As the world faces more complex challenges and calls for accountability increase, more and more people are drawn to effective altruism – a philosophy that encourages the use of evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to help others and take action based on that analysis.
Marrying the principles of economics and philosophy, students learn how to evaluate non-empirical values such as our moral obligation towards the global poor, animals, and future populations and simultaneously think like economists by understanding market forces and risks. The interdisciplinary course also touches on subjects like political science, psychology, engineering, and computer science.
NUS’ ‘Effective Altruism in Theory and Practice’ is currently one of only a few university courses in the world devoted to the topic, and is likely to grow in popularity in the coming years.
“The main goal of the course is to provide students with strategies for how to answer the question, ‘How can I benefit others as much as possible?’ and hopefully inspire some students to act on their own answers to that question,” says Dr Mattsson. “To do this, we discuss different theories for what constitutes morally good behaviour, as well as basic economic logic and evidence. Finally we do a deep dive into three fields that many in the Effective Altruism community think are areas where one can benefit others a lot.”
The formidable Gobi Desert is the perfect classroom in the wild, a fertile ground for self-discovery and transformation.
A 121 km trek through its harsh and punishing terrain is nothing short of a herculean task, not least due to the extreme temperatures that drop to lows of minus 6 degrees Celsius at night, then climb to highs of 29 degrees Celsius in the day. This autumnal weather – amid which I and a team of NUS EMBA students and alumni trekked, over four days and three nights – is in fact milder than the other seasons of the mercurial desert, but no less daunting.
Forget about stopping to smell the roses; we were preoccupied with our survival and crossing the finishing line. We wore shoe covers to prevent sand from causing blisters, changed our socks twice a day to remove any sand that seeped in, and donned compression tights to reduce muscle fatigue. All this while lugging three litres of water on our backs, with the unrelenting sun beating down on us.
We were finally rewarded with a breathtaking view during the last 5 km of our journey – an oasis in the wilderness. But any sense of reprieve was short-lived, as the shimmering waterhole that captivated us had to be trudged through too.
The annual Gobi Desert Challenge pays tribute to the fortitude of Xuanzang, a Chinese Buddhist monk who undertook a similar journey to India more than 1,300 years ago. Today, it is a test of endurance and teamwork for top Asian business schools with Chinese Executive MBA programmes, with over 50 institutions participating this year. This was my fifth time embarking on the trek, but it was immensely rewarding and I still learnt new lessons.
The first was the importance of training and preparation. To understand, respect and embrace nature is to not underestimate it. The beauty of the desert lies in its harshness – while there were a few wild animals around, for most of the trek we were surrounded by a beautiful – but unforgiving – landscape of undulating hills, volcanic pebbles, salt beds, and hot desert sand. Even with modern technology and equipment, the journey remained challenging. We gained a profound respect for people of the past who faced these hardships head-on without such resources.
The second lesson was the value of teamwork, grit and resilience. In the face of nature, we are miniscule against the vast expanse – however accomplished we might be in our professional day jobs. It is not every day that the CEO of Gong Cha Singapore or the Senior Principal of Furen International School are your trekking companions. Kang Puay Seng and Li Wei are veterans in their 60s who have participated in this challenge before, but wanted to prove they still possessed the tenacity to see it through. I could relate to that, as I wanted to test my limits after my partial knee replacement last February.
While completing the trek might have been the main objective, there was a secondary goal: to ensure that all your teammates made it out safely. This required a keen understanding of team dynamics, including identifying those who needed extra support. We always had designated “sweep teams”, made up of more experienced team members whose responsibility was to ensure that no one was left behind. They took on the strenuous task of shuttling between parts of the trek to assist those who were trailing due to blisters or muscle cramps, and to clear the route ahead of any obstacles. Less experienced trekkers were also grouped with stronger teammates, paying homage to the adage that we are only as strong as the weakest link.
Third, and most importantly, the unpredictability of the natural elements, from sudden temperature fluctuations to shifting terrains, mirrors the realities of our world. We live in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment today, and more than ever do we need agility, adaptability and innovation to effectively navigate challenges.
We may not have to battle a literal sandstorm in our everyday lives, but the same principles apply when it comes to responding to unexpected challenges, be it rapid technological disruptions or environmental crises.
I believe that skills like situational awareness, teamwork and discipline are best taught and learnt outside the classroom – something our students understand well. In many ways, the Gobi Desert Challenge aligns perfectly with NUS’ commitment to experiential education, which aims to cultivate well-rounded, resilient and culturally sensitive individuals who can thrive not just during but beyond their time at NUS.
Everywhere is a classroom
Not all students possess the natural drive and determination to learn independently. From the time we enter primary school, learning is dictated by a fixed curriculum. Teachers speak, students listen.
But experiential learning has sparked a significant shift in mindset. It is learning by doing, not just passively absorbing. Rather than educators mandating what should be learnt, students are given the opportunity to take charge of their own learning by stepping outside the classroom and engaging with real-world problems. It is a matter of triggering their interest. Once that is achieved, people will learn independently, and they will learn deeply.
Pre-COVID, the Gobi Desert Challenge was compulsory for our EMBA students. Although this requirement has since been lifted, the event has remained an important part of the cultural fabric of the NUS Business School. In fact, the enthusiasm has only ramped up. This year’s contingent is the University’s largest since it first participated in the challenge in 2007, surpassing 100 members for the first time.
This comes as no surprise. In recent years, experiential learning has become part of the DNA of our MBA programme. It is why students are inducted into the programme through a five-day boot camp called “Launch Your Transformation” which aims to hone crucial leadership skills through a series of activities and discussions.
This approach is not just bespoke to the business school. Spontaneous and self-inspired learning is an institution-wide philosophy. NUSOne, NUS’ latest initiative launched this year, complements our rigorous interdisciplinary education by providing more ground-up avenues to participate in student life and out-of-classroom experiences, encouraging greater self-directed growth among students in a free-ranging and organic way.
For instance, Wednesday afternoons are now mostly free from classes, allowing students to develop their interests outside the classroom, whether it be volunteering or participating in a wide range of co-curricular activities.
This is based on the fundamental belief that student life is an essential part of an education. Our students do not just go out to work; they should be well-rounded, active and responsible global citizens who can make a change in their communities.
Experiential learning is a necessary facet of higher education, and one that resonates closely with NUS’ mission to educate, inspire and transform. Transformation is a passage for the bold and willing – it can be nudged in the right direction but the motivation must come from within. Our job as institutes of higher learning is to awaken and fuel that motivation.
Next year, NUS celebrates its 120th anniversary. I have encouraged my EMBA students to convince their entire cohort to participate in the 20th edition of the Gobi Desert Challenge in 2025. As leaders in their own right, their biggest challenge lies in their personal evolution. With my background in mathematics, I cannot help but see the meaning in numbers – 120 years, 121 km, a shot to redefine yourself.
Professor Tan Eng Chye is President of the National University of Singapore and a mathematician.
NUS Law has announced a new legal fellowship – the Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law – established through a generous endowed gift of US$1 million from the Jones Day Foundation, a nonprofit organisation funded by Jones Day's lawyers and staff.
The new Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law will expand the partnership between Jones Day Foundation, NUS Law and its Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) by supporting rule-of-law research activities.
The new fellowship is expected to be awarded to a leading judge, practitioner or academic annually in perpetuity. The appointed legal fellow will deliver a seminar or lecture to students and the legal profession to engage the wider Singapore legal community on important issues related to furthering the rule of law.
The fellowship was announced at an event hosted by Jones Day in Singapore. Mr Murali Pillai SC, Minister of State for Law, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport attended the event as Guest-of-Honour, together with NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS Law Dean Professor Andrew Simester, Jones Day Global Managing Partner Mr Greg Shumaker, senior executives from NUS and Jones Day, and other invited guests.
Mr Murali said, “Singapore is a steadfast champion of the rule of law, and we recognise that scholarly research and education play a critical role in its promotion. This Fellowship will help address pressing challenges facing our region and reaffirm the centrality of the rule of law as a cornerstone of peace, stability, and progress. It will help foster fresh perspectives, nurture future leaders and deepen engagement on issues that matter to the region and the world”.
Singapore’s legal system is widely recognised as one of the more durable systems of laws, institutions and norms, and the resulting trust in that system has been a critical ingredient in Singapore’s economic development and success.
Echoing the sentiments, Prof Andrew Simester “We are deeply grateful to the Jones Day Foundation for its generous gift and to Jones Day for its continuing commitment to the rule of law. This Fellowship will contribute significantly to deepening our understanding of what a robust and predictable legal system requires if it is to support a prosperous and harmonious society, as well as advance Singapore’s standing as a global hub for dispute resolution.”
Mr Greg Shumaker, Jones Day’s Global Managing Partner, said that the new Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law will promote the study and critical examination of this important subject.
“Jones Day’s former Managing Partner Steve Brogan has been a tireless advocate for the rule of law and the important role it plays in economic development, alleviating poverty and advancing human dignity. This fellowship will promote the study and critical examination of this important subject and help enable others to follow in Steve’s footsteps in Singapore and across the world.
“January marks Jones Day’s twenty-fifth year in Singapore. We have witnessed the indisputable and profound impact Singapore’s strong rule of law tradition has had on a nation's economic growth and stability, and we are proud of the part we have played in supporting the rule of law here. Given our ongoing commitment to supporting future leaders in upholding justice and promoting the rule of law, we are also proud of the Jones Day Foundation for making this Fellowship possible and furthering NUS Law’s excellent work.”
Jones Day’s Singapore office is part of a global law firm with more than 2,400 lawyers in 40 offices across five continents. The Jones Day Foundation was established in 1987, funded by the lawyers and staff of Jones Day, with a mission is to financially support efforts that include promoting the rule of law, fostering innovation in academics, medicine and the arts, improving the living conditions and economic opportunities for people in impoverished settings (particularly children and women), and providing support and comfort to people suffering from natural and other disasters around the world.
Since then, NUS Law has hosted distinguished legal practitioners from around the world, including Justice Ayesha Malik from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Lady Mary Arden, former UK Supreme Court Justice, Honourable Geoffrey Ma, Former Chief Justice of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and Tun Richard Malanjum, Ombudsperson to the United Nations Security Council and (Retired) 9th Chief Justice of Malaysia. Each of these appointees have delivered a public lecture at NUS Law and engaged with local academics, students and practitioners to enrich the learning and understanding of the rule of law in the local and international context.
The National University of Singapore Faculty of Law (NUS Law) has announced the establishment of a new legal fellowship – the Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law. This Fellowship was established through a generous endowed gift of US$1 million from the Jones Day Foundation, a nonprofit organisation funded by Jones Day's lawyers and staff.
The new Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law will expand the partnership between the Jones Day Foundation, NUS Law and its Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) by supporting rule-of-law research activities. Singapore’s legal system is widely recognised as one of the more durable systems of laws, institutions and norms, and the resulting trust in that system has been a critical ingredient in Singapore’s economic development and success.
To engage the wider Singapore legal community on important issues related to furthering the rule of law, the appointed legal fellow will deliver a seminar or lecture of relevance to students and the legal profession. The Fellowship is expected to be awarded to a leading judge, practitioner or academic annually in perpetuity.
Professor Andrew Simester, Dean of NUS Law, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Jones Day Foundation for its generous gift and to Jones Day for its continuing commitment to the rule of law. This Fellowship will contribute significantly to deepening our understanding of what a robust and predictable legal system requires if it is to support a prosperous and harmonious society, as well as advance Singapore’s standing as a global hub for dispute resolution.”
The new Fellowship was announced at an event hosted by Jones Day in Singapore. Jones Day’s Singapore office is part of a global law firm with more than 2,400 lawyers in 40 offices across five continents.
Mr Murali Pillai SC, Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, who attended the event as Guest-of-Honour, said, “Singapore is a steadfast champion of the rule of law, and we recognise that scholarly research and education play a critical role in its promotion. This Fellowship will help address pressing challenges facing our region and reaffirm the centrality of the rule of law as a cornerstone of peace, stability, and progress. It will help foster fresh perspectives, nurture future leaders and deepen engagement on issues that matter to the region and the world”.
This generous gesture by the Jones Day Foundation builds on its previous US$2 million gift to NUS Law for the establishment of two visiting professorships each year: The Jones Day CALS Visiting Professorship on the Rule of Law in Asia and the Jones Day Visiting Professorship on Comparative Commercial Law, both of which were established at NUS Law in 2022.
Since then, NUS Law has hosted distinguished legal practitioners from around the world, including Justice Ayesha Malik from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Lady Mary Arden, former UK Supreme Court Justice, Honourable Geoffrey Ma, Former Chief Justice of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and Tun Richard Malanjum, Ombudsperson to the United Nations Security Council and (Retired) 9th Chief Justice of Malaysia. Each of these appointees have delivered a public lecture at NUS Law and engaged with local academics, students and practitioners to enrich the learning and understanding of the rule of law in the local and international context.
Mr Greg Shumaker, Jones Day’s Global Managing Partner, said that the new Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law will promote the study and critical examination of this important subject.
“Jones Day’s former Managing Partner Steve Brogan has been a tireless advocate for the rule of law and the important role it plays in economic development, alleviating poverty and advancing human dignity. This Fellowship will promote the study and critical examination of this important subject and help enable others to follow in Steve’s footsteps in Singapore and across the world.
“January 2025 marks Jones Day’s twenty-fifth year in Singapore. We have witnessed the indisputable and profound impact Singapore’s strong rule of law tradition has had on a nation's economic growth and stability, and we are proud of the part we have played in supporting the rule of law here. Given our ongoing commitment to supporting future leaders in upholding justice and promoting the rule of law, we are also proud of the Jones Day Foundation for making this Fellowship possible and furthering NUS Law’s excellent work.”
In this series, NUS News profiles the personalities shaping vibrant residential life and culture on campus, and how they craft a holistic residential experience that brings out the best in student residents.
The lights dim as Temasek Hall’s choir shuffles off stage at the Victoria Concert Hall. They have just finished the last item of their annual concert LegaTHo – or so the audience thinks. As their applause begins to die down, a familiar figure bursts onto the stage. Cheers erupt as the mystery performer emerges from the shadows: Hall Master Victor Tan. Within seconds, the choir reappears alongside Associate Professor Tan to deliver a stirring rendition of the encore song, “From Now On” from The Greatest Showman.
This was not Assoc Prof Tan’s only appearance at a Temasek Hall performance. He had also made a cameo in the hall’s musical production in March, an original play about a murder mystery.
If you could not already tell, Assoc Prof Tan is passionate about the performing arts, something he has worked hard to inculcate in Temasek Hall, which as the reigning Inter-Hall Games (IHG) champion, has long been known for its sporting excellence.
“When I first came to Temasek Hall, it had a reputation for excelling in sports. But since then, we have diversified and focused more on the cultural groups, and they have grown a lot,” said Assoc Prof Tan, who is also Deputy Head (Undergraduate Programme) of NUS’ Department of Mathematics.
Besides stellar sportspeople and performers, Temasek Hall is home to a group of talented creators who manage the hall’s popular TikTok account, which features snapshots of hall events, room tours and other trendy reels which regularly garner tens of thousands views – and sometimes even more than a million. “I confess that I didn’t know it was so popular. Sometimes I cannot relate to the content, but the residents are very creative,” Assoc Prof Tan muses.
Temasek Hall is one of six Halls of Residences in NUS, which offer a wider range of co-curricular activities compared with the other types of residential hostels, and celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023.
As he approaches a decade of being its Master, Assoc Prof Tan reflects on his time helping to craft a culture of community cohesion, and what makes Temasek Hall so special.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: What’s a typical day like for you?
I'm a rather disciplined person. I always start the day with my routine workouts. At 7am, I will greet the security guard as I come out from my apartment and walk to the gym. On Sunday, I do a longer-distance run, sometimes to West Coast Park, Labrador Park, or even Jurong East to visit my mother. After my exercise, I’m either teaching or dealing with administrative matters in the mathematics department.
By 6pm I’m off work, and hall life begins. Students are available only in the evening, so that’s when I have discussions with the Junior Common Room Committee (JCRC) and other student leaders. That’s also when hall events like open mics and theatre productions take place. Sometimes, the students even invite me to sing at open mics!
Q: How did you become Master of Temasek Hall?
Before moving to Temasek Hall, I was a Resident Fellow in Eusoff Hall for nine years. The maximum term is seven years, so I had already exceeded it by two years in 2014, when there was an opening for Temasek Hall Master. I wasn’t sure about it at first due to the huge responsibility of a hall master, but I decided to give it a try and went for the interview. I got the spot and moved over with my wife and daughter.
Q: What do you find challenging or rewarding about being Master of Temasek Hall?
One challenge is succession within the hall student leadership. Over the years, we have seen a decline in the number of students who are willing to step up. Those who take up leadership roles like JCRC are eager to excel, and I have faith in their motivations and abilities. But I also recognise that they have to make a lot of sacrifices. They have to choose whether to contribute to the hall, do an internship, focus on their studies, or go on an exchange programme.
As for the rewarding part, Temasek Hall has an impressive track record in sports, and I take great pride in this achievement. We do well consistently in IHG every year and are either champions or runner ups. But the success doesn’t come easy. There’s a lot of hard work and systematic approach behind the scenes – how we identify potential sports talent to join our hall, and how we provide the training and coaching. I am hesitant to call ourselves a “sports hall”, but sporting excellence is something every Temasekian is proud of. When we win and raise the trophy, we feel that all our investment and training has been worthwhile.
Q: Temasek Hall’s motto is ‘Some call it a Hostel, we call it Home.’ How do you make this a reality?
It starts from day one. We have a traditional mass check-in day for the freshmen. What makes this day so special is the enthusiastic reception by an entire army of seniors ready to welcome the freshmen. Every time a car approaches the lobby, they will shout joyfully “Welcome to TH!”, and help the freshmen with carrying their belongings to their rooms. This creates a very fond memory for every freshman, as they immediately feel embraced by this welcoming big family.
Following that is the orientation camp, which features several signature activities. While I can't divulge too much, I can share that we have a huge slope within our hall known as The Quads. Our orientation committee cleverly utilises this unique terrain to design several theme park-worthy activities. These activities are kept secret, and participants are instructed not to reveal them to anyone, ensuring that each new batch of freshmen is pleasantly surprised. These experiences have become cherished memories for every cohort of Temasekians.
Q: What are your goals and leadership philosophy as Hall Master?
It's very simple – the goal is that every resident has a rich and fulfilling experience. Temasek Hall is not just a place for them to sleep, but also a place for them to learn, grow and develop. It's also their last chance to try things before they go into the working world, which is much more unforgiving. Here, they are allowed to fail.
My philosophy for leadership is empowerment. I empower the students to take on responsibilities while ensuring they understand the importance of doing the right thing. The residents always surprise me. During JCRC elections, I trust the students to elect their leaders, and they always make the right choice. Sometimes I might have a preconceived impression of someone, but once I work with them, I’m pleasantly surprised by their responsibility and capability. That’s also a lesson for me: to always give the students opportunities to show their potential and grow.
Assistant Professor Iris Yu, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, has been honoured with the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Singapore Award. The award, which includes a S$10,000 endowment to advance the awardees’ research, was presented at a ceremony on 28 November 2024. This year’s awardees in Singapore highlight the contributions of women scientists in advancing impactful research and tackling major global challenges, from sustainable bioeconomy solutions to groundbreaking medical research.
Asst Prof Yu is a pioneer in the use of microwave-assisted processing, an emerging technology that converts biomass and organic waste into energy and other high-value products more efficiently. Her work is useful in densely populated urban areas like Singapore, where space constraints limit the effectiveness of methods like anaerobic digestion and composting.
Reflecting on her journey, she expressed gratitude for the support of her colleagues and mentors, and the importance of inspiring the next generation of scientists. “NUS has been putting in a lot of effort, rolling out new research-based courses, so even undergrad students can work with faculty and gain critical exposure to state-of-the-art research in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics),” she said.
The Scalable Hydrogel-clad Ionotronic Nickel-core Electroluminescent (SHINE) fibre is bendable, emits highly visible light, and can automatically repair itself after being cut, regaining nearly 100 per cent of its original brightness. In addition, the fibre can be powered wirelessly and manipulated physically using magnetic forces.
With multiple useful features incorporated into a single device, the fibre finds potential applications as light-emitting soft robotic fibres and interactive displays. It can also be woven into smart textiles.
“Most digital information today is transmitted largely through light-emissive devices. We are very interested in developing sustainable materials that can emit light and explore new form factors, such as fibres, that could extend application scenarios, for example, smart textiles. One way to engineer sustainable light-emitting devices is to make them self-healable, just like biological tissues such as skin,” said Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, the lead researcher for this study.
Light-emitting fibres have become an area of burgeoning interest owing to their potential to complement existing technologies in multiple domains, including soft robotics, wearable electronics and smart textiles. For instance, providing functionalities like dynamic lighting, interactive displays and optical signalling, all while offering flexibility and adaptability, could improve human-robot interactions by making them more responsive and intuitive.
However, the use of such fibres is often limited by physical fragility and the difficulty of integrating multiple features into one single device without adding complexity or increasing energy demands.
The NUS research team’s SHINE fibre addresses these challenges by combining light emission, self-healing and magnetic actuation in a single, scalable device. In contrast to existing light-emitting fibres on the market, which cannot self-repair after damage or be physically manipulated, the SHINE fibre offers a more efficient, durable and versatile alternative.
The fibre is based on a coaxial design combining a nickel core for magnetic responsiveness, a zinc sulphide-based electroluminescent layer for light emission and a hydrogel electrode for transparency. Using a scalable ion-induced gelation process, the team fabricated fibres up to 5.5 metres long that retained functionality even after nearly a year of open-air storage.
“To ensure clear visibility in bright indoor lighting conditions, a luminance of at least 300 to 500 cd/m2 is typically recommended,” said Assoc Prof Tee. “Our SHINE fibre has a record luminance of 1068 cd/m2, comfortably exceeding the threshold, making it highly visible even in well-lit indoor environments.”
The fibre’s hydrogel layer self-heals through chemical bond reformation under ambient conditions, while the nickel core and electroluminescent layer restore structural and functional integrity through heat-induced dipole interactions at 50 degrees Celsius.
“More importantly, the recovery process restores over 98 per cent of the fibre’s original brightness, ensuring it can endure mechanical stresses post-repair,” added Assoc Prof Tee. “This capability supports the reuse of damaged and subsequently self-repaired fibres, making the invention much more sustainable in the long term.”
The SHINE fibre also features magnetic actuation enabled by its nickel core. This property allows the fibre to be manipulated with external magnets. “This is an interesting property as it enables applications like light-emitting soft robotic fibres capable of manoeuvring tight spaces, performing complicated motions and signalling optically in real-time,” said Dr Fu Xuemei, the first author of the paper.
Unravelling new human-robot interactions
The SHINE fibre can be knitted or woven into smart textiles that emit light and easily self-heal after being cut, adding an element of durability and functionality to wearable technology. With its intrinsic magnetic actuation, the fibre itself can also function as a soft robot, capable of emitting light, self-healing, navigating confined spaces and signalling optically even after being completely severed. Additionally, the fibre can be used in interactive displays, where its magnetism allows for dynamic pattern changes that facilitate optical interaction and signalling in the dark.
Looking ahead, the team plans to refine the precision of the fibre’s magnetic actuation to support more dexterous robotic applications. They are also exploring the possibility of weaving sensing capabilities – such as the ability to detect temperature and humidity – into light-emitting textiles made entirely from SHINE fibres.
It can be challenging for some underprivileged families to receive the right support. But ComLink+, a government initiative that uplifts households with young children living in rental flats, is bridging the gap.
By harnessing data across government and the social service sector, ComLink+ gives social workers a clearer picture of these families’ needs, allowing them to help them more effectively.
The platform was cited by Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration Mr Desmond Lee as an example of how a tighter integration of support systems is necessary to address the growing complexity of social issues. But dealing with the future of social work will require more than this.
“Technology will also play an important part in shaping the profession through education and skills development,” said Mr Lee, who was speaking at a symposium in November titled “From Heritage to New Frontiers: Celebrating the Past and Reimagining the Future of Social Work”, organised by the NUS Department of Social Work.
Adopting such digitalisation is vital given the complex “multiverse” which consists of different realities for different people with different needs and preferences, added panellist Mr Martin Tan, Chief Executive Officer of non-profit group, The Majurity Trust.
Upskilling for social workers
To navigate this new multiverse, social workers should ensure they have the most up-to-date skills, said speakers and panellists at the symposium held at the NUSS Kent Ridge Guild House.
“While staying rooted to the core mission of social work, we should be ready to embrace change and continuously seek new knowledge and skills to remain relevant,” said Associate Professor Lee Geok Ling, Head of Department of Social Work.
“To achieve our shared goals, innovation, partnerships and a forward-looking, lifelong learning mindset are necessary," she added.
To this end, the University is updating its social work courses to incorporate more digital technology. For instance, the Department of Social Work has introduced new courses for its undergraduate programme, such as “Social Work and Technology of the Future” and “Digital Technologies in Children and Youth Services”. The Department of Social Work’s Continuing Professional Education unit is also planning to launch four new tech-related courses focusing on AI, design thinking, data analysis, and working with ChatGPT.
Announcing these new courses at the symposium, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Aaron Thean said, “These courses will empower social workers to harness technology for enhanced decision-making and efficiency, preparing future social workers and current practitioners with vital digital skills.”
The new courses build on existing NUS initiatives such as Blended Learning 2.0, which integrates traditional face-to-face teaching with technologies such as virtual reality simulations, allowing social work students to practise clinical skills in scenarios that mimic the real world.
“Social work is not just a profession, but also a calling that requires resilience, compassion, and innovation to navigate today’s rapidly changing world,” noted Prof Thean. “Social workers must evolve to remain effective and relevant amidst technological changes and uncertainties.”
It is a view shared by other symposium speakers such as Associate Professor Teo Poh Leng, Head of Social Work Undergraduate Programmes at the Singapore University of Social Sciences; and Dr Vincent Ng, Chief Executive Officer of social service agency Allkin Singapore Ltd.
They believe that social workers, similar to employees in other industries, “need to have a lifelong learning mindset”. “At an organisational level, we must provide opportunities for people to learn and grow. At the individual level, the responsibility for learning has to be personal,” added Dr Ng.
A crucial skill is design thinking, one of the focus areas of the new NUS courses, highlighted several speakers including Mr Benjamin Png, Product Manager and Policy & Transformation Specialist at Open Government Products, an experimental government team building technology for public good.
“In today’s world where things are a lot more complicated than before, it is worthwhile to start using design thinking to see how we can break problems down into smaller pieces and test out solutions, rather than commit wholeheartedly to one single solution that often doesn't really work,” he explained.
Collaborate for more integrated support
Besides tapping technology, the social work industry also requires greater collaboration for greater impact, observed panellists and speakers.
“We try to work with the government to rethink policy, but there are market forces and businesses that play a part too. Then you have advocacy groups trying to campaign, and also intermediaries like us who are trying to connect the dots,” said Mr Tan from The Majurity Trust.
“But the key is this: the world is too complex today for any one of us to handle things on our own." he stressed.
Minister Lee also called for much tighter integration of support around families with complex needs.
“We need to develop a stronger understanding of the broader social landscape and build extensive networks of partners with social workers at the core, so that we can achieve much closer collaboration between agencies and community organisations,” he said.
A way forward is to be more business-minded about social work, said Ms Wu Mei Ling, General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Singapore.
“Business models and tools can be and are being used for the delivery of social services,” she said, citing the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Dow Jones Sustainability Group as examples.
This, she added, can help to “build trust and collaboration” with other members in the sector through a “shared thinking and shared language”.
Singapore can also draw inspiration from other countries. “Let the world teach Singapore,” said Professor Irene Wong, S R Nathan Professor of Social Work at NUS, and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
She noted how a German case study on intimacy among people with intellectual disabilities had spurred “much animated and engaging discussion” among her students, giving them a fresh perspective on a topic that is not widely discussed in Singapore.
Social work is about people
Even as the social work profession prepares for a complex future shaped by technological changes, one thing remains unchanged: its human core.
“Technology cannot replace the personal touch and human instinct of our social work professionals,” said Minister Lee.
“We should embrace technology and AI with a critical and ethical mindset, and harness its power to amplify our impact while remaining true to the core values of social work and mindful of the sharp edges that technology can bring.”
NUS, for instance, is embracing this approach and has a rich legacy in this industry. Since 1952, its Department of Social Work has produced outstanding social workers who have made an impact in raising the bar and professionalising the industry.
To recognise NUS Social Work alumni who have made sustained and major contributions to social work education and practice, the Ann Wee NUS Social Work Alumni Award was set up in 2015 in honour of the late Mrs Ann Wee, NUS Department of Social Work’s longest serving Head from 1968 to 1986.
This year, the following alumni were recognised with the 2024 Ann Wee NUS Social Work Alumni Award.
Leow Sok Fen, Principal Medical Social Worker, Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tabitha Ong Yen Ping, Director, Adult Protective Service, Rehabilitation and Protection Group, Ministry of Social and Family Development
Ian Peterson, Director (Family & Community Services), Care Corner Singapore Ltd
Keith Tan, Master Medical Social Worker, Singapore General Hospital
These five individuals who hail from the three fields of medical social work, community-based social work, and policy work and academia were recognised for their significant contributions to healthcare systems (particularly during COVID-19), the evolving needs of families in the community, and their efforts to enhance the policy and practice of social work.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has reaffirmed its partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS) by extending the MAS Term Professorship in Economics and Finance at the University for another five years. With this renewal, the MAS Term Professorship has been broadened beyond its focus on eminent academics in economics and finance to include industry practitioners as well as rising academic stars.
First established in 2009, the MAS Term Professorship in Economics and Finance appoints distinguished scholars as Visiting Professors at NUS, with the aim of strengthening Singapore’s financial and economic research infrastructure and fostering a vibrant research community at local universities. The programme has achieved a prestige and stature that has attracted a regular flow of distinguished researchers, thus enhancing Singapore’s profile as a centre of excellence for financial and economic research in Asia.
Edward Robinson, Deputy Managing Director (Economic Policy) and Chief Economist, MAS, said, “Over its 15-year history, the MAS Term Professorship has brought in over 20 leading global academics in international macroeconomics and finance. Knowledge transfer from these thought leaders has benefited the local research community and policymakers through their fresh perspectives amid the multiple challenges facing the global economy. For the current renewal, we are pleased to continue the successful partnership with NUS through broadening the scope of the Programme to include industry practitioners. This will enable us to tap on visitors with deep policy or private sector experience, as well as to foster networks between the academic community here and global scholars who are working on the most promising and innovative applied research.”
Professor Tulika Mitra, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at NUS, said, “We are pleased to see how this partnership with MAS has expanded over the years – starting with the NUS Business School and NUS Department of Economics, and subsequently bringing in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, acknowledging the importance of discussing public policies and governance alongside developments in economics and finance. Our faculty, students and the wider academic community have benefitted from the lectures and discourse with so many renowned experts in these fields whom we have been privileged to host. The rigorous engagement we have seen affirms the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in enhancing the learning ecosystem and bridging the gap between theory and practice for better educational experience and research impact. We look forward to continuing this partnership with MAS.”
Bringing together cutting-edge ideas and entrepreneurial energy, the annual InnovFest Suzhou, organised by NUS (Suzhou) Research Institute (NUSRI Suzhou) and supported by NUS Enterprise, attracted thought leaders, innovators, and startups under the key themes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Digitalisation, and Sustainability. By facilitating meaningful exchanges among diverse participants, InnovFest Suzhou which was held at NUSRI Suzhou from 18 to 19 November 2024, contributed to the ongoing development of an innovative ecosystem in the region.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), a pioneering joint venture established in 1994 between Singapore and China. This milestone serves as a testament of the enduring partnership, as emphasised by Professor Chee Yeow Meng, NUS Vice President of Innovation and Enterprise.
In his welcome address, Professor Chee Yeow Meng, NUS Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise) noted that the collaboration between China and Singapore has been instrumental in the success of the Suzhou Industrial Park. Initiatives like InnovFest are crucial for fostering a global innovation ecosystem that drives sustainable development and empowers entrepreneurs. He added that this year’s InnovFest Suzhou has gathered startups from around the globe to accelerate innovation and tackle pressing global challenges, particularly highlighting the growing number of women entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of technology and business.
The two-day event attracted over 400 attendees, featuring nearly 40 startups from Singapore, China, Chile, Germany, Indonesia, and Thailand, along with representatives from nine institutes of higher learning and three government agencies. These startups showcased transformative innovations in AI, sustainability, and other cutting-edge technologies, with almost 40 per cent of the startups led by female founders, highlighting the increasing involvement of women, stepping beyond traditional roles and bravely taking on new challenges.
The showcase included a variety of innovative solutions, such as AI and IoT-powered farming techniques that boost crop yields while minimising environmental impact. Construction technologies utilising robotics and material optimisation aimed to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Food tech startups presented sustainable production methods, while companies focused on sustainability introduced advanced recycling, carbon capture, and renewable energy technologies. Additionally, medical tech companies unveiled breakthroughs in diagnostics and remote health solutions, and wearable devices, advancing accessible and personalised healthcare, collectively demonstrating the potential of deep tech to address pressing global challenges sustainably and inclusively.
Ms Jean Herfina Kwannandar, Co-founder and CEO of Konstruksi AI, Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP) said, “This event brought together startups from around the world, opening doors for collaboration and broadening our understanding of the latest technology trends. We got to connect with the Chinese market and venture capitalists who can help startups become global players in the tech industry. I was also excited to see more women founders at this event. The rise in female founders is inspiring, and I hope to encourage even more women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams."
Beyond a startup technology showcase, InnovFest Suzhou also featured a dynamic array of activities designed to engage, inform and inspire attendees. The event included keynote sessions by Professor Lee Poh Seng, Executive Director, Energy Studies Institute and Dean’s Chair, NUS College of Design and Engineering on “Sustainable Innovation: Pioneering a Greener Digital Infrastructure”, and Mr Yoann Sapanel, Head (Health Innovation), Institute for Digital Medicine at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, on “From AI Solutions' Efficacy to Real-World Impact” respectively. Another six insightful panel discussions explored the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing sustainable practices and harnessing AI to drive digital transformation.
One of the event’s highlights was the Tech Pitch Battles, where affiliated overseas start-ups of NUS Enterprise presented their groundbreaking solutions in diverse fields such as medical tech, food tech, and renewable energy, to a panel of venture capitalists and investors, underscoring the vibrant startup ecosystem.
Mr Valentin Aman, Co-founder and CEO of ESG.X – a startup from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a partner of NUS—participated in the tech pitch battle, and reflected, “It was a remarkable experience to engage with the vibrant startup ecosystem. I specifically enjoyed pitching our product and vision, meeting inspiring people as well as learning about business practices in China. We are very grateful to NUS and TUM for providing us with this unique opportunity which I highly would recommend.”
NUS has made a significant leap towards a sustainable future with the commissioning of a campus-wide solar photovoltaic (PV) installation project. It involved the installation of 20,425 solar panels across campus with an installed capacity of 9.2 megawatt-peak (MWp)1 , which can generate close to 10 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy annually. This is expected to reduce NUS' carbon footprint by more than 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually.
This clean energy output will supply approximately four per cent of the University's total electricity consumption, the equivalent of powering 2,200 four-room Housing Development Board (HDB) flats for a year 2.
The completion of this ambitious project, spanning over 60 buildings across NUS’ Kent Ridge Campus and University Town, was celebrated at a commissioning ceremony held in October 2024, marking a major milestone in the University's sustainability journey.
Speaking at the event, Mr Koh Yan Leng, NUS Vice President (Campus Infrastructure), emphasised the project's alignment with the University's sustainability roadmap. "This project represents our commitment to decarbonise and is a significant stepping stone towards achieving our goal of a 30 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions3 by 2030," he said. "We are continually looking into solarising more rooftops to increase our clean energy generation capabilities."
A key driver of the project's success is the collaboration between the NUS University Campus Infrastructure (UCI) team and the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at NUS. Mr Lee Chun Tek, Senior Associate Director (Infrastructure Project) at UCI, who led the initiative, said, "The project began in 2018 when UCI collaborated with SERIS to do a feasibility study to install PV panels across campus. Despite numerous challenges and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team persevered to bring this project to fruition in August 2024. It’s been a rewarding experience seeing our plans turn into a reality."
A cloud-based PV monitoring system, developed by SERIS, is used to track all PV systems across the NUS campus. Noting the vital role and functionality of the system, Mr Soe Pyae, Head of Monitoring at SERIS, said, "The monitoring system provides real-time data and insights on energy production across the campus, which are essential for reporting to authorities, optimising performance, and ensuring sustainability targets are met."
“This project exemplifies our commitment to tackling climate change through innovative solutions, setting a strong precedent for other institutions to follow. As part of our broader Campus Sustainability Roadmap 2030, it stands as a beacon of how educational institutions can drive impactful environmental change,” Mr Koh added.
By University Campus Infrastructure
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1Megawatt-Peak (MWp) refers to the maximum power output of a solar power system under optimal conditions, typically in full sunlight.
2Based on data from EMA’s Singapore Energy Statistics 2024 on energy consumption as of June 2024, the average monthly household electricity consumption for a four-room HDB flat is about 379kWh/month, and the estimated average annual consumption is about 4,550 kWh/year.
3 Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, such as fuel consumption and refrigerants. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity.
Professor Prakash Kumar, from the Department of Biological Sciences at the NUS Faculty of Science, was honoured with the Distinguished Scientist Award at the 2024 World Congress on In Vitro Biology Meeting held in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States. This award recognises outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of in vitro biology and in the development of novel technologies that have advanced in vitro biology.
A prominent figure in plant biotechnology, Prof Prakash’s primary research focuses on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of vegetative shoot development and plant responses to abiotic stresses. He has also conducted research on biomimetic membranes as an energy-saving alternative to traditional water purification methods.
Prof Prakash believes that it is important to translate basic science research into practice. He is the founding Director of the Research Centre on Sustainable Urban Farming at NUS, which conducts research to facilitate tripling the percentage of locally grown food in Singapore. The multidisciplinary approach envisioned by the Centre focuses on optimising in vitro techniques for leafy green vegetables to address the challenges of food self-sufficiency, especially in land-scarce and densely-populated urban environments.
By Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of the Social Lab and Principal Research Fellow and Ms Sophy Tio, Research Assoc, both from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
By Prof Simon Chesterman, NUS Vice Provost (Educational Innovation) and Dean of NUS College, and Assoc Prof Loy Hui Chieh, from the Dept of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS, and Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) at NUS College
About 100 alumni, students, and staff attended a panel discussion which brought together distinguished thought leaders to explore the pressing issues facing Singapore as part of the Alumni Reunion @BTC event held on 26 October 2024.
The event began with an opening address by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ‘85) that reflected on the nostalgic significance of NUS’ Bukit Timah Campus for generations of graduates, resonating with the shared history and deep alumni connections to the iconic grounds. Looking ahead, Prof Tan highlighted the upcoming celebration of the University’s 120th anniversary, which will be marked by various key events, including a fun NUS120 charity walk around campus in February 2025.
The reflective theme of the event set the tone for the panel discussion that followed. Titled “How Can Singapore Navigate the Continuing Storms of Geopolitical Rivalry?”, it provided insights into how Singapore can continue to navigate the complexities of a polarised world while safeguarding its national interests.
Moderated by Professor Tan Tai Yong (Arts & Social Sciences ‘86, MA ‘89), Chairman of the NUS Institute of South Asian Studies and President of the Singapore University of Social Sciences, the panel featured Dr Selina Ho (Arts & Social Sciences ‘94), Assistant Professor in International Affairs and Co-Director of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation (CAG) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP); Professor Khong Yuen Foong, Li Ka Shing Professor in Political Science and Co-Director of CAG; Mr Kishore Mahbubani (Arts & Social Sciences ‘71), Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute; and Professor Danny Quah, Dean and Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at LKYSPP.
Adapting to a new global order
Dr Ho highlighted the challenges Singapore faces due to rising tensions over Taiwan and the broader US-China rivalry. She emphasised that Singapore is in a better position than most to navigate these challenges, as it has been diplomatically nimble and has taken a balanced approach to both sides. Dr Ho also stressed the importance of continuing to diversify our relationships with major stakeholders, engaging with multiple global players, and building national resilience through Total Defence.
Meanwhile, Mr Mahbubani noted that Singapore’s success has been driven by strong leadership and a once-functional Western-led world order that facilitated global trade. However, he cautioned that challenges lie in navigating a shift to a more dysfunctional state of affairs internationally, which could impact the country’s ability to thrive.
Strengthening cooperation
Prof Quah emphasised the importance of bolstering Singapore’s economic resilience and strengthening security measures to protect the nation in an uncertain global environment. He also called for greater multilateralism as a way forward.
Participant Mr Chim Teng Lee (Engineering ’90) found the session insightful. Despite geopolitical tensions, he suggested that NUS can foster collaboration and bridge differences by bringing together local and overseas alumni to share their expertise. By doing so, he believes Singapore can promote better relations and explore new opportunities for cooperation between ASEAN countries, to strengthen regional ties and create mutual benefit.
Another participant, Ms Chew Tai Wen (Arts & Social Sciences ’20), enjoyed the personal anecdotes that were shared by the panellists. Her key takeaway was that while Singapore must brace for uncertainties ahead, she has confidence in the country’s leaders to navigate these challenges effectively.
In conjunction with Clean & Green Singapore (CGS) Day 2024 held on 3 November 2024 at NUS University Town (UTown), NUS’ University Campus Infrastructure (UCI) organised the inaugural Iceberg Series comprising two panel discussions to engage the NUS community on conversations relating to environmental sustainability.
In a spirit akin to uncovering an iceberg’s submerged mass, the Iceberg Series brought together researchers, experts and policymakers to dive deep into how plastic recyclables at the end of their life cycle can be responsibly managed while maximising their environmental sustainability as part of climate action; and how campus greening on Kent Ridge campus has contributed to the global fight against climate change.
Closing the plastic loop on responsible waste management
Speaking on the panel “Where do our plastic recyclables end up? Closing the plastic waste loop”, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Dr Amy Khor shared about Singapore’s strategy for tackling plastic waste through the nation’s Zero Waste Masterplan. These included regulatory measures such as the Beverage Container Return Scheme, which is designed to increase the recycling of beverage containers and reduce waste disposed at incineration plants. She emphasised, however, that government regulation is not the only solution to improving recycling and must instead be supported with public education and industry innovation.
Recognising the importance of traceability in waste management, the NUS Zero Waste Taskforce facilitated a student-driven initiative to place trackers in NUS’ plastic containers to track their journey. It was discovered that recyclables were sent to Malaysia and likely processed in facilities with inadequate pollution controls.
Highlighting the negative impact of inadequate end-of-life management of recyclables, Mr Loo pointed out that its implications extend beyond geographical boundaries, making it essential to tackle the issue from the root. He shared that NUS is exploring options to reduce packaging materials upstream and is sending clean PET-1 (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles, which are commonly used in the production of beverage containers, to an established processing facility in Johor, Malaysia, to be turned into recycled PET resins, closing the plastic waste loop.
To encourage youths to take action, Gracia who is a Year 4 undergraduate from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, suggested that youths can contribute by sparking conversations to rally actions or share their views to inform the regulatory environment.
Adopting an evidence-based approach to campus greening
During the panel on “Campus as a real-world living laboratory to tackle climate change”, NUS Vice-President of Campus Infrastructure Mr Koh Yan Leng, who also heads UCI, highlighted that the University is one of the first in Singapore to intensify campus greening efforts to build climate-resilience.
Taking an evidence-based approach, 49 weather stations and microclimate sensors have been installed across the Kent Ridge campus since March 2024 – the densest network in a local campus, to track how the University’s greening strategies have impacted the microclimate over time.
Mr Koh was joined by other speakers including Mr Steve Teo, Climate and Ecosystem Scientist at the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions; Dr Marcel Ignatius, Senior Research Fellow at CDE; and Nadya Heryanto, Co-President of NUS SAVE. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr Sean Shin, Senior Lecturer of Accounting at NUS Business School.
Dr Ignatius, the co-principal investigator of the CoolNUS-BEAM initiative, shared that tree planting efforts on campus have resulted in a significant increase in tree canopy coverage from 36 per cent in 2019 to 60 per cent in 2024. As temperatures continue to rise with climate change, having more than half the campus grounds covered in trees will help cool the environment through shade and evapotranspiration. Mr Teo noted the positive impact of strategic urban reforestation on campus for health and well-being, yielding restorative effects that can help alleviate stress and encourage community interactions.
Nadya, a Year 3 undergraduate from NUS Business School, reflected on how tree-planting ignited in her, a deeper appreciation of nature and taking a stake in protecting the environment.“Once you realise how hard it is to plant a tree, you will think harder about the implications of ‘killing’ one (tree).”
Milestone planting of the 50,000th tree on campus
CGS Day 2024 also saw the planting of the 50,000th tree on campus. This marked the halfway point of the University’s pledge to plant 100,000 trees by 2030, in support of the National Parks Board’s OneMillionTrees movement. More than 100 NUS staff and students joined hands to plant a total of 50 trees at the event.
Since 2015, the University has been organising annual tree planting activities to augment its commitment to build a Campus in a Tropical Rainforest – one of the goals outlined in NUS’ Campus Sustainability Roadmap 2030.
Year 3 Life Science undergraduate Ahmad Musa was one of the students who participated in this meaningful cause. The avid tree planter said, “I do enjoy tree planting because it helps to restore our native forest and bring back the rich biodiversity that was lost many years ago. It is an investment for current and future generations to enjoy. Ultimately, I hope that through greening (the) campus, we can play a small yet important role in addressing and mitigating the effects of climate change one tree at a time.”
By Emeritus Prof Tommy Koh from the Faculty of Law and Special Adviser to the Institute of Policy Studies at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS, and Mr Tan Suee Chieh, past CEO of NTUC Income and past Group CEO of NTUC Enterprise
Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the world’s digital infrastructure company®, and the Centre for Energy Research & Technology (CERT) under the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering (NUS CDE) today announced its plan to set up a Co-Innovation Facility (CIF) in Singapore to accelerate the testing and development of innovative solutions focused on low-carbon energy, high-efficiency cooling, circularity, and energy efficiency optimisation for data centres. Accelerating these innovations will shape the future of digital infrastructure and services in Singapore and other tropical locations, as well as address sustainability goals.
Singapore’s digital economy has grown at a compound annual growth rate of close to 13% since 2017, contributing 17.3% to its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022. Furthermore, according to the recent 2024 National Budget, Singapore is strengthening its position as a global business and innovation hub by investing more than $740 million into Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the next five years. As digital demands accelerate, data centres have become the foundation of today’s digital economy. To support digital growth more sustainably, data centres need to explore new ways to reduce energy consumption and implement energy efficiency solutions to cope with increased workloads and processing requirements.
To be built inside Equinix’s upcoming SG6 International Business ExchangeTM (IBX®) data centre, the CIF aligns with Equinix’s Data Centre of the Future Initiative toward building cleaner, more efficient data centres around the world. This CIF will be an open research hub for leading global technology innovators, data centre technology partners, academia, and customers to co-develop and trial core and edge technologies that deliver reliability, energy efficiency, and cost efficiency.
With an initial investment of US$4 million from Equinix, the CIF will serve as an incubator to trial innovations such as enabling the integration of clean and renewable energy sources and alternative power generation, with the aim of assessing their ability to operate at scale. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will also be utilised by the facility along with other advancements, such as liquid cooling, which is becoming more vital as AI makes data processing more compute intensive. The facility will also trial Cognitive Digital Twin (CDT) capabilities of predictive maintenance and upgrades to address challenges faced by current data centre models.
Yee May Leong, Managing Director, Singapore, Equinix, said: “The effects of climate change are being felt around the world, and it is becoming increasingly urgent to embed best practices in every aspect of our operations. By replicating our successful Co-Innovation Facility from Ashburn and expanding our collaborative efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, we are reaching a significant milestone in advancing our "Future First" sustainability agenda. It will accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies and apply real-world solutions to help reduce the carbon footprint of the growing number of data centres worldwide.”
Professor Lee Poh Seng, Director, Centre for Energy Research & Technology, NUS College of Design and Engineering, said, “The establishment of the Co-Innovation Facility highlights our commitment to forging impactful industry partnerships that translate groundbreaking research into practical applications. Collaborating with Equinix enables us to leverage our expertise in energy innovation and sustainability to address critical challenges faced by data centres in tropical climates. Together, we aim to redefine benchmarks for operational efficiency and sustainability in digital infrastructure, aligning with Singapore's ambitions for sustainable development and technological leadership. This partnership is a powerful step forward in shaping a future where cutting-edge innovation meets environmental responsibility.”
Key Highlights:
To be opened in Q1 2027, the CIF will trial sustainable innovations for data centres, such as:
Alternative power solutions: Alternative power generation solutions such as fuel cells and battery storage, can provide low-carbon power solutions for data centres, serving as bi-directional grid interfaces and on-site prime and/or backup solutions.
Direct current power distribution system: An electrical power distribution architecture known as medium voltage AC to low-voltage DC (MVAC-LVDC), facilitates the seamless integration of battery energy storage system (BESS), solar photovoltaics (PV) and other renewable energy sources (RES) coupled to the data centre power distribution network, with the potential to enhance grid-side power quality, efficiency, and power density for data centres.
Liquid cooling: This advanced cooling method reduces energy consumption and noise while optimising space. It also increases the potential for waste heat reuse, supporting circular data centre models.
Digital twin capabilities: Data-driven model and machine learning will be utilised to enable predictive maintenance and upgrades.
Equinix and NUS have long supported Singapore’s sustainability agenda and implemented various initiatives to support the growth of sustainable development in the country, including scholarship opportunities in nature-based climate solutions for students at NUS.
In 2022, Equinix together with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and CERT, both under NUS CDE, collaborated to explore hydrogen-based green fuel technologies for mission-critical data centre infrastructure. The study compared PEM fuel cells and fuel-flexible linear generators, highlighting their efficiency and potential as backup power solutions, particularly in tropical climates. The results were released in 2023.
Equinix operates 268 data centres across 73 metros, providing digital infrastructure for more than 10,000 of the world’s leading businesses. Since 2021, Equinix has been driving toward an approved near-term science-based target (SBT) for emissions reduction by 2030.
Tight deadlines and unexpected curveballs are part and parcel of case competitions, contributing to a thrilling learning experience for the intrepid participants. Two NUS Business School teams fielded by the NUS Case Consulting Group (CCG) at recent competitions share with NUS News how they persevered through challenges to take home the top and second runner-up prizes at their respective competitions last month.
Transforming a bank into a sustainability leader
A team of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students did NUS proud at the Thammasat Undergraduate Business Challenge (TUBC) 2024, with the team emerging champions and their team leader Anastasia Goh Hui Yuan, a Year 3 student, taking home the Best Speaker Award.
This was the first international case competition for the other three members of the team – Chia Jeng Yee, a Year 4 student majoring in Computer Science and Business Administration; third-year BBA student Jocelyn Kelly, and second-year BBA student Thng Kai Liang Darren – making the win even more special.
A case competition with 27 years of history, TUBC is organised by undergraduate students in Thammasat University’s BBA international programme, who invite representatives from leading international business schools to compete.
This year, 20 teams from five Thai universities and 15 international business schools from Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific were set the challenge of helping major Thai financial institution Krungsri Bank to reduce its Scope 3 emissions (emissions produced by indirect sources in a company’s value chains) and recommending how the bank could position itself as a regional leader in sustainability.
The NUS team had 28 hours to analyse the situation, formulate their recommendations, and package their solution in a cohesive, concise, and presentable format. Their final proposals laid out a plan for Krungsri to lead Asean’s transition to net zero by using AI-driven tools to assess their corporate clients’ transition readiness; upskilling their relationship managers on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics; and offering transition financing products.
Said Jocelyn: “Our team worked around the clock, running on little rest as we navigated ESG, a topic that was new territory for many of us. But ultimately, the effort was worth it; ESG is such a critical and timely topic and being able to propose solutions that could drive real impact made the experience incredibly rewarding.”
A key to their success was the extensive preparation and training they underwent before the competition. They thoroughly researched Krungsri Bank and the Thai market and used other cases to practise researching, developing, and presenting solutions within 24 hours. CCG seniors and faculty advisor Mr Maurice Tan, along with invited faculty and alumni, gave them constructive feedback and mentorship.
Mr Tan, an adjunct senior lecturer of marketing at the Business School, noted that the team performed well under pressure, demonstrating their preparedness and poise and engaging with the judges confidently. “As faculty team advisors, we entrusted our students to shine, and they exceeded expectations,” he said.
The team also benefitted from the unique mix of skills and backgrounds among its members, ranging from tech and ESG to finance and consulting. Each student drew on fundamental skills picked up in their Business School courses on topics like accounting, business law, and marketing, and exercised their public speaking and presentation skills to confidently articulate their message and recommendations to a large audience.
“Beyond the incredible experiences themselves, it was truly special to share these moments with participants from other teams, creating friendships and memories that we’ll always remember fondly,” Jeng Yee concluded.
Earning a hard-fought win in debut performance
Achieving a placement finish at their very first case competition was an achievement in itself for a team of four NUS students at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology International Case Competition (HKICC), but their second runner-up prize was especially sweet because of the battles they fought to earn it.
HKICC is a premier business case competition organised by HKUST Business School since 2003, attracting student teams from renowned business schools such as Copenhagen Business School and University of California, Berkeley. The 2024 edition hosted 16 teams, who worked on business challenges faced by the helpdesk department of HSBC Bank.
Kim Eunwoo, a Year 4 Accounting student, shared that her team was excited about the intellectual challenge of their first case competition outing, as such competitions are fast-paced and competitive with a steep learning curve while offering opportunities to interact with talented students from around the world.
“The fact that it was our first experience for all of us helped us to bond, and it also made us discuss our solutions and strategic direction more thoroughly, to be extra certain and confident in what we're doing,” she said.
Besides Eunwoo, the team comprised Year 3 BBA student Griffith Goh and Year 4 BBA students Xinxia Lu and Beverly Wan. Through training and practising together in the CCG club, they learnt to strategise around one another’s strengths and weaknesses. They also received mentorship from Associate Professor Ang Swee Hoon, who shared her extensive case competition experience and guided them to shape their presentation styles individually and as a team.
At the competition, the team was immediately faced with an unexpected complication when one member fell severely ill. However, the entire team would be disqualified if they did not all compete in every round, so the other team members rallied to divide up the work and keep going.
They started strong, topping their division in the first round that involved a five-hour mini case to propose employee retention strategies. But the second round involved a more complex challenge – a 24-hour case requiring them to streamline the helpdesk operations to improve efficiency and service quality for the entire business – and their solution for an automated call routing engine that would also use AI to generate solutions and guidance for helpdesk agents to solve customer issues came second in their division.
This was not enough to automatically move them to the final round. Instead, they got one more chance to secure a place in the finals by competing against the other second-placed teams in a challenge round that took place immediately after the second round.
Pushing through the fatigue from staying awake for more than 24 hours, they spent another hour overhauling their script and presentation approach. Their perseverance paid off when they won the challenge round and progressed to the final round to present their solution for the third time, eventually clinching the second runner-up prize.
Assoc Prof Ang praised the team’s positive fighting attitude, which she observed during the CCG weekend training sessions. “The students were humble, eager to learn and improve, and never once complained about having to come to school and stay the whole day and sometimes overnight for training,” she said.
In addition, the team was smart and agile in competition. She noted: “Because they had to do the extra challenge round, they learnt what their strong points are, based on the questions asked by the judges. They used this to their advantage by adapting their presentation in the challenge and final rounds.”
Despite the gruelling journey, the team does not regret the path they ended up taking.
“The challenge round was a blessing in disguise because it made our presentation so much better and helped us become masters of our solution and think of how to address potential questions or present more effectively,” Eunwoo reflected. “It wasn't really like presenting the same case three times; it was like a different presentation every time because we made consistent changes and improvements at each juncture.”
A highly-committed athlete in university lives a life of careful balance – planning training sessions in tandem with lectures and classes, managing an academic load while preparing for events and competitions, staying healthy in the face of daily physical and mental exertion, and weighing up which of the many responsibilities and commitments should come first in the limited 24 hours of a day.
Lucas Chew (Year 2, Environmental Studies) has been an athlete for most of his life, but this balancing act is still a consistent effort, so much so that he quips that his current role as a national finswimming representative feels like he is pursuing a double degree programme instead.
Finswimming is not a common sport in Singapore – so uncommon, in fact, that Lucas is the sole competitive finswimming athlete in the whole of NUS. It is a version of competitive swimming, where athletes don customised fins and snorkelling equipment to traverse the length of the pool at high speed.
“Over the past five years, finswimming has taken over more and more of my life. As a student-athlete, time and energy are always in short supply and require a delicate balance between school, sport, and sleep,” shared Lucas.
While continuing to keep NUS’ flag flying at national competitions as a member of the varsity table tennis team, Year 3 Dentistry undergraduate Janine Chew has also set her sights on widening access to table tennis within the NUS community, and as a means of community outreach beyond the University.
Janine played a central role in organising community events, such as the NUS Racketlon, a two-day multi-sport competition event which aims to promote racket sports in a fun manner, with no minimal skill prerequisites, among the NUS community. The team also recently concluded the Learn-to-Play Table Tennis programme, in collaboration with NUS Office of Student Affairs (OSA) which organises sessions to teach NUS students basic table tennis skills. The programme serves as a stepping stone into the sport for participants who have no prior experience.
The time taken for meticulous planning and execution of these events comes into careful balance alongside schoolwork. “Key factors that have helped me balance both my sporting and academic commitments would be discipline, time management and having a good support system,” reflected Janine.
“The chance to interact with individuals from diverse sporting backgrounds has broadened my perspective and showed me that there is so much more to sports than just competition; it is also about engaging the community around us. While I might get tired and drained at times, I am reminded of the joy that I feel when I see people enjoying the sport and this helps to push me through the tough times,” she added.
Supporting sporting excellence
Lucas and Janine both credit the NUS Sports Scholarship for helping to even out the scales as they balance their lives as student-athletes.
Every academic year, the University awards up to 20 bond-free sports scholarships to national athletes and outstanding student-athletes, which cover tuition fees and include an annual allowance and on-campus accommodation allowance. Awarded to students pursuing full-time undergraduate programmes at NUS, the scholarship is disbursed in two categories – Sports Excellence for national representatives such as Lucas, and Community Sports for athletes like Janine who have made significant contributions towards promoting active sports participation in NUS.
Janine expressed her appreciation for the NUS Sports Scholarship for helping her to pursue goals in both academics and sports without the constant worry about financial constraints.
“The NUS Community Sports Scholarship has empowered me to channel my enthusiasm for community engagement in sports by spearheading events and initiatives aimed at bringing sports closer to the NUS community. It allowed me to connect and collaborate with some amazing like-minded individuals who share a passion for sports and community engagement,” added Janine.
Sports support at NUS can also come in the form of subsidies for travel to overseas competitions, such as when Lucas travelled to Colombia recently to represent NUS and Singapore at the Finswimming World University Championship (WUC) 2024, which was subsidised by the U-SPARKS grant for NUS student-athletes who qualify for any World University Championships or Games. Seventy hours of travel time and some amazing local hot chocolate later, Lucas came home with not one, but three new national records for finswimming.
They can also consult the University when alternative arrangements to classes and exams are required, in consideration of overseas competition schedules.
“I’m appreciative of the scholarship for its all-rounded support, clear systems in place for communicating my goals with a sports manager, and the systemic perks of building my academic schedules around my training commitments so that I need not choose one or the other,” explained Lucas.
“We’re all in it together”
The athletic journey in NUS is not one of solitude; TeamNUS athletes are spurred on by the support of friends, family, coaches and teammates. They can also rely on a reliable team of sports managers at OSA, who wear many hats in their role of supporting athletes to pursue their sporting dreams.
Despite being the sole finswimmer in NUS, Lucas has the unwavering support of his sports manager at NUS, Mr Lim Fang Yi, who was himself a student-athlete in the past. “Fang Yi has always had my back administratively in registering for events, such as the recent Finswimming WUC,” said Lucas.
