessed plant foods rich in protein, but they are also low in cholesterol and protect animal welfare.

One way to turn the tide is through early education.

How education shapes future food choices

Nutrition campaigns which promote new cooking skills and recipes using chickpeas, lentils, and even beans should be considered, said Mr Muhammad Haiman Samad, Research Associate at Nanyang Technological University.

Children too can be powerful agents of change within their families, noted Ms Amelia Juraimi, a research officer at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

This influence on their families’ food choices leverages a concept called “pester power”, which refers to children’s ability to persistently request specific products and shape their parents’ purchasing decisions through repeated asks and negotiations.

The A*STAR team had developed the Virtual Factory, an interactive learning tool which taught a sample group of children aged eight to 16 about the value and production of sustainable proteins.

Preliminary findings showed that children who used the app reported higher acceptance of these foods and were more willing to try them.

Educating children about sustainable food options can drive positive changes in their families’ eating habits over time, and create a ripple effect that extends beyond households, said Ms Juraimi.

Crafting the right message

While education lays the foundation, effective communication drives action. Strategic messaging should emphasise the benefits of alternative proteins and address common concerns.

Providing scientific facts about the environmental and health benefits of cultivated meat can significantly improve acceptance among consumers, said Ms Tan.

The timing and framing of information are also critical.

Prof Lee demonstrated this through an experiment involving beer. Participants were less likely to prefer a beer labelled as containing balsamic vinegar if told about the ingredient before tasting. When informed after tasting, their preference for the beer increased.

“Information provided before consumption could actually colour or contaminate your preference, but not if you have had a chance to taste it first,” he explained.

With media organisations taking the lead in influencing public sentiments, there needs to be greater communication with the new generation of opinion leaders, added Prof Zhang.

This is particularly crucial for cell-based proteins, where public opinion remains divided and understanding is still evolving as the technology develops.

No silver bullet

Whether it’s choosing a plant-based meal or educating our children about sustainable food choices, every effort counts.

Individual actions matter, said Dr Olivia Jensen, Deputy Director and Lead Scientist at IPUR. “We try not to be too didactic about what people should do, but rather to say, work out what your own carbon footprint is.”

Citing the Singapore Power carbon calculator as a useful tool, Dr Jensen added that people are empowered to understand their own biggest contributors of carbon emissions and presented solutions to take control of their actions.

While most Singaporeans are willing to cut their meat intake, bridging the gap between intention and action requires a multifaceted approach.

Change will not happen overnight. “When it comes to food, people are really conservative,” noted Prof Siegrist.

“We should not expect that one trick is going to solve the problem. What we need is to have a lot of different aspects changed, and you need a lot of time to see some impact here.”

• The Straits Times, 19 February 2025, Singapore, pA22

By Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School, where he is also a Professor in Practice of Strategy and Policy

• CNA Online, 18 February 2025

By Dr Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• CNA Online, 18 February 2025

Stepping out into the working world amidst global uncertainties can be daunting but the NUS Class of 2024 graduates have adapted to this transition with poise and confidence, bolstered by the interdisciplinary educational approach at NUS and a myriad opportunities to take on experiences that prepare them for the future of work.

Achieving a broader worldview through internship and exchanges

For Data Science and Analytics graduate Micole Chan, her NUS journey has been a fertile ground to refine and apply her expertise. Micole, who graduated with Honours (Highest Distinction), is currently a Graduate Trading Analyst at a global financial institution, an industry she aspired to work in as an undergraduate. In her work, she leverages data science techniques to develop trading strategies, analysing financial data, applying advanced models, and building quantitative frameworks to identify market opportunities.

Her final-year internship at the same company provided a strong foundation for her current role, ultimately leading to a full-time offer under its Graduate Trading Programme. During her extended seven-month internship, she applied her theoretical data science knowledge from NUS in a real-world setting, delivering data-driven trading solutions and deepening her understanding of data science’s impact on financial markets.

To shore up experience and expertise in her focus areas, Micole tapped on many opportunities in NUS, such as taking a Minor in Computer Science which helped her to establish a firm foundation in programming, statistics and machine learning, as well as expertise in specialised areas such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), computer vision and software engineering.

Micole also participated in multiple internships, and local and international exchange programmes. These experiences expanded her academic and cultural perspectives, allowing her to gain a broader worldview while enabling her to explore diverse courses beyond her curriculum.

“My studies equipped me with the technical expertise, problem-solving mindset and global exposure essential for my career. The blend of strong academics, hands-on projects and industry engagement prepared me to thrive in the working world,” said Micole.

Strong skill sets founded on a rigorous curriculum

Chen Hsiao Ting graduated from the NUS School of Computing (NUS Computing) with Honours (Distinction), specialising in Software Engineering and Multimedia Information Retrieval. Working as a Software Engineer in Visa’s Core Payment Development team, she is involved in developing and optimising Visa Resolve Online, a critical global application that enhances dispute processing for millions of users.

Hsiao Ting credits NUS Computing’s rigorous computer science curriculum for equipping her with both the technical expertise and soft skills necessary to excel in the tech industry. The four-year programme equipped her with a solid foundation in computer science and software engineering, complemented by hands-on projects and valuable internships. These internships sharpened her adaptability, collaboration, and analytical thinking skills, which are essential for her current role.

One of the highlights of her undergraduate journey was her exchange at Peking University, where she pursued computing courses such as text mining, computer networks, and operating systems, broadening her worldview through exposure to different academic environments, learning methodologies, and teaching styles.

Hsiao Ting’s job search process was intense, requiring extensive preparation for both technical and behavioural interviews. However, she effectively leveraged NUS’ comprehensive career resources, and received guidance from NUS Computing’s Career Advisory Team, particularly in resume writing, career planning, and cultivating a positive mindset — valuable elements that boosted her confidence during interviews. Standalone sessions on workplace dynamics, leadership, and personality development further prepared her well to navigate the recruitment process successfully.

Hsiao Ting said, “By actively engaging with the NUS community, whether through conversations with peers, mentorship from faculty, or participating in career workshops and student activities, I gained not just technical expertise but also soft skills and industry connections. The well-rounded education and strong career support at NUS truly shaped my journey, giving me the confidence and preparation to thrive in my role at Visa and beyond.”

Rising above challenges with grit and determination

NUS Business School Accountancy alumnus Joel Gwey Jia Jie started applying for jobs about three months before graduation and juggled his final semester of studies alongside assessments and interviews for his job applications. As a management associate at homegrown financial services company Singlife, currently on rotation in its strategy department, he assists with the development and execution of the group’s strategy and the business units with their transformation efforts.

Graduating with first class honours was a hard-earned achievement for Joel, coming from a modest background with a father who works as a hawker and a mother who is a housewife. A  goal-getter, he has continually persevered to achieve his ambitions since his polytechnic days.

“My NUS experience taught me that whatever challenges I face, if I continue to work hard, I’ll be able to rise above them and achieve my goals,” Joel said. “When I faced challenges during my first rotation in Singlife, I put my head down and tried to learn as much as possible and ask questions to improve every day, and I think my first rotation was a success.”

He recounted preparing for his job interviews with help from NUS Business School’s BizCareers advisors, who coached him on tackling different scenarios. He also sought advice from his business professors who had industry experience and could give him tips on questions to expect and ask during interviews. Joel found that the preparation helped him to stand out especially in group interviews, and he eventually secured his role with Singlife two months after graduation.

Joel added that the soft skills that he picked up at NUS also proved crucial in his transition into the insurance industry from an accountancy background. For instance, a business communication module taught him how to present effectively to senior business leaders, a task he handles frequently in his current role with the strategy team.

Pursuing passion from childhood to university

Passionate about electronics from a young age, pursuing engineering in university was a natural choice for Faruq Khan Bin Hayat Khan, who went on to graduate from NUS with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) with Honours (Distinction), specialising in robotics and control. After a fruitful three-month internship with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore during the second year of his undergraduate studies, Faruq applied for a full-time position with LTA, where he is now an engineer involved in designing power supply and systems integration for the rail and road transport systems.

His deep interest in electronics began at a young age when his father taught him how to build and dismantle various items such as remote-controlled boats and automatic plant watering systems. His passion also led him to join the Robotics Club in secondary school, and to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering in Singapore Polytechnic prior to pursuing his degree with NUS.

Faruq’s undergraduate training has equipped him with the skills to acquire new information and concepts. “At NUS, we learnt how to break down complex concepts and look at problems from different perspectives – these are problem-solving skills which I now apply in my daily work. The technical knowledge gained from my Engineering courses has also enabled me to better grasp the new concepts I encounter at work,” Faruq said.

He also benefitted from the multidisciplinary education offered by the College of Design and Engineering at NUS. The curriculum, which emphasises interdisciplinary learning, allowed him to take courses beyond his major, including modules in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Project Management.

“The interdisciplinary approach not only broadened my skill set across various disciplines, it also allowed me to integrate what I learnt about Mechanical Engineering into my robotics specialisation,” Faruq added.

Leveraging interdisciplinary and experiential exposure to navigate transition

Saashtika Mohan had an intense and busy university life, but her journey has been a fulfilling one encompassing two majors and an enriching involvement in co-curricular activities such as the NUS Students’ Political Association and the Harvard College in Asia Program.

