Great sound can transform an experience – think of how listening to music brightens a dreary commute, an eerie soundtrack heightens the tension in a movie scene, and comfortable conversation amid the natural cacophony of a busy kitchen and full house is possible in a restaurant with good acoustics. All this is thanks to audio engineering, a simultaneously creative and technical field that shapes our lives through music recordings, live sound at events, movie soundtracks, acoustics and more.

At the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, audio engineering is taught under the Audio Arts & Sciences (AAS) programme, which leverages its strategic positioning in the conservatory to provide a music-centred approach to the discipline. The curriculum includes music studies courses taken by all YST undergraduates, emphasising not just technical skills but also deep musical expertise.

Explained Associate Professor Zhou Xiaodong, who heads the AAS department: “They learn in the same classroom as composers and instrument players, because in their work, they will need to communicate well with musicians and conductors.”

The programme, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, takes inspiration from the prestigious audio science programme at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where Assoc Prof Zhou earned his Master of Arts in Audio Science and Acoustics. Notably, the Peabody Institute formalised an agreement with NUS to support the initial development of the Conservatory back in 2001.

AAS was originally founded as Recording Arts and Sciences with the intention of growing Singapore’s small market for classical music recording, and over the years, it has evolved in response to student feedback and industry changes. The name change to Audio Arts and Sciences in 2018 marked an expansion of its scope from recording to music production, sound design and modern sound technology.

Honing expertise through a hands-on approach

Like other majors in YST, the AAS cohorts are small, with just four to five students admitted each year. Students who apply to AAS need not have audio engineering experience, but are expected to have a strong music background and play at least one instrument.

The first two years of the undergraduate programme focus on the foundations of music production and recording, critical listening and acoustics, after which students deepen their knowledge into the various fields of music post-production, live sound and sound for visuals in their third year. They also complete a compulsory internship in their final year.

Courses are taught by Assoc Prof Zhou, Ms Calla Lim (an AAS alumna from the Class of 2023) and a network of industry professionals, some of whom are regular instructors while others conduct ad hoc masterclasses. Involving industry professionals helps to ensure the skills taught match industry expectations, said Assoc Prof Zhou. Students learn the latest techniques from such instructors, accompany them to work on projects at major venues like the Esplanade and Victoria Concert Hall and get hands-on training with modern technology owned by their commercial recording studios.

Leo Wynn Chan, a Year 4 AAS student who studied audio technology at polytechnic before enrolling in YST, especially appreciates this aspect of the programme. Some valuable connections he has made among the AAS lecturers include his current internship supervisor, Mr Yen Yu Ting, sound editor and designer at music and sound design studio GRYD, who teaches audio for film and television at YST; and Mr Shah Tahir, a veteran sound designer and engineer who served as sound designer for multiple editions of Singapore’s National Day Parade and teaches live sound reinforcement at YST.

“Meeting industry professionals and working with them – seeing how they work – are very rare opportunities. But we get to do this just by going through this programme and the masterclasses,” Leo Wynn said.

Small class sizes create an intimate learning experience and ensure that every student gets plenty of hands-on practice with the equipment, both during lessons and through projects outside the classroom. AAS students work on live sound and archival recordings for YST’s more than 300 music events each year and support requests to use the school’s recording studio, which come from YST students and NUS bands as well as professional musicians and orchestras outside NUS.

Said Ms Lim: “Our teaching adopts a hands-on approach and emphasises the importance of first-handed practice. Nowadays, you can learn a lot from books and information on the internet, and AI can even generate a full personalised lesson plan. But none of this compares to the actual valuable experience of working with musicians”

Aside from technical and musical expertise, the YST experience equips students with soft skills like relationship management that are crucial to succeeding in the industry after graduation. Mr Daniel Wong (BMus 2017), a sound designer, composer and music producer who has designed sound effects for Halloween Horror Nights for Universal Studios Singapore and worked on music arrangements for the 2024 Christmas Wonderland event at Gardens by the Bay, shared that he still finds work with friends he made during his university days at YST.

“This profession is a lot about people – client servicing and connections. While being an excellent engineer is essential, being kind, professional, and having a network of supportive connections can make all the difference in your success.”

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Beyond the curriculum, the AAS programme at YST can open doors for curious students who take the initiative to broaden their horizons. For example, students can tap YST’s international network of partnerships with other universities and educational institutions around the world for overseas learning opportunities, such as a six-day course on Sound Systems Design and Optimisation offered by the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in the Netherlands and a three-week training programme on film sound production at the Beijing Film Academy.

Ad hoc projects with external parties can also pave the way to less common career paths, as they did for Mr Conrad Chung (BMus 2014), who currently researches hearing loss in musicians while teaching audiology at the National University Hospital (NUH). Mr Chung discovered his interest in the field when he helped audiology master’s students and speech therapists from NUH to produce recordings for their research and clinical work. The connections he made through these projects helped him to secure an internship with the hospital’s ear, nose and throat department and eventually led to him pursuing further studies to become an audiologist.

His advice to students pursuing audio engineering is to build a diverse skill set and be prepared for a flexible work schedule, which may not always follow a traditional salary structure.

“The good thing about this programme is that you get to try a lot of things – recorded sound, live sound, acoustics and video. There is the potential to go deeper into any of them, but you have to put in the work and make your own education more enriching,” said Mr Chung.

He added: “Working in this field, every day will be different, and you’ll get to meet new people, work on new projects and listen to new music. You’ll be closely in touch with the art scene, which is very dynamic. Don’t expect a 9-5, but it will be fun.”

When Ong Hua Han (NUS Business ’16) was considering his university options in 2012, NUS was not an obvious choice. As a wheelchair user with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, navigating the University’s steep terrain seemed daunting.

But a warm meeting with the then Assistant Dean and Director of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programmes at NUS Business School, Dr Helen Chai, changed his mind. Over tea and a personalised tour of the school, she allayed his family’s concerns. “Though the campus’ hilly terrain was not the easiest to navigate, Dr Chai reassured us that people were there to support me,” recalls Hua Han. “And that sealed the deal.”

At matriculation, Hua Han discovered the NUS Enablers, a student group set up in 2011 to support students with special needs. Drawn by their mission to raise awareness and make the campus more accessible, Hua Han signed up. He later led the group’s then-flagship event, "Wheel-a-thon," a creative race that challenged participants to experience campus through the perspective of a wheelchair user.

At the time, accessibility support at NUS was largely unstructured. That changed in 2014 with the establishment of the Student Accessibility Unit (SAU), formerly the Disability Support Office, under the Office of Student Affairs. SAU became a game changer, consolidating academic, logistical and social support for students with disabilities under one roof. No longer would students have to knock on multiple doors to get the help they needed.

SAU currently supports 3 per cent of the NUS student population who identify with having disabilities and accessibility needs, working closely with university partners and student advocates to foster a culture of inclusion.

"Our vision for an accessible learning environment goes beyond providing support and opportunity — it’s about recognising each student as an individual," said Ms Agnes Yuen, who heads the SAU and is a pioneering member of the team. "Every connection reminds us that our shared humanity is reflected in honouring every lived experience, enabling students to thrive beyond labels and disabilities."

Beyond coordinating an accessible mobility van service alongside the University Campus Infrastructure (UCI) to facilitate travel across faculties, Hua Han recalled how SAU’s partnership with SG Enable helped him secure his first internship at a Big Four accounting firm, and a subsequent one at a global bank where he now works full-time as a relationship manager in their corporate banking division.

Today, he continues the advocacy work he began at NUS, leading initiatives in his workplace to increase participation and awareness for people with disabilities.

"The internship experiences offered me a window into my potential career path, helping me imagine new opportunities that lie ahead."

Finding identity and community

For final-year Pharmacy student Nicolette Koh, who is hard of hearing, the support from SAU has been more of a journey within. She reached out to SAU immediately after accepting her place in NUS in 2022, unsure of what to expect. What she found was a safe, non-judgmental space where she was treated as an equal. SAU equipped her with real-time speech-to-text transcription software, which helped her follow lectures more effectively. But the biggest gift, she says, was something less tangible: identity.

“Before university, I felt like I had to hide my disability,” she said. “Through SAU and learning sign language at NUS, I found a sense of community and realised being deaf isn’t a weakness—it’s just who I am.”

Encouraged by SAU, Nicolette went on to serve as President of the NUS Enablers in Academic Year 2023/2024, where she organised disability awareness talks in collaboration with SPD, the university’s first Purple Parade contingent in 2023, and led inclusive student initiatives like SIGNapse—a student-run programme that bridges communication gaps between the deaf community and students entering healthcare professions.

For her work in championing community causes and raising awareness for people with disabilities, Nicolette received the NUS Community Impact Scholarship awarded to outstanding NUS undergraduates who exhibit leadership qualities in the areas of Environmental Sustainability and/or Community Service, in addition to the Leadership Distinction award at the NUS Achievement Awards 2024 – a prestigious and only University-level award recognising the exceptional achievements of student life beyond academics.

Allies in action

Nicolette’s work also inspired students like Loo Quan Xuan, a final-year Sociology major who joined NUS Enablers in his second year. Expecting to learn from others, he soon discovered his role as an active ally. He later took on the role of Vice President of NUS Enablers in 2024 and led initiatives like the Human Library and worked with SAU to pioneer a dialogue series exploring themes of disability pride, allyship and ableism.

“What I learned is that inclusion is not just about physical access—it’s about the right to be part of conversations, to share your lived experience, and to be heard,” he said. “Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is just listen.”

Towards a whole-of-campus approach

This ethos of inclusion also guides the work of the SAU, which works closely with students to raise awareness, drive broader inclusivity and capacity-building to co-create a more inclusive campus.

For example, a recent collaboration with the University Campus Infrastructure team, Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and student volunteers saw the mapping of barrier-free routes across campus, allowing users to navigate NUS via the OneMap app, with more informed accessibility information.

SAU has also collaborated with the NUS Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology and the Office of the Provost to implement Universal Design for Learning principles, such as live captioning, into classrooms, to benefit all students, beyond those with accessibility needs.

“Supporting students with disabilities is never the work of one unit alone,” said Agnes. “It takes a whole-of-campus approach. This underlies our commitment to build and deepen awareness, skills and empathy of our staff and student community, empowering them to be effective and inclusive allies and educators.”

These efforts not only address practical challenges but also reduce the social and emotional burden of asking for help. With inclusion woven into everyday campus life, students are encouraged to learn, participate, and thrive in that belonging.

A culture of inclusion, a decade on

For Hua Han, the impact of NUS’ inclusive culture is deeply personal. A turning point was his student exchange in Maastricht, where—despite fracturing his tibia during his first month—he experienced the independence of living abroad. “If I could handle an injury without the comfort and care of my family, then there are many things I can do,” he reflected.

Today, national conversations around mental health, neurodiversity, and disability continue to shift perspectives. On campus, SAU organises the Inclusive Fest and Accessibility Activation, creating opportunities for dialogue, connection, and growth among the community.

“We are seeing more students coming forward to begin the conversation with us, and that’s a positive shift,” said Agnes. “It reflects greater trust, confidence, and acceptance for the university to journey with them.”

As Hua Han aptly put it: “Back then, we relied on individual champions. Now, there’s a whole ecosystem of support.” Still returning to campus to mentor and engage, he remains part of that growing community of champions—proof that when inclusion takes root, its impact lasts well beyond graduation.

Researchers from NUS have pioneered a photocatalytic atom-swapping transformation that converts oxetanes into a variety of four-membered saturated cyclic molecules, which are key scaffolds in medicinal chemistry. By introducing a new synthetic blueprint for these prized drug motifs, this discovery could potentially streamline the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and complex drug analogues that would otherwise require multi-step routes. 

The research team was led by Associate Professor Koh Ming Joo from the NUS Department of Chemistry, together with Assistant Professor Zhang Xinglong from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

The research breakthrough was published in the scientific journal Nature on 15 October 2025.

Non-aromatic (saturated) heterocycles and carbocycles form the skeleton of countless bioactive and functional molecules. Four-membered saturated cyclic molecules such as azetidines, thietanes and cyclobutanes are increasingly valued in drug discovery for their desirable physicochemical properties, such as potency, stability, metabolic stability and target specificity. However, the traditional retrosynthetic approaches typically deconstruct the ring into simpler starting materials that have to be prepared separately through numerous steps. This approach is often energy- and time-consuming and generates excessive waste, particularly in the assembly of complex drug molecules.

Assoc Prof Koh said, “The conventional way of constructing four-membered rings employs cycloaddition or nucleophilic substitution chemistries that limit the range of obtainable molecular scaffolds. There is an urgent need to design a new approach that not only simplifies the synthesis of small-ring pharmacophores but also unlocks uncharted regions of the chemical space.”

New atom-swapping logic accelerates synthesis of non-aromatic drug scaffolds

The researchers developed a skeletal editing strategy that selectively exchanges the oxygen atom of an oxetane building block for another functional group (nitrogen, sulfur, or carbon), through reaction with appropriate reagents. This transformation process is achieved by using a photocatalyst to break the oxetane ring into a reactive dibromide compound under visible light. The ring is then rebuilt using different nucleophiles to give a range of four-membered heterocycles and carbocycles in one pot. Computational studies by Asst Prof Zhang’s group provided insights into the underlying mechanism and the origins of the high chemoselectivity.

To demonstrate the value of their method, the researchers successfully simplified the preparation of advanced drug intermediates, reducing the number of synthetic steps from 8 to 12 steps down to four steps, delivering substantial cost savings and waste reduction. The researchers also applied their method to the late-stage editing of complex bioactive oxetanes to obtain heterocyclic drug candidates with enhanced properties, bypassing the need to make them from scratch. 

“Our atom-swapping manifold offers a convenient diversification platform to transform readily accessible oxetane feedstocks into different classes of high-value saturated cyclic compounds in one operation. This would empower chemists in their synthetic endeavours by providing new opportunities in making cyclic functional molecules for important applications such as drug discovery,” added Assoc Prof Koh.

Studies are ongoing to extend the methodology to heterocyclic drug compounds of various ring sizes relevant to therapeutics.

There was excitement in the air as 26 students from the NUS Department of Geography’s Field Investigation in Physical Geography course got ready for a journey that would take them far beyond textbooks and lecture halls.

For many, Africa had always felt like a wonderland of vast savannahs, dramatic mountain ranges and wildlife seen only on screen. But this was no safari holiday. Over 11 days, students from NUS Geography and the Environmental Studies (BES) programme would traverse Kenya’s legendary landscapes, immersing themselves in the realities of environmental change, human-wildlife interactions, and the deep connections between people and place.

Far beyond teaching standard field techniques, the GE4220 course centres on understanding one of the most dynamic landscapes on Earth through the multiple lenses of earth system sciences, environmental change, people and land use, human-wildlife interactions, and biodiversity conservation.

Head of NUS Geography Professor David Taylor, who has been leading such trips for more than two decades, said the trip aimed to apply field techniques, study environmental change, and understand the deep interconnections between people, land, wildlife and climate.

“Students are taught that it is impossible to truly understand physical environments without also considering humans and their role in shaping them. Coming to terms with the diversity of environmental conditions here requires understanding the deep interconnections between people and place,” said Prof Taylor.