A former national swimmer, Fang Yi recently returned to competitive swimming, clinching three gold medals at the Singapore Masters 2024.
“More importantly, he uses his own experience as a student-athlete and national swimmer to mentor me to develop myself in ways outside of purely sporting performance, but also in community service, leadership, and in balancing my personal commitments, among other things,” Lucas added, emphasising the well-rounded development that comes from stable guidance.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by Janine, as she reflected on her relationship with her sports manager Riley Tan. “I have received a lot of support from the OSA sports managers, especially Riley. I appreciate that they often check in on our well-being and provide us with advice and support, especially when it gets tougher to balance academic and sporting commitments.”
Janine also said, “Riley arranges for regular sessions for catch-ups and updates on our recent developments, providing us with timely feedback where necessary. She also helped to advise me on my future goals and discuss small actionable steps that I can take along the way. The OSA sports managers even helped to guide me in the planning process of my events!”
Recognising excellence, supporting students for future success
NUS Dean of Students Associate Professor Ho Han Kiat, said, “Co-curricular space is part of the expanded classroom to develop students holistically in preparation for the future of work. Such opportunities allow our students to engage in activities that align with their passion, and to take it to the level in accordance with their motivation. Through such endeavours, students pick up life skills, sharpen their personal effectiveness and become more meaningfully engaged with the community.”
“Besides recognising their accomplishments in different aspects of student life, such as sports, arts and culture, community impact, scholarships are an institutional commitment that we esteem to see our students build themselves towards future success,” Assoc Prof Ho added.
The NUS Sports Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing full-time undergraduate programmes at NUS, excluding Music, and is tenable for the normal candidature period. The next application period opens in June 2025. More information on the NUS Sports Scholarship can be found here:
In this series, NUS News profiles the personalities shaping vibrant residential life and culture on campus, and how they craft a holistic residential experience that brings out the best in student residents.
When his son graduated from university in 2016, Associate Professor Prahlad Vadakkepat felt a sudden void in his life. Over the years, he had taken on the role of a mentor, learning about the younger generation’s challenges and perspectives as he supported his child through his academic journey.
But as his son prepared to enter the working world, their topics of conversation shifted, and Assoc Prof Prahlad was struck by a sense of loss. “There was a vacuum, like there was something I was missing out on,” he said.
Then came the serendipitous email in early 2017. It detailed an opening for Master of a new hostel at Prince George’s Park Residences at NUS. Without hesitation, he applied for it.
“(It) turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life,” the professor, who hails from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NUS College of Design and Engineering, said. “I truly enjoy serving as the Master of Pioneer House.”
He was a mentor once more, this time to hundreds of students as Master of Pioneer House.
Pioneer House’s journey began in 2017, when the Office of Student Affairs proposed a fourth model of student housing in NUS. Initially dubbed PGP House, it was renamed Pioneer House in 2022, when NUS officially recognised the “House” model.
Pioneer House lives up to its name, being the first hostel on campus to merge NUS’ three existing housing models. It balances the vibrancy of halls and residential colleges with the quiet freedom of residences. In short, the House model balances residents’ involvement while maintaining a lively student residence.
Pioneer House also features Dining with Master sessions, where Assoc Prof Prahlad and the students gather for a weekly chat over dinner.
It currently houses over 600 residents, who can participate in interest groups, find peer mentors for support, and rely on Pastoral Care Teams (PCTs) comprising student leaders and staff when they need help.
NUS sits down with Assoc Prof Prahlad as he shares his journey in making Pioneer House the caring home it is for students today.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: What’s a typical day like for you?
In the morning, I check various Telegram channels for any messages that need attention, and we start the day with warm greetings. Evenings often involve student activities in the House, ranging from cultural events, sports, and training to various meetings.
Living in a hostel surrounded by familiar faces is both comforting and reassuring. It creates a sense of belonging, like being part of a family. Every time I pass a resident or colleague, we exchange smiles and waves and engage in small conversations. These small interactions make a big difference – I truly enjoy interacting with young minds and fellow residents.
Q: What’s buzzing at Pioneer House?
We have all kinds of student life activities for residents to choose from, allowing them to explore and destress after a long day of classes. Before COVID-19, we had something called “Chill and Chat”, where we came together, went outside, and sat in a space between the blocks. There, we would chat and dine – an under-the-stars kind of thing.
We had an event for Deepavali as well! There was Indian food, Indian dancing, and people wore traditional costumes. There was also henna and floral decoration (using) flowers or powders. And once night fell, sparklers were lit.
We also celebrate birthdays. When we have a Dining with Master or Cluster event, a PCT event, or a meeting with student leaders, we celebrate the birthdays of students as well as the management team with a cake. I'm a vegetarian, and the students will buy me a cake without eggs. There’s the sense that you belong and matter in Pioneer House. They feel that I matter to them, and they feel that they matter to me, and they care about the food I eat.
Q: Tell us about the theme of “Frugality and Sustainability” at Pioneer House. How did that come about?
During my childhood, my grandmother would make sure we never wasted even a single grain of rice. As I grew older, I began to realise how much we waste while many communities struggle for a better life. This awareness led me to delve deeper into the concepts of frugality and sustainability.
At Pioneer House, we integrate the principles of frugality and sustainability into our daily practices, whether it's managing resources, nurturing plants, or fostering leadership.
Pioneer House has a community garden where residents cultivate and harvest their own vegetables. It is equivalent to the size of about two master bedrooms. We grow sweet potatoes, lady's fingers, and other leafy vegetables, then we harvest them. We go to the barbecue pit nearby, cook, and we share.
By weaving these values into every aspect of our operations, we foster a culture that respects resources, promotes sustainability, and nurtures growth in all forms.
Q: What are the most rewarding and challenging parts of being a Master?
The most rewarding aspect is the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of people and work collaboratively to provide the best experience for our students. Here, we create a sense of belonging and mattering; it’s really important.
Once, after a break, a student from Pioneer House sat next to me on the bus. I asked her, “Did you go home (during the break)?” She told me she did, and that she was in tears on the flight back to Singapore from her home country. I had also just come back from India, and I told her: “I cried too.” It is these authentic conversations – I was happy that she could share that with me, and that I could share that with her. Again, a sense of mattering. We care, and we do things genuinely.
The challenge was establishing a completely new hostel model in 2017. We didn’t have a specific model to follow; the closest existing framework was the Hall model. We had extensive discussions and empowered ourselves through research, exploring frameworks that would help us build a community grounded in care and support. I had previously helped a community in India and developed a social enterprise, uniting around 900 individuals from varied backgrounds for the project and honing my ability to form personal human connections. My entrepreneurial background, combined with my experience in brainstorming and design thinking, helped me navigate these uncharted waters.
Concepts like a sense of belonging and mattering, inclusive leadership, frugality, and sustainability became central to our approach. We integrated the principles of belonging into our programmes and events, fostering a community where students could work together, while also feeling free to be themselves. One such example is PHamigo—creatively named to reflect its affiliation and mission, it is a group formed by residents which leverages the "Design-Your-Own-Course" academic scheme to foster inclusiveness by engaging the international student community. The support from student leaders was instrumental in weaving these values into the very fabric of Pioneer House.
Q: What makes Pioneer House home for you?
Colleagues and residents share a strong bond and support each other wholeheartedly. During the COVID-19 period, my family was in India – that was the first time I lived alone. The community really helped me, such as my House colleagues who would bring me fruits and homemade food. Though I am a strict vegetarian, I also made sure to source specially cooked chicken for my colleagues as a gesture of appreciation.
Residents often greet us warmly, waving whenever we cross paths, whether in the House, on the shuttle bus, or on the MRT. This deep sense of belonging fosters a familial community atmosphere. During the Dining with Master sessions, I often share stories about my family, and the residents frequently ask about how we’re doing. Pioneer House truly feels like home.
More than 350 distinguished guests comprising university and faculty members, donors, cherished alumni, students and friends came together to celebrate the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences’ (FASS) legacy of education and research excellence at a gala dinner held at One Farrer Hotel on 22 November 2024.
From humble beginnings to a world-class faculty
FASS boasts a rich and illustrious history that spans close to a century.
The Faculty began by offering diploma courses in the four disciplines of English, History, Geography and Economics in 1929. Over the years, in response to the nation’s growth and local and international needs, other departments such as Social Work (1952), Philosophy (1954), Political Science (1961), Communications and New Media (2005), and many others were formed.
Today, the Faculty is one of the largest faculties at NUS boasting 16 different departments and programmes and academic offerings in the fields of humanities, social sciences, Asian studies, and language studies that cover a rich and diverse array of disciplines ranging from Southeast Asian Studies and Psychology to Theatre Studies, and Sociology and Anthropology.
From just fewer than 40 students taking its classes in 1929, FASS welcomed about 4,400 undergraduates and more than 1,500 postgraduates in the current academic year. The Faculty also has a strong international outlook, offering students diverse opportunities to study abroad and engage with global perspectives through joint degree programmes, exchange programmes, internships and collaborations with top universities worldwide such as King’s College London and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. In the last academic year alone, the Faculty received more than 800 exchange students from 34 countries, a testament to its global appeal and multicultural campus environment.
Reflecting on FASS’ legacy at the dinner, Dean of FASS and FASS alumnus Professor Lionel Wee noted that the Faculty has never wavered in its mission to advance knowledge and learning in the humanities and social sciences. He said, “Over the decades, while the world around us has changed, this mission has remained steadfast – the guiding of generations of students to become thoughtful leaders and engaged citizens who make a difference in Singapore and beyond.”
FASS alumni have gone on to excel on the national and global stages – playing leading roles in shaping global and public policy, trailblazing business initiatives in the private sector, advancing cultural initiatives and driving social change. Eminent alumni include former President of Singapore Mr S R Nathan; Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and social scientist Dr Noeleen Heyzer; influential Asian historian and NUS Emeritus Professor Wang Gungwu, as well as prominent business entrepreneur and Founder of Banyan Tree Holdings, Mr Ho Kwon Ping.
Over the years, the Faculty has continuously spearheaded fresh educational strategies – demonstrating its keen understanding of evolving societal trends. In 2019, it introduced the FASS 2.0 Industry Tracks initiative that provides undergraduates industry-relevant training to complement the FASS education. A year later, the Faculty and the NUS Faculty of Science launched the NUS College of Humanities and Sciences with interdisciplinary education as its focus.
Indeed, initiatives such as CHS, said Prof Wee, demonstrate FASS’ dedication to equip students to meet the demands of an interconnected and rapidly changing world. “This interdisciplinary approach helps prepare them to view challenges from multiple perspectives, positioning them as well-rounded leaders and changemakers.”
Echoing similar sentiments was guest-of-honour, Prof Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, who noted that CHS also offers more opportunities for NUS academics as it encourages groundbreaking interdisciplinary research partnerships between FASS and faculties across NUS. FASS, he stressed, “has been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of our university and a place where intellectual exploration and a sense of community can be found.”
FASS alumni: Memories of FASS and the value of a FASS education
The gala dinner was an opportunity for alumni to reconnect and recall fond memories of their time at FASS.
Reminiscing about her university days, Ms Nichol Ng, CEO of food and beverage business X-Inc Group and Co-founder of the Food Bank Singapore, shared that her best memories were of studying on the steps of the Forum near the Central Library and climbing the hills to get to class.
The rigour and diversity of experiences offered by the Faculty proved invaluable in the FASS Economics and Japanese Studies alumna’s career. “The diversity of people whom I have met in FASS also allowed me to work with peers from different backgrounds and passions, establishing the people skills that I have today,” she added.
Another alumna, Ms Nur Diyana shared that the academic rigour and emphasis on critical inquiry during her time at the Department of Malay Studies sharpened her analytical thinking and nurtured a deep curiosity. “This has been instrumental in my graduate studies and continues to influence my work as a research librarian at NUS Libraries, where I draw upon those same skills to navigate complex information and contribute meaningfully to my field.”
Professor Robbie Goh, former FASS Dean and Provost at the Singapore University of Social Sciences observed how far FASS has come, with international university counterparts now lining up to seek potential collaborations with FASS – a far cry from the situation he witnessed as a young FASS academic in the 1990s. FASS, he added, had made a profound impact on his professional and personal lives.
He said, “FASS is my alma mater as well as my intellectual home and where I spent 33 years as an academic. It’s where I met my wife when we were undergraduates together. Without the opportunities and encouragement that FASS gave me, I simply would not have had the resources and wherewithal to become an academic.”
Looking ahead – A FASS that continues to nurture young changemakers, with a strong social ethos
To mark the Faculty’s 95th birthday, FASSCares, an annual community engagement programme that started in 2018, held a fundraising initiative for Club Rainbow – a charity that supports children with chronic illnesses and their families. FASS had chosen to partner with Club Rainbow given a shared commitment to social responsibility and community support. A special outing was also organised for 22 children from Club Rainbow and their families at Jewel Changi Airport’s Canopy Park in September, where FASS staff, students and alumni spent the afternoon playing with the children and their families on the slides and bouncing nets, and bonded over lunch.
Close to S$66,000 was raised at this fundraising initiative through donations from staff, students and alumni and ticket sales for the gala dinner.
Thanking FASS for its efforts at the dinner, Mr Teo Siang Loong, Executive Director of Club Rainbow said, “We are currently serving close to 5,000 individuals in Club Rainbow including 1,200 children with chronic illnesses, many of whom have special needs and disabilities. In this year of an uncertain economic climate and inflationary environment, our donations have decreased overall. All the support garnered will have a direct impact on the children in need and on the vulnerable families.”
FASS also launched the new 95th FASS Distinguished Speaker Series with the aim to inspire FASS students towards excellence through meaningful engagements with alumni about their achievements. The series’ inaugural speaker, Ms Denise Phua, Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC and Mayor for Central Singapore District, engaged students in September on the leadership lessons she learnt from her careers in the private, public and social sectors.
As FASS enters its centennial, Prof Wee stressed that the Faculty will focus on building on the work of past FASS cohorts to advance an interdisciplinary education that has both breadth and depth. It will continue to nurture adaptable, empathetic and innovative problem-solvers with a strong social ethos.
The Faculty, he added, is also committed to enhancing impact through research that spans disciplines and connects with real-world issues, “from urban studies to public policy, from heritage conservation to digital humanities.”
When asked for his views on the role FASS will take in shaping contemporary society, Dr Maliki Osman, an alumnus and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs, summed it up succinctly. “In today's world where issues are becoming increasingly complex and require a multi-disciplinary approach to solve, the humanities and social sciences continue to play an important role…I am confident that FASS will continue to scale new heights and nurture tomorrow’s citizens – people who are creative, collaborative and compassionate.”
PSA International (PSA) and National University of Singapore (NUS) announced today the launch of the PSA-NUS Supply Chain Living Lab. Recognising the growing need for integrated solutions that extend beyond container handling within ports, PSA has in recent years, expanded its role as a leading global port operator to also encompass complementary services in the broader supply chain sphere. In line with its overall strategy, PSA will be supporting the initiative with funds totalling up to S$10 million.
The PSA-NUS Supply Chain Living Lab will strengthen collaboration between industry and academic expertise to address critical supply chain challenges. The Lab will provide a sandbox to foster the development of community-centric solutions for supply chain optimisation together with industry stakeholders, with a focus on enhancing agility, resilience and sustainability for supply chain operations both regionally and globally.
Mr Ong Kim Pong, Group CEO of PSA International, said, "As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of global trade, it has become essential for PSA Group to continually adapt and refine our business strategy. We will continue to look for new areas of expansion whilst enhancing our presence in key locations, and connecting these strategic nodes to form a cohesive and integrated network across the globe. This collaboration with NUS also marks a significant step in our journey towards strengthening PSA’s position as a leading global port operator and supply chain services provider, capable of delivering supply chain efficiency and resilience across the world.”
Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President, said, “The establishment of the PSA-NUS Supply Chain Living Lab marks a significant milestone in our collaborative efforts to advance supply chain innovation. This initiative exemplifies the synergy between academia and industry, leveraging our combined strengths to address complex challenges such as optimising logistical efficiency, enhancing data-driven decision-making, and integrating sustainable practices across supply chain operations. By fostering a dynamic ecosystem for research and development, we aim to drive transformative solutions that enhance the resilience and efficiency of supply chain operations, ultimately benefitting communities and economies worldwide.”
The launch of the Supply Chain Living Lab follows the recent groundbreaking of the upcoming PSA Supply Chain Hub (PSCH), which is an integral part of PSA’s strategic expansion of Singapore’s Tuas Port Ecosystem. The state-of-the-art PSCH facility is scheduled to be ready by 2027 and will seamlessly integrate with Singapore’s extensive supply chain ecosystem, offering unparalleled connectivity and supply chain synergies.
Evolution Day is observed on 24 November each year, marking the anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking work, On the Origin of Species, in 1859. This day commemorates not just a book but a seismic shift in our understanding of life — a theory that connects all living organisms in a vast, intricate web of shared ancestry.
This year, to commemorate Evolution Day, we shine the spotlight on researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences at the NUS Faculty of Science who are building on Darwin’s legacy, exploring the mechanisms of evolution and its impact on biodiversity in the region and beyond. Their work underscores the enduring relevance of evolutionary theory in addressing modern challenges, from conservation to climate change.
Learning from insects: Understanding biodiversity through reproductive evolution research
Evolution is often synonymous with the phrase ‘survival of the fittest,’ but in evolutionary biology, ‘fitness’ refers to an organism’s ability to survive, reproduce and pass on its genes to the next generation. Reproductive evolution, which focuses on how mating behaviours and reproductive strategies evolve across species, plays a crucial role in shaping population dynamics, speciation, and biodiversity.
Assistant Professor Nalini Puniamoorthy from the Department of Biological Sciences at the NUS Faculty of Science, together with her team at the Reproductive Evolution Lab (ReproLab), are exploring how sexual selection – a mechanism of natural selection – affects reproductive traits and influences population differentiation and speciation, the process by which new species emerge.
“Since reproductive processes directly influence a species’ adaptation and resilience to environmental variability, studying reproductive evolution can support biodiversity conservation by shedding light on how species evolve and adapt to changes to their habitats, especially in the face of climate change and habitat loss,” said Asst Prof Nalini.
The ReproLab studies micro- and macro-evolutionary processes of various insects: From ecosystem service providers like dung beetles, disease vectors like mosquitoes, and even to food waste recyclers like black soldier flies.
For instance, a recent study published by Asst Prof Nalini’s team in Ecology and Evolution, investigated how resource constraints affect dung beetle fitness in secondary rainforests. Dung beetles are important for nutrient recycling and forest health but are often sensitive to habitat changes and resource variations. Asst. Prof. Nalini’s team found that parental provisioning is crucial and that there was a trade-off between early offspring fitness and resource quality. This discovery documents genotype by environment interactions that are relevant for understanding dung beetle ecology in the face of climatic and environmental changes.
Seeking sustainable solutions to challenges
The ReproLab also investigates the interactions between insects and their bacterial symbionts, like gut microbes in black soldier flies that aid in breaking down food waste as well as the reproductive bacteria Wolbachia in mosquitoes. Their study on Aedes albopictus documented that the dispersal of this secondary dengue vector was not limited to green spaces, and that urban and forest populations of Ae. albopictus are naturally infected with more than one strain of Wolbachia. “Untangling these interactions has implications for vector management and combating disease transmission in a city with heterogenous landscapes like Singapore,” explained Asst Prof Nalini.
Shaping biodiversity of tropical ecosystems: The role of fruit-eating animals
In tropical ecosystems, plant-frugivore interactions — where animals help disperse seeds of fruiting plants — play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity. Approximately 90 per cent of woody plant species in tropical forests rely on animals to disperse their seeds. Assistant Professor Lim Jun Ying and his team from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences are investigating how these interactions shape plant biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. This is especially pertinent as human activities such as habitat loss and hunting are threatening these crucial relationships.
“The loss of fruit-eating animals or frugivores can disrupt plant populations, preventing them from migrating to new areas in response to climate change. Understanding how plant-frugivore interactions evolve is important for quantifying the long-term effects of human activities on tropical ecosystems,” said Asst Prof Lim.
In a recent study published in Global Ecology and Conservation, Asst Prof Lim and his team studied large-bodied birds known as hornbills, which are essential for dispersing large-fruited plants. Many of these birds are under threat from habitat loss and hunting. As the gapes – mouth-openings – of these hornbills are larger than most birds, plants with large fruits and seeds depend on them for seed dispersal.
Asst Prof Lim noted, “Evolution in fruits is shaped by a complex web of interactions with various animals and other factors, suggesting that co-evolution between plants and frugivores must be understood at a community level. This broader perspective is essential for grasping the full complexity of ecological evolution in tropical forests and helping to conserve their biodiversity.”
Understanding fungi: From a billion-year evolutionary journey to addressing environmental challenges
Fungi represent one of the most diverse and ancient groups of organisms on Earth, with an evolutionary history spanning over a billion years. Despite their widespread presence and ecological importance, our understanding of fungal diversity is still limited.
“Less than 10 per cent of the estimated fungal diversity has been documented. The challenge lies in the fact that many fungi remain microscopic throughout their life stages, and a vast majority cannot be cultured in laboratories, hindering direct observation and experimentation,” said Assistant Professor Chang Ying from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences.
At Asst Prof Chang’s lab, her team is dedicated to finding the hidden diversity of fungi, with a focus on marine and coastal environments. Their research tackles two key aspects of fungal ecology: reconstructing the evolutionary history of fungal adaptations using genomic tools, and exploring fungal diversity in natural habitats through metagenomics. By studying the genetic, structural, and ecological traits of existing fungal species, Asst Prof Chang and her team are able to infer a fungi’s common ancestor and understand the traits that allowed ancestral fungi to diversify and adapt to a range of ecological and environmental conditions.
An ongoing project by Asst Prof Chang and her team, in collaboration with the One Thousand Fungal Genomes (1KFG) consortium, investigates the evolution of digestive enzymes across the fungal kingdom. This study could help to predict the ecological capabilities of unknown or newly discovered fungi, as well as entire fungal communities.
“Insights from this research also has practical applications, particularly in the field of bioremediation, where fungi are increasingly valued for their potential to break down environmental pollutants,” added Asst Prof Chang.
By analysing the distribution of hydrocarbon-degrading enzymes across a large set of fungal genomes and mapping their evolutionary trajectories, NUS researchers could identify fungal groups that are especially suited to utilising petroleum hydrocarbons as nutrient sources, making them strong candidates for bioremediation strategies.
The National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Science (NUS Science) concluded a year of celebratory events marking its 95th Anniversary with a Charity Golf event, raising a record of over S$1.2 million for its 95th Anniversary Bursary Fund - the largest amount raised in the history of the NUS Charity Golf series since 2012.
The Bursary Fund will support over 40 bursaries each year, starting from 2026. The bursaries will benefit undergraduates at the Faculty who are facing financial challenges, providing them with the resources they need to focus on their studies, pursue their passions and achieve their academic and professional aspirations.
In partnership with the NUS Alumni Student Advancement Committee, benefactors who contributed S$25,000 or more to the Bursary Fund had the opportunity to sub-name their bursaries under the NUS Science 95th Anniversary Bursary Fund. Professors rallied former PhD students and members of their research groups in NUS Science to pool donations, resulting in bursaries sub-named after these groups. Former students, colleagues and friends contributed collectively to honour professors, both past and present, while corporate partners and individual benefactors also made independent contributions to this initiative. The Department of Physics, for example, led efforts to gather contributions from colleagues, alumni and friends to sub-name a bursary in honour of Emeritus Professor Bernard Tan Tiong Gie, the longest serving Dean of Science (1985-1997).
Making the announcement at the Faculty’s 95th Anniversary Gala Dinner on 22 November 2024, Dean of NUS Science Professor Sun Yeneng said, “I am deeply grateful for the support and generosity of our community. Your collective commitment will make a lasting impact on the lives of our students, giving them the opportunity to realise their full potential, regardless of their circumstances.”
95 years of excellence in science education and research
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, who was the Guest-of-Honour at the Gala Dinner, commended the Faculty’s progress and achievements. “Science research in Singapore started off small and unknown in the academic research space, but we have since made immense and very visible progress. From fundamental science, such as the development of advanced materials to translational innovations like nature-based climate solutions, the Faculty has been timely and relevant in addressing pressing challenges of the day.”
He added, “We have built up global credibility and repute for our research; this has enabled us to draw top minds from across the world to build their careers and research aspirations here.”
At the Gala Dinner, the Faculty also presented awards to 16 Science alumni from industries such as healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, technology, sustainability-related sectors, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence, to name a few. Prof Tan presented the Distinguished Science Alumni Award to three alumni who have distinguished themselves in national leadership, service, research excellence, or the betterment and promotion of science.
Another 13 alumni received the Outstanding Science Alumni Award (OSA) from Prof Sun. The OSA recognised the recipients’ leadership and contributions to their professions, industries and disciplines, service to the nation or community, entrepreneurship, research, as well as other noteworthy endeavours.
“Our students do not just excel academically - their accomplishments extend beyond the classroom in service of diverse communities. Many of them go on to pursue distinguished careers; some have founded successful enterprises, contributing to society and making meaningful advancements in fields ranging from environmental sustainability to technology and healthcare,” lauded Prof Tan.
Year-long celebration
The Gala Dinner was the culminating event in a series of specially-curated activities celebrating the Faculty of Science’s 95th Anniversary this year. These other events included the Achieving Gender Diversity in STEM conference in March 2024, which highlighted leadership in STEM and insights from our female alumni; a Homecoming for Alumni programme at both Bukit Timah and Kent Ridge Campuses in May 2024; the launch of a mural wall to commemorate the former Deans of Science in September 2024, and the Faculty of Science Symposium in September 2024 where researchers, educators, alumni and entrepreneurs, as well as students, came together to share their experiences in scientific developments, educational advancements, career journeys and student advocacy respectively.
By Ms Humaira Safiya Mohd Helmi, student from the Dept of Political Science and Dept of Economics at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in NUS, and Mr Amirul Daniez, student in NTU
Nestled against the lush backdrop of Kent Ridge Forest, Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) is the University’s first and only residential college located outside NUS University Town. Founded on the integrated themes of sustainability and workplace readiness, the College started as a one-year living-learning programme in 2014, expanding into a two-year programme in 2017 and evolving further in 2021 to align with the enhanced NUS General Education Curriculum.
This year, RVRC celebrates its 10th anniversary, a milestone that has seen learning at the residential college transcend the boundaries of the classroom, and its students playing an active role in contributing towards sustainability efforts in NUS and the community.
In line with its sustainability theme, many of the courses offered at RVRC incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, allowing students to explore sustainability initiatives that help shape a future that is more sustainable and equitable for all. This is done through a multifaceted learning approach that focuses on experiential outdoor learning and collaboration with industry partners. In line with its workplace readiness theme, students are also encouraged to participate in meaningful college activities beyond coursework that diversify their interests and skillsets to help develop them into better versions of their current selves.
“Place, Programme, and People are the elements that make for memorable university experiences, and these are the elements that make for a memorable RV10,” said RVRC College Master Associate Professor Sim Tick Ngee, outlining the focus of the year-long celebration in his congratulatory message.
As part of RV10, the College’s initiative to encapsulate the anniversary celebrations, a series of commemorative events were held to strengthen the college culture and collective sense of community among its students, alumni, and staff. Here are three of the events that showcased the different but integrated aspects of life at RVRC – namely academic, student and residential life.
RVRC Symposium: Living and learning for a shared future – the RVRC way
For the first time this year, students led the planning and organising of the annual RVRC Symposium held on 24 February 2024. Some 145 participants comprising students, educators and community partners attended the Symposium which showcased the best of student and alumni achievements through panel discussions, oral presentations, and poster sessions.
Guest-of-Honour Associate Professor Adrian Loo from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences shared about the importance of education and community stewardship for youth, drawing on his extensive experience in his previous role as National Parks Board’s Group Director for Wildlife Management and Senior Director for Community Projects. Participants also gleaned insights from RVRC alumnus, Founder and CEO of Hatch Mr Victor Zhu (Science '20), who shared about his journey in building his start-up with a social mission of providing digital skills and employability programmes whilst still a student at RVRC.
The day’s programme was segmented into three key themes, namely Edu-venture, Adventure, and Venturing Beyond. Edu-venture showcased RVRC’s approach towards fostering a learning ecosystem that has addressed societal and environmental challenges, as well as student projects on real-world issues. Adventure highlighted the importance of various co-curricular and student life activities, which has helped hone students’ soft skills and provided them an avenue to give back to society. Lastly, Venturing Beyond challenged students to build meaningful initiatives that go beyond the walls of the College and beyond their time at NUS, encouraging them to champion lasting environmental and societal changes through innovative means.
Co-Chair of the Symposium’s organising committee and RVRC Senior Jason Qiu, a Year 4 undergraduate from the School of Computing, said, “It was the insightful questions posed during the presentations along with the meaningful tea break discussions that brought home the value of the engagement for the RVRC community which truly represented the vibrant learning spirit that the College embodies.”
Gala Dinner: Celebrating a decade of shared memories, experiences and achievements
The RVRC 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner on 30 August 2024 saw past and present members of the College celebrate the journey that has shaped RVRC into the unique, dynamic community it is today.
The evening began with a commemorative speech by College Master Assoc Prof Sim, who reflected on the College's decade of achievements. RVRC Rector Dr Noeleen Heyzer and RVRC’s first Director of Studies Associate Professor Lee Kooi Cheng shared about the College's indelible impact over the years while founding RVRC College Master Professor Adekunle Adeyeye recounted the strong foundation upon which the college was built, in a special video message.
Guests were also treated to a night of engaging performances, including song items by RVRC’s Jukebox and the winners of the RV10 songwriting competition, as well as an electrifying dance performance by the NUS Dance Ensemble.
A highlight at the gala dinner was the commemorative video created by RVRC students which showcased RVRC’s key milestones since its inception, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia amongst alumni, faculty and staff, both past and present, who had an enjoyable time reconnecting and reminiscing about the pivotal moments that defined their time at the College.
RVRC alumnus Zhang Xiangyu Oliver (Business ‘24), said, “It was great to reconnect with the people who made my four-year journey in RVRC memorable, and celebrate together the countless milestones of the college since inception. I’m confident that RVRC will continue to inspire the next generation in the upcoming decade and beyond!”
RVRC Day: Building bridges, strengthening bonds
Apart from sustainability, the RVRC community is also passionate about giving back to society, a cornerstone of NUS' ethos. The theme of RVRC Day – Building Bridges, Strengthening Bonds – underscored the importance of community building, not just amongst the RVRC community of students and staff, but just as importantly, with the wider community and the less privileged.
In the early morning hours of 26 October 2024, the RVRC community gathered at the Harbourfront area for Walk for Rice, a long-running signature event at RVRC to support vulnerable families. In partnership with a charity organisation, for every 300 meters walked, food donations were made to support vulnerable families, turning each step into a meaningful act of kindness. With the support of 52 RVRC students and staff, a total of 520 kilometres were clocked, making possible a donation of 1,733 packets of rice and oatmeal.
Following the charity walk, the event continued with a second segment focused on community engagement. Titled OutRidge, this initiative aimed to raise awareness for persons with disabilities (PWDs), foster inclusivity and inspire participants to take active steps toward building a more inclusive society. In addition to having the opportunity to interact with PWDs on their lived experiences and challenges, the event held at the College also featured a fireside chat with two invited speakers – Year 4 NUS student Kimberly Quek, a Deaflympic athlete who won numerous medals at international bowling competitions, and Joan Hung, a visually impaired para athlete with Team Singapore.
Additionally, participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive games at several informative booths designed by RVRC students to raise awareness about the daily challenges faced by PWDs. They also lent their support through their patronage of the food stalls set up by social enterprises that advocate for the PWD community.
RVRC Senior and Year 3 Computing undergraduate Soh Zheng Yang, Marcus, reflected, “I found the fireside chat to be eye-opening, especially when the two speakers shared about how they strive to overcome the challenges they face in pursuing their dreams. The interactive booths made me realise how adaptable PWDs have to be, to overcome the limitations of living in a society that does not primarily cater to their special needs or circumstances. I was happy to see the RVRC community come together to empower PWDs through active participation and enhanced awareness.”
As the celebrations come to a close, College Master Assoc Prof Sim, said, “The conclusion of the year-long activities held in conjunction with RV10 has brought a renewed understanding of what has shaped the College into what it is today. With this reflection comes a strong sense of optimism for the future—one where the College continues to evolve, striving towards becoming a better place that offers a more robust RVRC programme with a more united and inclusive RVRC community.”
By Ms Liu Jingting, Ms Ulrike Sengstschmid, Ms Yan Bowen, and Ms Thi Hang Banh, researchers from the Asia Competitiveness Institute at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
By Professor Julian Savulescu, Chen Su Lan Centennial Professor of Medical Ethics and Director, and Associate Professor Brian D. Earp, both from the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS, together with Dr Sebastian Porsdam Mann, a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford
Each year on World Philosophy Day on 21 November, people around the globe are invited to reflect on the role philosophy plays in shaping our understanding of the world.
Philosophy, meaning ‘love of wisdom’, is interpreted differently by different people, and this diversity of interpretation is one of its most enduring strengths. For some, it’s an intellectual pursuit, a way of seeking deep truths about existence, morality, and knowledge. For others, it’s simply a practical guide to living more meaningfully.
For final-year Philosophy major Christopher Chin, the understanding of philosophy challenges our norms and forces us to grow, while final-year History and Philosophy double major Sofia Marliini Heikkonen believes it offers the privilege of interrogating life.
Dr Daryl Ooi, a lecturer at the Department of Philosophy agrees, saying that, “Philosophy is one of the activities humans practice when we’re trying to figure out how to relate and orientate ourselves to this exciting, complex and confusing world we live in.”
Fundamentally, however, philosophy is a way of thinking that cuts to the heart of what it means to be human.
‘Confucius says…’
The foundational ideas established by many great thinkers and philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle have shaped our understanding of the world. These renowned philosophers pioneered the use of reason and logic to explore the workings of the universe while delving into the complexities of human morality.
Although Confucius lived around 500 BC, some 2,500 years ago, today he remains synonymous with wisdom and insights into life. The expression ‘Confucius says...’ is often cited when imparting general wisdom, exemplifying how philosophy transcends time and generations.
In the context of retaliation, for example – whether in war or conflict – one might consider Confucius’ wise words before determining a course of action: ‘Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.’
“A common misunderstanding about philosophy is that it’s purely abstract and impractical, dealing only with questions that have no real-world impact. In reality, many of the questions discussed in philosophy have significant real-world implications,” said the Department’s Assistant Professor Song Moonyoung.
A compass for the modern world
Some may question the relevance of philosophical thinking today given the proliferation of science and technology that comes with the promise to simplify our lives and even make decisions on our behalf. Philosophers, however, agree that as the world changes rapidly through technology and social upheaval, the role of philosophy will only grow in importance.
Dr Ooi believes that as long as humans continue to ask big and narrow questions about the world today and attempt to make sense of their beliefs, values, emotions and ideas, philosophy will continue to endure.
Likewise, Asst Prof Song believes philosophy is even more relevant in a time when science and technology are at the forefront. “Philosophy encourages us to consider the ethical implications of technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering, and guides us in making thoughtful, responsible choices about their development and use,” she says.
Assoc Prof Loy views philosophy as one part of a much larger repertoire now available to modern humanity. Its strength stems not from disregarding developments in other fields and domains, but from working in tandem with them. “Take artificial intelligence or AI for example. I have been drawn to research projects that look into how AI will affect education because it involves contributions from social science, data science, computer science and many others,” he says.
Related to that is the complex task of developing a practical governing framework for the development of AI and, even more critically, the ethics of its application. Dr Ooi, himself a former student of Assoc Prof Loy, says that the intricacy of such tasks is precisely the reason we recognise the value of interdisciplinary education.
He explains, “We need specialists from different disciplines to work together – and philosophers certainly have much to contribute towards the development or shaping of any kind of moral framework that would support the development and application of AI. Get a philosopher in the room to ask questions about ethics and morality, or even what it means to be human. This will trigger some incredibly meaningful and important conversations, and sometimes, you may even get something like an answer!”
Assoc Prof Loy, who is also Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) for NUS College, adds that he sees philosophers as some of the most interested and equipped people to discuss complex issues, not necessarily by supplying any ready-made “moral framework”, but simply by being people who are keen on thinking very carefully and working with experts from other technical disciplines.
Expanding on this perspective, Asst Prof Song, who specialises in the philosophy of art, notes that the increasing integration of AI into our lives invites us to reflect on what truly defines humanity. The answer may not lie in what we can do better than AI. Instead, what makes us special may indeed be our limitations, such as the fact that humans have physical bodies that inevitably age and perish.
She adds, “These limitations give human achievements – such as artwork – a completely different meaning, even if, on the surface, they may look similar to AI-created products.”
In recent years, mental health has become another area where philosophy provides a unique lens through which we can understand and address psychological well-being. Commenting on the role of philosophy or philosophical ideas in mental health treatment or in helping people cope with mental health challenges, Dr Ooi highlights the increasing attention given to the therapeutic value of philosophical ideas.
He says, “The idea of ‘care for the soul’ and ‘care for the self’ is a historically important one that is of immense relevance for us today, and there are many important philosophical questions that we can ask that are highly relevant to issues surrounding mental health today. For instance, how do we understand the obligations individuals have to care for one another, should education systems have an ethical responsibility to ensure that students do not suffer certain harms, or how can individuals and societies understand values such as ‘respect’ and ‘dignity’ so that those values shape the way humans treat each other?”
Many of the tools employed in philosophy and the intellectual dispositions it nurtures have broad applications – particularly in instances where careful reasoning is needed or when navigating any situations without any clear precedents. This intellectual rigour is what has drawn some undergraduates to take up Philosophy to complement other fields of study, recognising the value of the discipline’s critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Joan Lim, a final-year Philosophy and Life Sciences double degree student, was first introduced to Philosophy in secondary school.
Joan was part of the pioneering batch at the College of Humanities and Sciences and says she jumped at the opportunity to take two contrasting degrees, believing in the importance of an interdisciplinary education to gain a deeper understanding of our increasingly complex and interconnected world.
“I feel that the disciplines are complementary because science needs to be ethically applied, and the humanities benefit from the real-world grounding from the sciences. Fields such as AI and sustainability consider the best ways to apply science and technology such that harm may be reduced; a purely scientific approach may lack that moral analysis.”
Armed with the insights gained from her philosophy studies, Joan is looking for a career that will allow her to contribute to the field of sustainability, another existential challenge for mankind. “I hope to provide an ethical and logical lens for analysing complex issues such as sustainability and AI, but also in the vein of the philosophical training that I have received here at NUS, one which is empathetic and kind,” she says.
Marliini, who has always felt very strongly about diversity, representation and inclusivity, is looking for opportunities to build bridges within the communities around her. “I'm still discovering what exactly my career will look like post-graduation, and what excites me is the prospect of fostering environments where people feel empowered, accepted and connected.”
Beyond its influence on society, Christopher believes that philosophy’s teachings have made an impact on his personal relationships.
“The clarity and discernment that philosophy teaches us should be channelled towards goodness. It reminds us to be compassionate because as (Chinese Confucian philosopher) Mengzi suggests, all humans have the heart of compassion. Whatever the psychological pain, I believe being compassionate, empathetic, and present should be our first response,” says Christopher, reflecting on the wisdom drawn from philosophy when dealing with friends and loved ones in need.
Enduring influence in shaping humanity
From artificial intelligence to mental health, philosophy offers a powerful lens for understanding and navigating the complexities of contemporary life. Whether for those immersed in academic inquiry or individuals looking for clarity in a fast-paced world, philosophy provides a space for thoughtful reflection, grounded in the search for truth and meaning.
Assoc Prof Loy has noted how students get to have a lot of intellectual fun reading philosophy while giving them leverage for other intellectual pursuits.
“Everyone stands to gain from the process of philosophical inquiry,” says Marliini. “The skills we learn are beneficial far beyond academics because philosophy at its core teaches us how to hold space for different perspectives while maintaining the rigour to examine and articulate our own.”
In the words of Peter Singer, one of the most highly regarded modern philosophers alive today, “Philosophy ought to question the basic assumptions of the age. Thinking through, critically and carefully, what most of us take for granted is, I believe, the chief task of philosophy, and the task that makes philosophy a worthwhile activity.”
In developing a familial and inclusive residential community, inclusiveness has been a key theme at Pioneer House (PH) since its inception in 2017 as a new housing model at NUS centred on proactive pastoral care and mentoring. As such, PH adopts various academic approaches to nurture togetherness and warmth amongst its residents – students who hail from different academic years, as well as cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Since August 2024 (Semester 1, Academic Year 2024/2025), a pioneering group of ten students has taken this theme of fostering inclusiveness a step further by ‘formalising’ their initiatives to engage the international student community at PH. They embarked on a ‘Design-Your-Own-Course’ (DYOC) – an academic scheme at NUS which allows students the opportunities to pursue self-directed learning beyond their disciplines, through avenues such as engaging relevant subject matter experts at the University. While PH has consistently organised programmes and initiatives to engage its international student community, this step marks the first time it has been carried out through a DYOC framework.
Melding academia and application
The idea for a DYOC was mooted by team leader Nikol Goh (Year 2, Psychology), who wanted to do something meaningful in community building. Fueled by the determination to see the idea come to fruition, the initial team of four she pulled together managed to complete a quick recruitment via spreading the word and social media channels, eventually growing to a group of 10. They creatively named themselves PHamigo, tagging PH’s acronym to the word amigo which means ‘friend’ in Spanish.
Together with their mentors, PH Resident Fellows Dr Andi Sudjana Putra, Senior Lecturer at the College of Design and Engineering, and Associate Professor Wilson Tam, Deputy Head (Research) at NUS Nursing, the students formulated the intended learning outcomes through application of Bloom’s Taxonomy, an educational framework which categorises learning outcomes into seven ascending levels of thinking. Of the four intended learning outcomes from DYOC, evaluation of the community development journey required the PHamigo team to apply the sixth of seven levels of higher order learning, stretching the students' thinking.
“I was so proud that the students took charge of their own learning through DYOC. For example, the students themselves proposed the use of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) in framing their project,” said Dr Andi, referring to the strategy for community development that focuses on identifying and using a community's existing assets to improve the community.
“Many times, the student discussions during the sessions were so rigorous that I did not have to intervene much! It was very heartwarming to witness students being fully immersed in their learning,” Dr Andi enthused.
In terms of activity planning, which was one of the deliverables of DYOC, the students planned for events, tours and hands-on experiences for local and international students alike to explore cultures, cuisines, and landmarks of Singapore. During the student-organised tours affectionately called OpenJio, drawing from the colloquial term for an all-inclusive invitation to an activity, the PHamigo team led students on fortnightly visits to events such as the Singapore Light Festival and the Formula 1 Singapore night race, as well as to prominent local landmarks such as Parliament House, the Istana, and the Merlion.
International students also had the chance to experience Singapore’s local childhood games, such as the time-honoured pastime of flipping country erasers. And not to be omitted in a country with an identity rooted in culinary appreciation, students also introduced cuisines from their respective cultures to each other, which they would not have had the chance to try if not for the PHamigo programme.
These activities spanning across the semester were especially valuable in helping international students, most of whom may not have been in Singapore during the orientation season before the start of the academic year, stay plugged into the community.
Elevating community development
To cap off a fulfilling semester of hard work, the PHamigo team also organised a large Batik painting activity on 17 and 19 October 2024. In addition to 40 students, the event also saw the participation of seven members of PH’s housekeeping staff. It was a way for the students to express their gratitude to the staff, who have worked quietly behind the scenes to maintain the cleanliness at PH. It was a serendipitous culmination of many different initiatives which melded together seamlessly – from PHamigo’s framework to elevate community development in their penultimate activity for the semester, to a group of international students who were introduced to batik, to other students who wanted to bring the housekeeping team at PH on an outing.
“We wanted to emphasise the idea that ‘community’ in PH is not only students, but also staff, including the housekeeping team, whom we are grateful for. We wanted to appreciate them as part of PH for all the work that they have done,” Nikol reflected.
“The students originally wanted to bring the housekeeping team on an outing. However, after speaking with them, we realised the challenges in doing so due to their working hours and commitments. Some also had mobility issues, making moving around difficult for them. It was then we learnt that what we think they need, may not be what they actually need,” Nikol added, sharing that this led the team to decide to hold the activity in PH instead.
In additional to its cultural relevance and roots in Southeast Asia, the application of batik creation also tapped on the concept of ABCD that framed the DYOC, such as a group of students keen to introduce it to the community, and the knowledge drawn from previous cluster activities that many fellow students at PH have artistic talents in drawing. The batik workshop was received positively by local and international students, some who found it therapeutic and stress-relieving.
Reflecting on the experience with PHamigo, Nguyen Ky Minh, a first-year international student from Vietnam. “I found PHamigo a very useful and fascinating exercise in cultural exploration. I especially enjoyed the OpenJio walks around Singapore, which helped us learn more about facets of the Singaporean cultural mosaic that we probably would have never encountered on our own. I certainly second the continuation of this initiative, which will undoubtedly complement PH residents’ time in Singapore.”
“I think many students possess theoretical knowledge of community development. However, from its application in PH through DYOC, it was fulfilling to witness how the activities based on the concept were so enthusiastically accepted by the community, and it left me impressed by how many lives the activities have touched,” said Nikol.
Registrations for the next PHamigo DYOC, which will take place next semester, have opened, and the community eagerly looks forward to more activities in their experience of living, learning, and growing together.
Forty-six NUS researchers have been placed among the world’s most prominent researchers, based on the Highly Cited Researchers 2024 List published by data analytics firm Clarivate. This annual recognition honours researchers who have demonstrated significant and far-reaching influence in their field of research.
The Highly Cited Researchers 2024 list features NUS researchers whose publications rank in the top 1 per cent by citations for their respective fields and publication year in the Web of Science over the past decade. These NUS honourees have made significant contributions to diverse fields including, Chemistry, Clinical Medicine, Computer Science, Economics and Business, Engineering, Immunology, Materials Science, Microbiology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Physics, Psychiatry and Psychology and more.
This year, 6,636 researchers from 59 countries and regions have been named Highly Cited Researchers. In the list, 3,560 researchers have been recognised in specific fields and 3,326 researchers for cross-field impact, with 238 researchers being named in two or more fields.
Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), said, “NUS is incredibly proud of our exceptional researchers, whose dedication to excellence and groundbreaking discoveries continue to push the frontiers of knowledge. Their meaningful contributions have had a profound impact in addressing real-world issues and paving the way towards a better future for all.”
David Pendlebury, Head of Research Analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate, said, “The Highly Cited Researchers list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers at NUS whose significant and broad influence in their fields translates to impact in their research community. Their pioneering innovations contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and secure world. These researchers’ achievements strengthen the foundation of excellence and innovation that drives societal progress.”
The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) at Clarivate creates a new list of Highly Cited Researchers each year based on a rolling 11-year window of citation evaluation by applying a rigorous editorial selection process to identify trusted journals in the Web of Science.
The 46 highly cited NUS researchers in their respective fields are:
Chemistry
Professor Chen Xiaoyuan, Shawn Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine & Department of Biomedical Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering [Also listed under Materials Science]
Professor Jiang Donglin Department of Chemistry, NUS Faculty of Science
Professor Liu Bin Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Professor Xie Jianping Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering & Tianjin University-NUS Joint Institute in Fuzhou
Professor Yan Ning Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering & NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations
Clinical Medicine
Professor Carolyn Lam SingHealth Duke-NUS Cardiovascular Sciences Academic Clinical Programme
Professor Wong Tien Yin Office of Academic Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School
Computer Science
Professor Zhang Rui Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Cross-Field
Emeritus Professor Ang Beng Wah NUS Energy Studies Institute & Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Professor Antonio Bertoletti Signature Research Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School
Professor Chen Wei Department of Chemistry and Department of Physics, NUS Faculty of Science
Associate Professor Goki Eda Department of Chemistry and Department of Physics, NUS Faculty of Science
Professor Ge Shuzhi, Sam Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Professor Derek John Hausenloy Signature Research Programme in Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School
Professor Ho Ghim Wei Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Assistant Professor Hou Yi Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Assistant Professor Shirin Kalimuddin SingHealth Duke-NUS Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School
Associate Professor Sibudjing Kawi Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Associate Professor Lee Chengkuo, Vincent Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Professor Leo Yee Sin NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Professor Lin Zhiqun Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Professor Liu Xiaogang Department of Chemistry, NUS Faculty of Science
Professor Loh Kian Ping Department of Chemistry, NUS Faculty of Science
Professor Low Guek Hong, Jenny SingHealth Duke-NUS Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School
Visiting Professor Qiang Yujie Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Assistant Professor Sing Swee Leong Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Dr Su Bin NUS Energy Studies Institute & NUS Centre for Maritime Studies & Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management,NUS College of Design and Engineering
Associate Professor Wilson Tam Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Assistant Professor Anthony Tanoto Tan Signature Research Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School
Professor Wang Chi-Hwa Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Wang Yuxiang Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Adjunct Associate Professor Wang Xiaonan Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Associate Professor Zhao Dan Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Economics and Business
Professor Jochen Wirtz Department of Marketing, NUS Business School
Engineering
Professor Praveen Linga Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Immunology
Associate Professor Chen Jinmiao Centre for Computational Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School
Dr Chia Wan Ni (Adjunct) Signature Research Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School
Materials Science
Professor John Wang Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Microbiology
Professor Wang Linfa Signature Research Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School
Neuroscience and Behaviour
Assistant Professor Cyrus Ho Department of Psychological Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Professor Roger Ho Department of Psychological Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine [Also listed under Psychiatry and Psychology]
Associate Professor Thomas Yeo Boon Thye Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering & Centre for Sleep and Cognition and Centre for Translational MR Research, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Visiting Research Professor Gerrit Storm Department of Surgery, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Physics
Professor Antonio Helio Castro Neto NUS Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials & NUS Centre for Advanced 2D Materials & Department of Physics, NUS Faculty of Science & Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov NUS Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials & Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering
Professor Qiu Cheng-Wei Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering & Department of Physics, Faculty of Science
Produced by French consultancy Emerging and published by the Times Higher Education, the annual study gathers global employer insights to rank the top 250 universities that are the best at developing career- and workplace-ready graduates.
NUS has been consistently ranked in the top 10 since 2020. This year, it ranked second-highest in Asia behind eighth-placed The University of Tokyo. The first, second and third spots in the overall ranking went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology and Stanford University respectively.
Professor Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost said, “The NUS educational experience nurtures in our students a keen sense of curiosity, critical thinking, data-driven analytical skills, and global sensibilities. Strongly grounded in academics with market and global exposure, they are highly sought after across industries in Singapore and internationally, confident and ready to create impact and change. With technological disruptions now the norm, NUS is actively integrating skills and knowledge of fast-developing domains like AI and data analytics into our curriculum so that our students are future-ready.
“Our consistently high rankings in the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey are a testament to the quality of our interdisciplinary education and the outstanding capabilities of our graduates, who continue to thrive and lead in the competitive global workforce,” he added.
According to Emerging’s Co-founder and Managing Director Ms Sandrine Belloc, the three main drivers that positioned NUS in the top 10 were graduate skills, digital mindset and academic performance. With employability becoming a key benchmark for universities, NUS’ ranking reflects its commitment to preparing students for the future, she added. “By offering a combination of essential skills, a powerful network, and real-world job opportunities, they ensure students are ready to thrive in the workforce and excel in the years ahead."
Conducted between June to September 2024, the 2025 survey was expanded to include 13,240 international employers from 33 countries across five continents who recruited 1.3 million young graduates for non-technical, business, IT and engineering roles in 2024 to 2025.
Universities are assessed across 35 criteria, from which the following seven key employability drivers were identified: academic excellence, specialisation, graduate skills, digital mindset, focus on work expertise, social impact and leadership, and internationality
Nurturing diverse skills to prepare students for the future workplace
NUS has placed a strong emphasis on nurturing workplace-ready graduates. Earlier this year, the University launched the NUSOne initiative to foster a holistic and well-rounded university experience that integrates formal learning with student life and other out-of-classroom experiences to encourage greater self-directed personal growth and development.
Key features of the initiative include the Transition to Higher Education Programme, which offers courses to equip first-year students with academic and non-academic skills related to the science of learning and the use of generative AI tools; dedicating Wednesday afternoons for students to participate in non-academic activities, as well as the addition of a new sports-themed hostel named Valour House that seeks to build an active and inclusive community bonded through shared athletic experiences.
The University has also been intensifying efforts on equipping our students with career competencies to excel in the workplace. The NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates supports students with a four-year career-readiness roadmap to encourage early career planning while broadening their exposure to industry.
They offer an impressive suite of resources and initiatives such as opportunities for overseas internships and study trips to fast-growing economies in Southeast Asia, India and China; career-readiness programmes including programmes like Career Booster and Career Advancement which advance students’ job search, interview, and workplace skills; access to a University-wide jobs and internships portal, mentorship programmes, dedicated career advisors, in addition to regular career fairs and recruitment talks.
Whether it is providing academic support to vulnerable youth or befriending seniors living alone, heartwarming stories of NUS students working to uplift local and regional communities abound each year. Embodying the University’s spirit of service to country and society, members of the NUS Community Service Club (NUS CSC) have been key drivers of volunteerism among our student population over the past 22 years.
Through NUS CSC programmes, more than 1,300 NUS students clocked close to 15,500 volunteer hours in the last academic year. Three of the club’s members share what inspired their passion for service, the various ways they are making a difference in the community and how their efforts have enriched the lives of many – including their own.
Dewi Murni Bte Musa: Leading change through community service
Dewi Murni Bte Musa, a Year 4 student at the NUS Faculty of Science, began volunteering at the age of 16. But it was a seemingly ordinary day chaperoning primary school students for a national education show in 2018, held in conjunction with Singapore’s National Day Parade, that ignited her passion for community service.
At the end of the show, a primary schooler, beaming with excitement, thanked her for the day he had and told her that he aspired to be like her in the future. “It was a touching moment that made me realise the power of making someone’s day,” said Dewi, recalling that pivotal moment.
Since then, Dewi has dedicated herself to various community projects, both within and beyond Singapore. Now, in her fourth year at NUS CSC, Dewi has been elected the Club’s president, and set her sights on making an even bigger impact.
Reflecting on her time at NUS CSC, Dewi shared that her involvement in various programmes and projects played a significant role in her personal development. For example, as former Assistant Project Director, Dewi led a team of nearly 160 volunteers in Project C.A.N. XXI to prepare specially curated care packs containing food and essential items for low-income households in Choa Chu Kang and Tampines. The massive undertaking sharpened her organisational skills and taught her the importance of adaptability in team dynamics.
Yet, it was her moments of connection with community members at one NUS CSC Day that stood out most vividly to her. The annual event brings together NUS CSC’s four main sectors – children and youth, persons with intellectual disabilities, the elderly and those with life-limiting illnesses and healthcare. As a game master for the day, Dewi met a secondary school student from one of their partner organisations who told her that it felt like a dream to come to NUS. Her words struck a chord with Dewi who was reminded of her own childhood, when a university education seemed like an unattainable dream. “I’m the first in my extended family to attend university, so growing up, I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about getting a higher education,” she said. “But I was so happy that through CSC Day, we were able to give this young girl that opportunity,” she added.
Empowerment for youth and children is a cause that resonates with Dewi deeply, and she aspires to one day, build a passion project working with schools in rural areas, particularly in Indonesia, where she is fluent in the language and familiar with the culture.
As the incoming president of NUS CSC, Dewi envisions a club that not only mobilises volunteers but also fosters leadership and personal growth for its members. “We want to ensure that our volunteers are adequately prepared before they engage with community members and cultivate an environment where they can thrive as volunteer leaders,” she said. “I also want to see our club evolve to meet the changing needs of both our volunteers and the community.”
For those considering joining NUS CSC, Dewi encourages them to embrace the experience with an open mind and a willingness to learn. “It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone and discovering the impact you can make,” she says, inviting new volunteers to share in the transformative power of community service.
Lim Si En: Painting lives, one home at a time
Like Dewi, Lim Si En, a Year 3 student at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), began his volunteering journey in junior college, tutoring primary school students and volunteering his time at national events like the National Day Parade. His passion for service led him to join NUS CSC in his first year at NUS. “Volunteering called out to me more than other CCAs,” he recalled, highlighting the breadth and accessibility of projects that resonate with his desire to help others.
In his second year, Si En took on the role of Project Director for NUS CSC’s annual Paint-A-Home initiative, pouring his heart into every detail of the six-month-long project, from recruiting committee members to collaborating with partner organisations. “Seeing our labour pay off was incredibly fulfilling,” he says, reflecting on the tangible improvements made in the homes they painted.
For Si En, the initiative was more than just applying a fresh coat of paint; it was about building relationships with community members to understand their needs and preferences, ensuring that his team’s work truly reflected the desires of those they served.
“The initial visit helped break the ice and build rapport,” he explained. This rapport was crucial, as many of the community members they assisted were elderly or from low-income families, facing various challenges. As Si En and most of his team members had no prior experience with painting, they contacted an organisation for painting lessons. The team also held a practice run, painting the multipurpose hall at the PERTAPIS Centre for Women and Girls, which kindly offered them use of the space for a trial session.
“Once we finished painting, the visible improvement felt great. We knew we made a difference,” he shared, acknowledging that their work wasn’t perfect but was heartfelt and impactful.
Si En’s commitment to the community extends beyond NUS CSC. As a Volunteer Welfare Officer with the Ministry of Social and Family Development since 2023, he conducts check-ins with families at risk of child neglect. “It’s an eye-opening experience,” he admits. “Even as I help others, I learn so much about the challenges they face.”
Hope Sng Xin Le: A heart for service
Taking over the reins from Si En at Clementi Youth Sparks this semester is Hope Sng Xin Le, a Year 2 NUS FASS student who embodies the spirit of service and compassion. Specialising in Social Work and Political Science, Hope’s journey into the realm of social service is deeply rooted in her own experiences and the values instilled in her by her family.
Growing up, Hope faced some challengesin her childhood. “My grandparents helped me through that tough time,” she recalled, citing this early experience as the spark that ignited her passion for social work.
Another source of inspiration was a documentary that highlighted how exposure to domestic violence can ripple through generations. “It’s important to break the cycle of violence,” she remarked.
Hope’s academic pursuits complement her passion. Studying Political Science gives her insight into governmental structures and resource allocation, while her Social Work studies provide a ground-level perspective on societal issues. “Social work is where my calling is,” she says, expressing a desire to join Child or Adult Protective Services upon graduation to safeguard vulnerable individuals and families.
Hope’s commitment to volunteering blossomed at NUS, where she joined NUS CSC in her first year. At Ethelontêr, the NUS CSC’s orientation camp for incoming NUS students, she was introduced to various volunteer opportunities, including Havenue, a programme supporting individuals with life-limiting illnesses. “Havenue is my happy place,” she states with warmth, volunteering there two to three times a month.
Her work at Havenue holds a profound significance for her. Engaging with the elderly patients has reshaped her perspective on life and death. One particularly poignant memory is of Uncle Chew, a vibrant 90-year-old she befriended during his last days. His passing, along with that of another patient, reminded her of life’s fragility and the importance of cherishing every moment. “These experiences have shown me how precious life is,” she reflects, prompting her to be more expressive of her love and appreciation for those around her.
In Academic Year 2023/2024, Hope served the highest number of volunteer hours among all NUS CSC volunteers, staggering her time between seven projects throughout the year. Pulling off the 2024 edition of Ethelontêr as Assistant Project Director is something she is particularly proud of and she expressed her deep appreciation for her fellow organising committee members for being a strong support system during the five-month project where things were ‘fast and furious’.
“Prior to university, I thought of volunteering as something that was part of the school requirements. But over the past year, I realised my deeper calling to serve the community. It has strengthened my desire to pursue social work as a major and has been a source of joy and meaning in my life,” said Hope.
NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of NUS, has expanded its global presence with the launch of BLOCK71 Nagoya. Officially inaugurated on 10 October 2024 by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, BLOCK71 Nagoya is the first BLOCK71 location in Japan, strengthening a global BLOCK71 network that spans Southeast Asia, the United States, and China. The new office aims to create a technology-focused ecosystem connecting Japan and Southeast Asia, providing Southeast Asian start-ups with the support needed to navigate Japan’s cultural and business nuances, and helping Japanese start-ups scale and grow across Southeast Asia.