The alumna of the College of Design and Engineering at NUS and NUS College (NUSC), who graduated with a double major in Biomedical Engineering and Innovation and Design, is now a process and equipment engineer at Micron Technology where she works on optimising manufacturing processes and equipment performance to enhance efficiency and product quality.

She came across the job opening for her current position when she attended an NUS Career Fair in her final semester of studies and completed an on-the-spot interview that kickstarted the hiring process and eventually led to her securing the job before graduation.

Said Saashtika, who graduated with first class honours: “NUS’ commitment to interdisciplinary education was the cornerstone of my undergraduate journey, empowering me to collaborate with individuals from diverse fields. This has allowed me to broaden my perspectives and sharpened my critical thinking skills.”

The experiential approach offered by the University Scholars Programme (USP) and, later, NUSC also enhanced her ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and quickly adapt to new challenges. These experiences, along with the emphasis on critical thinking, innovation and design, and exploring topics beyond one’s major, helped her to successfully adapt and navigate the transition from the healthcare focus of her field of study to her new role in the semiconductor industry.

Outside of work, Saashtika remains deeply committed to making a positive impact. A SINDA Singapore Excellence Award Valedictorian, she is active in the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and recently hosted a ‘Let Her Shine’ event, a programme dedicated to empowering women within the Indian community.

A dream job paved by immersion and internship opportunities  

Four years in NUS has provided Rhys Thiagarajan, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Studies with Honours (Highest Distinction), the valuable opportunity to delve deep into all things Japan during his time in NUS.

In addition to immersing himself in Japanese culture, history and way of life during a four-month student exchange programme in Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, and a year-long study abroad programme in Waseda University in Tokyo, Rhys also joined the NUS Japanese Studies Society’s Brothers and Sisters Programme and helped to coordinate student exchange programmes between Japanese schools and NUS. This provided him the opportunity to interact with other like-minded individuals and cultivated his interest in Japan and Japanese as a language.

An internship as an Analyst in Asia Business Creation Pte Ltd – an advisory firm that supports business creation between Southeast Asia and Japan – also gave him invaluable exposure to how Japanese businesses operate in Singapore as he learnt and interacted with Japanese clients.

Far from being a niche interest, these accumulated experiences at home and abroad have made him more adaptable, helped broadened his worldview, and gave him the confidence to venture into the finance industry, where he is now a Margin and Collateral Analyst at leading global financial services firm, JPMorganChase. In his work, Rhys handles collateral management operations and manages a portfolio of clients across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan.

He said, “My experience at NUS has taught me to think more critically and learn independently. NUS’ multidisciplinary approach to education has also helped me view opportunities and problems holistically. As my role requires a lot of interaction with internal and external stakeholders, these skills have definitely given me confidence to take on tasks and challenges confidently.”

Higher starting salaries and strong employment rates for NUS graduates

NUS graduates continued to command high employment rates and earned higher starting salaries in 2024, according to the Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey 2024. Please click here for the press release.

Some 5,269 out of a total of 7,382 fresh NUS graduates from the Class of 2024, and 427 out of 806 follow-up NUS graduates, participated in the joint survey.

Chemists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have successfully imaged the dynamic assembly of bilayer covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in solution, providing new insights into controlled stacking and moiré superlattice formation. Moiré superlattice belongs to the current exciting field of “twistronics”, where a new correlated electron phase can be created when one lattice is rotated with respect to another in a stacked structure. In a correlated electron phase, the properties of electrons are significantly influenced by their interactions with each other, rather than behaving as independent particles, and they can give rise to unique form of superconductivity or ferromagnetism.

While the formation of Moiré superlattice has been seen in pure inorganic materials, it is much rarer to see them in pure organic crystals. One reason is that moiré superlattice has to be ultrathin and highly crystalline to be imaged by conventional microscopy techniques, and these properties are not easy to find in organic materials.

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) are highly porous organic materials with significant potential in catalysis, energy storage, and gas storage. These frameworks consist of covalently bonded layers, stacked via electrostatic interactions and van der Waals forces. However, the transition from a monolayer to a bilayer remains poorly understood due to the complex interplay of bonding forces, including van der Waals, electrostatic, and hydrogen bonding.

The precise stacking of the second layer is critical, as misalignment can reduce the material's crystallinity. Currently, producing single COF crystals larger than a millimeter is challenging due to potential errors in bonding in both the horizontal (x-y) and vertical (z) dimensions. Misalignment during stacking often leads to crystallinity issues, particularly from rotational misalignments between layers. Observing the stacking process during growth is essential for understanding the mechanism, but this poses significant experimental challenges, as the process occurs in solution.

Random stacking and bond formation during hydrothermal synthesis contribute to poor crystallinity, often resulting in crystal domains smaller than tens of microns. A deeper understanding of layer stacking could enhance synthesis methods, enabling the fabrication of larger COF crystals.

While there has been substantial progress in synthesising monolayer 2D polymers (2DP), the development of bilayer 2DP stacks remains limited. This area is particularly promising, as stacking or twisting 2D materials can create new materials with properties distinct from those of the individual layers. In inorganic materials, this field, known as twistronics, has led to discoveries but remains to be explored in 2D organic materials.

Breakthrough in bilayer COF synthesis and imaging

A team led by Professor Loh Kian Ping from the NUS Department of Chemistry has developed a method for synthesising large area two-layer 2D COFs at the liquid-substrate interface. This was achieved through the direct condensation of chemical molecules. Using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) in solution, they successfully imaged the molecular assembly process, capturing the formation of both the monolayer and bilayer. More importantly, they show how molecular structure and solvent mixture influence the bilayer stacking modes, and how, under certain conditions, large-area moiré superlattices emerge from twisted bilayer stacking.

Due to their highly porous and organic nature, COFs present significant challenges for imaging in air or ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions using STM. The pores of COFs are typically filled with solvent, and their surfaces may trap residues, complicating atomic-scale imaging. To overcome these difficulties, the team focused on imaging COFs directly in solution, where the surface is cleaner than when exposed to air.

Prof Loh said, “Performing STM in solution allows us to study the dynamic self-assembly process of molecular frameworks in real-time.”

The research team includes Dr Zhan Gaolei who was an NUS postdoctoral fellow at the time of research and is currently a researcher at Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics, China), Professor Steven De Feyter from KU Leuven, Belgium and Professor Zhu Yihan from Zhejiang University of Technology, China.

The research findings have been published in the journal Nature Chemistry on 20 February 2025.

Moiré superlattices and controlled twist angles

A moiré superlattice is a pattern that emerges when two layers of periodic structures, like 2D materials, are stacked on top of each other but slightly misaligned or at different angles. This misalignment creates a new, larger periodic pattern that is not present in either of the original layers.  In simpler terms, it is like two sets of paper strips. If one set of paper strip is placed over another but rotated slightly, the overlapping area will create a new pattern—similar to the moiré pattern. Moiré superlattices can lead to interesting electronic properties and behaviors that are not found in the individual layers, making them a significant area of research in materials science and condensed matter physics.

The research team demonstrated that by designing specific precursor molecules, they could precisely control the twist angle of the stacked COF layers to form a moiré superlattice. Unlike inorganic 2D materials, where the twist angles are often random and difficult to control, in 2D COFs, the twist angles can be controlled by designing the molecular precursors.

The researchers compared two different monomer isomers: pyrene-2,7-diboronic acid (27-PDBA) and pyrene-1,6-diboronic acid (16-PDBA). With 27-PDBA, the second layer could either be AA-stacked or twisted in relation to the first layer. In contrast, only a moiré superstructure formed with 16-PDBA, exhibiting a uniform moiré superstructure. This difference is attributed to the subtle differences in the electrostatic potentials. 27-PDBA exhibits concentrated negative charge lobes on its boroxine rings, which may hinder the formation of twisted phases compared with 16-PDBA which has a flatter electrostatic potential.

Implications and future directions

This study provides fundamental insights into the controlled synthesis of ultra-thin porous organic films, as thin as two-unit cell layers. Such films with well-controlled channel structures can be used as ultra-thin filtration layers in nanofiltration applications. Furthermore, the ability to tune the twist angle in stacked COFs opens new possibilities for manipulating light propagation, including phase and polarisation control.

Looking ahead, the researchers plan to extend the concept to a broader class of molecular precursors with different linkage chemistries. They aim to achieve deterministic control over twist angles in bilayer COF stacking, unlocking further potential applications in filtration and optical materials.

• Higher or similar starting salaries for graduates from 35 courses¹ compared to the year before, up from 25 in 2023; 10 courses saw significant salary increases of 10 per cent or more
• Steady rise in median starting salaries for Arts and Social Sciences, and Science graduates over the past three years
• 100 per cent employment for graduates from Accountancy and Dentistry¹; 96.9 per cent employment for Accountancy (Honours) and 95.7 per cent employment for Materials Science and Engineering graduates
• More than nine in 10 graduates across 17 degree programmes¹ employed within six months

Graduates of the National University of Singapore (NUS) continue to earn higher starting salaries and achieve strong employment rates in 2024, according to the Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey (JAUGES) 2024, jointly conducted by NUS and other Autonomous Universities.