Fieldwork, Kenyan-style

In Kenya, the students journeyed across the Great Rift Valley – from Nairobi to Naivasha, Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, and Laikipia. Each day was filled with site visits, wildlife encounters, and project work, which included conducting and filming community interviews as well as engaging in group discussions.

A highlight of the trip was a sediment coring exercise in a Rift Valley lake. Students assisted the researchers as they set out on a small boat, carefully deploying specialised equipment to extract a long column of lakebed sediment. The process, equal parts science demonstration and action scene, offered a rare glimpse into how past climates and environmental change can be reconstructed from the layers beneath the water. Between the rigours of scientific work, there were moments of wonder too: students witnessed flocks of pink flamingoes gathering nearby, their bright plumage adding an unforgettable splash of colour to the fieldwork setting.

Year 4 Geography student Pang Kah Wing reflected, “We learnt that sediments form a kind of history book of the lake’s climate and environment. But seeing the process in real time made me admire how much coordination and effort it takes. Research is exciting, but also tough and a little dangerous!”

The Rift Valley’s lakes were a key focal point throughout the expedition. From Lakes Naivasha to Baringo, Bogoria, and Nakuru, students were introduced to the diversity of lake systems – freshwater and saline, deep and shallow, and the communities that depend on them for their livelihoods. These lakes are not just ecological treasures; they are a source of life. Populations cluster around them for fishing, farming and water supply. Yet, in recent decades, rising water levels linked to climate change have reshaped both landscape and livelihoods, flooding villages, displacing families, and triggering profound hydrological changes. Students saw first-hand how these environmental shifts complicate already fragile relationships between people, land and wildlife.

Beyond technical skills and knowledge, the students also got a glimpse of Kenyan life. Having the opportunity to interview locals about education, Year 4 BES undergraduate Shaylie Yu was awed by the lengths families would go to secure schooling for their children – even selling cattle to pay school fees. “It was inspiring to learn how deeply education is valued,” Shaylie shared.      

Lessons beyond the classroom that reshape perspectives

In addition to the enriching experiences gleaned from the fieldwork and field interviews, the students were often treated to wildlife encounters – lions, hyenas, giraffes and zebras were spotted, often within breathtakingly close range.

For some, the trip’s biggest impact was not visual but mental. Year 4 Geography student Chloe Lee admitted that before the trip, she assumed Singapore’s quality of life was unquestionably better than Kenya’s. But one conversation completely shifted her perspective. A local had asked with genuine concern, “You don’t have land in Singapore? Where do you build your house? Grow crops? Raise livestock? We are so lucky to live so well in Kenya.”

That interaction challenged Chloe’s worldview and made her reflect on how differently Singaporeans perceive value and well-being.

These moments, often unplanned, make field courses like GE4220 a transformative experience. Prof Taylor reflected, “Eastern Africa is the cradle of human evolution. I think we all carry a bit of Africa within ourselves. In that sense, going to Africa feels like going home.”

From fieldwork to fresh ways of thinking and understanding

Back in Singapore, each project group presented their findings through videos and presentations, raising issues that ranged from the impacts of land-use change on pastoralists to the role of religion in supporting conservation. The diversity of perspectives was as enriching as the fieldwork itself.

“It was eye-opening to see how everyone approached the same landscapes from different angles,” Shaylie reflected.

From wildlife encounters to ecosystem studies, from campfire conversations to candid insights shared by local communities, the Kenya field trip offered a rare blend of academic rigour, cross-cultural exchange, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

For the students, what began as a dream of “seeing Africa” transformed into a deeper understanding of how people and environment are inseparably linked – and how lessons from afar can inspire new ways of thinking back home.

By the Department of Geography at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

• Berita Harian Online, 11 October 2025

• The Straits Times Online, 10 October 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 11 October 2025, Singapore, p11

• The Straits Times Online, 10 October 2025
• 8world Online, 10 October 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 11 October 2025, Singapore, p10

What does “home” mean in Singapore’s 60th year of nationhood? At the annual NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre (CTPCLC) Symposium this year, NUS students, alumni, faculty, guests and community partners, including representatives from the Chua Foundation, came together to explore this question, discovering that “home” is as much about neighbourliness and family as it is about digital connections and inclusive communities.

Held on 27 September 2025, the Symposium brought together more than 130 attendees, to reflect on the theme: The Idea of ‘Home’ @SG60.

Perspectives on belonging

The event opened with a panel discussion moderated by CTPCLC Director Associate Professor Chng Huang Hoon, featuring Guest-of-Honour Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education; Ms Chua Weiling, Director of Philanthropy at Chua Foundation and CEO of One Hill Capital Pte Ltd; and CTPCLC alumnus Mr Cheng Tian Wei.

Mr Neo emphasised the importance of balancing individual and collective responsibility in fostering a sense of belonging, noting the symbiotic relationship between the individual and the community. "The 'Me' succeeds because of the 'We', and willingly gives back to the 'We'. Policies and programmes may set the foundation but everyone must work together to build connections, strengthen trust and shape our collective future." he said.

Building on the emphasis on collective responsibility, Ms Chua highlighted that philanthropy should begin at home, noting that individuals can make their impact felt by giving back to Singapore before looking further afield. “If you want to start something, start from home,” she said. Echoing this ground-up ethos, Mr Cheng shared how everyday neighbourliness forms the bedrock of cohesion. He said, “With everyone looking out for their neighbours, and the people around them, we can build a kinder, more compassionate society.”

Together, their perspectives traced a clear vision of “home”, enabled by national structures, nurtured within families and communities, and sustained through compassionate community practice.

From kampung to cloud

Offering a contemporary twist, CTPCLC alumnus and 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, Mr Khoo Yi Feng, delivered a keynote address titled From Kampung to Cloud: Rethinking Home in an Age of Movement and Memory.

Mr Khoo noted that in today’s world, belonging extends beyond physical spaces. “As networked individuals, we fulfil our needs in multiple online communities. This challenges community leaders to design, cultivate and steward virtual spaces. The feeling of ‘home’ doesn’t just happen and is no longer just a physical place.”

Drawing on his experiences with mental health advocacy, he urged students, educators, and partners to co-create spaces—physical and virtual—where people feel safe, seen, supported, and empowered to “make good trouble”.

Diverse pathways to community impact

A highlight of the Symposium was a showcase of four student-led community projects, where NUS students applied classroom learning to tackle real-world social issues.

• Identifying the aftercare needs of families in their post-home ownership journey

CTPCLC students Mavis Chin Jun Qi (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) and Freddy Ow Yong Zhi Long (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) presented a study in partnership with the South Central Community Family Service Centre, to examine the aftercare needs of low-income families who completed the Keystart Home Ownership Programme. Using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, the team developed a three-phase aftercare model that focuses on strengthening financial literacy, building home maintenance skills, and deepening social connectedness to support families’ stability beyond the point of purchase.

• Negotiating memory and modernity: A stakeholder-centric redevelopment of Esplanade Park

A team from NUS Ridge View Residential College (RVRC), represented by Hazel Tio (Science ’26), investigated the urban tension between heritage preservation and modern development through the lens of the development of the Padang and Esplanade Park. Grounded in multi-layered historical analysis and the site’s recent national recognition and potential UNESCO status, the study proposed a stakeholder-driven, collaborative placemaking approach for Esplanade Park. By integrating the site’s history, context, and redevelopment needs with interactive installations and curated cultural experiences, the team outlined a path to revitalise the park, renewing civic identity while harmonising memory and modernity.

• Coming home empty: Perspectives of empty nesters who find renewed purpose in art

Partnering with Mama on Palette (MoP), a community supporting mothers’ artistic expression, CTPCLC students Chomel Chan (Arts and Social Sciences ’25), Shannon Foo Shao Wei (Business ’26), Denise Leong En Hui (Arts and Social Sciences ’25), Angie Lim Tze Yii (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) and Isabel Lui Yisha (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) explored the expected and lived experiences of female empty nesters in Singapore. Through semi-structured interviews with eight mothers, the research surfaced themes including spousal relationships, phases of transition, and self-fulfilment. This project highlighted how MoP fosters community and empowerment and pointed to opportunities to deepen support for current and future empty nesters. Recommendations included buddy systems, bonding programmes, and regular collaborative art projects—underscoring the role of artistic engagement in ensuring wellbeing and resilience.

• Nourishing rough sleepers in Singapore

  NUS College student Keicia Seek En-Ting (Arts and Social Sciences ’27) addressed food insecurity among rough sleepers, as part of her team’s Impact Experience project by working with Homeless Hearts of Singapore and food charities to co-develop a sustainable food distribution system. Guided by a needs assessment conducted directly with rough sleepers, the project aims to provide regular, nutritious meals that alleviate financial pressures and improve physical and mental well-being. A key outcome is a replicable distribution model designed to respond to community-identified needs and enable longer-term support.

Recognising achievement and community spirit

The symposium also celebrated the Class of 2025 graduates who completed the Certificate or Minor Degree in Community Development and Leadership. In her valedictory address, Isabel Lui (Arts and Social Sciences ’25) thanked professors, peers, and families for anchoring the cohort’s journey, and urged her classmates to carry that sense of belonging into every space—serving, collaborating, and building communities where others feel they belong. The event concluded with a networking lunch, where students, alumni, partners, and guests renewed connections and exchanged ideas to make the world a little more like home.

The 2025 symposium marked another key milestone in CTPCLC’s ongoing work to cultivate youth leaders who can bridge sectors, mobilise communities, and co-create solutions. With sustained support from the Chua Foundation and strong partnerships across NUS and the wider community, CTPCLC continues to empower students to play an active role in building an inclusive, resilient society, and contribute meaningfully to Singapore and beyond.

By NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre

The NUS Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre offers both a Certificate and a Minor Degree in Community Development and Leadership. To date, 370 students have been awarded the Certificate in Community Development and Leadership and 59 of these students also received a Minor Degree in Community Development and Leadership.

Lead poisoning was once thought to largely be a problem of the past, as the globe gradually weaned itself off leaded gasoline in road vehicles in 2021. But has global lead pollution truly been resolved?

A new study led by Dr Chen Mengli, a Research Fellow from the Tropical Marine Science Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS), in collaboration with researchers from Imperial College London, University of Warwick, University of Oxford, Jadavpur University, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Bristol, showed the answer is not yet: lead exposure remains a pressing public health and economic challenge in the 21^st century. The researchers estimated that ongoing childhood lead exposure costs the world more than US$3.4 trillion in lost economic potential each year, with disproportionate impacts on low- and middle-income countries.

Published in the Communications Earth & Environment on 30 September 2025, the findings suggest that without stronger safeguards, the ever-increasing demand for electrification and poorly regulated recycling of lead-containing products could entrench global inequalities and set back decades of progress in children’s health. To avert this, the researchers proposed a four-pronged strategy that policymakers and industries can act on today.

Lessons from history

Lead has been woven into human society for thousands of years, from the plumbing systems of the Roman Empire to the paints, pipes and industrial alloys still in use today. Its widespread use has left a toxic trail. Some of the earliest mass poisonings were linked to contaminated food and drink in Europe centuries ago. But the most recent incident came with the introduction of tetraethyl lead in gasoline in the 1920s, which for decades spewed millions of tonnes of the metal into the atmosphere.

By the 1970s, children across the world carried dangerously high blood lead levels, and the repercussions were severe, causing neurological damage, impaired development and countless premature deaths. The eventual ban on leaded gasoline, completed worldwide only in 2021, is heralded as one of the great public health victories of the modern era. Importantly, it showed that determined, coordinated global action could reduce exposure and save lives.

However, the team noted that the celebration of a “lead-free” world was premature. While blood lead levels fell in many high-income countries, they plateaued or even rose again in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Legacy contamination from soils and infrastructure, coal combustion, numerous lead-laden products such as leaded paint, and informal recycling of lead-acid batteries and e-wastes have all kept exposure alive.

“The perception that the problem was solved has to change. New sources of exposure continue to emerge and the historical emitted lead keeps redistributing through various natural processes,” added Dr Chen, who is also from the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS.

Today’s exposure and economic toll

Lead production today exceeds 16 million tonnes a year, with about 85 per cent going into lead–acid batteries that power vehicles, telecommunications and backup energy systems. Annual production now exceeds the total lead emitted during the entire era of leaded gasoline.

Though these items can be recycled, much of the reprocessing occurs under unsafe conditions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Informal recycling sites, often located near homes and schools, expose workers and surrounding communities to hazardous levels of lead. Coal combustion, contaminated soils and the continued sale of lead-laden paints, toys, and even food products, further compound the risks.

The researchers noted from numerous literatures that health consequences are most severe for children. Even at low levels, lead can damage the developing brain, lowering IQ, impairing learning and contributing to behavioural issues. This burden is often carried across one’s lifetime as the effects are irreversible. In particular, the team estimated that childhood exposure today translates into a global economic loss exceeding US$3.4 trillion annually, equivalent to over 2 per cent of the world’s GDP.

Four-pronged approach to curb a resurgence

The team highlighted that recognising the continuing risks is the first step towards preventing another global health crisis. The study outlined four urgent areas for action to safeguard public health and reduce inequality:

1. Manage the life cycle of lead-containing products. With demand for batteries and electronics rising, stronger oversight is needed to minimise leakage during production, use and disposal.

2. Eliminate unsafe and illicit sources. Informal recycling and lead-laden goods such as lead paints, glazed ceramics and adulterated spices continue to expose millions to hazardous levels of lead.

3. Strengthen monitoring and community involvement. Early detection of lead leakage is often underfunded. Advances in low-cost sensors and machine-learning-based tools, combined with local knowledge, can help identify and address hotspots more effectively.

4. Capture the full socio-economic cost. Lead exposure disproportionately harms disadvantaged populations. Better models and population-level data are needed to quantify long-term impacts on health, education and productivity, as well as guiding equitable policy responses.

“The world rightly celebrated the phase-out of leaded gasoline as a triumph of international cooperation,” she said. “But the problem of lead exposure has not yet gone away. Unless we remain vigilant about both new sources of exposure and the legacy of lead in the environment, we may risk repeating the same tragedy,” Dr Chen emphasised.

Four faculty members from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering in the National University of Singapore have been conferred prestigious awards by the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) for their exemplary contributions to medical and biological engineering. The awards were presented on 29 September 2025 during the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2025, which was held in Adelaide, Australia. IFMBE is one of the world’s largest federation of national and transnational societies in biomedical engineering, and it also a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Emeritus Professor James Goh (left) received the IFMBE Honorary Life Member Award, in recognition of his distinguished leadership and long-standing contributions to the global biomedical engineering community.

Professor Lim Chwee Teck was presented with the IFMBE Otto Schmitt Award in recognition of his pioneering work in mechanobiology, microfluidics, and wearable technologies, as well as his leadership, innovation, and impact in advancing the field. Prof Lim is also NUSS Chair Professor, Director of the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech), and Principal Investigator at Mechanobiology Institute.

Professor Li Jun received the IFMBE Vladimir K. Zworykin Award for his outstanding research on supramolecular self-assembled nanomaterials and hydrogels, which have advanced the fields of nanomedicine and sustainable agriculture.

Assistant Professor Andy Tay was honoured with the IFMBE–IAMBE Early Career Award, which recognises promising young researchers within seven years of completing their PhD. Asst Prof Tay is also a Principal Investigator at iHealthtech.

Read more.