This milestone strengthens NUS’ long-standing partnership with the Aichi government and the city of Nagoya. The collaboration between NUS and Aichi dates back to 2018, with joint efforts focusing on driving cross-border innovation and entrepreneurship. Key initiatives include the NUS Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship, Asia’s largest university start-up showcase InnovFest, and the NUS Enterprise Market Immersion Programme in Japan which was launched last year. The opening of BLOCK71 Nagoya is the latest chapter in this collaboration and reflects a shared commitment to nurturing vibrant start-up ecosystems in both countries.
Following its official inauguration, BLOCK71 Nagoya opened its doors to start-ups on 1 November 2024, providing a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to collaborate, innovate, and access essential resources. The operational opening of the centre was graced by His Excellency Hideaki Omura, the Governor of Aichi Prefecture, who was joined by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye; Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Ecosystem Building), NUS Enterprise; Professor Naoshi Sugiyama, President of Nagoya University; and Mr Hirotaka Sahashi, President and CEO of STATION Ai Corporation.
Unlike other BLOCK71 global offices that focus on incubation, BLOCK71 in Japan prioritises market launch activities due to the country’s mature start-up landscape. BLOCK71 Nagoya and other future Japanese offices will support start-ups in developing Proof of Concept (PoC), securing funding, establishing partnerships, and integrating into the BLOCK71 global network. Beyond providing physical workspaces within partners’ co-working facilities, BLOCK71 in Japan will deploy dedicated staff across key cities to identify growth opportunities and help start-ups capitalise on Japan’s multifaceted market environment.
“Japan’s business environment is renowned for its rich traditions, strong emphasis on relationships, and high standards. Through BLOCK71 in Japan, we aim to empower Southeast Asian entrepreneurs to navigate this unique market, while simultaneously supporting Japanese start-ups in exploring opportunities in Southeast Asia. Located within STATION Ai, the largest start-up support centre in Japan, BLOCK71 Nagoya is well-positioned to cultivate a global ecosystem that fosters cross-border innovation. Our focus is on providing comprehensive business support, facilitating meaningful partnerships, and developing strategic roadmaps for growth that will benefit all involved,” said Prof Tan.
Prof Chen Tsuhan, NUS Deputy President (Innovation and Enterprise), highlighted the valuable resources available at BLOCK71 Nagoya. “By leveraging BLOCK71’s extensive global network and over a decade of experience in catalysing start-up communities, start-ups in Nagoya will have access to crucial resources such as technology, talent, markets and funding opportunities between Singapore and Japan. This new hub will not only support local start-ups but also attract international talent to Aichi, contributing to a vibrant, globally connected start-up environment. Additionally, BLOCK71 Nagoya will support start-ups in refining their go-to-market and fundraising strategies, which are essential for successful international expansion.”
Collaboration with ENEOS to enhance innovation
In addition to the launch of BLOCK71 Nagoya, NUS has formed a strategic partnership with ENEOS Holdings, Inc. (ENEOS), one of Japan’s largest energy companies, on 31 October 2024. This collaboration aims to enhance venture-building activities for NUS start-ups by exposing them to real-world industry challenges. Together, NUS Enterprise and ENEOS will work together to identify promising Southeast Asian start-ups and innovative solutions that can tackle critical industry issues relating to mobility, decarbonisation, the circular economy, and artificial intelligence.
"Collaborating with NUS Enterprise provides ENEOS with a unique opportunity to harness the dynamic energy of Southeast Asia's start-up ecosystem,” said Mr Miyata Tomohide, Representative Director, CEO of ENEOS. “By engaging with innovative start-ups, we can gain fresh insights and co-create solutions that address the pressing challenges in our industry. This partnership will not only enhance our ability to adapt to market changes but also position us at the forefront of sustainable energy advancements. We are eager to work alongside these visionary entrepreneurs to drive meaningful progress in the energy sector.”
Assimilating to the Japanese social fabric via the Market Immersion Programme
Recognising Japan’s culturally distinct business environment, BLOCK71 launched the Japan Immersion Programme last year to provide tailored support for Southeast Asian start-ups to better understand the Japanese market. The programme is structured in two phases: a pre-programme held in Singapore and an immersion phase in Japan.
From mid-August to the end of September 2024, the second cohort of five Singaporean start-ups participated in a series of lectures and mentorship sessions during the pre-programme. These activities equipped them with essential skills for developing their go-to-market (GTM) strategies and effective fundraising techniques to support their market expansion in Japan.
The immersion phase, during which the five start-ups engaged directly with potential Japanese partners, took place from 28 October to 1 November 2024 in Japan. Leveraging BLOCK71’s expansive network, the start-ups were invited to a site visit in Aichi Prefecture, participated in individual business meetings with Japanese stakeholders, and attended Messe Nagoya 2024, one of Japan’s largest cross-industry trade fairs. The Immersion Programme concluded with a pitching event organised by the Aichi government, which coincided with the operational opening of BLOCK71 Nagoya. This event provided a platform for the start-ups to showcase their refined pitching skills, demonstrating their potential to attract investment.
“We have secured collaboration interests with manufacturers in Nagoya, thanks to the support and opportunities provided by BLOCK71 Nagoya, JETRO, and ForStartups. The factory visits were immensely productive, giving us first-hand insights into the pain points of our prospective clients. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships with our Japanese colleagues and continuing to benefit from the comprehensive support of the NUS Enterprise ecosystem,” said Mr Ricky Vian Kartolo, CEO of Indas Technologies.
“Through the Japan Immersion Programme, we had the opportunity to speak with potential partners and gain insights into the business environment in Japan. The programme was valuable as it included factory visits, one-on-one corporate meetings, and an exhibition, allowing us to connect with a variety of partners throughout the week,” said Low Jin Huat, CEO of RoPlus.
By Dr Harry Tan, Research Fellow from the Policy Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS; Ms Vanessa Lim, Social Worker and Research Analyst at New Hope Community Services; Ms Belle Phang, a Year 6 Student at ACS (Independent); and Mr Brian Monteiro, Manager from the Shelters and Programs at Catholic Welfare Services
The second iteration of the NUS Achievement Awards (NAA), held on 26 October 2024 at the University Cultural Centre, brought together students, alumni and family members to honour and celebrate the stellar contributions of the recipients across the spectrum of student life, an integral aspect of an NUS education.
NAA is the most prestigious and only University-level award recognising the exceptional achievements of student life beyond academics. This year’s awards ceremony showcased the extraordinary talents and dedication of NUS students in six categories: Arts, Community Impact, Competitions (General), Leadership, Sports, and Recognition. The awards honoured 78 recipients and over 560 students for their outstanding contributions in these six categories.
Referring to the NAA as a “cherished tradition”, Guest-of-Honour, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, said in his opening address, “This momentous occasion brings us together to honour the remarkable accomplishments of our students. Student life plays a pivotal role in the NUSOne initiative that we have recently embarked on. This holistic approach is designed to foster personal growth and development, equipping our students to become well-rounded individuals who are future-ready.”
“The theme for this year’s Awards, Celebrate Passion, resonates deeply with the spirit of this event, honouring the passion that drives you to excel in each of these diverse areas,” Prof Tan added.
Unveiling of new awards memento
Starting this year, a specially commissioned memento, crafted with sustainability and durability in mind, was given to the award recipients. Presented in two sizes, for individual and group recipients respectively, the versatile porcelain memento was developed over a year-long collaboration between the NUS Office of Student Affairs and the Design Incubation Centre at the College of Design and Engineering.
“NAA celebrates the pinnacle of student success beyond the classroom. This height is reached when students’ passion drives their boundless creativity and strength, where each find their own definition of individual and social impact,” said NUS Dean of Students Associate Professor Ho Han Kiat.
“Therefore, instead of an off-the-shelf trophy, a specially designed memento will help reflect the same spirit in its creation, and one that is built-to-purpose and accomplishes more based on your imagination,” Assoc Prof Ho added.
Fresh focus on the arts and sustainability
Two new categories in the areas of sustainability and the arts were added to NAA this year.
In celebration of the vibrant campus arts scene, the Arts category honours a range of artistic achievements by individual students, co-curricular activities, and hostel groups, reflecting the University’s commitment to fostering an Arts-for-All campus.
Among the arts CCAs, NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE) was the most prominent, receiving a total of four group awards, including one Distinction for their production, Desi-Lah: The Rhythm of Home. The music showcase featuring the stories of migrant workers living in Singapore through music from their hometowns, saw the IIE members demonstrating their commitment and hard work by learning new languages and instruments to accurately represent the six different Indian states.
“We are incredibly proud to receive these awards. It is an honour to have our efforts recognised, as it shows that our desire to create meaningful music has resonated with so many,” said Uma Gowri Ramanathan, former President of NUS IIE and Year 4 Sociology undergraduate.
The other new category―the Eco Champions award, recognises student groups that have made significant contributions to environmental sustainability. The inaugural recipients were the NUS Students’ Union, SunNUS and Tembusu College, in recognition of their efforts in encouraging sustainability principles throughout the organisation and implementation of student events.
Community spirit shines bright
A common theme among this year’s Distinction award recipients was care for the community.
NUS Malay Language Society’s Pentas Budaya, a production exploring the social phenomenon of child fostering through dialogues and guidance from Teater Ekamatra, received the Distinction award for Original Artistic Work of the Year. The student-led production creatively incorporated tableaux scenes and live Oud music in their storytelling.
Project Athlead by the NUS Medical Society, which received a Distinction award in the Community Impact category, brought the joy of sports to children from disadvantaged households. By partnering with Beyond Social Services and Singapore Children's Society, the team members provided the children with wider access to sports such as diverse sports activities and training with coaches.
“Our team felt really passionate about providing unique sporting experiences to kids who may not have had such experiences. I undertook this project because I wanted to work with the Singapore Concert Society branch which works with children in my neighbourhood. We feel absolutely happy and acknowledged with this award from NAA,” said co-team lead Selvaraj Vijayaragavan (Year 4, NUS Medicine)
One of two Distinction Awards for Leadership this year was presented to Year 3 Pharmacy undergraduate Nicolette Koh, who championed community causes and raised awareness for people with disabilities among her peers during her term as President of NUS Enabler.
Nicolette, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss during childhood, introduced Singapore Sign Language classes taught by deaf instructors to the NUS community. She was also instrumental in rallying support within NUS to field the University’s first contingent at the Purple Parade, a national platform to promote awareness and celebrate the abilities of persons with special needs.
“This award means a lot to me as an inclusive leader who values working alongside peers to ensure each voice is heard and valued. It signifies my commitment to empowering the persons with disabilities community as equals and advocating for the best inclusive practices within our NUS community,” Nicolette said.
Strength and resilience embodied
The spirit of determination and resilience was another theme that resonated amongst award recipients, including Year 4 Architecture undergraduate Eugene Tan, who took home the Distinction award in the Competitions (General) category. On his seventh time competing at The Architecture Drawing Prize 2023, he emerged top in the Digital Category with his winning design. Developed during his final year at NUS, it used an unconventional circular composition of Pedra Branca to convey new understandings of time, ecology, and orientation.
“The award is a recognition of all the hard work and effort that I have put into developing my architecture projects beyond my studies. It is work that is not seen on the transcripts and truly validates the time and effort that I have committed,” Eugene said.
TeamNUS Silat exponent Nurul Irbah Binte Muhammad Razali and swimmer Nicholas Cheong, who received Merit awards for Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year respectively, recalled how they bounced back from significant sports injuries to emerge triumphant in their respective sporting events.
It was an inspiring return to international competition in 2023 for final-year Life Sciences undergraduate Irbah. After a three-year absence from the national team, she represented Singapore at the 2024 ASEAN University Games. Persevering through the pain of an ankle injury sustained during the finals, Irbah emerged victorious to score a hard-fought gold medal. This was her third gold of the year, on top of the two other gold medals she received at the Tertiary Silat Competition, where she was also named Best Female Athlete.
Nicholas, a Year 2 Business student, sustained a wrist injury that required surgery, followed by a period of rest for four months before he could return to training. He bounced back to represent Singapore at the 2024 ASEAN University Games, clinching a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke. His win was especially significant as his elder brother, Christopher Cheong, had also received the same award five years ago.
Togetherness and human connection
Though absent in person due to being on an exchange programme, Distinction award recipient for Performing Arts Student Leader of the Year, Lim Kai Ling (Year 3, College of Humanities and Sciences) still managed to find her way ‘on stage’ not just once, but twice – thanks to the efforts of her teammates from NUS Arts Production Crew (NAPC). In good humour, they created a life-sized standee of her and used it to great effect to accept the award on her behalf, along with the NAPC’s Arts Group of the Year Distinction award.
Visit this page to find out more about the NAA and to view the full list of this year’s recipients.
By Dr Leong Sai Mun, Asst Prof (Research) from the Dept of Pathology and Primary Member at the Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS
Currently, Singapore relies heavily on natural gas, which accounts for 95 per cent of its energy needs, highlighting the critical need for diversification into renewable sources. According to the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore, solar energy has the potential to meet approximately 17 per cent of the nation’s electricity demand. Singapore’s Green Plan is ambitiously targeting a six-fold increase in its solar electricity capacity, aiming to achieve 2 Gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar electricity by 2030, up from the current 300.3 Megawatt-peak (MWp) in its commitment to addressing climate change, and towards safeguarding the nation’s energy security.
This focus on solar energy is driven by key challenges that include limited land availability for ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and Singapore’s constraints on wind and nuclear energy options, making solar energy a pivotal component of its renewable energy strategy. The growth of solar PV installations in Singapore will be significant, with plans to reach a capacity of 6 GWp through the utilisation of rooftops and floating PV systems.
In our recent study, published in Applied Energyin August 2024, we employed systems thinking and system dynamics (ST&SD) modelling methodology to evaluate Singapore’s aspiring solar energy capacity targets, carbon emission savings, and the overall energy mix.
Understanding energy systems through a system dynamics approach
ST&SD is a methodology designed to understand the holistic behaviour of complex systems over time. It encompasses several key stages/processes: problem structuring, which involves identifying and framing the problem within the system’s context; causal loop modelling, which creates a qualitative model to show feedback loops and causal relationships; dynamic modelling, which develops stock and flow diagrams as quantitative models for formulation and simulation to generate system behaviour under various scenarios; scenario planning and modelling, which explores different future scenarios and their potential impacts; and implementation and organisational learning, which applies insights from modelling to real-world situations and fosters a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. This methodology is a powerful tool for tackling complex problems by providing a structured approach to understanding and influencing system behaviour over time.
Adopting this systems approach, we considered four main subsystems to include in the model for formulation and quantification, namely installation of PV panels, cost of solar electricity, carbon emission savings, and energy demand. The base model simulations focused on key variables affecting solar electricity capacity, including comparing peak solar capacity with the government’s expected peak capacity, the share of solar electricity in Singapore’s national grid, and net carbon emission savings. Policy simulations and evaluations were conducted by appending the base model with other policy scenarios, such as area and utilisation factors for PV installations, as well as subsidies and panel efficiency. Simulations were performed on these policies individually and in combination to provide a comprehensive analysis of their impacts.
Meeting our solar energy targets ahead of schedule
According to projections by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore, the share of solar energy in the national grid is expected to be between 2 to 6 per cent in 2030 and 3.5 to 8 per cent in 2040, with carbon emission savings of 0.5 to 1.4 million tonnes per annum in 2030 and 0.8 to 2.1 million tonnes per annum in 2040. Our simulations and policy scenarios align with these projections, showing that the share of solar energy could reach 3.9 per cent in 2030 and 5.1 per cent in 2040, with annual net carbon emission savings of 1.1 million tonnes in 2030 and 2 million tonnes in 2040. These results indicate that Singapore is on track to meet its solar capacity target of 2 GWp by 2030, potentially even earlier by 2028.
Based on the results of our study, we recommend for Singapore to aim for an 8 percent share of total electricity generation by 2040 to effectively implement Green Plan policies such as enhanced land use efficiency, subsidies, and improved solar panel efficiency. Additionally, Singapore needs to explore additional alternative energy sources to meet its growing energy demand and net-zero targets while ensuring energy security.
The ST&SD methodology discussed here can complement existing initiatives and policies by various agencies, stakeholders and the government in planning long-term energy security solutions for a land-scarce country like Singapore. These efforts will be crucial for securing an environmentally friendly energy mix and deployment in Singapore’s context.
This study was developed as part of a semester-long undergraduate research project under the UTC2704 Projects in Systems course offered at Residential College 4. In this senior seminar, each student under supervision will apply ST&SD methodologies and skills to simulate and understand complex issues, including those related to energy systems, such as sustainable energy, renewable energy, and carbon emissions.
About the author
Dr Bellam Sreenivasulu is a Senior Lecturer and Resident Fellow at Residential College 4. He teaches systems thinking and system dynamics courses and supervise students in relation to energy systems and related issues on sustainable energy production, energy supply and demand, energy security, and carbon emissions. Dr Bellam is passionate about designing and implementing effective, impactful, interdisciplinary, student‐centred pedagogy to enhance students' critical and systems thinking skills.
A book edited by Assistant Professor Sreeja Nair from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Dr Navarun Varma, Senior Lecturer from Residential College 4, titled “Emerging Pedagogies for Policy Education: Insights from Asia", has been recognised as the 2024 Outstanding Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Book Award Winner by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The NUS team received the prestigious prize at the NASPAA’s Annual Conference which took place from 23 to 25 October 2024 in Washington DC.
The 13-chapter, 254-page collection is the culmination of effort and academic excellence by 22 authors, who are active in both policy research and design or teaching of policy-oriented courses. These authors, who have worked or are currently working for Asian universities and institutions of higher education, include Professor Nancy Gleason, Professor Robert Wasson, Associate Professor Lakshminarayanan Samavedham, Ms Yong Bee Choon, Dr Lynette Tan and Dr Naviyn Prabhu Balakrishnan.
Presented in two parts, the book highlights key trends driving changes in policy education and presents a variety of pedagogies (or teaching methods) aimed at equipping educators and policy designers to have a greater impact on learning and policy practice. It also brings to the table an Asian perspective in this field, drawing on the authors' experiences in teaching students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as in professional programmes such as executive education, training, and capacity building for mid-career professionals and practitioners across selected universities in Asia.
"When I first shared my vision for a book that merges pedagogy and content for a more interdisciplinary approach to the teaching and learning of policy studies, I faced scepticism. Some advised me to keep pedagogy and content as separate pursuits. However, courses at the NUS Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology sparked my interest in pedagogical content knowledge and enabled me to pursue this vision," said Senior Lecturer Dr Varma, who also shared that this recognition from NASPAA has motivated him to further develop their learning community, the ‘Design Principles for Impact-driven Policy Education’ at NUS.
“Winning an award from NASPAA, a premier global accreditation body for public service education is a recognition of the rise of policy education in Asia” said Asst Prof Nair. “Curating this volume has been a rewarding journey, transforming a project borne out of sheer curiosity into a long-term research agenda,” she added.
The launch of the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP) is a significant advancement for Singapore’s deep tech ecosystem. Set to launch in January 2025, National GRIP aims to train up to 300 start-up teams by 2028 and foster over 150 spin-offs by 2030, backed by a commitment of S$50 million in financial and in-kind support over five years. This collaborative effort between the National Research Foundation (NRF), NUS and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of NRF, Mr Heng Swee Keat at the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Deep Tech Day, on the second day of the Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology (SWITCH) on 29 October 2024.
National GRIP integrates two successful incubator programmes—NUS’ Graduate Research Innovation Programme 2.0 (NUS GRIP 2.0) and NTU’s Lean Launchpad (LLP 2.0). Together, these programmes have successfully incubated over 400 start-up teams, creating close to 160 spin-offs. The new programme will be a comprehensive incubator programme designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and market application. It will support start-up teams by helping them refine their initial ideas, validate market needs, and design robust business models through a structured programme framework. Participants will also benefit from personalised mentorship from industry leaders and access to a network of experts.
Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Ecosystem Building) at NUS Enterprise said, “We are pleased to partner with NTU in launching the National GRIP initiative with the support of NRF. This initiative integrates the two leading programmes to further mature our deep tech start-up ecosystem in Singapore, equipping teams with essential building blocks from idea validation to market readiness. By integrating the best practices and insights from our individual programmes, we are confident that National GRIP will accelerate growth of globally competitive deep tech start-ups by providing a well-structured end-to-end support that closely aligns with our nation’s RIE strategic plans.”
Accelerating start-ups' growth and success
Designed for founders, innovators, and researchers from Singapore’s autonomous universities (AUs) and A*STAR research institutes (RIs), the 12-month programme offers access to a dynamic network of resources. They can leverage intellectual property from AUs, and A*STAR RIs have the opportunity to join existing teams in NUS GRIP 2.0 and LLP 2.0. With this extensive pool of resources, National GRIP fosters deep tech venture creation that draws on each institution’s distinctive strengths.
As a platform that aggregates a critical mass of deep tech start-ups, teams can be effectively matched with suitable investors and vice versa. National GRIP will deepen partnerships with deep tech venture capitalists (VCs) and venture builders, such as current NUS GRIP 2.0 strategic partners Legend Capital, SOSV Investments LLC and Vertex Holdings, by involving them early in the programme to provide stronger commercial insights to the teams. These partners help to support start-ups by increasing their investment readiness and access to specialised markets and deepening their industry expertise.
Additionally, there are plans to leverage the VCs’ networks to attract experienced founders who can team up with the start-up teams as co-founders, advisors or collaborators to accelerate the start-ups’ growth. To help start-ups scale and expand internationally, National GRIP will also act as a springboard for start-ups to go beyond local connections, leveraging the global network of NUS BLOCK71.
Dr Wen Hsieh, Founding Managing Partner, Matter Venture Partners, another strategic partner of NUS’ GRIP 2.0, said, “National GRIP is very timely in its launch. Deep tech innovations are playing critical roles in the rapid advancement of semiconductors, electronics, robotics, AI, manufacturing, energy infrastructure, space tech, and life sciences. National GRIP streamlines the creation of deep tech start-ups in Singapore, enabling them to hone their business plans, build founding teams, raise seed financing, and formulate collaboration strategies with industry players.” National GRIP offers venture capital firms opportunities to partner and support these start-ups, thus not only enhancing the success rate of local deep tech start-ups but also attracting deep tech entrepreneurs and talent from beyond Singapore. It’s a privilege for my firm and I to be closely associated with the GRIP community," he added.
Many aspiring start-ups and founders among NUS GRIP 2.0 alumni
NUS GRIP 2.0 has supported researchers and entrepreneurs in transforming university research into market-ready innovations. Since its inception in 2018, NUS GRIP 2.0 has nurtured nearly 170 start-up teams, with around 100 successfully evolving into spin-offs, collectively raising almost S$65 million in external funding.
Among the start-ups is Kit Yong, Founder of Forte Biotech and former NUS GRIP 2.0 participant, who was also recognised in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2024. Sharing his perspectives on the programme’s potential, Kit said that the combined cachet of National GRIP, alongside the 'Made in Singapore' brand, lends significant weight and visibility to start-ups, especially when expanding their venture in overseas markets. He added that it is easier to make an impact together when Singaporean brands band together and venture overseas.
When asked what advice he would offer aspiring start-ups, Kit highlighted the importance of achieving product-market fit. “Developing technology just for the sake of it isn’t sufficient. It’s crucial to align with market demands and ensure the product has a meaningful purpose.”
As National GRIP gears up for its launch next year, Singapore’s start-up ecosystem is set for further growth, advancing the nation’s role as a leader in deep tech innovation and entrepreneurship. For more information on how to participate, prospective founders and teams can visit the National GRIP website.
By Adj Assoc Prof Jeremy Lim, from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS and Koh Lin Pin, an incoming student at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS
An elderly woman sits in her wheelchair, eagerly awaiting her son’s weekly visit. But the man who walks through the door with a bouquet of flowers is a stranger to her, and instead of welcoming him, she cries out for her caregiver to send him away.
After the man tries and fails to convince her that he is indeed her son, the caregiver suggests playing some music to awaken his mother’s memories and bring her mind back to reality, knowing that she used to be a passionate opera singer. Upon hearing a familiar tune, the old woman’s fear melts away and she shares a brief, precious moment of singing and playing music with her son like they used to. All too soon, the moment passes and she retreats into her own world again, but her son is filled with gratitude for the experience, as fleeting as it was.
This is a scene from the opera Losing Lily, which had its world premiere on 15 and 16 October 2024, the culmination of a four-year long project about dementia and music, titled LILY, that comprises Losing Lily and a documentary called A Day A Lily. The project is based on the personal experiences of initiator and co-creator Dr Wong Su Sun and scientific research into the link between music and memory.
While the scene is fictional, the experience of being repeatedly forgotten by someone who should know them well will be familiar to many Singaporeans who have a loved one with dementia. What is perhaps less common is the knowledge that music has a remarkable power to unlock memories and bring moments of joy to people with dementia.
The project aims to raise social awareness of dementia and the use of music to help patients cope with the disease. Research into music interventions for health and well-being is a growing field that is studied in NUS at the Centre for Music and Health (CMH) in the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST).
Raising awareness through opera
Dementia has been poorly understood for many years, but with Singapore’s rapidly ageing population, it is becoming a social issue that cannot be ignored. About 1 in 11 people aged 60 and above in Singapore today have dementia, and the total number of people with dementia is projected to reach 152,000 in 2030.
The LILY project uses opera and documentary film to bring emotion into what could otherwise be a dull discussion of the medical condition while highlighting the evidence-backed use of music interventions.
Dr Wong, an opera singer and vocal pedagogue, initiated the project in 2020 to give a voice to those who are suffering silently, drawing from her personal experience of having served as caregiver to her parents and grandmother through illness.
“Each of the three characters in the opera, to a certain extent, is a reflection of my own life as a singer and teacher, daughter, and caregiver,” she shared. “I find it particularly healing that each character has moments of soliloquy where their innermost thoughts are expressed and heard by the audience.”
The collaborative project was an extensive process involving composing and scriptwriting, consulting researchers and examining existing portrayals of dementia, and engaging with YST staff and student musicians to bring the opera to life. The documentary A Day A Lily was first publicly screened in 2022 at the National Museum of Singapore, and the opera Losing Lily took another two years to create and stage, with the premiere taking place at the NUS University Cultural Centre.
At the premiere, the audience first watched the documentary, which interlaces an early version of the narrative with interviews of people living with dementia, their family members, and medical professionals. Then, the opera was performed live, illustrating what it is like to live with dementia through the characters of an opera singer, her son, and her caregiver.
Said Associate Professor Chen Zhangyi, who composed the opera with playwright Jean Tay: “Everything comes together in this work as a multidisciplinary art form, a perfect example of the interdisciplinary connections that we are trying to achieve in NUS.”
The healing power of music
The scene of Lily and her son connecting through a song is an example of how music can facilitate memory recall or reminiscences, which can improve patients’ moods and reconnect them with their loved ones.
Said Assistant Professor Kat Agres, founder and director of the Centre for Music and Health (CMH): “It is widely recognised that music has this amazing power to help unlock memories in dementia patients. It's not pure magic and it doesn't work in every case, but it can be very effective and be a wonderful way to help connect the patient with their past.”
At CMH, multiple studies are ongoing to explore the possibilities of using music as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological, and accessible treatment method for a variety of health issues in three main areas of mental health, youth and student well-being, and healthy ageing and community wellness.
One programme, Movin’ and Groovin’ for Wellness, is studying the impact of group activities – specifically dancing, drumming, and improvisation – on supporting mental health, facilitating social connections, and fostering creative expression. A 10-week randomised controlled trial with NUS students found positive results in all three aspects, supporting the use of such activities to promote youth and student well-being.
Other ongoing projects under the pillar for healthy ageing and community wellness include Sing Out Loud, a collaboration with the Esplanade to explore the effectiveness of regular group singing on decreasing behavioural agitation and improving quality of life for patients with dementia.
Even as research uncovers new insights into the power of music as a health intervention, artworks like LILY are equally important in disseminating knowledge about important health topics, Dr Agres said.
“It's one thing to say, ‘As dementia progresses in the patient, there will be an increase in behavioural symptoms and agitation.’ It's another thing to see it unfolding in front of your eyes – to witness how complex it is, and how difficult it may feel for the family and the patient.”
While there are no immediate plans for more presentations of LILY, the team has already received expressions of interest to collaborate on staging the opera for more audiences in Singapore and overseas, and they are open to discussing ways to extend the project’s impact.
Dr Wong hopes that the opera will become a platform to foster greater understanding and support for people living with dementia – for example, smaller-scale stagings or community performance workshops could encourage people to put themselves in the characters’ shoes and experience the patience and communication skills needed when interacting with people who have dementia. She also hopes to add a chorus to the opera representing the roles of bystanders in society, to show how the public can move from empathising with patients and their loved ones to actively contributing to an inclusive ecosystem.
“This opera shows you what’s ahead, how you could end up, and how you would expect people to treat you when you are in the shoes of any of the characters,” she said. “It is a call for not only empathy, but also greater understanding and engagement from the community.”
A recent survey found that nearly 40 per cent of respondents in Singapore have pre-diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Pre-diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are elevated, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes, serving as a crucial early warning[1].
Without lifestyle changes, at least 35 per cent of persons with pre-diabetes in Singapore will progress to T2D over eight years. In the survey, respondents with pre-diabetes were significantly older, more likely to be male, and had higher body mass index (BMI) than those without diabetes.
These were the findings from a partnership study between the NUS Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR) and Diabetes Singapore which were published in the “Diabetes Perception” report that was launched today.
The survey was carried out at different health screening events between June and October 2024 which saw almost 1,000 participants responding to the survey. It sought to, among other objectives, understand public perceptions and assess awareness levels of diabetes in Singapore, as well as to engage healthcare providers, policymakers, individuals with diabetes and the wider community in dialogue on improving diabetes care and management.
Many individuals unaware of their diabetes status
When asked if they had diabetes, almost half of the respondents who believed they had no diabetes were found to have either pre-diabetes (41.6 per cent) or diabetes (5.9 per cent). Among those unsure about their diabetes status, more than half had abnormal blood sugar levels; nearly 40 per cent had pre-diabetes, and over 10 per cent had diabetes.
More concerningly, fewer than half of those who actually had diabetes (64 out of 137 of surveyed participants) were aware of their condition. Among those with pre-diabetes, nearly 70 per cent believed they did not have diabetes. These findings reflect a worrying gap between people’s perceptions and their actual health condition.
Professor Leonard Lee, Director of IPUR, said, “The findings of the study highlight existing gaps in awareness and knowledge, and underscore the importance of going for regular health screenings. We see that many people are unaware of their blood glucose levels and therefore do not take any action or make lifestyle changes to manage their health. This is especially important for people with pre-diabetes who are more at risk of getting diabetes.”
Mr Satyaprakash Tiwari, Director of Diabetes Singapore, commented, “The partnership between Diabetes Singapore and IPUR has given us valuable information on the greatest needs of local communities regarding diabetes mitigation. The study has demonstrated that prevention should come before reaction – people need to go for regular screenings in order to better care for their health and reduce their vulnerability to diabetes.”
To further this partnership, IPUR and Diabetes SG plan to collaborate on developing and testing interventions and risk communication strategies aimed at improving diabetes management in Singapore. This new initiative will build on prior research led by IPUR which suggests that cultivating a growth mindset may foster greater motivation for better care and treatment of this chronic disease.
The full Diabetes Perception report can be found here.
[1] Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing, used in the survey, measures a person’s average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Results between 5.7 per cent and 6.4 per cent indicate pre-diabetes, while a level below 5.7 per cent is normal, and 6.5 per cent or higher classifies a person as having diabetes.
NUS was the winner in Line of Business Transformation category at the SAP Customer Excellence Awards for Southeast Asia 2024 held in July 2024. The Awards acknowledged and showcased a total of 31 organisations in seven award categories – for their forward-thinking approaches and disruptive use of technology, that have set new industry standards and enhanced operational efficiency globally.
The NUS Central Procurement Office (CPO) team embarked on a transformation process to enhance the University’s procurement capabilities by leveraging SAP Ariba to complement its existing use of SAP S/4 HANA. This has streamlined the procurement process, leading to shorter cycle times, improved search experience of procurement catalogues and a simplified supplier onboarding experience.
"Transformation is the key to staying ahead in a constantly evolving landscape. Whether through digital innovation or broader business shifts, it drives agility, enhances efficiency and opens the door to new growth opportunities. Embracing change is how we build a more resilient and future-ready organisation," said Mr Pang Chong Ning, Chief Procurement Officer at NUS.
As she stood on stage to explain how fishing lines were impacting the corals in Singapore, Denise Ann McIntyre, then a Year 2 Life Sciences undergraduate, tried not to let her nervousness show. Seated in front of her were delegates at the 6th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, who included aspiring student researchers, prominent scientists, policymakers, conservationists and industry representatives.
“It was nerve-wracking,” Denise, now a Year 4 undergraduate, recounts her experience at the conference held in Penang in July 2023. But she powered through and won the Best Presenter Award, a category open to undergraduate, Master's, and PhD students.
Her conference paper discussed results from her research project focusing on how fishing lines—a form of plastic waste— affected corals and the organisms that depend on them. As a diver involved in conservation work before she enrolled in NUS, the 33-year-old was very keen to understand the impact of plastic on corals and coral-reef organisms.
“When I started the project, there were only three or four papers – and these were on one specific type of coral, (rather than) reef organisms broadly,” recalled Denise.
Under the supervision of Dr Zeehan Jaafar, Senior Lecturer and Assistant Head of Department at the Department of Biological Sciences at NUS, Denise conducted surveys from July 2022 to May 2023. She recorded how 197 fishing lines over 10 survey sites affected 11 coral genera, a category of classification in biology, and came up with an impact scale – ranging from “least impactful”, such as when lines landed on the corals, to “most impactful”, indicating that the organisms died.
Her presentation garnered much interest from fellow conference attendees.
“I met people who were open to collaborating to continue the research in Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand,” Denise added.
A boost to research learning
Her experience was made possible by a grant from NUS’ Research Experience (REx) programme. Launched in 2023 to hone students’ research skills, REx is a course upgrade for students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP).
During the year-long REx programme, students assist a professor in their research as part of the UROP, and receive a grant – S$2,500 for individual projects, and S$5,000 for group ones.
The grant defrays research costs. Besides funding her conference trip, it allowed Denise to purchase better lighting equipment for underwater photography, which can be a struggle in Singapore waters notorious for their poor visibility.
More than 70 students have benefitted from the programme thus far, participating in research projects ranging from preventive healthcare and sustainability, to how bilingual people process sentences. Nearly S$200,000 in grants have been disbursed to the student researchers, according to the programme’s Year in Review 2024 report published in August.
Students on the programme, known as REx fellows, also attend five interfaculty workshops: two core modules on Ethics in Research and Research Methodologies, and three from a list that includes topics such as data storytelling, research tools using artificial intelligence, and career prospects in research. There are also optional REx-STEER (Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment) excursions to other Asian countries, such as Vietnam, where the first trip was held in July 2023.
The programme concludes with a research showcase, where students present their findings via media such as documentaries, research papers, and posters.
“Research is more than working in a lab or conducting interviews to collect data,” said Associate Professor Daniel Goh, NUS’ Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education. “We want undergraduates to not only assist professors in research projects, but also experience the complete research journey from conceptualisation and proposal to presenting and publishing their findings. Through REx, we hope to bring experiential learning to revitalise the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme.”
Wayne Sing, a Communications and New Media and NUS College undergraduate, had the rare opportunity to learn from researchers with a common purpose of exploring how technology can advance health communication at the 2024 International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) conference held in New Zealand.
Going beyond the classroom
Another REx fellow is Year 4 student Wayne Sing, 25. The Communications and New Media and NUS College undergraduate used the grant to attend the 2024 International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he spoke at a panel and presented his research.
Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr Renwen Zhang from the Department of Communications and New Media at NUS, Wayne worked on an interdisciplinary project about how artificial intelligence (AI) can support social workers in their administrative and frontline work. The project is a collaboration with Assistant Professor Dr Yi-Chieh Lee from the School of Computing.
Wayne conducted focus group sessions and participatory design workshops with social workers and directors from two social service agencies in Singapore to understand their attitudes toward Generative AI in their work practices, alongside Yugin Tan, a graduate student from Computing who developed an AI chatbot for social workers.
He found that for AI to be effective, the bots would have to be an extension of the social workers – but ultimately should not replace them. “What struck me was that they were quite open to the idea of AI as a tool to enhance their work,” he said. The counsellors, he noted, had cited AI’s potential to speed up administrative tasks and gather insights from case notes, freeing up time for them to engage with their clients and focus on the emotional aspects of the job.
Being involved in the project underscored for him the iterative process of research – which evolves with knowledge gained from further inquiry – and the value of collaborating across disciplines to develop solutions to real-world issues. Through the REx workshops, he learnt about the career journey of an academic and how to optimise searches while conducting online research.
Attending the conference and observing the community of researchers who both present and learn from each other was another eye-opening experience. “What they all wanted to do was collectively explore how technology can advance health communication…Learning more about this shared purpose that they have was quite inspiring,” he recalled.
“(The conference) was a unique opportunity I would never have had without the project. I am grateful that at an undergraduate level, we can directly contribute to research,” Wayne added.
Having gained a taste of research life, Wayne is now considering pursuing graduate studies on AI in health communications. Meanwhile, Denise, who honed her data-handling and science-communication skills under the programme, plans to head to a coastal village in Bali to take part in conservation efforts.
The survey, which was conducted by the Office of the Provost and the Centre for Future-ready Graduates, also found that more than 60 per cent of students felt that research learning would help them decide which industry or job to pursue after graduation.
“Participating in research as a student provides real-world experience in the field, guided by an engaged and knowledgeable supervisor,” said Denise. “It also makes a strong addition to your resume, especially if you're considering research as a future career path.”
Singapore is prepared to facilitate Asia’s transition to a low-carbon future. But Singapore cannot do this alone, it will work with like-minded partners. This was a point underscored by Mr Ravi Menon (Arts and Social Sciences ‘87), Singapore’s first Ambassador for Climate Action and member of NUS Board of Trustees, at the inaugural NUS Environmental Management Leadership Lecture (EMLL), on 14 September 2024.
Highlighting the urgency of preparing for a climate-impaired world, Mr Menon noted that climate-related disasters in 2022 affected over 52 million people and led to US$36 billion worth of damages.
At the same time, decarbonisation efforts are also on the rise in many countries.
“Global momentum on climate action is picking up because people are beginning to see what is happening,” he added, emphasising that the world will continue to face the dual realities of being climate-impaired while striving for low carbon emissions.
Mr Menon addressed over 150 NUS students, alumni, staff and industry partners at the lecture titled “Preparing for a Low-Carbon and Climate-Impaired World” which kickstarted the Highlight edition of this year’s NUS Sustainability CONNECT. He is also Chairman of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) Asia-Pacific Advisory Board and a member of the GFANZ Principals Group.
Organised by the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education under the Master of Science (Environmental Management) programme, the annual EMLL series aims to facilitate interdisciplinary discussion about key issues and new developments in environmental management. Themed “Transformative Leadership in Climate Action: Navigating Challenges, Harnessing Innovation”, the series explores the role of transformative leadership as the driving force behind successful environmental management efforts, providing insights on how visionary and innovative leaders overcome obstacles and leverage new technologies to create a sustainable future.
Singapore’s triple transition to thrive in a low-carbon world
Singapore aims to achieve its long-term net-zero emissions aspiration by 2050, with intermediate targets across sectors as outlined in the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Referring to the changes as “complex and not easy, but necessary”, Mr Menon highlighted that the first change is a carbon transition which involves reducing our primary emissions to net-zero across sectors including industry, transport, and households.
Next is the energy transition which entails progressively decarbonising Singapore’s electricity grid while ensuring that it remains resilient. This requires striking a balance across energy security, affordability and sustainability. While Singapore’s unique geographical constraints make it difficult to harness certain forms of renewable energy, the nation can tap on the “four switches” to progressively decarbonise the grid – namely natural gas, solar, electricity imports from regional power grids, and low-carbon alternatives.
Mr Menon also noted that nuclear energy is another energy source the government has been looking at. However, he cautioned that there must first be public acceptance and adequate safety measures.
Lastly, an economic transition will also be necessary. He urged participants to “grow the green and green the brown”, referring to how Singapore must grasp green growth opportunities, transform carbon-intensive sectors, and turn being low-carbon into a competitive advantage.
To prepare for a climate-impaired world, Singapore must not only strive to reduce our emissions but also adapt to the direct impacts of climate change and its potential knock-on effects. Singapore has started implementing various measures to strengthen coastal protection, flood resilience, heat resilience, and food security. The government is also conducting in-depth studies to plan ahead and develop solutions in these areas.
“It will take a whole-of-nation effort,” he said. Significant scientific and technological advances will be necessary – which is where universities and academics can contribute – but individuals and communities must do their part too, he added.
Leading the way in transiting to a low-carbon future
Climate action must go beyond our borders, noted Mr Menon, with a nod to the ASEAN Power Grid initiative that is currently underway.
Having a system of cross-border power connections will allow renewable energy from typically remote generation sites to reach population centres across the region. This will spur decarbonisation in the region and enable the free trade of clean energy.
The city state can also drive green efforts in the region through blended finance, where governments invest in climate projects to reduce risk and make it easier for private entities to invest. Under the Financing Asia’s Transition Partnerships initiative, Singapore aims to raise US$5 billion with international partners to finance the effort to decarbonise the region.
The lecture was capped by an engaging Question-and-Answer segment that was facilitated by Professor Benjamin Cashore, Li Ka Shing Professor in Public Management and Director at the Institute for Environment and Sustainability.
During the segment, Mr Menon fielded questions about green finance and the need for a just transition in Asia, where countries should not have to forgo development for the sake of decarbonisation.
Noting that climate change is a “classic problem of collective failure”, he emphasised the need for collaboration to resolve the issue.
“There isn’t going to be one global leader that will solve the climate problem. We should look at where we can seize leadership at various levels,” he said. One way to exercise leadership in science and technology is by pivoting resources and capabilities towards developing climate solutions. In finance, financial institutions can exercise leadership through working with clients and customers to channel finances to activities that reduce emissions.
While strong government support is needed, it is only possible if it is supported by the rest of society. Community efforts and collective individual actions can signal demand for greener products and support for decarbonisation. “No one acting alone can solve the problem…we need collective action,” he concluded.
“As you step into the world, may you step out to lead with purpose, with integrity, with compassion, not just for your career but for the greater good.”
This was the clarion call sounded by Ms Denise Phua, Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC and Mayor for Central Singapore District, to a 100-strong audience at a recent talk where she shared insights on career transitions and effective leadership.
Titled “Lessons from a Leadership Journey into the Private, Public and People Sector”, the session at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House kicked off the new FASS Distinguished Speaker Series that was launched by the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) in celebration of the Faculty’s 95th anniversary. The series aims to inspire FASS students to excellence by showcasing alumni and their achievements.
The inaugural session, moderated by Professor Lionel Wee, Dean of FASS, was also attended by FASS staff and faculty.
Developing a leadership toolkit and other leadership goals
Ms Phua, who worked in the corporate, people (or social) and public sectors noted some differences in work culture and performance measurements in each of these sectors.
Performance in the private sector is typically measured in financial terms and is quantified with metrics such as market share, revenue growth, and shareholder values. The social sector values qualitative outcomes, with the focus shifting to doing good, creating societal impact, and accountability to beneficiaries, while the public sector operates within the frame of public service, governance, and accountability to the broader society.
Whichever sector one is in, it is essential to build a leadership toolkit comprising the four skills — personal mastery, interpersonal leadership, supervisory leadership and organisational leadership — in order to chart a meaningful and successful career path.
Ms Phua also emphasised the importance of having diverse experiences to remain relevant, and venturing outside one’s comfort zone in a dynamic environment to keep this toolkit updated. Citing Pope Francis, who told Singaporean youths in a recent dialogue that a young person who stays in his own comfort becomes “fat”, she urged young people to continually add skills to their toolkit and to go out there to take risks.
In her experience, having a purpose is also key as it helps to keep one’s eye on the bigger picture and the important goals to work towards. She explained, “Having a clear purpose guides our decisions and keeps us focused on what truly matters. For me personally, my faith helps to anchor me.”
Be fearless in the unknown
Another topic Ms Phua delved into was fear, something she learnt to overcome whenever she was thrust into unfamiliar situations and environments – whether it was having to work overseas with people of different backgrounds and cultures in China and the US, or having to establish new work processes or systems from scratch.
Sharing about her stint as a waitress in Palo Alto, driving alone in her twenties in the wilderness between small American towns for work, and working with people of vastly different cultures, accents and habits from her own, Ms Phua revealed that these intimidating early experiences eventually helped her overcome her fear of trying new things.
Raising a son with autism further bolstered her courage to pioneer new initiatives and projects, particularly in the area of advocacy and support for those with special needs. Stemming from a desire to create a more inclusive society where everyone can thrive, Ms Phua has made trailblazing contributions to the special needs advocacy space, which include the co-founding of Pathlight School – Singapore’s first school that offers mainstream education for autistic children, The Purple Parade – a national platform that celebrates the abilities of persons with special needs, and The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra set up by her and her team at the Central Singapore District Community Development Council (CDC).
She shared, “[Having the technical skills and soft skills] were really important for me in the private, people and public sector, but what was more significant was scaling the challenges I faced and overcoming the fears I had.”
As a leader, Ms Phua stressed that it is also essential to find a “tribe” and surround oneself with like-minded people who share the same values, passions or vision, and who are able to challenge one another, as the success of any project is never dependent on a single individual. This is how she managed to ideate and execute the many initiatives across the three sectors she has been involved in.
Beyond building careers to serving society
Ms Phua’s candid and personal sharing was followed by questions from students about how to choose career pathways, to make meaningful change in the community and tackle evolving social challenges in society.
Responding to a question on how she found her calling in the special needs advocacy space, Ms Phua shared that she did not identify it through any conventional career or personality quizzes. For her, she felt called to the special needs space in a rather dramatic fashion, after “God gave [her] a child who didn’t speak nor socialise at three, like other typical children.”
Referencing some of the other community initiatives and assistance schemes launched during her time as Mayor of the Central Singapore District, such as the ‘Weekly Nurture’ problem-solving and communications classes and the ‘Ready for School’ financial assistance scheme for children from low-income families, another student asked what Ms Phua considered key ingredients for success in these community projects.
Her response was simple – find the gaps, think of ways to make a difference, and then start tapping on one’s network of resources to implement solutions.
“When looking at physical wellness for seniors for example, I will ask what physical wellness means to them. Together with my team, we then brainstorm, come up with programmes, such as our CDC’s ‘Silver Homes’ and then look for resources to fund them,” she added.
When asked more broadly how Singapore can address societal issues such as an ageing population and growing income disparity, Ms Phua observed that Singapore has become more complex in many ways since 2006 when she first entered politics, making tackling such issues more challenging. However, she encouraged students to look beyond their “pet passions” and serve in areas in society that have the most need, and to stay mission-focused to continue effecting real change.
She cited the ‘power of one’. “If each of us is determined to bless other people with what we have…whether it’s our talent, our gift, our networks, then organisations, nations and societies will all be for the better,” said Ms Phua.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) will be taking a significant leap forward in synthetic biology, leveraging its deep expertise and cutting-edge innovations to usher a new paradigm for green manufacturing, driven by this rapidly evolving field. Over the next six years, the University plans to dedicate substantial resources and efforts – estimated to value around S$120 million - to firmly establish synthetic biology as a foundational pillar of NUS’ innovation ecosystem, driving transformative benefits for Singapore across multiple sectors.
Traditionally, manufacturing is heavily dependent on petrochemicals, a major contributor to the climate crisis. However, synthetic biology (SynBio), enablingthe design and engineering of biological ‘factories’ to create more efficient, sustainable processes and products, is emerging as a game-changer in driving the chemical industry towards a greener future. This groundbreaking approach has the potential to significantly reduce environmental impact, paving the way for greater sustainability across diverse sectors, including food, textiles, flavours, and fuels. This shift promises widespread positive effects, reshaping industries and advancing the global effort to combat climate change.
“NUS is charging ahead, pioneering efforts to strengthen and expand the University’s synthetic biology ecosystem, positioning Singapore at the forefront of tackling global challenges such as food security, energy resilience, and sustainable development. We are deeply committed to surpassing previous accomplishments and achieving new heights of excellence in synthetic biology,” said Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology).
She added, “A vibrant synthetic biology ecosystem in NUS and Singapore will foster new industry partnerships, cultivate a highly skilled workforce and inspire a wave of innovative startups. Together, these developments are poised to boost Singapore’s economic growth.”
Associate Professor Matthew Chang, Director of SynCTI, said, “Now is the time for synthetic biology to achieve a lasting, transformative impact. Over the past decade, NUS has developed robust capabilities and strategic networks, positioning both NUS and Singapore to seize emerging opportunities in this rapidly advancing field. We are eager to collaborate closely with our academic, research, and industry partners to foster ongoing growth, innovation, and the application of synthetic biology, both locally in Singapore and globally.”
Embarking on new SynBio initiatives
NUS has launched several bold endeavours to realise the vision of a SynBio-driven future:
1. NUS is spearheading the establishment of Singapore’s new national SynBio initiativeto advance Singapore’s biomanufacturing sector. This initiative will foster a whole-of-nation effort to galvanise the potential of SynBio in advancing green manufacturing practices. Participating academic institutes include the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Institute of Technology, Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic. The research institutes involved are the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, the National Supercomputing Centre Singapore and AI Singapore. Please refer to Annexe 1 for more information on this initiative.
2. To further augment its research efforts, NUS will collaborate extensively with global leaders in SynBio, with the aim of creating a powerful multiplier effect. Some exciting research collaborations include:
a) Partnering with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) to develop reliable and cost-effective methods for producing safe, nutritious, and delicious foods through SynBio-based precision fermentation;
b) Working with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) to develop efficient cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) cell factories and other microorganisms to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) directly into biomaterials and biofuels; and
c) Teaming up with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)to demonstrate the feasibility of converting green hydrogen and concentrated CO2 into sustainable biofuels.
These joint projects, supported by the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) under the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF), aim to build strategic capabilities in SynBio. Please refer to Annexe 2 for more information on these collaborative programmes.
A decade in the making for the SynBio revolution in Singapore
The creation of NUS’ dynamic SynBio ecosystem started a decade ago with foresight and vision.
SynCTI, which was established in 2014, has played a key role in creating new knowledge and develop foundational technologies in synthetic biology and grooming the next generation of highly skilled researchers equipped with fundamental science and translational research capabilities. SynCTI will commemorate its 10th anniversary with a celebratory event in November 2024.
The formation of SynCTI catalysed the setting up of the Singapore Consortium for Synthetic Biology (SINERGY) to consolidate Singapore’s capabilities in synthetic biology and harness synergies across industry sectors to create a vibrant and globally connected bio-based economy in Singapore. SINERGY is supported by the National Research Foundation and is currently hosted under Consortium Management Office, A*STAR. Today, SINERGY has nine academic partners and 27 industry partners, working hand in hand to unlock Singapore’s bio-potential.
Another key component of NUS’ SynBio ecosystem is the WIL@NUS Corporate Laboratory, a research partnership between NUS and Wilmar International Limited to demonstrate the translation of academic SynBio research through collaboration with the industry.
Set up in June 2018 and hosted at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the WIL@NUS Corporate Laboratory leverages the expertise of Wilmar and NUS to develop sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective bio-based methods for the production of industrial chemicals. This successful academic-industry partnership has led to the development of enzymes and microbes for the biomanufacturing of oleochemicals.
With a strong foundation in place, NUS is strategically positioned to lead in the field of synthetic biology.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) will be taking a significant leap forward in synthetic biology, leveraging its deep expertise and cutting-edge innovations to usher a new paradigm for green manufacturing, driven by this rapidly evolving field. Over the next six years, the University plans to dedicate substantial resources and efforts – estimated to value around S$120 million - to firmly establish synthetic biology as a foundational pillar of NUS’ innovation ecosystem, driving transformative benefits for Singapore across multiple sectors.
Traditionally, manufacturing is heavily dependent on petrochemicals, a major contributor to the climate crisis. However, synthetic biology (SynBio), enablingthe design and engineering of biological ‘factories’ to create more efficient, sustainable processes and products, is emerging as a game-changer in driving the chemical industry towards a greener future. This groundbreaking approach has the potential to significantly reduce environmental impact, paving the way for greater sustainability across diverse sectors, including food, textiles, flavours, and fuels. This shift promises widespread positive effects, reshaping industries and advancing the global effort to combat climate change.
“NUS is charging ahead, pioneering efforts to strengthen and expand the University’s synthetic biology ecosystem, positioning Singapore at the forefront of tackling global challenges such as food security, energy resilience, and sustainable development. We are deeply committed to surpassing previous accomplishments and achieving new heights of excellence in synthetic biology,” said Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology).
She added, “A vibrant synthetic biology ecosystem in NUS and Singapore will foster new industry partnerships, cultivate a highly skilled workforce and inspire a wave of innovative startups. Together, these developments are poised to boost Singapore’s economic growth.”
Associate Professor Matthew Chang, Director of SynCTI, said, “Now is the time for synthetic biology to achieve a lasting, transformative impact. Over the past decade, NUS has developed robust capabilities and strategic networks, positioning both NUS and Singapore to seize emerging opportunities in this rapidly advancing field. We are eager to collaborate closely with our academic, research, and industry partners to foster ongoing growth, innovation, and the application of synthetic biology, both locally in Singapore and globally.”
Embarking on new SynBio initiatives
NUS has launched several bold endeavours to realise the vision of a SynBio-driven future:
1. NUS is spearheading the establishment of Singapore’s new national SynBio initiativeto advance Singapore’s biomanufacturing sector. This initiative will foster a whole-of-nation effort to galvanise the potential of SynBio in advancing green manufacturing practices. Please refer to Annexe 1 for more information on this initiative.
2. To further augment its research efforts, NUS will collaborate extensively with global leaders in SynBio, with the aim of creating a powerful multiplier effect. Some exciting research collaborations include:
a) Partnering with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) to develop reliable and cost-effective methods for producing safe, nutritious, and delicious foods through SynBio-based precision fermentation;
b) Working with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) to develop efficient cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) cell factories and other microorganisms to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) directly into biomaterials and biofuels; and
c) Teaming up with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)to demonstrate the feasibility of converting green hydrogen and concentrated CO2 into sustainable biofuels.
These joint projects, supported by the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) under the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF), aim to build strategic capabilities in SynBio. Please refer to Annexe 2 for more information on these collaborative programmes.
A decade in the making for the SynBio revolution in Singapore
The creation of NUS’ dynamic SynBio ecosystem started a decade ago with foresight and vision.
SynCTI, which was established in 2014, has played a key role in creating new knowledge and develop foundational technologies in synthetic biology and grooming the next generation of highly skilled researchers equipped with fundamental science and translational research capabilities. SynCTI will commemorate its 10th anniversary with a celebratory event in November 2024.
The formation of SynCTI catalysed the setting up of the Singapore Consortium for Synthetic Biology (SINERGY) to consolidate Singapore’s capabilities in synthetic biology and harness synergies across industry sectors to create a vibrant and globally connected bio-based economy in Singapore. SINERGY is supported by the National Research Foundation and is currently hosted under Consortium Management Office, A*STAR. Today, SINERGY has nine academic partners and 27 industry partners, working hand in hand to unlock Singapore’s bio-potential.
Another key component of NUS’ SynBio ecosystem is the WIL@NUS Corporate Laboratory, a research partnership between NUS and Wilmar International Limited to demonstrate the translation of academic SynBio research through collaboration with the industry.
Set up in June 2018 and hosted at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the WIL@NUS Corporate Laboratory leverages the expertise of Wilmar and NUS to develop sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective bio-based methods for the production of industrial chemicals. This successful academic-industry partnership has led to the development of enzymes and microbes for the biomanufacturing of oleochemicals.
With a strong foundation in place, NUS is strategically positioned to lead in the field of synthetic biology.
Applied Materials South East Asia Pte. Ltd. and the National University of Singapore (NUS) are furthering their collaboration to bring advanced semiconductor research capabilities and talent development opportunities to Singapore. Supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) plan, the Applied Materials-NUS Advanced Materials Corporate Lab – established in 2018 and located on the NUS Kent Ridge campus – will be expanded with state-of-the-art semiconductor process equipment in a larger, more advanced cleanroom. In addition, Applied Materials and NUS are collaborating on programmes designed to strengthen Singapore’s talent pipeline.
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of NRF, was the Guest-of-Honour at a ceremony held today at NUS marking the new phase of the Corporate Lab. Guests from the industry, local research ecosystem and government agencies attended the event.
“When NUS and Applied Materials first established the Corporate Lab six years ago, we laid the foundation for a collaboration that has since yielded remarkable success,” said NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye. “Several of the innovations developed here have progressed from the research stage to the scale-up phase, paving the way for real-world applications that can benefit society. We are very excited to embark on a new chapter in our collaboration with Applied Materials to further advance semiconductor science and technology and inspire the next generation of innovators who will push the envelope and break new ground in this significant field.”
“The Advanced Materials Corporate Lab at NUS is a prime example of how industry-academia collaboration can accelerate the discovery and transition of innovations into commercial applications,” said Dr Satheesh Kuppurao, Group Vice President of Business Development and Growth, Semiconductor Products Group at Applied Materials, Inc. “Our joint work has resulted in numerous patents related to chemistry, semiconductor process and hardware design solutions, along with several sponsored scholarships. Applied Materials is excited to build on our success with NUS and bring enhanced semiconductor research and talent development opportunities to Singapore.”
Hosted at the College of Design and Engineering and the Faculty of Science at NUS, the Applied Materials-NUS Advanced Materials Corporate Lab offers world-class, multi-disciplinary R&D capabilities that span applied chemistry, materials science and microelectronics process engineering. The goal of the Corporate Lab is to accelerate discovery of new materials that can be quickly transferred into commercial applications for manufacturing future generations of semiconductors.
The second phase of the Corporate Lab will elevate the well-established microelectronics research capabilities at NUS to new heights by fostering innovation, accelerating the development of cutting-edge technologies and expanding interdisciplinary collaboration. It will include a new cleanroom in NUS with state-of-the-art materials synthesis and characterisation capabilities. Utilising these enhanced capabilities, Applied Materials and NUS will focus on developing industry-scale solutions to complex semiconductor manufacturing challenges, with an emphasis on integrated processes and interface engineering.
Along with the new phase of the Corporate Lab, the Applied Materials Professorship has been established at NUS to attract experts in semiconductors, materials science and other technology fields.In addition, the enhanced capabilities at the Corporate Lab will introduce new educational and talent development opportunities for undergraduates, postgraduates and professionals in the areas of microelectronics, advanced materials and process engineering. This will ensure the University’s sustained academic leadership within these critical fields and contribute to Singapore’s overall economic growth and development.
For Applied Materials, the latest phase of its collaboration with NUS is part of the company’s “Singapore 2030” plan to strengthen its manufacturing capacity, R&D capabilities, technology ecosystem partnerships and workforce development in Singapore.
Educator and food historian Mr Khir Johari, whose work, The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels through the Archipelago (Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2021) profoundly reshapes our understanding of the gastronomy and cultural history of Singapore Malays, has been awarded the 2024 NUS Singapore History Prize. Mr Khir Johari will receive a cash award of S$50,000.
Created in 2014 in support of the national SG50 programme to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence, the NUS Singapore History Prize is awarded to an outstanding publication that has made a lasting impact on our understanding of the history of Singapore, and that is accessible to a wide audience of specialist and non-specialist readers.
A five-member Jury Panel chaired by Mr Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute, selected the winning work from a short list of six works, itself culled from a total of 26 submitted works authored by local and international scholars. The other Jury Panel members are: Emeritus Professor John N. Miksic of the NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies; Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of the Singapore University of Social Sciences; Professor Peter A. Coclanis, Director, Global Research Institute, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and economist Dr Lam San Ling.