Professor Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, said, “We are heartened that NUS graduates continue to enjoy strong employment outcomes and command competitive salaries, despite the challenging global economy. These encouraging results demonstrate how their NUS journey prepares them to excel and make meaningful contributions across diverse industries.”

“As artificial intelligence and big data reshape the modern workplace, today's job market demands unprecedented adaptability. NUS equips our students with resilience, creativity, and practical skills to embrace new opportunities in the technology-driven future. We encourage our graduates to continuously seek self-development and stay adaptable as they advance in their professional careers," Prof Thean added.

Close to nine in 10 NUS fresh graduates in the labour force employed within six months after final exams

Among NUS fresh graduates in the labour force, 88.1 per cent were employed within six months of completing their final exams, a slight dip from 90.5 per cent in the 2023 survey. 80.9 per cent of NUS fresh graduates had secured full-time permanent employment² during the survey period. Another 4.1 per cent of NUS fresh graduates in the labour force have either accepted a job offer and are pending commencement of duty, or are actively starting a business venture.

More than nine in 10 fresh NUS graduates across 17 degree programmes³ found employment within six months of completing their final exams. The list of these courses can be found in Annex A. Some undergraduate programmes delivered stronger employment outcomes, including Accountancy and Dentistry which achieved 100 per cent employment, as well as Accountancy (Honours) and Materials Science and Engineering which achieved 96.9 per cent and 95.7 per cent employment, respectively.

Over 96 per cent of follow-up graduates from Architecture³ were employed within six months of completing their final exams.

NUS graduates in full-time permanent employment earned higher starting salaries

The survey also revealed that the mean gross monthly salary of NUS fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment was S$5,101 in 2024, an increase from S$4,875 in 2023.

The median gross monthly salary of fresh graduates from NUS in full-time permanent employment also increased to S$4,600 in 2024, an increase from S$4,400 in 2023.

Graduates from 35 courses³ in Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Dentistry³, Design and Engineering, Law³, Nursing, and Science³ have either secured higher or maintained similar starting salaries compared to graduates the year before. Please refer to Annex B for the list of courses in which graduates have achieved higher or similarly high starting salaries compared to 2023.

In particular, median starting salaries for graduates from Arts and Social Sciences, and Science have risen continuously over the past three years.

5,269 out of a total of 7,382 fresh NUS graduates from the Class of 2024, and 427 out of 806 follow-up⁴ NUS graduates, participated in the joint survey.

Stepping out with courage and confidence

Growing up with a keen interest in entrepreneurship, NUS Business School graduate Ms Woo Ling Ling is now an investment analyst at Blauwpark Partners, where she is responsible for private markets fund investments spanning private equity, venture capital and illiquid alternatives globally.

During her undergraduate years, Ling Ling took on various overseas experiences, including internships under the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme, time in Canada as an exchange student, and the opportunity to spend a week at Harvard Business School. She also built strong networks and leadership skills through her active participation in co-curricular activities, notably as President of the NUS Entrepreneurship Society (NES) where she led a partnership between NES and Princeton’s Entrepreneurship Club which culminated in a startup competition.

Highlighting how her journey in NUS Business school nurtured her personal and professional development, Ling Ling shared, “The insights and resources at NUS Business School have helped me in preparing for my career. The school also stays ahead of market trends with the compulsory coding and software courses. My overseas experiences also provided me the opportunity to learn from different schools in different environments and meet people from other countries. The presentation and communication skills I’ve picked up are transferrable in the workplace, as I’m required to speak up and voice my opinion confidently in my current role.”

Ling Ling also tapped on the NUS TalentConnect for her job search and sought support from the BizCareers office for resume writing, interview preparation, and career advice, which gave her the confidence and tools to navigate the competitive job market.

Mr Muhammad Rossyaban Bin Rosman graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) with Honours (Distinction) and a minor in Innovation and Design from the College of Design and Engineering at NUS. In his current position as Process Engineer at Micron Semiconductor Asia Pte Ltd, Rossyaban manages and optimises the photolithography process to enhance efficiency and yield.

Rossyaban demonstrated his passion for engineering and sustainability, nurtured since his time as a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering student in polytechnic, through hands-on projects and internships. As part of his minor under the Innovation and Design Programme (IDP), Rossyaban and a multidisciplinary team explored the valorisation of food waste into lactic acid to achieve the project’s aim of promoting a more sustainable, circular economy. In 2023, he further developed his expertise during a Circularity and Sustainability Internship at a leading clean energy solutions provider, where he helped design an economically viable and sustainable bioreactor. This experience deepened his commitment to creating innovative solutions in sustainable engineering.

He also actively applied his expertise to serve communities, for example through NUS Engineers without Borders, where he and his team helped to build a bridge in Vietnam to allow villagers to access the city centre during the flooding season.

Rossyaban credits NUS for the valuable opportunities and critical support to prepare him for career success and growth, as well as the guidance from NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG).

“My first job interview did not go well. On the same day, CFG was having an open-door session where any undergraduate could visit them for career advice. At the session, I discovered various tools provided by NUS that I wasn’t aware of, such as resume templates and guidelines, and VMock. Armed with encouragement from CFG staff and these useful tools, I was more confident during my next round of applications and interviews and managed to land a good job shortly after!”

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¹ Includes course(s) with sample size smaller than 30 or a response rate less than 70%.
² Full-time permanent employment refers to the number of graduates working on a full-time permanent basis, as a proportion of graduates in the labour force (i.e. those who were working, or not working but actively looking and available for a job).
³ Includes course(s) with sample size smaller than 30 or a response rate less than 70%.
⁴ Follow-up graduates refer to graduates from the Architecture Class of 2021 and Class of 2023 graduates from Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy. These graduates were surveyed three years after graduation (for Architecture graduates) or one year after graduation (for Law, Medicine and Pharmacy graduates) to allow those who choose to continue with their practical law course, pupillage or housemanship/ first-year residency/ pre-registration training to complete their practical training.

After decades of progress and a remarkable leap from Third World to First, the younger generation of Singaporeans could be wondering what the future holds for them. Amid worries such as a rising cost of living, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong offered an optimistic vision of a refreshed Singapore Dream.

“Our country has transformed tremendously…It’s been such a change that sometimes, young people like yourselves look ahead and say: ‘Today we are operating at such a high base, the future is so uncertain, maybe our best days are behind us,’” he told about 900 students from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) at a dialogue at NUS on 21 January 2025.

“But I would encourage us to take a step back and think about it more holistically,” he added, reminding the audience that they enjoy more opportunities today including higher wages, education levels, healthcare and social support.

He also cautioned against constant comparison with peers, as it could lead to a feeling of “chasing someone else’s dream”.

“We want an environment where there are many opportunities, where people can eventually find purpose in what we do,” said Mr Wong during his dialogue, titled “The Singapore Dream and You”, which saw him field wide-ranging questions on topics such as public housing, inclusivity, social media, and artificial intelligence.

“The Singapore Dream is evolving. It’s…more open, not so prescribed, it is one where we want you to choose your own path of success.”

The event, moderated by NUS Vice Provost (Student Life) Associate Professor Leong Ching, was organised by REACH, the Government’s feedback and engagement unit, and Varsity Voices, a network comprising student groups such as the NUS Students’ Political Association.

Housing dreams

The availability and affordability of public housing, a hot-button issue, was raised, with Mr Wong assuring the audience that Build-To-Order (BTO) flats would remain affordable.

Acknowledging the anxiety over housing prices, with some resale Housing Board flats sold for over S$1 million, he noted that the prices of resale flats are “on the high side” due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused a supply disruption.

“We have been, since then, building as much as we can…We’re talking full steam ahead,” he reiterated, adding that the Government has been putting out new land for private property too.

The good news is that demand is easing with the increased supply of new flats. “We have seen the application rates come down, which means the success rates for getting a new flat is higher now,” observed Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister.

Today, some 80 per cent of people buying BTO flats are able to service their HDB housing loan using Central Provident Fund contributions, and little or no cash, he noted.

“The new flats are affordable, we will continue to review to make sure they stay affordable, and the supply that we are putting onto the market will eventually have an impact on stabilising the overall property market,” he maintained.

Inclusive dreams

Topical issues such as how new US President Donald Trump’s leadership will impact Singapore were also discussed.

On the matter of geopolitical tensions, Mr Wong noted that Singapore faces an increasingly challenging external environment as the US and China are vying for dominance.

“With growing competition, we worry that things can go wrong,” he added. “Not just on the economic side, where potentially we may have more trade barriers, more technological decoupling, but even accidents and miscalculations that can happen around hot spots like the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait.”

However, he did not think that the two superpowers would force countries to choose sides. “If it does, I mean, frankly, it is not just Singapore that is impacted. If it were to happen, that such a scenario were to arise, frankly, God help us all. Then we are truly, truly at the brink of a Third World War.”

Shared dreams

Ahead of the General Elections this year, a participant asked about common criticisms faced by the ruling People’s Action Party. “There are many…you just need to go online,” Mr Wong replied, to laughter from the audience.

Levity aside, he called for “balance”, noting that it was important to also appreciate Singapore’s successes in areas such as healthcare, retirement, and public housing.

But he told the audience that the Government was neither complacent nor presumptuous. “We don’t start off assuming that we know everything, we don’t start off assuming that everything is perfect,” he said.