For seven decades, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) in the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore has played a pivotal role in Singapore’s transformation and contributed to advancements in global engineering. To commemorate this significant milestone, CEE organised the 70th Anniversary Symposium 2025 on 10 October 2025, in partnership with the Professional Engineers Board (PEB) and The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES).

Held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, the event brought together partners from the government and industry sectors, as well as students from primary and secondary schools, pre-university institutions and polytechnics.

Comprising three components – the symposium, an exhibition and a student fair – the event provided a unique platform where academia, government, and industry came together to share perspectives and innovative solutions, explore collaborative approaches and excite young talents who will shape the future of the built environment sector.

Guest-of-Honour Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, said, “As we face challenges like climate change and resource scarcity, the role of civil and environmental engineers has never been more critical – or more exciting.” Highlighting that built environment professionals “shape how we live, work, and play” and their work “creates the infrastructure that connects communities, and the solutions that protect our environment”, Ms Rajah discussed the various efforts to uplift the built environment sector.

Professor Teo Kie Leong, Dean of the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, expressed his appreciation to CEE’s partners for their unstinting support. “Together, we have nurtured talent, advanced innovation, and shaped Singapore’s built environment into one we can all take pride in,” he said.

“Singapore has been our living laboratory and our shared mission – to engineer a safe, sustainable, and resilient home for generations to come. Today’s symposium reflects that mission and our direction forward,” said Professor Richard Liew, Head of CEE. He added that CEE remained committed to three key thrusts, namely, education, research, and engagement, over the next decade.

A resilient, sustainable and innovative Singapore

The symposium featured speakers from key agencies in Singapore's built environment sector — namely, Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Housing & Development Board (HDB), PUB, Home Team Science and Technology Agency, Land Transport Authority, Urban Redevelopment Agency, and JTC Corporation — who shared important milestones achieved, addressed the current challenges facing the industry, and outlined strategies to build a more resilient and sustainable future for Singapore.

The concluding session of the symposium featured academic and industry leaders discussing the innovative strategies and collaborative approaches necessary for the sector to advance and succeed in an increasingly complex and evolving environment.

As part of his symposium lecture, Associate Professor Raymond Ong from CEE outlined the research directions that will help tackle current and future challenges. His focus was on sustainability and green technologies, robotics and automation, as well as intelligent sensing and autonomy within the built environment. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of developing industry capabilities in the context of an ageing infrastructure and an ageing society.

Innovation comes alive

An interesting highlight of the event was an exhibition featuring key innovations that shaped Singapore today and will drive the nation’s progress into the future. Among the exhibits were:

• Green cement and 3D printing (CEE)

  This technology pushes the limit of recycling percentage in cement, relying solely on local waste. This innovation not only reduces the carbon footprint of the built environment and wastes destined for Semakau but also reflects CEE’s strong commitment to advancing green and sustainable technologies.

• Periodic inspection and defect detection of coastal infrastructure using autonomous underwater vehicles (CEE, BeeX and Delta Marine Consultants)

  A groundbreaking approach to enhance the monitoring and protection of Singapore’s coastal infrastructure is the deployment of advanced Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (HAUVs) to conduct precise and thorough inspections of submerged structures, reducing reliance on human divers and lowering inspection costs. This innovative solution aims to set a new standard for coastal protection, ensuring the long-term safety and resilience of Singapore's shores.

• Centre for Resource Circularity and Resilience (CEE)

  A series of low-carbon cement, carbon-mineralised aggregates, and aggregates developed from 100 per cent local wastes could be used to address the waste and resource challenges of Singapore. These innovations offer sustainable pathways to upcycle large volumes of excavated marine clay from upcoming megaprojects, turning what was once waste into high-value construction resources.

• First on-site 3D printed concrete building (CEE and Woh Hup)

  The Norwood Grand Project, located at Champions Way, is Woh Hup’s first on-site 3D concrete printing project in Singapore approved by BCA. CEE researchers contributed their expertise in materials engineering and structural performance, ensuring adherence to local standards while integrating cutting-edge technology.

Inspiring future engineering talents through fun and play

Close to 300 students from around 30 primary and secondary schools, pre-university institutions and polytechnics participated in the student fair, which was designed to immerse students in the world of engineering. These students had the opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on activities, dynamic interactive demonstrations and connect with engineers as well as young professionals.

These experiences were tailored to spark curiosity and enthusiasm, encouraging students to explore the principles of engineering in action while discovering how these concepts apply to real-world situations, from desalination to tunnelling to protecting Singapore’s shores.

Scientists from the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) – a biofilm & microbiome research centre – and the National University of Singapore (NUS), have uncovered a surprising strategy plants use to thrive when an essential nutrient — sulphur — is in short supply.

The team discovered that when soil microbes compete with each other in the rhizosphere (the soil surrounding plant roots), they release a well-known compound called glutathione. This compound enhances plant growth under sulphur-deficient conditions. The catch: while plants benefit, some microbes lose out in their own growth.

The researchers call this balancing act a “trans-kingdom fitness trade-off” — where one kingdom of life (microbes) sacrifices part of its growth, while another (plants) gains resilience.

The global problem: declining sulphur in soils

Sulphur is essential for plant growth, just like nitrogen and phosphorus. It supports protein synthesis, vitamin production, and stress resistance.

Historically, sulphur pollution from industrial emissions replenished soils worldwide. But with cleaner energy and stricter air-quality regulations, atmospheric sulphur levels have dropped. While good for air quality and human health, this has unintentionally reduced natural sulphur deposits in agricultural soils.

Over time, crops have drawn down existing soil sulphur, leaving soils deficient. To compensate, farmers increasingly apply synthetic sulphur-based fertilisers. These short-term fixes come with costs: runoff from farmlands contaminates rivers, lakes, and ecosystems, exacerbating environmental degradation.

The new discovery: a microbial boost

The SCELSE-led study, published in Cell Host & Microbe on 26 September 2025, provides a novel mechanistic explanation of how plants and microbes jointly navigate nutrient stress. The researchers found that when soil bacteria compete for nutrients, they release glutathione — a compound that boosts plant growth under sulphur-deficient conditions, even though it reduces bacterial growth.

This improvement in plant fitness came at the cost of bacterial fitness — a biological trade-off across kingdoms of life.

“This work introduces the concept of a trans-kingdom fitness trade-off and provides a mechanistic explanation for it,” said first author Arijit Mukherjee, who was a PhD student at SCELSE and the NUS Department of Biological Sciences when the study was conducted. “Plant fitness isn’t just about the plant itself — it’s about the whole community of microbes around it. Understanding these trade-offs helps us design better microbial solutions for resilient crops.”

Why it matters

Such trade-offs are likely widespread across host–microbe systems, not just in plants, and may represent hidden strategies by which holobionts (hosts and their associated microbes) adapt collectively to environmental cues.

For agriculture, this insight is powerful: instead of relying on chemical fertilisers, researchers can design microbial consortia (or “cocktails”) that naturally boost crop health under nutrient stress. This nature-based solution can reduce fertiliser use, improve soil health, and contribute to global food security.

Assoc Prof Sanjay Swarup, Principal Investigator at SCELSE, explained, “This study provides a blueprint for sustainable agriculture. By tapping into natural plant–microbe partnerships, we can reduce fertiliser use, protect ecosystems, and still secure global food supplies.”

From discovery to application: patent filed

To translate this breakthrough into practice, the team has filed a patent covering applications of this plant–microbe mechanism in agriculture. This will enable the development of bio-based products that support crops in sulphur-deficient soils, reducing reliance on chemical inputs.

“By considering not only microbial functions but also their interactions, we can design more effective microbial consortia for agriculture,” added Assoc Prof Swarup, who is also the Deputy Director for NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI) and a faculty member of the NUS Department of Biological Sciences. “This is the path toward resilient, climate-ready farming.”

• 8world Online, 9 October 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao, 9 October 2025, Singapore, p8

• Lianhe Zaobao, 9 October 2025, Singapore, p10

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has appointed Professor Joseph Liow as the third Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), with effect from 15 October 2025.

A renowned scholar of international relations and Asian strategic affairs, Prof Liow brings to LKYSPP a distinguished record of academic excellence and institutional leadership experience. He will succeed Associate Professor Leong Ching who has served as Acting Dean of LKYSPP since 1 July 2025.

Prior to joining NUS, Prof Liow spent 28 years of his academic career at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), progressing from a researcher to Chair Professor, and advancing towards senior leadership roles which include Dean of the NTU S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, and Dean of the NTU College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Prof Liow has joined LKYSPP as the Wang Gungwu Professor in East Asian Affairs on 1 October 2025.

His research specialises in subjects of Muslim societies and politics in Southeast Asia, the international relations of Southeast Asia, US foreign policy, and the geopolitics of East Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Widely regarded as a leading voice on Southeast Asian affairs, Prof Liow’s insights on these matters have informed and influenced policymakers, diplomats, and international institutions across the region.

Beyond academia, Prof Liow has served as an advisor and commentator on regional and global policy issues, including engagements with international organisations, think tanks, and government agencies. His ability to bridge scholarly rigour with real-world relevance has made him a trusted interlocutor in global policy circles.

Prof Liow is currently Chairman of the Middle East Institute at NUS, a position he assumed in September 2024, and previously held the Tan Kah Kee Chair in Comparative and International Politics at NTU.

In his new role, Professor Liow will lead LKYSPP in advancing its mission to develop future public leaders, contribute cutting-edge research, and engage with pressing policy challenges across Asia and beyond.

NUS President, Professor Tan Eng Chye, said: “Professor Joseph Liow has built a stellar career in advancing academic thinking on regional and global affairs, and engaging with the public, policymakers, academics and students in constructive and impactful ways. His academic breadth, respected scholarship, outstanding leadership and genuine commitment to public service make him uniquely suited to lead the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy into its next chapter. I am confident he will build on the School’s strong foundations and further its mission as a centre of excellence in public policy education, research and engagement.”

“The University also expresses its deep appreciation to Assoc Prof Leong for her strong stewardship and commitment to the School as Acting Dean during this period of transition. Her leadership at this pivotal time has put the School on a strong footing for the trajectory ahead,” Prof Tan added.

Reflecting on his appointment as Dean, Professor Liow said: “It is a privilege to join the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, an institution that plays a vital role in shaping policy discourse and public leadership. These are exciting yet challenging times for Asia and the rest of the world. As societies grapple with complex challenges and transitions on issues like sustainability, technology and geopolitics, public policy and governance has never been more critical or contested. I look forward to working closely with the School’s outstanding faculty, students, staff and alumni to build on its strong foundations and expand its regional and global contributions.”

Founded in 2004, the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy is one of Asia’s leading institutions for public policy education and research.

Please refer to Annex A for the biography of Prof Joseph Liow.

By Asst Prof Reuben Ng from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS and Lead Scientist at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk at NUS

• The Straits Times, 8 October 2025, Opinion, pB2

• Suria News Online, 7 October 2025
• CNA Online, 7 October 2025

• CNA, 7 October 2025

• 8world Online, 7 October 2025

• Suria News Online, 7 October 2025

• CNA938, 7 October 2025

• CNA Online, 8 October 2025

• The Straits Times, 8 October 2025, Singapore, pA14

• The Business Times, 8 October 2025, p28

• Lianhe Zaobao, 8 October 2025, Focus, p3

• Berita Harian, 8 October 2025, p2

• Tamil Murasu, 8 October 2025, p3

The potential for future breakthroughs benefitting society was the cornerstone of the Distinguished Undergraduate Research Prize (DURP) and Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Prize (OURP) which were awarded to 47 NUS undergraduate research projects this year. A total of 91 entries were submitted and these projects were rigorously evaluated based on stringent criteria, such as impact factor, understanding of the subject, evidence of critical and independent thinking, originality and significance, and accolades received. Two outstanding projects were awarded the DURP and 45 projects received the OURP.

Established almost 20 years ago, the OURP recognises students who demonstrate outstanding participation and achievement in research. These exemplary research projects were undertaken through a range of initiatives, including the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) and Field Service Projects. The DURP was launched in Academic Year 2023/24 to recognise top-ranked research projects in OURP.

NUS News highlights three student projects from the NUS School of Computing (NUS Computing) and the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), that tackles real-world issues, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cardiovascular risk factors, and the testing of concurrent software.

Advancing liver cancer diagnosis and treatment

Lin Hong Yi, who had recently graduated from NUS Medicine, won the DURP (Individual Category) for his project on primary liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This type of cancer is challenging to treat because of its complex composition from varied gene expression. Conducted as part of the larger Precision Medicine In Liver Cancer Across An Asia-Pacific Network 2.0 (PLANet) programme, Hong Yi’s study analysed human liver cancer tissues in great detail, focusing on both gene activity and a specific type of “epigenetic switch” that helps control whether genes are turned on or off.

He discovered several cancer-promoting genes that are switched on through these epigenetic mechanisms, with liver cancers caused by different factors — such as Hepatitis B virus infection or fatty liver disease — showing distinct patterns of gene activation. Certain regions of the genome that are usually inactive in normal cells but appear to play a key role in activating cancer genes in HCC were also identified. These findings could potentially pave way for future studies to develop better tests, earlier detection, and more personalised treatments for HCC.

In the study, Hong Yi extracted DNA from cancer cells and used a combination of chemical treatments and ultrasonic waves to isolate specific regions of interest. The samples were then decoded using advanced sequencing technology, with the genetic information analysed with powerful computer algorithms to identify gene regions that are commonly activated by these epigenetic switches.

Enhancing cardiovascular health

NUS Medicine students Yiming Chen, Srinithy Nagarajan, Jayanth Jayabaskaran and NUS Medicine alumna Rachel Goh received the DURP (Group Category) for their project “The Global Syndemic of Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors projected from 2025 to 2050”.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality and understanding the trends driving CVDs is essential in designing effective countermeasures. This group project forecasts trends in five key modifiable cardiovascular risk factors — high systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, fasting glucose levels, and tobacco use — over the next 25 years till 2050. Modifiable risk factors refer to factors that can be controlled by individuals, in contrast to non-modifiable factors such as genetic risks.

The group found that despite improved management of CVDs leading to a projected decline in rates of disability-adjusted life years (a measure of the overall burden of disease in a population) across all cardiovascular risk factors, the overall disability-adjusted life years will continue to rise due to population growth and ageing. High systolic blood pressure and BMI are the fastest-growing contributors to these trends, emphasising the urgent need for tailored, region- and demographic-specific cardiovascular prevention and intervention to curb global cardiometabolic risk.

The historical and projection data for the study was taken from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Global Burden of Disease database, with the largest contributors measured based on deaths and disability associated life years (i.e. years of life lost to disability and death from disease) attributable to each risk factor. Further studies are also being conducted to examine the impacts of these risk factor trends on future cardiovascular health.

Boosting software reliability

Jed Koh, a Computer Science major at NUS Computing was awarded the OURP in the Individual Category for his project “Property Testing for Trace Regular Languages”. He conducted the research project as part of UROP last year when he was a third-year student. Working with Assistant Professor Umang Mathur, Presidential Young Professor at NUS Computing, on concurrency testing and trace languages, Jed combined both theoretical depth and practical applications for his project.

To meet the rising demands of modern software such as cloud services and web browsers, concurrency is increasingly leveraged, enabling different components of a software application to run simultaneously for a shared task. However, this exponentially increases the number of ways in which individual components interact, concealing software bugs which are notoriously hard to find.