The five books that were shortlisted alongside the winning publication are:
Wesley Leon Aroozoo, The Punkhawala and the Prostitute (Singapore: Epigram Books, 2021).
Timothy P. Barnard, ed., Singaporean Creatures: Histories of Humans and Other Animals in the Garden City (Singapore: NUS Press, 2024).
Kevin Blackburn, The Comfort Women of Singapore in History and Memory (Singapore: NUS Press, 2022).
Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan Tiong Hee, Koh Keng We, Tan Teng Phee, and Juria Toramae, Theatres of Memory: Industrial Heritage of 20th Century Singapore (Singapore: Pagesetters Services, 2021).
Lynn Wong Yuqing and Lee Kok Leong, Reviving Qixi: Singapore’s Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival (Singapore: Renforest Publishing, 2022).
Of the five books, the Jury Panel also highlighted two that deserve special commendation and recognition. They are, ranked in order of priority, Reviving Qixi: Singapore’s Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival by Lynn Wong Yuqing and Lee Kok Leong; and Theatres of Memory: Industrial Heritage of 20th Century Singapore by Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan Tiong Hee, Koh Keng We, Tan Teng Phee, and Juria Toramae. The Jury Panel found the two books compelling and riveting: one offers new insights into a forgotten festival celebrated by the Chinese community in Singapore while the other delves into the understudied labour and industrial history of Singapore.
Mr Mahbubani, Chair of the NUS Singapore History Prize Jury Panel, said: “Southeast Asia is a magical place. At a time when many regions are suffering conflict, tension and stagnation, Southeast Asia remains an oasis of peace and prosperity, despite its incredible diversity. Why? The deeper and longer history of the region may explain this. Khir Johari’s book is a deserving winner of the Singapore History Prize because it sheds new light on our history. Few Singaporeans know that over a hundred years ago, Singapore had already emerged as ‘the New York of the Nusantara.’ This book will open their eyes to Singapore’s long and rich involvement with its surrounding region. And it is a truly beautifully produced book that will enchant its readers.”
The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels through the Archipelago
The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels through the Archipelago is an unwritten story of a people. Between the vast Indian and Pacific oceans lies the Malay Archipelago, known widely as the Nusantara, which has nourished the lives of indigenous Malays throughout the centuries and nurtured the diverse peoples that have set foot on their shores. Today, the Malays make up less than a fifth of the population in Singapore, a city with ancient ties to the Malay world.
This book explores their food, not just as a means of sustenance but as a cultural activity. Inheriting the Nusantara's rich flavours, Singapore Malays have a grand culinary heritage reflecting their worldviews, social values and historical interactions with other cultures. Through close examination of their daily objects, customs, art and literature, these pages reveal how the food Malays enjoy is deeply embedded in different aspects of their identity.
Following the broad sweep of Malay cuisine's evolution – from the 7th-century kingdom of Srivijaya to the 21st-century emporium of cosmopolitan Singapore – this book traces the continuity and dynamism of a shared cultural consciousness. Sumptuously served with stunning photographs, delicious recipes and diligent research, this is essential reading for anyone – gourmets and amateurs alike – hungry for a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and their food.
Please refer to the Annex for the citation on the winning work by Khir Johari, along with the two books receiving special commendations.
About Khir Johari
Khir Johari is the author of the award-winning book, The Food of the Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through the Archipelago. which has received widespread acclaim, including Singapore’s Book of the Year 2022, Gourmand World Food Culture Award’s Best of the Best Book 2023, and its prestigious Best of the Last 25 Years. Following this success, Khir founded “Dialogues by Khir Johari,” a platform dedicated to exploring Nusantara’s gastronomy through events and online discussions. Its inaugural event was a symposium titled Serumpun: Tasting Tradition, Telling Tales.
Aside from his literary achievements, Khir is an avid art collector and independent researcher specialising in the history and heritage of maritime Southeast Asia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Santa Clara University and a Masters in Education from Stanford University. He serves as a board member of the Asian Civilisations Museum Singapore.
Born and raised in Kampong Gelam, Khir was immersed in the diverse Nusantara culinary traditions from a young age, learning from both his family and the larger vibrant communities of this historic district.
Khir Johari remarked: “I am touched and humbled by this recognition. It is an honour to receive this NUS Singapore History Prize among such a distinguished list of writers. My hope is that we continue the important work of preserving and celebrating our rich culinary heritage. Our shared cultural roots are an essential starting point for understanding how food connects us across generations and borders.”
“When I set out on this book project 14 years ago, my aim was to document our nation’s first cuisine. What started as a chronicle of food culture evolved into a celebration of our custodians of gastronomic knowledge and wisdom. This book is a tribute to the fishermen, farmers, hawkers, smiths who produced our kitchen accoutrements, as well as cookbook writers, cookery teachers, homemakers and more.”
“My wish for this book is that it answers the question of why we eat what we eat as a people. I also hope it serves as a reminder that Singapore has always been an important node in a larger interconnected network. Indeed, Singapore can be aptly regarded as the New York of the Nusantara for its role and contributions in shipping, trade, publishing and performing arts of the region.”
The NUS Singapore History Prize
Mooted by Mr Mahbubani, the NUS Singapore History Prize aims to stimulate an engagement with Singapore’s history broadly understood (this might include pre-1819) and works dealing with Singapore’s place in the world. Another purpose is to make the complexities and nuances of Singapore’s history more accessible to non-academic audiences and to cast a wide net for consideration of works that deal with history. At the same time, the Prize hopes to generate a greater understanding among Singaporean citizens of their own unique history.
The Prize is an open global competition and is administered by the Department of History at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The 2024 Prize was open to works in English (written or translated) published between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2024. Non-fiction and fiction works were eligible for the Prize. Other creative works that have clear historical themes could also be submitted. Book-length works that were either authored or co-authored, and addressed any time period, theme, or field of Singaporean history, or include a substantial aspect of Singaporean history as part of a wider story were eligible.
The Prize is awarded every three years, and the author of the winning publication will receive a cash award of S$50,000. The inaugural Prize was awarded in 2018 to Professor John Miksic, whose work Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300–1800 provides detailed archaeological evidence that Singapore’s story began more than 700 years ago. In 2021, the Prize was awarded to Hidayah Amin for her book Leluhur: Singapore’s Kampong Gelam which presents the history of Kampong Gelam in the context of changes to Singapore’s economic, political, and social history over the last 200 years.
Enquires about the next round of the NUS Singapore History Prize, which will open for nominations in due course, and be awarded in 2027, should be addressed to hisprize@nus.edu.sg.
Marine monitoring is the bedrock of ensuring the health of our oceans and marine life, as it enables the collection of data to understand the biogeochemical processes that drive coastal and ocean systems. There is growing recognition of the importance of marine environment monitoring at the regional scale in safeguarding our shared waters. Data collected could help guide the development of legislation and strategies aimed at protecting our oceans and marine ecosystems.
Advancing marine science research and education
To advance collaboration in marine science research, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2024, which outlines a framework for collaboration and sharing of knowledge in marine and climate science research and education between the two institutions. As part of the MoU, PML will collaborate with NUS TMSI, as well as the St John's Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML) hosted by TMSI, for various marine science research projects.
To kickstart this partnership, SJINML and the Marine Environment Sensing Network (MESN), with support from the British High Commission Singapore and the Conservation Artists Collective, organised the “Marine Monitoring for Action: Safeguarding our Shared Seas through Marine Environment Sensing and Data” workshop which was held in Singapore from 7 to 11 October 2024. The partnership was formally announced at the workshop.
This partnership builds on the long-standing collaboration between Singapore and the UK dating back to the 1950s, which Mr Nikesh Mehta, the British High Commissioner for Singapore, reflected during his welcome address at the workshop. Mr Mehta explained that continuing this historical collaboration is significant in emphasising the importance of global collaboration in marine science research and education.
“As part of the UK and Singapore’s strategic partnership, we are committed to strengthening even further our science and technology partnership, to go further than we did by developing capabilities to address global issues and challenges,” he added.
The workshop drew more than 65 participants from the region and beyond, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and the UK, all working towards a common goal of fostering collaboration and innovation in marine monitoring to protect our oceans and marine ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.
Professor Yaacob Ibrahim, Chairman of the SJINML Governing Board, in his opening remarks, also highlighted the importance of establishing global partnerships. “Marine issues cannot therefore be managed by one country to safeguard our shared seas. Close collaboration, sharing of knowledge, expertise and data are essential,” he said.
The Marine Monitoring for Action workshop is endorsed by the UNESCO International Oceanographic Commission as a UN Ocean Decade workshop.
A science-based approach for future oil spill response
Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, delivered the opening remarks on the second day of the workshop. He emphasised the need for data in shaping policy to protect marine environments. “To ensure the sustainability of our marine biodiversity and its ecosystem, it is crucial that we adopt a science-based approach to monitor and protect our regional waters. Only with science and data can we make a strong case for conservation,” he said.
Mr Lee also announced a 15-month national monitoring plan, as a response to a recent oil spill incident in Singapore that took place in June 2024, to collect baseline data and monitor the impact and recovery of marine habitats after the oil spill. The research team will comprise experts from NParks, NUS TMSI, SJINML and the National Institute of Education.
Dr Tan Koh Siang, Principal Research Fellow at NUS TMSI, who is part of the research team said, “We are interested to see what effects this oil spill has on [organism] communities that are not visually obvious.” He added that the team hopes that their research can provide science-based support in finding ways to respond to future oil spills.
Assisting in the marine monitoring efforts is the MESN buoy, a system that enables real-time monitoring of seawater quality to strengthen climate change and ecological research. The MESN buoy houses a resident suite of sensors and modules for round-the-clock marine monitoring, and aims to collect data of over 30 parameters through near real-time sensing and monthly cruises.
Dr Jani Tanzil, Senior Research Fellow at NUS TMSI and Facility Director of SJINML, added that there are plans to deploy two more MESN buoys, one in the Johor Strait off Pulau Ubin and another in the south Singapore Strait, off Raffles Lighthouse (Pulau Satumu). This will help to expand marine monitoring capabilities and capture the quality of water flushing into Singapore.
The science essential for the ocean we envision
With a schedule packed with talks from marine scientists and hands-on opportunities, the workshop outlined how effective marine monitoring at various levels can help shape marine management and policies, as well as drive the implementation of national, regional, and international legislations and initiatives to protect the marine environment.
Professor Matthew Frost, Head of International Office at PML, highlighted during his presentation that global policies and actions to protect the ocean and marine life “would only work with data and scientific information feeding into it.”
The workshop also provided a platform for participants from across the region to take part in practical sessions to develop skills and acquire the tools needed to obtain rigorous and scientifically credible marine data. During the workshop, the participants actively engaged in discussions about current practices and challenges in marine monitoring, and explored opportunities for collaborative impact-led research for Southeast Asian regional seas.
“The Marine Monitoring for Action workshop was a great opportunity for regional and international stakeholders to harmonise and understand the good practices of marine monitoring in Southeast Asia,” said Dr Wee Hin Boo, Senior Lecturer from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who attended the workshop.
Participants were also given a tour of the SJINML facility on St John’s Island, which is located approximately 6.5km to the south of the main island of Singapore. During the visit, the MESN team, which include researchers from both NUS and NTU, introduced the different techniques used in marine environment sensing.
“My biggest takeaway from the workshop is learning about the theory of change and the process of developing actionable solutions starting from the impact that we want to make,” said Ms Denise Yu, Research Assistant at NUS TMSI.
The Marine Monitoring for Action workshop helped to foster an environment of mutual learning and exchange of ideas between countries, fuelling future possibilities of regional collaborative research efforts to help protect our shared oceans.
“Armed with the data and knowledge from marine monitoring, we can better position ourselves to be more resilient to the challenges ahead, especially with the uncertainty of climate change and other environmental disturbances from increasing coastal urbanisation,” said Dr Tanzil.
By Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant from the National University Heart Centre, Singapore and Dept of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS
NUS deepened its historic and longstanding relationship with Universiti Malaya (UM) this month, organising a series of events to celebrate the universities’ academic and social connections.
On 15 October, the inaugural UM-NUS Joint Workshop on Biomedical Engineering 2024 was held on the NUS Kent Ridge campus, bringing together researchers, educators, and scholars to discuss advancements in biomedical engineering and technology. Organised by the NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthTech) and supported by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations, the event included keynote addresses and talks from 10 UM and NUS researchers, as well as a tour of iHealthTech. Pertinent topics were discussed, including, among others, the impact of the fourth industrial revolution on healthcare and the opportunities that artificial intelligence and the metaverse bring to the field.
“We were excited we could hold this joint event, bringing together leading minds from our two sister universities,” said NUS Professor Lim Chwee Teck, NUS Society Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of iHealthTech. “Workshops like these serve as an important platform for exchanging ideas and exploring potential areas of collaboration.”
Professor Dr Yvonne Lim, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) at UM, echoed the sentiment. “This partnership highlights our commitment to advancing innovation that will drive transformative solutions in healthcare technology,” she said. “Together, we aim to inspire new ideas and pave the way for innovation that will benefit both Malaysia and Singapore."
Speaking at the UM-NUS Gala Dinner at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore later that evening, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye detailed the legacy of cooperation and camaraderie between the two universities. Recent partnerships include the 2023 UM-NUS Joint Symposium on Infectious Diseases and Translational Program, as well as the 2024 expansion of the NUS Overseas Colleges programme to Kuala Lumpur, with UM serving as NUS’ partner university. These examples “demonstrate the shared success of UM and NUS,” said Professor Tan. “By continuing to create and encourage opportunities for collaboration and exchange, UM and NUS are both enriched.”
The Gala Dinner was hosted by NUS Chancellor, His Excellency President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and attended by UM Chancellor, His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of the state of Perak and Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. “Events like this are what makes the bond of our historical friendship and ties ever more meaningful, and ever more robust, rooted in unyielding trust and camaraderie,” noted Vice-Chancellor of UM, Professor Dato' Seri Ir. Dr Noor Azuan bin Abu Osman.
Close to 200 NUS and UM alumni and staff joined the formal dinner, which included two stirring performances from the NUS Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music’s alumni string quartet.
A friendly face-off on the fairway
Running parallel to the Joint Workshop and Gala Dinner was the 53rd UM-NUS Inter-University Tunku Chancellor Golf Tournament, which NUS hosted on 15 and 16 October.Over 100 golfers from UM and NUS participated in the tournament, which was first held in 1968 in Kuala Lumpur.
Over the two days, faculty, staff, and alumni took the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and forge new connections while engaging in friendly competition. Intermittent rain did not dampen the spirits or sportsmanship of the golfers, who enjoyed the social game at Orchid Country Club, and the competitive game at Seletar Country Club. Led by Golf Captain Mr Bernard Toh, the NUS team emerged victorious for the first time since 2019, marking the close to another celebration of the productive partnership between the two universities.
The National University of Singapore's School of Computing (NUS Computing) has entered into a partnership with FPT, a leading global technology corporation based in Vietnam, to advance the field of artificial intelligence (AI). This collaboration plans a joint investment of US$50 million, to be contributed by FPT, NUS, and other key players in the local and regional AI ecosystems over the next five years, aiming to drive pioneering research in AI and enhance talent development.
This partnership will not only strengthen FPT's capacity to commercialise AI solutions and improve its R&D capabilities but also foster the development of top-tier AI workforce, thereby enhancing its competitive advantage in the APAC region and beyond.
New AI Lab to propel collaborative research, innovation, and commercialisation initiatives
A key focus of this partnership is the establishment of a state-of-the-art AI Lab. Combining the strengths of NUS’ research and FPT’s industry expertise, the new AI Lab will accelerate cutting-edge research in diverse domains of AI, including machine learning, data analytics, natural language processing, and computer vision, benefiting Singapore, the Asia Pacific region, and beyond.
Hosted at NUS Computing, the new AI Lab will be part of the University’s dynamic AI ecosystem, collaborating with the NUS AI Institute (NAII) – which brings together AI researchers and expertise across the University. The new AI Lab’s innovative research projects will focus on AI and automation, emphasising real-world applications in various industries, such as banking and insurance, logistics and transportation, aviation and airline, energy and utilities, manufacturing, and more. In addition, the new AI Lab will produce joint research papers, case studies, and white papers for publication in internationally recognised journals and conferences, sharing findings with the academic and business communities.
NUS Computing and FPT will also explore opportunities to commercialise AI-driven solutions, including the joint development of AI products, services, and platforms for global markets. By focusing on real-world challenges, the AI Lab will harness the potential of AI to drive positive advancements in sectors critical to Singapore’s development and global progress.
Building capacity and boosting AI talents
Talent development is another cornerstone of the partnership. FPT and NUS Computing will conduct joint programmes, such as internships, workshops, training courses, and PhD research opportunities, to nurture AI talents. These initiatives will cultivate a pool of highly skilled professionals equipped with the skills and expertise to lead future advancements in AI and automation across Singapore and the wider APAC region.
Driving Innovation Together
FPT Corporation Founder and Chairman Dr Truong Gia Binh said, “FPT believes AI is a pivotal accelerator in shaping the future. For more than a decade, FPT has been actively pursuing AI research and development to stimulate innovations and has integrated AI into all our services and solutions. We also invested heavily in the training and development of an AI-ready workforce. The close partnership with the renowned NUS can help us harness AI power to drive mutual growth and success not only in Singapore and Vietnam but globally.”
Mr David Nguyen, FPT Asia Pacific Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the strategic significance of the collaboration: "The establishment of the AI Lab in Singapore is a cornerstone of our partnership, where we will develop groundbreaking solutions to address challenges across industries that are critical to the region’s growth and global competitiveness such as healthcare, banking and insurance, logistics and transportation, aviation and airline, energy and utilities, manufacturing, and more. By leveraging each other’s expertise, we aim to accelerate innovation and drive impactful results locally, in the Asia-Pacific region, and worldwide."
Professor Tan Kian Lee, Dean of NUS Computing, said, “This synergistic partnership brings together the complementary strengths of NUS Computing and FPT. We aim to bring innovative AI solutions to real-world challenges, and at the same time, contributing to the AI ecosystem in Singapore and globally through the development of a highly skilled AI workforce.”
FPT has over a decade of experience in AI research and development. Most recently, it announced investments of US$174 million to establish an AI centre in Binh Dinh, Vietnam, and a plan to invest US$200 million to develop an AI factory utilising NVIDIA’s advanced graphics chips and software. These AI initiatives are further boosted by extensive global partnerships with leading AI players such as NVIDIA, Landing AI, AITOMATIC, and the founding membership of the AI Alliance led by IBM and Meta. The tech firm also boasts an AI workforce of over 1,500 engineers, with additional resources of 1,300 FPT University students majoring in AI annually. Its AI Residency programme, established in collaboration with Mila Quebec AI Institute, also actively cultivates the next generations of AI talents.
On the other hand, NUS boasts strong capabilities in AI research. The University has forged strong connections with government agencies, industry, and international partners through various AI initiatives. To enhance its influence in the AI landscape, NUS launched NAII in March 2024, which focuses on both fundamental and applied research in AI, as well as explores the societal implications of AI.
How many images do we see in a day? Scrolling through social media platforms or news sites on our way to school or work, we may have already seen a few hundred images, from memes and photographs to advertisements, posters and videos or animated content.
These visual imageries not only affect our mood, how we think and perceive or relate to other content, but have the power to shape narratives and societies and cultures. In short, visual media impact and shape our lives in ways we may not immediately recognise.
Students examined these illuminating insights during a workshop on 9 October that introduced the basic concepts of visual cultures and curatorial practices. The workshop was an introduction to the Minor in Visual Cultures that will soon be available to all undergraduates at NUS.
NUS first to offer Visual Cultures as a minor across the STEM and humanities fields
When launched in January 2025, NUS will be the first university in Singapore to offer students the option of pursuing a Minor in Visual Cultures. The programme, jointly offered by the Department of Communications and New Media (CNM) at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and NUS Museum, will equip students with skills to understand, critique and ethically use visually-driven media and artefacts in and across the STEM and humanities disciplines of design, digital technology, communications and new media, architecture, visual arts, aesthetics, and culture.
This is the first time NUS Museum, a university museum that houses Asian art and cultural collections and facilitates intellectual and culture life at the university, has co-developed and will co-teach a Capstone course in an undergraduate programme.
“Visual culture is everywhere. The visual tells us a lot about how we live, how we think. Visuality influences our choices, our political views, and our ways of being,” said Programme Director of the Minor in Visual Cultures, Associate Professor Lilian Chee from the Department of Architecture (DoA) at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS (CDE). Assoc Prof Chee is also Academic Director of the NUS Museum and holds a joint appointment at CNM. She adds, “In such a visually saturated world, visual literacy is particularly important for understanding the production, consumption and interpretation of information. It is a hugely valuable skill for any field of study, and in any future professional role.”
Assoc Prof Chee emphasised that being multi- and interdisciplinary in nature, the Minor in Visual Cultures strongly aligns with NUS’ goal of developing critical thought leaders with multimodal skills to think, act and communicate effectively across disciplines.
Registration for the Minor in Visual Cultures will open in mid-December 2024. To be certified with the Minor, students enrolled in the programme must take and pass two compulsory core courses and three electives.
This includes the introductory and compulsory course ‘Reading Visual Images’ offered by DoA which introduces students to ways of interpreting and discussing works of art, specifically through paintings and sculpture.
Electives-wise, students can choose from 27 courses drawn from 11 departments and divisions in the Humanities or Sciences such as ‘AI for Design’, “Cartography and Geovisualisation’, ‘Modern Art: A Critical Introduction’, ‘Social Psychology of New Media’ and ‘Modern Optics’.
Ms Siddharta Perez, Museum Curatorial Lead at NUS Museum added, “Collaborating with CNM on the Minor in Visual Cultures allows the Museum to impart their industry knowledge and insights to students through hands-on exhibition-making or multidisciplinary research centred on visual cultures. It also draws on the Museum’s rich collections of visual resources, objects and archives on Singapore and the region.”
A “Visual Cultures” Capstone course
The programme culminates in a compulsory “Visual Cultures” Capstone course that examines the significance of the visual and the politics of visuality across the fields of heritage, environmental humanities, philosophy, spatial practices, design, architecture, visual art and performance.
The course will first bring together knowledge gleaned from the theoretical electives. A consolidation of different types of visual categories (such as objects and paintings, buildings, maps, social media, photographs and AI-generated images), it gathers key visual theories from different disciplines (film studies, architecture, communications and media, geography, history, and philosophy among them) to discuss, examine, and reflect on their relationships.
In the second half of the course, students will be required to develop projects to demonstrate critical visual cultural thinking and skills. These projects may take on more experimental pathways, involve novel interventions in existing exhibitions, develop a series of public programmes or marketing campaigns or work on expanding or enhancing the Museum’s current collections.
Such project-based and problem-based learning will provide students opportunities to launch a media campaign, pitch an idea for funding, strategise the gathering of resources and their allocation, learn how to use social media ethically, and how to market content through visual media.
Dr Baey Shi Chen, a lecturer with the Department of CNM and Co-convener of the Minor in Visual Cultures shared, “The Capstone course offers a broad-based education, focusing primarily on how the visual both gathers and cuts across a wide range of disciplines. Students will strategise how to collect and curate visual information, and learn how audiences perceive the work. These are transferable skills that can translate across a broad range of professions: from the arts to hospitality, banking, education, media and design, healthcare, science and law.”
Neo Jie Ning, a third-year student with the NUS Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, who attended the workshop to learn more about the Minor in Visual Cultures shared that she was particularly intrigued by the diverse range of courses offered by the Minor. “As someone passionate about photography and visual arts, I believe taking these courses will not only deepen my understanding of visual arts but also offer fresh perspectives that complement my current major in Music and Production.”
Students who are keen to learn more about the field can sign up for upcoming workshops that will take place on 23 October and 6 November here.
Religious communities around the world have been confronted with the advent of digital media platforms, a trend that began even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the adoption of these platforms, religious communities are no longer as bound to physical spaces as they used to be. How, then, has the adoption and usage of digital media platforms affected religious community and practice in Singapore? While the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the intensity of digitalisation among religious organisations, digitalisation is not equally distributed across religious activities and organisations.
In our survey of religious organisations – the pilot study of a series of studies conducted in conjunction with the NUS Asia Research Institute (ARI) that explores the evolving relationship between religious communities and digital media in Singapore – we examine and document digitalisation among local religious organisations. Underpinning our survey was the question of whether the COVID-19 pandemic provided the impetus for religious organisations to adopt digital media platforms in Singapore. To this end, we found that the COVID-19 pandemic increased the rate of adoption among religious organisations that had not yet adopted digital media platforms before the pandemic (mainly non-Muslim and non-Christian organisations) while, among those that already began using digital media platforms before the pandemic (mainly Christian and Muslim organisations), usage of digital media platforms increased.
Yet, while religious organisations reported using digital media platforms more in general, certain activities conducted by religious organisations have resisted going online more than others. Based on data gathered on the percentage of activities conducted online compared to offline, we found that synchronous activities (activities that require real-time interaction) were less likely than asynchronous activities (activities that do not require real-time interaction) to undergo digitalisation. Religious organisations reported the most instances of digitalising administrative tasks that did not require synchronous in-person participation. These administrative activities include the internal circulation of announcements, newsletters, and circulars, as well as the collection of offerings and donations and the dissemination of religious materials for self-study. On the other hand, synchronous activities that resisted digitalisation include the conduct of prayers and rituals, as well as meetings (study groups and committee meetings), and community-building activities.
Digitalisation and the blurring of boundaries between public and private spaces
The resistance of synchronous activities to digitalisation is noteworthy as, despite the availability of technology that can and has simulated meetings and worship sessions during the pandemic, respondents still reported conducting these activities mostly offline. While many respondents indicated an intention to further digitalise, it remains to be seen what the focus of their digitalisation efforts will be and which activities will be digitalised more than others. These will allow for a deeper understanding of the pathways through which digitalisation can affect religious community and practice. For instance, some religious organisations reported feeling ambivalent about their experience of digitalisation given how digitalisation has blurred the boundaries between public and private spaces – where anything said or done in private settings could potentially become public due to livestreaming or speech, text, or footage becoming available to unintended audiences.
On the one hand, digital media platforms afford more privacy as they do not have to take place in public spaces. On the other hand, the potentially public nature of online interactions could have far-reaching and long-lasting effects. As sociologist José van Dijck argues in Engineering Sociality in a Culture of Connectivity (2013), social media has “unquestionably altered the nature of private and public communication” (pp. 3-23). With the advent of digital media platforms and the increasing digitalisation of religious services, the lines between public and private spheres are blurring. This blurring of boundaries between private and public has legal implications, an instance of which pertains to what is considered public speech. If all private social interaction potentially reaches a public audience, what can be considered and liable as private or public utterance? More broadly, how has the potentially increased range of audiences afforded by digital media platform adoption changed the way members of religious communities relate to each other? How do the new ways of forming and sustaining relationships in religious communities afforded by technology affect the way religious beliefs are enacted?
Most existing laws pertaining to religious practice apply to religious activities conducted in public spaces as the premise was that religion had to be enacted in public spaces. Our findings suggest that it may still be some time before the changes in religious practice caused by digitalisation are substantial enough for a radical legal overhaul as “core” religious activities – that is, religious activities that set religions apart from each other such as worship activities – are the activities most resistant to digitalisation. In spite of the observed trend towards increased digitalisation, these findings belie a sense of attachment to physical space among religious practitioners in Singapore.
As such, further research should be conducted to understand the reasons why some organisations and activities are resistant to digitalisation. This would help us answer the important question of the role that doctrinal and theological factors play in the adoption or non-adoption of digital media platforms. Such research contributes to our understanding of the limits of digital and technological mediation in replacing real-time, physically-bounded interaction. As sociologist Craig Calhoun ponders in his classic piece, Community Without PropinquityRevisited (1998), what is community without the physical presence of others in the same space? Our results support the idea that the “magic” of physical interaction is still an important factor to consider when thinking about the relationship between religious practice and digitalisation. Perhaps the complexity and, indeed, “warmth” of real-time social interaction cannot be replaced by digitally-mediated interaction – at least not just yet.
By using religion as a case study through which we study the socio-legal effects of digitalisation on religious communities, our study speaks to scholarship on the evolving relationship between digital media and society. These findings regarding digitalisation as experienced by religious organisations bring to mind broader issues pertaining to digitalisation as experienced in society – issues that have to do with how technology is affecting the way we relate to each other as well as the limits of technology in replacing the physical, real-time interaction traditionally associated with community.
Benjamin Low is a Research Associate with the Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) at the NUS Faculty of Law. At CALS, he is currently working on a research project exploring the socio-legal implications of the digitalisation of religion in Singapore that is so new that it has yet to be formally named. A cultural and organisational sociologist specialising in social networks and innovation, he is completing his doctoral studies at the University of Oxford Department of Sociology. A seasoned jazz drummer and National Arts Council Scholarship recipient, he can be found making music in and around Singapore when not (actively) doing research. This piece was written on behalf the CALS-ARI research team which consists of Principal Investigator Associate Professor Jaclyn Neo (CALS), co-Principal Investigator Dr Erica Larson (ARI), and the author. This research project is generously funded by the Humanities and Social Sciences Seed Fund grant.
By Assoc Prof Wee Hwee Lin, Director of the Centre for Health Interventions and Policy Evaluation Research, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS
Mr Lim Zhi Rong, Director (HR Operations) at the NUS Office of Human Resources, has been accorded the Master Professional (IHRP-MP) certification by the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) – a recognition that is awarded to top HR leaders in multinational corporations, the public sector, and small and medium-sized enterprises for their significant contributions to the HR industry.
In his 18-year career in HR, Mr Lim held global, regional and country leadership roles across various sectors including Financial, Fast Moving Consumer Goods and Technology, before joining NUS in February 2024. Serving on the IHRP-Professional Practices Committee since 2018, he leads the development of the IHRP Certification Framework, which includes setting standards and developing frameworks for course accreditation and continuing professional development.
Mr Lim received the IHRP-MP certification from Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower at the annual IHRP event, People Behind People, on 10 October 2024. Nominated by the tripartite partners—Ministry of Manpower, NTUC, and the Singapore National Employers Federation—he is among only 46 IHRP MPs in Singapore.
Reflecting on his achievement, Mr Lim said, “I’m deeply passionate about creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture that fosters employee growth and success. Receiving the IHRP-MP certification is a great honour, and I’m encouraged to continue to contribute meaningfully to the HR community and maintain the highest standards of HR practices at NUS.”
Ideas, research findings, and real-world results came together in a flurry of intellectual exchanges at the Festival of Ideas 2024 from 16 to 20 September, an event organised by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) to promote dialogue that inspires and shapes solutions to pressing policy issues.
The third edition of the biennial flagship event, which coincides with the School’s 20th anniversary, discussed the theme “Navigating a World in Crisis: Transforming Governance through Asia.” The 130 speakers ranged from LKYSPP academics who research and teach public policy to policymakers and industry practitioners who are directly impacted by policy decisions in their daily work.
“The Festival is an engagement on the great ideas and the most pressing issues of our time,” said Professor Danny Quah, Dean of LKYSPP, adding that it is an occasion for the School to showcase its thinking, for its PhD and Master’s students to display their work, and for colleagues from LKYSPP and around the world to engage in conversation. “This is all part of the school mission – that we inspire changemakers and leadership, we help improve the well-being of people around us and further afield, and we help transform Asia through the experience of good governance.”
Prof Quah was speaking at the opening session of the Festival, which explored China’s role in a shifting global order and the US-China rivalry through a dialogue with distinguished guests Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large and Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities; Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Former Senior Minister of State and Chairman of Business China; and Assistant Professor Selina Ho, Co-Director of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at LKYSPP. Their discussion touched on the role of smaller nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in helping to mediate the rivalry, as well as China’s domestic drivers and its ideal world order that inform the superpower’s perspective.
The session set the stage for the rest of the programme, which comprised 42 sessions over five days with various session formats such as lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and book launches. Some of the sessions ran concurrently, and most were accompanied by moderated Q&A segments that yielded valuable insights for the audience, which included NUS students, current and retired politicians, and members of the public interested in policy and governance issues.
On the final day, highlights included sessions that discussed artificial intelligence (AI) governance, the current global state of conflict and peace, and Singapore’s policy approach to managing its most precious resource – its people.
AI and governance in a time of disinformation
In the session on AI and Governance in a Time of Disinformation, representatives from government, media, and major players in the AI industry discussed the complexities of designing and implementing AI governance. The discussion was moderated by Dr Carol Soon, Principal Research Fellow and Head, Society and Culture at the Institute of Policy Studies.
Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State in Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information, explained that Singapore is handling the disruption from AI similarly to other types of technological disruption. “We have an imperative to make sure that Singapore's people, our economy, our businesses, the jobs, the social cohesion and structure that we have, are able to benefit from whatever technological disruption is coming towards us,” he said.
However, there are unique challenges in this arena, such as the heavy reliance of Singapore’s economy on technology and the country’s close connections to the rest of the world through international policies and practices, globally accepted standards for technological interoperability, and more. Consequently, Singapore will feel the impact of new developments and regulations in AI almost instantly as they continue to emerge.
“We need to be able to develop our approach in real time as the promise as well as the pitfalls of AI play out in the world around us,” said Dr Janil.
A question from the audience about the need for an international AI agency prompted two panellists to share their experience of working with international organisations and why they do not feel such an agency is necessary.
“Instinctively, most people would feel that there is a need for international collaboration and cooperation,” said Mr Jaime Ho, Editor of The Straits Times. “But whether or not the formal structure of an agency is going to help, I seriously doubt it will, based upon the experiences we’ve seen in recent years. People need to agree to be part of it, and an agency is only worth its salt if it’s able to enforce certain things.”
Ms Eunice Huang, Google’s Asia-Pacific Head of AI and Emerging Tech Policy, highlighted that the AI ecosystem comprising governments, industries, and civil society is working on regulations and standards via annual AI Safety Summits and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). “A lot of international coordination can be done without the need for a new international organisation to be set up, because that entails a lot of investment and administrative things, and the politics of it also gets in the way,” she said.
Conflict and peace in the 21st century
Amid the global focus on ongoing conflicts, speakers at a panel discussion on Conflict and Peace in the 21st Century, moderated by Associate Professor Francesco Mancini, Vice Dean (Executive Education) and Associate Professor in Practice at LKYSPP, called for a greater emphasis to be placed on studying and investing in peace.
Ms Wu Ye-Min, Regional Director, South and Southeast Asia, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, urged countries to invest meaningfully in peace by training and placing peacemakers and impartial mediators in the field, which has proved successful in southern Philippines. In Sulu, such initiatives have resulted in decreased violence and allowed local tourism to thrive, with beach resorts being opened in formerly dangerous areas.
Teaching youths about peace-making and de-escalation will not only equip them with the skills for peace, but also bring discussions of conflict resolution into schools, workplaces, and homes to effect local change.
Former diplomat Mr Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute, and Dr Michael Vatikiotis, Senior Advisor, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, highlighted the unusual peace that Southeast Asia has enjoyed for the past 45 years. They noted the success of ASEAN in creating positive regional relations, boosting overall economic development, and enabling the region to protect its interests and reduce unwanted interference from other countries.
The speakers warned that climate change is increasingly important as a conflict driver, with the effects already visible in the Sahel region of Africa. Peace-making efforts will be needed to resolve climate-related challenges like fish stock depletion as conditions prompt ocean life to relocate, an example that Ms Wu shared.
Said Mr Mahbubani: “If humanity was intelligent, it would realise that the message from climate change is that… climate change doesn't respect borders at all. We've got to realise that all 8 billion of us are on the same boat; we've got to work together to deal with climate change.”
Closing dialogue with Minister Tan See Leng
The last session of the festival was a dialogue with Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore.
In his speech and responses to questions from the audience, Dr Tan shared insights into how Singapore has managed to thrive despite its size and lack of natural resources, by carefully designing and implementing manpower policies like the Central Provident Fund (CPF) and creating a unique tripartite partnership between the government, workers, and businesses.
While the shared values that made Singapore’s success possible remain relevant, the government recognises that the employment landscape and workers’ aspirations and expectations have changed over the years. Hence, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will shift its policy approach accordingly, he said.
“From the creation of the CPF system to our unique tripartite partnership, we have shown that innovative policies guided by strong values like meritocracy and fairness will lead to success,” Dr Tan said. “Through the times, MOM will continue to evolve, will continue to adapt.”
“Our singular focus will always be on supporting workers and businesses, driving growth, and fostering inclusive workplaces. I'm confident that as long as we hold true to our ideals and we are bold enough to try out new ideas, we can thrive in this ever-changing world.”
NUS and Imperial College London (Imperial) have announced a new partnership to strengthen research collaborations. The three-year partnership will see the two universities explore cooperation in early-stage research and ideas that might not otherwise be pursued.
The universities will explore potential research projects in areas such as health, sustainability, artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
NUS has long-standing links with Imperial, and the two universities’ new partnership will strengthen links between London and Singapore.
The new agreement will help fund exploratory research and see increased mobility of scientists and students between NUS and Imperial, with researchers spending time in each other’s laboratories in Singapore and London working on joint projects and sharing knowledge and data.
The agreement was signed at NUS during a visit by Imperial’s President Professor Hugh Brady and his delegation.
Professor Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS, said: “Imperial College London has been a valued partner of NUS and we are proud to deepen our collaboration through this new initiative. This latest partnership empowers academics, researchers and students from two leading global universities to drive influential research and build impactful networks. We share a common dedication to boosting exploratory research which is crucial for developing innovative solutions to the wicked problems of today. We look forward to the enriching exchange of knowledge and experience in the coming years.”
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: “This exciting partnership with the National University of Singapore demonstrates our shared commitment to tackling global challenges through world-leading research and innovation. By joining forces with one of Singapore’s top universities we are poised to make significant advancements in areas such as sustainability, healthcare innovation, and the digital economy. This collaboration will not only enhance our research capabilities but also provide invaluable opportunities for our staff and students to expand their international networks and experience.”
NUS and Imperial have worked together successfully on many previous projects including successfully engineering common baker’s yeast to produce a key ingredient for dementia medicines.
A recent study published in Nature Geoscience provides groundbreaking insights into long-term changes in tropical weather patterns that are leading to an increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall in the Indo-Pacific. These changes are possibly driven by global warming, among other factors. The paper, titled “Indo-Pacific regional extremes aggravated by changes in tropical weather patterns”, employs a recently proposed methodology that characterises occurrence trends of weather patterns using atmospheric analogues, which are linked to the concept of recurrences in dynamical systems theory.
Unlike previous approaches, which have often focused on shifts in average behaviour, the method used in the study can identify occurrence trends for each daily weather pattern, thereby enabling a direct study of their association with extreme events — something that was previously unachievable. Thanks to this methodology, it was possible to identify the emergence of new large-scale atmospheric patterns, which are exacerbating regional weather extremes.
The study, led by doctoral student Chenyu Dong and Assistant Professor Gianmarco Mengaldo from the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and a collaborative team of international scientists, uses advanced reanalysis datasets to analyse the tropical Indo-Pacific region’s evolving weather systems. The researchers found that since the 1990s, previously rare weather patterns have become more common, while some others that were once prominent have nearly disappeared. These changes are linked to shifts in the Pacific Walker Circulation, a key driver of tropical weather and climate, whose future changes remain highly uncertain in current climate models. Detecting long-term trends in the tropical Indo-Pacific has consistently been a challenge, especially on a daily time scale, due to the confluence of several modes of variability that tends to overshadow trend signals. This study is one of the first to investigate long-term changes in tropical weather patterns and their relationship with extreme events on a daily time scale.
“Critical changes in tropical weather patterns are significantly aggravating regional extremes, namely heatwaves and extreme precipitation, in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Our study is one of the first to disentangle trend vs variability in the tropics, an aspect that has been historically challenging. We show that the changes identified cannot be fully explained by interannual modes of variability, and a possible culprit is anthropogenic global warming, though the influence of other factors may play a role. Further in-depth analyses are required to better inform climate modelling and climate adaptation strategies, especially in the tropical Indo-Pacific, where climate models still struggle to provide reliable projections. For Singapore, and other countries in Southeast Asia, improving climate projection capabilities and better understanding how tropical dynamics and regional extremes are evolving is of vital importance. This study is one step towards this direction,” said Asst Prof Mengaldo from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CDE, NUS.
Key findings
Emerging weather patterns: New large-scale atmospheric configurations (or weather patterns) that were rare before the 1990s have emerged, while some others that were prominent have disappeared. These emerging weather patterns manifest as a stronger Pacific Walker circulation (or Walker cell) and are associated with wetter and warmer conditions in Southeast Asia and drier conditions in the equatorial Pacific. The emerging patterns cannot be explained by interannual modes of natural variability, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), but they are instead likely driven by long-term trends from the 1940s to the present. These trends and shifts of large-scale atmospheric dynamics in the tropical Indo-Pacific may be caused by global warming and other factors. Although these identified emerging patterns may be driven by the combined effect of different factors (excluding known modes of inter-annual variability), the implications for current and near-future climate are critical.
Considerable increase in weather extremes: The emerging weather patterns are strongly linked to increased regional weather extremes, namely heatwaves and extreme rainfall. In certain regions, these extremes are up to four times more frequent than climatology when associated with emerging weather patterns. For example, several regions, including parts of Indonesia, Singapore, South India, the Philippines and the western Pacific, exhibit markedly increased frequency of heatwaves compared with climatology. The South China Sea and its surrounding areas, including Vietnam and the Philippines, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, the tip of South India and a portion of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Australia, exhibit considerably increased frequency of extreme rainfall. This increase in extreme weather is noteworthy, given that such changes are associated with long-term climate trends in a region that is highly vulnerable to weather extremes.
Significance of the study: These findings are significant in the context of climate change as they reveal that new and emerging weather patterns are contributing to increasingly severe weather in a region home to over a billion people, as well as unique and vulnerable ecosystems. The increased occurrences of heatwaves and extreme rainfall can lead to acute heat distress and flooding, respectively. With extreme weather events posing severe socio-economic and environmental challenges, understanding these changes is critical for improving climate models and informing future climate adaptation strategies.
This study was conducted by an international team of climate scientists from leading institutions, including NUS, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL), Uppsala University, Stockholm University, University of Cambridge, Columbia University, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS). The team is committed to advancing climate research to better understand the impacts of a changing climate on regional weather patterns and extremes.
“The emergence of new tropical weather patterns is a key signal of how anthropogenic climate change is altering atmospheric dynamics on a daily scale. Our findings show a significant increase in heatwaves and extreme precipitation in the Indo-Pacific, which may have profound consequences not only for the region but for global climate as well. This shift in weather patterns challenges our previous understanding of tropical variability and highlights the urgency to improve climate projections and preparedness for extreme events in vulnerable regions,” said Dr Davide Faranda, Research Director at the Laboratoire de Science du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE) of Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL), French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
“Heatwaves and extreme rainfall are two weather extremes that require careful and advance planning from policymakers to mitigate their effects. For instance, more frequent heatwaves may lead to high peaks in electricity demand with possible power outages, many heat-related illnesses that would need enough hospital beds, and crop failure that could threaten food security. More frequent extreme rainfall may lead to floods, which in turn are a direct threat to human life, buildings and infrastructure. Extreme rainfall may also lead to crop failure, contamination of drinkable water, and landslides. Southeast Asia is a relatively research-scarce region in terms of extreme weather, and further efforts are required to better prepare policymakers and local communities for a changing climate,” said Asst Prof Mengaldo.
NUS has come in at 17th place in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 after holding at 19 for two consecutive years. It maintains its 3rd position in Asia and is currently the top university in ASEAN.
Higher education has witnessed significant shifts and disruptions in recent years, opening doors for a reinvention of the approach to education and research. NUS’ focus on adapting curricula and pedagogy to match evolving industry demands has nurtured future-resilient, AI-ready and enterprising graduates, while a renewed emphasis on innovative, interdisciplinary research has contributed impactful solutions to the most pressing global challenges.
NUS President, Professor Tan Eng Chye said that NUS, which will be celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2025, continues on a strong and confident trajectory and remains focused in its mission to shape young minds and create positive outcomes for future generations.
“We are immensely proud that NUS has risen to 17th in the world, our highest position in THE World University Rankings. This achievement is the result of the relentless pursuit of excellence by the NUS community,” said Prof Tan.
THE World University Rankings 2025 is THE’s 21st edition of the rankings, growing from 200 universities to, now, more than 2,000 universities, making it the most global and inclusive university ranking in the world.
THE uses 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators in the areas of teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry, providing the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments.
Phil Baty, THE Chief of Global Affairs, said that Singapore’s status as a world-class hub for higher education, research and innovation talent is well and truly established, adding that the latest rankings a testament to strong support for universities and R&D as fundamental to the success of the nation and the centring of human talent as Singapore’s greatest resource.
“Congratulations to NUS on its highest ever ranking position. It is a remarkable achievement – making NUS a beacon of excellence not just for Singapore, but for Asia and the world,” said Mr Baty.
For 2025, University of Oxford holds first place while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University come in second and third place respectively in the rankings.
Associate Professor Sajikumar Sreedharan from the Department of Physiology at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has received the International Association for the Study of Neurons and Brain Diseases (AND) Investigator Award in recognition for his research over the past two decades on how long-term memories are systematically stored in the brain.
AND is an organisation of neuroscientists based at the University of Toronto, Canada. Assoc Prof Sajikumar was presented with the Investigator Award at the association’s annual meeting, which brought together scientists from around the world who study memory formation and its degeneration to share and discuss their latest research. The meeting was held in Qingdao, China, from 9 to 11 September 2024.
Assoc Prof Sajikumar, who conducts research on molecular mechanisms of memory, was selected by a scientific committee of world-renowned neuroscientists, for significantly advancing the understanding of the neuroscience behind how short-term memories systematically transition into long-term memories. The committee also commended that “his work provides a deeper insight into memory impairments due to ageing, learning disabilities, and mental illnesses.”
More than 2,000 undergraduates and recent alumni from the NUS College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) visited the inaugural NUS CHS Career and Internship Fair held at the NUS University Town’s Stephen Riady Centre to connect with companies, explore job opportunities and receive on-the-spot advice on career skills such as networking and tackling interviews.
Organised by CHS and the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) in September, the event marked a key milestone for the College as it prepares for the graduation of the pioneering CHS cohort in 2025, said Professor Sun Yeneng, Co-Dean of CHS and Dean of NUS Faculty of Science at the launch of the event.
Remarking on the strong turnout from employers and students, he noted that companies recognise the value of engaging with CHS students, who are well-equipped with interdisciplinary skills honed through the College’s unique combination of a humanities and science education.
“Employers have shared how both breadth and depth of skills and knowledge enable their hires to better collaborate across different functions, domains and geographies,” said Prof Sun.
“Others attest to the importance of being able to connect the dots in new and unusual ways, or even uncover new dots – an important attribute to help business formulate more holistic solutions to the complex challenges they face,” he added.
Highlights of the fair
The fair saw participation from 64 companies, representing a wide spectrum of industries, from technology and finance to education, healthcare, and government agencies. Over 256 company representatives offered students insights into their respective industries, organisational cultures, and internship or full-time employment opportunities.
The event also featured a Career Access Networking session facilitated by the CFG Career Access Team that was specifically designed for students with special accessibility and educational needs. This initiative provided a more intimate and supportive environment for these students to network with eight inclusive employers and gain access to opportunities focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). In all, more than 90 conversations took place during the session with both employers and students giving the event a thumbs-up.
Prior to the fair, students had the opportunity to attend workshops organised by CHS and CFG on resume writing, interview skills and career networking. These sessions offered lessons on ways to leverage generative AI tools like ChatGPT to craft compelling resumes, optimise resumes for AI-powered applicant tracking systems commonly used by employers, harness platforms like LinkedIn to boost their chances of success at job search and application, and receive personalised feedback through one-on-one reviews with career advisors.
Rene Mah, a third-year CHS student who attended the fair said, “We may have a preconceived idea of what kinds of careers we want to go into (and) which industries we want to develop our careers in. It’s good to be able to come down and see for yourself what is available out there as you might find something new.”
The event proved equally valuable for the participating employers. Ms Li Sihong, an Early Careers Recruitment Specialist from biopharmaceutical firm GSK, said, “We were able to network with students face-to-face to share in greater detail what each job is about and help them navigate their options.”
The success of this year’s fair underscores the commitment of CHS to continuously enhance students’ career readiness, ensuring they are well-prepared for the demands of the modern workforce. Associate Professor Nicholas Hon, Vice Dean (External Relations and Student Life) at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences said that the value of an interdisciplinary CHS education cannot be overemphasised and as the career landscape evolves, events like the CHS Career & Internship Fair serve as a vital bridge between education and industry.
Assoc Prof Hon added, “All employers have one very simple objective, and that is they would like to hire the most capable and most competent people that they can find. NUS has a complementary goal. We want to offer the education that will produce people who are competent, capable and are highly competitive in the job market.”
Would you be a “successful ancestor”? This unusual poser presented at the distinguished keynote of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Cities Symposium 2024 drew laughter from the audience of more than 700 participants. But behind the light-hearted moment, the keynote speaker, Professor Brian Collins, Emeritus Professor of Engineering Policy at University College London, had a serious point to make.
City planning is a long-term undertaking and responsibility, involving an overwhelming list of challenges from volatile global trade to technology changes. A “successful ancestor”, as such, is one who tackles these for posterity’s sake, he said.
Strategic city planning is key to solving these challenges, but it requires an intergenerational, multidisciplinary approach with partnerships between many stakeholders. This collaborative spirit was central to the discussion at the Symposium held on 18 September 2024, a highlight of the NUS Sustainability Connect Festival.
“Our cities should not just be liveable, but also sustainable to endure for generations to come, resilient to survive crises like COVID-19 and other upheavals,” said Professor Khoo Teng Chye, Director of NUS Cities, in his Welcome Address to an audience of industry practitioners, tertiary students, policymakers and academics gathered at the University Cultural Centre Ho Bee Auditorium.
Navigating complex trade-offs in Singapore
City planning in the land-scarce Lion City is fraught with difficult decisions and trade-offs, noted Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration in his speech as the Symposium’s Guest-of-Honour. He underscored the competing housing and industry needs – “potentially unlimited wants” made even more challenging by the country’s small size.
“Our planners and policymakers do not have an easy task, but it is not impossible,” he said. “We must be able to turn challenges into opportunities.”
To achieve this, bold steps must be taken to ensure a more sustainable Singapore. One such measure, announced by Minister Lee in his speech, was a new initiative offering incentives for companies to adopt district cooling systems – a more energy-efficient alternative to individual buildings having their own chillers.
He also emphasised the importance of a consultative approach, such as how the government is engaging the public in the URA Draft Master Plan 2025, which maps out Singapore’s land-use plans for the next 10 to 15 years.
Trust driven by data
This inclusive, data-driven style of policy-making would help build trust between a government and its people. And it is this tight social compact that will help cities weather crises, said Professor Lily Kong, President of the Singapore Management University.
Her keynote, the second of three Distinguished Keynotes of the day, explored how city planning is both a science and an art, requiring not just smart technologies but also social cohesion. “Relying on technology and infrastructure is critical, but it is not enough. Investment must be made in shoring up social resilience and community cohesion,” said Prof Kong.
Equally important is the collaboration between academia and the public sector. Data and science help to boost the credibility of policies, as discussed in the second plenary session, “How Can Our Cities Be Adapted for Climate Change?”, moderated by Assistant Professor Pearl Li from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at NUS.
For instance, through the use of state-of-the-art sensors, Associate Professor Yuan Chao shared how even individual buildings in Singapore can be identified as hot spots. The Director of Research at NUS Cities also studies how heat affects vulnerable groups like the elderly, to achieve more inclusive and equitable climate action.
“By conducting this research, we provide deep climate science to support government planning and designs,” said Assoc Prof Yuan, who is also from the Department of Architecture at NUS CDE.
His points on public-private partnership built on what was discussed in an earlier plenary session, named after the Symposium’s theme of “Creating Liveable Cities in Uncertain Times”.
“What data-driven, evidence-based climate action plans do is provide that data to cities and their leaders (to make decisions),” said panellist Ms Shruti Narayan, Managing Director of Regions and Mayoral Engagement, and Regional Director of South and West Asia at C40 Cities, a global network of about 100 city mayors. She added that a scientific breakdown of costs and benefits is especially useful when leaders weigh trade-offs, as “you can’t manage what you can’t measure”.
Planning today for a more sustainable tomorrow
Time is another key metric. Take, for example, Singapore’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. To hit such targets, action at the city-planning level has to take place now.
The generational effects of city planning was a theme that echoed throughout the Symposium, from Prof Collins’ speech to the third plenary session on intergenerational equity in city planning – “Liveable Cities Which Are Healthy and Age-friendly: Dream or Reality”.
A thread running through the latter discussion was how to design a city that embraces ageing, especially with Singapore attaining “super-aged” status in 2026, when a fifth of the population will be 65 years old and above.
Associate Professor Emi Kiyota, Deputy Executive Director at the NUS Centre for Population Health and a faculty member of NUS CDE’s Department of Architecture, described how the built environment is a “manifestation of our minds” – that if society sees seniors merely as a vulnerable group to be looked after, it could perpetuate more facilities that may see them age in isolation instead of as part of the community. This insight underscores how city planning melds art and science, with social perceptions often shaping the infrastructure.
Vital to seniors thriving in society is the “20-minute town” concept, where amenities are close to homes, commutes to work take just 45 minutes, and nearby residential towns are only 20 minutes away – a topic discussed in the following plenary session “The 20-minute Town”.
The discussions aptly concluded with the Young Leaders Panel, which featured the likes of social media entrepreneur Kong Man Jing, an NUS Life Sciences alumna who is better known by her online persona “Biogirl MJ”, whose popular science channel dishes out fun facts on nature and biodiversity.
Indeed, the NUS Cities programme aims to groom more leaders for a brighter future, having trained more than 4,000 NUS undergraduate students in city-planning skills so far. Prof Khoo added that NUS Cities is also planning for a Masters in Cities and an executive programme for city leaders like mayors.
“We hope to produce a pipeline of people who will be more ready to face the challenges of cities,” he said, envisioning a future generation of “successful ancestors”.
By Assoc Prof Wee Hwee Lin, Director of the Centre for Health Intervention and Policy Evaluation Research, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS
By Prof Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School; and Ms Huang Minjun and Ms Sabrina Soon, Research Associates at the same centre
By Assoc Prof Wee Hwee Lin, Director of the Centre for Health Intervention and Policy Evaluation Research, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS
The NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre (CTPCLC) Symposium is an annual celebration of students’ work in the community. Its 12th iteration, held on 21 September 2024, took the theme ‘Inclusive Communities’, underscoring the importance of fostering environments where all individuals, regardless of their background, can thrive and be full-fledged members of our community. This theme also reflects a growing recognition that inclusivity is not merely an idea but a necessary foundation for sustainable social development and cohesion.
Held in conjunction with NUS Homecoming 2024, the symposium attracted over 130 attendees comprising NUS students, alumni, staff, and partners; and featured insightful presentations, inspiring keynote speeches, an alumni panel discussion, and a mini graduation ceremony for students who completed their Certificate or Minor degrees in Community Development and Leadership at CTPCLC.
In his opening address, Guest-of-Honour, Mr Desmond Tan, Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office and Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress, emphasised the importance of community inclusion and the role of educational institutions in fostering a spirit of care and support. Mr Tan urged attendees to champion causes and leverage digital tools to expand access for all. "Building an inclusive society requires intentional efforts to ensure that every part of our community is accessible to everyone," he said.
● No Nation is an Island: Singaporean Weekenders and Home-Seekers in Johor Bahru The study byCTPCLC students Carin Chua (Arts and Social Sciences‘24) and Ting Mei Ting (Arts and Social Sciences‘25)found two major themes – expenses and escape – driving Singaporeans to travel frequently across the Johor-Singapore Causeway. They discussed the implication of these factors on future policies related to economics and the mental well-being of Singaporeans.
● Fieldwork to Enterprise: Mediating Role of Systems Thinking for Community Engagement in the Himalaya A project by RC4 students Noe Noe Su Aung (Business ‘23), Thangavel Jishnuanandh (Computing ‘25), Teo De Liang Ryan (Design & Engineering ‘26) and Tan Qing Heng (Business ‘26), they shared how they have empowered local communities and promoted responsible ecotourism in the region through the STEER Himalayas programme.
● Understanding Accessibility in Neighbourhood Spaces among Autistic Persons in Singapore As part of their capstone, CAPT students Lim Yi Ann (Science ‘25), Lim Yi Leo (Arts and Social Sciences ‘23), Dean Woo (Arts and Social Sciences ‘25) and Celestine Tan Jing Xuan (Arts and Social Sciences ‘25) collaborated with Boon Lay Citizens’ Consultative Committee to explore the essential roles of caregivers, support networks, and social and environmental factors in shaping accessibility for autistic individuals.
● An Exploratory Study on Hatch’s Immersive+ Programme: Meeting the Needs and Impacting the Life Outcomes for School Dropouts CTPCLC students AshwinPandiyan (Arts and Social Sciences ‘24), Goh Keng Swee Darren (Arts and Social Sciences ‘24), Jerome Ong Yi Jie (Arts and Social Sciences ‘24) and Rachel Tee Xin Yi (Arts and Social Sciences ‘24) worked with Hatch, a social enterprise in Singapore to conduct a thematic analysis, during which they uncovered key insights into the youths’ most pressing needs and the factors influencing their life trajectories.
Adding to the significance of the day, the symposium featured two keynote speeches by CTPCLC alumni who shared their journeys and experiences in community service and leadership.
Mr Willoughby Niki Lee (Design & Engineering ‘22), a CTPCLC alumnus and founder of TinkerThings Global, delivered the opening keynote in which he shared his journey as a young community leader. He gave insights into creating a trustworthy digital ecosystem through innovation and collaboration, where everyone contributes their skills and time to building a resilient community.
Ms Cheong Ming Fang (Arts and Social Sciences ‘21), CTPCLC distinguished alumna and Community Development Manager at Ray of Hope, delivered the closing keynote where she discussed the importance of inclusive leadership and the need to amplify diverse voices in decision-making processes so that those on the margins can also have a say in shaping the future.
CTPCLC Instructor Ms Kuah Ting Ting moderated a lively panel discussion with three CTPCLC alumni – Pradnya Govind (Arts and Social Sciences ‘20), Goh Kher Liang (Arts and Social Sciences ‘21) and Daniel Lopez (Arts and Social Sciences ‘22). Hailing from the healthcare, philanthropy, and community development sectors, the group provided insights and engaged the audience in a thought-provoking dialogue on how to address systemic barriers and build inclusivity. Some ideas that were shared include, having community connectors bring in volunteer manpower and establishing a feedback loop system between citizens and policymakers to establish common ground.
Celebrating achievements
One of the most heart-warming moments of the event was the mini graduation ceremony for CTPCLC’s Class of 2024. Ms Chua Weiling, Director of Philanthropy at the Chua Foundation took the stage to congratulate the graduates and present them with a token to acknowledge their well-earned Certificates and Minor degrees in Community Development and Leadership.
Cheng Tian Wei, who was Valedictorian of the Class of 2024, said, “CTPCLC has been one of the most impactful experiences of my growing years; its people have taught me not just the skills needed in social development, but also the heart and posture needed in any area of the impact space.” Today, Tian Wei is part of the strategy branch of the Ministry of Social and Family Development, where he is pursuing his interest in community work.
“The symposium fostered a sense of unity and shared purpose. Our presenters spoke with such conviction about their community engagement projects; they engaged our hearts and minds, providing insights into experiences from the ground and from the corridors of government and philanthropy,” said CTPCLC’s Director Associate Professor Chng Huang Hoon, reflecting on the event.
“Our students and alumni have shown us what can be achieved when diverse groups come together with a shared vision of making a positive impact, and I’m so proud of them for their achievements and the profound impact they have made in our community,” she added.
By NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre
The NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre offers both Certificate and Minor degrees in Community Development and Leadership. To date, 350 students have been awarded the Certificate in Community Development and Leadership and 41 of these students also received Minor degrees in Community Development and Leadership.