“There will be criticisms. We listen to the feedback. We hear you: the concerns, the unhappiness, the frustrations. We try to find solutions to tackle them. If there are no easy answers, we explain to you what the situation is to the best of our abilities, and then we find ways to move forward as a country.”

The day’s theme was perhaps best summarised by Assoc Prof Leong Ching in her conclusion, highlighting the assurance that regardless of era, Singaporeans can still share a Singaporean dream for generations to come.

“Varsity Voices was established to engage young people with political issues, providing a platform for raising awareness and fostering meaningful discussions,” said Varsity Voices 2024 Council Chairman Mr Illamkathir S/O Manimaraselvan, a final year NUS political science and communications undergraduate.

“This dialogue with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was co-organised with REACH, with the same goal in mind—creating an opportunity for youth to share their vision of the Singapore Dream and discuss how we can each succeed and grow on our own terms.”

Kathir, who is also Senior Advisor to the NUS Students’ Political Association, added, “Seeing so many IHL students dedicate their time to engage with PM Wong is a powerful reminder of how passionate young people are about participating in discussions that matter to them.”

• Lianhe Zaobao, 20 February 2025, Singapore, p9

• Lianhe Zaobao, 20 February 2025, Business, p23

By Dr Clara Lee, Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• CNA Online, 20 February 2025

• The Straits Times, 17 February 2025, Science, pA16-A17

By Adjunct Assoc Prof (Practice) Terence Ho, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• CNA Online, 17 February 2025

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have pioneered a new catalytic transformation that converts epoxides into fluorinated oxetanes, a coveted but difficult-to-make class of drug molecules that escaped synthetic preparation for years. By unlocking a pathway to these valuable drug scaffolds, this discovery potentially opens the door to new medicines for drug discovery applications. 

The research team was led by Associate Professor Koh Ming Joo from the NUS Department of Chemistry, together with Professor Eric Chan from the NUS Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Professor Liu Peng from the University of Pittsburgh, United States of America.

The research breakthrough was published in the scientific journal Nature Chemistry on 20 February 2025.

Four-membered heterocycles such as oxetanes and β-lactones are common motifs in natural products and pharmaceuticals, with numerous examples documented in both synthetic and biological studies. The introduction of fluorine into organic molecules often imparts desirable attributes, which has contributed to successful outcomes in drug discovery. In this vein, isosteric replacement of a CH₂ unit within an oxetane (or C=O group within a β-lactone) with CF₂ results in α,α-difluoro-oxetanes, a prized class of heterocyclic compounds with combined attributes of small-ring heterocycles and fluorine. While these fluorinated oxetanes hold great promise as lead compounds for further development into new medicines, their synthetic preparation has largely eluded chemists.

Assoc Prof Koh said, “Traditional ways of constructing the oxetane ring cannot directly produce α,α-difluoro-oxetanes, owing to a lack of suitable fluorine-containing precursors or reagents, or both. Furthermore, traditional chemistry often leads to complications such as ring rupture, defluorination and other undesired side reactions. A new synthetic approach was clearly needed.”

A novel method to synthesise fluorinated oxetanes

The researchers deviated from the standard logic of synthesis by designing a new strategy that inserts a difluorocarbene species selectively into the structure of readily available three-membered epoxides. This process is facilitated by an inexpensive copper catalyst, which stabilises the difluorocarbene generated from a commercially available organofluorine precursor. The resulting copper difluorocarbenoid complex coordinates with the epoxide and triggers site-selective ring cleavage and cyclisation, to yield the desired α,α-difluoro-oxetane product via a metallacycle intermediate. Computational studies by Prof Liu’s group provided insight into the new reactivity mode and its underlying mechanism. Additionally, lipophilicity and metabolic stability studies performed by Prof Chan’s team supported the potential of these fluorinated oxetanes as valuable drug scaffolds.

To demonstrate the practical utility of their method, the researchers successfully synthesised fluorine-containing analogues of oxetane, β-lactone and carbonyl pharmacophores commonly found in a variety of biologically active compounds. Computed electrostatic potential maps of isosteric oxetane, α,α-difluoro-oxetane and β-lactone further indicated the potential of these compounds to serve as analogues of each other.  

“By inventing a reliable route to fluorine-containing oxetanes, we can now incorporate these motifs into the design of novel small-molecule therapeutics. This opens up exciting opportunities to develop new medicines that could potentially treat previously incurable diseases,” added Assoc Prof Koh.

Studies are ongoing to investigate the biological properties of these newly synthesised drug analogues and extend the methodology to other classes of heterocyclic drug-like compounds.

In the 1990s, an unlikely friendship blossomed at NUS Sheares Hall between a motorcycle-riding long-haired Arts student and a popular bubbly freshman from the NUS Faculty of Science. When Mr Aznan Bin Ghazali (Arts & Social Sciences ’92) jokingly quipped to Ms Khalijah Binte Masud (Science ’92) that one day she would marry him, she shot back: “No way I am going to marry you!”

Years after graduation, fate proved her wrong – they fell in love and married on Valentine’s Day in 1999.

26 years later, they have returned to their alma mater to reminisce and support the next generation of NUS students through the NUS Campus Couples Bursary. They were among 250 guests at the Celebration of Love and Giving Dinner held on 13 February 2025 at NUS.

“Reflecting on our blessed life and giving back are ways of commemorating our time in NUS,” shared Mr Aznan, quoting his wife during his speech at the event. “At this point in our lives, it’s also important for us to set an example for our children.”

The annual donor appreciation event, which brings together couples who found love and purpose on the University’s grounds, is organised by the NUS Campus Couples Alumni Group and supported by the Alumni Student Advancement Committee (ASAC) and the NUS Development Office.

Reflecting on how the Campus Couples Bursary began, Mr Yeo Keng Joon (Business ’85), Chairman of the event’s organising committee and ASAC member, shared how he rallied fellow alumni with a heartfelt appeal: “If you met your spouse on campus and have achieved a fulfilling life, it’s important to acknowledge the role the University played in shaping your journey, as it may have been quite different without it.”

His message resonated deeply with the NUS community, and over $1 million has been raised for the NUS Campus Couples Bursary since its establishment in 2015. To date, the funds have supported 223 students in financial need.

Among the bursary’s dedicated supporters are Ms Wong Lai Quen (Science ’80) and Mr Steven Lau Hwai Kien (Accountancy ’80), who found love as undergraduates and built a life together after graduation. “We are very thankful for whatever we have received, whether through our hard work or from our lecturers, the community and the government,” said Ms Wong. “That’s why we believe in giving back. Even when Steven is now living with dementia, he is always thinking about how to support others. That’s how we came to support the Bursary.”

For Mr Yeo and his wife Mdm Kong Yuet Peng (Business ’86), watching their contributions transform students’ lives brings deep fulfilment. “We talk to the students, and we get to understand the difficulties and suffering they face. When we know that we have made a difference in their lives, it makes us happy,” he said.

The NUS Campus Couples Bursary and other financial aid for university students showcase the profound impact of alumni giving—turning generosity into life-changing opportunities.

One such beneficiary is Ms Nur Husna Faqihah, a Year 4 Geography student at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, whose story exemplifies social mobility through education. When her parents faced retrenchment during the pandemic, a bursary became her lifeline. Not only did it enable her to continue her studies, the bursary also opened doors to experiences she never imagined possible – from representing NUS at the Youth Green Summit in Bangkok to participating in an exchange programme in Croatia.

“I feel so lucky to be born in Singapore and to be part of an institution like NUS,” she reflected. “Because of these bursaries and financial aid schemes, students can pursue their passions as long as they have the desire to do so. Thank you for impacting the lives of students like me, and for making a difference that extends far beyond our time at NUS. You have helped us walk a smoother path, free from the worries of burdening our families, so that we can focus on our education and future contributions to society.”

These stories of NUS campus couples have come full circle. What started as serendipitous meetings in lecture halls and dormitories have evolved into a legacy of giving, creating ripples of impact that continue to shape future generations.

This story was first published on 20 February 2025 on NUS Giving News. Click here for more NUS Giving News stories.

Quantum technologies hold the power to revolutionise industries such as cybersecurity, drug discovery and more. To help unlock the transformative potential of these technologies, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation and the National University of Singapore (NUS) are forging a strategic partnership to set the stage for a quantum-fuelled digital future.

The Dieter Schwarz Foundation has pledged to establish a groundbreaking research and development programme at the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT). The newly established Dieter Schwarz Foundation Professorship in Quantum Communication & Security will propel research, education and innovation in quantum science and engineering at NUS. The gift will also support an exchange programme with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Campus Heilbronn and other universities in Germany, enabling cross-border interactions among undergraduate to postdoctoral research students.

“The partnership between the Dieter Schwarz Foundation and NUS is an example of a mutually beneficial collaboration, where we are driving research, education and innovation towards a quantum-driven digital world. Together, we will foster synergies and collaborations between our best scientists, to push the boundaries of this evolving field,” shared NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye.

Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology that has the potential to solve complex problems that lie beyond the reach of today’s supercomputers.

“Quantum communication offers strong security for data transfers,” said Director of CQT, Professor José Ignacio Latorre. “This can be valuable in protecting sensitive data for industries from banking to healthcare. Quantum computers promise to solve some types of computational problems that are intractable today, for applications such as computational biology and optimisation. In the future, the ability to connect quantum computers via quantum communication networks will enhance the potential of both technologies.”