Jed’s project, one of the top-ranked OURP projects, aims to enhance the reliability of modern software and detect concurrency bugs early in the software development cycle. Existing techniques that attempt to find these bugs tend to be extremely resource-intensive, requiring a lot of time, computing and monetary resources. Hence, he proposed an algorithmic framework to build fast, scalable, randomised algorithms to detect a large class of concurrency bugs that routinely impact software correctness and usability. As part of the formal analysis of these algorithms, he proved mathematical theorems that show that the error rates of these algorithms can be made arbitrarily small.

Experience the Excitement of Research

Could you be the next to make a similarly groundbreaking discovery? Extolling the additional benefits of research, Mr John Caines, Assistant Senior Manager, Research Experience (REx) said, “Undertaking research activities is incredibly meaningful and valuable — not just because of the potential outsized impact on solving real-life problems, but also educational and employability advantages when entering the workforce.”

To explore a multiverse of possibilities in research with UROP and REx today, visit NUS Undergraduate Research to learn more.

NUS students seeking career and internship opportunities will now benefit from a refreshed format for the NUS Career Fest, which will be held twice annually starting this academic year. 

The revamped flagship event organised by the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) aims to enhance support for students in their career journeys by providing them with more opportunities to engage with employers, boost their professional development, and prepare for the workforce.

“We are encouraged that employer demand remains strong despite the job market uncertainties and disruptions AI brings to entry-level roles. More than 230 organisations are participating in NUS Career Fest Oct 2025. By running NUS Career Fest twice yearly, alongside faculty-specific fairs and combined with a vibrant, year-round campus recruitment calendar, we are creating more touchpoints for students to connect with employers. Ahead of the fair, CFG conducted workshops with a focus on strengthening the life skills as well as AI readiness including how to use AI responsibly and effectively in job search and early career roles.  These programmes are designed to help our students stand out, learn boldly and adapt confidently into a fast-moving work world”, said Joan Tay, Senior Director, NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates.

A theme for the times: From Gen Z to Gen AI

Held from 8 to 9 October 2025 at two venues - the Stephen Riady Centre in NUS University Town and the Engineering Auditorium Atrium at the College of Design and Engineering - this year’s fair carried the timely theme “From Gen Z to Gen AI: The Prompt to Your Next Great Career”.

The theme underscores how today’s graduates are entering a workforce where generational strengths such as creativity, adaptability and digital fluency intersect with the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI).

Over the two days, students have the opportunity to meet with more than 230 participating employers across 20 industries, ranging from established sectors such as finance, engineering, and the public service, to fast-growing domains like AI, sustainability, and digital commerce.

On day one, thousands of students streamed through the booths, exploring internships, full-time roles, and career pathways they might not have considered before. Christopher Zhang, a Year 1 student from Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences reflected: “I think it’s a great idea to hold the fair in October because it aligns well with the cycle of hiring interns. Many companies start preparing for internship recruitment during the semester break in January, when listings are released. Attending the fair early gives me the chance to plan ahead, start shortlisting opportunities, preparing my résumé, and thinking about the types of internships I want to pursue. When February comes around, it’s more about refining the details and identifying specific companies I’d like to join. The experience also made me realise how important it is to stand out, to secure a role in my desired industry. It’s not just about being prepared but about understanding what more I can do to differentiate myself from others.”

Employers, in turn, were eager to connect with NUS talent. Pearlyn Wong, Talent Acquisition Senior Manager at SimplifyNext, said, “Our experience with NUS students has been genuinely energising. They bring a strong foundation in analytical thinking and an impressive ability to connect ideas across disciplines – from technology and data to human behaviour and design. What really stood out was how they responded to experiential challenges. In settings like our Agentic AI Hackathon or internships, NUS students quickly move from theory to practice – asking thoughtful questions and showing the kind of intellectual curiosity that thrives in an environment like SimplifyNext. We look for people who are not just good at solving problems, but who reframe them. And that’s something we’ve consistently seen among NUS students. Their adaptability, teamwork, and willingness to learn by doing mirror the same values that drive our own teams working on complex, AI-driven transformation projects.”

Many employers emphasised that beyond technical expertise, they are seeking graduates with critical thinking, adaptability, and learning agility.

Harnessing innovation in career preparation

A highlight of this October’s Career Fest was the launch of the CFG AI-Xplore chatbot, an AI-powered tool designed to provide students with instant access to career resources and guidance – from resume tips to sector-specific opportunities. Complementing in-person career advisory sessions, the chatbot supports NUS’ commitment to prepare students to thrive in an AI-augmented world.

Also drawing student interest was the CFG Career Quest game, created by Woon Cher Han, a Year 4 student from the School of Computing, which scored the winning entry in a CFG-organised competition earlier this year. In the game, players step into the shoes of a fresh graduate battling the Monster of Doubt and Fear, using CFG’s suite of offerings to overcome challenges. The interactive storyline resonated strongly with peers who recognised their own uncertainties mirrored in the gameplay.

Alongside these innovations, a range of fringe activities helped students sharpen their personal brand and networking skills. At the Career Pitch Stop, students practised their elevator pitch with real-time feedback from CFG career advisors. Interactive self-help kiosks, created in partnership with e2i, offered a gamified way for students to practise articulating their value proposition. Lifelong Learning SG guided students in discovering more about themselves and exploring career pathways that they might not have considered, while the NUS Lifelong Learning team advised soon-to-be alumni on courses to support professional and personal growth. To round off the experience at the Career Fest, students could also get a complimentary professional headshot.

Benedicta Edlyn Kurniawan, a Year 4 student from Faculty of Science, said: “Attending NUS Career Fest has really broadened my perspective. Many of the companies here are from industries I’ve never explored before. The fair made it so much easier to find out which companies are hiring and ask questions directly. I ended up discovering organisations with roles that genuinely interest me. I could even scan their QR codes on the spot to apply, which made the whole experience simple and productive.”

Sustaining the journey beyond Career Fest

Preparation for NUS Career Fest began weeks earlier, with workshops helping students refine resumes, strengthen elevator pitches, and polish personal brand statements. For the first time, post-event workshops have been introduced to ensure that students maintain momentum beyond the fair. These cover practical topics such as navigating job offers, salary negotiations, and building resilience during job searches.

Students can also explore international career opportunities at the Global Career Fair, between 13 and 23 October 2025, which offers access to employers from Japan, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Mainland China, the United Arab Emirates, and beyond.

This will lead into the next edition of NUS Career Fest, slated to take place from first quarter of 2026. By anchoring two career fairs across the academic year, CFG is reshaping career preparation into a sustained journey of growth, discovery, and opportunity.

By NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates

• The Straits Times, 3 October 2025, The Big Story, pA7

By Ms Nguyen Tran Bao Phuong, Research Fellow, and Ms Tran Thi Ngoc My, Research Analyst, both at the Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Business Times, 7 October 2025, p18

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 2 October 2025

• Money 89.3FM, 1 October 2025

• The Straits Times, 2 October 2025, Singapore, pA18

• The Straits Times, 2 October 2025, Sport, pB14

• The Straits Times, 2 October 2025, Life, pC4

• The Straits Times, 2 October 2025, The Big Story, pA8

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 October 2025, Singapore, p11

• Capital 95.8FM, 30 September 2025

• Hao 96.3FM, 30 September 2025

• 8world Online, 30 September 2025

• The Straits Times, 1 October 2025, Singapore, pA14

• Lianhe Zaobao, 1 October 2025, Singapore, p7

NUS and OceanX have embarked on a 24-day voyage to the Monsoon Rise in the Christmas Island Seamount Province, a largely unexplored seamount chain in the eastern Indian Ocean. This is Singapore’s first deep-sea scientific expedition since signing the United Nations Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.

A concerted effort to explore unchartered waters

On board the state-of-the-art research vessel − the OceanXplorer − 14 NUS researchers are joined by 2 researchers from NTU, 2 from Indonesia, and 1 each from Thailand, Vietnam and Fiji.

On 4 October 2025, a ceremonial send-off on the OceanXplorer at Marina @ Keppel Bay was graced by government leaders, scientists, and partners. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of National Research Foundation (NRF); Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President; Mr Ray Dalio, Co-Founder of OceanX; and Mr Mark Dalio, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of OceanX, were among the distinguished guests who attended the event.

“This expedition demonstrates Singapore’s commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, especially following the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement in 2023 and its imminent entry into force in January 2026. Such cutting-edge research is critical in building the scientific foundation needed to understand, protect, and preserve marine biodiversity,” said Dr Balakrishnan.

“Singapore is committed to the inclusive implementation of the BBNJ Agreement which taps on the expertise of ASEAN and Small Island Developing States. The collaborative approach will contribute to capacity building, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from marine scientific research in the high seas,” added Dr Balakrishnan.

This expedition and the development of deep-sea research capacity in Singapore is supported by a S$6 million grant from the NRF.

“This mission is more than a voyage of discovery — it is a contribution to advancing collaboration and ocean conservation, for a better future of our planet,” said NUS President Prof Tan.

Diving into greater depths

Launched in 2016, OceanX is a nonprofit initiative that combines ocean exploration, science, education and storytelling to uncover the mysteries of the ocean, unlock its potential and inspire greater protection of it. A floating laboratory equipped with remotely operated vehicles and submersibles that can reach maximum depths of 6,000m and 1,000m respectively, the OceanXplorer have since conducted expeditions in the Red Sea, and in the seas around Malaysia, Indonesia and Africa.

“OceanXplorer was designed as a platform to unite exploration, science, media, and education. Partnering with NUS on this mission allows us to expand knowledge of one of the last great unknowns of our planet and inspire people across Asia and the world to protect it,” said Mr Mark Dalio, Founder and Co-CEO of OceanX.

Led by Dr Tan Koh Siang, Chief Expedition Scientist and Head of the Marine Biology and Ecology Laboratory at the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), the 24-day mission also includes researchers from Vietnam National University, Indonesia’s Diponegoro University and National Research and Innovation Agency, Thailand’s Kasetsart University, and Fiji’s Social Empowerment Education Programme.

“For Singapore and NUS, this expedition is both a scientific breakthrough and a regional milestone. It strengthens our deep-sea research capacity, builds collaboration across ASEAN, and positions Singapore as a hub for international marine science,” said Professor Peter Ng, mission lead from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) and TMSI at NUS.

Uncovering seamount secrets

Seamounts are massive underwater mountains with steep sides rising from the seafloor. Often formed by extinct volcanoes, seamounts are known to be teeming with marine life. Their solid surfaces allow corals and sponges to grow, providing small sea creatures with a home, which in turn attracts larger predators. Although there are over 10,000 seamounts globally, these underwater oases remain poorly documented. Establishing a scientific record of the marine life in these deep-sea regions is crucial for shaping conservation and sustainable management strategies.

The expedition aims to characterise the biodiversity over more than 17,000 square kilometres of deep-sea terrain. Specially constructed traps – made of a system of traps within a trap – will be deployed to ensure that captured fish will be separated from their predators. Samples of seawater from different regions will also be collected to study eDNA (environmental DNA) – the trace amount of DNA shed by organisms from their skin, body fluids or waste. Extracting eDNA from water samples for sequencing and genetic analysis allows scientists to detect biodiversity without direct capture.

Specimens discovered from the expedition will be curated at LKCNHM and findings will be published in peer-reviewed and open access journals to support international ocean conservation and management efforts.

“The Indian Ocean remains one of the least studied parts of our planet. This mission gives us an unprecedented opportunity to gather insights that can transform how we understand biodiversity in this region,” said Dr Vincent Pieribone, Co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of OceanX.

In 2018, LKCNHM and TMSI collaborated with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences for a 14-day deep-sea biodiversity expedition. South Java Deep Sea Biodiversity Expedition (SJADES) surveyed 63 sites over a remarkable distance of 2,200 kilometres, yielding over 12,000 specimens from 800 species, including sponges, jellyfish, molluscs, starfish, worms, crabs, prawns and fish. Among these, more than 12 new species were discovered, and over 40 species were new records for Indonesia.

Last year, two NUS students had the privilege to live on board the OceanXplorer in the OceanX Education Young Explorers Programme (YEP) for 5 days, travelling from Jakarta to Bali. Participating in activities like seminars, lab work, job shadowing and even snorkelling, the eye-opening experience ignited their passion for marine biology and deepened their connection and understanding of the ocean.

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

• Berita Harian, 1 October 2025, p9

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

• Berita Minggu, 5 October 2025, p9

• The Sunday Times, 5 October 2025, Life, pC4 and pC5

• 8world Online, 10 October 2025

• 8world Online, 3 October 2025
• CNA, 3 October 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 3 October 2025
• The Straits Times, 4 October 2025, Singapore, pA18
• Lianhe Zaobao, 4 October 2025, Singapore, p5

By Mr Carl Skadian, Deputy Director from the Middle East Institute at NUS

• CNA Online, 30 September 2025

• The Straits Times, 6 October 2025, Singapore, pA16

• Tamil Murasu, 5 October 2025

• The Straits Times, 6 October 2025, Singapore, pA16

• The Business Times, 7 October 2025, p17

• 8world Online, 5 October 2025

Five NUS professors were bestowed the nation’s top accolades on 3 October 2025, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to science across diverse fields.

Organised by the National Research Foundation (NRF), the President’s Science and Technology Awards (PSTA), Singapore’s highest honours for researchers and engineers, acknowledges the achievements of outstanding individuals in stimulating the country’s science and technology (S&T) ecosystem.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, presented the President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) to Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President. This prestigious award is conferred to individuals who have made distinguished, sustained and exceptional contributions, and played a strategic role in advancing Singapore’s development through promotion and management of S&T.

Professor Lim Chwee Teck, Director of NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech) and faculty member of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at NUS, as well as Adjunct Professor Lisa Ng from the Department of Biochemistry at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the Emerging Infectious Disease Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School, received the President’s Science Award (PSA) from President Tharman. The PSA honours individuals who made significant scientific contributions that were generally acknowledged by other S&T practitioners in the same field as being impactful. 

Two rising NUS research stars received the Young Scientist Award (YSA) from Mr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of NRF. Administered by the Singapore National Academy of Science, the YSA is presented to researchers aged 40 and below, who are actively engaged in R&D in Singapore, and who have shown great potential to be world-class researchers in their respective research fields. These accomplished researchers are: Assistant Professor Andy Tay, Presidential Young Professor at CDE’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Principal Investigator at iHealthtech and NUS Tissue Engineering Programme, as well as Assistant Professor Wang Xinchao, Presidential Young Professor at CDE’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

2025 President’s Science & Technology Medal Recipient: Professor Tan Eng Chye

Prof Tan Eng Chye was conferred the President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) for his transformative contributions in advancing Singapore’s research and innovation landscape through interdisciplinary education, international partnerships, deep tech innovation and ecosystem building. He was also recognised for his achievements in nurturing future leaders and elevating Singapore’s global standing in science and technology.

Prof Tan substantially advanced the recruitment and development of top talent and brought NUS research to new levels of world-class excellence. In education, he instituted far-reaching reforms that have shaped S&T education in Singapore. Recognising the need for graduates with broad perspectives and technical depth, he led NUS to evolve from a disciplinary model towards one that is more flexible and interdisciplinary. This is exemplified by the curricula of the College of Humanities and Sciences, College of Design and Engineering and NUS College.