As internet usage becomes an integral part of our daily lives, many people rely on various online sources for information. While the internet offers greater convenience and a wider range of news sources, the spread of false information has become one of the biggest challenges of this century, exacerbated by the rise of generative artificial intelligence. The spread of false information – whether in the form of mis-, dis- and mal-information (MDM) - can lead individuals and organisations to make harmful decisions, and has been shown to create societal divisions on critical and contentious issues.
A research team, comprising members from various faculties, including Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS Business School, School of Computing, College of Design and Engineering, Faculty of Law, and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, is addressing the issue of false information head-on through a programme known as Information Gyroscope (iGyro). This is a comprehensive five-year research initiative that seeks to identify and address vulnerabilities in the digital information pipeline, develop strategies to enhance digital resilience among online users, and promote behaviours that encourage engagement with trustworthy information. Led by Professor Chen Tsuhan, the interdisciplinary team of 40 researchers is committed to understanding and shaping the evolving digital information landscape.
“In aviation, a gyroscope provides stability and orientation guidance to maintain accurate control of an aircraft. Similarly, iGyro showcases our team's efforts to maintain stability in the face of a changing and chaotic information landscape. It also symbolises the interdisciplinary nature of the team, with expertise spanning disciplines such as social science, computer science, engineering, and law,” said Prof Chen.
Adopting a holistic three-layered framework, the iGyro team places understanding and shaping human behaviour at the core of their research. The next layer of their framework is the technology domain, which aims to understand the different stages of the digital information pipeline, from creation to dissemination to consumption. Finally, the outermost layer of their framework studies the potential impact of mitigation strategies as well as the roles regulations and policies used to deploy these strategies.
The iGyro team published a journal article in Digital Government: Research and Practiceon 23 August 2024, which explained how the iGyro team has applied the three-layered framework to examine the lifecycle of content created by generative artificial intelligence, from creation to consumption. Placing a strong emphasis on human behaviour, the iGyro team highlighted vulnerabilities and advocated for adaptive and evidence-based policies to enhance information integrity and public trust in digital ecosystems.
Since its inception in 2023, the iGyro team has also made encouraging progress in developing tools to combat the spread of false information.
SNIFFER: A multimodal large language model to detect misinformation
Out-of-context misinformation, where authentic images are paired with false text that is not representative of the image, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to spread false information and mislead audiences. However, current technologies lack convincing explanations for their judgements, which is essential for debunking misinformation.
To tackle out-of-context misinformation, a team led by iGyro principal investigators Professor Wynne Hsu and Professor Lee Mong Li, who are from the NUS School of Computing, developed SNIFFER, a novel Multimodal Large Language Model (MLLM) designed to detect and explain out-of-context misinformation in images and captions.
SNIFFER uses a specialised artificial intelligence (AI) model to conduct a two-pronged analysis. The first step involves an internal check for consistency between the image and the caption. The second step draws information from external sources to examine the relevance between the context of the image and the provided caption. Based on the results of these two steps, SNIFFER will then determine the authenticity of the image-caption pair to arrive at a final judgement and an explanation of whether the pair is misleading or not.
SNIFFER has been found to surpass the performance of previous MLLM models by 40 per cent and carries out its misinformation detection tasks with higher accuracy compared to other state-of-the-art detection methods. The researchers hope that with further improvements, SNIFFER can be made available publicly to help users identify out-of-context information.
QACheck: A tool for question-guided fact-checking
The availability of reliable fact-checking tools is one way to combat the spread of false information. However, fact-checking through online sources involves a complex and multi-step reasoning process. Many existing fact-checking systems also lack transparency in their decision-making process, making it difficult for users to obtain a reasonable explanation for their conclusions.
To address this issue, iGyro principal investigator Associate Professor Kan Min-Yen, who is from NUS School of Computing, together with his research team, worked with international collaborators to develop the Question-guided Multihop Fact-Checking (QACheck) system, which steers the model's reasoning by posing a series of critical questions necessary for verifying a claim.
QACheck consists of five core modules: a claim verifier, question generator, question answering module, QA validator, and reasoner. Users can input a claim into QACheck, which then evaluates its accuracy and produces a detailed report outlining the reasoning process through a series of questions and answers. The tool also cites the sources of evidence for each question, promoting a transparent, explainable, and user-friendly fact-checking experience.
The team’s next step is to boost QACheck’s breadth and depth by integrating additional knowledge bases and incorporating a multi-model interface to support different data format, such as images, tables, and charts, to broaden the system’s ability to process and analyse these formats.
Mapping out global legislation implemented against fake news
As digital information sources become sophisticated and evolve rapidly, regulations and policies must adapt and keep up with this dynamic landscape.
A team led by iGyro principal investigator Professor Simon Chesterman, who is from the NUS Faculty of Law, created an interactive map of the global landscape of legislative efforts against fake news and misinformation to illustrate how laws aimed at addressing MDM have evolved globally from 1995 to 2023.
Notably, the team found that these laws were initially introduced in countries with fewer civil liberties, particularly in Africa and Asia. More recently, Asian nations have contributed significantly to the rise in such legislation, often granting greater powers to their governments. The team also found that the expansion of these laws has accelerated most rapidly in Western countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
Through this interactive map, the iGyro team hopes to conduct a more in-depth analysis of the types of laws that govern digital information, and the effectiveness of different approaches adopted by different countries to combat fake news. Valuable insights gained from their research would help shape future policies for all countries.
“We hope that by developing innovative tools, such as SNIFFER and QACheck, and analysing the global legislative landscape against fake news and misinformation to shape future policies, we can create a reliable digital information ecosystem and empower users to have a trustworthy internet to access information,” said Prof Chen.
Music has been described as a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. Regardless of our backgrounds, we can all be moved to tears by the plaintive strains of a stringed instrument or stirred by the rhythmic beat of gongs and drums.
In 1973, UNESCO designated 1 October as International Music Day to celebrate the beauty and diversity of music and its power to unite people from diverse backgrounds. The day is an opportunity to explore music from other cultures and promote the UNESCO ideals of peace and understanding through a shared appreciation of music.
Today, NUS News explores a summer immersion programme that embraces the spirit of International Music Day by taking students on a journey into the world of Balinese music, dance, and theatre.
Sparking creative connections
Bali Regional Resonances is a two-week programme offered by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST) and open to all NUS students who have music training and an interest in learning about Balinese arts. The programme started in 2008 and ran annually for 11 years until the COVID-19 pandemic forced a hiatus.
When Professor Karst de Jong was tasked with reviving the programme in 2024, he approached it as a specialist in improvisation, which is the spontaneous composition of music through a combination of performance, emotions, instrumental technique, and interaction with other musicians. He saw value in helping the students not just learn to play the Balinese instruments, but also gain a deeper understanding of Balinese culture so they could meld the two musical styles creatively.
“We wanted to forge a real connection between the creative ideas of our students and the practice of making things in Bali,” Prof de Jong said. “Through talking to the locals, we came to the conclusion that the shadow puppet play (wayang kulit) would be a really great practice to combine those two things.”
Prof de Jong worked with non-governmental organisation Bali Jaladara to host the programme from 1 to 13 July 2024 in a small, tight-knit community where the students could experience the local way of life and learn various Balinese art forms. Almost every day, they spent about eight hours learning the art forms and collaboratively composing a wayang kulit performance that combined what they learnt with their existing musical training. The performance, presented at the end of the programme, featured both Balinese and Western instruments in the retelling of a traditional Balinese story about gods and demons.
A new learning experience
Unlike the methodical approach of Western music like following musical scores, Balinese music is taught through demonstration and imitation. This approach was challenging for many of the NUS students, and Neo Jie Ning, a third-year student majoring in Music, Collaboration and Production, shared that she initially took videos during lessons because she was worried about forgetting her parts.
However, she ended up not needing them when she followed the teachers’ advice to embrace more instinctual techniques like listening intently to her fellow musicians, visualising the ideas being conveyed by the music, and allowing muscle memory to take over.
Said Jellal Koay, a third-year Composition major: “If you come in with a mindset of ‘I need to write all of these down; these are the notes (the teachers) played,’ you will struggle. Whereas if you are just listening, looking at them, and being in the present, you learn faster.”
In addition to music, the students learnt dance and puppetry in a similar fashion by watching and imitating artists and teachers. Jellal observed that while the different art forms can be learnt in isolation, it is beneficial to learn them together for a deeper understanding and appreciation of each one because they overlap in many ways.
For example, the stop-start motions typical of wayang kulit puppets come from Balinese dance movements, and Balinese art performances often combine a variety of disciplines. The dalang or puppeteer who leads a wayang kulit performance multitasks to keep time, cue the musicians, manipulate and voice the puppets, and even adapt the play spontaneously according to the audience’s reactions.
“It is typical and even important for artists to be familiar with these different disciplines to attain fuller mastery and understanding of their craft,” noted Ong Ping Din, also a third-year Composition major.
The students experienced the arts in a broader context during several excursions, such as a visit to a temple’s anniversary celebration festival. There, they witnessed multiple performances of gamelan music, dances, and wayang kulit happening concurrently, reflecting the way the various art forms are closely intertwined in Balinese culture.
Gaining new perspectives
Prof de Jong hopes that Bali Regional Resonances will inspire more programmes that bring NUS musicians together and give them a new perspective on music through the rich cultures surrounding Singapore.
“There are lots of very proficient musicians in NUS, in engineering and in medical school and elsewhere, not just our conservatory students, and it’s really nice to make that connection with them,” he said.
He added: “I hope (such exposure) will create unique musicians coming from YST, because YST obviously is a conservatory in a Western model, but it's in Singapore. I think that our students should feel that this is different than what they would be studying in Germany, for example, and think: ‘There is something else going on here. What is my place here, and what am I going to do in my future with all these rich musical cultures around us? Am I just going to shut my eyes to these experiences and keep playing Mozart, or is there something meaningful that I take from that?’”
The benefits of immersing oneself in a different culture are many, from gleaning new creative ideas to broadening one’s view of a subject and discovering new ways of creating art.
For instance, living in the community gave students a glimpse into the Balinese people’s attitude towards the arts. They observed that local schoolchildren who came by to learn gamelan music did so casually and joyfully, without seeming to have an extrinsic motivation or end goal like winning a competition.
Said Gio Tan E Chuan, a second-year student majoring in Real Estate and Finance: “What they taught me was more about life than music, and that is about being grateful. I have never seen a group of happier kids, just being in each other’s company and playing good music together.”
Rather than focusing on performance excellence, the Balinese view of music is much broader, said Ping Din.
“Beyond just a means of providing entertainment or employment, the arts simply form an essential part of their daily lives, serving religious or secular functions in their rituals, ceremonies, and festivals,” he noted.
“This prompts me to think about my purpose as a Singaporean artist, in a society where art is not seen to serve ‘essential’ functions and is often conflated with discussions of career prospects. It would be meaningful to consider what art truly means to me, and how I could demonstrate to others the value of my work and artistic practice.”
A team of researchers from NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech), led by Associate Professor Shao Huilin and Associate Professor Brian Lim, has developed a first-of-its-kind technology to map out diverse protein interactions in cells using DNA barcodes.
The technology, dubbed TETRIS, can explicitly identify and quantify multiple interacting partners in large protein assemblies. By capturing the complex hierarchy of protein interactions within tumour cells, the technology uncovers detailed molecular mechanisms driving disease progression. This enables more precise diagnostics, allowing for the accurate sub-typing of cancers and the identification of aggressive forms of the disease in just a few hours, which was not possible previously.
Further, TETRIS provides vital insights from which doctors can tailor therapeutic strategies to individual patients. For instance, identifying the specific proteins and their interactions that contribute to cancer growth can lead to targeted therapies that improve patient outcomes.
The team’s findings were published in the scientific journal Nature Biomedical Engineering on 19 June 2024. The first authors of the study are Dr Liu Yu and Dr Noah Sundah, both are research fellows from NUS iHealthtech.
Unmasking insidious cancer cells
Proteins are responsible for nearly all basic processes of life. Understanding how these building blocks of life interact with one another is a critical facet of biology and medicine. Indeed, proteins interact extensively with one another to drive important functions and activities in health and disease – deciphering these interactions can not only lead to better predictions of cell behaviour, but also have wide-ranging clinical applications, from improved disease diagnostics to developing more effective therapeutic strategies.
Current methods for studying these interactions, however, have limitations such as false results and incomplete profiling of protein interactions, among others. The gold-standard approach — yeast-two hybrid assays — requires genetic manipulation and is limited to pairwise binary interactions, rendering it unsuitable for clinical samples. Another common method — mass spectrometry-based proteomics — often misses weak interactions due to extensive sample processing and remains binary in its evaluation.
All in all, these methods fall short of capturing the full spectrum of protein interactions, particularly the higher-order ones where multiple proteins interact to form large functional assemblies; changes in higher-order protein interactions are often linked to more aggressive types of cancer.
The NUS researchers turned to DNA nanotechnology for a solution. “DNA is a programmable material and can be used to encode rich information while having predictable interactions, which enables us to craft sophisticated architectures with fine spatial control at the nanometre scale,” said Assoc Prof Shao, who led the design of TETRIS. She is also from the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS.
Harnessing the advantages of DNA nanotechnology, TETRIS leverages hybrid molecular structures as smart encoders to map protein interactions directly in patient samples. Each encoder carries a target-recognising antibody and a templated DNA barcode. In action, the encoders not only bind to interacting proteins, but also have their barcodes fused bilaterally with that of their neighbouring units. The resultant barcodes thus capture all information – molecular identity and spatial relationship – and can be used to decode extensive protein interactions. Unlike current methods, TETRIS measures both pairwise and higher-order protein interactions, thereby providing a comprehensive picture of the complex protein interactome.
“Think of proteins as delegates at a scientific conference. Each delegate spots a name tag with a unique barcode. When they interact, or ‘shake hands’, TETRIS captures these interactions by linking their barcodes together. This creates a chain of interactions that we can subsequently read and decode via algorithms. Just like seeing who is chatting to whom at the conference, TETRIS enables us to see how proteins interact within cells, providing us with a lens through which we can understand and diagnose diseases more effectively,” said Assoc Prof Lim, who led the development of algorithms used to process the data collected by TETRIS. He is also from the Department of Computer Science under the NUS School of Computing.
A standout feature of TETRIS lies in its ability to perform on-site encoding and decoding of protein interactions directly in clinical samples. The technology has been tested on biopsies of human breast cancer tissues, from which it accurately diagnosed cancer subtypes and revealed higher-order protein interactions associated with cancer aggressiveness.
Transforming the future of healthcare
TETRIS provides a more detailed and accurate picture of the molecular underpinnings of diseases — a boon for cancer diagnostics and treatments. Changes in higher-order protein interactions, which are hallmarks of aggressive cancers, can be more easily detected, thus leading to more informed, personalised clinical decisions.
Additionally, TETRIS is designed with scalability and adaptability in mind. The technology can process a large number of samples and generate results quickly using existing laboratory infrastructure — allowing it to be integrated into routine clinical workflows with minimal disruption. For instance, the technology can be used in a doctor’s office, where samples obtained via fine-needle aspiration — a safer and minimally-invasive biopsy — can be rapidly analysed to inform treatment decisions.
The NUS researchers plan to expand the application of TETRIS to other types of cancers and neurological diseases, potentially paving the way for novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions across a broad spectrum of illnesses. The team has filed two patents for the technology and hopes to commercialise the innovation.
It was a day of celebration for more than 2,100 alumni and friends who gathered for NUS Homecomingon 21 September 2024. Organised by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations, the event held at University Town allowed alumni to rediscover the campus and rekindle old friendships in an atmosphere that balanced fond memories with exciting new experiences. The half-day event was filled with engaging activities, making it a meaningful and joyous occasion for everyone involved.
The morning started with a lively panel discussion, “Legends in the Room: Turning 60 – Singapore at the Crossroads”, held at the Stephen Riady Centre. Distinguished speakers Professor Wang Gungwu (Arts ‘53, MA ‘56, Hon.Litt.D. ‘22), Mr Kishore Mahbubani (Arts and Social Sciences ‘71), Emeritus Professor Tan Tai Yong (Arts and Social Sciences ‘86, MA ‘89) and moderator Mr Soh Yi Da (Arts and Social Sciences and USP '14) delved into Singapore’s remarkable journey from a fledgling nation to a global powerhouse. The panel explored key challenges faced by Singapore and the strategic moves it needs to take to ensure future success.
Ms Anita Suresh (Science ‘00) shared her excitement about attending the session, which featured notable NUS alumni. “It's good to know how Singapore has progressed over the years as it turns 60 next year, and how we can continue progressing as a nation,” she said. As an alumni mentor, Ms Suresh was also intrigued by the electric race car on display as part of the College of Design and Engineering (CDE)’s Technology Showcase, noting that it helped her stay connected to what current NUS students are passionate about.
Diverse activities included tours of Residential College 4 and the Satellite Technology and Research Centre at CDE, a lecture on NUS wildlife, and a talk on successful negotiation strategies. The “Taking Your Career to the Next Level” and executive coaching workshops, conducted by the Centre for Future-ready Graduates, offered attendees practical career advice. Other events, such as the NUS College Annual Reunion and the Manila Alumni Network & Friends Gathering, provided an opportunity for reunion and connection.
Mr Richard D. Tan (Public Policy ‘13), Chairperson of the Manila Alumni Network, noted that he “particularly enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, not only those from Manila but also fellow Filipinos based in Singapore. It was wonderful to share stories, network, and build a stronger sense of community. The event reinforced how NUS has brought together such a diverse and accomplished group of people.”
All-round fun for everyone
Carnival booths, start-up exhibitions, and interactive activities were a hit with the participants, creating unforgettable memories for alumni and their families. Kids had a blast on the bouncy castle and enjoyed special screenings of Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Garfield Movie, while adults participated in a wine appreciation workshop over at Town Plaza, where the atmosphere was electric with performances by talented alumni bands and groups. Alumni musicians from the University’s student arts groups comprising the Chinese Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Symphony also took part in Orchestral Readings organised by the NUS Centre for the Arts, adding a touch of musical delight.
Mr Dave Jalpan (Engineering ‘11) was glad to attend Homecoming. A first-time attendee, he especially liked the many family-friendly activities on the programme. “It's good to come back to campus once in a while as it brings back fond memories of my student days here,” he shared. The event gave him the chance to reconnect with old friends while creating new memories with his loved ones.
Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts and Social Sciences ‘89), NUS Chief Alumni Officer, emphasised the significance of events such as Homecoming in fostering a sense of community. “Homecoming is a wonderful opportunity for our alumni to return to campus and celebrate their shared bond with the University,” she said. Ms Lim-Rajaram also highlighted the success of the NUS Innovation Forum (NIF), launched last year as a global platform to engage alumni, academics and thought leaders on pressing issues. “We’ve already held the Forum in Manila and San Francisco, and next year, we plan to bring it to Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia,” she shared.
During the event, Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ‘85), NUS President, acknowledged the growing demands of an increasingly interconnected and complex world. He emphasised how these changes also shape the evolving needs of the alumni community. “In July, we announced that NUS would provide a 40 per cent rebate on over 80 self-funded Master’s programmes for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents,” Prof Tan shared. “As more of our alumni seek to update their skills and embrace new career opportunities, we hope this initiative encourages you to return to NUS for your lifelong learning.” He also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary learning to equip students to approach complex problems and adapt to changing industries.
From family fun at the carnival booths to thought-provoking talks and engaging performances, NUS Homecoming 2024 wrapped up on a high note as alumni reminisced about their student days and explored new interests. The lively atmosphere made it clear that NUS will always be a place to return to as the attendees look forward to more reunions and memories in the years to come.
Five outstanding professors from NUS received the nation’s highest honours for scientists and engineers as a recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective fields.
Organised by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF), the President’s Science & Technology Awards (PSTA) honours the exceptional contributions of researchers based in Singapore who have also helped to advance the country’s strategic research priorities.
At a ceremony held on 27 September 2024, President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the President’s Science Award to Professor Liu Bin, Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor as well as Deputy President (Research and Technology) at NUS. The PSA recognises accomplishments generally acknowledged by other Science and Technology (S&T) practitioners as being significant and impactful to their field.
Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS University Professor and President of the Nanyang Technological University, was conferred the President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) by President Tharman. This prestigious award is presented to individuals who have made distinguished, sustained and exceptional contributions, and play a strategic role in advancing Singapore’s development through the promotion and management of S&T.
Three research stars at NUS received the Young Scientist Award (YSA) from Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of NRF. These highly accomplished scientists are: Associate Professor Lu Jiong from the Department of Chemistry at the NUS Faculty of Science; Associate Professor Daniel Ting Shu Wei from the Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering; and Assistant Professor Li Qianxiao from the Department of Mathematics at the NUS Faculty of Science.
The YSA is awarded to researchers aged 40 years and below who are actively engaged in R&D in Singapore, and who have shown great potential to be world-class researcher in their fields of expertise. It is administered by the Singapore National Academy of Science and supported by NRF.
These awards, won by individual researchers and administrators in fields as diverse as organic functional materials and ophthalmology, demonstrate the strength of NUS’ research communities and commitment to scientific excellence.
The five award-winning scientists, with the support of their colleagues and institutions, have helped to push the boundaries in their respective fields, creating profound value and impact for both NUS and Singapore.
2024 President’s Science Award Recipient: Professor Liu Bin
NUS Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor Liu Bin is this year’s sole winner of the President’s Science Award (PSA). She received this prestigious accolade 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.
The findings on carbazole isomer subsequently inspired Prof Liu’s team to develop an iso-structural doping strategy that captures and uses triplet state excitons efficiently to produce new materials with bright luminescence and long-lasting emission. This approach opens up possibilities in naked-eye sensing, afterglow devices, optical data encryption, and advanced medical diagnostics and treatments.
“I take great pride in the training I received at NUS,” said Prof Liu who received her PhD in Chemistry from NUS before her postdoctoral training at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She joined the University as an Assistant Professor in late 2005. She became a full professor in 2016 and is currently NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology). She is also a faculty member of the University’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering.
“I am fortunate to work alongside very talented PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in my research group. I am grateful for their strong contributions to our success and deeply appreciate the unwavering support of my colleagues and international collaborators. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my mentors for their invaluable coaching and guidance, which have inspired me to pursue excellence in both research and administration.”
An internationally acclaimed leader in the field of organic functional materials, Prof Liu has been highly recognised for her contributions in polymer chemistry and applications of organic nanomaterials for biomedical, environmental and energy research.
In honour of her exceptional performance in research, education and service, Prof Liu has been elected to the US National Academy of Engineering, Singapore National Academy of Sciences, Asia-Pacific Academy of Materials, the Academy of Engineering Singapore and the Royal Society of Chemistry. She has also received many prestigious awards, both locally and overseas.
Prof Liu is especially passionate about nurturing the next generation of research leaders and encouraging more women to pursue careers in science and engineering. As the first female individual winner of the PSA since it was first given out in 2009, Prof Liu is conscious that receiving the nation’s highest honour for scientific achievement represents a milestone not just for herself or the University, but for everyone in the scientific field.
“Being a scientist is great,” she said, “but life is more rewarding if we can elevate others. I am motivated to build a more conducive research environment to help my colleagues excel.”
2024 President’s Science & Technology Medal Recipient: Professor Ho Teck Hua
NUS University Professor Ho Teck Hua and current President of the Nanyang Technological University was awarded the President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) for his profound impact on the science and technology landscape in Singapore especially in nurturing a pipeline of top talent, fostering interdisciplinary research, and building national R&D ecosystems.
At NUS, Prof Ho served two roles, as the Deputy President of Research and Technology from 2015 to 2018, and later, Senior Deputy President and Provost from 2018 to 2023. The university saw remarkable growth and expansion during these years. In 2016, he was appointed the founding Executive Chairman of AI Singapore, to lead the nation’s nascent efforts in artificial intelligence. In 2023, Prof Ho assumed the role of the fifth president of NTU.
An NUS alumnus, Prof Ho’s most significant contribution to Singapore was the creation of a strong pipeline of talent in science and technology. He is also a strong believer in interdisciplinary research, having led the creation of the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at NUS through a merger of the Faculty of Engineering and the School of Design and Environment. Today, CDE champions research that cuts across multiple disciplines and offers an enriching interdisciplinary education.
“Our universities work very hard to attract and embrace both young talent and stars from around the world,” said Prof Ho. “Our goal is to support and empower our researchers to create solutions that will make the world a better place and improve the lives of Singaporeans.”
“My dream,” he added, “is to produce some Nobel prize and Turing Award winners for Singapore.”
2024 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Associate Professor Lu Jiong
Assoc Prof Lu Jiong, from the Department of Chemistry at the NUS Faculty of Science, received the YSA for developing novel catalysts that significantly advance sustainable chemical manufacturing processes.
Assoc Prof Lu, who is also a Principal Investigator at the NUS Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials and an NUS alumnus, works at the forefront of next-generation materials and catalytic technologies, focusing on achieving atomic-level precision and high sustainability. His pioneering work promises significant economic and environmental benefits, particularly in transforming manufacturing processes in the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries.
These industries are major sources of air pollution, with some studies showing that the carbon footprint of the pharmaceutical industry surpasses that of the automotive industry. Currently, the catalysts used in these industries face several challenges, including high production costs, difficulties in separation and reuse, and the risk of harmful metal contamination.
Under Assoc Prof Lu’s leadership, his team developed advanced catalysts that not only achieved significantly higher yields and greater efficiency, but also saw a remarkable 10-fold reduction in environmental impact and production cost compared to conventional options.
Assoc Prof Lu is also dedicated to nurturing the next generation of researchers. Several members of his team have since established successful careers in other prestigious institutions, emerging as influential leaders in their respective fields.
“I am deeply grateful for the PhD training I received at NUS, which provided a solid foundation for my academic career and helped me gain a deeper understanding of the research ecosystem here,” he shared.
“Being closely connected with NUS, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to contribute to its research excellence and global impact. I am also truly honoured to receive this award, which recognises my team’s efforts and encourages me to continue driving innovation to position NUS – and Singapore – as a leader in the field.”
2024 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Associate Professor Daniel Ting Shu Wei
Assoc Prof Daniel Ting, from the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and Duke-NUS Medical School, received the YSA for his work in harnessing artificial intelligence in ophthalmology to prevent blindness.
Assoc Prof Ting’s approach to research combines cutting-edge AI technologies with practical clinical applications, seeking to reduce the global burden of eye and systemic vascular diseases. His AI research innovations have extended to pixel-based imaging areas such as diabetic eye diseases, myopia, chronic kidney disease, generative AI for structured data, medical imaging, and large language models for electronic health records. He is also a strong advocate for safe and responsible AI, data and AI safety using privacy enhancing technologies, and AI thought leadership and community practice building. These advancements are not only implemented in clinical, research and educational settings but are also transitioning into new start-ups and licensing agreements, broadening their impact.
His current passion is to develop resource-efficient consumers centric generative AI agents for clinical care, clinical trials matching, remote monitoring, and AI-based health coach, to help manage sick care and well care for Singaporeans and global populations.
Assoc Prof Ting aims to position Singapore’s research, innovation, and startup ecosystems at the global landscape, particularly in AI and digital health. This is reflected in his complementary roles in research, clinical, and policy at Duke-NUS, SNEC, and as the Director of the AI Office at SingHealth. He currently holds other appointments at the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, as well as Stanford University.
Assoc Prof Ting also prioritises mentoring the next generation of researchers, with a particular emphasis on fostering innovation and collaboration across scientific, healthcare, and academic institutions.
2024 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Assistant Professor Li Qianxiao
Asst Prof Li Qianxiao, from the Department of Mathematics at the NUS Faculty of Science, was awarded the YSA for his innovative work on the mathematical foundations of deep learning, its connections with dynamical systems, and applications in AI for science.
Asst Prof Li pioneered the understanding of how expressiveness – the ability to learn arbitrary relationships – arises in deep neural networks. Together with his research team, they revealed the intricate connections between this modern technology and classical mathematics. This has not only improved our understanding of how and when deep learning works, but also how to systematically improve its performance in new application settings.
“Machine learning research is a fast-moving field, and we have witnessed rapid developments in the last 10 years, from classical supervised learning to modern foundation models. Yet, some fundamental questions remain unsolved, and many of them are mathematical in nature,” said the Presidential Young Professor who joined NUS in 2019. Asst Prof Li is also a Principal Investigator at the NUS Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials.
Asst Prof Li’s work is highly interdisciplinary, and he has published in leading journals spanning the fields of mathematics, computer science, and the sciences. “One important advice I have received was from my PhD advisor, Prof E Weinan, from Princeton University. He held the firm view that applied mathematics research must be connected to the broader scientific community,” he shared.
“This principle has driven my research since, and reminded me that I must constantly learn from and talk with scientists from other fields to formulate good research questions,” he said. “NUS has provided me with the opportunity, resources, and freedom to pursue research in my areas of interest, for which I am very grateful.”
We would like to extend our congratulations to our adjunct staff who were also recognised at this year’s PSTA:
Adjunct Professor Malini Olivo from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) and Adjunct Associate Professor Augustine Tee from NUS Medicine, who is also Clinical Associate Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School, were awarded the President’s Technology Award for their innovative integration of biophotonics, machine learning and clinical data to create Respiree, a healthcare solution which has the potential to transform cardio-respiratory disease management.
Adjunct Associate Professor Jonathan Göke from the Department of Statistics and Data Science at the NUS Faculty of Science, received the YSA for developing computational methods to better understand ribonucleic acid (RNA), the complex molecules that play crucial roles in cellular functions.
Picture this – in a hospital ward, a patient sits propped up in his bed, his tray of food mostly untouched, his appetite diminished by medication and the weight of illness. The cold food is then taken away by a nurse, ready to be discarded.
This scenario, while unfortunate, is a common issue in Singapore hospitals, where food wastage is a major concern due to factors such as poor patient appetite, limited dietary selection and inconducive eating environments.
Brainstorming ways to address this problem was the focus of this year’s CHS Case Competition, an annual event organised by the NUS College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS). The winning team, made up of students from disciplines such as Pharmaceutical Science and Business, came up with the idea of interactive bowl designs and gamification to tackle patient food leftovers, particularly among elderly patients.
This year’s competition was organised in partnership with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Boston Consulting Group, with sponsorship from Moderna. The competition was open to all NUS students, with each team comprising at least one CHS student – a competition prerequisite.
In his address to the 13 finalist teams, Professor Lionel Wee, Co-Dean of CHS and Dean of the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences noted that the CHS Case Competition is a platform for students to assemble teams with diverse expertise and apply curriculum learning to formulate interdisciplinary solutions to real-world issues.
He said, “Your collective journey as a team has equipped you with invaluable soft skills such as effective communication, consensus building, resourcefulness and the art of presenting and public speaking. These are indispensable lifelong skills and will serve as building blocks for your enduring professional success.”
Building their cases against food waste
To better understand the food wastage problem in TTSH, the students attended a seminar organised by the hospital, where they learnt about the current measures employed to minimise wastage and feedback from patients about their meals. A group of professors from NUS College of Design and Engineering, NUS Business School and the NUS Centre for English Language Communication also organised a series of workshops for students to delve into the intricacies of food wastage and upcycling, supply chain inventory management in the healthcare sector, as well as business case writing and presentation techniques. Students also gained insights into Moderna’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives.
Building on the knowledge gleaned, the finalist teams devised innovative solutions that involved technology, AI and even psychology, impressing the judges with their creativity in tackling the problem.
Bowled over by the winning pitch
Winning third place and S$1,000 was Team7 whose proposal “Every Meal Counts” targets patient leftovers and excess food surplus in hospitals through a closed-loop solution where patients first order their preferred meals through an app connected to a centralised kitchen and later complete satisfaction surveys to help hospitals better predict their meal preferences.
Second place and S$1,500 went to the team, School of Avocadoes, who called for a three-pronged solution – a food ordering app for patient meal customisation, the use of predictive modelling to optimise buffer meal quantities and the adoption of Modified Atmosphere Packaging technology to extend the shelf life of buffer meals.
Delivering the winning pitch and taking home S$2,000 was Team Pharma X with their “Bowl Bonuses” proposal that aims to reduce food leftovers by elderly patients with poor appetites. By offering meals in “interactive” bowls painted with local cultural designs such as ang ku kueh and iced gem biscuits at the bottom, the team hopes to encourage patients to finish their meals. Those who do so are rewarded with lucky draws to win practical prizes – such as supermarket and retail vouchers or public transport credits – that can be used upon their discharge from the hospital.
Dr Jeannie Tey, Director of Corporate Planning and Chief Sustainability Officer at TTSH, who was part of the panel of judges at the finals, highlighted how Team Pharma X’s proposal demonstrated strong real-world feasibility as it leveraged existing manpower and workflows.
She shared, “Pharma-X emerged as the winning entry by delivering a comprehensive analysis of the problem statement, supported by a clear and compelling rationale for their solution. Their approach skilfully integrated behavioural economics, a structured rewards system, and elements of gamification, making the solution not only practical but also engaging and human-centric.”
Year 3 Pharmaceutical Science student, Xu Qi, who was part of Team Pharma X said, “The competition focused on reducing food waste in hospitals as part of broader ESG efforts, a topic that requires solutions rooted in both business strategy and healthcare knowledge. We learnt that reducing waste in a hospital setting must be balanced with careful attention to patients' nutritional needs, an insight that shaped our solution. This practical knowledge not only enhanced our project but also gave us a deeper appreciation for the real-world implications of our ideas.”
Xu Qi said a key takeaway from this experience is the importance of teamwork and integrating insights across fields to address complex challenges effectively. He also expressed his team’s appreciation for the organisers’ efforts in preparing the teams with workshops on public speaking and presentation skills as this helped ensure they communicated their ideas clearly and confidently. The seminars with healthcare professionals from TTSH were also invaluable as they revealed the intricate relationship between food waste and patient care.
Associate Professor Chng Shu Sin, Vice Dean of Student Life and Alumni Relations at the NUS Faculty of Science, noted that this year’s competition received 78 submissions – the highest since the competition began in 2021. He acknowledged that this was due in part to the interesting problem statement that TTSH came up with.
Assoc Prof Chng said, “The cases are evidence-based and also very interdisciplinary which highlights the gist of what the CHS competition is about. Hopefully, Tan Tock Seng Hospital will see the value in some of these cases and mix and match them into a good solution to deal with food wastage in the hospital.”
By Assoc Prof Michael Dunn from the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS; Dr Kathryn Muyskens, Research Fellow; and Mr Harsh Hiwase all from the same centre
By Dr Carol Soon, Principal Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS, and Principal Investigator from the Centre for Trusted Internet and Community at NUS, and Ms Samantha Quek, Research Assistant from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
Three NUS researchers have been commended on the 2024 edition of the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (TR35) Asia Pacific list in recognition of their remarkable accomplishments and contributions to the progress of science and technology.
The 35 honourees were introduced and conferred their awards at the Meet TR35 Summit 2024 during the 17th Pujiang Innovation Forum held on 9 September 2024. The TR35 Asia Pacific list recognises these young science and technology trailblazers who have shown exceptional innovation and entrepreneurial acuity, and whose discoveries are expected to have profound impact in their respective fields.
These luminaries were honoured under five categories: Inventors who develop new technologies and startups; Pioneers who advance fundamental research; Entrepreneurs who launch tech ventures; Humanitarians who use technology to enhance opportunities or advocate policies; and Visionaries who discover new applications for existing technologies.
Assistant Professor Tan Yong Zi: Pushing the boundaries of protein structure imaging for potential drug targets
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a remarkable tool that allows scientists to view the intricate landscape of the microscopic world. It provides detailed 3D images of the molecular components of the cell, such as its DNA, RNA, and proteins. Capturing these snapshots can reveal key information about how these components interact and function in different diseases.
Using innovative cryo-EM methods, Assistant Professor Tan Yong Zi and his team from the Department of Biological Sciences under the NUS Faculty of Science constructed and revealed the protein atomic structure models that are the key to understanding the evolution of organisms, how diseases spread, and how to design targeted drugs against these diseases.
Asst Prof Tan earned a spot on this year’s TR35 Asia Pacific list as an Inventor for his cutting-edge discoveries that helped to refine cryo-EM methods for protein structure analysis.
Asst Prof Tan and his collaborators pioneered the tilted data collection strategy to capture more views of protein samples with preferred orientation problems. This strategy allowed him to solve the structures of 14 different bacterial ribosomal intermediates that can be targeted for antibiotic development. To diagnose the degree of preferred orientation present in a protein sample, Asst Prof Tan and his collaborators also developed a software, called 3DFSC, which is now an online web server widely used by structural biologists around the world.
Asst Prof Tan co-developed Back-it-up, a novel open-source cryo-EM grid freezing device that can be built at a fraction of the cost of conventional freezing device and is able to do time-resolved cryo-EM experiments. He and his collaborators also demonstrated that applying a mathematical correction called the Ewald diffraction sphere curvature correction was crucial for achieving high resolution in cryo-EM images of an adenovirus capsid sample.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award, and I would like to acknowledge the continual support from my lab members, collaborators, mentors and NUS that has made this possible. I am also heartened to see that methods development is being recognised as an important pillar for advancing scientific progress,” said Asst Prof Tan.
Assistant Professor Zhu Di: Innovating the future of scalable quantum computing
Quantum information processing exploits the laws of quantum physics and can potentially revolutionise modern society by solving complex problems in areas such as cybersecurity and drug discovery. However, building practical-scale quantum systems to solve real-world problems still faces formidable challenges.
Asst Prof Zhu Di, who holds appointments in both the Department of Materials Science and Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering as well as the Centre for Quantum Technologies at NUS, is dedicated to developing scalable hardware for photonic quantum information processing. He was recognised on this year’s TR35 Asia Pacific list as an Inventor for his important contributions in two technical platforms, superconducting nanowire detectors and lithium niobate photonics, to promote the construction of practical-scale quantum processors.
The advancements made by Asst Prof Zhu and his team have significantly expanded the functions and performance of these two technical platforms which have a direct impact on a wide range of photon applications in quantum processing.
Asst Prof Zhu plans to lead his team to continue developing new integrated photonic devices and collaborate with chip manufacturing platforms to explore new material systems and achieve wafer-level fabrication of quantum photonic integrated circuits.
Asst Prof Zhu said, “I’m honoured to be named on the MIT TR35 Asia Pacific list and would like to thank my mentors, collaborators, and team members who have made this possible. My team and I will continue developing innovative solutions to address critical challenges in quantum technologies.”
Adjunct Assistant Professor Ady Suwardi: Revolutionising thermoelectric technology for sustainable and renewable energy sources
Finding alternative energy sources and reducing energy consumption have become top priorities for many countries globally, owing to the negative environmental impacts of traditional energy sources, such as fossil fuels and oil. Thermoelectric technologies, a culmination of efficient, clean and sustainable methods to achieve renewable energy from heat, have garnered growing attention from the scientific community.
Working at the forefront to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials is Adjunct Assistant Professor Ady Suwardi from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS. He has achieved a spot on this year’s TR35 Asia Pacific list as a Visionary for his research focusing on discovering ways to recycle discarded electronic products and devices, such as solar panels, into useful thermoelectric materials and devices to harness heat to produce electricity.
Adj Asst Prof Suwardi and his team proposed an innovative method to convert recycled non-purified silicon solar cells into valuable thermoelectric materials. By introducing phosphorus and germanium doping, they achieved materials with high thermoelectric performance. This breakthrough facilitates the development of sustainable thermoelectric devices as a source of renewable energy.
Adj Asst Prof Suwardi also holds a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Adj Asst Prof Suwardi said, “Being commended on the TR35 Asia Pacific list has provided me a platform to spread awareness on the potential of thermoelectric technology and exchange ideas with peers across the region. I am very honoured and fortunate to be among the 35 young innovators recognised in this year's list, and I look forward to contributing more impactful works in the years to come."
NUS has inked a series of strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with industry and academic partners in Vietnam, marking a new milestone in strengthening the University’s contributions to academic advancement and economic development in Vietnam.
Three MOUs were signed between NUS, Becamex IDC Corporation (Becamex), and the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) on 18 September 2024 to promote joint initiatives for strengthening Vietnam’s workforce and enhancing its economic competitiveness, particularly in the Binh Duong province in southern Vietnam. The MOUs were signed by NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Aaron Thean; Chief Executive Officer of Becamex Mr Pham Ngoc Thuan; and General Director of VSIP Mr Nguyen Phu Thinh, at a ceremony held at Binh Duong New City, during a visit by the NUS delegation led by Prof Thean.
These MOUs formalised the partnership between three NUS units and the Eastern International University (EIU), which has been appointed by Becamex and VSIP to undertake the collaborative programmes with NUS for accelerating digital transformation, advancing medical education, and driving research and innovation across Vietnam.
On 19 September 2024, NUS also signed an MOU with Van Lang University (VLU) in Ho Chi Minh City, establishing a partnership to foster deeper collaborations in education and research in a range of academic areas. The MOU was signed by President of VLU, Associate Professor Tran Thi My Dieu, and Prof Thean in a ceremony attended by senior leadership and representatives from both universities.
Highlighting the significance of these strategic partnerships to advance digital skills, research, and innovation in Vietnam, Prof Thean shared, “By integrating advanced research and innovation with continuing education and talent development, we are equipping students and professionals in Vietnam with critical competencies to thrive in the new digital era. The partnerships with Becamex and VSIP underscore NUS’ commitment to drive digital transformation and make an impact beyond Singapore and across the region.”
“We are delighted to partner with VLU in this collaborative effort, which embodies our commitment to fostering innovation and advancing education. This partnership draws upon NUS’ research knowledge and expertise in advanced semiconductor chip design and process technology research, on top of digital technology and transformation which will equip students with the necessary skills for the future workplace,” said Prof Thean. “This partnership highlights the power of cooperation in driving progress towards academic excellence and creating meaningful opportunities in nurturing our students from both countries.”
Partnering to boost educational advancement and economic growth
NUS-ISS, which provides graduate education, executive education programmes, consultancy and research services in digital technology, has established a five-year partnership with EIU to boost digital skills within enterprises in Vietnam. Commencing in a pilot phase offering courses for Becamex executives in the areas of Digital Leadership and Generative AI among others, the programme could be expanded to provide additional training for managerial and executive levels, with the aim of equipping local enterprises with the critical skills to navigate and thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
Central to this initiative will be the creation of a co-branded Digital Skills Academy to facilitate large-scale training, where NUS-ISS will provide consultancy and license its digital skills programmes, as well as provide Train-the-Trainer sessions to ensure effective delivery of these courses by local educators.
EIU will also collaborate with the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) to advance medical education and research through a five-year partnership aiming to foster joint research initiatives, enrich educational programmes, and spur innovations in healthcare practices. This new MOU builds on the existing five-year partnership between NUS Medicine and EIU established in 2023, which focused on nursing education and academic research. EIU and NUS Medicine will engage in joint training programmes, faculty development activities, and academic events such as seminars and conferences in Nursing. Additionally, there are plans to explore the creation of a new medical school and simulation teaching facilities in Vietnam.
The third MOU between NUS and EIU establishes a five-year collaboration to advance education and research in Smart Industries and Digital Transformation. Leveraging the expertise of the NUS School for Continuing and Lifelong Education and College of Design and Engineering at NUS, the partnership will focus on creating reskilling and upskilling programmes for Industry 4.0. The three partners will engage in joint training and research initiatives and enhance student mobility through new international programmes. NUS will also provide advisory support for developing state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to bolster cutting-edge research and education.
Commenting on the new collaborations, Becamex Chairman Mr Nguyen Van Hung said, “The strategic partnership with NUS marks a key milestone in strengthening ties between Binh Duong and Singapore, driving long-term cooperation in digital capabilities, scientific research, technological innovation, and human resource development, which are essential to realizing the province’s vision for the future.”
University collaborations for academic excellence
In the collaboration between NUS and VLU, both universities have committed to several key initiatives including the development of reskilling and upskilling programmes focused on integrated circuit design and semiconductor technology, as well as joint training and research initiatives in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The partnership will facilitate the exchange of academic information and resources between the two universities, further expanding mobility programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Additionally, NUS will provide advisory services to VLU on the development of state-of-the-art laboratory systems. This strategic partnership represents a significant step forward in international cooperation for both universities and creates fresh opportunities for Van Lang University’s School of Technology (VLTECH).
President of VLU Associate Professor Tran Thi My Dieu remarked, “The collaboration between NUS and VLU will deliver substantial benefits to students, faculty, and the workforce through joint academic and research efforts.” She further noted, “We have established key initiatives aimed at advancing VLU’s training programmes, enriching student experiences, and improving employability outcomes.”
Advancing ongoing alliances with partners in Vietnam
NUS has plans to expand ongoing collaborations with partners in Vietnam, such as the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC), where pathways are currently available for eligible VNU-HCMC undergraduates to advance into graduate education at NUS.
“We are also keenly pursuing new opportunities with the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC), an important university partner where we currently support their top-performing undergraduates for accelerated graduate studies at NUS, to collaborate in Industry 4.0 training and joint research across strategic areas such as digital technology, AI, fintech, semiconductors, sustainability, and healthcare, and development of leadership training programmes centred on digital transformation, urban solutions, and policy analysis,” said Prof Thean.
By Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of Social Lab and Principal Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
Researchers from the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) at NUS and the NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (ACRLE), based at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), have developed an innovative technique to significantly enhance the reproductive potential of aged oocytes, or immature egg cells, potentially paving the way for better outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), for older females. The team demonstrated the rejuvenation of oocytes from an older preclinical model by using a young follicular environment to partially restore its reproductive function, and in turn, generated a better quality egg for IVF.
Female reproductive ageing is a natural process that is associated with changes in a woman’s reproductive system over time, including a sharp decline in egg quantity and quality. With many women choosing to have children later in life, understanding and mitigating the impacts of ageing on egg cell quality has become crucial to develop strategies for successful egg cell maturation, fertilisation, and embryo development.
Working at the forefront to understand the mechanics behind female reproductive ageing, a team of researchers led by Professor Rong Li, Director of MBI, and Dr Wang Haiyang, Senior Research Fellow at MBI, and IVF scientists and clinicians from NUS Medicine and ACRLE, has constructed and used hybrid ovarian follicles extracted from a preclinical model to provide direct evidence that an aged follicular environment could harm the quality and developmental potential of young oocytes. More importantly, the team demonstrated that an oocyte from an aged follicular environment can be rejuvenated by transplanting it into a young follicular environment.
“The inspiration for this research came from the growing need to address age-related fertility issues. It is extremely curious that the female reproductive system, especially the ovarian follicles that contain oocytes, appear to be the fastest ageing system of the human body. This fact prompted us to delve deeper to gain a much better understanding of this ageing process and to discover ways to mitigate it,” said Prof Li.
The novel approach and findings on the impact of the follicular environment on oocytes were published in Nature Aging on 9 September 2024.
Revitalising an aged egg cell
An ovarian follicle is a basic functional unit in the mammalian ovary, composed of somatic cells (granulosa cells) that surround and support an oocyte (an immature egg cell) as it grows and matures before ovulation. The granulosa cells communicate with the oocyte to provide essential nutrients and components through channels known as transzonal projections. In turn, the oocyte provides key components that signal the growth and development of granulosa cells.
MBI researchers tapped on this understanding of the relationship between somatic cells of the ovarian follicle and the oocyte to create hybrid ovarian follicles through an ex-vivo 3D culturing platform, building upon previous methods. The team then extracted the oocyte from its original follicular environment and transplanted it to a new follicular environment, whose own oocyte had been removed, to construct the hybrid ovarian follicle.
For a start, the researchers confirmed that aged granulosa cells, compared to young granulosa cells, exhibited an increase in the hallmarks of ageing, such as an increase in indicators of DNA damage and other factors linked to programmed cell death. They showed that this aged follicular environment can reduce the quality and developmental potential of a young oocyte.
The research team then created hybrid ovarian follicles containing an aged oocyte (i.e. an immature egg cell from an aged follicular environment) in a young follicular environment. The researchers demonstrated that the quality and developmental competence of the aged oocyte can be substantially, though not fully, restored through “nurturing” in a young follicular environment. The team found that the restoration of the quality of the aged oocyte was attributed to the reshaping of its metabolism and gene expression.
The researchers discovered that the young granulosa cells, which were much better at establishing transzonal projections toward the aged oocyte, helped to facilitate this restoration. In addition, there was an improvement in the function and health of oocyte mitochondria, crucial organelles for energy production and cellular metabolism.
The team further provided evidence that the young follicular environment could support much more accurate partitioning of the oocyte genome, which must occur properly during oocyte maturation to prevent aneuploidy – the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell or organism. All these improvements enhance the success of embryonic development after IVF, leading to a live-birth rate around three times higher than that achieved with aged oocytes not exposed to the young follicular environment.
The NUS team has filed a patent application for this innovation, particularly concerning the method used to rejuvenate aged oocytes by exposing them to a young follicular microenvironment.
The funding for this study was provided by ACRLE, NUS Medicine, and the National Research Foundation, Singapore.
A glimpse into the future of fertility treatments
“The findings from this study provide a proof-of-concept and the basis for the development of non-invasive cell-based strategies to improve the quality of eggs from older women or women whose reproductive ability is affected by other health conditions, which could lead to improved outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF,” said Dr Wang.
The researchers hope to bring the potential application of their cutting-edge discovery to fruition by conducting more thorough studies to understand how the young follicular environment can improve the quality of an aged oocyte, validate the key findings of this study with human cells and oocytes, and develop an optimised follicle cell line that can be used to improve egg quality for better IVF outcomes.
By Emeritus Professor Tommy Koh, from the Faculty of Law at NUS, and Chairman of the International Advisory Panel of the Centre for International Law at NUS
By Distinguished Professor Ivan Png, from the Dept of Strategy and Policy at NUS Business School and the Dept of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS
At the core of the newly-created Office of Global Health is a man with a vision that transcends borders and disciplines—Professor Teo Yik Ying, an internationally renowned biostatistician who is also Dean of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Established under the Office of the President at NUS, the Office of Global Health is the vanguard in NUS’ global health push: it leads NUS’ health engagement efforts on the global stage, empowering NUS to shape policies and health outcomes in the region, in an effective, sustainable and equitable manner. The multidisciplinary nature of global health – which spans intersecting domains such as biology, engineering, and the social and behavioural sciences – calls for a whole-of-university effort that will consolidate and amplify our reach in an ever-shifting global health landscape.
Prof Teo, an eminent scholar, leader, and apparent amiable conversationalist, embodies the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration and global engagement. As Vice President (Global Health), a new role he assumed in September 2023, he has taken on a simple yet profound mission: to leverage the vast intellectual and technological resources of NUS to tackle health issues that affect millions worldwide. His approach is holistic, integrating insights from medicine, public health, engineering, law, social sciences, and more. This multidisciplinary ethos is the cornerstone of the Office, giving it a unique focus to impact lives.
A vision beyond academia
Prof Teo's vision for the Office is not merely academic but deeply rooted in real-world impact. In the interview with NUS News, he emphasises that NUS should not be seen as just a typical university focused on enterprise, start-ups, and research, but as an institution with a core element of social impact. "The Office of Global Health is about how NUS can actually contribute to provide solutions to some of the world's problems," he said, underscoring one of its roles to turn academic research into tangible benefits for populations across the globe.
Of particular attention is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework developed by the United Nations, which is a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Prof Teo believes that NUS, through the Office, can play an instrumental role in achieving these goals, particularly those related to health. By bringing together diverse faculties and disciplines, the Office aims to address issues such as food security, water safety, and public health policies, not just in Singapore but globally.
Building partnerships for global health
One of Prof Teo's key strategic aims of the Office of Global Health is fostering partnerships, both within NUS and with external stakeholders. He talked about a robust network where, for example, technical solutions from the College of Design and Engineering, innovations from NUS Computing, and insights from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences come together to create comprehensive health solutions.
"Within NUS, we have the School of Public Health, the Faculty of Law, the School of Computing, and many more, all producing new ideas and innovations. The challenge is to bring these together and benefit the health of populations," Prof Teo explained.
This collaborative spirit will reach beyond NUS – Prof Teo shared a vision for the Office where it would actively engage with regional governments, international organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as other academic institutions worldwide. Integrating expertise with external bodies will allow the Office to leverage its networks to understand the health needs of different regions and tailor solutions accordingly.
Addressing regional health challenges
Prof Teo is particularly keen on addressing health challenges in the ASEAN region and is acutely aware of pressing regional issues such as tobacco control, access to essential drugs, and capacity building in public health. A multi-layered approach among the various ASEAN governments is essential, Prof Teo noted.
"The regional approach is powerful. We can achieve a consensus on issues like tobacco control, taxation of unhealthy products, and collective drug procurement, which can significantly reduce costs and improve access to essential medications," Prof Teo said.
Capacity building and training
Capacity building is another crucial area where Prof Teo's influence is evident. He emphasises the importance of equipping local health professionals with the skills needed to evaluate and improve their health systems.
"It's about enabling countries to track their health systems' changes, evaluate their effectiveness, and make informed decisions. This skill is vital for sustainable health improvements,” Prof Teo explained. The Office's training programmes are designed to be sustainable, with a focus on empowering local institutions to eventually conduct this training independently.
Driving sustainable innovation
While the Office does not drive innovation directly, it plays a critical role in utilising existing innovations from NUS to address health issues. Prof Teo prefers a solution-based approach, focusing on deploying proven technologies that have already undergone rigorous testing and validation. This strategy ensures that when the Office introduces a technology to a country, it is ready for immediate impact, with clear cost-benefit analyses and implementation plans.
"Our role is to showcase NUS' proven technologies that can solve real-world problems," Prof Teo shared. This approach avoids the risks associated with untested innovations and ensures that the solutions provided are both effective and sustainable. For instance, the Office has upcoming plans to deploy water purification technologies in countries facing severe water safety issues, significantly improving public health outcomes.
One of the many exciting initiatives under the Office is a project in Laos in collaboration with Wateroam, an NUS-backed start-up founded by NUS Business alumnus David Pong and Environmental Engineering alumni Lim Chong Tee and Vincent Loka that develops portable water filtration systems.
The journey began in January this year, when Prof Teo and a representative from Wateroam travelled to Laos to develop the project with authorities there. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with all parties expressing strong interest in the initiative.
The project looks to deploy Wateroam's filtration systems in 10 provinces across Laos, focusing on district hospitals, schools, and community water collection points. "This will ensure that these facilities now have safe, clean water that is pathogen-free," Prof Teo explains. The project will be carried out in three phases, starting with the installation of the systems in select sites, followed by training local partners to deploy the systems independently.
In July, the team, led by Prof Teo, successfully installed the first water filtration system at Vang Vieng District Hospital, marking the launch of a project to deploy similar systems in at least 14 sites across the country. The initiative aims to ensure long-term access to safe drinking water in rural Laos.
To support sustainability, local staff are being trained to maintain the filtration systems. The project is powered by Wateroam’s innovative water filtration technology, which has been used globally in disaster-hit areas and regions with limited access to clean water.
Measuring success through impact
Prof Teo's metrics for success go beyond traditional academic indicators. While publications and funding are important, he places greater value on the social impact of the Office's work. Success is measured by the Office's ability to attract international funding for health initiatives, successfully deploy NUS innovations in various countries, and influence health policies at regional and national levels.
"The true measure of our success is in our social impact," shared Prof Teo. "It's about improving health, saving lives, and contributing to global well-being. This is how we fly the NUS flag—by demonstrating that we are not just an academic institution but a force for positive change in the world."
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) marked its 20th anniversary with a grand gala dinner held at Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore at the end of August 2024. The event brought together over 500 distinguished guests comprising staff, alumni and students, as well as donors and partners from around the world to celebrate the School’s two decades of excellence in public policy education and its growing influence on the global stage.
A milestone in public policy education
Founded in 2004, LKYSPP was established with the vision of advancing knowledge and leadership in public policy through education, research, and outreach. It is the first institution named after Singapore's founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Over the past 20 years, it has grown to become a leading institution in the field, attracting students, scholars, and policymakers from around the world.
At the time of its founding, LKYSPP offered only the Master in Public Policy (MPP) programme. Today, it offers four distinct master's programmes – MPP, Master in Public Administration, Master in Public Administration and Management, and Master in International Affairs – alongside a PhD programme.
Since its inception, the School has grown from fewer than 50 students to welcoming more than 200 new students each year. More than 4,000 students from nearly 100 economies around the world have walked through its doors, benefitting from its master's and PhD programmes, moving on to make significant contributions and impact in politics, economics and societies.
Beyond its postgraduate programmes, LKYSPP’s executive education arm has developed more than 1,000 programs and delivered them to over 32,000 more participants from the public, corporate and non-profit sectors.
A night of celebration and reflection
The gala dinner was attended by notable figures in academia, government, and the private sector. They include LKYSPP Governing Board Chairman, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, as well as other luminaries such as NUS University Professor Wang Gungwu, LKYSPP Visiting Scholar and former Foreign Minister George Yeo, and former diplomat and LKYSPP founding Dean, Mr Kishore Mahbubani.
The evening began with a heart-warming tribute video documenting staff and alumni sharing their experiences at LKYSPP and how the School’s rigorous training and global perspective equipped them to tackle the challenges in their careers.
Associate Professor Suzaina Kadir, who has been with the School since its founding and is currently Vice Dean (Academic Affairs), recalled the School's initial days when her classroom would have less than 10 students. She added, “We've seen changes in the curriculum over the last 20 years, and we continue to strive to develop our students’ potential to the fullest, because we care very much about the students reaching their potential.”
Reflecting on LKYSPP’s journey in his opening address, Professor Danny Quah, Dean of LKYSPP, expressed his heartfelt thanks to all who contributed towards building a solid foundation for the School, including Mr Mahbubani, its founding Dean, the School’s faculty, staff and governing board, partners and generous donors, as well as the National University of Singapore.
“It is on this foundation that we have continued to strive - to push the School to ever greater heights,” said Prof Quah.
Looking forward: The next 20 years
The highlight of the evening was a fireside chat with Guest of Honour, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who emphasised the importance of strong international relations in addressing the complex challenges of the 21st century, and encouraged the School to continue its research work and impact in communities.
In a Facebook post, DPM Heng said that the School is one of the few institutions that carry Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s name, a testament to his strong belief that good governance was crucial to uplift the destinies of countries and the lives of people.
“Today, LKYSPP plays an important role in providing a platform for scholars, students and practitioners to explore good governance, and applying this to different country contexts amidst a rapidly changing world,” he added.
The 20th-anniversary gala was not only a celebration of the School’s achievements but also a reminder of its ongoing mission to contribute to the betterment of society through thoughtful, impactful public policy.
LKYSPP will be publishing a commemorative book later this year. The book, titled “Public Policy Schools of the Future”, explores the future of public policy schools through a collection of essays from over 50 experts with present or former involvements with the School over the years.
Introducing the book at the dinner, Associate Professor Francesco Mancini, Vice Dean (Executive Education), thanked the contributors who hail from a wide range of sectors including government, corporate, education, philanthropy, finance and technology.
Assoc Prof Mancini said, “Our desire is to contribute to the discussions of the future of higher education more broadly and on the future of policy and governance schools more specifically. Policy schools are not just about education - they are also about research, policy, ideas, recommendation, consultancy, executive training, outreach and thought leadership.”
Looking to the future, LKYSPP will continue to strengthen its position as a leading global public policy institution and further establish Singapore as a global point of reference for the study of public policy. This will be achieved by prioritising innovation in academic programmes, enriching the student experience, and expanding professional and lifelong learning initiatives.
In parallel, the School’s research will drive thought leadership in important areas such as sustainability, geopolitics, and social mobility. LKYSPP will also broaden its global reach through partnerships and deeper engagement with policymakers and academic institutions around the world.
With two decades of accomplishments behind it, LKYSPP is well-positioned to continue its legacy of excellence and shape the future of public policy.
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) marked its 20th anniversary with a grand gala dinner held at Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore at the end of August 2024. The event brought together over 500 distinguished guests comprising staff, alumni and students, as well as donors and partners from around the world to celebrate the School’s two decades of excellence in public policy education and its growing influence on the global stage.
A milestone in public policy education
Founded in 2004, LKYSPP was established with the vision of advancing knowledge and leadership in public policy through education, research, and outreach. It is the first institution named after Singapore's founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Over the past 20 years, it has grown to become a leading institution in the field, attracting students, scholars, and policymakers from around the world.