This enhanced computing capability, however, also poses a risk to current encryption methods that protect sensitive data. This threat is driving efforts to develop novel quantum-safe methods. Quantum communication is a key path to developing security solutions and establishing secure communication networks.

“For society today, how we transmit and protect data is very important. At CQT, we have long been interested in the impacts quantum computing and quantum communication will have on this aspect of life. The visionary pledge from the Dieter Schwarz Foundation offers a major and timely boost to the Centre’s research programme in quantum communication and security,” said Prof Latorre.

This partnership is set to bolster the collaboration between Germany and Singapore, creating opportunities for professors and students from TUM and NUS to connect and collaborate. Through this initiative, the institutions will foster a dynamic exchange of knowledge and expertise across borders, empowering scientific talents to share innovative practices and gain invaluable insights to advance quantum engineering. 

Professor Thomas Hofmann, President of TUM said, “The collaboration between TUM and NUS marks a significant step towards realising the potential of quantum technologies. By combining our strengths, we aim to cultivate an ecosystem that drives innovation and addresses global challenges.”

The generous gift from the Dieter Schwarz Foundation marks its inaugural contribution to NUS, while also commemorating the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. Established in 1999 by German entrepreneur Dieter Schwarz, the non-profit organisation is dedicated to promoting education and science. The Foundation’s mission thus aligns seamlessly with the objectives of this pivotal partnership.

“For 25 years, we have been dedicated to fostering education and science, believing that these are the cornerstones of a prosperous and sustainable future. Our commitment to expanding our support to Asia reflects our belief in the region's immense potential and the importance of global collaboration in tackling the challenges of our time,” said Professor Reinhold R. Geilsdörfer, CEO of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation.

This strategic partnership exemplifies the convergence of shared values, uniting both institutions in their shared mission to tackle global challenges through the transformative power of scientific discovery and technological innovation.

Outlining his vision, Professor Geilsdörfer said: “NUS, with its world-renowned research and academic excellence, is a natural partner for us. This collaboration will allow us to contribute to the development of cutting-edge research, nurture the next generation of scientists and educators, and ultimately, contribute to a brighter future for all.”

This story was first published on 17 February 2025 on NUS Giving News. Click here for more NUS Giving News stories.

• CNA Online, 10 February 2025
• Channel 5 News, 10 February 2025
• 8world Online, 10 February 2025
• Suria News Online, 10 February 2025
• The Straits Times, 11 February 2025, Singapore, pA13
• Lianhe Zaobao, 11 February 2025, p7

• 8world Online, 10 February 2025
• The Straits Times, 11 February 2025, Business, pA19

• Lianhe Zaobao, 11 February 2025, Fukan, p2

• The New Paper, 10 February 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 11 February 2025, Business, p22

By Lawrence Loh and Sabrina Soon, Director and Research Associate, respectively, at the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School

• The Business Times, 11 February 2025, p14

Themed ‘Your Career, Your Future’, the three-day NUS Career Fest 2025, which opened on 18 February at University Town, offers NUS students an exceptional platform to explore career opportunities and engage with over 300 prospective employers from a plethora of industries, including Information and Communications Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing, Finance and the Public Sector.

Organised by NUS Centre For Future-ready Graduates (CFG), NUS Career Fest is part of the University’s ongoing commitment to helping students prepare for and successfully transition from academia to the workforce.

The buzz of inspiration was palpable on the first day of NUS Career Fest, especially as Chen Yiming, Year 3 student at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Singapore’s youngest gallery-represented illustrator, created a large-scale live illustration that highlighted various career resources available to students through CFG, motivating attendees to make the most of these opportunities.

Professor Aaron Thean, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, who graced the event as Guest-of-Honour, also lent a touch to Yiming’s illustration.

Commenting on this year’s event, Prof Thean said, “It is heartening to see so many students attend NUS Career Fest 2025. Being able to engage with hundreds of employers right here on campus presents precious opportunities for students to gain deeper insights about industries and employers they are interested in, broaden their professional networks, and access exciting job opportunities and internships.”

As each day of NUS Career Fest features different employers, students can explore a wider range of career options and industries that align with their skills and interests. New to this year are also the designated pavilions by the Science & Technology Policy and Plans Office and the Singapore Maritime Foundation, offering students the opportunity to conveniently engage with multiple employers in their respective sectors within a single area.

Tailored activities for career development

NUS Career Fest 2025 also includes a host of exciting fringe activities to further equip students with the skillsets needed to excel at making a first impression as they prepare to enter the workforce.

For instance, students can have a complimentary headshot taken for their LinkedIn profiles and resumes. At the fair, students can even receive makeup and grooming advice for professional settings and attend a masterclass on fragrance profiling.

In addition, students can try their hand at the Level Up Game Machine – a game kiosk that allows students to boost their career and life skills knowledge while having fun.

For students seeking quick tips as they prepare to step into conversations with prospective employers at the fair, CFG’s team of career advisors are also onsite to provide their guidance throughout the fair at the QuickPrep Career Corner.

As part of the comprehensive offerings at NUS Career Fest, the NUS Lifelong Learning booth is a popular stop. Here, students have the opportunity to learn about courses and certifications that they can enrol in after graduation, to help them upskill and reskill to stay relevant and grow as the workplace continues to evolve.

Two industry panel discussions co-organised by CFG, the NUS Students’ Union, and NUSOne took place yesterday, 19 February, and provided students with valuable insights on pursuing careers in both the public and private sectors, as well as maintaining a well-rounded balanced lifestyle. 

Employers at NUS Career Fest 2025 found their time at the fair fruitful. “NUS Career Fest provides a good opportunity to interact with NUS students from various faculties. Many are eager to take charge of their first careers as well as find internship opportunities to gain relevant hands-on experience. The students were passionate and resourceful, often asking insightful questions to understand the roles and how these would align with their aspirations,” said Ms Polly Zheng, Senior Manager, Talent, Early Careers & Employer Branding, Keppel Ltd.

Setting a strong foundation

Ahead of the physical fair, a month of preparatory talks on topics such as ‘Future-ready Skills and the Growth Mindset’ helped students hone skills needed to adapt and thrive in today’s competitive job market.

An employer networking event, Green Connect 2025, was held on 5 February, hosting 14 employers on campus where they interacted and shared with more than 200 students interested in the sustainability sector. This event was organised by the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) Outreach Committee in partnership with EVBig (the Environmental Biology Interest Group from Life Sciences Society) and CFG.

Students who attended the fair on the first day shared about their experience at NUS Career Fest 2025, “Coming to this event has given me the opportunity to reflect on the career path that I want to pursue. The potential employers were very helpful in enlightening me with the opportunities that they offer,” says Darwisy Muhammad Bin Sazali, Year 1, College of Humanities and Sciences.

Amadeus Eka Kesuma, Year 3, NUS School of Computing, similarly found the time spent at the fair enriching. “Attending NUS Career Fest 2025 has helped me answer a lot of the questions I have about internships and what to look for in a job, especially what companies are looking for,” he said.

To read more about CFG and NUS Career Fest 2025, visit: https://nus.edu.sg/cfg

By Jared Gallagher, a third-year Communications and New Media student at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 18 February 2025, Singapore, p6

By Dr Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies at NUS

• CNA Online, 18 February 2025

• The Straits Times, 14 February 2025, The Big Story, pA4
• Lianhe Zaobao, 14 February 2025, Singapore, p6
• The New Paper, 14 February 2025
• Berita Harian, 14 February 2025, Front Pag

• Lianhe Zaobao, 14 February 2025, Singapore, p8

By Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of the Social Lab and Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS, and Mr Izzul Haziq Murad, Research Assistant at the same Institute

• CNA Online, 14 February 2025

By Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, Senior Lecturer from the Dept of Malay Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Berita Minggu, 16 February 2025, p12

• Lianhe Zaobao, 15 February 2025, Singapore, p11

To enhance global pandemic preparedness and strengthen responses to infectious disease emergencies, the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) has officially launched the Centre for Infectious Disease Emergency Response (CIDER) on 10 February 2025. Minister for Health Mr Ong Ye Kung graced the launch event as the Guest-of-Honour, alongside ambassadors and representatives from various countries. 

CIDER will serve as an education and operational hub for public health professionals and policymakers across Singapore. Internationally, the centre will undertake a wide range of training, teaching, and operational initiatives to strengthen capacity for pandemic resilience and infectious disease response.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr Ong noted that one of our first and primary objectives in a pandemic is to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed by a large number of severely ill patients. However, this has become more challenging with rising chronic disease prevalence due to ageing populations around the world. “I look forward to the Centre’s important contributions to regional and global health security. Your continuing work demonstrates the power of unified efforts in advancing public health to create a safer, healthier and more resilient future for all,” said Mr Ong.

Professor Dale Fisher, an expert in infectious diseases and global health, is leading CIDER as its Director. As part of its mission, CIDER will focus on expanding the regional capacity to prevent, prepare for, detect, and respond to infectious disease emergencies — with a long-term vision to foster global health equity.