With an eye for talent, Prof Tan pioneered and developed schemes to recruit and nurture scientific talent for Singapore. This included bringing in eminent scientists to lead programmes in strategic areas and appointing outstanding directors to helm the Research Centres of Excellence (RCEs) at NUS. He also championed multiple talent and research initiatives, such as the NUS Overseas Graduate Scholarships, Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowships and Presidential Young Professorship scheme to attract and cultivate future academic leaders.

Prof Tan shaped a deeply collaborative culture within NUS and pushed for stronger partnerships between NUS and research groups across Singapore as well as with leading centres worldwide. Under his stewardship, translational research and research commercialisation at NUS took off strongly. In tandem, he also enhanced NUS’ global engagement, with a special focus on Southeast Asia.

Prof Tan has also played a significant role in shaping Singapore’s S&T ecosystem through his leadership capacities across national agencies, including the NRF, Singapore Economic Development Board, National University Health System, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Defence Science and Technology Agency, and Defence Science Organisation.

Prof Tan’s visionary leadership and lifelong dedication have been pivotal in placing Singapore’s S&T capabilities and achievements firmly on the world map.

“The large part of my education and career has been at NUS when I was only 20 years old. It fills me with both awe and pride watching the transformation of NUS from a modest teaching university in the 1980s into a comprehensive and globally recognised institution,” said Prof Tan.

“I feel privileged to have contributed to this journey. It has felt, at times, like climbing a mountain. The path has been steep and challenging. But when you pause and look back, you get a different perspective. You see the distance covered, the obstacles overcome, and the shared determination that has brought Singapore to where it is today,” he added.

Read the full citation here.

2025 President’s Science Award Recipient: Professor Lim Chwee Teck

Professor Lim Chwee Teck was awarded the President’s Science Award (PSA) for his pioneering contributions to cancer research through innovative mechanobiology approaches, successfully bridging engineering, biological sciences and medicine to foster a deeper understanding of cancer metastasis.

Prof Lim’s trailblazing research resulted in a paradigm shift in our understanding of cancer metastasis – the spread of cancer from the primary tumour site to other parts of the body – which is the leading cause of cancer mortality. His work introduced the concept of “mechanoresilience”, unveiling why only a small population of cancer cells survive the treacherous journey through the blood circulatory system. Using custom-made microfluidic platforms to simulate the extreme physical and mechanical conditions, Prof Lim and his team identified the distinctive characteristics of these mechanoresilient cancer cells that confer survival advantage and treatment resistance. These revolutionary findings pave the way for more innovative and effective cancer treatment and better diagnostic tools to predict and address metastatic risk.

Prof Lim shared, “The President’s Science Award is a profound honour that recognises not only my team’s work, but also equally important, reinforces our commitment to push the frontiers of science, mentor the next generation, and translate discoveries into tangible benefits for society.”

Highly decorated with numerous local and international awards, Prof Lim is also an elected fellow of 10 esteemed academies, reflecting global recognition of his contributions, leadership and impact. Beyond his scientific excellence, Prof Lim is also a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded six start-ups, including one that commercialised a cancer biochip and achieved a successful IPO in 2018. This cancer biochip earned him the President’s Technology Award in 2011.

At NUS, Prof Lim serves as Director of iHealthtech, where he leads multidisciplinary teams to drive advances in healthcare. He also holds appointments in multiple departments and units in the university, including the Department of Biomedical Engineering of CDE and Mechanobiology Institute.

Read the full citation here.

2025 President’s Science Award Recipient: Adjunct Professor Lisa Ng

Adjunct Professor Lisa Ng, who is also Executive Director at A*STAR’s Infectious Disease Labs and Biomedical Research Council, earned the President’s Science Award (PSA) for her pioneering contributions to viral infection immunology and advancing global pandemic management through groundbreaking research on Arboviruses, in particular, Chikungunya.

Chikungunya virus is an Arbovirus, a type of virus transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes. Initially overshadowed by dengue, Prof Ng was amongst the first to underscore the threat of Chikungunya. Her team’s work revealed the viral mechanism that explained patients’ conflicting reactions to the infection and identified immune profiles that predict disease outcomes. These valuable insights opened the door to improved immune-based diagnostics, vaccines and host-based therapeutics to better tackle the spread of Chikungunya.

Prior to Chikungunya, Prof Ng also developed PCR-based tests for the 2003 SARS outbreaks, and H5N1 during the 2005–2006 bird flu outbreaks. Her molecular and immunoassays for multiple pathogens have been shared globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her team’s work guided national vaccination strategies and safety measures.

Prof Ng is a leading advocate for pandemic preparedness who translates lab discoveries into real‑world solutions through her close collaborations with academia, public health agencies, industry and global research networks. Her leadership has strengthened surveillance systems, informed vaccine pipelines and advanced international cooperation. Committed to mentorship, Prof Ng has supervised more than 20 PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom are now leading their own research programmes worldwide.

“This award is an honour that reflects the collective efforts of my colleagues and collaborators,” shared Prof Ng. “The various outbreaks, epidemics and COVID-19 pandemic reminded me how resilience and partnerships are vital in science. To young researchers, let curiosity guide you, and see every challenge as a chance to grow.”

Read the full citation here.

2025 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Assistant Prof Andy Tay

Assistant Professor Andy Tay was presented the Young Scientist Award (YSA) for advancing biomaterial-based therapies that modulate immune responses to improve diabetic wound healing and enhance cancer immunotherapy outcomes.

To promote wound healing in diabetic patients, Asst Prof Tay’s team established a 4R (Remove, Reprogram, Replace, Reimagine) strategy that generates an optimal amount of an essential immune cell. In preclinical models, this 4R strategy demonstrated accelerated wound healing by up to 200% compared to existing therapies.

As for the development of cancer immunotherapies, Asst Prof Tay’s lab team engineered nanostraws – hollow tubes about 10,000 times smaller than a grain of rice – to deliver proteins, RNA and DNA that genetically enhance the ability of immune T cells to detect and destroy cancer cells.

A prolific scientist and devoted educator, Asst Prof Tay has garnered more than S$8.5 million in research funding as the sole principal investigator, filed 7 invention disclosures, and published 32 research papers as the corresponding author. Meanwhile, his lab has trained 19 postdoctoral researchers and research assistants, 22 graduate students and 40 undergraduate students.

When asked to give advice to young, aspiring researchers, Asst Prof Tay, who also teaches at NUS College, said, “Ask lots of questions. Students may be scared to ask questions because they may appear insignificant, but honestly, even basic questions like cell density and molecule concentration can make such a big impact on research outcome.” And he emphasized, “No question is too small.”

Read the full citation here.

2025 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Assistant Professor Wang Xinchao

Assistant Professor Wang Xinchao received the Young Scientist Award (YSA) for advancing machine learning techniques that train compact Artificial Intelligence (AI) models using limited resources, while achieving the capabilities of larger AI systems.

Asst Prof Wang’s research addresses the complex challenges that advanced AI models face through three interconnected domains: efficient strategies, efficient models and efficient data.  In efficient strategies, he built DepGraph, automating time-consuming laborious work with just three lines of code. Torch-pruning, DepGraph’s open-source counterpart, gained widespread popularity, exceeding 290,000 downloads, and has been integrated into NVIDIA’s commercial products. In efficient models, Asst Prof Wang designed MetaFormer, which greatly reduces computational cost and model size while preserving or even improving performance. In efficient data, he conceived approaches to shrink huge datasets into smaller, representative datasets that cut down computational burden yet maintain or boost model performance.

Asst Prof Wang’s innovative outputs have tremendously lowered computational and financial barriers to AI development, enabling smaller laboratories, start-ups and even individuals to train competitive models despite limited hardware as well as computational and memory constraints. The impact of his contributions also been recognised through other prestigious honours such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) AI’s 10 to Watch and the NUS’ Young Researcher Award.

“To young researchers in the field, I would like to share a simple yet powerful piece of advice from my postdoctoral supervisor, the late Professor Thomas S. Huang: “Just be yourself.” In a field that moves rapidly and is often filled with noise, staying true to your values, your curiosity and your unique perspective is both grounding and empowering.” Asst Prof Wang elaborated, “Trust your instincts, embrace the unknown, and remember that meaningful contributions often come from perseverance, not perfection.”

Read the full citation here.

By Dr Daniel Chan, Assistant Dean (Office of Programmes) at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Senior Lecturer of French at the Centre for Language Studies at NUS

• CNA Online, 29 September 2025

If you have ever cooked on a gas stove or seen a flame flicker to life with the turn of a knob, you have seen natural gas in action. Supplying that energy at scale, however, is far more complicated. Today, natural gas is mostly stored under high pressure or cooled into liquid at -162 °C — both methods that are energy-intensive and costly. An alternative approach, called solidified natural gas, locks methane inside an ice-like cage known as a hydrate. But in practice, these hydrates usually form far too slowly to be practical on a larger scale.

Researchers led by Professor Praveen Linga from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, have found a simple workaround by adding amino acids — the building blocks of proteins. In a new study ‘Rapid conversion of amino acid modified-ice to methane hydrate for sustainable energy storage’ published in Nature Communications, the researchers showed that freezing water with a small amount of these naturally occurring compounds produces an “amino-acid-modified ice” that locks in methane gas in minutes. In tests, the material reached 90 per cent of its storage capacity in just over two minutes, compared with hours for conventional systems.

The method also brings environmental benefits. Because amino acids are biodegradable, the method averts the environmental risks posed by surfactants often used to speed up hydrate formation. It also allows methane to be released on demand with gentle heating, after which the ice can be refrozen and reused, creating a closed-loop storage cycle. This combination of performance and sustainability makes the approach attractive for large-scale natural gas storage as well as for smaller, renewable sources of biomethane. The team also sees potential for adapting the technique to store other gas, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

Faster hydrates with a biological twist

The concept behind the new material is highly effective yet elegantly simple: mix water with amino acids, freeze it and then expose the ice to methane gas. In the lab, this amino-acid-modified ice quickly transformed into a white, expanded solid — evidence that methane had been locked inside as hydrate. Within just over two minutes, the material stored 30 times more methane than plain ice could hold.

This is possible because amino acids change the surface properties of the ice. Hydrophobic amino acids such as tryptophan encourage the formation of tiny liquid layers on the ice surface as methane is injected. These layers act as fertile ground for hydrate crystals to grow, producing a porous, sponge-like structure that speeds up gas capture. By contrast, plain ice tends to form a dense outer film that blocks further methane from diffusing inward, slowing the process dramatically.

To probe what was happening at the molecular level, the team turned to Raman spectroscopy, a technique that tracks how light scatters from vibrating molecules. These experiments showed methane rapidly filling two types of microscopic cages inside the hydrate structure, with occupancies above 90 per cent. “This gives us direct evidence that the amino acids are not only speeding up the process but also allowing methane to pack efficiently into the hydrate cages,” said Dr Ye Zhang, the lead author of the paper, a Research Fellow from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

The team also tested different amino acids and found a clear pattern. Notably, hydrophobic ones like methionine and leucine worked well, while hydrophilic ones such as histidine and arginine did not. This “design rule,” Prof Linga said, could guide future efforts to tailor ice surfaces for gas storage.

From lab results to energy storage cycles

The researchers’ work is still at the proof-of-concept stage, but the performance of the modified ice is very promising. At near-freezing temperatures and moderate pressures, the amino acid ice outperformed some of the most advanced porous materials, including metal-organic frameworks and zeolites, used for storing natural gas — not only in how much methane it could hold, but also in how quickly it filled. And unlike surfactant-based systems, it did not produce foaming during gas release, which is a major hurdle for large-scale operation.

Equally important is the ability to empty and reuse the system. By gently warming the hydrate, the team could recover all the stored methane. The leftover solution could then be frozen again to form fresh amino acid modified ice, setting up a repeatable ‘charge–discharge’ cycle reminiscent of how batteries store and release energy.

Reusability and sustainability make the method appealing for handling smaller, distributed supplies of renewable biomethane, which are often too modest in scale to justify expensive liquefaction or high-pressure storage facilities. The team is also exploring how to scale up the process for larger systems, including reactor designs that maintain efficient gas–liquid–solid contact, as well as tests with natural gas mixtures containing methane, ethane and propane. Other directions include improving hydrate stability through amino acid-engineered composite systems, and eventually adapting the method for gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

“Natural gas and biomethane are important components in the energy mix today, but their storage and transport have long relied on methods that are either costly or carbon-intensive,” added Prof Linga. “What we are showing is a simple, biodegradable pathway that can both work quickly and be reused. It makes gas storage safer, greener and more adaptable.”

Crocodile Foundation Ltd (CFL) has made a gift of S$1 million to NUS, in support of its Communities and Engagement (C&E) programme, to advance service-learning initiatives that benefit seniors and vulnerable families. This was announced during the Foundation’s 10th anniversary celebrations which was held on 1 September 2025.

Professor Peter Ho, NUS Vice Provost (Undergraduate Studies & Technology-Enhanced Learning), and other CFL beneficiaries attended the 10th anniversary celebrations.

C&E courses—which are offered as part of the University’s General Education curriculum for undergraduates—enable students to reflect deeply and take constructive action to address societal needs and tackle real-world challenges such as inequality and poverty.

Supporting change, serving communities

CFL’s gift will support the NUS C&E programme, which includes service-learning courses such as GEN2060 Reconnect SeniorsSG; GEN2061 Support Healthy AgeingSG; GEN2062 Community Activities for Seniors with SG Cares; and GEN2070 Community Link (ComLink) Befrienders. Since the inception of the C&E Pillar in 2021, students have collectively contributed over 200,000 service-learning hours, demonstrating the Pillar’s impact in promoting student volunteering efforts in Singapore. Through these service-learning courses, NUS students engage with societal issues and apply what they learnt from the classroom in meaningful volunteer service.

Forging a powerful partnership

This inaugural gift from CFL marks the start of a philanthropic partnership with NUS and underscores the Foundation’s commitment to lasting societal impact. Established by the late Dato’ Dr Tan Hian Tsin and To’ Puan Dr Tsao Sui Lan on 15 September 2015, CFL has generously supported several charitable organisations in Singapore and around the world. The Foundation’s philanthropic contributions are guided by their dedication to education, healthcare and the well-being of society.

“The objectives of the C&E pillar align very closely with the late Dato’ Dr Tan and To’ Puan Dr Tsao’s vision of helping the marginalised in our society,” explained Ms Pearlyn Ng, Chairperson of Crocodile Foundation. “We felt it was a perfect fit for our Foundation, and a meaningful way to commemorate 10 years of making a difference. We hope that students taking these service-learning courses will be able to bring meaningful impact to seniors and vulnerable families while also learning valuable lessons about compassion and empathy.”

CFL’s gift will enable scalable, sustainable, and continuous support for socially vulnerable seniors in Singapore to age with dignity and good health, while also enhancing the social mobility of disadvantaged families. The gift will fund student volunteer work, workshops and activities under the C&E Pillar, encouraging greater participation among students enrolled in the four C&E courses supported by the gift.

Prof Ho shared that the C&E Pillar has been making a tremendous impact. “Our C&E service-learning programmes are designed to foster deep connections between our students and the community.” said Prof Ho. “Through meaningful befriending and innovative community projects, our students don’t just learn about societal issues—they contribute to sustainable transformation of the volunteer landscape. We are deeply grateful for the far-sighted support of the Crocodile Foundation, which will enable our students to become compassionate agents of change.”