At the time of its founding, LKYSPP offered only the Master in Public Policy (MPP) programme. Today, it offers four distinct master's programmes – MPP, Master in Public Administration, Master in Public Administration and Management, and Master in International Affairs – alongside a PhD programme.
Since its inception, the School has grown from fewer than 50 students to welcoming more than 200 new students each year. More than 4,000 students from nearly 100 economies around the world have walked through its doors, benefitting from its master's and PhD programmes, moving on to make significant contributions and impact in politics, economics and societies.
Beyond its postgraduate programmes, LKYSPP’s executive education arm has developed more than 1,000 programs and delivered them to over 32,000 more participants from the public, corporate and non-profit sectors.
A night of celebration and reflection
The gala dinner was attended by notable figures in academia, government, and the private sector. They include LKYSPP Governing Board Chairman, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, as well as other luminaries such as NUS University Professor Wang Gungwu, LKYSPP Visiting Scholar and former Foreign Minister George Yeo, and former diplomat and LKYSPP founding Dean, Mr Kishore Mahbubani.
The evening began with a heart-warming tribute video documenting staff and alumni sharing their experiences at LKYSPP and how the School’s rigorous training and global perspective equipped them to tackle the challenges in their careers.
Associate Professor Suzaina Kadir, who has been with the School since its founding and is currently Vice Dean (Academic Affairs), recalled the School's initial days when her classroom would have less than 10 students. She added, “We've seen changes in the curriculum over the last 20 years, and we continue to strive to develop our students’ potential to the fullest, because we care very much about the students reaching their potential.”
Reflecting on LKYSPP’s journey in his opening address, Professor Danny Quah, Dean of LKYSPP, expressed his heartfelt thanks to all who contributed towards building a solid foundation for the School, including Mr Mahbubani, its founding Dean, the School’s faculty, staff and governing board, partners and generous donors, as well as the National University of Singapore.
“It is on this foundation that we have continued to strive - to push the School to ever greater heights,” said Prof Quah.
Looking forward: The next 20 years
The highlight of the evening was a fireside chat with Guest of Honour, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who emphasised the importance of strong international relations in addressing the complex challenges of the 21st century, and encouraged the School to continue its research work and impact in communities.
In a Facebook post, DPM Heng said that the School is one of the few institutions that carry Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s name, a testament to his strong belief that good governance was crucial to uplift the destinies of countries and the lives of people.
“Today, LKYSPP plays an important role in providing a platform for scholars, students and practitioners to explore good governance, and applying this to different country contexts amidst a rapidly changing world,” he added.
The 20th-anniversary gala was not only a celebration of the School’s achievements but also a reminder of its ongoing mission to contribute to the betterment of society through thoughtful, impactful public policy.
LKYSPP will be publishing a commemorative book later this year. The book, titled “Public Policy Schools of the Future”, explores the future of public policy schools through a collection of essays from over 50 experts with present or former involvements with the School over the years.
Introducing the book at the dinner, Associate Professor Francesco Mancini, Vice Dean (Executive Education), thanked the contributors who hail from a wide range of sectors including government, corporate, education, philanthropy, finance and technology.
Assoc Prof Mancini said, “Our desire is to contribute to the discussions of the future of higher education more broadly and on the future of policy and governance schools more specifically. Policy schools are not just about education - they are also about research, policy, ideas, recommendation, consultancy, executive training, outreach and thought leadership.”
Looking to the future, LKYSPP will continue to strengthen its position as a leading global public policy institution and further establish Singapore as a global point of reference for the study of public policy. This will be achieved by prioritising innovation in academic programmes, enriching the student experience, and expanding professional and lifelong learning initiatives.
In parallel, the School’s research will drive thought leadership in important areas such as sustainability, geopolitics, and social mobility. LKYSPP will also broaden its global reach through partnerships and deeper engagement with policymakers and academic institutions around the world.
With two decades of accomplishments behind it, LKYSPP is well-positioned to continue its legacy of excellence and shape the future of public policy.
“Universities have a critical role in showing us the way to go,” said Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, who was speaking at a panel discussion at an NUS Cities event, “Towards a Healthy Singapore: Green Building Impact on Public Health”, on 26 August 2024.
“If the country has to decarbonise by 2050, we need (to think about) solutions now,” urged Ms Fu as she highlighted four important areas in the decarbonisation drive: policies to create change, new technology, capital, and international collaboration. With Singapore’s carbon emissions still on the rise, urgent action in these areas is required for Singapore to meet its net-zero targets.
Indeed, higher education institutes and multi-disciplinary platforms such as NUS Cities are just some of many vehicles that will help Singapore achieve net-zero, said Professor Khoo Teng Chye, Director of NUS Cities and Practice Professor at the NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE) in his welcome address.
“Universities play a very crucial role in undertaking education and research to understand the challenges, to find innovative solutions, and to prepare our next generation for climate adaptation,” he told the 350-strong audience at NUS’ SDE4, Singapore’s first net-zero building that was built from scratch.
The event also saw the launch of a partnership between NUS Cities and CapitaLand Development (CLD) to promote joint research and development activities in the area of sustainable urban planning and design.
Launch of partnership between NUS Cities and CapitaLand Development
NUS Cities’ mission, Prof Khoo said, is to create an open and inclusive platform for education, research, and advisory services. This is necessary to address the complex challenges of today’s urban environments. “With CapitaLand Development being part of our eco-system of public-private partnerships, it will definitely support our core mission especially in the areas of sustainable development.”
The joint areas of cooperation include sustainability-focused awareness and engagement programmes, such as the annual NUS Cities Symposium; sustainable urban solutions that integrate CLD’s development expertise with NUS Cities’ research capabilities; and sustainability expertise and sponsorship efforts to grow capabilities and nurture the next generation of urban planning leaders.
“We are pleased to embark on this collaboration, which leverages CapitaLand Development’s expertise in real estate and sustainable development and NUS Cities’ academic and research prowess,” said Mr Jonathan Yap, CEO, CapitaLand Development (Singapore). “Together, we look forward to enhancing synergies for sustainable development and innovative urban solutions that will contribute to the environmental and social well-being of communities.”
Walking the green talk
With growing population density, and challenges such as climate change and a rapidly ageing society, urban planning is more vital than ever, Prof Khoo noted.
“Built environment professionals are crucial in shaping environments that encourage healthy behaviours such as walking, cycling, and outdoor activities,” he said. “Well-designed spaces and amenities also foster a sense of belonging and community cohesion, and are especially vital for vulnerable groups.”
The public and private sectors are exploring myriad solutions to make spaces greener and more conducive to the health of their occupants, according to panellists at the event.
For instance, the Housing & Development Board’s (HDB) 2020 Green Towns Programme set an ambitious target to cut energy consumption in HDB estates by 15 per cent by 2030.
It is also promoting well-being in various ways, such as introducing intergenerational playgrounds to encourage social interaction and using biophilic design to lower temperatures and bring nature closer to residents.
“We want to see how we can make spaces more conducive for people to exercise naturally,” said HDB’s Deputy Chief Executive (Building), Er Dr Johnny Wong Liang Heng. This is being explored in Health District @ Queenstown – a multi-stakeholder pilot programme led by NUS, the National University Health System, and HDB, and working with other partners to promote residents’ well-being across different stages of their life.
The private sector is keeping pace with these trends too, exploring options such as the adaptive reuse of old buildings and cleaner energy sources like green hydrogen, noted Mr Lee Ang Seng, President of the Singapore Green Building Council.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been greater awareness of the relationship between public health and the quality of indoor environments, added Mr Lee. Mr Giovanni Cossu, CapitaLand Development’s Head of Sustainability, agreed, pointing to a global demand for “wellness real estate” focusing on physical and psychological health.
Implementation is key
While green initiatives help push the sustainability agenda, it is important to ensure that they are effectively deployed, noted the panel moderator, Professor Lam Khee Poh, Provost’s Chair Professor of Architecture and the Built Environment at NUS CDE.
For instance, in the case of carbon capture, where carbon dioxide emissions are captured and isolated to prevent them from reaching the atmosphere, “investing in the right foundation, technology, and infrastructure is important,” he added.
Understanding public mindsets and needs is crucial too, said Er Dr Wong, who is also HDB’s Chief Science & Technology Officer. He recounted how a pneumatic waste conveyance system for household waste – an underground network of pipes using air suction that is more environmentally friendly – encountered roadblocks when it was piloted at Yuhua estate in 2015.
Unaware that bulkier items such as books and pillows could not be thrown down the chute, residents ended up clogging the chute and causing it to emit a smell. But these pilot projects and experimentation are important.
Government agencies are working together on sustainable policies and practices, said Ms Grace Fu. “We have an inter-ministerial committee on climate change that brings together all the major ministries involved,” she added, noting that the committee regularly reviews if changes are needed.
Meanwhile, the quest to go green continues. “Talk is easy, doing the hard work (is not),” concluded Prof Lam at the end of the panel discussion. “Let us work hard, stay well, and keep each other healthy.”
At the event, NUS Cities also launched The Green Guardians of Singapore booklet, which tells of an environmental crisis wreaked by alien invaders. Written by Ms Yina Chua, Associate Director of NUS Cities, and illustrated by Mr Alan Bay, the booklet was produced with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Public Hygiene Council and aims to encourage the public to go green.
The illustrated book is hosted on NEA’s Clean and Green website and can be viewed here.
Experiential learning and the interdisciplinary approach are two hallmarks of an NUS College (NUSC) education that converge in the honours college’s flagship Impact Experience (IEx) programme – a compulsory two-year service-learning and community engagement project.
The signature capstone project challenges NUSC students to devise solutions for “wicked” societal problems in Singapore and the surrounding region. Since such problems are by definition too complex to unravel using a single disciplinary lens, students are encouraged to assemble teams with diverse academic backgrounds and seek advice from community partners and faculty supervisors as they research, design, and execute their projects in teams of six to seven in their second and third years of study.
“IEx will enable students to think about socio-economic, environmental, and community issues in a way that applies classroom knowledge towards the advancement of social services and community-building initiatives,” said Dr Julius Bautista, director of Impact Programmes at NUSC.
Working with local and regional community partners, students learn first-hand about the operational and logistical challenges of creating impact, such as intercultural communication, expectations management, funding and financing, scaling up operations, and ethics compliance, he added. The faculty supervisors guide them closely throughout, from helping the students form groups with the appropriate interdisciplinary mix and develop their problem statements, to tapping their own networks for partnership opportunities and nudging students in the right direction when they hit roadblocks.
Said Elise Lim, a Year 3 Psychology and Data Science double degree student: “NUSC’s tagline ‘break open the classroom’ implies learning beyond the classroom – I find that my IEx experience truly encapsulates this concept.
“From planning to meeting stakeholders to executing our project, this journey has taught me so much about collaborating with underserved communities and navigating the complexities of unequal power dynamics.”
The first cohort of IEx groups are now halfway through their projects, while the second cohort entered the programme at the beginning of AY2024/2025.
Creating enduring impact
With 56 groups in the first cohort alone, IEx projects touch on a broad range of topics in the three main categories of Arts & Design, Civic & Community, and Science & Technology. Education and youth is a popular theme, with 12 groups working on related projects; other common themes include climate and eco-sustainability, community development and social equity, and social diversity and urban inclusivity.
All IEx projects endeavour to make a positive, lasting difference to the world. For example, the SociaMetric project is developing a solution with local youth guidance charity The Astronauts Collective to track and report its social impact using existing data tools. The goal is to produce an automated workflow that other social enterprises and charities can easily implement.
Another approach, taken by local projects W(eight)st Not! and Voideckies, is to empower the communities they have partnered to continue the movement after the initial projects end. W(eight)st Not! is working with Fairmont Singapore and agritech startup Corridor Farmers to turn the hotel’s food waste into compost that can be used by community farms, in hopes of nurturing a self-sustaining circular economy.
Meanwhile, Voideckies conducts biweekly game nights at a Bukit Purmei void deck to cultivate a close-knit community among the residents and reduce elderly loneliness. The team is encouraging residents to lead the sessions and eventually run them independently.
Still others, like a bamboo agri-education project in the Philippines led by Team Bayanihan, hope to hand operations over to their non-governmental organisation partners or encourage future NUSC cohorts to continue and improve the projects. Team Bayanihan’s goal is even more farsighted, aiming to change negative perceptions about bamboo as a construction material by teaching elementary school children about its versatility and potential.
Slow but steady progress
Among the first lessons of IEx is that creating impact is a slow process that is complicated by the intersection of societal issues and factors beyond their control. Many students quickly learnt to discard their preconceptions and approach the problems with an open mind, ready to listen to the communities.
The Sustaining Mae Jhon team is one of several that changed their proposed solution to align better with the local community’s situation, resources, and capabilities. While the objective remained the same – to help the marginalised Dara’ang community in Thailand increase profit margins for their banana crops – the students had to pivot from their idea of developing a line of organic banana chips to focus on the solar-dried banana product that the locals were familiar with.
Said Christabel Seck, a third-year Life Sciences major: “The key shift in mindset was learning to prioritise the needs of the people we're working with, and to see things from their perspective. Rather than assuming we knew their challenges and trying to impose a solution, we realised the importance of understanding their situation first.”
Tackling a real-world problem over an extended period presents different challenges from the usual undergraduate assignments. The W(eight)st Not! team had to learn patience from the slow, arduous process of composting, and resilience from setbacks like crop failures due to bad weather. “As cliché as it sounds, the journey matters more than the destination and small, consistent efforts can accumulate into meaningful, lasting change,” said Ashley Lui, a third-year Pharmaceutical Science major in the team.
In addition, their diverse academic backgrounds made it difficult to align on technical and practical aspects of the project initially. However, after gaining a better understanding of urban farming and composting, they sorted out the issue by allocating responsibilities according to each team member’s strengths.
Every project has its own demands and deadlines that rarely align with the academic calendar, requiring teams to coordinate their schedules for meetings, community engagement activities, and even semester exchange programmes well in advance.
“Given that the project stretches across two years, it inevitably conflicts with our different commitments – including academic commitments like taking modules to meet the minimum recommended workload during the semesters,” said Voideckies team member Bernard Lee, a Year 3 student majoring in Communications and New Media with a minor in Interactive Media Development.
Reflections at the halfway point
One year in, the first run of IEx has already sparked change in the communities and the students.
After spending several months getting to know the Bukit Purmei residents and designing a community-building solution that would suit their interests and needs, the Voideckies team is delighted that the biweekly game sessions are turning into a routine neighbourhood activity, with some regulars showing up even before the team arrives.
A major milestone for Team MEOWA, a group working on developing fire prevention and response measures for Kampung Air in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia, was successfully coordinating a fire safety workshop that local teachers had been trying to organise for five years.
While team member Elise felt proud of their achievement, she also realised that their status as NUS students and the resources provided by NUSC could have been major factors in moving the stalled project forward.
“This underscores the privilege that we have as external agents seeking to make an impact in an underserved community,” she said. “Regardless, I find that accomplishing something that our partner organisation had wanted to do is an achievement in itself.”
With one more year to go, the students in the first cohort still have much work ahead of them. The scale of the project has taught Andrew Toh, a third-year Communications and New Media major in Team Bayanihan, to be more reflective about everything he does.
Said Andrew: “Sometimes, taking a step back, looking at everything that has been done, and reflecting on the journey you took to get there really helps you to see where you came from, where you stand now, and where you should head towards.”
More about the IEx journey
Second-year NUSC students embark on the programme with an IEx Hackathon where they brainstorm and refine their ideas with advice from faculty members.
After forming groups, they propose their project topics, which can take place locally or in other countries around Southeast Asia, and begin work once their projects are approved. The current cohorts have a roughly even split between local and regional IEx projects.
Undertaking a regional IEx project means students must make multiple trips to their project countries, coordinating their schedules during recess weeks and school holidays and making the most of each trip to stay on track. To account for the additional demands, regional IEx projects count as fulfilment of the NUSC Global Pathways graduation requirement without the student completing a separate overseas experience like an exchange programme.
Along the way, the IEx groups have been sharing their experiences with the wider community through Impact Experience: An NUSC Podcast. At the end of the two-year programme, they will showcase their findings and reflections in an annual Impact Festival, the first of which will take place in late 2025.
Professor Liu Xiaogang from the NUS Department of Chemistry is among the top 10 winners in the Falling Walls Physical Sciences category. The Falling Walls Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Berlin, Germany, with the goal of communicating outstanding science and research to society. Prof Liu was was selected from more than 1,100 nominations from over 300 different institutions.
Prof Liu is renowned internationally for breaking down the walls and limitations facing X-ray imaging technology using novel optical nanomaterials that promise safer, more accurate and higher quality X-ray imaging for applications ranging from medical diagnostics to improved space exploration and detection of manufacturing defects.
Prof Liu said, “I am truly honoured and thrilled to be selected as a finalist for the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2024 in Physical Sciences. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team and collaborators.”
He added, “Their creativity, expertise and tenacity have been vital in reaching this milestone. I am excited to see our research acknowledged on such as prestigious platform. I look forward to the next steps in this journey and am grateful for this incredible opportunity.”
Global health leaders from around the world gathered at NUS for the inaugural Global Health Thought Leadership Dialogue, a landmark event that explored how small nations can wield outsized influence in shaping global health policies. The dialogue, co-hosted by the NUS Global Health Office and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, brought together experts to discuss the future of global health governance, multilateralism, and how countries like Singapore can punch above their weight in contributing to international health solutions.
The event featured an esteemed panel of speakers, including Professor Ilona Kickbusch, Founder of the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Global Health Advisor to the German Chancellor and the European Union President, as well as senior advisor to the United Nations on Global Health; Dr Margaret Chan, founding Dean of Tsinghua University’s Vanke School of Public Health and Emeritus Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Dr Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Global Health Advisor to the Thai Minister of Public Health and Senior Global Health Leader to ASEAN; and Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and former WHO Chief Scientist. The dialogue focused on the unique opportunities and challenges facing small countries in the global health arena, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and growing inequalities in health access and outcomes.
Growing importance of small nations like Singapore
In his opening remarks, moderator Professor Teo Yik Ying, Vice President (Global Health) and Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS, emphasised the growing importance of small countries in addressing global health challenges. He highlighted Singapore’s strategic advantages as a small nation with a well-developed healthcare system, advanced technology, and a highly educated population, which positions it to play a key role in shaping global health policies.
"Singapore may be a small state, but we have the resources, technology, and talent to contribute meaningfully to international health developments," Prof Teo stated. “In an era where multilateral cooperation is more important than ever, small nations like Singapore can lead by example, particularly in areas like pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and health innovation.”
Prof Kickbusch echoed these sentiments, stressing that small countries have unique opportunities to drive change in global health governance. "The world is facing an unravelling of multilateralism, but small countries like Singapore can still exert significant influence by setting the agenda and leveraging their strengths in diplomacy, innovation, and public health," she said. She pointed out that small nations often play key roles in multilateral institutions like the WHO and the United Nations, where their votes carry the same weight as those of larger countries.
Prof Kickbusch also referenced examples of smaller nations making outsized impacts, including Norway’s long-standing leadership in global health policy and Switzerland’s advocacy for water as a key component of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She noted that Singapore, with its strong governance and commitment to health equity, is well-positioned to follow suit.
Meanwhile, Dr Chan further reinforced the idea that "small is beautiful", praising Singapore for its long-term investments in healthcare, education, and transparency, all of which have earned the country a strong international reputation. "Singapore punches above its weight because of its transparency, accountability, and strong social contract between the government and its people," she said. "The country’s strategic focus on long-term planning and innovation makes it a natural leader in the global health landscape."
Challenges of multilateralism and global governance
The discussion also addressed the challenges facing small nations in navigating weakened multilateral systems. The weakening of global governance structures, including the decline of multilateral cooperation, was highlighted as a significant concern in the 21st century. Thailand’s Dr Suwit pointed out that, while multilateral organisations like the WHO offer a platform for small countries to have a voice, the realities of international politics often mean that larger countries dominate the decision-making process.
“Small countries can still make a difference by thinking outside the box and using multilateralism to their advantage,” said Dr Suwit. “Singapore has already demonstrated its capacity to transform itself from a small, resource-poor nation to a global powerhouse. The same innovative thinking can be applied to global health."
He emphasised that small countries should not shy away from global health leadership, even in the face of overwhelming geopolitical forces. Instead, they can use their unique position to challenge traditional power structures and promote equitable health outcomes for all.
Dr Swaminathan also highlighted the need for collaboration among smaller nations to address common challenges such as pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change. "Small countries can form regional networks and alliances to amplify their voices on the global stage. By working together, they can tackle issues that larger countries may overlook or deprioritise," she said.
Dr Swaminathan noted that the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation and equitable access to health resources. She pointed to the unequal distribution of vaccines during the pandemic as a key example of how larger countries often dominate access to life-saving health technologies, leaving smaller and poorer nations behind. "Singapore and other small countries have the potential to lead the charge for more equitable global health systems by promoting innovation and ensuring that health technologies are accessible to all."
Youth involvement and global health leadership
Another key theme of the dialogue was the critical role of youth in global health leadership. Dr Suwit strongly advocated for greater involvement of young people in global health policymaking, emphasising that they must be given real opportunities to participate in decision-making processes. "Don’t just talk about youth involvement—walk the talk," he said. "Young people have the potential to make a real impact on global health, but they need to be given the platform to do so."
Dr Suwit shared Thailand’s experience of including youth in its delegations to the World Health Assembly, where they had the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to global health discussions. He called on other countries, including Singapore, to follow suit and involve youth in global health governance, both at the national and international levels.
Prof Kickbusch added that youth involvement is essential for the future of global health governance, particularly as the world faces complex challenges that require innovative solutions. "Young people are the future of global health, and their voices must be heard," she said. "We need to empower the next generation of leaders to take on the challenges of tomorrow, from climate change to emerging pandemics."
Technological innovation and ethical considerations
The dialogue also focused on the role of technology in advancing global health, with particular attention to the ethical challenges that come with the rapid development of new health technologies. Dr Swaminathan addressed the importance of ensuring that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and gene therapy, are developed and implemented responsibly.
"AI-based interventions, gene therapy, and other new technologies have the potential to revolutionise healthcare," Dr Swaminathan said. "But we must ensure that these innovations are used ethically and equitably, and that they benefit all populations, not just those in wealthy nations." She highlighted the need for robust ethical frameworks and regulatory oversight to guide the development and use of these technologies.
Dr Swaminathan also praised Singapore for its progressive approach to health regulation, citing the country’s front-of-pack labelling for high-sugar foods as an example of how policy can drive healthier choices and hold industries accountable. She urged other nations to adopt similar measures to combat non-communicable diseases and promote public health.
Data sharing and global collaboration
The issue of data sharing emerged as a critical point of discussion, particularly in the context of global health research and pandemic preparedness. Dr Chan highlighted the challenges associated with data sharing between countries and the importance of collaboration in addressing global health crises.
“Data is currency in global health," Dr Chan stated. But she cautioned that without trust and cooperation, it is difficult to ensure that data is shared in a way that benefits everyone. Small countries like Singapore can serve as trusted conveners, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to share data and advance global health research, Dr Chan added.
Dr Chan noted that while there are challenges to data sharing, particularly around patient confidentiality and intellectual property, collaboration is essential to advancing scientific knowledge and preparing for future pandemics. She called on countries to build stronger data-sharing frameworks that prioritise public health and ensure that life-saving information is accessible to all.
Looking ahead: The future of small countries in global health
The dialogue coalesced around the notion that small countries like Singapore have a vital role to play in shaping the future of global health. From setting agendas in multilateral organisations to driving innovation and promoting health equity, small nations have the potential to make a significant impact on the global stage. With their agility, innovation, and commitment to health equity, nations like Singapore are poised to lead the way in tackling the world’s most pressing health challenges.
By Dr Jean Liu, Adjunct Asst Prof at Yale-NUS College and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS, and Director of the Centre for Evidence and Implementation; and Ms Mary Abdo, Managing Director of the same centre
By Prof Eric Andrew Finkelstein from the Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, and Executive Director, Lien Centre for Palliative Care; and Ms Michelle Chow, Research Assistant, from the same Centre, at the Duke-NUS Medical School
Singapore has a reputation around the world for being squeaky clean, but a lot more needs to be done to make its people realise that keeping it clean is everyone’s business and not just the job of the nation’s cleaners. Just ask Mr Edward D’Silva, former chairman of the Public Hygiene Council.
“I remember going on litter-picking rounds,” recalls Mr D’Silva of the time he walked around a hawker centre and passed by a group of elderly men seated at a table who thought he was there to perform the Corrective Work Order – the regime where litterbugs are made to clean up the community. It dawned on him then that it was necessary to change the mindset that clearing litter was only the responsibility of those penalised for littering or paid to do so. “That’s when I realised: we still have a long way to go to educate the typical Singaporean,” said the 73-year-old.
As the hygiene council’s longest-serving chairman from 2015 to 2023, he spearheaded efforts to get Singaporeans to pick up litter, return their dining trays at food centres, and keep public toilets clean. For those contributions and more, he was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal at the 2024 National Day Awards, after receiving a Public Service Star in 2018 and Public Service Medal in 2014.
Singaporeans must take ownership of public hygiene, stressed Mr D’Silva, who joined the council as a member in 2013. His concern about a lax attitude toward public cleanliness compelled him to get involved.
“There were too many cleaners, so everybody started to take it for granted,” he explained. Unattended food trays in hawker centres attract birds and other pests, but simply telling people to return their trays did not work, he observed. In September 2021, measures against diners who fail to clear their used trays and crockery at hawker centres – including fines for repeat offenders – were imposed by the National Environment Agency and Singapore Food Agency. These measures were later implemented at coffee shops and food courts in January 2022.
Remarking on the moves which came at the tail-end of the pandemic, Mr D’Silva said, “(COVID-19) was the best time to implement this,” noting that people had grown accustomed to following official health measures and were more aware of the importance of good hygiene in curbing the spread of diseases.
Yet, improving public hygiene is a long-term journey, one that begins with nurturing these values at a young age. This is why initiatives such as the Keep Singapore Clean Movement in Schools – launched by the Ministry of Education and supported by the council to encourage students to take ownership of their schools’ cleanliness – are especially important.
“I hope that in 10 to 20 years’ time, we will see the younger generation having more civic consciousness to keep Singapore clean,” he added. “We have moved towards a good mindset shift on littering and tray returns – it’s becoming more of a natural habit for (Singaporeans) to return their trays. The next step is having clean public toilets.”
Man with a plan
Mr D’Silva is not only an advocate for public hygiene, but an architect by profession. After enrolling in Architecture at NUS in the 1970s, he joined the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) as a planner, where he was involved in land use plans for Marina Centre in downtown Singapore.
After eight years at URA, he joined SAA Architects and spearheaded the homegrown firm’s foray into Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar in the 1990s, where it designed serviced apartments. He also oversaw developments in India, such as IT parks and residences, and helped secure major projects like the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.
What advice does he have for young architects? “They have to have two things,” said the former president of the Singapore Institute of Architects and current senior advisor at SAA Architects. “Apart from a flair for design, (they need) a flair for communications – that is very underestimated.”
World-renowned architects did not just share sketches with clients, they also shared a story, he noted. This emphasis on equipping Architecture students with communication and critical thinking skills was something he advocated for during his time on the NUS Board.
He also started the Edward D’Silva Award in 2007 to support travel and research expenses for final-year students of the NUS Master of Architecture programme at the Department of Architecture. “I said, if I could give one student a year at least the opportunity to go overseas, and see what’s happening (elsewhere in the world), that’s something I would find very gratifying,” recalled Mr D’Silva, who served on the NUS Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2014 and the NUS Alumni Advisory Board from May 2014 until June this year. He was a recipient of the NUS Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2015.
Giving back to the community
Through the years, he has sat on numerous boards across a range of sectors, from the National Institute of Education, Strata Titles Boards and Prison Fellowship Singapore to the Public Service Commission, where he interviewed prospective scholarship recipients.
“Many of them had good grades but no general knowledge. I remembered asking (one scholarship candidate) about Singapore’s domestic affairs. He didn’t know who the chief justice was, and that guy wanted to be a lawyer!” he recounted with a chuckle. “Over time, we realised that we needed to approach the junior colleges and promote awareness among potential candidates (of what was required).” Realising that many young scholars had little ground knowledge after returning from their overseas studies, he recommended that they do operational postings in various frontline agencies.
Today, he remains active in the community. A glance at his CV will reveal a long list of appointments, such as District Councillor of Central Singapore Community Development Council, Trustee of the Eurasian Association, member of the Reformative Training Centre Review Committee, Board of Visiting Justices, and the boards of Singapore Anglican Community Services and Singapore Ballet.
He shows no sign of slowing down. What keeps him going is a personal maxim that he gladly shares: “Whatever you do, do it from the heart.”
By Prof Zhou Weibiao, Head of the Dept of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Science at NUS and Acting Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at NUS and Ms Mirte Gosker, Managing Director at the Good Food Institute APAC
By Ms Anthea Ong, former Nominated Member of Parliament and a social entrepreneur; Dr Jared Ng, Psychiatrist and Medical Director of Connections MindHealth; and Dr Rayner Tan, Asst Prof at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS
NUS Sustainability CONNECT returns this year from 14 to 21 September 2024, focusing on the theme Rethink Sustainability: Innovation and Impact. With over 30 activities, it will showcase the University’s commitment to exploring and advancing new ways to create a more sustainable future.
As the University’s first large-scale sustainability festival, NUS Sustainability CONNECT was launched last year to provide a platform to share NUS’ sustainability efforts in research and innovation, education, campus operations and thought leadership - with the wider community. This year, the more condensed Highlight edition of the festival – comprising a week-long programme of talks, tours and workshops – continues to champion sustainability while connecting communities.
Professor Low Teck Seng, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Resilience, said, “This year’s festival has grown not just in size but also in scope. We have more events covering a broader range of topics in depth, including leadership in environmental management, future of carbon trading, green building valuation, sustainability education and nature journaling. Through these events, we hope to bring out the multifaceted nature of sustainability and reach out to a wider audience.”
There are also several other new elements in this year’s festival.
New NUS Environmental Management Leadership Lecture
NUS’ flagship post-graduate course in sustainability gets an upgrade! A new segment – NUS Environmental Management Leadership Lecture series – will be added to the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary Master of Science (Environmental Management) graduate degree programme. The lecture series, which will be held annually, aims to encourage collaborative discussions about key issues in environmental management.
The inaugural lecture series will focus on the role of transformative leadership in successful environmental management efforts. Kicking off the discussion is Mr Ravi Menon, Singapore’s first Ambassador for Climate Action, who is also a member of the NUS Board of Trustees and the former Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Having helped built a green finance ecosystem to support Singapore’s and Asia’s transition towards a low-carbon future, Mr Menon will be speaking on “Preparing for a Low-Carbon and Climate-Impaired World”.
Exploring nature up close
In addition to classroom-based learning, NUS Sustainability CONNECT also offers out-of-classroom sessions where participants can get up close and personal with nature!
A new tour, Of Ancient Cycad, Elephant Fruit and Alligator Flag: Fascinating Tales from Plant Tour near UHall, has been added to this year’s line-up. Conducted by Dr Amy Choong, senior lecturer from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences, the tour will change your view of plants and provide insights into the unique role that the different plants play in the ecosystem.
Ever wondered what is nature journaling? Conducted by the Ridge View Residential College, nature journaling allows participants to appreciate and experience the outdoors at their own pace, while recording their observations and thoughts through notes, poems, sketches or any other form of journaling. This activity encourages participants to develop their observational and questioning skills independently, while making connections with nature!
Back by popular demand are the activities conducted by NUS Toddycats! Working closely with the University Campus Infrastructure team, the group has been part of an ongoing reforestation project of Kent Ridge forest and is extending an invitation to the rest of the NUS community to be a part of this meaningful activity. Through a careful selection of plant mix, the group hopes to enhance the habitat quality and connectivity of the Kent Ridge forest and contribute towards Singapore’s OneMillionTrees movement.
Collaborating with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy to offer a wider range of events and workshops
For the first time ever, NUS Sustainability CONNECT is partnering with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy on its Festival of Ideas for the events under its Environment and Sustainability track. From topical discussions on water and carbon, to macro issues like health and environmental impacts of climate change in Singapore and the region, the festival offers a wide variety of programmes ranging from a series of lectures, panel discussions, dialogues, workshops and many more!
To learn more about NUS Sustainability CONNECT or register your interest for the above events, please click here.
Microplastics have raised concerns among scientists and the public in recent years due to their widespread presence and associated health risks. They have been found in every corner of the planet, from mountain peaks to the deep sea, and in the diets of many organisms, including humans. A significant portion of microplastic pollution originates from land-based sources, such as mismanagement of waste and shedding of microfibres from textile and domestic industries. These tiny particles travel through multiple pathways and eventually enter the ocean, posing risks to marine organisms and habitats.
Singapore is home to several coastal habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. Many scientists suggest that these habitats act as microplastic traps because corals and seagrasses reduce water flow, encouraging the deposition of microplastics from the water column into the habitats and limiting the resuspension of already deposited particles. Additionally, coral reefs and seagrass beds, being transitional environments between land and the sea, intercept the transport of microplastics from land to the ocean.
A team of marine ecologists, led by Associate Professor Peter Todd from the Department of Biological Sciences at NUS Faculty of Science, is contributing to our understanding of the fate and distribution of microplastics in local seagrass beds and coral reefs through three scientific journal publications released in 2024.
Seagrass as microplastic traps: Height matters
In a study published in Marine Environmental Research in May 2024, the team examined the distribution of microplastics across areas with varying levels of vegetation within seagrass beds at Chek Jawa and Changi Beach. Upon studying the sediment samples, the team found that the seagrass beds in Singapore do not trap more microplastics compared to adjacent non-vegetated beds, regardless of vegetation density. These findings challenged previous assumptions about the role of seagrass in trapping microplastics.
The researchers proposed that vegetation height could be a crucial factor. Seagrass species in Singapore, such as Halophila ovalis, Halophila spinulosa, Halodule uninervis and Cymodocea rotundata, form a short canopy height ranging from 2 cm to 15 cm. In contrast, seagrass species found in other regions, such as Enhalus acoroides and Zostera marina, can grow up to 150 cm. Height is of significance because taller vegetation not only reduces water flow and wave height, but also provides a greater surface area for biofilms to grow. These biofilms form sticky surfaces that microplastics can adhere to.
The NUS researchers then concluded that the presence of seagrass beds does not necessarily imply greater abundance of microplastics in the environment, as other factors such as vegetation height should also be taken into consideration.
Microplastic trapping by corals: The role of colony shape, structure and surface texture
In another study published in Science of the Total Environment in April 2024, the NUS team investigated the trapping of microplastics by a local branching coral species, Pocillopora acuta.
Previous research suggested that structural complexity and surface roughness of benthic-forming organisms play a role in trapping microplastics. Corals are one of the most structurally complex marine organisms. They exist in many morphologies ranging from branching to dome-shaped forms. Within the species, the branching coral Pocillopora acuta can vary in the thickness of their branches and the proximity between the branches, forming compact and open branching morphologies.
While it is known that corals trap more microplastics than other benthic-forming species such as seagrass and algae, there is limited information on the role of coral morphology and surface roughness (conferred by the micro-skeletal structures and polyp actions) in trapping microplastics.
To fill this knowledge gap, the team conducted experiments in a saltwater flume at the Marine and Freshwater Facility at NUS. They discovered that while corals with compact morphologies trap more microplastics, there was no difference in microplastic trapping across varying levels of surface roughness.
In recent years, there has been an observed shift in the morphology of branching corals towards more compact arrangements due to their resilience against climate-change effects such as rising sea temperatures and increased frequency of tropical cyclones. However, these corals, as well as coral reefs with higher composition of such coral morphology, are also at a higher risk of microplastic pollution because they trap more plastics.
As part of their research, Assoc Prof Todd and his team compiled an inventory of existing and self-designed plastic-less equipment to assist in collecting samples for environmental microplastic monitoring, as they are mindful that using plastic equipment could potentially introduce contaminants through abrasion. Their findings were published in Frontiers in Marine Science in April 2024. Using their plastic-less equipment, the team samples coral reef beds and associated organisms in Singapore to understand microplastic distribution in coral reef environments and food webs.
Assoc Prof Todd said, “It is predicted that the level of microplastic pollution will increase in the coming years. Understanding the current fate and distribution of microplastics will not only provide insight into the habitats at greater risk of pollution in the future, but also feed into analyses of the impact of this pernicious pollutant.”
A novel approach to analysing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data has been unveiled by NUS researchers. This method promises to enhance both the precision and speed of data interpretation, potentially accelerating progress in numerous areas of biomedical investigation, including studies on cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
The innovative framework, dubbed scAMF (Single-cell Analysis via Manifold Fitting), was developed by a team of scientists led by Associate Professor Zhigang Yao from the Department of Statistics and Data Science at the NUS Faculty of Science. The framework employs advanced mathematical techniques to fit a low-dimensional manifold within the high-dimensional space where the gene expression data are measured. By doing so, scAMF effectively reduces noise while preserving crucial biological information. This allows for more accurate characterisation of cell types and states.
Harnessing manifold fitting techniques to overcome hurdles in data analysis
Single-cell RNA sequencing has become a crucial tool in genomic research, offering unprecedented insights into cellular diversity and disease mechanisms. However, the inherent noise in scRNA-seq data, arising from both biological variability and technical errors, has long posed challenges for accurate analysis. Traditional scRNA-seq analysis methods, including genomic imputation approaches, graph-based methods, and deep learning-based algorithms, often struggle to accurately characterise cell relationships due to inherent noise.
The scAMF framework represents a significant step forward in overcoming these limitations. It operates on the principle of fitting a low-dimensional manifold within the ambient space of gene expression data, effectively reducing noise while preserving crucial information. At the heart of scAMF lies the manifold fitting module which effectively denoises scRNA-seq data by unfolding their distribution in the ambient space. This technique aims to reconstruct a smooth manifold within the original space where the data is measured, capturing the low-dimensional structure of the data in a manner that minimizes information loss and effectively eliminates noise.
The key innovation of scAMF lies in its ability to improve the spatial distribution of the data, bringing gene expression vectors of cells from the same type closer together while maintaining clear separation between different cell types. This enhancement leads to more precise and reliable clustering in subsequent analyses.
"Our approach effectively denoises scRNA-seq data by fitting a low-dimensional manifold in the high-dimensional space," explained Assoc Prof Yao. "This method significantly improves the accuracy of cell type classification and the clarity of data visualisation."
The scAMF method employs a unique combination of data transformation, manifold fitting using shared nearest neighbor metrics, and unsupervised clustering validation. When compared to other methods, scAMF demonstrates superior performance in several key areas, including more effective noise reduction, improved clustering accuracy, better preservation of biological information, competitive computational efficiency, clearer visualisation, and robust performance across diverse datasets. These improvements position scAMF as a powerful new tool in single-cell analysis, potentially enabling researchers to uncover previously hidden cellular heterogeneity and rare cell populations.
Future work – Driving greater understanding of cellular diversity and function
Building on the success of scAMF, the research team is now developing a novel framework for constructing high-resolution, multiscale cell atlases. This new approach aims to overcome current methodological limitations in cell atlas construction, such as challenges in identifying small cell populations and outdated unsupervised learning techniques.
A key focus is the development of a multi-resolution cell analysis framework based on scAMF. This advanced framework aims to identify rare cell populations and contribute to the construction of comprehensive cell atlases. The multi-resolution approach will allow researchers to analyse cellular heterogeneity at various levels of granularity, from broad cell types to subtle subpopulations. This is particularly crucial for identifying rare cell types that may be overlooked by conventional analysis methods.
"Our ongoing work has already shown promising results across numerous benchmark datasets, revealing novel biological insights," Assoc Prof Yao noted. "We've applied it to the Human Brain Cell Atlas and identified new subtypes and marker genes for various cell types."
This ongoing research promises to push the boundaries of single-cell analysis even further, potentially revolutionising our understanding of cellular diversity and function across various biological systems.
The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (NUS) was launched today, marking a major milestone as the first of its kind in Asia to advance research in alternative proteins. With a US$30 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund, the Centre is poised to lead groundbreaking research and commercialisation efforts to develop “ultimate proteins” – advanced hybrid foods that match traditional meat–based products in both taste and price.
By focusing on regional preferences and addressing the urgent challenge of feeding a growing global population, the Centre aims to drive global food security and accelerate innovation across the region. A priority area will be biomass fermentation, which, for example, utilises tofu waste to feed algae, creating high-quality protein.
The NUS Centre joins similar Bezos Centres at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom and North Carolina State University in the United States, forming a global network dedicated to advancing sustainable protein research. The Centre’s primary focus areas include microalgae and biomass fermentation, supported by complementary research into cultivated meat and plant-based technologies. These efforts are strategically aligned to produce next-generation hybrid proteins that are affordable, nutritious, and widely accepted.
“NUS and the Bezos Earth Fund are united by a shared commitment to actively combat climate change. The world’s growing appetite for meat has put a huge strain on our global food system, and we need to develop sustainable food solutions with researchers, government and industry,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President. “With the generous support of the Bezos Earth Fund, we look forward to leveraging our unique position in Asia to drive innovation and collaboration across the region, ensuring sustainable protein solutions that benefit consumers and industry, and protect the environment.”
“Asia is pivotal to the future of sustainable proteins, and Singapore is leading the way,” said Sir Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. “Just five months ago, we announced our commitment to establish these Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein and today, US$100 million has been granted to make that vision a reality. The new Centre at NUS harnesses the region’s influence and expertise to drive solutions that can reshape food systems globally, with significant potential impact for East and South-East Asia's 2.3 billion consumers.”
Research at the Centre will be led by 23 expert Principal Investigators from institutions in the ecosystem including NUS, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Institute of Technology, and ETH Zurich. These leaders will also focus on developing talent through various education initiatives, and venture-building programmes at NUS Enterprise, the University’s innovation arm, which aim to translate research into impactful solutions.
By nurturing the next generation of innovators and fostering discussions among scientific, industry, community and policy stakeholders, the Centre is well-positioned to expedite the adoption of sustainable proteins across the region. Professor Zhou Weibiao, Head of the NUS Department of Food Science and Technology (NUS FST) and Acting Director of the new Centre, emphasised the importance of research that addresses both consumer needs and industry demands.
“NUS is well-positioned to host the new Centre given our extensive research expertise and strong partnerships in developing alternative proteins, demonstrated through many joint projects at NUS FST with internal and external partners, as well as our deep understanding of important areas such as nutrition, safety, and consumer perceptions,” said Prof Zhou. “We look forward to making tangible impact by translating cutting-edge research into affordable, attractive, and nutritious alternative proteins for consumers, supporting the industry, and nurturing young talents for a resilient food system.”
The NUS Centre will work closely with partners across industry, government, and academia to translate its research into market-ready products. Key focus areas include microalgae research, biomass fermentation, and cell-cultured and plant-based research. These focus areas will also integrate cross-cutting platforms such as nutrition science, safety, and consumer acceptance into its research.
Please refer to the Annexe for more information on these research areas.
“The NUS Centre is pioneering breakthrough innovations, such as transforming tofu waste into high-quality protein – a practical example of zero-waste, circular economy principles in action,” said Dr Andy Jarvis, Director of Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. “As part of our US$1 billion commitment to reshaping food systems globally, this Centre – alongside our network of sustainable protein hubs – will drive lasting change that meets both environmental sustainability goals and consumer needs.”
The Good Food Institute (GFI) played a key role in partnering with the Bezos Earth Fund to develop its alternative protein strategy. Through its work as a scoping partner, GFI has helped craft the vision for the Bezos Centres for Sustainable Protein.
“With meat demand skyrocketing across the world’s most populous continent, the opportunity for large-scale transformation in Asia’s food supply has never been greater,” said Mirte Gosker, Managing Director of the GFI APAC. “By connecting Singapore’s brightest scientific minds with their counterparts in other global innovation hubs, the Bezos Centre at NUS has the capacity to fully unlock the enormous economic and ecological potential of sustainable proteins.”
By Ms Xu Ni, Research Analyst, and Ms Thi Hang Banh, Research Fellow, both from the Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
Precision farming is an emerging field that uses analysis tools like sensors to collect data on crop plant conditions, such as temperature, humidity, moisture, and nutrient levels. The data collected from these sensors can help to optimise crop yield and allow farmers to promptly respond to changes in plant environments like heat and increased rainfall.
Advancing plant sensor technologies is a multidisciplinary team of researchers from NUS that has created a first-of-its-kind all-organic plant e-skin for continuous and non-invasive plant monitoring. Complementing this innovation, the team also developed a digital-twin plant monitoring system to translate the data collected from the plant e-skin into a visualisation of the plant’s physical characteristics in real-time, paving the way for efficient decision-making in crop breeding and precision farming.
The fabrication process and promising results from testing the plant e-skin and digital-twin platform were published in Science Advanceson 16 February 2024.
Innovative e-skin for plant monitoring
Commercially available plant sensors are often rigid, heavy and opaque, which may cause damage to the plants and affect plant growth when mounted onto the plants. Current devices are also unable to provide customised, continuous and accurate data about the plant’s physical conditions.
To resolve these limitations, the NUS research team designed the innovative plant e-skin to be biocompatible, transparent and stretchable using commercially available organic materials. The ultrathin plant e-skin has a thickness of 4.5 micrometres, which is about 10 times thinner than the diameter of a strand of human hair which is around 50 micrometres. The e-skin comprises an electrically conductive layer, sandwiched between two transparent substrate layers. The incorporation of these layers renders the plant e-skin remarkably transparent, allowing over 85 per cent of light to pass through within the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nanometres, perfectly aligning with the light absorbance wavelength needed for plants to produce energy.
The team demonstrated that the plant e-skin could perform reliably on leaves exposed to stress conditions, such as heat and lack of water. The versatile plant e-skin is also compatible for different types of plant leaves and various plant growth environments like rainfall.
Different types of sensors – for measuring strain and temperature – are patterned on the e-skin using simple lithography. The e-skin is then placed on the surface of plant leaves to perform the monitoring of key parameters.
When designing the strain sensor, the researchers took into consideration the requirements needed to monitor the growth of small and delicate leaves while protecting the plant. Using their novel plant e-skin, the NUS team successfully monitored the growth pattern of Field Mustard leaves, showing how the sensor can conform to the surface of the leaf for accurate monitoring, and seamlessly integrated onto plant leaves without causing any observable adverse damage.
In addition, the e-skin temperature sensor enables reliable and non-invasive monitoring of the surface temperature of plant leaves.
“The ability to measure leaf surface temperature is a unique feature of our plant e-skin that is currently not found in conventional temperature sensors. This feature allows us to collect data to understand how to mitigate heat stress on leaves caused by long-term exposure to heat, making it beneficial for precision farming of economically valuable crops,” said Assoc Prof Lee.
Digital-twin system for precision farming
To complement the plant e-skin, the NUS research team developed a digital-twin plant monitoring system to visualise the plant surface environment in real time, providing an intuitive and vivid platform for plant monitoring.
Data collected from the sensors on the plant e-skin is processed to generate a digital output, which is used to create a digital-twin of the plant that mirrors the physical conditions of the real plant. Using temperature as a test condition, the NUS team demonstrated that the digital-twin system can instantly translate temperature fluctuations on the plant’s leaf surface into colour changes on the plant’s digital-twin, for users to visualise the changes in plant surface temperature.
The innovative digital-twin plant monitoring system can help facilitate precise and timely adjustment to plant environments, such as regulating the temperature of an indoor farming facility.
“Besides temperature, this digital-twin plant system can be utilised to continuously and non-invasively monitor physical characteristics of plants under various environments. This would enable quick analysis of such properties of new plant varieties, which has the potential to accelerate crop breeding processes,” said Asst Prof Chae.
Next steps
In the next phase of their work, the NUS researchers hope to integrate more functions into the plant e-skin, such as a humidity sensor and chemical sensor, and couple them with the digital-twin plant system to enable a more comprehensive monitoring of the plant’s physical characteristics.
In the past and even now, it is normal for people to work till their 50s and 60s, and save most of their leisure for retirement. But as life expectancies go up, and people work longer, the timetable might have to change.
“The time for leisure is now,” said British economist Professor Andrew Scott from the London Business School and member of the International Advisory Panel of the Health District @ Queenstown (HD@QT). Rather than waiting till retirement to enjoy life fully, we might consider a four-day work week, part-time work, or, even more radically, joining the workforce at a later age, he added.
“If we’re living longer…we do have to work for longer, but in return, let’s get leisure now – let’s not have it all at the end,” said Prof Scott, who was speaking at NUS during a talk organised by HD@QT on his recent book, The Longevity Imperative: Building a Better Society for Healthier, Longer Lives. The talk was followed by a discussion moderated by Professor John Eu-Li Wong, Executive Director of NUS Centre for Population Health and Co-Chair of the HD@QT Steering Committee.
The event, which was held on 19 August 2024, drew 140 attendees with guests including Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry; Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth; and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Prof Scott, a big proponent of raising the retirement age to keep pace with higher life expectancies, added that many developed economies are grappling with an ageing population. A key challenge for many is managing a drop in workforce participation rates among people aged 55 to 60.
Singapore, one of the world’s fastest-ageing countries that will attain “super-aged” status in less than 30 years, does not suffer as badly from the trend. It has a retirement age of 63, and a substantial 70.6 per cent employment rate in 2022 for seniors aged 55 to 64.
Responding to a question on what could be done to get people to re-skill and remain “fulfilled” well into their 90s, Prof Scott said silvering societies needed to invest in lifelong learning to ensure continued relevancy for its people – which Singapore is doing with its SkillsFuture framework.
“If we’re living for longer, we have to invest in our human capital. It’s our health, our skills, our relationships…We can’t afford just to focus just on educating people early on, we have to think about lifelong learning,” he said.
Prevention is better than intervention
Beyond staying productive and purposeful during the golden years, it is vital that people also look after their health. As the old maxim goes, prevention is better than cure.
Singapore’s HD@QT is at the heart of the city state’s push for comprehensive healthcare, he highlighted in response to a question from the moderator, Prof Wong.
“Staying healthy is different from treating diseases, and the health system is about treating diseases,” noted Prof Scott. In comparison, he said HD@QT is different as its attention is shifted much more to the prevention of diseases rather than intervention.
HD@QT is a pilot programme spearheaded by NUS, NUHS, and the Housing & Development Board to increase healthy longevity, enable purposeful longevity, promote intergenerational bonding, and support a community of all ages. The Health District has been rolling out a slew of activities since 2021 to promote healthy ageing.
Public and private institutions, Prof Scott remarked, should encourage healthier lifestyles so that more diseases associated with ageing, such as diabetes and dementia, can be prevented. This means promoting healthier food options and active lifestyles, as well as improving environmental factors such as air quality.
“As we’re living longer and longer, the diseases that we’re getting now are the chronic diseases, the long-lasting diseases. What we’ve got to focus on is keeping people healthy,” he stressed.
“What we’ve done very well is increase life expectancy. We’ve postponed the dying…We need to focus on keeping people healthy for longer,” said Prof Scott.
Ageing is not a distant problem
All this should start sooner rather than later, with Prof Scott urging younger people to realise that ageing is not just a distant problem. It is, in fact, shaped by their individual choices and habits today that will impact how well or badly they age.
“An ageing society is not about old people. It’s about you,” he remarked. “What are you going to do now to support your ageing well?”
He added: “Now begins the second longevity revolution. We have to change how we age.”
This second instalment of a two-part series on the Southeast Asia Friendship Initiative (SFI) explores how students on trips led by Eusoff Hall, LightHouse, and Sheares Hall learnt about UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Southeast Asia. From natural resource management in Chiang Mai to eco-tourism and innovation in Vietnam, and reforestation efforts in Bali, these trips offered participants a unique opportunity to learn about and contribute to diverse sustainability practices across Southeast Asia and gain valuable insights into the challenges and innovations driving sustainable development in the region.
Eusoff Hall in Chiang Mai: Environment stewardship and natural resources
Twenty-two students from Eusoff Hall (EH) recently had the enriching opportunity to explore sustainable natural resource management in Chiang Mai, Thailand, during the SFI trip which was led by EH Resident Fellow MrsRungnapa Kitiarsa.
The trip included lectures, visits to local communities and businesses, and an in-depth exploration of the intriguing Mae Chaem district, where government, private, and civil society sectors have come together to successfully implement the Mae Chaem model. The Mae Chaem model is a water system management for agriculture and economic forest planting to replace monoculture crops, enabling sustainable development for quality of life and the environment. Through a lecture on the Mae Chaem model at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai, students learnt how a community can sustain its forests, as well as its livelihoods through the establishment of successful income-generating activities.
Participants also engaged in various local arts and crafts through skill-based learning activities at the Somdet Ya Community Learning Demonstration School, such as traditional basket-weaving, embroidery, tie-dyeing, and soap-making, creating their own keepsakes from these experiences.
For Teng Chow Jun, a second-year undergraduate from NUS Food Science and Technology, the visit to the Agro-Industry faculty at Chiang Mai University was particularly impactful.
“As a freshman studying Food Science and Technology myself, it was so exciting for me to get to see first-hand the concepts I learn in Singapore getting applied in real-life industrial processes of food development,” said Chow Jun.
“Through observing first-hand their high-tech facilities, equipment and infrastructure, such as the sensory evaluation room where they tasted and evaluated their food products, I could better visualise and link the concepts I learnt at school to real life, strengthening my knowledge,” he added.
While the 10-day trip was brief, the students gained a profound appreciation for the deep culture, environmental stewardship, and community spirit of Chiang Mai. They admired the villagers' commitment to their community, their pride in their businesses, and the culture of kindness and patience which had been unreservedly extended to them throughout their visit.
LightHouse in Bali: Exploring sustainability in education and environment
Second-year Computer Engineering undergraduate Roma Joshi together with 24 peers from NUS LightHouse embarked on an experiential SFI learning journey to Bali, Indonesia, where they explored how various stakeholders in Bali are advancing quality education and environmentally sustainable development, in the face of high tourist traffic.
The group visited several educational institutions during the trip led by Dr Lynette Tan and Dr Amanda Wong, Resident Fellows at LightHouse, where they engaged with local staff and students to better understand their strategies for making education more accessible for local communities and individuals affected by various social issues.
First-hand collaborations with organisations across different industries ranging from tourism and recycling to agriculture also provided students with valuable take-home lessons on how sustainability can be implemented in many ways, and is a multifaceted effort where every organisation, regardless of sector, can make a difference.
Such collaborations included, for instance, planting a Miyawaki forest in partnership with Junglo, a reforestation organisation in Bali, and the local students. This also emerged as the most memorable experience for Roma. Using the Miyawaki method, a rapid reforestation method which grows native plants densely on degraded land, the group planted 450 trees together with local students at the courtyard of SMP Negeri 13 Denpasar, a local high school.
“The Miyawaki Method tree-planting experience was one highlight of the trip for me, and the most concrete way we could contribute to the locals,” said Roma. “Despite the physical effort and intense heat, the collaborative effort with the local students and Junglo was deeply fulfilling for us.”
The rich cultural immersion and engagement with peers from Balinese universities brought an added aspect of warmth and community to the trip, as students returned with new knowledge and experiences of sustainability practices, and a broader appreciation of a neighbouring country which they otherwise may not have had the chance to explore.
Sheares Hall in Vietnam: Weighing in on eco-tourism, sustainability and innovation
How can a community balance tourism, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship? This was the key question tackled by 20 students from Sheares Hall who stepped out on a 10-day exploration of Hanoi, Vietnam in conjunction with their SFI trip. Focusing on topics in the field such as environmental intelligence, circular economy, and ecotourism, the trip was a valuable opportunity for the students to combine their new knowledge with first-hand experiences on the ground.
Through exploration of several eco-tourism destinations, including Halong Bay, Pu Luong, Yen Duc Village, and Bat Trang Pottery Village, which imparted an immersive experience of Vietnam's cultural heritage and natural beauty, the participants also gained practical insights into waste recycling at Urenco Hai Phong. They also visited the Vietnam National Innovation Center which showcased the country's advancements in technology and entrepreneurship.
The trip also included a stay in the village of Pu Luong, which gave the students a privileged glimpse of community life in the area, while engaging in cultural immersion through activities like bamboo rafting, traditional fishing, and performances such as the Sap dance.
“These experiences were vastly different from our daily routines, providing a refreshing perspective on how local communities enrich cultural dimensions, allowing us to discover the traditional ways of life in Pu Luong,” said Kelly Gwee, a third-year undergraduate from NUS Business School.
“During our stay in Pu Luong, the local staff also thoughtfully prepared a campfire, and we all gathered around for an impromptu karaoke session, which added a special touch to the end of our night,” she recalled.
The programme culminated in a presentation on circular economy, eco-tourism and innovation, where participants shared their reflections and insights. The trip was a transformative journey that enriched the participants’ academic breadth through the meaningful exchange of ideas, deepened their cultural understanding of a Southeast Asian neighbour, and enabled them to form cherished lasting connections.
By LightHouse, Sheares Hall and Eusoff Hall.
This article is the second of a two-part series on the Southeast Asian Friendship Initiative. Read Part 1 here.
The Department of Chinese Studies at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) has received a gift from Tigillus Foundation to establish the David H.Y. Chang Visiting Professorship in Chinese Studies and David H.Y. Chang Distinguished Professorship in Chinese Studies in support of research and teaching of Chinese language, history and culture at the University.
Both Professorships will attract top scholars in the field. Aside from leading research and fostering international collaboration from an academic perspective, appointed professors will also teach graduate and undergraduate courses on Chinese language, history and culture. The search for candidates for both professorships will begin in 2025.
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye witnessed the gift agreement signing ceremony that was held at FASS on 30 August 2024. The signatories were Mr David H. Y. Chang, Founder of Tigillus Foundation and Professor Lionel Wee, Dean of FASS.
Professor Ong Chang Woei, Head of the NUS Department of Chinese Studies said, “The Chinese play a major role in shaping China and the world today. Having prominent named professorships that seek to acknowledge the contribution of distinguished scholars who have dedicated their careers to the study of the language, history and culture of the Chinese people not only in China but also around the world would help to create awareness regarding the importance of Chinese culture as a component of world civilisations in universities and beyond.”
The Tigillus Foundation aims to foster mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world through arts, culture and education in the region and worldwide. These include the curation and exhibition of the Chang family’s art collection in international galleries, sponsoring and hosting international philanthropic events that focus on Chinese culture in areas ranging from fine arts to performing arts, as well as endowing professorships and fellowships across the region to promote the study of Chinese history and the world.
Mr Chang shared, “My interactions with NUS have been nothing short of humbling, which speaks volumes of the incredible progress that this institution has made since its inception. In these times of breakneck speed in technological advancement coupled with the highest geopolitical tension since the end of the Cold War, Singapore can and must play a critical role in stabilising both the region and the Sino-Western relations at large. I hope the endowed professorships will attract the best talent to lead Chinese studies in Singapore and also welcome those from China and the West to come as visiting professors to offer an invaluable perspective from their respective home countries.”
“As the leading institution for higher learning in Singapore, NUS is responsible for educating the future leaders of this country. It is my sincere hope that these modest donations will elevate the study for the university and the nation for its future role in the Asia-Pacific region.”
From its origins in 1953 as the former University of Singapore’s Department of Chinese Studies, the FASS Department of Chinese Studies has grown to be recognised as one of the leading institutions in the field of Chinese studies and Chinese language globally, as well as a major centre in the Southeast Asian region.
Last year, the Department celebrated its 70th anniversary with a series of conferences that covered critical issues such as the future of Chinese language education in Singapore and the significance of diasporic and local Chinese popular culture, as well as more in-depth seminars on Chinese linguistics and translation studies, classical Chinese literature, and Chinese social and intellectual history.
Eight outstanding educators, researchers and professionals were lauded for their contributions to the University, Singapore and the global community at the NUS University Awards 2024. The annual Awards pay tribute to members of the NUS community who, through their consistently high performance and resolute commitment, raised the bar in the areas of education, research and service.