Prof Fisher shared, "We are proud to launch CIDER — a centre which will not only advance research and education but will have a direct and tangible impact on national health systems. Through establishing the centre, we aim to empower the next generation of public health leaders to effectively respond to infectious disease emergencies and, ultimately, contribute to a healthier, more resilient world."

First-of-its kind degree in tackling infectious disease emergencies

CIDER will be offering a new Master of Science in Infectious Disease Emergencies (MSc IDE), a first-of-its-kind degree designed to equip individuals with the critical knowledge and practical skills needed to lead during infectious disease crises. Prof Fisher will lead this programme, supported by distinguished professionals from around the world.

The programme, which will have an annual intake of up to 80 students, is tailored for early- to mid-career professionals with work experience in relevant sectors such as public health, health promotion, health administration, occupational and environmental health, clinical research, or other related fields, who are looking to take on leadership roles in outbreak response and management. Graduates of the MSc IDE will be well-equipped to shape health policies, lead emergency responses, and contribute to the development of global health systems.

The programme is open for registration until 30 April 2025, with the first cohort beginning in July 2025.

A comprehensive textbook on managing infectious disease crises

In line with its educational efforts, CIDER has also released a book titled “Infectious Disease Emergencies: Preparedness & Response”, a comprehensive resource designed to guide professionals in managing infectious disease crises. Edited by Prof Fisher, the book features contributions from more than 100 global experts actively working in the field of infectious diseases. This book will serve as an essential resource for the MSc IDE programme while providing healthcare professionals worldwide with practical, evidence-based strategies to manage infectious disease emergencies.

The book is available for purchase in hard copy at S$180 via NUS Press' global distribution channels, and a complimentary copy can also be accessed online. NUS Medicine is translating the book into multiple languages to equip healthcare workers in resource-limited areas with vital knowledge. The provision of physical copies ensures healthcare workers can make informed decisions during times of crisis, even in regions with limited infrastructure.

Highlighting the establishment of CIDER as a significant milestone as Singapore positions itself as a global leader in public health and pandemic preparedness, Professor Chong Yap Seng, Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine and Dean of NUS Medicine, said, “By offering educational opportunities, practical training, and operational support, CIDER aims to enhance public health systems, particularly in low-income countries, through scholarships and financial aid for professionals from these regions.”

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney have proven fundamentally that a spinning atomic nucleus really is a quantum resource. The teams were led respectively by Professor Valerio Scarani, from NUS Department of Physics, and Scientia Professor Andrea Morello from UNSW Engineering. The paper was published in the journal Newton on 14 February 2025.

It has long been inferred that tiny particles such as electrons or protons are indeed quantum due to the way they get deflected in a magnetic field. However, when left to spin freely, they appear to behave in exactly the same way as a classical spinning item, such as a Wheel of Fortune turning on its axis. For more than half a century, experts in spin resonance have taken this fact as a universal truth.

For the same reason, a technician or a doctor operating a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at the hospital never needed to understand quantum mechanics – the spinning of the protons inside the patient’s body produces the same kind of magnetic field that would be created by attaching a fridge magnet to a spinning wheel.

The new work involves a more intricate kind of measurement performed on a single atom to demonstrate clearly the quantum behaviour of spinning nuclei.

Solving the riddle

Prof Scarani, who is also Deputy Director of Singapore’s Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), first proposed the theory after coming across a paper in 2021, written by Russian-Israeli mathematician Boris Tsirelson some 15 years earlier. The paper explored the probability of detecting objects in particular locations as they moved back and forth in a rhythmical way.

As a quantum physicist, Prof Scarani wondered if he could build on that work and utilise it instead in relation to the behaviour of single quantum objects as they spin – and particularly to solve the riddle of why such tiny particles seemed to behave no differently from normal, non-quantum objects.

Having worked with his student Mr Zaw Lin Htoo to solve the problem for some years, Prof Scarani set out to test their theory that in certain special states it would be possible to definitively show that an atomic nucleus does indeed have quantum properties.

A collaboration with Prof Morello from the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications at UNSW provided the skills and the ultra-precise measurement equipment to run the experiments which proved it was true.

“For one particle on its own, nobody thought that you could get any deviation between the classical and the quantum behaviour,” Prof Scarani said.

“Andrea’s group put into motion the spin of a nucleus of antimony, and for every cycle or rotation took seven measurements to check whether it pointed in the positive direction or not. Using the Wheel of Fortune analogy, one would expect to find an arrow on the wheel pointing to the right either four out seven times, or three out of seven times.

“Classically, the absolute maximum is four out of seven – it is inescapable. But the quantum theory predicted that, in the special state we wanted to create, a higher probability could be observed.

“The deviation between the classical and quantum behaviour is quite small, but statistically significant. To notice such deviation, you have to make sure that the measurement is extremely precise and free from noise, otherwise you will not see that difference.”

From the UNSW team, PhD student Mr Arjen Vaartjes and Dr Martin Nurizzo, led the experiment which produced the results to prove the new theory.

Prof Morello took a big thrill out of being able to challenge the long-established textbooks.

“This is fundamental science. Previously it was thought there was no way to ascertain that a nuclear spin is actually a quantum mechanical object by simply watching its precession in a magnetic field. What we have done here is to contradict that.

“We have shown that actually it is possible. Yes, you need to have some special kinds of nuclear spins, and put them in some very peculiar quantum states, and you need a sophisticated way of observing them. The special quantum state we used is called the ‘Schrödinger cat state’, and has interesting features of its own.

“But the result is a proof that clarifies what is a quantum resource.”

Observation of the truth

Prof Scarani and Prof Morello are delighted to have made this breakthrough in the understanding of how quantum phenomena manifest themselves in spin precession, regardless of possible applications.

“Within the community of scientists, this experiment will bring these ideas more to the fore,” said Prof Scarani.

“The key challenge is that you need to create these very specific states in order to see the effect. That said, those special Schrödinger cat states are likely to be important quantum resources in quantum computing, so what we have done here could become a very efficient method to certify their creation.”

With 2025 designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, marking a century since the initial development of quantum mechanics, Prof Morello is proud to have validated such a fundamental principle.

“Quantum mechanics has been around for 100 years, so you might think we’d have figured it all out, right?” he said. “And yet, in 2025 we can still come up with a really simple but clever idea, which we can test in a real experiment, that makes you rethink what it means to be quantum.

“This is really more of a work of intellectual beauty and intellectual satisfaction than it is an immediate application. It is an observation of the truth.”

• Lianhe Zaobao, 12 February 2025, Fukan, p3

• 8world Online, 11 February 2025
• The Straits Times, 12 February 2025, The Big Story, p1
• Lianhe Zaobao, 12 February 2025, Focus, p3
• Berita Harian, 12 February 2025, p2
• The Straits Times, 14 February 2025, Opinion, pB3

By Mr Melvin Tay, Research Associate from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Straits Times, 12 February 2025, Opinion, pB2

By Adjunct Assistant Professor Kyle Tan, from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS

• CNA Online, 12 February 2025

• The Straits Times, 10 February 2025, Science, pA18

• The Straits Times, 10 February 2025, Science, pA18

• Lianhe Zaobao, 10 February 2025, Focus, p1

• CNA Online, 9 February 2025
• 8world Online, 9 February 2025
• Suria News Online, 9 February 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 14 February 2025, Singapore, p8

By Prof Sing Tien Foo, Provost’s Chair Professor from the Dept of Real Estate at the NUS Business School

• CNA Online, 10 February 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 14 February 2025, Opinion, p9

Singapore's declining birth rate has been a recurring headline for many years now, sparking concern about the nation’s demographic and economic future. Despite a host of measures, including baby bonuses and parental leave schemes, the fertility rate for Singapore has continued to fall well below the replacement rate of 2.1, reaching a low of 1.05 in 2022, and then dropping further to 0.97 in 2023.

Alongside a rapidly ageing population, policymakers and researchers have been ramping up efforts to address these demographic challenges for Singapore through more innovative solutions, including Flexible Work Arrangements or FWAs which has been studied from the angle of improving mental health, work-life balance, economic productivity and even sustainability, and most recently, its potential to impact birth rates.

FWAs come in different forms and degrees of flexibility – such as varying workloads or work locations – but which of these arrangements can move the needle in a young adult’s decision to have children?

Investigating the link between FWAs and plans to have children was the focus of a recent study led by Assistant Professor Senhu Wang from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The researchers found that FWA scenarios could significantly increase young, unmarried working Singaporeans’ fertility intentions, described as a plan of action to pursue childbirth in the next five years. The study is the first in the world to examine how FWAs impact fertility intentions specifically among unmarried adults.

Asst Prof Wang said, “While current research suggests that the prevalence of an over-work norm may be a crucial reason for the low fertility rate, there is little research on the effects of FWAs on fertility. This research aims to gain a better understanding of whether and how FWAs affect fertility intention in Singapore, a country with one of the lowest fertility rates and longest working hours in the world.

“Most importantly, we extend the attention to an important and under-studied population who are at reproductive ages and subject to FWAs policy changes directly – the unmarried population that has already accounted for over half of the Singapore population aged 20 to 39 in 2022 when the study was conducted,” he added.

The results of the study was published in a paper titled “Flexible Working Arrangements and Fertility Intentions: A Survey Experiment in Singapore” in November 2024.