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said, “We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Crocodile Foundation for its generous gift, which will enable seniors and vulnerable families to have greater access to the care and support they need. At the same time, our students will acquire valuable experiences that empower them to become compassionate and socially responsible contributors to society. This virtuous cycle will, in turn, create enduring positive change towards a more caring society.”

NUS’ 120th anniversary coincides with Crocodile Foundation’s 10th anniversary this year, a testament to our shared vision and commitment to positively impact the local community through service.

Scholars have long been fascinated by the Chinese diaspora and the richness of Chinese civilisation – exploring how migration shapes identity and belonging, and how Chinese philosophy has shaped China’s society and cultural life. Few intellectuals, however, have illuminated these complexities with greater depth and clarity than NUS University Professor and eminent historian Professor Wang Gungwu.

In recognition of his groundbreaking work on Chinese history, particularly focusing on imperial China, the relationship between China and Southeast Asia, and the evolving identities of Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, Prof Wang was awarded the Tang Prize in Sinology in 2020.

To showcase the achievements of its laureates to a wider population, the Tang Prize Foundation produces documentary films that explore the life, work and impact of each prize winner. In the South, Thinking China: From Chinese History to Nanyang Identity is a new documentary that delves into Prof Wang’s remarkable life and academic journey. The film held screenings in September at the University of Malaya and NUS. 

Reflections on family, displacement and history

Filmed across Singapore and Malaysia, the 47-minute documentary traces Prof Wang's life and exploration of identity among diasporic Chinese. It presents his analysis of China’s internal historical dynamics and its interactions with its southern neighbours, offering a comprehensive understanding of the Chinese people's position in the international community.

To inspire the public with his remarkable achievements, the film sought to portray Prof Wang’s life and trailblazing scholarship in an accessible way, said Dr Chern Jenn-Chuan, Chief Executive Officer of the Tang Prize Foundation, who attended the documentary’s premiere at NUS. The event was hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on 23 September 2025.

Thanking the Foundation for its moving portrayal of his life’s work, Prof Wang said: “The film is not a story about scholarship or history. It’s really a story of people who, wherever they are, have questions about where home is.”

This universal question has, in fact, shaped much of his scholarship and perspective on his personal experiences. The idea of “home”, he observed, is closely linked to the concept of “family”, which has long been placed at the heart of the Chinese civilisation’s moral and social order. Unlike a nation or an empire, a family is rooted in kinship. Over time, however, the family expanded into moral, social and political hierarchies. What began as a natural bond of belonging grew into complex structures of duty, power and control.

Prof Wang’s reflections on home and family were also shaped by his own experiences of displacement. Born outside China, he and his late wife, Mrs Margaret Wang, spent much of their lives abroad in countries like Malaysia, Australia and the UK. Paradoxically, this distance from their ancestral homeland allowed them to redefine “home” on their own terms. These reflections were also captured in memoirs titled Home Is Not Here and Home Is Where We Are published by NUS Press in 2018 and 2020.

In response to a question from the audience, Prof Wang stressed that history should not be viewed purely as an academic discipline but as a lens to the past and its relevance to the present. The Chinese, he added, are not simply interested in the past for its own sake but seek to document the past to guide future generations on morality, governance and society.

He believes that belonging and identity are ultimately found in the stories of families, migrants and civilisations. “Everybody who left home anytime, anywhere, has a story to tell, and I dearly wish to hear more of them”, he said, observing that in sharing such stories, we rediscover what home truly means.

After receiving the Tang Prize in 2020, Prof Wang generously donated his prize money (a NT$10 million research grant) to establish the Margaret Wang Memorial Master’s Scholarship, in memory of his late wife. Through this scholarship, Prof Wang hopes to encourage research on literature – specifically the works of Southeast Asian writers who write in Chinese or English – as well as scholarship in Sinology. He has also established the separate Margaret Wang Master’s Scholarship in Literature with his personal funds.

The documentary, originally produced in Chinese, is available to the public on YouTube. The Foundation is working on releasing an English version soon.

• Channel 5 News, 27 September 2025
• 8world Online, 27 September 2025

• Suria News Online, 27 September 2025

• CNA Online, 28 September 2025

• The Sunday Times, 28 September 2025, Singapore, pA3

• zbSunday, 28 September 2025, News, p16

• The Sunday Times, 28  September 2025, Singapore, pA16

• The Straits Times Online, 30 September 2025

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

• Lianhe Zaobao, 30 September 2025, Opinion, p20

By Mr Christopher Gee, Deputy Director (Research) and Senior Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Straits Times, 30 September 2025, Opinion, pB2

Two years of grappling with real-world problems to learn through service and community engagement culminated in a vibrant showcase of creativity at the inaugural Impact Festival on 17 September 2025, where the first cohort of NUS College (NUSC) students told the stories of their Impact Experience (IEx) projects through documentaries, books, games, performances and more.

Under the compulsory two-year programme, NUSC students form interdisciplinary teams and immerse themselves in communities in Singapore and Southeast Asia to understand the challenges they face, which span social, environmental, economic and cultural issues. Their goal is to devise solutions in partnership with the target communities to effect lasting social change.

Along the way, they gain a deeper understanding of the challenges in creating community impact, and a key IEx requirement to produce a creative work based on their experiences encourages them to find innovative ways of expressing their findings and reflections. More than 30 of these works were showcased at the Impact Festival under the theme “Emergence”.

In his opening speech at the festival, Professor Simon Chesterman, Dean of NUSC, described emergence as “the moment when diverse perspectives and deep engagement with the world give rise to something new,” such as the values of responsibility and empathy that have been fostered in the students through their IEx journeys.

“We chose the theme Emergence because it reflects both their growth and the new possibilities that arise when diverse people come together to tackle complex problems,” said Prof Chesterman. “What emerges is not just solutions to today's challenges, but a new generation of leaders who are imaginative, responsible and deeply connected to the region we call home.”

During the festival, NUS News caught up with four IEx groups about the projects and learning experiences that inspired their creative works. (More information about the creative works is available in the photo captions, which can be viewed by clicking on the photos to expand them.)

Home reDevelopment Box

Project Homecoming partnered with non-governmental organisation (NGO) New Hope Community Services to work on initiatives that would help former rough sleepers to settle into homes and reintegrate into society. One of the NGO’s projects was a new app that would reduce administrative strain on social workers by teaching clients useful skills like digital literacy and interview skills, with the students creating videos on conflict management that were then hosted on the app.

In the course of their work, they befriended a group of residents who were moving from transition shelters to rental flats under HDB’s Joint Singles Scheme (Operator Run), leaving behind the shelter community and struggling to find belonging in their rental flat environment. The students organised activities to bring the residents together, such as walking tours around their neighbourhood, mooncake and terrarium-making workshops, and a potluck that helped to forge community bonds over food and friendly conversation.

The varied circumstances that could lead to a person becoming a rough sleeper and the challenges of transitioning out of a rough sleeping situation, along with the unexpectedly rich inner lives of the individuals in these circumstances, shifted the students’ perspectives on homelessness and rough sleepers. Said Hirwan Shah, a Year 4 History major: “Getting to know more about their stories before and their aspirations afterwards built up a more complete character of each person that changed my idea of what a rough sleeper is. They’re just as normal as you and I, and there was nothing special that caused them to be in that current state.”

They told some of these stories through the Home reDevelopment Box, a model of a four-storey Housing Development Board (HDB) block that depicts the stages of the homelessness journey and what home means to different people. It invites audiences to consider the circumstances and emotions that rough sleepers experience and think about what home means to them.

Alongside Elephants

Alongside Elephants is one of several IEx groups in the first cohort of NUSC students that worked closely with the Karen village of Huay Pakkoot, Thailand, where elephants are as much a part of the community as people are. Their goal was to improve understanding and awareness about the different types of elephant care, as well as the economic, cultural and social constraints that make certain practices necessary.

They spoke to carers, veterinarians and owners of elephant camps and took away new perspectives on how elephants are viewed and treated in Thailand. For example, the use of a chain to tether an elephant to a tree when its carer has to leave it alone may seem cruel at first glance, but a long chain is a practical compromise that gives the elephant some freedom while ensuring the safety of nearby villagers, as it prevents the elephant from wandering into farmland or homes.

“One camp business owner told us that if he could free all the elephants in Thailand and put them in the forest, he would. But the reality is that there’s not enough forest space in Thailand now to free all the elephants without them getting injured or getting into human-elephant conflict,” said Ryan Lim, a final-year student majoring in Southeast Asian Studies. Currently, allowing elephants to roam 24/7 in the limited forest area would require twice as much manpower to supervise them, which would be financially challenging, he added.

He shared: “The main thing they wanted to tell us was not to stigmatise or villainise one form of care over another, but to really look at the context.”

The students compiled their in-depth interviews, photos and videos into a 144-page book in English and a companion website with more content, such as interview excerpts in the original Thai and the villagers’ local language, endeavouring to tell the community’s stories as accurately and accessibly as possible. In addition, they produced a 10-minute documentary on a day in the life of an elephant carer in Huay Pakkoot. The group is now exploring avenues to print and sell the books in Thailand so that the Thai people will benefit directly from their work.

Voideckies

Like a blank piece of paper, an empty void deck represents potential and an opportunity to create something special. When the Voideckies team set out to turn a void deck in Bukit Purmei into a community space for their IEx project, they initially hoped to transform it physically through a redesign and new furniture. But they quickly learnt the strict and specific rules governing space in Singapore, which made their plans impractical.

Undeterred, they pivoted into finding other ways to nurture community and landed on the idea of biweekly game nights that would appeal to both the elderly and children. While the concept was simple, the consistent schedule and accessible nature of the games they chose, like bingo and snakes and ladders, kept residents engaged and coming back to interact together over games every other week.

The students hope their project can be a case study or framework for others looking to build community in simple ways. Said Vera Lui, a Year 4 Chemistry major: “Most of the events in HDB void decks are centred around festivals like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, rather than regular events that people of all ages would want to take part in. This could be a prototype for more regular community activities.”

The lessons they learnt about rules for void deck use, such as restrictions on noisy sports, were translated into a board game where players take on the roles of residents in an HDB block who have different interests and desires that sometimes conflict. As players work towards getting their desired furniture – ranging from a mahjong table to swing sets, mama shops and television sets – they must compromise to create a void deck that meets as many needs as possible.

3D Virtual World of the Kampungs

In Kampung Air, a village in the town of Semporna in Malaysia’s Sabah state, trash generated by villagers and tourists that accumulated both on land and in the surrounding waters was a persistent problem. Team 5W1M (SWIM) worked with the village residents and community partner Borneo Komrad to create a net barrier from local materials to prevent trash from drifting in with the tides. This helped to reduce the volume of waste within the village so garbage collection firm Amwil could work on cleaning up the area, and paved the way to addressing the long-term health and environmental issues resulting from poor waste management.

Through the process of designing, implementing and refining the solution, the students learnt about gaining trust and communicating effectively to create impact with a community. Elren Chae, a final-year Biomedical Engineering major, noted that while Zoom meetings with Borneo Komrad were useful for some discussions, they could only make real progress on the design during their field trips, when the whole team was together in person. “Dealing with situations like this is part of what’s unique about IEx, and I hope that our learnings with Borneo Komrad will help future IEx groups to build on our relationships with the community,” said Elren.

For their creative work, they used Minecraft, a popular sandbox game, to create a virtual simulation of the village. Players can explore the village without visiting it physically, experiment with the net barrier to see its impact and interact with other players or non-playable characters based on the villagers. The virtual twin of the village serves several purposes besides educating viewers about the net barrier project and waste management. For instance, as many of the villagers are stateless and cannot travel, the Minecraft village provides them with an avenue to tell their story and share their experience with people overseas. Another consideration was that the village has been slated for eviction, and the Minecraft platform helps to preserve the residents’ memories of the space.

The team intends to hand the Minecraft project over to Borneo Komrad, who may use it to recreate local areas of interest to attract tourists to visit in person or build prototypes before investing in new community projects.

• 8world Online, 29 September 2025

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

• The Straits Times, 26 September 2025, Opinion, pB3

By Prof Lawrence Loh, Director and Ms Ang Hui Min, Senior Manager (Research and Communications); both from the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School

• The Business Times, 26 September 2025, p11

• The Straits Times, 26 September 2025, Singapore, pA23

• Tamil Murasu, 22 September 2025, p4

Associate Professor Lu Jiong from NUS Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM) has been conferred the Advanced Science Young Innovator Award. The award recognises his achievements in designing next-generation materials to uncover and harness their novel quantum phenomena and catalytic properties. His work addresses contemporary challenges in both quantum technologies and sustainability.

The Advanced Science Young Innovator Award honours outstanding, interdisciplinary scientific work across a broad spectrum of fields in the fundamental understanding and applied development of materials science and chemistry, physics and engineering, life and health sciences, earth and environmental sciences, as well as social sciences and humanities. Award recipients also demonstrate exceptional promise as developing research leaders.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this award and to represent NUS on the global stage. This recognition inspires us to push forward in the quest for future materials to address pressing challenges in quantum technologies and sustainable solutions for a smarter, more sustainable future,” said Assoc Prof Lu.

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By Mr Ben Chester Cheong, Associate Academic Fellow at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law, Faculty of Law at NUS

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

NUS hosted a vibrant Homecoming at its historic Bukit Timah Campus on Saturday, 20 September 2025, as part of the University’s celebrations for its 120th anniversary. Organised by the Office of Alumni Relations, the gathering convened alumni, staff and students for a day of connection, insightful discussions and engaging activities that blended nostalgia with a sharp focus on the future. The day's intellectual centrepieces were a thought-provoking talk on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and a high-level academic panel discussion on Singapore's place in a shifting global order.

Grappling with the AI revolution
 

The morning began with Alumni Advocates Connect, an invite-only gathering for NUS alumni leaders. Coming together to network over breakfast, the event honoured outgoing Alumni Network Chairpersons through a special plaque ceremony.

The group was also treated to a presentation by Associate Professor Ben Leong from the School of Computing, who is also Director of the AI Centre for Educational Technologies. In his address, Associate Professor Ben Leong tackled the "double-edged sword" of generative AI in education. He acknowledged the widespread use of ChatGPT among students, but posed a critical question: "Does this technology empower students to achieve more, or does it erode the very skills a university education is meant to develop?" While AI can speed up research and help draft essays, Associate Professor Leong warned of the potential for intellectual complacency and overreliance that may hinder the development of deep analytical and critical thinking skills.

The central theme of Associate Professor Leong's talk was the growing importance of irreplaceable human skills in an AI-driven world. He argued that while AI can generate content and solve structured problems, it lacks genuine human judgement, empathy and the ability to handle novel or complex situations. He identified key areas where human intelligence remains indispensable, such as discerning bias in AI outputs, navigating ambiguous problems with incomplete information and applying empathy in professions like social work, nursing and management. To address this, he showcased ScholAIstic, an AI-powered platform developed at NUS to train students in these areas through realistic, interactive role-playing scenarios that allow them to practice sensitive client conversations and complex decision-making in a safe environment.