Speaking at the awards ceremony held at Conrad Singapore Orchard on 30 August, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye highlighted that excellence is an enduring core value at NUS. He hopes that this eye to excellence will continue to motivate members of the NUS community to think of how they as individuals can be quicker, better and more productive in their pursuits.
Noting how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming every industry with great velocity, and our graduates will be moving on to jobs and sectors being changed and challenged with AI, Prof Tan said that we too must position ourselves strongly for AI. He added that this has prompted NUS to do two things in relation to its education mission, “First, we need to take a hard look at how AI will impact jobs and the industry sectors that our graduates will move on to, and the skills and knowledge they need to thrive. Are our courses building skills that are relevant? Do our students need exposure and engagement with AI, to work competently in a future which is AI-driven? Second, AI is disrupting various sectors of the knowledge economy. AI can process information and produce content almost instantly. How can we leverage on AI to ‘superpower’ teaching and learning?”
Top accolade - Outstanding Service Award
This year, the prestigious Outstanding Service Award was conferred on Mr Bilahari Kausikan, Chairman of the Middle East Institute at NUSand former Singapore diplomat, and Dr Teh Kok Peng, Chairman of the East Asian Institute at NUSand a veteran in Singapore’s finance and economic development, in recognition of their inspiring leadership and dedicated service. Both are accomplished leaders who have made sustained contributions in selflessly serving the University and society.
Mr Bilahari Kausikan
As Chairman of the Middle East Institute (MEI) at NUS – an appointment he has held since 2017, Mr Kausikan has leveraged on his decades of diplomatic service experience, and wide global and national recognition, to drive the institute’s impactful research, and enhanced its stature and reputation.
He has guided MEI’s focus and publications towards what was relevant to its primary stakeholders in the Singapore government and relatable to the general public, while maintaining the highest standards of academic rigour. MEI is now well-known in East Asia, the Middle East, the US and Europe. Mr Kausikan will be retiring as MEI Chairman in end-August 2024, but he will remain associated with the institute as an Honorary Fellow.
During his 37-year career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kausikan has contributed to steering Singapore’s foreign relations in an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment. The veteran diplomat served in diverse appointments at home and abroad, including Ambassador to The Russian Federation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. He was appointed Deputy Secretary for Southeast Asia in 1998 and Second Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) in 2001. He served as Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) from 2010, before retiring in 2013, whereupon he was appointed Ambassador-at-Large, a position he held until 2018.
Known for his pragmatic and candid views, Mr Kausikan has written and spoken extensively on the complexities of diplomacy, nation-states and international politics, particularly the role of ASEAN vis-à-vis the global powers.
Delivering the citation for Mr Kausikan’s conferment, Ms Michelle Teo, Executive Director, MEI, noted that the institute has benefitted from his wide global and national recognition. “Under Bilahari’s watch, the stature and reputation of our Institute has been enhanced. He has been a true leader for the MEI team, always available to everyone, honest and insightful in his many discussions with the research team, and clear and precise in his guidance to the Board and the administrative team,” said Ms Teo.
Sharing his thoughts on receiving the Outstanding Service Award, Mr Kausikan said, “I have only done as most of us have done, and that’s what we could ― for our families, for the organisations we belonged to, for our country. Some of us are fortunate in that what we did attracted greater attention, but no contribution could have been possible without the contributions of all, whether recognised or not.”
Watch this inspiring video on Mr Kausikan’s dedicated contributions towards the University and society.
Dr Teh Kok Peng
Dr Teh Kok Peng has had a distinguished career in finance and economic development. He served as President of GIC Special Investments from April 1999 to June 2011, where he oversaw global investments in private equity, infrastructure and international venture funds. His early career at the World Bank and his roles as Deputy Managing Director of both the Monetary Authority of Singapore and GIC underscored his significant contributions to Singapore’s financial and economic development.
In recognition of his service, Dr Teh has received numerous accolades, including the AVCJ (Asian Venture Capital Journal) Special Achievement Award in 2022 and the Public Administration Award (Gold) during Singapore's National Day Awards in 1992. His academic journey, with degrees from La Trobe University and the University of Oxford, laid the foundation for his lifelong pursuit of excellence.
Under his sterling stewardship as Chairman of EAI, the institute has undergone a strategic transformation that has significantly enhanced its capacity to conduct cutting-edge academic and policy-oriented research on East Asian development. Among his contributions are the initiation of a strategic review of the EAI Board. Following this, the Board was reconstituted to include members from the corporate sector, harnessing a more diverse range of relevant expertise in service of the institute’s mission of promoting academic and policy-oriented research on East Asian development.
Dr Teh’s contributions also encompassed the higher education sector, where he served on the boards of NUS, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Institute of Policy Studies. Delivering the citation for Dr Teh’s conferment, Professor Alfred Schipke, Director, EAI, said “The nation and many esteemed institutions have greatly benefitted from his visionary leadership and profound expertise in finance, economic development, and higher education.”
On his motivation to serve, Dr Teh shared, “As far back as I can remember, and perhaps instinctively, I’ve had the urge to combine the life of the mind with a life of action, and for a purpose greater than myself. I hope that I have succeeded, in my limited ways.”
Watch this inspiring videoon Dr Teh’s dedicated contributions towards the University and society.
Inaugural Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
This new award honours faculty members who have excelled in graduate mentoring through their dedication in developing students holistically, commitment in producing research leaders who excel globally, and have been identified by their colleagues and students as deserving of special recognition.
Beyond sustained and positive impact on graduate mentoring, recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award will also strengthen graduate mentorship at the University by sharing their practice and providing guidance in this area. They will therefore be invited to give a public lecture and will further be called on to contribute to the University graduate community by advising initiatives aimed at enhancing graduate mentoring practice.
Prof Roychoudhury has fostered a culture of holistic mentorship that emphasises collaboration and creativity over traditional supervision, encouraging imagination and original thought among his students. Through a distinct mentorship approach, he has opened the pathway for talent from around the world to become faculty members at highly ranked universities globally. He has nurtured research leaders who have excelled on the global stage, garnering international esteemed research awards and leadership recognition both during and beyond their PhD studies.
Professor Wang Linfa from Duke-NUS Medical School, and Professor Brenda Yeoh Saw Ai from the Department of Geography, FASS, were both recognised for their groundbreaking research that has placed NUS at the forefront of their respective fields.
Internationally recognised for his stellar contributions to the field of emerging bat viruses and bat biology, Prof Wang has fuelled discoveries and biomedical innovations that have helped combat several viral outbreaks, from the Hendra virus in Australia to the global COVID-19 pandemic. He was featured in Clarivate’s list of Highly Cited Researchers, which recognises researchers who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their fields in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Holding a joint appointment as research leader of the Asian Migration Research Cluster at the Asia Research Institute at NUS, Prof Yeoh is known for her outstanding research record and reputation in the field of migration and transnationalism studies in the context of Asia. She was recognised by election as Fellow (International) of the British Academy in 2022, and accorded the Vautrin Lud Prize, one of the highest international awards for outstanding achievements in Geography, in 2021.
Young Researcher Award
Two promising researchers were commended for conducting groundbreaking research with the potential to extend the frontiers of knowledge in their respective fields:
1) Assistant Professor Jasper Tromp from NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Asst Prof Tromp is a distinguished researcher who focuses on heart failure, artificial intelligence, and health systems research. His pioneering work in leveraging machine learning algorithms to enhance the detection and management of heart failure has profound implications for the field of cardiology.
2) Assistant Professor Wang Xinchao from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Design and Engineering at NUS
Asst Professor Wang is known internationally for his work on efficient and trustworthy machine learning for applications, including computer vision and natural language processing. He invented the world’s most popular structural pruning approach, DepGraph, for pruning deep neural networks with one line of code in a fully automatic manner. The software has been downloaded over 125,000 times.
Outstanding Educator Award
Assoc Prof Peter Thomas Vail from NUS College was honoured for being an exemplary educator who has excelled in engaging and inspiring students in their quest for knowledge. He led the design, development and coordination of the compulsory Impact Experience (IEx) capstone course. One of NUS College’s flagship programmes, IEx allows students to undertake community service and development projects in countries across Southeast Asia and Singapore. He also crafted and piloted the NUS College Global Experience course, GEx Bali — Lombok, which focuses on marine conservation and participatory development strategies.
Read more about the NUS University Awards recipients here and the NUS press release here.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) today celebrated the accomplishments of eight outstanding members of the NUS community who have scaled new peaks of excellence and raised the bar in education, research, mentorship and service. The annual NUS University Awards recognises educators, researchers and professionals for their exceptional contributions to the University, Singapore and the global community.
This year, the prestigious Outstanding Service Award was conferred on Mr Bilahari Kausikan, Chairman of the Middle East Institute at NUS and former Singapore diplomat, and Dr Teh Kok Peng, Chairman of the East Asian Institute at NUSand veteran in Singapore finance and economic development. The top award is in recognition of their inspiring leadership and dedicated service, both being accomplished individuals who have made sustained contributions in selflessly serving the University and society.
A new award category introduced this year, the inaugural Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award was presented to Provost’s Chair Professor Abhik Roychoudhury from the Department of Computer Science at NUS School of Computing. It honours faculty members who have excelled in graduate mentoring through their dedication in developing students holistically, commitment in producing research leaders who excel globally, and have been identified by their colleagues and students as deserving of special recognition. Beyond sustained and positive impact on graduate mentoring, recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award will also strengthen graduate mentorship by sharing their practice and providing guidance.
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said, “The winners of the University Awards 2024 are remarkable achievers who have demonstrated high standards and lifted the university to a higher plane. They are trailblazers and have inspired us to challenge the impossible and reach for the stars. NUS is a place where ideas flourish, minds are nurtured, and innovation takes root. Our winners embody the spirit of excellence and the ambition to bring about lasting impact in the world. We are immensely proud of their sterling contributions across different fields and spheres of society. I extend my heartiest congratulations and admiration to all award recipients.”
Besides the Outstanding Service Award and the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award, the other award categories are the University Research Recognition Award, Young Researcher Award, andOutstanding Educator Award.
Outstanding Service Award
Mr Bilahari Kausikan
As Chairman of the Middle East Institute (MEI) at NUS – an appointment that he has held since 2017, Mr Kausikan has leveraged on his decades of diplomatic service experience, and wide global and national recognition, to drive the institute’s impactful research, and enhanced its stature and reputation.
He has guided MEI’s focus and publications towards what was relevant to its primary stakeholders in the Singapore government and relatable to the general public, while maintaining the highest standards of academic rigour. MEI is now well-known in East Asia, the Middle East, the US and Europe. Mr Kausikan will be retiring as MEI Chairman in end-August 2024, but he will remain associated with the institute as an Honorary Fellow.
During his 37-year career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kausikan has contributed to steering Singapore’s foreign relations in an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment. The veteran diplomat served in diverse appointments at home and abroad, including Ambassador to The Russian Federation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. He was appointed Deputy Secretary for Southeast Asia in 1998 and Second Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) in 2001. He served as Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) from 2010, before retiring in 2013, whereupon he was appointed Ambassador-at-Large, a position he held until 2018.
Known for his pragmatic and candid views, Mr Kausikan has written and spoken extensively on the complexities of diplomacy, nation-states and international politics, particularly the role of ASEAN vis-à-vis the global powers.
Dr Teh Kok Peng
Dr Teh Kok Peng has had a distinguished career in finance and economic development. He served as President of GIC Special Investments from April 1999 to June 2011, where he oversaw global investments in private equity, infrastructure and international venture funds. His early career at the World Bank and his roles as Deputy Managing Director of both the Monetary Authority of Singapore and GIC underscored his significant contributions to Singapore’s financial and economic development.
In recognition of his service, Dr Teh has received numerous accolades, including the AVCJ (Asian Venture Capital Journal) Special Achievement Award in 2022 and the Public Administration Award (Gold) during Singapore's National Day Awards in 1992. His academic journey, with degrees from La Trobe University and the University of Oxford, laid the foundation for his lifelong pursuit of excellence.
Under his sterling stewardship as Chairman of EAI, the institute has undergone a strategic transformation that has significantly enhanced its capacity to conduct cutting-edge academic and policy-oriented research on East Asian development. Among his contributions are the initiation of a strategic review of the EAI Board. Following this, the Board was reconstituted to include members from the corporate sector, harnessing a more diverse range of relevant expertise in service of the institute’s mission of promoting academic and policy-oriented research on East Asian development.
Dr Teh’s contributions also encompassed the higher education sector, where he served on the boards of NUS, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Institute of Policy Studies.
Six exemplary academics and researchers honoured
The NUS University Awards also celebrated the accomplishments of six outstanding academics and researchers:
University Research Recognition Award
1) Professor Wang Linfa from Duke-NUS Medical School
Internationally recognised for his stellar contributions to the field of emerging bat viruses and bat biology, Prof Wang has fuelled discoveries and biomedical innovations that have helped combat several viral outbreaks, from the Hendra virus in Australia to the global COVID-19 pandemic. He was featured in Clarivate’s list of Highly Cited Researchers, which recognises researchers who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their fields in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
2) Professor Brenda Yeoh Saw Ai from the Department of Geography, NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, who is also research leader of the Asian Migration Research Cluster at the Asia Research Institute, NUS
Prof Yeoh is known for her outstanding research record and reputation in the field of migration and transnationalism studies in the context of Asia, as recognised by election as Fellow (International) of the British Academy in 2022, and the award of the Vautrin Lud Prize, one of the highest international awards for outstanding achievements in Geography, in 2021.
Young Researcher Award
1) Assistant Professor Jasper Tromp from NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Asst Prof Tromp is a distinguished researcher who focuses on heart failure, artificial intelligence, and health systems research. His pioneering work in leveraging machine learning algorithms to enhance the detection and management of heart failure has profound implications for the field of cardiology.
2) Assistant Professor Wang Xinchao from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Design and Engineering at NUS
Asst Prof Wang is known internationally for his work on efficient and trustworthy machine learning for applications, including computer vision and natural language processing. He invented the world’s most popular structural pruning approach, DepGraph, for pruning deep neural networks with one line of code in a fully automatic manner. The software has been downloaded over 125,000 times.
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
1) Professor Abhik Roychoudhury from the Department of Computer Science, NUS School of Computing
Prof Roychoudhuryhas fostered a culture of holistic mentorship that emphasises collaboration and creativity over traditional supervision, encouraging imagination and original thought among his students. He has nurtured research leaders who have excelled on the global stage, garnering international esteemed research awards and leadership recognition both during and beyond their PhD studies.
Outstanding Educator Award
1) Associate Professor Peter Thomas Vail from NUS College
Assoc Prof Vail led the design, development and coordination of the compulsory Impact Experience (IEx) capstone course. One of NUS College’s flagship programmes, IEx allows students to undertake community service and development projects in countries across Southeast Asia and Singapore. He also crafted and piloted the NUS College Global Experience course, GEx Bali — Lombok, which focuses on marine conservation and participatory development strategies.
As part of the Southeast Asia Friendship Initiative (SFI) at NUS, groups from various hostels in NUS embarked on trips to the surrounding Southeast Asian region during the recent summer break, where they learnt about the unique cultural and environmental contexts of sustainability practices, and developed learning points and applications to impact the communities and stakeholders they engaged with.
Leveraging on Singapore's unique geographical location within Southeast Asia (SEA), one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world with a population of almost 640 million people, SFI aims to advance sustainability through experiential learning and international engagement. Students are immersed in the real-world applications of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fostering practical understanding and innovative solutions to global challenges.
Residential College 4: Exploring resilience of food systems in Chiang Mai
In July 2024, a group of ten participants from NUS Residential College 4 travelled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for a research-focused trip centred on food systems resilience. The team delved into the complexities of Northern Thailand's food system through lectures at Chiang Mai University and fieldwork, engaging with individuals across various food economy sectors including paddy farm owners, community-based organic food producers, and coffee farmers. The participants’ efforts aimed to uncover and understand the local challenges and opportunities related to food security and sustainability.
During their visit, the team actively contributed to the local communities by conducting interviews and gathering insights, which were highly beneficial in enabling academics at Chiang Mai University and their community development partners to support ongoing efforts to enhance food systems resilience in the region.
The trip provided several key learning experiences for the participants. They gained a deeper appreciation for the significance of transdisciplinary research and the co-creation of knowledge with diverse stakeholders. Additionally, they recognised the value of unwritten, local knowledge in addressing specific challenges, highlighting the importance of building relevant networks and asking insightful questions to obtain such knowledge.
For Winnie Tan, third-year undergraduate from NUS Business School, her experience at a market with stalls run by community-based organic food producers, where they had to conduct fieldwork and speak to the stall owners, turned out to be the most memorable for her. The students had to apply their skills and exposure from the past few days to engage in meaningful discussions with local community members about sustainable practices.
Despite facing challenges in integrating diverse perspectives from various interviews, the team effectively managed this by dedicating time to daily synthesis and team discussions. The experiences in Chiang Mai were a reminder that “your impact can extend far beyond classroom theories,” said Winnie.
Pioneer House: Exploring sustainability in the urban and rural context in Malang, Indonesia
Close to 30 students from Pioneer House travelled to the town of Malang in East Java, Indonesia in May 2024 on an experiential learning trip where they were exposed to concepts of sustainability and reflected on the applications of these learning points in their urban lives.
The trip explored sustainability in the urban and rural context, such as through visits to Malang City and Ngroto, a village in Malang regency. In the urban context, the students visited Glintung Go Green in Malang, a neighbourhood initiative aimed at sustainable urban development. They learnt about practices such as zero-cost planting and porous wells that address the negative effects of urbanisation. A highlight of this visit was a presentation by the Mayor of Malang who shared their vision and achievements.
The students also explored sustainability in the rural setting of Ngroto village in Malang regency, where they observed local seeding and plant nursery practices, and participated in a cultural performance by the villagers. Their exploration of sustainable agriculture continued with an entrepreneurial farmer who demonstrated the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to optimise soil conditions, irrigation, and produce quality.
In addition to these learning experiences, students also immersed in local cultural exchange and took in scenic sights during a visit to the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park. Aside from observing the biodiversity around the crater and the mountain, they engaged in a batik painting session and created their own batik masterpiece to bring home.
These activities provided the students with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable practices across different contexts, reinforcing the importance of integrating SDGs into various aspects of development and environmental stewardship. More importantly, bonds were forged between students from NUS and students from the Universitas Brawijaya, who hosted the visit, putting ‘friendship’ in SFI.
"I was glad to hear students share about what they learnt from the trip," said Dr Andi Sudjana Putra, Resident Fellow from PH who led the trip to Malang. "Even though we have returned from the trip, I was heartened to observe our students refer to what they learnt in the village's farm when discussing plans for the community garden in Pioneer House. Their ability to draw parallels between the two has demonstrated true learning and fulfilled one of the objectives of the trip," Dr Andi shared.
CAPT in Nan Province and Bangkok: Bringing community engagement overseas
Sixteen students from the College of Alice & Peter Tan (CAPT) embarked on a study trip to Nan Province and Bangkok in July 2024 as part of the Senior Seminar course titled ‘Sustainability in Southeast Asia: Study Trip to Thailand.’ Accompanied by three faculty members, the students partnered with peers from Chulalongkorn University for a two-week immersive learning experience focused on sustainability and community engagement.
The students actively participated in various hands-on activities through collaborations with local communities and organisations such as the Phu Fa Development Centre, Chulalongkorn University’s Center of Learning Network for the Region, and Nam Kian Community Enterprises. These enabled them to be involved in activities within the community such as tree planting and visits to goat and pig farms, where they gained valuable insights into sustainable farming practices and the challenges faced by local agricultural communities.
CAPT's commitment to community engagement was evident even overseas. The students interacted with local communities, industry leaders, and embassies in Thailand and Singapore, and acquired important lessons on the principles of a circular economy. They explored how mutual benefits can be achieved between organisations and local farmers to enhance food security, and learnt about the role of international cooperation in facilitating the exchange of ideas, technology, and labour.
Chan Syn Ning, a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate, recounted, “It was important to approach the trip with an open mindset and a willingness to be involved using a hands-on approach, as the environment was quite different from our big city life. The trip was purposeful and provided a deeper understanding and greater appreciation towards Thai religion, language, and social customs.”
By Residential College 4, Pioneer House, and College of Alice & Peter Tan.
By Prof David Tan, Co-Director from the Centre for Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and the Law, and Head (Intellectual Property) from the EW Barker Centre for Law and Business at NUS Law
By Dr Kalpana Vignehsa, Senior Research Fellow from the Governance and Economy Dept at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
The College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has established the Centre for Environment and Ageing Well (ENgAGE) to take the lead in enhancing living environments that foster the physical, psychological and social well-being of individuals across all age groups, particularly in response to the challenges brought about by demographic shifts and climate change.
ENgAGE will enhance Singapore’s ongoing efforts to explore innovative ways to support older adults, as the nation prepares for an increasingly ageing population. By 2030, about one in four Singaporeans is expected to be above the age of 65, and approximately 83,000 older persons will be living alone and around 100,000 older persons will have mild disabilities. Creating inclusive living spaces that meet the diverse needs, preferences and aspirations of older persons is, therefore, crucial.
The Centre will leverage robust research capabilities, including urban planning, architecture, social sciences, medicine and engineering, to coordinate and consolidate place-based, ageing-related research, education and resources locally and internationally.
ENgAGE was officially launched today by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development. The launch event also featured a keynote speech by Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations at the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, as well as a panel discussion focusing on the built environment and ageing in Asia.
Highlighting the establishment of ENgAGE as a testament to NUS’ commitment to addressing challenges associated with rapid demographic shift in Singapore, Ms Indranee Rajah said, “The launch of this Centre is timely and pertinent… With a research focus on the intersection between ageing and the built environment, the Centre brings together myriad disciplines – from design, architecture, social sciences to public health – that will offer valuable insights into understanding and tackling age-related environmental issues.”
Professor Heng Chye Kiang, Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) of NUS CDE, said, “The launch of ENgAGE represents a pivotal step in our commitment to improving quality of life and well-being for all. By deepening our understanding of how ageing impacts communities across Asia, ENgAGE will lead the way in creating environments that promote health, independence, and dignity throughout all stages of life. The Centre’s core team from the Department of Architecture is already actively collaborating with researchers from various departments across NUS, as well as external partners, to bring together the diverse perspectives necessary to address these complex issues.”
Creating inclusive living environments
To achieve its aim of creating sustainable and inclusive living environments in Singapore, ENgAGE will focus on four key areas:
Research: To be a premier research hub focusing on the connection between ageing and the built environment, conducting extensive studies and formulating practical solutions.
Education: To coordinate specialised courses and modules focused on ageing-related issues, for students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and challenges surrounding ageing.
Global Collaboration: To leverage global expertise and perspectives to enrich ENgAGE’s research and educational initiatives through partnerships and collaborations with international institutions.
Community Resources: To create an Information Resource Centre to provide professionals and the public with easy access to research findings, expert insights and resources.
The research activities of ENgAGE are organised under three pillars:
Ageing in Place in Asia: Understanding the cultural, social and environmental factors influencing the desire and ability of older adults to age in their homes within an Asian context.
Design for Brain Health: Investigating how environmental design impacts cognitive health and exploring innovative design strategies to promote brain health in ageing populations.
Climate Change and Ageing in Asia: Addressing the implications of climate change on ageing populations, especially in Asia, and developing resilient and sustainable living environments.
Please refer to the Annexe for details of the research projects that ENgAGE’s researchers will be involved in.
Co-designing living spaces with the community
ENgAGE recognises that tackling the complex challenges of ageing requires collaboration across sectors. Strategic partnerships with government agencies, private industry, healthcare providers, non-profit organisations and community members are essential to translating research into actionable solutions. By uniting diverse stakeholders, ENgAGE fosters innovation, informs policy, and drives impactful community programmes that enhance the well-being of older persons.
Most importantly, integrating voices from communities is central to ENgAGE’s approach. By involving older adults, their families, and caregivers directly in the research process, the Centre ensures that its work reflects the real needs and experiences of those it serves. This not only strengthens the relevance of research outcomes but also empowers communities to adopt and sustain the solutions developed, contributing to a more inclusive and resilient society.
"Being part of the co-design process for the Tentacles projects has been a most valuable and meaningful experience," shared Ms Tan Chia Chia, a long-time Queenstown resident who is currently participating in one of ENgAGE’s research projects with her mother. "The value comes from knowing our voices from the ground matters, are listened to and will be acted upon by the relevant authorities. As a community, it takes both top down and ground up actions to co-create a conducive and supportive environment that we will be happy living in with our loved ones."
The Tentacles project aims to improve pedestrian connections between Alexandra Hospital, Queenstown MRT station and the Mei Ling/Stirling neighbourhood, and to enable ageing-in-place while enhancing the overall well-being of Mei Ling/Stirling residents. Please refer to the Annexe for more details.
“The complex societal challenges we face today cannot be solved by a single discipline. At the Centre for Environment and Ageing Well, we recognise older persons as valuable assets to our community and believe that the integration of their voices will be critical in improving the everyday lives of not only the ageing population, but for all generations,” said Associate Professor Emi Kiyota, Director of the Centre for Environment and Ageing Well at NUS CDE. Assoc Prof Kiyota has a joint appointment in the Department of Architecture at NUS CDE and the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
“ENgAGE is dedicated to advocating for a collective approach to co-designing a future where ageing is celebrated, and where the potential for meaningful growth throughout life is embraced by all. We are very happy to have our community members join our launch ceremony today,” added Assoc Prof Kiyota.
Transforming our environment to support healthy longevity
The establishment of ENgAGE was made possible through a generous S$5 million gift from Mrs Lee Li-ming, spouse of the late Associate Professor Lee Kip Lin, an architect and professor at NUS, who had devoted many years documenting Singapore’s architectural heritage.
“Many older adults in Singapore continue to face significant daily challenges, despite support efforts. We must address problems like limited resources, inadequate accessibility, and extreme temperatures, which pose significant barriers. To do so, we must hear their voices and incorporate their experiences into designing their living environments. Through ENgAGE, I am privileged to make a positive impact on fellow Singaporeans' lives and committed to amplifying older citizens' voices for meaningful change," said Mrs Lee Li-ming.
This is the latest gift from Mrs Lee, who had also supported the establishment of the Lee Kip Lin Bursary, which provides financial assistance for NUS undergraduates pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, as well as the Lee Li-ming Scholarship for Ecological Design, which supports students from ASEAN countries who are pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture at NUS.
While Singapore’s global status as an aviation hub is well-cemented, its spacefaring capabilities are more modest. However, it is still home to over 60 space tech firms with over 2000 personnel today. Since 2011, Singapore has launched more than 30 satellites. This year, it was announced that Singapore will be launching a very low-orbit research satellite in 2025, named Elite, built by the Nanyang Technological University that will soar just 250km above the Earth.
The impetus to have a footprint in space began in 2013 when the Economic Development Board established the Office for Space Technology and Industry to spearhead the development of small satellite capabilities and new sensor technologies. By 2020, the office received an expanded mandate to serve as Singapore’s national space office to develop the nation’s space industry, space policy, space talent and workforce as well as to grow international partnerships and strengthen global space governance. In 2022, the Government announced a S$150 million investment in research and development of space capabilities to support critical domains such as aviation, maritime and sustainability, and to create disruptive technologies.
In his keynote speech, Deputy Attorney-General Lionel Yee highlighted the legal frameworks in aviation established by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, and in outer space, established through various multilateral treaties, including the Outer Space Treaty. It was patently clear that the international regulation of space activities was very much underdeveloped compared to aviation.
In the final plenary session of the conference, a panel of industry players and academics were assembled to discuss the landmark paper that I published in the year 2000 in the Yale Journal of International Law titled “Towards a New Regime for the Protection of Outer Space as the Province of All Mankind” which has been widely cited, and is still being cited today. The notion of states sharing a common interest in the exploration and use of outer space has led the international community to declare outer space to be the “province of all mankind” in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. But most of the scholarship back then was largely preoccupied with the freedom of exploration and use of outer space, and comparatively little on the need to protect it from environmental damage.
“At first glance, the issues of pollution in outer space are more complex than environmental pollution on Earth, and may appear to many as far-fetched or too insignificant to merit our attention. However, there are real implications for us living on earth and for human lives.”
In the 50-page article, it was argued that while the precise definition of the “province of all mankind” may be unclear, the very nature of the outer space environment demands special recognition by the international community as a whole – that it must be transmitted in a substantially unimpaired state to future generations. In balancing delicate political and economic interests, the article concluded that the protection of the outer-space environment from pollution would best be achieved by the adoption of a Framework Convention on the Protection of the Space Environment and the establishment of an International Space Agency.
Almost 25 years later, despite more and more articles being published that urge for better international regulatory oversight, none of these proposals have come to fruition. Modest progress, nonetheless, has been made by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, for instance, with the publication of a set of Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 2021.
Presently, the concept of the “common heritage of mankind” (CHM) is understood as a principle of international law that designates certain territorial areas to be elements of the common property of humanity and should be preserved and held in trust for future generations. Such areas include the deep seabed which has been enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The term CHM appears in the 1979 Moon Treaty which declares that the moon and its resources are CHM; but oddly the phrase “province of all mankind” is used in the earlier 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Till today, there is no settled definition of the CHM principle, and disagreements exist as to its precise content and scope of application. Nevertheless, it has been applied to a range of spaces and resources: Antarctica, the Arctic landscape, geostationary orbit, fisheries and genetic resources.
At first glance, the issues of pollution in outer space are more complex than environmental pollution on Earth, and may appear to many as far-fetched or too insignificant to merit our attention. However, there are real implications for us living on earth and for human lives.
First, the use of nuclear power sources (NPS) in outer space is aimed at providing electric power for spacecraft sub-systems such as altitude control, communications, and command, as well as for the operations of various equipment on board. The interconnectedness of the Earth’s environment and outer space means that any damage or harm to the space environment is likely to have a spillover effect on Earth. Back in 1978, there is already evidence of this when the Cosmos-954, a nuclear-powered satellite, disintegrated upon re-entry, scattering a significant amount of highly radioactive debris across Canadian territory.
Second, man-made space debris or space junk has been an environmental hazard whose seriousness is a shared concern of many scientists and policy-makers in the international community. Most of the trackable objects are located in low-earth-orbit (LEO) with a significant number in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) which is an area of intense space activity. Objects of sizes between 0.01 and 1 cm can cause significant damage upon impact. Objects larger than 1 cm can produce catastrophic effects. If the growth in numbers is permitted to continue without adequate measures to safeguard active space objects from damage caused by explosion, collision, or harmful radiation, it could easily result in serious accidents involving the loss of human lives in manned space vehicles or substantial property damage.
At the conference, it was pointed out in the joint paper by Adrien Schifano and Guo Keyang that the inherent characteristics of outer space makes it an environment that is difficult to regulate despite it being a common area, unlike the deep seabed. In her presentation, Melissa De Zwart focused on how some of the present space programmes regarding establishing a human presence on the Moon, especially by the United States (NASA’s Artemis Program) and China (the Chang’e Project), are giving rise to legal and ethical issues.
Ultimately, as De Zwart commented, there are no neat or easy answers to many of these questions. Applying the CHM framework from other domains or trying to define outer space as “the province of all mankind” as a sui generis regime will not address the geopolitical tensions of the nations currently engaged in outer-space related activities such as the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan. Solutions and compromises will likely have to be worked out between national agencies, commercial organisations and industry players.
About the author
David Tan is a professor at NUS Faculty of Law and co-director of the faculty's Centre for Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & the Law. He pioneered courses in Entertainment Law, Fashion Law, Freedom of Speech, and Privacy & Data Protection Law. Professor Tan’s works have been published in top international law journals, including Yale Journal of International Law, Harvard Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law, Fordham Intellectual Property and Media & Entertainment Law Journal. An innovative systems-thinker, a passionate teacher, a dedicated researcher and an energetic individual, he is also an accomplished fine art and fashion photographer having held solo exhibitions in association with Cartier and Versace.
From villages to cities, from rivers to the ocean, more than 200 NUS students immersed themselves in new environments and broadened their horizons literally and figuratively this past summer in NUS College’s (NUSC) flagship Global Experience (GEx) courses.
In line with NUSC’s mission to “break open the classroom,” the month-long experiential learning courses take students around the world to learn about the strengths and challenges of selected locations or regions through conversations with researchers, expert practitioners, and communities; field visits; and hands-on activities including independent study projects.
The inaugural run of GEx received positive reviews from students, prompting the programme team to expand the number of courses in the second run. A few places in each course were also opened to non-NUSC students from other NUS residential units. Of the 12 courses available, seven are new, with five of them covering regions of Southeast Asia and two taking place in major cities, namely Beijing and Chicago.
Conservation and sustainable tourism: GEx Bali/Lombok
Students got more than their feet wet in Indonesia – they dived into the ocean and got muddy in mangrove forests to learn about conservation and sustainable tourism efforts in Bali and Lombok, gathering insights on how these practices could be applied to the rest of Southeast Asia.
Led by local fisherman collectives and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the students observed sustainable methods for octopus fishing and ornamental fish harvesting, installed artificial reef structures for coral nurseries on the ocean floor, and waded through knee-deep mud to plant mangrove tree seedlings.
The students were both sobered by the challenges that the communities face in preserving their environment and way of life, and inspired by the tenacity and resourcefulness of the communities and NGOs.
Said first-year Business Analytics major Saanvi Tondak: “It is very easy to pass didactic judgments, especially with the sheltered Singaporean lives we live. However, being on the ground and witnessing the complexities first-hand made me realise the nuances involved.” For instance, she gained a deeper understanding of how the economic considerations of tourism intertwine with the need to protect natural habitats.
Observing the NGOs’ methods, which did not always follow strict scientific principles but sometimes relied on common sense and trial and error, inspired second-year Life Sciences major Mahiraah Begum to take a similar approach. “It showed me that I don’t need to wait for perfect knowledge to begin my own projects; I can start small, experiment, and adapt based on real-world feedback.”
The NGOs’ focus on empathy and humility in listening to the communities when developing their solutions left a strong impression on first-year Environmental Studies major Justin Kam, who summarised his learnings thus: “We must empower not impose; we must listen before we act.”
Resilience and livelihoods at water’s edge: GEx Mekong Delta
More than just a geographic feature, mighty rivers like the Mekong shape the communities and cultures that develop along their banks, connecting them to nature and one another. GEx Mekong Delta took students to five locations in Cambodia and Vietnam along the Mekong River and around its delta, focusing on the local communities, how they organise their lives and livelihoods around the natural ecosystems, and the stressors they face from rapid development and environmental change – all through an interdisciplinary lens that combined the skills of ethnography and photography.
Through their daily interactions with the locals, the students learned to overcome their reservations and hone their ethnographic skills in navigating language barriers, reading body language and non-verbal cues, and asking the right questions to clarify ambiguities.
Photography added a new dimension to their approach, enhancing their fieldwork and making their research output more comprehensive and engaging. For Wilfred Tang, a third-year Sociology and Global Studies double major, a camera was a good conversation starter as people would ask him to take their photos. Using it thoughtfully prompted him and fellow student Lim En Jia, a second-year Political Science major, to notice patterns they could research further.
For example, Wilfred’s observation that most of the vendors in his photos of a particular market were women guided his conversations with the sellers to find out more about the market as a gendered space. He learnt that the women’s decisions to make a living this way were shaped by broader social factors such as education, skills, and poverty.
Said En Jia: “Using the camera as a conduit to see the world forced me to slow down and take a closer look at the common sights that I take for granted. Seeing people exercising in the park became a question of the use of public spaces in fostering connection; food stalls by the river became a question of development and who gets left behind.”
The Chinese way of technology: GEx Beijing
Understanding China is crucial to appreciating its influence in multiple spheres, including geopolitics, economics, technology, environment, and more; so a group of students travelled to Beijing for a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the country as represented by its capital city.
The inner workings of Beijing as a smart city were a key focus, with highlights including a visit to the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD), where they got a glimpse of the complex suite of cloud connectivity, technological and infrastructural innovations, and policy systems needed to make autonomous driving a reality.
The experience of touring the BJHAD in autonomous vehicles and taking a driverless ride-hailing service to a nearby shopping mall was thrilling and eye-opening for second-year Computer Science major Timothy Putra Prasetio, who was impressed by the technological advances made possible with strong societal and government support.
“Observing how companies like Tencent and Dahua Security allocate substantial resources to research and development to create groundbreaking technologies has inspired me to prioritise continuous learning and innovation in my own work,” he said.
Non-curricular activities yielded lessons about the wide-ranging potential of technology too. Final-year Chemistry major Chelsea Wong checked out an escape room with some classmates in their free time and was awed by the experience. The room setup was larger and more sophisticated than what she was used to in Singapore, with walls that “collapsed” and characters and objects that appeared seemingly out of nowhere upon the completion of certain tasks. In answer to the students’ amazed questions about how these were achieved, a character actor replied, “Magic!” They then explained that technology was used to give customers the sensation of having experienced magic in the escape room.
“My impression of technology was that of systematic machines and software that increase the convenience and efficiency of daily living,” Chelsea said. “I realised that I could be reading all kinds of articles about technology in China, but being here and experiencing the city for myself made these lessons a lot more memorable and powerful.”
Another highlight of the trip for her was getting to meet Singaporeans working at the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. The experience reminded Chelsea of the importance of continuing to find ways to maintain Singapore’s relevance on the world stage, including through the efforts of Singaporeans representing the country and working overseas.
Agritech enterprises in the heart of America: GEx Chicago
Over in Chicago, a major city in the US state of Illinois, another group of students explored the possibilities and lessons from an agricultural city where food is grown in community gardens and vacant lots and on rooftops. Growing more of our own food in an urban environment is a key challenge for Singapore, and Chicago’s example demonstrates how doing so not only increases self-sufficiency and resources but also encourages communities to spring up and flourish around such spaces and activities.
Though the garden plots were visible enough, many of the lessons had to be unearthed with deeper digging. Third-year business analytics and Communications and New Media double major student Kyoeun Kim recalls passing through a community farm on her first day in Chicago during her morning run and thinking of it as no more than “another pretty horticultural farm.”
However, a couple of weeks later, she saw the same farm with new eyes during a visit organised as part of the GEx programme, in which the youths who worked there explained its broader impact on their lives.
“The urban farm serves as a vital opportunity for growth, healing, and food sovereignty for Chicago’s youth, particularly those from disadvantaged neighbourhoods who lack access to quality education and fresh produce,” Kyoeun shared. “Coming to Chicago as a student researcher rather than a tourist allowed me to study and appreciate the spaces for their significance to the local community, rather than through my limited perspective.”
She also learnt to deconstruct her perspectives. Citing, as an example, her expectation that most of the farms would resemble the high-tech farms present in Singapore, she was surprised to find a low-tech rainwater collection tower being used at a different community farm. Upon studying the history of the space and interacting with the community members, she learnt that the tower was actually an ingenious invention that maximised resources in an area that lacked direct access to water, partly as a result of historical racial inequalities.
Course facilitator Dr Jerome Kok said the community farm visits were meant to help students realise that food is not just about production, but that the growing spaces can have an impact on empowerment and justice issues, as well as culture and heritage for their surrounding communities. “I think (the visits) helped to abstract the idea of ‘food’ and demonstrated the very natural way that it invites different disciplines to the table,” he said.
The latest iteration of the annual Temasek Foundation-NUS Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking (TF-NUS LEaRN) programme kicked off over the summer break as over 60 students from various universities in Singapore and Southeast Asia immersed in a cross-cultural learning programme held for two weeks each in Vietnam and Singapore.
Organised by the NUS Global Relations Office with support from Temasek Foundation, the TF-NUS LEaRN programme seeks to nurture the next generation of Asian leaders by providing opportunities for cultural exchange, networking, and leadership development. The theme of Cultural and Environmental Sustainability was the focus of this year’s iteration, held in collaboration with FPT University in Vietnam.
Sustainability and the community: lessons from Da Nang
In May 2024, 34 students from NUS, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) departed on a two-week journey to Da Nang, Vietnam to learn about its cultural and environmental sustainability initiatives, through visits to cultural sites and cultural exchange with Vietnamese students. Students also took lessons on Adaptive Leadership and Eco-Tourism from FPT University.
The lessons in Da Nang set the stage for their experiences at the scenic district of Hoa Bac, located about 30km north-west of Da Nang, where they were welcomed into different homestays and heard from the community directly on how its members have preserved their way of life and the environment around them.
For first-year undergraduate from NUS Electrical Engineering Muhammad Afham Bin Mohamed Shahril, the time spent with the community at Hoa Bac in Da Nang was particularly significant.
“We explored their innovative efforts towards sustainability and witnessed first-hand how community-driven initiatives can lead to meaningful and lasting change. This experience broadened my understanding of sustainability practices and inspired me to think about how similar models can be applied to my own community,” he said.
In addition to their unforgettable experience at Hoa Bac, the programme participants also gained deeper knowledge about Vietnamese history and were immersed in Vietnamese cultural activities such as bamboo and handloom weaving during their two weeks in Da Nang.
At Gian Bi Village, the students engaged with members of the Co Tu ethnic minority, an indigenous population who live in the region. They learnt about their unique ethnic legacies, such as food specialties and basket weaving, and some even put their best foot forward to learn traditional art forms such as the Co Tu people’s tung tung da da dance.
Imagining ASEAN 2040
The second segment of the TF-NUS LEaRN programme, which took place in Singapore in July 2024, saw 30 students from Singapore’s Southeast Asian neighbours - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam – gather to learn about sustainability in Singapore, explore the context in which leaders operate today, and envision the potential requirements of leadership in ASEAN in 2040.
Through fireside chats with industry leaders on leadership philosophy; excursions to local farms, the Singapore Zoo and Marina Barrage; and discussions with leaders from various sectors spearheading significant sustainability efforts, the programme contributed to the students’ understanding of Singapore’s current context in the conceptualisation and implementation of sustainability policies and initiatives, and were necessary building blocks for the next part of the programme where participants envisaged ASEAN 2040.
For Kwan Punyanuka, second-year Humanities and Sustainability undergraduate from Chiang Mai University, the fireside chats held with industry leaders gave him much food for thought and a greater insight into leadership. “My biggest takeaway from this programme would be that in order to be a good leader or to make an impact, one must start with oneself. Being able to hear from and speak to the distinguished speakers and sophisticated thinkers at the fireside chats really helped put things into perspective and shed light on complex questions,” he said.
In the final phase of the programme, the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy introduced the participants to the Futures Thinking Methodology and other thinking models, equipping them with innovative and investigative ways to think about the future, anticipate possible outcomes, and make better decisions today. The students then had to apply these lessons to their respective team presentations on their visions for the future, the leadership required to achieve it, and their recommendations.
Learning and growing together
Ultimately, it was the deep friendships forged that made the programme memorable. “My most treasured moments are those of connection,” said Hannah Chia, a final-year student from NUS Computing.
“I made some unexpected friendships that I think I will have for life… I was inspired, challenged, and invigorated by my peers,” she added.
Anna Therese Carolino Lobusta, a Year 3 student from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, concurred, “The programme provided me a space to connect with various individuals, and I am truly inspired by all the insights, experiences and stories of the people I have met. These friendships have taught me a lot; if I am willing to reach out and be open, I can discover so much beauty within each person.”
By Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of the Social Lab and Principal Research Fellow and Mr Melvin Tay, Research Associate, both from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
Two NUS students recently enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience of learning about ocean exploration and living on board a state-of-the-art research craft. Ng Kao Jing, a second-year student from the NUS Environmental Studies Programme, and Rachel Ong, a third-year student majoring in Psychology, were among the 14 young explorers picked from thousands of applications around the world to participate in the OceanX Education Young Explorers Program (YEP), which was held from 10 to 15 July 2024.
Kao Jing and Rachel spent five days on board the OceanXplorer, an advanced research vessel which helps to study reefs and deep-sea areas, sailing from Jakarta to Bali. The voyage offers college students the opportunity to learn from experienced scientists and explore the ocean through workshops, hands-on activities and independent study on board.
Answering the call to deep-sea adventure
YEP selects students aged 18 to 22 from across the globe for a week-long voyage of experiential learning aboard the OceanXplorer. Participants will apply online where they will need to provide a brief written response and submit a video demonstrating their passion for natural science through ocean leadership and conservation, marine operations, or creative storytelling. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in an interview.
The expedition in July 2024 welcomed its first international batch of young explorers. Kao Jing and Rachel were joined by 12 other young explorers from countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States of America and Singapore, bringing with them a diverse range of expertise, such as screenwriting, ocean science, and geomatics engineering.
Known globally as the pinnacle of advanced deep-sea ocean exploration research vessels, the OceanXplorer was originally used for oil exploration. It underwent a significant transformation in 2010, with further updates in 2020, and is now equipped with cutting-edge research capabilities as well as media and technology.
Capable of exploring the most unreachable places on Earth (up to 6000m depth), the OceanXplorer hosts an array of sophisticated equipment, including submersibles and an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), enabling scientists to study deep-sea marine life in their natural habitat. Additionally, it includes facilities like a helicopter for research deployment and filming, wet and dry labs for scientific endeavours, a dedicated dive centre and a media hub.
A day in the life of a young ocean explorer
Life aboard the OceanXplorer was a whirlwind of learning and adventure. The young explorers participated in a variety of activities — from classroom seminars, scientific laboratory work, job shadowing, and even snorkelling at the famous USAT Liberty Shipwreck in Bali! The holistic curriculum put together by YEP offers enriching experiences where participants developed knowledge and competency in both media and science.
The young explorers also attended seminars on media storytelling, eDNA (environmental DNA), ocean justice, as well as oceanography and communications at sea. Held in a roundtable format, the seminars were eye-opening and informative, facilitating many insightful discussions.
Kao Jing remarked, “One memorable seminar activity was the extraction of DNA from a fish. The hands-on experiment helped us understand the procedure of DNA data collection, which involves extraction, sampling, and sequencing. It’s interesting to know that such DNA data has enabled OceanX scientists to uncover new species of deep-sea creatures.”
“We also conducted daily live streams on YouTube in small groups, discussing topics such as science and media, as well as the importance of ocean education. It was very exciting to see our friends, family, and even strangers from around the world tune in and comment on our live streams!” added Rachel.
Afternoons were reserved for job shadowing, where young explorers could shadow the crew on the vessel and carry out various shipboard roles in areas such as submersibles, bridge, kitchen, deck operations, media, wet and dry labs, and the scuba centre.
Kao Jing chose to shadow the bridge team, where he learned about navigation, operations and communications. He even had the exhilarating experience of steering the ship! Rachel, on the other hand, was eager to dive into a scientific discipline and shadow the Science Technology Officer. She learned to use the vessel’s CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth), a vital oceanographic tool for understanding the physical properties of seawater.
Both certified divers, Kao Jing and Rachel also shadowed the vessel’s Dive Safety Officer, who eagerly imparted his knowledge on the decompression chamber onboard and demonstrated the vessel’s advanced scuba diving equipment.
On top of academic seminars and job shadowing, the young explorers also acquired the most crucial survival skill aboard a vessel – firefighting. The surprise activity started off with a sudden alarm, catching the young explorers off guard. Under their mentors’ guidance, they rushed to don firefighting suits, learned how to breathe from oxygen tanks and operate a firehose. For Kao Jing and Rachel, that was one of the many thrilling and unforgettable lessons in the programme.
Rachel commented, “Our batch of young explorers was very enthusiastic and inquisitive. Everyone came from diverse backgrounds and yet we shared a common love for the ocean - this allowed us to build a strong rapport with one another easily. The passion of the crew and education team for their work also inspired Kao Jing and me to learn and contribute as much as we could.”
Kao Jing elaborated, “The YEP was a transformative adventure for both of us. It reignited our passion for ocean education and conservation – in line with OceanX’s vision of ‘explore the ocean and bring it back to the world’. The programme has empowered us to advocate for the wonders of the ocean and the threats our oceans are facing, and it has also helped us foster a deeper connection and understanding of our seas. We are now better equipped to protect our precious marine environment!”
Check out more photos below! (Photos: OceanX, Ng Kao Jing, and Rachel Ong)
By Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of the Social Lab and Principal Research Fellow and Mr Melvin Tay, Research Associate, both from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS
Together with their families, about 220 first-year students participated in the NUS Law Freshmen Inauguration Ceremony (FIC), held for the first time at the NUS University Cultural Centre on 27 July 2024. Taking place annually before the start of each academic year, the FIC officially welcomes students into NUS Law and is the culmination of orientation activities organised by the Faculty.
The event saw Guest-of-Honour Justice Andrew Phang, Senior Judge of the Singapore Court of Appeal, delivering a heartfelt address that called on freshmen to pursue integrity and hold on to their ideals as they navigate their education journey.
In a speech that followed, third-year student and President of NUS Law Club, Noleen Joy Marasigan, urged the freshmen to participate in activities outside of academics to build a community of supportive friends they can surround themselves with, as they embark on their time in university.
She shared, “I am a huge advocate for partaking in whatever it is you enjoy outside of academics and the law. I made so many friends and met so many people.... This proved to be a huge blessing when law school got a bit too much for me…. This community, I daresay, will be the one constant amidst the never-ending change in law school.”
A key event highlight was the ethics pledge taken by the freshmen for the first time as a further expression of their commitment to uphold the values of the legal profession. The pledge recitation, which will now be part of the annual FIC programme, follows Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon’s acceptance of recommendations by the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee in January this year.
Commenting on the pledge, Professor Andrew Simester, Dean of NUS Law, said, “This initiative coheres with our ongoing mission at NUS Law to educate ethical lawyers of the highest distinction, lawyers who represent their clients with excellence and integrity.”
He added, “At the Freshmen Inauguration Ceremony, it is important that we emphasise not just the values of a good legal education but also the values our freshmen should have as students of the law and as future lawyers.”
Echoing these sentiments was NUS Law Chief Strategy Officer Professor Tan Cheng Han, who was the Faculty’s representative on the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee that proposed to establish the pledge. He noted that “the pledge, taking place at the beginning of legal education, will set the right ethical tone and framework that we hope will strengthen the ethical moorings of our future lawyers”.
The pledge was followed by a meaningful badge-pinning ceremony, where family members and loved ones attached the NUS Law badge to the students’ lapels, symbolising the start of their journey in the Faculty.
The Class of 2028 also witnessed the sealing of a time capsule containing letters written to themselves at the start of orientation. Given to the NUS Law Club for safekeeping, the capsule will be re-opened and the letters returned to the students upon graduation.
Commenting on his FIC experience, first-year student Samuel Ang shared, “The ethics pledge framed my perspective of the next four years: the values I am to embody, the attitude I am to possess, and the actions I am to take to make law school and lawyering a meaningful endeavour. The speeches by the esteemed Justice Phang and the Dean, Professor Simester, gave me valuable insight into the mindset I should have entering law school, providing me with a sense of direction and assurance in the undertaking of a rigorous legal education.”
Freshman Cassandra Goh added, “The FIC was a momentous milestone to mark the official start of my law school journey. The ceremony also sparked a deep sense of togetherness for my batchmates and I, reminding us that we will be in this journey together.”
To foster the growth of innovative social ventures tackling social issues and environmental challenges, NUS Enterprise and the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE) have jointly committed S$3.5 million to support tech-based social enterprise (SE) start-ups in Singapore through the 10-week Technology for Sustainable Social Impact (TS2) accelerator programme.
This fund will nurture 16 promising social enterprise start-ups participating in the TS2 accelerator programme over the next two years, providing them with essential resources and comprehensive support. As part of this commitment, NUS Enterprise launched the BLOCK71 Social Impact Hub on 25 July 2024, a dedicated space designed to empower purpose-driven ventures and amplify their impact.
The TS2 accelerator programme supports growth stage start-ups that adopt social enterprise models, with varying levels of technological engagements – ranging from deep tech to light and low tech. The programme, which held its first run from end-April to July 2024, combines a structured curriculum and a customised development plan tailored to the needs of each participating start-up.
TS2 accelerator programme start-ups also enjoy access to mentors, investors, and impact professionals, who will help them scale and amplify their social impact. These start-ups will also gain access to overseas markets and commercial opportunities by leveraging BLOCK71's offices in nine cities across the globe.
Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, NUS Vice President (Ecosystem Building), said, "Our collaboration with raiSE supports more purpose-driven ventures with essential resources and further fosters an entrepreneurial ecosystem dedicated to positive social impact. The TS2 accelerator programme expands upon our experience in nurturing technology start-ups to social impact endeavours. This new initiative, along with the establishment of BLOCK71 Social Impact Hub is our commitment to develop innovations that achieve greater social impact via entrepreneurship.”
Inaugural TS2 accelerator programme cohort
At the Demo Day on 25 July 2024, which was opened by Professor Chen Tsuhan, NUS Deputy President (Innovation & Enterprise), the TS2 accelerator programme’s inaugural cohort of seven start-ups showcased their social impact technologies which focused on human-centred social impact innovations.
1. Active Silvers: A digital wellness platform tailored for the elderly, Active Silvers provides personalised fitness regimens based on evidence-based functional movement principles to improve the quality of life for seniors. The platform uses sophisticated algorithms to create exercises that cater to the specific needs of elderly communities.
2. FingerDance: A deep-tech start-up, FingerDance develops AI infrastructure to create more inclusive communication solutions. Their flagship product, the AI Sign Language large models, provides 24/7 sign language translation services, enhancing accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
3. MADCash: A socially conscious fintech company from Malaysia, MADCash blends education and Shariah-compliant microfinance to support underbanked women entrepreneurs. They offer financial literacy education and zero-interest microfinance loans to help women in marginalised communities break the poverty cycle.
4. MangaChat: An innovative tech company focusing on children's emotional well-being, MangaChat offers an AI-powered platform that uses comic graphics to help children express their emotions. This gamified approach, based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, makes emotional learning accessible and engaging.
5. School On Cloud: An edutech start-up offering a personalised learning experience for young children including those with special learning needs and challenges. School On Cloud uses advanced technologies like machine learning and augmented reality to scale inclusive education. Their platform adapts to each child's learning style, making foundational literacy skills fun and accessible to all.
6. StratifiCare: This medical diagnostics company developed StratifiDen, an AI-powered tool that predicts severe dengue cases, enabling timely and targeted healthcare interventions. Beyond creating social impact in Singapore, Stratificare aims to improve public health outcomes in the Global South, where dengue is endemic.
7. Tech Up Advance: Specialising in enhancing STEM education, Tech Up Advance provides a gamified robotics simulation tool, GoTechUp, which uses "digital twin" technology to create safe, virtual learning environments. This tool has already benefitted over 8,000 users globally, making STEM education more accessible and engaging.
Describing the benefits of the TS2 accelerator programme, Mr Lionel Choong, co-founder of Active Silvers shared, "The programme has helped us in many facets of our business, from practical decision-making skills to scaling our impact." This sentiment was echoed by other participants, who lauded the mentorship, and resources provided which helped them to refine their approaches and expand their reach.
Continuing to empower purpose-driven start-ups
The TS2 accelerator programme is the latest addition to NUS Enterprise’s continued efforts to support purpose-driven start-ups. Since 2011, NUS has incubated and supported close to 400 societal impact start-ups, of which 70 per cent address human-centred social impact issues and 30 per cent focus on environment and sustainability.
To further nurture the next generation of social impact start-ups, NUS Enterprise has also established the BLOCK71 Social Impact Hub to provide a dedicated space for purpose-driven ventures that address issues pertaining to societal well-being and environmental sustainability.
The hub offers a suite of services that support and accelerate impact ventures including tailored capacity-building programmes, mentorship services, and global networking opportunities. Pioneer occupants of this new hub comprise the seven start-ups from the inaugural TS2 cohort, as well as start-ups from NUS Enterprise social impact ecosystem.
Four start-ups from the NUS Enterprise social impact ecosystem also showcased their products at the opening of the BLOCK71 Social Impact Hub. The four start-ups were:
The moonbeam co.: Founded in 2021, the moonbeam co. is an impact start-up that aims to tackle byproducts like brewer’s spent grains through food technology to encourage responsible human consumption and promote circularity in the food value chain.
Boost VitaliTEA: Boost VitaliTea modernises Traditional Chinese Medicine by transforming it into functional beverages that naturally support mental health management, through various products such as their Lavender TranquiliTea and their essential oil Rose NeuroHarmony.
Cityscape Farms: Specialising in urban agriculture, Cityscape Farms offers solutions like the Smart Crop Wall, integrating the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence to enhance sustainable food production in urban areas.
Creo.Works: This start-up focuses on sustainable manufacturing practices, providing maker machines and eco-friendly materials to support local production and reduce reliance on mass-produced goods. The exterior signage and interior showcase pieces of the BLOCK71 Social Impact Hub were designed and 3D printed by Creo.Works!
Reflecting on his journey so far, Mr Kong Qi Herng, co-founder of themoonbeam.co (or the moonbeam company) remarked, “NUS Enterprise has provided platforms that created opportunities for us to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs. Through these engagements, Moonbeam has enhanced our capabilities and expanded our professional network to grow our business and collaborate with other businesses. We are excited to continue this partnership, driving positive change and fostering innovation.
Looking ahead
To ensure the continued success of TS2 start-ups, NUS Enterprise and raiSE are planning the next iteration of the TS2 accelerator programme, set to be announced in the third quarter of 2024, as well as follow-up support for the recently graduated first cohort. This includes developing a comprehensive post-accelerator support system, featuring targeted expert peer learning sessions and strategic mentoring check-ins. The continued support will further empower start-ups to address critical social and environmental challenges, driving positive change both locally and globally.
The TS2 accelerator programme and the BLOCK71 Social Impact Hub represent NUS and raiSE's shared commitment to fostering a vibrant community of social entrepreneurs. As these start-ups continue to grow and evolve, they pave the way for a future where technology and social impact go hand-in-hand, addressing some of the most pressing issues facing society today.
Detecting diseases early requires the rapid, continuous and convenient monitoring of vital biomarkers. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have developed a novel sensor that enables the continuous, and real-time detection of solid-state epidermal biomarkers (SEB), a new category of health indicators.
The team’s wearable, stretchable, hydrogel-based sensor overcomes the limitations of current methods that rely on biofluid samples, such as blood, urine and sweat. This makes it a promising alternative for wearable, continuous, and real-time health monitoring, facilitating the early detection of conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and stroke. It can also efficiently monitor athletes’ lactate levels, an indication of exhaustion and tissue hypoxia, which affect their performance. This development is especially pertinent to areas including chronic disease management, population-wide screening, remote patient monitoring and sport physiology.
The team’s findings were published in the journal Nature Materials on 12 June 2024. A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing and Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, as well as Nanyang Technological University, Singapore also contributed to the research.
Innovating to overcome existing challenges
Monitoring biomarkers — chemicals found in blood or other body fluids that capture what is happening in a cell or an organism at a given moment — traditionally involves analysing biofluids such as blood, urine and sweat. While effective, these methods come with challenges. Blood tests are invasive and inconvenient, while urine analyses can be cumbersome and lack real-time capability. Probing biomarkers from sweat, though non-invasive, is limited by the difficulty of inducing sweat in inactive individuals and the discomfort of using sweat-inducing drugs. All these pose barriers to the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
SEBs offer a compelling alternative. These biomarkers, which include cholesterol and lactate, are found in the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, and have shown strong correlations with diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, detecting these biomarkers directly has been difficult. For instance, traditional solid electrodes lack the necessary charge transport pathways to enable electrochemical sensing of SEBs.
The NUS and A*STAR research team has overcome this challenge with their novel sensor design. When the device is worn on the skin, SEBs dissolve into the ionic conductive hydrogel (ICH) layer, diffuse through the hydrogel matrix, and undergo electrochemical reactions catalysed by enzymes at the junction between the ICH and electronically conductive hydrogel (ECH) layer. Relevant physiological data is then transmitted wirelessly to an external user interface via a flexible printed circuit board, providing continuous monitoring capabilities. The sensor is produced using a scalable and cost-effective manufacturing process called screen printing.
“Our novel hydrogel sensor technology is key to enabling the non-invasive detection of solid-state biomarkers on skin. The ionic conductive hydrogel layer that solvates the biomarkers and the electronically conductive hydrogel layer facilitates electron transport. This bilayer enables the sequential solvation, diffusion and electrochemical reaction of the biomarkers. Another highlight is the sensor’s sensitivity with biomarkers being detected precisely even in low amounts,” said Asst Prof Liu.