Investigating the impact of FWAs on fertility intentions  

A survey examined the five-year fertility plans of 1,092 young and unmarried working Singaporeans aged between 25 to 39 years of age. These young adults hail from a wide variety of industries including workers in professional occupations such as legislators, senior officials and managers, and from non-professional occupations such as technicians, clerical support workers, craftsmen, trades workers and cleaners.

Participants were divided into different groups. Three treatment groups were given hypothetical scenarios of government FWAs policies – flexibility in workload through reduced work hours, flexibility in work schedules, and flexibility in workplaces, while the fourth – a control group, was given a hypothetical scenario of no near-future change in existing work environment policies. All four groups were then asked whether they plan to have a child within the next five years.

Respondents were also asked the extent to which anticipated work-family conflict can mediate the relationship between FWAs and fertility intentions. The impact of FWAs on fertility intentions on both men and women, and between people in professional and non-professional occupations, were also examined.

Between 5 per cent and 17 per cent of respondents from the treatment groups who were given the option of hypothetical FWA policies indicated that they were either definitely or probably not likely to have children, compared to around 12 per cent and 22 per cent of respondents in the control group who said they would definitely or probably not have children in the next five years.

In addition, the results of the statistical analysis showed that treatment groups were more inclined towards marriage compared to the control group, although the effect was less pronounced for those in the “flexible schedule” group. The researchers also anticipated lower work-family conflict incidences among treatment groups.

The study also found different FWAs exacted varying impacts on the respondents’ plans to have children, with the impact on fertility intentions less pronounced in the “flexible work schedule” group.

Elaborating on the details, the paper’s second author, Professor Hao Dong from Peking University, said, “Based on our analysis, we found gendered differences to FWAs with all three types of FWAs having significant effects on women’s fertility intention, whereas only reduced working hours were found to significantly increase men’s fertility intention.”

The different gendered reactions could be attributed to the fact that working mothers continue to bear a disproportionate share of childcare and domestic responsibilities, while experiencing greater opportunity cost, in terms of labour earnings and career development than men. As such, access to FWAs would allow women to exercise higher levels of work control and hence be more likely to have children.

As for why men’s fertility intention increased only with the FWA of reduced working hours, Prof Dong noted that previous research had indicated that while women use FWAs for household related purposes to maintain work-family balance, men tend to use flexible working mainly for performance-enhancing purposes and therefore work longer hours.

The effects of FWAs are also particularly pronounced among men and women working in professional occupations, echoing existing research that emphasises the high fertility costs in professional occupations. The high fertility costs are linked to a strong culture of overwork and intensive parenting which may lower fertility intention by increasing work-family conflict as employees are expected to work long hours and devote their time entirely to the job without interruptions from other non-work demands.

These findings, Prof Dong noted, are consistent with the research literature that highlights overwork and work-family conflict as an institutional constraint preventing young people from developing intentions to have children, let alone achieving these intentions.

Government policies that support employees’ rights to FWAs a potential way to boost low fertility rates

Singapore has been pushing for employers to consider suitable flexible work arrangements to enhance birth rates, and the recent roll-out of the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests (TG-FWAR) could be a game changer.

Asst Prof Wang said, “Our study demonstrates that support of employees’ access to FWAs in the form of government policies can help better accommodate conflicting responsibilities from work and family domains, especially for women and those working in professional and managerial occupations, by enabling them to continue their career after childbirth and promoting a more equitable division of labour. As intention predicts behaviour, we can expect that a more family-friendly working environment alongside other welfare policies could potentially improve the actual fertility rate in the long-term.”

The study has its limitations. First, while fertility intention is highly related to fertility behaviour, both are not equivalent. Secondly, a five-year span of fertility intention may be too long for young people and this measure cannot distinguish between those who intend to remain childless and those who are simply planning to defer childbirth later in life.

These limitations, Asst Prof Wang stressed, do not overshadow the study’s main contribution. He said, “Our study provides a way forward to tackle low fertility rates in developed countries and contributes to our nuanced understanding of how individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds navigate the intersection of work flexibility and family planning. This holds important implications for understanding how family behaviour may be planned in the future of work.”

Singapore's newly rolled out FWA Guidelines, he added, are likely to have a significant effect on the workforce and economy. By standardising FWAs, the guidelines can help reduce stigma around flexible working, potentially increasing job satisfaction and productivity. This, in turn, could lead to improved economic outcomes by retaining talent and reducing turnover rates, which is crucial for sustaining Singapore's workforce in the face of demographic changes.

Organisations could consider tailoring FWAs to fit the specific needs and contexts of their employees. He shared, “This includes providing various options like telecommuting, flexi-time, and compressed workweeks, while ensuring that these policies are inclusive and equitably accessible to all employees.” 

Moving forward, Asst Prof Wang plans to explore the long-term impacts of flexible working across cultural contexts and demographic groups, particularly the sustainability of FWAs and their effects on work-life balance over time.

Not only are they known for bucking trends and traditions, young adults from Generation Z (Gen Z) are marching to the beat of their own hearts when it comes to relationships too, according to an NUS undergraduate research project.

Titled “From Singapore with Love: How do Gen-Zs in Singapore Find, Build and Maintain Romance?”, the small-scale study involved interviews with 25 participants aged 19 to 23.

“We wanted to investigate the role of parents and family in influencing the decision of partner selection or initiating a romantic relationship,” said He Yiyang, a second-year Sociology student at NUS College (NUSC).

He found that the respondents were likely to avoid replicating their family structures in their own relationships, even if they viewed them positively. For example, participants from families where one parent stayed home to manage the household and care for the children appreciated their parent’s sacrifice. However, they would not choose the same arrangement for themselves, instead prioritising their own preferences, such as working as needed.

The reason, his study concluded, was that Gen Z strove for personal fulfilment even as they appreciated the strengths of their parents’ relationships.

This study on love was one of close to 30 projects presented to more than 100 NUS staff and students on 22 January 2025, at the UROP+REx Conference (UREC) held in the NUS Medicine+Science Library.

A stage for student researchers

The annual conference features Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) projects and presentations by Research Experience (REx) fellows. UROP allows students to participate in research projects under the supervision of faculty members, while the REx programme is a course upgrade that arms them with research skills.

After completing their UROP project, REx fellows get the chance to showcase their findings at UREC, which has a line-up of new features this year.

For the first time, UREC 2025 included interactive booths led by faculty members, and offered more opportunities for students to showcase their work with a line-up of about three times more presenters than the year before.

Students could also take on leadership positions, with some in the UREC student-led publicity team, and others who became panel moderators, a role usually given to graduate students with more experience.

It was through the conference that Yiyang, under the supervision of Dr Kyeong Hi Baek, Senior Lecturer at NUSC, studied how Gen Z-ers found, built, and maintained relationships. He was intrigued by the structural inequalities and social norms at play in society, with love being a key – and relatable – pillar.

Keeping in mind what he learnt from his REx workshop on research communication, Yiyang prepared his presentation at UREC with the goal of engaging the audience, who were from different faculties in NUS. To do this, he referred to icons in pop culture such as the popular Korean drama, Crash Landing on You. “Whenever I discuss my research on love, my audience often reacts with puzzlement, viewing love as an inexplicable, deeply subjective emotion—much like the romance portrayed in Crash Landing on You. However, this study demonstrates that love can be rigorously examined through scientific inquiry, revealing its broader societal implications.”

The world is your abalone

While Yiyang’s presentation on love captured the attention – and hearts – of many, it was fellow presenter Alpha Ho who won the Best Oral Presenter award with hand-drawn illustrations and a duck plushie as props.

The Year 4 undergraduate majoring in Food Science & Technology had studied the effects of three cooking methods on the nutritional value of plant-based abalones made from mung beans. Abalones are considered critically endangered, which calls for the sourcing of suitable alternatives.

“The other reason for the investigation is that mung bean protein is not often used in the plant-based food industry, and the protein ends up going to waste,” noted Alpha.

In his experiments, he cooked the abalones and mung bean alternatives using three common Asian cooking methods: steaming, boiling, and stir-frying. He then roped in over 40 participants for a blind taste test of the two abalone options, the real abalones and the mung bean abalones.

Alpha concluded from their feedback that the smell, taste, texture and colour of regular and plant-based abalones were comparable, although there was still room for improvement. He also found that mung bean abalones retained more essential amino acids after cooking than real abalones did, making them nutritionally viable alternatives.

Under the guidance of his supervisor, Professor Huang Dejian and co-supervisor Dr Liu Yunjiao from the Department of Food Science & Technology, Alpha compiled his findings into a report and a presentation deck for the conference.

On winning the award, Alpha credited other faculty members such as Dr Liu Mei Hui and Dr Vinayak Ghate who were engaging presenters and how he channelled them during his presentation to maintain an infectious energy. “They inspired me to find my own way of being engaging,” he said.

Taking REx fellows to new heights

At UREC, Alpha also drew inspiration from the posters of other REx fellows, taking personal notes on how to present information in a more compelling manner for future conferences.

In addition, UREC has stoked Yiyang’s creative fire. After a chat with a fellow conference participant, he is now thinking of studying how other factors such as multiracialism affect parents and family, which in turn impact romantic relations.