Singapore's role in a new global era

NUS120 Homecoming also featured a distinguished academic panel on "Singapore in a Shifting Global Order," featuring University Professor Wang Gungwu (Arts '53, MA '56, HonLittD. '22); Professor Danny Quah, Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP); and Associate Professor Selina Ho (Arts & Social Sciences '94), Vice Dean (Research and Development), Dean's Chair Associate Professor, LKYSPP. The discussion, moderated by Mr Keith Yap (Yale-NUS '21, MPP '21), President of the LKYSPP Alumni Singapore Chapter, provided a multi-faceted look at Singapore's strategy as it marks 60 years of independence.

Professor Wang framed the current geopolitical landscape as one dominated by the US and China, which he described as "empire states" whose global actions are driven by a scale of interest and influence far beyond that of traditional nation-states. In this context, he credited Singapore’s success to its strategic evolution into a "global city" — a neutral, hyper-connected hub for finance, logistics and diplomacy that makes itself indispensable to the world economy.

Professor Quah built on this, suggesting that Singapore's strategy must evolve from the defensive "poisonous shrimp" concept of its early years to a more agile "dolphin strategy". This, he explained, involves being smart about building a diverse portfolio of international partnerships, allowing the nation to pivot quickly in response to geopolitical shifts rather than being locked into a single, rigid alliance.

Associate Professor Ho concluded the strategic discussion by arguing that in a new multipolar world, Singapore cannot be passively neutral. Instead, it must engage in "active choosing", proactively taking principled stands on international law and seeking opportunities for collaboration based on 
its national interests. She emphasised that strengthening ASEAN is a key part of this strategy, as a resilient and integrated region creates a more stable and predictable environment, which is a direct strategic benefit for Singapore.

“[The panel] challenged my own perspective and offered another way to look at the world,” said Mr Loh Koon Chee (Computing '96), who was attending his first alumni event after 20 years away from Singapore.

Mr Ong Sin Tiong (Science '95), another first-timer at alumni events, was drawn to Homecoming because of the special significance of the 120th anniversary. “I thought I should come and get some pearls of wisdom from the panellists!” said Mr Ong. “I have the shared concern that the current turbulent times will affect the lives of many workers.”

A day of connection and lifelong learning
 

Beyond the main sessions, Homecoming offered a rich variety of activities that captured the spirit of the university experience. Alumni enjoyed a hands-on cocktail mixing workshop, creating a buzz of conversation and laughter. Others engaged with senior leaders in a Human Library session by the Distinguished Senior Fellowship Programme (DSFP), focusing on navigating life after a peak career and sparking thoughtful intergenerational dialogue. A practical talk on legacy planning also drew interest, providing valuable financial and philanthropic insights. Booths hosted by DSFP, NUS Lifelong Learning (L³), and NUS Giving provided tangible avenues for alumni to reconnect with the University, explore new courses to upskill and contribute to causes they care about. Finally, a buffet lunch provided a relaxed setting for participants to continue their conversations and enjoy the company of fellow alumni.

Together, these engagements reinforced the event's theme of a continuous, lifelong relationship with NUS, successfully merging a fond look at the past with critical conversations about the challenges and opportunities of the future.

By NUS Office of Alumni Relations

The Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) Singapore, hosted at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, held its second Annual Symposium on 18 and 19 September 2025 at the University Cultural Centre.

Themed Rising Stronger: Advancing Coastal and Flood Resilience through Science and Technology, this year’s symposium gathered more than 290 participants, including experts, industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers in coastal protection and flood resilience.

The event was graced by Ms Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, who also announced the award of Applied Research projects under national water agency PUB’s Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme (CFRP).

Highlighting the significance of coastal protection, Ms Goh said, “As a low-lying, densely built island nation with limited land surrounded entirely by sea, coastal protection is not just important - it is existential. Without coastal protection, rising sea levels may encroach on our land, and every square metre of Singapore’s precious land matters. Coastal protection matters because it protects our lives, livelihoods and vital assets.”

She also spoke about Singapore’s research and development (R&D) in strengthening its capabilities in coastal protection.

“Collectively, our R&D investments will strengthen Singapore’s technical capabilities in coastal protection, developing homegrown expertise within our industry and research community. This enables us to develop more innovative and cost-effective solutions that address our distinct coastal challenges and serve our long-term resilience needs,” added Ms Goh.

First Applied Research grant call for coastal protection

The Applied Research grant call is part of PUB’s efforts to foster research collaboration with industry partners and encourage cross-sector knowledge transfer in coastal protection and flood management. 47 proposals were received for the grant call, with two-thirds involving collaboration between Institutes of Higher Learning and industry players.

The awarded projects cover five key focus areas, aimed at addressing knowledge gaps in coastal protection and flood management in Singapore’s context. These solutions include developing coastal protection measures that utilise recycled waste, and new monitoring technologies for coastal protection structures.

Seven NUS-led projects have been awarded under the first Applied Research grant call, which supports 14 projects in total with funding worth $22 million.

The research projects involving principal investigators from NUS are:

1. Associate Professor Pang Sze Dai, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at NUS, will lead a research project that investigates bio-based fibre reinforced polymer as a superior alternative to conventional protective methods, offering extended lifespan, enhanced corrosion resistance in marine environments, and versatile applications from tidal gates to smaller components, while focusing on underwater joint protection and maintenance solutions.

2. Dr Du Hongjian, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in CDE at NUS, will advance research on valorisation of recycled concrete fines from local construction and demolition waste as a cement alternative for coastal infrastructure, incorporating optimised carbonation processes to enhance both carbon capture efficiency and material properties.

3. Dr Zhang Shanli, from the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS), will lead the development of an Artificial Intelligence-powered satellite monitoring system for coastal infrastructure assessment and predictive maintenance through remote sensing technology.

4. Assistant Professor Geng Guoqing, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in CDE at NUS, will lead a project in collaboration with BeeX – an NUS deep tech spin-off with proven expertise in autonomous underwater inspection capabilities – and Delta Marine Consultants to integrate autonomous robotics with underwater non-destructive testing techniques. This approach will enable more accurate and efficient inspections of underwater structures, strengthening the protection of Singapore’s coastal infrastructure.

5. Dr Olivia Jensen, from the Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, will be developing a framework for adaptive coastal protection planning by incorporating social costs, cost benefit analysis, and a multicriteria optimisation tool focused on resilience.

6. Dr Lim Kian Yew, from TCOMS, has proposed an adaptive nature-based infrastructure system using submerged soil bunds and biogenic shell-filled grids to provide sustainable coastal protection while promoting biodiversity and waste upcycling.

7. Professor Adrian Law, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in CDE at NUS, will be developing an integrated coastal water monitoring system that combines remote sensing and in-situ sensors to measure suspended sediments and particle sizes across surface and depth levels.

Another Applied Research project, with Associate Professor Darren Chian from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in CDE at NUS as the co-investigator, will explore the use of waste materials in constructing seepage cut-off walls in coastal environments. The project aims to substitute bentonite with polymer-modified waste marine clay and replace cement with binders derived from industrial waste.

Spotlighting innovative research and promoting industry collaboration

Since the establishment of the CFI Singapore under the CFRP in September 2023, the Institute has launched 17 innovative projects in coastal-related research and grown a vibrant community of close to 90 principal investigators, researchers, PhD and Master students.

A key highlight of the symposium was the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) New Partners Recognition ceremony, where CFI Singapore acknowledged six companies – Giken Seisakusho Asia, Jacobs International Consultants, Pan-United Corporation, Samsung C&T Corporation, ST Engineering Unmanned and Integrated Systems, and Surbana Jurong Consultants – for their contributions to coastal science research, implementation of nature-based solutions, and development of sustainable infrastructure for coastal protection and flood management.

“Across Asia, coastal cities face common challenges with climate change and sea level rise. At CFI Singapore, our focus is on use-inspired research – from improved predictive assessment based on comprehensive coastal science knowledge and field monitoring, to innovations in multi-functional and integrated nature-based solutions – that can enhance our coastal adaptation for the future. This symposium is about bringing together regional expertise and partnerships, so that the knowledge we build in Singapore contributes to stronger, more resilient coastlines across the region,” said Prof Adrian Law, Executive Director, CFI Singapore.

Other highlights of the two-day symposium included keynote presentations by Dr Sutat Weesakul, Advisor at the Hydro-Informatics Institute under Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and Dr Hitoshi Tanaka, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tohoku University. The programme also featured panel discussions on flood management technologies, nature-based coastal protection, and sustainable urban planning as well as a half-day Rainfall Workshop that advanced knowledge and dialogue on convective storms and rainfall extremes in a changing climate.

The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has launched a new Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Music Practices, its first doctoral programme and the first of its kind in Asia designed to integrate artistic practice with doctoral research.

The newly launched PhD marks a major step forward for higher music education in Singapore and Asia, where options for postgraduate studies beyond the master’s level typically focus on either practice or research.

The programme also takes advantage of YST’s strategic position within NUS – a world-class teaching and research institution – to pioneer a cross-disciplinary approach to music research. 

Students pursuing the PhD in Music Practices will have access to a wider range of resources than is typically available at other music conservatoires, with opportunities to attend courses and embark on projects that intersect with contrasting or adjacent fields such as computer science, public health, law, business, social sciences and more.

In contrast to most international PhD programmes that are purely practice-based or research-based, the PhD in Music Practices emphasises the combination of scholarly inquiry and artistic expertise. It is targeted at outstanding music practitioners with strong artistic and academic abilities who are keen to undertake research that will challenge existing paradigms and spearhead new music practices.

Said Professor Peter Tornquist, Dean of YST: "This PhD represents a landmark shift in how we understand and value artistic work within academia. In this programme, artistic practice is not just a component of research; it stands alongside and in dialogue with it. This opens up new opportunities for students to create and reflect on their work through both thinking and doing, contributing to new knowledge and artistic output in integrated and interdisciplinary ways."

"Such an approach enables creative work and scholarly inquiry not only within music, but also in intersection with other fields like technology, business, or even public health. A composer might experiment with artificial intelligence in music composition while researching its ethical implications on creative authorship; a performer could investigate the preservation and reinterpretation of musical traditions while creating new works inspired by them; or a conductor might lead community-based performances while investigating how cultural policy can influence spectatorship among local communities," said Prof Tornquist.

Additionally, students can benefit from YST’s extensive resources and partnerships in the global music industry, including membership in several higher music education networks such as the ConNext Network, Pacific Alliance of Music Schools, Southeast Asian Directors of Music Association, the Association of European Conservatoires and International Benchmarking Exercise institutions.

Alongside a qualifying examination, comprehensive coursework and doctoral thesis, which are typical of research-based PhD requirements at NUS and other institutions, the programme includes an artistic component where students are required to present artistic output that is closely linked with their research, demonstrating their ability to integrate music practice and academic inquiry.

Talent pipeline for the future of the arts

As the music scene in Singapore and Asia matures, YST believes that pushing the conventional boundaries of music will advance Singapore’s vision for a dynamic and sustainable arts ecosystem, place Singapore at the forefront of arts-related research in Asia and spotlight Southeast Asian perspectives in global music scholarship.

Beyond nurturing artist-researchers, the PhD will serve as a talent pipeline for future thought leaders who can contribute to the advancement of music practice and scholarship in Asia and beyond. Graduates will be well positioned to take on roles in academia, arts education, cultural policy, arts management and sectors where music intersects with wider social and cultural contexts, bringing expertise from both performance and research to inform their contributions.

The programme’s strong emphasis on innovation in both artistic practice and research will place them on the cutting edge of artistic innovation as leaders who shape discourse and policy through an interdisciplinary and socially informed perspective.

Applications for the first intake will open on 26 September 2025. Interested applicants can find out more at: https://www.ystmusic.nus.edu.sg/programmes-phd-music-practices/.

By Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of the Social Lab and Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS and Dr Clara Lee, Research Fellow, at the same institute

• The Straits Times, 24 September 2035, Opinion, pB2

To realise maximum impact, there must be a bigger picture in mind when giving. That is the Khetan Foundation’s philanthropic philosophy: beyond standalone acts of charity, philanthropy is a long-term investment in individuals and communities.

This conviction was reaffirmed on 12 September 2025, when the Foundation formalised three significant agreements with NUS.

Together, these contributions will open doors and create opportunities for generations to come.

“Today’s gifts are not just acts of generosity; they are investments in the future,” said Mr Nirmal Singh, Chairman of the Khetan Foundation. “These commitments are our way of planting seeds that may not bear fruit just yet, but will surely blossom tomorrow.”

Advancing the future of healthcare

Firstly, a gift of S$2 million was made by the Foundation to establish the Khetan Medical Scholarship at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine). Through the Scholarship, 10 medical undergraduates will benefit from comprehensive support that covers both tuition and living expenses over a five-year study period.

In 2017, the Khetan Foundation opened new doors for medical students through its first gift to set up the Lotus-NUS Medical Bursary. The new Khetan Medical Scholarship funded by the latest gift will provide financial support for more students at NUS Medicine.

Professor Chong Yap Seng (NUS Medicine ’88), Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine and Dean of NUS Medicine, noted, “When you invest in medical bursaries or scholarships, you’re investing in someone who will serve society for the next 50 years with care, compassion and comfort for people who need it,” he said. “This is an extremely good investment.”

Investing in innovation

Secondly, the Foundation has made a gift of US$1.5 million to NUS Enterprise, affirming its commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the next five years, this gift will fund a launchpad collaboration between NUS and Stanford University, enabling two teams of outstanding students and scholars to participate in Stanford’s acclaimed ME310 | Global Engineering Design Innovation (GEDI) course. The experience will provide them with mentorship, resources and networking opportunities that can translate into cutting-edge products and innovations that will create global impact.

“My hope is that this collaboration will continue to grow over time through the innovations we pursue together. I’m confident that this marks the beginning of a very meaningful relationship. I also see many opportunities for us to collaborate further, and I look forward to exploring them,” said Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise).

Thirdly, an agreement was signed to enable Lotus One Investment Pte Ltd, part of Lotus Singapore Group and Khetan Foundation, to begin a co-investment collaboration with NUS Enterprise. This is a S$20 million commitment to back NUS start-ups and selected funds, with returns invested into innovation initiatives at the University.

Underscoring the Khetan Foundation’s vision of advancing the local innovation ecosystem, Mr Singh said, “Today’s start-ups are tomorrow’s changemakers. This is our commitment to nurturing the Singapore ecosystem that will shape the future of technology, talent and sustainable growth.”

By supporting education, healthcare and enterprise at NUS, the Khetan Foundation is sowing seeds of long-term impact—philanthropic investments that will nurture talent, spark innovation and build a better future for many generations to come.

To find out more about financial aid at NUS, click here.

If you would also like to support our NUS students, you can make a gift through our Give.NUS platform.

NUS Enterprise’s revitalised i³ building, a launchpad for innovation and impact, officially opened on 16 September 2025, ushering in a new chapter for innovation and enterprise at the University. The event also marked the launch of two major co-investment partnerships and an international education initiative that will further strengthen Singapore’s role as a global hub for deep tech innovation.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, the event’s Guest-of-Honour, emphasised that Singapore’s long-term investments in education, research, and innovation are among the nation’s enduring strengths.

“NUS has been an important partner in Singapore’s development – nurturing generations of skilled graduates; anchoring world-class research; and helping to seed new industries that are critical to our economic competitiveness – and today, the opening of this building is yet another step forward in that journey,” said DPM Gan Kim Yong. 