“This wearable sensor is the first-in-the-world that can monitor biomarkers on dry or non-sweaty skin. The sensor’s novel bilayer hydrogel electrode interacts with and detects biomarkers on our skin, allowing them to become a new class of health indicators. The stretchable design enhances comfort and accuracy as well, by adapting to our skin’s natural elasticity. This innovation can change the way we approach health and lifestyle monitoring, particularly for those living with chronic conditions requiring constant health monitoring,” said Dr Yang.
Reliable, sensitive and user-friendly
Unlike traditional sensors that require biofluid samples, this sensor can continuously and non-invasively monitor SEBs directly on the skin, making it valuable for remote patient monitoring and population-wide health screening.
In clinical studies, the sensor demonstrated strong correlations between the biomarkers detected on the skin and those found in blood samples. This validates the sensor’s accuracy and reliability, suggesting it could be an alternative to blood tests for monitoring chronic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipoproteinemia and cardiovascular conditions.
The sensor’s sensitivity is another advantage, as it can detect solid-state lactate and cholesterol at very low levels. This level of sensitivity approaches that of mass spectrometry, which ensures precise monitoring of these biomarkers.
Additionally, the sensor’s design reduces motion artefacts, which occur when the user’s movements affect the placement of the sensor or its contact pressure to the skin, by three times compared to conventional counterparts. This new finding was successfully modelled mathematically. By minimising disruptions caused by movement, the bilayer hydrogel ensures consistent and reliable readings, while the stretchable, skin-like nature of the device enhances user comfort.
“One of the possible applications of this technology is to replace the pregnancy diabetic test, commonly known as the glucose tolerance test. Rather than subject pregnant women to multiple blood draws, our sensor could be used to track real-time sugar levels conveniently in patients’ home, with a similar level of accuracy as traditional tests. This also can be applied to diabetes in general, replacing the need for regular finger-prick test,” Asst Prof Liu explained.
“Another potential application is to use the sensor in the daily monitoring of heart health, as cardiovascular disease accounts for almost one-third of deaths in Singapore. The research team has embarked on a research programme to work closely with cardiologists in establishing clinical correlation between biomarkers – lactate, cholesterol, and glucose – with heart health,” said Dr Yang.
Rolling out next-gen sensors
The NUS and A*STAR researchers plan to enhance the sensor’s performance by increasing its working time and sensitivity. Further, they aim to integrate additional solid-state analytes, broadening the sensor’s applicability to other biomarkers. The researchers are also collaborating with hospitals to provide additional clinical validation and bring the technology to patients, particularly for continuous glucose monitoring, as well as quantitative assessment of dynamic resilience.
In this series, NUS News explores how NUS is accelerating sustainability research and education in response to climate change challenges, and harnessing the knowledge and creativity of our people to pave the way to a greener future for all.
Taking proactive steps towards environmental stewardship, NUS student groups are spearheading initiatives and doing their part in rallying the community towards a greener future. The wide variety of environmental student groups – from campus-wide groups, residential life groups to academic programme groups, provide the student community with diverse opportunities to participate in environmental conservation at varying levels. Here are some meaningful initiatives these student groups have driven towards promoting sustainability and protecting biodiversity both on and off-campus.
BES Drongos
A student-led interest group under the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) Student Committee, BES Drongos engages the public from all walks of life by conducting guided nature walks. Through these walks, the student volunteers hope to engage and educate the public on the biodiversity residing in nature spaces as well as raise awareness about conservation issues in Singapore.
Formed in 2014, in support of the Love Our MacRitchie Forest movement, BES Drongos set out to raise awareness of the biodiversity residing in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Since then, the group has expanded its guided walks to include terrestrial walks at Thomson Nature Park. In January 2024, it expanded its programme to include a new intertidal walk at Changi Beach where participants can spot interesting marine life on Singapore’s shorelines.
Living in an urban city, many of us may not be exposed to issues that threaten the biodiversity and wildlife in Singapore. Addressing this awareness gap was what prompted a collaborationbetween the College of Humanities and Sciences and BES Drongos in AY2023/2024 on specially curated walks at Kent Ridge Park led by the group’s guides for students taking the GEN2004 module on Green Communities in Action: Climate, Species, Crisis offered at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Science. Located just a stone’s throw behind the NUS Kent Ridge campus, participants will not only discover the surprisingly rich wildlife and biodiversity present at an urban park but also learn about the significant sociocultural history that the park holds. One interesting fact is that Kent Ridge Park is the site where the Malay Regiment fought one of their last battles against the Japanese invasion during World War II.
President of BES Drongos Tay Rui En (Year 3 BES student), shared, “When the GEN2004 module coordinator asked us to be a long-term partner for the fieldwork sessions, I thought it was a really valuable opportunity for BES Drongos to bring groups of NUS students to explore the natural world of Kent Ridge Park. It is heartwarming to see the students being enthusiastic and genuinely interested in learning more about Singapore's biodiversity!”
NUS Bitscraps
“Repair before replace” – this is the mission of NUS Bitscraps, a student interest group dedicated to electronics repair and sustainability. Formed in 2023, the group aims to empower members with essential skills for repairing electronics. Through repair sessions, workshops and hackathons, the group hopes to create a welcoming space for members to fiddle around as they explore their passion for engineering.
In line with its mission statement, the group organises a donation drive within NUS every semester to encourage donations of broken items as repair projects for members. The group will then use these items for their weekly hands-on sessions where members can freely explore repair projects alongside a small team of like-minded peers.
In January every year, NUS Bitscraps also conducts training workshops targeting different skills required in electronics repair. Ruolin Shi, a Year 2 College of Design and Engineering undergraduate who is also the President of NUS Bitscraps, shared that one of the group’s most memorable workshops involved the repair works for remote-controlled (RC) vehicles, with participants fixing broken RC devices and racing them at the end of the workshop!
Rounding up AY2023/2024, NUS Bitscraps collaborated with the NUS Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEE) Student Branch on the Rewired Hackathon. Attracting about 100 students from across different local universities, junior colleges and polytechnics, the sustainability-themed hackathon saw participants repurposing electronic parts with Internet of Things solutions.
Ruolin also shared her upcoming plans for the group, “Following the success of our founding year, we want to organise larger-scale events and collaborate with different organisations to continue putting together meaningful and enjoyable activities for the NUS community. Through our outreach, we hope to change their attitude towards throwing away broken electronics as we believe that anyone can pick up repairing skills and do their part in reducing waste.”
EVBig
EVBig is an environmental biology interest group under the NUS Life Sciences Society that brings together nature-loving individuals through nature walks to share about the rich flora and fauna that many may not know exist in Singapore. In this academic year alone, EVBig has organised three different walks showcasing different aspects of Singapore’s biodiversity – an intertidal walk at Changi Beach, a night walk at Mandai Track 15 trail, and a birdwatching session at Jurong Lake Gardens.
At its first nature night walk at Mandai Track 15 trail, participants saw many different species of insects and nocturnal animals; and were thrilled to have caught a glimpse of the elusive lesser mouse-deer and the striking wagler's pit viper. The entire walk, peppered with the croaking of frogs and chirping of crickets, provided the participants with a truly immersive experience as well.
The group also organises events such as welcome teas and symposiums to connect with existing and future environmental biology students. They hope that the experiences and knowledge shared by the group’s senior members will help junior students make more informed choices during their undergraduate years and in their future careers.
Year 3 Life Sciences student Eugene Tan (back row seventh from left), Director of EVBig, said, “We hope to host more guided nature walks as we believe that this is a fun activity that most can easily participate in and allows us the opportunity to raise awareness about our local biodiversity. We are working with the Nature Society Singapore to receive guide training so that we can eventually lead guided nature walks for the public too!”
This is the second in a two-part series featuring environmental student groups in NUS. Read the first part here.
At the annual IBM Think Singapore 2024, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) announced an intention to engage in a strategic collaboration to establish a new AI research and innovation centre. The centre would aim to accelerate scientific research leveraging IBM’s full-stack AI infrastructure and a selection of open-source models, including IBM’s flagship series of Granite models. Based at the NUS School of Computing, the two envision that the centre will feature the first such full-stack AI infrastructure system installed on a university campus in Asia-Pacific by IBM.
The intention to work together demonstrates the strong commitment by Singapore’s research and innovation ecosystem to collaborate with industry leaders, such as IBM, to realise Singapore’s National AI Strategy. Equipped with full AI infrastructure and supported by the strong research expertise of NUS and IBM, the centre will aim to serve as an innovation platform for Singapore agencies, academic and research institutions, as well as companies to jointly conduct cutting-edge AI research with significant translational potential.
The parties envision that a cornerstone of the centre will be to advance a sustainability focused “open innovation” approach to developing AI technologies across the stack, to have a much broader potential to improve the quality and pace of adoption of new AI technologies. Additionally, the parties hope to work together to develop tools and methodologies that help build trust in AI.
Powering the future of AI research with IBM’s state-of-the-art AI accelerators and a full stack of open-source, cloud native, and end-to-end software
IBM and NUS propose to install a full-stack AI-optimised computing infrastructure at NUS that will include IBM AIU accelerators that are optimised for the efficient inferencing of AI workloads. The AI-optimised computing infrastructure would operate on the IBM watsonx data and AI platform and Red Hat hybrid cloud platform. The proposed collaboration would leverage NUS’ expertise to drive technological progress in AI, enabling more powerful, efficient, and versatile AI systems that can tackle increasingly complex tasks.
Priya Nagpurkar, Vice President, Hybrid Cloud and AI Platform, IBM Research, said, “We are pleased to take this first step toward collaboration with NUS to power breakthrough AI research. IBM and NUS share a common goal to enable innovations in AI and sustainable computing, and we look forward to furthering this collaboration.”
Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), said, “We are very excited about this opportunity to collaborate with IBM. We envision a future where an open ecosystem is most vital to harness the best of collective intelligence. Building on the new NUS AI Institute announced earlier this year and the University’s commitment to green computing and sustainability, we aim to be the leading force in addressing rising industry demand for AI intelligence, cultivating a robust talent pool and contributing to Singapore’s decarbonisation efforts.”
Helping to grow local deep-tech startups
To provide a full stack solution, the proposed collaboration would enable the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), a deep tech entrepreneurship programme, together with local startups as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, to gain access to the AI Innovation Platform with Red Hat OpenShift AI for management and runtime needs and IBM's watsonx platform.
Three hundred aspiring entrepreneurs from 31 universities in 22 countries gathered in Singapore from 8 to 19 July 2024 for the NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship 2024, sharing the same spirit of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and excellence.
Teo Zhi Sen, a Year 4 Engineering Science student from the NUS College of Design and Engineering, had the unique opportunity to witness and participate in this programme as a student ambassador. He penned his reflections on this two-week journey, which he said offered a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship through the lens of cultural immersion and experiential learning.
Entrepreneurship through games
The 2024 NUS Enterprise Summer Programme in Entrepreneurship emphasised experiences that build collaboration through play, offering participants a unique blend of sports, games, and group activities designed to uncover personal and collective strengths.
The programme kicked off with the Amazing Race of Champions, an exhilarating adventure that took us on a whirlwind tour across Singapore, setting a vibrant and energetic tone for the days to come. As we raced through the city, we were not just exploring Singapore’s culture and heritage, we were also building connections with fellow participants in a fun and engaging way.
Together with other team-building activities like traditional dances, language workshops, and crafts from various ASEAN countries, I witnessed my groupmates' creativity, social skills, and problem-solving abilities come to life - qualities that are often hidden in formal settings. It was more than just fun and games, it helped us reflect on our strengths and areas for improvement.
Through these shared experiences, we gained invaluable insights into each other’s working styles and learned to navigate the complexities of diverse group dynamics. With lessons that will prepare us for the challenges of future leadership roles, the programme was a journey of self-discovery and growth, far beyond what was initially expected.
Exploring Southeast Asia
A key focus of this year’s programme was to deep dive into the ASEAN region. We explored the rich cultural heritage and dynamic economic landscape of Southeast Asia – from learning how to create traditional Indonesian Batik and the basics of the Thai language, to understanding the regional economic growth projections. It was eye-opening to see the opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving market, which is projected to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. This cultural immersion was educational and reinforced the importance of appreciating and respecting diverse backgrounds, a crucial skill in today's globalised world.
The art of the pitch
The pitch sessions were among the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of the programme. Focused on innovative yet sustainable solutions, groups of participants collaborated to present their start-up ideas to industry experts. My team and I worked on an ambitious project – an application that provides fashion recommendations to customers. The journey was intense, filled with brainstorming sessions in the wee hours of the day that tested our clarity, confidence, and composure; but the words of Mr Kris Childress, a seasoned mentor at NUS Enterprise – “Concise pitches are key to captivating investors” – became our mantra as we honed our presentation skills. We were also fortunate to receive guidance from Ms Laina Greene, Founder and CEO of Angels of Impact, who helped to fine-tune our problem statement, making the final pitch even more compelling.
As Pitch team leader, my goal was to make sure everyone learns from this process and builds on their strengths. Leveraging my teammate’s understanding of consumer behaviour, I assigned her the market research role due to her sociology background. Overall, I made sure that each member was able to learn something and apply their knowledge. This experience highlighted the collaborative nature of entrepreneurship and taught us the value of clear communication and adaptability. Personally, I also learnt how to inspire my team and adapt to different working styles, fostering a deeper understanding and curiosity about each person's unique contributions. Keeping the energy up in the wee hours of the day became an art form; I learnt that a well-timed joke and coffee can work wonders.
Entrepreneurs in action
The fireside chats with distinguished alumni, including Mr Philip Yeo, Chairman of Economic Development Innovations Singapore and a prominent figure in Singapore’s public service, and unicorn founder Jeffrey Tiong of PatSnap, were another highlight. As they shared their stories of overcoming challenges and achieving success, we felt both inspired and educated. Their journeys told similar stories of resilience and the importance of continuous learning in entrepreneurship.
A particular insight from Mr Philip Yeo resonated strongly with me – the art of effective delegation. He stressed that knowing who and how to delegate tasks is crucial as it leverages others’ strengths while maintaining good relationships and morale.
Among the other memorable moments was the opportunity to tour the Singapore headquarters of Google, Alibaba and City Development Limited. At Google, I learnt the value of an empowering work culture that prioritises work-life balance. The ripple effect on talent retention and valuing individuals were points I noted for when I work on my own business.
A celebration of achievements
The impact of the two-week programme extended beyond technical knowledge into shaping our approach to entrepreneurship. It was more than just about how to start a business; it was about building the resilience and collaborative spirit needed to thrive in the entrepreneurial world.
The structure of the programme stands as a testament to the power of play in learning and growth. The experiences gained and the skills developed during this programme have set a high benchmark, preparing me for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
For those considering becoming a student ambassador in future editions of the programme, my advice is to embrace the opportunity with an open mind and a collaborative spirit. The experience is not just about contributing to the programme's success but also about learning and growing alongside a diverse group of talented individuals. The insights and friendships gained will be invaluable assets as you navigate your entrepreneurial journey.
Powdered hands grip the barbell loaded with several weight plates in primary colours – seemingly cheerful shades that belie their true weight. With determination and remarkable speed, muscles flex and the barbell is hoisted above the ground. There it hovers, for a few deciding moments, before it falls to the ground with several thuds, the weight causing it to bounce off the floor several times.
In another arena, on another day, quick feet clad in ankle-high shoes shuffle speedily back and forth in rhythm. With unexpected swiftness and agility, an arm swings out and up, connects with its target, and the opponent stumbles backwards. The shuffle rhythm resumes, as though in a dance.
Taking their mark in the powerlifting and boxing arena, two TeamNUS athletes are redefining perceptions in these typically male-dominated sports within the NUS community and beyond.
Full commitment
Boxing is a dynamic and strategic combat sport which requires more than physical strength. In addition to strong and accurate punches, there is also much strategy, skill, and endurance involved.
Behind the strength and agility that boxing requires are hours of training in the gym, and discovering enjoyment and talent in the sport was serendipity for Berniss Chow, final-year undergraduate in Data Science and Analytics, who took up boxing only in her first year of university to try a new sport and hopefully make new friends.
Since then, Berniss has grown from strength to strength to become a national champion, winning her first national championship in the featherweight category (54-57kg) in 2023; representing Singapore in international competitions; as well as serving as President and Vice-President of NUS Boxing in 2022 and 2023 respectively, where she spearheaded an initiative to organise boxing workshops for female students in NUS.
The same spirit of curiosity and adventure brought second-year Nursing undergraduate Nur Syafiqah Mohammed Shamsul to powerlifting. The regular gym-goer was looking to exercise in a more structured and purposeful way, and she had her first glimpse of the sport just a year ago through her brother, who started powerlifting first.
Heavy weights are a central feature of powerlifting, a strength sport involving three main lifts – a squat, bench press, and a deadlift – where athletes aim to lift as much weight as possible in each of these lifts. The overall winner in each weight class is determined by the total weight lifted across all three lifts.
Since taking to the barbells herself, Syafiqah has committed to almost daily consistent work in the gym with gradual increments in weights, to get to where she is today. She now trains four times a week and hopes to achieve her dream of representing NUS at a national powerlifting competition someday.
Giving and gaining strength
Beyond the combating and heavy lifting, both Berniss and Syafiqah have found support and encouragement from the camaraderie they share with their teammates and training buddies. From helping each other to ‘spot’ – supporting another athlete as they lift, to enable them to lift or push more than they could normally do safely – to having the company of teammates at training after a long day of school, these bonds have empowered them with the confidence to be their best.
Being competitive athletes comes with lifestyle changes as well. Time is a common sacrifice made by athletes fully committed to their sport, for hours of effort are put in exchange for mere minutes to perform during a competition. Be it through daily long commutes between training venues, school and home, waking up and going to bed far earlier than their peers, balancing the sport with academic requirements, or having less time with family and friends due to training and competition commitments, time management must be a consistent effort.
Sacrifice can also come in the form of food, as Berniss recalled having to pass up on the favourite food trends of her peers, mala hotpot and Korean barbecue, when weight cutting for her fights. Nonetheless, both Berniss and Syafiqah acknowledge that these lifestyle changes have positively impacted them, and thus made them more determined and grounded to achieve their sporting goals.
‘I’m not a dancer’
Stereotypes abound for a female powerlifter, especially those pertaining to physical appearance. During a lighthearted introductory game of ‘two truths and a lie’ with her new friends some years back, Syafiqah’s newfound friends guessed that her statement ‘I do Malay Dance’ was true, and ‘I’m a powerlifter’ the opposite. Imagine their surprise when they discovered that behind Syafiqah’s slim and lithe frame was a competitive powerlifting athlete.
“Many people have the perception that female powerlifters must look a certain way, such as being muscular or having a specific body type. One common misconception is that lifting heavy weights will make women bulky,” shared Syafiqah.
“In reality, powerlifters come in a diverse range of shapes and sizes, and appearance does not determine one's ability to excel,” she added. “The sport focuses on maximising the body’s ability to lift heavy weights efficiently, regardless of size or appearance.”
Being in traditionally male-dominated sports involving strength and combat has also presented both athletes with the opportunity to consider the concept of femininity in this context, and what it means to be a female athlete, often a minority, in their respective sports. Syafiqah confessed to not openly sharing with others in person or on social media about her powerlifting activities, to avoid comments on her sporting pursuits and workouts in the gym.
Meanwhile, Berniss has received comments such as acquaintances claiming that they ‘are afraid to mess with Berniss’ or ‘could probably beat her in a fight without any training’. Although she understands such comments could be good-natured teasing, these words could also dismiss the hard work and determination female boxers put in to develop key attributes such as agility and speed that they bring to the ring.
“Despite these stereotypes, the growing visibility and success of female boxers are helping to break down these misconceptions,” said Berniss, who partnered with another female boxer, former national boxer and current coach of the female national boxing team Miss Leona Hui, to organise female boxing workshops at NUS. “Female athletes in boxing are demonstrating that they can compete at the highest levels and bring unique strengths to the sport. By continuing to challenge these stereotypes, we are paving the way for future generations of female boxers.”
Both Syafiqah and Berniss concur that strength and femininity go hand in hand - female athletes can be skilled and strong, and still embrace their femininity, and many would also consider their strength a core part of their identity. The empathy, tenacity, and quiet grit developed through their sports may reflect the qualities often seen in female roles – such as mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and teammates.
When asked about their sporting heroes, instead of citing exceptional world-renowned athletes, both athletes identified their close teammates and friends as people who continue to inspire and motivate them to push boundaries in their sport and as individuals. By highlighting their grit, determination and camaraderie forged through shared training and competition challenges, as well as the tenacity in overcoming injuries, Berniss and Syafiqah embody the lesson that strength is not only physical, but can also be found in pushing through the mental and emotional requirements of being sportspeople, and amongst teammates and friends who mutually inspire each other.
This article is the second in a two-part series on Breaking Stereotypes. Read Part 1 here.
More than 200members of the NUS community were recognised for their merit and service to Singapore at this year’s National Day Awards.
NUS leaders honoured
Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees and the Board of the National University Health System (NUHS), was conferred the Distinguished Service Order, while NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye was honoured with the Meritorious Service Medal.
The Distinguished Service Order was awarded to Mr Hsieh Fu Hua in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Singapore across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, and the arts.
Mr Hsieh has steered the NUS Board since 2017, charting the University’s strategic goals towards becoming a leading global university. Under his stewardship, the University has implemented many impactful initiatives to develop future-ready graduates, enhance research impact, and deepen industry collaboration. He has also strengthened the University’s governance by implementing robust and comprehensive succession planning for key leadership positions, as well as inculcating a proactive risk management mindset.
As Chairman of the NUHS Board since 2019, Mr Hsieh has steered the group towards its vision of improving community health by delivering quality and cost-effective care to Singaporeans. During his tenure, NUHS has extended its services beyond the hospital walls through initiatives, such as its virtual care centre and telemedicine, that aim to increase access to patient care and reduce hospital admissions.
In addition to NUS and NUHS, Mr Hsieh also chairs the boards of several non-profit and business organisations, including the WWF Singapore, Eastspring Investments Group, and GXS Bank. He is also active in rallying philanthropic support for social services and the arts, as well as spearheading many ground-up efforts to advocate for mental health.
In response to receiving the award, Mr Hsieh said, “The privilege to serve NUHS and NUS alongside outstanding leaders and colleagues is an honour in itself. I am very grateful for this award which is personally meaningful.”
“More importantly, it is a tribute to these fine institutions and the many remarkable individuals that I work with. The incredible dedication and tenacity of our healthcare colleagues during the pandemic, as well as the passion of our academic community for excellence in research and education, are most uplifting.”
Prof Tan Eng Chye was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his wide-ranging contributions to education and the University, as well as his community and leadership roles in Singapore and globally.
Prof Tan was appointed NUS' fifth President in 2018. As the University’s 23rd leader, he propelled NUS to greater heights along numerous fronts – innovating education, building a deep bench of top talent, raising research impact, expanding the innovation and enterprise ecosystem, and championing organisational excellence.
A strong advocate of interdisciplinary education, Prof Tan spearheaded the launch of the College of Humanities and Sciences, College of Design and Engineering, and NUS College to equip students with knowledge and skillsets across breadth and depth to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and fast-changing work environment.
Under his leadership, the University reached – for the first time – into the top ten of the QS World University Rankings, emerging eighth globally while continuing to hold its lead as the top in Asia. It has also made strides in research, with nearly half its research publications featured in the top 10 per cent of the most cited journals globally, and research funding surging to S$4.3 billion in the past five years.
Prof Tan sits on the boards of NUS, NUHS, the National Research Foundation, and the Singapore Economic Development Board, among others. He is a member of Singapore’s Future Economy Advisory Panel, which is tasked with driving the growth and transformation of the country’s future economy. Prof Tan is also the immediate former chair of Universitas 21, a leading global network of 29 research-intensive universities, a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities Steering Committee, and an advisor with the global non-profit think tank, The Conference Board.
Prof Tan said he was honoured and deeply humbled by the recognition.“It has always been my aspiration for NUS to be a leading global university. Today, with our transformative educational offerings, groundbreaking research, and dynamic enterprise ecosystem, we have proven that we are able to hold our own among many outstanding institutions far and wide.”
“This award honours the collective dedication and hard work of the entire NUS community – our faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners who have been instrumental in shaping our success and the future,” he added.
A community making waves
Other members of the NUS community also featured in many of the 21 award categories.
Mr Peter Ho, the 2024 NUS Honorary Doctor of Letters recipient, and Chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), was bestowed the Order of Nila Utama (With High Distinction), one of the nation’s highest honours.
Mr Ho’s award comes less than a month after he was presented with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by NUS in honour of his distinguished service to Singapore, as well as his contributions towards the University and the field of higher education. He is a member of the governing board of theLee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and a former member of the NUS Board from 2011 to 2023. Mr Ho was also conferred the NUS Outstanding Service Award in 2022 for his contributions to the University.
Having established a public service career spanning more than three decades, Mr Ho has been credited for steering the public service with visionary leadership, galvanising agencies to work together to tackle key national issues, and building a future-ready public service that has advanced Singapore's interests in defence, foreign affairs, security and governance.
Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chairman of the Duke-NUS Governing Board, was awarded the Public Service Star (Bar) for his role as Chairman of Singapore Symphonia Company, while Emeritus Professor Yong Kwet Yew from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering received the same award for his work as an advisor on the Expert Resource Panel of PUB, Singapore’s national water agency.
Emeritus Professor Roy Joseph from the Department of Paediatrics and the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at NUS Medicine was presented with the Public Service Star for his contributions as Chairman of the National Medical Ethics Committee. Also being recognised for the award was Associate Professor Ang Seng Bin, Clinical Associate Professor at Duke-NUS and Chairman of Allkin Singapore, a social service agency.
Professor IvyNg Swee Lian, Clinical Professor and Governing Board Member of Duke-NUS, earned the Public Administration Medal (Gold) (Bar) in her capacity as Senior Advisor of the SingHealth Board and former Group Chief Executive Officer of SingHealth. Professor Ng is also Adjunct Professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) and Clinical Professor at NUS Medicine.
Professor Lee Chien Earn, who is Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Regional Health System) at SingHealth, and holds appointments at Duke-NUS and SSHSPH, was one of the recipients of the Public Administration Medal (Gold). The others were Professor Ling San, a member of the Management Board of the Institute for Mathematical Sciences at NUS and Deputy President and Provost of Nanyang Technological University, and Mr Ngiam Shih Chun, a member of the Management Board of the NUS Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative and a former Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority who serves as Deputy Secretary (Policy) at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Other members of the NUS community who received awards include:
NUS College (NUSC), the honours college of the National University of Singapore (NUS), has announced the new Tan Chorh Chuan Professorship and the Richard C Levin Professorship, in honour of two distinguished academic leaders who had significant influence in shaping pedagogy, advancing knowledge, and inspiring critical thinking.
Named after former NUS President Prof Tan and former Yale University President Prof Levin, the professorships are the first to be established at NUSC and celebrate the former presidents’ visionary leadership and dedication to innovative education.
Prof Tan and Prof Levin were also instrumental in the creation of Yale-NUS College, on which NUSC’s heritage is founded, and which inspired the reimagination of a rigorous interdisciplinary education that bridges Eastern and Western educational traditions.
In announcing the new professorships, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said: “These professorships recognise two outstanding and visionary academic leaders – Prof Tan and Prof Levin – for their unwavering commitment to academic excellence and deep passion for driving innovation, inspiring students, and advancing knowledge to solve the problems of tomorrow. Their legacies will continue to influence and shape the future of NUS College.”
Professor Simon Chesterman, Dean of NUSC, said: “This initiative celebrates the values that Rick and Chorh Chuan stand for and will enable like-minded leading educators to teach at NUS College. The professorships will support the cross-appointment of existing NUS faculty or attract visiting professors, so that we can bring in the very best educators from NUS or around the world to teach at NUS College.”
Prof Tan served as NUS President from to 2008 to 2017, while Prof Levin helmed Yale University as President from 1993 to 2013. Both will continue to serve as governing board members of Yale-NUS College.
Championing innovative global education
During his term as NUS President, Prof Tan championed transformative efforts and new models of education that led to NUS’ global recognition as the top university in Asia and one of the world’s leading universities. The pace of developments and new initiatives accelerated under his administration, including the creation of NUS University Town, the School of Continuing and Lifelong Education, several Research Centres of Excellence, and the Smart Nation Research Cluster.
He found a like-minded visionary in Yale’s then-President Prof Levin, who is credited with raising academic standards at Yale and driving internationalisation initiatives to transform it into a global university. Prof Levin accepted Prof Tan’s invitation in 2009 to jointly establish Singapore’s first liberal arts and sciences college, Yale-NUS College, which along with the University Scholars Programme formed the foundations for NUSC.
The professorships pay tribute to Prof Tan’s and Prof Levin’s instrumental roles in founding Yale-NUS College and building its fine legacy in liberal arts and sciences education while fostering a global perspective, which lives on today in NUSC’s common curriculum structure and its interdisciplinary educational experience that now encompasses degree programmes across the whole of NUS.
Prof Tan said: “The creation of the named professorships is a signal honour, for which I am most grateful. I envision that the holders of these Professorships can play a valuable role in extending the trailblazing work of Yale-NUS College, in innovating and transforming the liberal arts educational model to inspire and inform the continuing transformation of education in NUS and beyond.”
Prof Levin said: “I am deeply grateful that NUS has chosen to honour the contributions of Yale-NUS College to the development of liberal arts education in Singapore by establishing chairs in the names of the College’s co-founders. I hope that the holders of these chairs will strive, in the spirit of the College, to teach open-minded global citizens, driven by curiosity and love of learning, to appreciate the perspectives of multiple disciplines and the values and institutions of civilisations in other times and other places.”
As the professorships are designed to foster cross-disciplinary learning, appointees will be selected from a variety of fields. The professorship tenures will be flexible, ranging from a semester to a three-year renewable term.
The first Tan Chorh Chuan and Richard C Levin Professorships are expected to be given out by late 2025.
Six researchers from NUS who have distinguished themselves in the field of science have been presented with fellowships awarded by the Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS) this year. These newly elected SNAS Fellows from NUS are Professor Chen Xiaoyuan (Shawn), Professor Chua Tat Seng, Professor Loh Kian Ping, Professor Loh Xian Jun, Professor Wang Linfa, and Professor Wong Limsoon.
Established in 1976, SNAS is an independent institution that promotes technological advancements and disseminates scientific knowledge in Singapore. It has been awarding the prestigious SNAS Fellowships to outstanding scientists since 2011.
Among this year’s NUS awardees are scientists who have contributed significantly to the development of novel diagnostics and vaccine strategies in Singapore’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, pioneering scientists in the field of pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering, and distinguished experts leading research in cutting-edge technology such as materials science, computing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Prof Chen is a world-renowned imaging scientist who is highly acclaimed for his work in molecular imaging, nanomedicine, radiopharmaceuticals and theranostics. His research covers a range of topics from nanomedicine for gene and drug delivery to molecular imaging probe development to creating ultrasensitive nanobiosensors for biomarker detection. His work has significant implications on the advancement of basic science and has translational and clinical applications.
He is founding editor of the journal Theranostics and co-founder of Yantai Lannacheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. In recognition of his breakthrough achievements, Prof Chen was elected as a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences and a member of the Academia Europea.
Prof Chen has been elected as SNAS Fellow for his significant contributions to the fields of molecular imaging and nanomedicine.
Professor Chua Tat Seng
Prof Chua is the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple (KITHCT) Chair Professor at the NUS School of Computing (NUS Computing) and he was also the founding Dean of NUS Computing from 1998 to 2000.
Prof Chua is an AI Scientist renowned for his work in exploring and researching unstructured data analytics, recommendation systems, trustable AI, as well as emerging e-commerce and Fintech applications. His research interests include multimedia information retrieval and social media analytics, focusing on extracting and retrieving text, video, and live media from the Web and social networks. He is active in the international research community through his service on editorial boards of scientific journals and as the chair of the steering committee of the International Conference on Multimedia Retrieval. In 2015, he received the ACM SIGMM Technical Achievements Award.
Prof Chua has been elected as SNAS Fellow for his outstanding contributions to research in multimodal data analytics, neural recommendation and causal reasoning towards robust and trustable AI.
Professor Loh Kian Ping
Prof Loh, a materials scientist and physical chemist from the Department of Chemistry under the NUS Faculty of Science, has achieved world recognition for his work on two-dimensional (2D) materials, including graphene, covalent organic framework and hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites. Several of his patents on the growth and processing of graphene have been licensed by companies. He won the President’s Science Award in 2014 for his breakthrough research in graphene chemistry. Prof Loh also mentors PhD students and has trained more than 30 academics worldwide.
Prof Loh has been elected as SNAS Fellow for his pioneering 2D materials research in Singapore, his academic leadership and his grooming of many young talents for Singapore.
Prof Loh’s research interests primarily lie in the area of soft materials, with underlying themes, including modification of naturally available biodegradable polymers for the synthesis of soft materials, characterisation of the soft materials properties, and development of simple fabrication techniques to fabricate these soft material constructs.
He is the current President and member of the Executive Committee of the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry, and he is also the co-founder of Vitreogel Innovations, a spin-off company that develops thermogels for clinical applications.
Prof Loh has been elected as SNAS Fellow for his seminal work in the field of thermogelling polymers, from molecular understanding to clinical applications.
Professor Wang Linfa
Prof Wang is from the Programme for Emerging Infectious Disease at Duke-NUS Medical School, and he is also the inaugural Executive Director of the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response, a national programme set up by the Ministry of Health.
Nicknamed “batman”, Prof Wang is internationally renowned the field of emerging bat-borne zoonotic viruses and bat immunology. During the response to COVID-19, he played a key role in developing novel diagnostics and vaccine strategies as well as providing advice for policymakers at both national and international levels by serving on multiple World Health Organisation committees.
In recognition of his scientific contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, he received the President’s Science Award in 2021 and the Public Administration Medal (Silver) (COVID-19) in 2023. Prof Wang was also elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2021 and of the Australian Academy of Science in 2023.
Prof Wang has been elected as SNAS Fellow for his pioneering work on bat-borne viruses and bat immunology, and his scientific leadership in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Wong Limsoon
Prof Wong is KITHCT Chair Professor at NUS Computing, and he is also Deputy Dean and Director for the Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme for NUS Graduate School.
Prof Wong is a renowned computer scientist and computational biologist and has made significant contributions to both fields. In computer science, he is known for fundamental theorems on the expressive power of modern query languages, solving the Kanellakis Conjecture which led to the field of embedded finite model theory, and developing the Kleisli system for integrating large-scale distributed data.
In computational biology, Prof Wong has pioneered the method for gene expression profile analysis for paediatric leukaemia treatment, protein function prediction without sequence homology, and protein complex-based methods to improve proteomic mass spectra analysis.
He has received several accolades, including being named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery for his contributions to database theory and computational biology and the FEER Asian Innovation Gold Award in 2003 for his work on treatment optimisation of childhood leukaemias.
Prof Wong has been elected as SNAS Fellow for his innovative and fundamental contributions to database theory and computational biology.
Months of preparation and a two-week-long fundraising effort, put together by almost 2,700 NUS students, culminated in a showcase of 14 energetic performances at the NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) Rag & Flag Day 2024 held on 10 August.
Themed “Back to Our Roots”, signifying the importance of understanding and embracing the core value of instilling the spirit of giving and receiving in all participants, NUS students demonstrated the true spirit of giving, coming together as one to raise over S$212,000 for 15 social service agencies from Community Chest through generous donations from members of the public and corporate partners.
Held since 1958, NUSSU Rag & Flag Day is a long-held annual university tradition where students and staff rally together to give back to society. The event takes place in two segments, firstly Flag Day, where NUS students head out into the community with tin cans to seek donations in aid of the beneficiaries from members of the public. The charity effort comes together in a finale at Rag (Receiving and Giving) Day, where students stage spectacular performances in a show of appreciation to donors for their invaluable support.
In the last 15 years, NUS students have raised more than close to S$4.6 million in donations in aid of local beneficiaries through the annual NUSSU Rag and Flag events.
Double the effort, double the heart
In a slight detour from tradition, this year’s event saw not just one, but two Flag Days where NUS students from different colleges, faculties, schools, and hostels traversed across 60 locations in Singapore on two Saturdays, 27 July and 3 August 2024, to canvass for flag donations from members of the public.
“Flag day has been a very exciting and meaningful opportunity for me to interact with the public who has kindly donated,” said Gianna Sun, a second-year undergraduate from the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Many fundraising efforts these days are online, but Flag Day remains a valuable opportunity for us to meet and thank those who donate in person,” she added.
From the Central Business District to the heartlands, the collective effort of NUS students across the two days raised a heartwarming amount of nearly S$58,340, which will contribute to the good work by various social services agencies in Singapore.
Giving their all in gratitude
As the sun’s arc peaked over NUS University Town Green where the event was held, a palpable buzz filled in the air as the spectators, along with supporters and peers, gathered to watch and cheer for the performers as they pulled off nifty dance moves onstage in their hand-crafted costumes complete with eye-catching floats and props.
There was no lack of creativity and innovation as well with the materials used by the students in creating and constructing the elaborately decorated floats and intricate costumes. Various ideas were implemented to reduce waste and prolong the lifespan of base materials. This included the recycling of fabric and materials, such as, cardboard and wood, and the use of tapioca starch glue.
At NUS Computing, students elevated a wire mesh with small pieces of wood to create a piece of equipment that would enable them to save water and reduce the production of liquid waste during the painting process. With this contraption, paint debris was wiped off the mesh, enabling students to clean paint brushes without having to change or add more paint thinner, and removing the need for a constant flow of running water for cleaning.
About 280 student performers, supported by nearly 1,100 backstage crew who prepared and coordinated the performances and floats, took to the stage in 14 energetic finale performances to thank the public for their donations. Gracing the event were theGuest-of-Honour, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who officiated the opening of the finale, joined by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, and NUSSU President Mr Huang Ziwei.
For Mr Huang Ziwei, President of the 45th Executive Committee of NUSSU, watching the NUSSU Rag & Flag Day 2024 take shape and come into fruition has been an especially meaningful experience. “NUSSU Rag & Flag stands as one of NUS' most lively traditions, bringing together the community to celebrate our university's heritage while fostering a culture of giving. With our theme 'Back to Our Roots,' this year's event emphasises the core values of generosity and unity, as students showcase performances and engage in fundraising to support the Community Chest, reminding us all of the power of collective effort and compassion,” he said.
“By returning to these roots, we aim to inspire every participant to continue the spirit of giving and receiving, strengthening our bond with the community and highlighting the enduring impact of charity,” he added.
Winners of NUSSU Rag & Flag Day 2024
Every year, the line-up of Rag Day performances is awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze award prizes. Here are the winners.
Students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have raised more than S$212,000 through the Receiving and Giving (RAG) and Flag 2024 organised by the NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU). The funds – contributed by the generous donations from partners, members of the public and the NUS community – will benefit charity programmes under 15 Social Service Agencies (SSAs) supported by Community Chest.
The annual Rag & Flag keeps alive the fine time-honoured tradition established since 1958 to encourage the NUS family and the wider community to contribute towards uplifting the lives of the needy and less privileged. In the last 15 years, NUS students have collectively raised close to S$4.6 million in donations for Singapore beneficiaries through the annual NUSSU Rag and Flag events.
This year, about 1,300 NUS students participated in canvassing for flag donations from members of the public in support of the charity programmes. They fanned out across Singapore with their tin cans on two Flag Days this year, which took place on 27 July and 3 August 2024. The charity effort culminated in NUSSU Rag & Flag Day, held this afternoon at NUS University Town, graced by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who is an NUS alumnus and a former NUSSU President.
Highlighting the importance of three Cs - Collective, Creativity and Compassion in defining the NUS tradition of giving back to society, Minister Balakrishnan lauded students for being committed to serving the community. He noted how the event had gathered senior students to support and mentor the first-years, pulling together the students’ collective imagination and efforts to create the various props and floats for a good cause.
“Rag & Flag has always been a large and significant fixture in the university calendar, and a good way to start the academic year,” he said.
Wrapping up the fund-raising drive and as a gesture of appreciation to the community for their generous support, about 1,400 NUS students enthralled audiences with captivating performances and colourful displays at NUSSU Rag & Flag Day. Themed “Back to our Roots”, the event showcased 14 energetic performances by NUS students decked out in dazzling hand-made costumes, as well as intricately-decorated thematic props and mobile displays hand-crafted by the students using recycled materials. This year’s event also hosted a buzzing Flag Carnival with food, games and handicraft merchandise booths set up by various NUS student groups and hostels.
Mr Huang Ziwei, President of the 45th Executive Committee (EXCO) of NUSSU, said, “NUSSU Rag & Flag stands as one of NUS' most lively traditions, bringing together the community to celebrate our university's heritage while fostering a culture of giving. With our theme 'Back to Our Roots,' this year's event emphasises the core values of generosity and unity, as students showcase performances and engage in fundraising to support the Community Chest, reminding us all of the power of collective effort and compassion. By returning to these roots, we aim to inspire every participant to continue the spirit of giving and receiving, strengthening our bond with the community and highlighting the enduring impact of charity.”
The proceeds from NUSSU Rag and Flag 2024 will be channelled through Community Chest to benefit 15 SSAs. These SSAs are:
Autism Resource Centre
AWWA
Care Community Services Society
Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association (CARE Singapore)
By Prof Sam Yam Kai Chi, Asst Dean (Faculty Development) and Head, Dept of Management and Organisation at NUS Business School; and Asst Prof Liuxin Yan, from Tsinghua University
Climate-related developments have accelerated in recent years, and the NUS alumna and former geography teacher was interested to learn more. Ms Bong was thrilled when she learnt that the programme was among selected graduate programmes offering a 40 per cent rebate on the tuition fees, under a new NUS initiative aimed at encouraging more learners to engage in continuing education and training.
Announced by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye at the second edition of the biennial NUS Lifelong Learning Festival held on 26 July 2024, the University will be providing a 40 per cent tuition fee rebate on more than 80 self-funded Master’s degree by coursework programmes for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Students enrolling in these programmes in Academic Year (AY) 2024, AY2025 and AY2026 will enjoy the substantial rebate.
This new initiative is an enhancement of the University’s previous scheme which offered Singaporeans and Permanent Residents a 10 per cent rebate and its alumni a 20 per cent rebate on tuition fees for over 70 Master’s degree by coursework programmes.
Explaining the reason for the enhancement, Prof Tan cited a large-scale survey commissioned by NUS in 2023, which revealed that working adults in Singapore value continuous learning but are concerned about the costs.
“We hope that this rebate will alleviate the cost considerations for learners and that you will be encouraged to learn new skills and develop yourselves further along your career journey,” he elaborated at the festival which was themed Futurework 2.0: AI in Action.
To further enhance capabilities in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI), several other developments are in the works, including four new Master’s programmes on AI to be launched in 2025; and the new NUS AI Institute, which was set up in March 2024, will gather researchers across the university to accelerate research in the field and boost real-world impact.
Urging the audience to tap on the rebates and acquire new skills, Prof Tan added, “I hope that the announcement…serves as an impetus for you to explore the many learning options and pathways at NUS.”
Tech that solves problems
Ultimately, technology has the potential to help people and organisations expand their capacity, said Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing, who was the Guest-of-Honour at the event. “The question is, how do we embrace technology and make it work for us?” noted Mr Chan at a dialogue with Professor Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, on AI and the Workforce.
Citing the Ministry of Education as an example, Mr Chan said technology can enable the mass personalisation of learning, where every individual learns at their own pace and is encouraged to reach their full potential. “That is the holy grail. Are we there yet? No. But can we get closer? Yes, but we will need to reimagine how we organise ourselves, how we upskill our educators to redesign the pedagogy combined with technology,” he said.
Some of these experimentations are already taking place, he said. Teachers are now using virtual tools to share their learning resources, allowing best practices to be scaled across the entire education system in a manner that was not possible before. With adaptive technology, teachers can also collect data on the specific levels their students are at.
At the Singapore Polytechnic, for example, where most lectures are delivered online and students are required to watch them before class, lecturers can gather insights on how long students spent watching the lectures as well as the parts that were replayed or skipped the most.
Such information gives educators a glimpse into how their content is being absorbed by students. “This is surgical, customised education. Not teaching to the average,” he noted.
Technology, however, should be applied appropriately. “For high-ability students, they may adapt to technology like fish to water. But for high-needs students, don’t start with high-tech. Start with high-touch,” he said. “They need that personal trust and relationship, in a stable environment, before we can talk about acquisition of content knowledge.”
Future of AI is interdisciplinary
Mr Chan’s sentiment was echoed by Stanford University’s Professor of Computer Science James Landay, who is also Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. The design of any AI solution must ensure it serves the individual user, the community, and most of all, larger society, he said, in a keynote speech titled “’AI For Good’ Isn’t Good Enough: A Call for Human-Centred AI”.
“These types of (AI) systems need to be built by interdisciplinary teams – not only technologists and AI experts, but also experts on design, on social sciences and humanities, and any domain expertise depending on the application area of the system, whether it is medicine, law, environment, or science,” he said.
Some 250 guests attended the event, which was held at the NUSS Kent Ridge Guild House, and nearly 1,000 tuned in online. The event also featured seven panel discussions where 29 industry practitioners and academics from both public and private institutions addressed interesting topics such as the impact of AI in human resource, finance and healthcare sectors, as well as the relationship between AI and climate action.
If we asked an average American what this online message means and what they can discern about its author, they would likely be baffled.
But if we asked a local here in Singapore, or someone who has been living here for a while, they would easily identify this as Singlish, and explain that the person communicating is expressing skepticism that there would be school on the 30th because that day is a Sunday. They might make an informed guess that the author is Singaporean, and that they are expressing themselves very casually to someone they are close to, maybe a friend. As for the gender of the author, they might hazard a guess that the writer is more likely to be male, based on the forceful tone conveyed by the message’s wording.
Despite the access we have today to global media and the internet, researchers in linguistics (the study of language) have observed that our language use in ‘digital’ contexts, like social media and SMS communication, remains highly regional, and is quite similar to how we speak in face-to-face-interactions. In the context of Singapore, this means that Singlish (or, as many linguists call it, ‘Colloquial Singapore English’), our local English that has been shaped over time by varieties of Chinese, Malay, and other local languages, is used by many individuals not only in spoken communication, but also in online written communication.
The rise of digital communication presents exciting opportunities for linguists, and particularly for sociolinguists, who study how language functions in society. For many decades, sociolinguists at NUS have investigated topics related to how language is used in Singapore, including how Singaporeans with different social backgrounds speak and write in various situations.
One of the most significant achievements of linguistics research in Singapore to date is the development of a collection of real texts and conversations in Singapore English within the larger International Corpus of English (ICE), a set of linguistic databases that collects examples of English from around the world. This corpus has helped linguists identify some of the many impacts of other languages on Singlish – for example, NUS Professor Bao Zhiming has used the corpus to examine how the Chinese language has influenced the structure of Singlish sentences that describe conditions and outcomes, such as, “You eat already you can die one.” But the ICE-Singapore corpus was developed over 20 years ago – so, while it is a valuable source of data for how Singapore English was used historically, there is a need to collect newer data to understand how Singaporeans use English today.
My colleague Associate Professor Mie Hiramoto had this need for updated data on Singapore English in mind in 2016 when she developed a concept for a new corpus. “The idea for the project began as an exercise for my undergraduate module on language contact,” she explained. “I wanted students to work with some simple language data that they had easy access to – so, I thought of asking them to use their existing chat logs from WhatsApp.”
“From a practical perspective, the study of language patterns connects with a number of industry sectors – automatic speech recognition, machine translation, forensic linguistics, speech therapy, and language teaching, among others. In terms of scientific inquiry, the structure of language varieties like Singlish, which arise from contact between multiple languages, can tell us crucial things about how the brain processes information.”
After seeing the wealth of data students were able to collect, Hiramoto realised that this corpus had significant potential beyond the scope of a class exercise. With this in mind, she obtained ethics approval to compile the data for research purposes upon receiving consent from the chat participants. Each year, students in the course were invited to contribute their anonymised WhatsApp messages. Ultimately, Assoc Prof Hiramoto said, “it grew into the corpus we have today, of nearly 10.6 million words.”
Working with an international team of linguistics researchers, including Professor Jakob Leimgruber at the University of Regensburg, Dr Wilkinson Gonzales at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jun Jie Lim at the University of California San Diego, and Mohamed Hafiz at NUS, Assoc Prof Hiramoto processed this large corpus of language data, now titled the Corpus of Singapore English Messages (CoSEM), and in 2022 released it publicly for the benefit of other researchers. The data includes background information about each chat contributor, including their age, gender, ethnicity, and nationality – this sort of information is crucial for sociolinguists, because it allows us to investigate patterns in Singapore English among different social groups.
What kinds of information can we learn from CoSEM? Let’s return to the intuitions of the local Singaporean above, who felt that the example message was likely from a male author. In 2020, the CoSEM research team released an article investigating patterns in the use of ‘sentence-final particles’, meaning the famous particles such as lah, leh, and meh that are typical of Singlish.
In their analysis, the authors found that many of these particles, including meh, are indeed used significantly more frequently by men in the corpus. Not only this, but there are also major ethnicity-based differences in who uses which particles – for example, Indian Singaporeans use lah more frequently than other groups, while Chinese Singaporeans are the most frequent users of bah, which is one of the only discourse particles that originates from Mandarin (rather than Hokkien or Cantonese).
Using CoSEM data, Hiramoto and the research team were also able to identify usage patterns of new particles entering Singlish, such as sia – these findings underscore that Singlish is not a static variety, but, like all language varieties, continues to evolve over time.
While these patterns are interesting to read about, some might wonder, why do linguists want to study Singlish in the first place? From a practical perspective, the study of language patterns connects with a number of industry sectors – automatic speech recognition, machine translation, forensic linguistics, speech therapy, and language teaching, among others. In terms of scientific inquiry, the structure of language varieties like Singlish, which arise from contact between multiple languages, can tell us crucial things about how the brain processes information. And in the study of public policy, investigating how Singlish has changed over time can help us understand the role of local languages as symbols of national identity.
For all of these reasons, and more, linguists including Assoc Prof Hiramoto and myself in the Department of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies are passionate about investigating how people use language – even when sending a simple WhatsApp message.
Rebecca L. Starr is an Associate Professor of English Language with the Department of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. A linguist specialising in language variation, change and acquisition in multilingual contexts, she is currently working on the Singapore Multilingual Corpus, which seeks to document the language use patterns of multilingual Singaporeans. She also leads the Voices of Children in Singapore project that investigates how children learn about language variation.
If we asked an average American what this online message means and what they can discern about its author, they would likely be baffled.
But if we asked a local here in Singapore, or someone who has been living here for a while, they would easily identify this as Singlish, and explain that the person communicating is expressing skepticism that there would be school on the 30th because that day is a Sunday. They might make an informed guess that the author is Singaporean, and that they are expressing themselves very casually to someone they are close to, maybe a friend. As for the gender of the author, they might hazard a guess that the writer is more likely to be male, based on the forceful tone conveyed by the message’s wording.
Despite the access we have today to global media and the internet, researchers in linguistics (the study of language) have observed that our language use in ‘digital’ contexts, like social media and SMS communication, remains highly regional, and is quite similar to how we speak in face-to-face-interactions. In the context of Singapore, this means that Singlish (or, as many linguists call it, ‘Colloquial Singapore English’), our local English that has been shaped over time by varieties of Chinese, Malay, and other local languages, is used by many individuals not only in spoken communication, but also in online written communication.
The rise of digital communication presents exciting opportunities for linguists, and particularly for sociolinguists, who study how language functions in society. For many decades, sociolinguists at NUS have investigated topics related to how language is used in Singapore, including how Singaporeans with different social backgrounds speak and write in various situations.
One of the most significant achievements of linguistics research in Singapore to date is the development of a collection of real texts and conversations in Singapore English within the larger International Corpus of English (ICE), a set of linguistic databases that collects examples of English from around the world. This corpus has helped linguists identify some of the many impacts of other languages on Singlish – for example, NUS Professor Bao Zhiming has used the corpus to examine how the Chinese language has influenced the structure of Singlish sentences that describe conditions and outcomes, such as, “You eat already you can die one.” But the ICE-Singapore corpus was developed over 20 years ago – so, while it is a valuable source of data for how Singapore English was used historically, there is a need to collect newer data to understand how Singaporeans use English today.
My colleague Associate Professor Mie Hiramoto had this need for updated data on Singapore English in mind in 2016 when she developed a concept for a new corpus. “The idea for the project began as an exercise for my undergraduate module on language contact,” she explained. “I wanted students to work with some simple language data that they had easy access to – so, I thought of asking them to use their existing chat logs from WhatsApp.”
“From a practical perspective, the study of language patterns connects with a number of industry sectors – automatic speech recognition, machine translation, forensic linguistics, speech therapy, and language teaching, among others. In terms of scientific inquiry, the structure of language varieties like Singlish, which arise from contact between multiple languages, can tell us crucial things about how the brain processes information.”
After seeing the wealth of data students were able to collect, Hiramoto realised that this corpus had significant potential beyond the scope of a class exercise. With this in mind, she obtained ethics approval to compile the data for research purposes upon receiving consent from the chat participants. Each year, students in the course were invited to contribute their anonymised WhatsApp messages. Ultimately, Assoc Prof Hiramoto said, “it grew into the corpus we have today, of nearly 10.6 million words.”
Working with an international team of linguistics researchers, including Professor Jakob Leimgruber at the University of Regensburg, Dr Wilkinson Gonzales at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jun Jie Lim at the University of California San Diego, and Mohamed Hafiz at NUS, Assoc Prof Hiramoto processed this large corpus of language data, now titled the Corpus of Singapore English Messages (CoSEM), and in 2022 released it publicly for the benefit of other researchers. The data includes background information about each chat contributor, including their age, gender, ethnicity, and nationality – this sort of information is crucial for sociolinguists, because it allows us to investigate patterns in Singapore English among different social groups.
What kinds of information can we learn from CoSEM? Let’s return to the intuitions of the local Singaporean above, who felt that the example message was likely from a male author. In 2020, the CoSEM research team released an article investigating patterns in the use of ‘sentence-final particles’, meaning the famous particles such as lah, leh, and meh that are typical of Singlish.
In their analysis, the authors found that many of these particles, including meh, are indeed used significantly more frequently by men in the corpus. Not only this, but there are also major ethnicity-based differences in who uses which particles – for example, Indian Singaporeans use lah more frequently than other groups, while Chinese Singaporeans are the most frequent users of bah, which is one of the only discourse particles that originates from Mandarin (rather than Hokkien or Cantonese).
Using CoSEM data, Hiramoto and the research team were also able to identify usage patterns of new particles entering Singlish, such as sia – these findings underscore that Singlish is not a static variety, but, like all language varieties, continues to evolve over time.
While these patterns are interesting to read about, some might wonder, why do linguists want to study Singlish in the first place? From a practical perspective, the study of language patterns connects with a number of industry sectors – automatic speech recognition, machine translation, forensic linguistics, speech therapy, and language teaching, among others. In terms of scientific inquiry, the structure of language varieties like Singlish, which arise from contact between multiple languages, can tell us crucial things about how the brain processes information. And in the study of public policy, investigating how Singlish has changed over time can help us understand the role of local languages as symbols of national identity.
For all of these reasons, and more, linguists including Assoc Prof Hiramoto and myself in the Department of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies are passionate about investigating how people use language – even when sending a simple WhatsApp message.
Rebecca L. Starr is an Associate Professor of English Language with the Department of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. A linguist specialising in language variation, change and acquisition in multilingual contexts, she is currently working on the Singapore Multilingual Corpus, which seeks to document the language use patterns of multilingual Singaporeans. She also leads the Voices of Children in Singapore project that investigates how children learn about language variation.
National University of Singapore (NUS) nutritionists have found that 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplementation can improve sleep quality in Singaporean older adults, particularly in individuals with poor sleep patterns, and manage their gut microbiome composition.
Ensuring good sleep quality is an integral part of achieving good health. However, a mental health study published in 2022 reported that close to 17 per cent of older adults aged 65 and above in Singapore are suffering from poor sleep quality, which has been linked to worse health outcomes, such as a greater risk of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment.
There is growing evidence on the association between gut microbiota composition and sleep quality. Additionally, there are pharmaceutical sleep aids available to help poor sleepers achieve a good night’s sleep. However, such aids may induce adverse side effects, including digestive problems and headaches. Dietary supplements, such as a naturally occurring amino acid, 5-HTP, are available, but its efficacy on sleep quality in older adults is unclear.
Based on the results of the clinical trial, the NUS team discovered that supplementation of 5-HTP can improve sleep quality in Singaporean older adults and this improvement was predominantly observed in poor sleepers which could be linked to the modulation of their gut microbiome composition.
The team’s findings were published in the journal Clinical Nutrition on 17 January 2024.
Exploring the link between sleep and gut health
Dr Clarinda Nataria Sutanto, an Instructor at NUS FST who is the first author of the paper, said, “5-HTP is a naturally occurring amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Supplementation with 5-HTP can enhance sleep quality and promote a state of sleepiness by modulating the levels of these neurotransmitters involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle.”
Asst Prof Kim added, “It is also worth noting that this sleep-promoting effect was mostly observed in individuals with poor sleep quality and this finding supports the use of alternative, safer dietary strategies over medication for improving sleep.”
The researchers also analysed the biological samples collected from the participants to understand the effect of 5-HTP supplementation on gut health. The results of their analysis revealed that among poor sleepers, there was a significant increase in gut microbiota diversity and abundance of gut bacteria, which is linked to improved gut health. From these results, the researchers postulate that the improvement in sleep quality could be attributed to the boost in gut health among poor sleepers after supplementation with 5-HTP.
“Results from this study provide scientific evidence supporting the beneficial effects of 5-HTP supplementation on sleep quality via modulation of the gut-brain axis, highlighting the bidirectional interaction between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system,” said Asst Prof Kim.
Following the promising results of this clinical trial, the researchers aim to explore other dietary strategies, such as comparing the effect of protein intake from different sources and the impact of other food items which may affect gut health on enhancing sleep quality. The NUS team also hopes to expand their scope of study to include younger individuals who experience poor sleep quality due to stress, anxiety, and excessive use of electronic devices in their daily lives.
By Prof Lawrence Loh, Director, Ms Nguyen Hanh Trang, Research Analyst and Ms Annette Singh, Governance and Sustainability Lead, all from the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the NUS Business School
Professor Alexander Ling, a Principal Investigator from the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), has been named Distinguished International Associate (DIA) by the United Kingdom’s (UK) Royal Academy of Engineering for his strong track record of work in quantum communication and quantum networking. He is among 10 researchers and the sole awardee in Singapore selected for the 2024 DIA programme, which provides a grant to support his collaborations with UK scientists on quantum space technologies for one year from May 2024.
The DIA programme celebrates exceptional engineers who are making significant advances in research or innovation across all sectors and have existing connections to the UK. The fourth round of the DIA programme focuses on the theme of “Technologies for the Future” to contribute to the Academy’s goals of building a sustainable society and inclusive economy.
Groundbreaking research in quantum technologies
In 2019, Prof Ling’s team launched SpooQy-1, a 2.6kg quantum nanosatellite, into orbit 400km above Earth. The novel shoebox-sized nanosatellite, much lighter than its 600kg predecessor – the Chinese Micius satellite, could create entangled pairs of photons in a compact instrument onboard the device. It aims to lay the foundation for a global quantum internet connecting quantum machines together, which is beyond the capabilities of current fibre infrastructure.
The DIA grant will support Prof Ling’s ongoing project to extend the range of entangled light distribution and work towards an international quantum network. It will also support his existing collaboration with Dr Daniel Oi, an expert in quantum communication protocols from the University of Strathclyde. Together, they aim to build an international consortium that will propose standards for satellite quantum communications to stakeholders globally. NUS and the University of Strathclyde signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022 to enable their own optical ground stations to communicate with each other’s satellites.
Prof Ling will also use the grant to strengthen collaborations with other UK-based quantum teams. He hopes to engage with stakeholders in the UK on the responsible use of quantum technologies in space.
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