He will be analysing his findings in relation to meso-level systems. These are medium structures that exist between the micro and macro levels, like families (micro); and organisations, communities or ethnic groups (macro), respectively. By interacting with others at the interdisciplinary conference, Yiyang has found that obtaining data is only the first step in taking his research further.

“The conference is like magic – you approach so many people with different perspectives and get new insights,” said Yiyang who spoke to engineers, scientists, and social scientists.

This is exactly why the UREC was established. “UREC aims to be an annual student conference where undergraduate researchers share their work and learn from one another,” said Mr John Caines, Programme Manager, Research Experience (REx). “With each iteration, UREC hopes to bring together students from more faculties and departments to discover exciting intersections between disciplines.”

Both Yiyang and Alpha hope to pursue PhDs, and UREC is a stepping stone to their goal.

“I feel that you don’t get that many opportunities to present your research outside of your department as an undergraduate,” said Alpha. “Hence, this conference is an opportunity to showcase my project to a broader audience and it helped me brush up on my scientific communication skills for different audiences. It has also strengthened my research portfolio.”

Students interested in the Research Experience (REx) Course Upgrade can apply for it here.

On Darwin Day, 12 February 2025, the Darwin Online project at the National University of Singapore (NUS) launches the largest collection of caricatures of Charles Darwin and evolution in history. It is the result of 25 years of research by historian of science Dr John van Wyhe, from the Department of Biological Sciences at the NUS Faculty of Science, drawing on historic magazines, newspapers, books and archives. The edited collection consists of mostly unknown comic illustrations from 1860 to 1939 showing how Darwin and evolution have been represented in the press and popular culture worldwide since the publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species in 1859.

Until recently, only about a dozen caricatures of Darwin were widely known. The new 165-page online catalogue provides over 100 caricatures, of which 30 are new discoveries. The 740-page catalogues of evolution caricatures are much more numerous, over 1,200, and their range and diversity are staggering, highlighting the widespread public engagement with the topic of evolution.

This huge collection provides deeper insights into the cultural impact of Darwin’s theories. Evolution was used in these illustrations in endlessly surprising ways. Not even experts in this field knew there was this much visual imagery in response to Darwin and his ideas and published in so many parts of the world. Today, it is often overlooked that by the 1870s, thousands of newspapers and magazines around the world featured comic illustrations, including those on Darwin and his theories. Many of the caricatures in this collection curated by Darwin Online were created by some of the best comic writers of their time.

The humour of evolution

Popular ideas, misconceptions, prejudices and older traditions fed into these caricatures which in turn popularised and spread ideas further. For example, one common theme is to make jokes about Darwin's purported claim that humans are descended from monkeys – something he did not in fact believe. Other erroneous but popular themes were the idea that Darwin’s theory of evolution is about inevitable progress or the occurrence of so-called degeneration from humans back into animals. Almost all the caricatures show amused ridicule of evolution rather than deep offence or religious outrage.

Darwin’s works introduced the public to many phrases and concepts such as natural selection, sexual selection or the struggle for existence. The idea of a supposed ‘missing link’, referring to transitional species, became a long-lasting theme. Often much older comic imagery was re-branded into Darwin-themed ones such as transformation cartoons showing the origins or ‘evolution’ of a cat into a violin. Another common theme is monkeys or apes expressing disgust at being related to humans with all their faults. Some caricatures show friends or a married couples looking at a monkey at the zoo ─ the husband eerily resembling the monkey ─ and the joke is that Mrs So-and-so didn’t take Darwinism seriously before, but now she sees there might be something to it after all! 

The controversies over teaching evolution in public schools in the USA in the 1920s saw a veritable explosion of these caricatures with the Scopes Monkey Trial 100 years ago. The collection by Darwin Online is by far the largest collection of these caricatures ever assembled. They are both fascinating and often very funny.

Context of the caricatures explained

The collection of caricatures is dated, identified and often the artist and the historical context or meaning explained. Unlike previous compilations, the Darwin Online collection provides the accompanying poems or articles that were originally alongside the illustrations. Without historical context, it is usually impossible to understand what the caricatures originally meant, and often modern readers imagine a very different meaning.

“This unprecedented collection allows us to see how the public reacted to, used and mis-used evolutionary ideas from the moment Darwin published his seminal work, On the Origin of Species, and over the next 80 years. There is much to be learned from them. They will be useful for teaching and research. For decades, modern publications and documentaries have re-used the same small handful of caricatures. Now anyone can see at a glance just how many and diverse they were. A lot of them are very clever social commentary, and others are simply hugely enjoyable,” said Dr van Wyhe.

How can we make mental health services more inclusive and accessible, while focusing on early intervention, community support and destigmatisation? How can businesses in the built environment sector decarbonise through energy-efficient technologies to meet global sustainability goals?

These were some of the pressing challenges tackled by NUS students during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Open Hack @ NUS 2024, one of the key events at the inaugural NUS Enterprise Sustainability (E-SUS) Challenge. Organised by NUS Enterprise teams from BLOCK71 and Innovation with Societal Impact in collaboration with partners such as NUS Sustainability and the Office of Student Affairs, the NUS E-SUS Challenge encouraged NUS students to address social and environmental challenges through innovation and entrepreneurship.

SDG Open Hack @ NUS 2024

Held as part of NUS Sustainability CONNECT Week, SDG Open Hack @ NUS was the campus edition of the SDG Open Hack Singapore, a global series of student hackathons endorsed by the United Nations and organised in partnership with the Global Green Economic Foundation.

The 24-hour hackathon attracted more than 50 teams and over 300 NUS students, making this the highest participation among Institutes of Higher Learning and the largest turnout for NUS-hosted student hackathons. Winners from campus editions competed in the SDG Open Hack Singapore finals and three NUS teams advanced to the finals, with one team emerging as the first runner-up of the hackathon.

Team N-House, comprising Year 5 Computer Science undergraduate Eugene Chia, Year 4  Business undergraduate Raphael Chew, Year 4 Information Systems undergraduate Glenn Quah, Year 2 Business undergraduate Harry Wu, and Year 2 Environmental Engineering undergraduate Wan Baicen, were the winners of the NUS campus edition. All were residents of NUS ENterprise House (N-House), where they met and formed a team for the hackathon. The team’s winning proposal was EcoVolt, an innovative energy efficiency solution that reduces power consumption and emissions in buildings by intelligently managing and optimising plug load.

Sharing about his experience, Eugene, Co-Founder of EcoVolt said, “The SDG Open Hack @ NUS 2024 was a truly heartening, impactful, and eye-opening experience for the EcoVolt team. The impeccable curation of speakers, mentors, and judges, coupled with unwavering support from Singapore’s social impact community, was on full display throughout the event. We were especially inspired by our passionate peers, who like us, dedicated their weekend to hacking for the SDGs. With continued and growing support, we will undoubtedly shape a future that champions inclusive innovation, drives sustainable growth, and empowers communities for generations to come.”

NUS Student Innovation Carnival

The inaugural NUS Student Innovation Carnival was held during the NUS E-SUS Challenge, which attracted over 500 NUS students. The winning teams from the SDG Open Hack @ NUS were invited to showcase their ideas at the carnival, alongside innovative projects from across the university.

Students also participated in an interactive scavenger hunt where they were introduced to the entrepreneurial resources and support services available at NUS. Adding to the excitement, student entrepreneurs took the stage during the open mic sessions to pitch their ideas, creating a vibrant platform to foster creativity and collaborations.

Impact x Innovation Immersion Programme to Vietnam

As part of the Impact x Innovation Immersion Programme, about 30 NUS students, including some who participated in the SDG Open Hack @ NUS 2024, travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to explore business opportunities and gain insights into the local business culture. Following its successful debut in 2023, the programme returned for its second year in 2024, providing participants with hands-on learning experience.

During their eight-day trip, students had the opportunity to interact with peers from various Vietnamese universities and visit start-up incubation centres. They also engaged with start-up founders to understand the challenges and opportunities in Vietnam’s start-up ecosystem.

Armed with new knowledge and perspectives, the students refined their business ideas to better tailor them to the Vietnamese market. Their efforts culminated at the Singapore-Vietnam Youth Innovation Summit in Vietnam, a vibrant event designed to connect young changemakers, impact-driven entrepreneurs and industry leaders from Singapore and Vietnam.

On top of being able to exchange ideas and explore impactful collaborations, NUS students pitched their ideas on stage to a panel of judges. Among the standout pitches was Digi-Up!, a start-up offering gamified solutions to help seniors learn and adapt to modern technology. Another notable start-up pitch came from Village Ventures, a global immersion company that supports rural communities by helping them raise funds and connect with social impact organisations to receive the support they need.

“The Impact x Innovation Immersion Programme offered us the opportunity to learn about various aspects of entrepreneurship in Vietnam, from start-up ecosystems to local business practices, and how these are shaped by the unique cultural and economic landscape. It became clear that successful businesses are those that adapt to their community’s specific needs. This programme offers a unique chance to dive deep into how diverse entrepreneurial landscapes operate, making it a must for anyone eager to expand their global perspective on business,” said Ms Sruti Mulupuri, a Year 1 Business undergraduate who is also the Co-Founder of Digi-Up!.

By NUS Enterprise

• zbSunday, 9 February 2025, News, p5

• zbSunday, 9 February 2025, News, p7