Expanding capital and partnerships for deep tech ventures

To accelerate the growth of deep tech start-ups, NUS Enterprise launched a co-investment framework with SG Growth Capital, the strategic investment platform of the Singapore Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore. This framework channels greater capital into deep tech ventures and selected venture capital funds, with SG Growth Capital matching NUS Enterprise’s investments based on fund evaluation.

In parallel, NUS Enterprise signed a S$20 million co-investment agreement with Lotus One Investment Pte Ltd, part of the Lotus Singapore Group. This partnership will support both NUS spin-offs and venture capital funds, with profits significantly reinvested to strengthen NUS Enterprise’s innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.

Together with the S$150 million NUS Venture Capital Programme launched in July 2025, these initiatives significantly expand support for NUS-affiliated start-ups. “NUS is committed to creating stronger pathways for deep tech start-ups to succeed,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President.

Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise), added, “These partnerships strengthen our integrated ecosystem – uniting education, research, and venture creation – to attract outstanding talent and nurture start-ups that deliver innovation with lasting global impact.”

Under Dr Tan’s leadership, NUS Enterprise has developed an integrated ecosystem, or “flywheel”, that drives innovation and entrepreneurship. Each success nurtures talent, accelerates start-ups, attracts investment, creates jobs, and generates real-world solutions – momentum that powers the next wave of innovation. Guided by its “Three Ones” ambition, NUS seeks to achieve at least one venture generating over S$128 million (US$100 million) in annual revenue or creating 1,000 jobs; secure S$1.3 billion (US$1 billion) in financial returns from NUS ventures; and build enterprises that collectively improve the lives of one billion people worldwide.

Global learning opportunities with Stanford University

Building on this flywheel of innovation, NUS Enterprise has also catalysed a S$2 million pilot collaboration with Stanford University, made possible through a donation from the Khetan Foundation. The NUS-Stanford Khetan Foundation Launch Pad gives students from the College of Design and Engineering at NUS hands-on experience in international teams. They will collaborate with partners, including Meta and Venture Corporation, to co-create and prototype solutions to real-world industry challenges under the guidance of faculty from both universities.

Lessons from a global innovation leader

Against this backdrop of global partnerships, Professor Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Edgar L. and Harold H. Buttner Chair of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley, shared his perspective on what drives innovation during his keynote address. He noted that while collaboration and experimentation are essential to advancing technology, the next wave of breakthroughs will come from translating research into enterprise with bold, long-term vision.

“When you start a company, you need a long-term vision. It’s not enough to say, I can do 10 times better than what exists. Ten times is not enough. It should be 100 times. Even better, you should aim for something that doesn’t exist yet. That’s what is so exciting about doing enterprise from research. You have a vision, and you want that vision to be implemented.”

Powering the flywheel through local initiatives

While global partnerships expand international exposure, the flywheel is equally powered by initiatives rooted in Singapore. At the event, NUS Enterprise spotlighted the latest education and research programmes, including the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP), which empowers Singapore innovators to transform lab discoveries into globally competitive, market-ready ventures.

Inaugural National GRIP Showcase

The first cohort of 21 National GRIP teams from NUS and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) debuted their solutions at the NUS Innovation Showcase, held across three levels of the i³ building. With strong mentorship and market validation, these teams are developing ventures in AI, health technology, sustainability, and more.

The showcase also featured 40 other NUS-affiliated start-ups and student innovation teams, presenting solutions across three innovation tracks: Future Matter (Physical Sciences, Materials, and Semiconductors); Future Logic (AI and Software); and Future Pulse (Healthcare). These tracks reflect NUS Enterprise’s strategic priorities and align closely with Singapore’s national interests and areas of venture capital focus.

National GRIP Labs

Supporting National GRIP teams and other deep tech ventures, both local and international, are the newly launched National GRIP Labs (NGRIP Labs). Located at the CREATE Tower on NUS Kent Ridge campus, these labs offer specialised facilities for any deep tech field of interest and comprehensive prototyping services with technical guidance to help start-ups speed up the development of their solutions.

NUS Innovation and Venture Creation Awards

While facilities like the NGRIP Labs provide critical infrastructure, it is the ingenuity of NUS researchers and faculty that drives breakthroughs. To celebrate these achievements, NUS presented the NUS Innovation and Venture Creation Awards to eight winners, recognising faculty and researchers who are translating cutting-edge research into globally impactful solutions.

The future of innovation

Following a vibrant morning of celebrations, the afternoon sessions shifted the focus to charting the future of innovation. More than 20 distinguished international speakers shared their perspectives on breakthroughs in technology and discussed how the next generation of innovators can successfully navigate a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Three parallel discussion tracks were moderated by Dr Tan and NUS Enterprise advisors, Ms Donna See, a member of the NUS Board of Trustees, and Dr Patrick Ennis, Venture Partner at Madrona Venture Group (pictured left in each photo), respectively. The sessions explored geopolitical and market shifts, as well as strategies for nurturing and scaling start-ups. Speakers emphasised that successful ventures depend on strong research, product development, customer focus, and, most importantly, the people driving the venture.

As Dr Ennis reflected, “I used to think science is the most important part, and then you get a little more experience and realise it’s actually the product, engineering, and customers. And with even more experience, you realise it’s really about the people.”

The day continued with the panel “Innovation Unplugged: Founders and Frontiers”, moderated by Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise), NUS Enterprise (first on left in the photo above). NUS professors-turned-founders shared candid insights on the challenges of turning research into ventures. They reinforced the importance of making technology distinctive and telling your story effectively. One of the panellists, Professor Abhik Roychoudhury, Provost's Chair Professor of Computer Science at NUS Computing, illustrated this with the rapid acquisition of his AI start-up AutoCodeRover in just 10 months, beginning from a single tweet.

Adding another dynamic layer, the “Reverse Pitching” session turned the tables, with investors presenting their cases to founders and researchers, highlighting the critical factors that attract funding and scale ventures.

The evening concluded with a keynote by Dr Edward Jung, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Intellectual Ventures, during a dinner networking session. He brought the day’s conversations full circle, urging innovators to look beyond trends and focus on applications that deliver real value,  emphasising that lasting impact comes from the synergy of vision, execution, and people.

i³ as a hub for entrepreneurship

More than a ceremony, the event was a celebration of curiosity, a spark for bold ideas, and a call to experiment together. “i³ is the nexus on which the NUS Enterprise flywheel spins. It brings together all the pieces in the ecosystem, fuelling the momentum to drive global impact and Singapore’s entrepreneurial success,” said Dr Tan.

By NUS Enterprise

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

• CNA Online, 23 September 2025
• Suria News Online, 23 September 2025

Being Singaporean may not be the most important part of many people’s identity, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Instead, aspects like religion or race may take precedence even with a stronger national identity.

Individuals thus have to make a conscious choice to decide on Singapore as their home, he said at the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum (KRMF) 2025, organised by the NUS Students' Political Association (NUSPA) at the University Cultural Centre on 9 September 2025. “Singaporeans could belong in many other places. What makes you decide you want to be here and this is your home? And it can't just be the char kway teow or the durian,” he said to laughter from the audience.

In the two-hour dialogue moderated by Associate Professor Leong Ching, NUS Vice Provost (Student Life) and Acting Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Mr Lee delved deep into what nationhood is. “I think I can say that the national identity is stronger but at the same time, it is not the only tribe which we belong to because we all have different layers to our identity,” he noted.

Themed “Igniting our Future! A Collective Journey”, the event was attended by about 800 students and academic staff from NUS and other tertiary institutions, as well as pre-tertiary institutions. In her welcome address, noting that 2025 marks both SG60 and NUS120, Year 1 Political Science undergraduate Ms Sophia Chye, who is also the forum’s project director, said, “It is a timely moment for us to reflect on what our national identity is, how it has been shaped over time, and the forces that continue to influence it today.”

Choice and conviction

Opening the dialogue, Assoc Prof Leong cited a quote by Singapore’s first Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr S. Rajaratnam, “That being Singaporean is not about ancestry, but choice and conviction,” to bring to the forefront the idea of choice in relation to national identity.

Mr Lee agreed, but pointed out that the decision was different during Mr Rajaratnam’s time. “For that generation, the choice was to stand, fight, and build,” said Mr Lee, Singapore’s former Prime Minister.

“Now this generation is a beneficiary,” he added. “And the choice is…, do I continue the mission which was passed to us… and keep on making it better? Or do I say…You have provided me wings. I am flying.’”

Such decisions, whether to stay or migrate, could have an existential bearing on Singapore’s future. “I think for this generation too, it has to be choice and conviction. If you just so happen to be here and tomorrow the wind blows ‘poof’ and… tomorrow you won’t be here, and Singapore won’t be here,” he said.

Challenges to national identity

Many factors could influence the choice to stay or go, as the question-and-answer session reflected. Questions ranged from how youths can feel a sense of belonging and the importance of one’s mother tongue, to keeping the local arts culture alive. Other challenges include globalisation and fault lines in society.

Mr Lee noted that the last two issues still present risks, especially when external events and geopolitical tensions cause “differential tugs” in Singapore. “We are going to be pulled in the immediate term from time to time in very different directions. And our job is to resist that and to remember, ‘Yes, I am Muslim or I am Chinese or I am Indian, but I am also Singaporean and I do hold something here, and I belong here, and I should look at the world starting from here.’”

He added that some have suggested that the government “pretend that we’re all the same”, to simply “gloss over differences” and treat individuals as just Singaporeans.

“We have not gone that way because we don’t believe it works,” he said. “Over the years, we have made adjustments which have, in fact, gone the other way, in order to allow people to express themselves more in their ethnic, religious identities, rather than less, and acknowledge that we are different from one another.”

Mr Lee shared anecdotes on how bigger countries assume Singapore would have similar interests based on shared ethnic cultures. However, he emphasised that striking that balance between personal and national identity is crucial, as it has a great impact on foreign relations.

SM Lee’s most Singaporean trait

Responding to questions from students on how Singaporeans should then retain their own identities while calling Singapore home, Mr Lee said, one way is for them to “roll up (their) sleeves” and be active citizens, whether by cleaning the beach, doing social work, or promoting entrepreneurialism, for example.

It is a mantra he subscribes to himself. Asked by Assoc Prof Leong what is the most Singaporean thing about him, Mr Lee said it is his mindset that things can always be better, and he works hard to find solutions. One way he does this is by being a “mystery shopper” for the government. When he uses government websites, for instance, he sends suggestions on how the interfaces can be improved.

“I think if we had more ‘mystery shoppers’, we would have better services, a more involved and engaged population,” he said. To those who want to feel more rooted to Singapore, he suggested taking a more proactive stance: “Do the things that will make you feel this is home.”

Professor Lim Chwee Teck, Director of the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology at the National University of Singapore (NUS iHealthtech) and NUS Society (NUSS) Professor, has been elected an International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) – one of the most prestigious honours in the global engineering community.

The Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering recognises the most accomplished engineers, inventors, and technologists from the United Kingdom and around the world who have made exceptional contributions to engineering. This year, 74 new Fellows were elected by their peers, including nine International and five Honorary Fellows who have demonstrated outstanding impact in their fields.

This latest honour follows Prof Lim’s election to the Royal Society in 2024, highlighting his rare distinction as the first and only Singaporean to be recognised by both of the world’s most prestigious science and engineering academies – a testament to the interdisciplinary impact of his trailblazing work.

Prof Lim, who is also with the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, was elected to the Academy in recognition of his pioneering research in biomedical engineering, and his significant contributions to the development of microfluidic and wearable technologies for disease diagnosis and therapy. A globally renowned biomedical engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur, he has translated academic innovations into impactful healthcare solutions through six start-ups, including one that was publicly listed. Among his transformative technologies is a cancer-detecting biochip designed to capture circulating tumour cells from blood, offering a less invasive approach to cancer diagnostics.

In addition to his research and innovation, Prof Lim is deeply dedicated to mentoring the next generation of researchers, actively shaping the future of biomedical engineering and healthcare innovation.

“I’m extremely honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and incredibly proud to be the only Singaporean elected to both the Royal Academy and also the Royal Society,” said Prof Lim. “This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and creativity of my amazing team of past and present lab members, as well as the many outstanding collaborators whom I have the privilege to work with. I am also grateful to the Academy for this profound honour, and will remain committed to using engineering to create real-world impact.”

Prof Lim’s election to both academies reflects the rising global stature of Singaporean science and engineering, and highlights how interdisciplinary innovation is shaping the future of healthcare.

Please refer to the Royal Academy's announcement here, and Prof Lim’s Royal Academy Fellow profile page here.

• zbSunday, 21 September 2025, News, p12

NUS Libraries’ Temasek Foundation – NUS Heritage Champions (TF-NUS Heritage Champions) programme has been placed in the top 10 at the 2025 IFLA PressReader International Marketing Awards, out of a competitive field of over a hundred submissions. This prestigious award is given to libraries that demonstrate the most innovative marketing activity to increase awareness and usage of their offerings or services, through creative, results-oriented marketing projects or campaigns.

In acknowledgment of this achievement, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) invited NUS Libraries to present its pioneering project at the 89th World Library and Information Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, themed “Uniting Knowledge, Building the Future”, in August this year.

TF-NUS Heritage Champions, a collaboration between Temasek Foundation, the National Heritage Board, and NUS Libraries, is a youth ambassador programme that empowers tertiary students to preserve Singapore's cultural heritage through digital innovation. The initiative provides comprehensive training in heritage documentation and digital preservation, culminating in an ideathon where participants propose community-based projects. Selected projects receive resources and mentorship support, enabling students to implement their ideas using cutting-edge technologies like immersive reality and generative artificial intelligence.

"Receiving the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award is an affirmation of  NUS Libraries’ commitment to advancing library marketing excellence through creativity and innovation," commented University Librarian, Associate Professor Natalie Pang. "It also validates our approach to fostering meaningful collaborations between educational institutions and stakeholders in the public, private and people sectors, creating impactful learning experiences in the cultural heritage domain for students across Singapore's higher education landscape.”

Sharing her motivations for initiating this project, Assoc Prof Pang said, "Growing up in a small island nation like Singapore means that life here has always been marked by rapid growth. That growth and modernisation may come with gaps when it comes to preserving and understanding our rich history and heritage.”

“Because of this, I've always wanted to create a platform where young minds can come together and connect with heritage through collections and the application of digital tools in innovative ways,” she added. “And that really is the driving reason behind the creation of the TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme."

A remarkable scientific undertaking is now in motion following the discovery of a baleen whale carcass in Singapore's waters on 6 September 2025. Found floating in Singapore’s waters off Tanjong Pagar, this rare marine giant has been safely secured in a restricted area and is being studied by the Lee Kong Chian National History Museum (LKCNHM) of the NUS Faculty of Science.

“Preliminary assessment indicates that the whale carcass is at an advanced stage of decomposition and so the cause of death is unclear,” said Dr Marcus Chua, Curator of Mammalia at LKCNHM, who is leading the operation. “Meanwhile, we are working to find out as much as we can about the animal.”

Missing the rear half of its body, the incomplete whale specimen measures approximately 6.3 metres in length and is estimated to weigh about six tonnes. Identified to be a rorqual whale from the genus Balaenoptera, LKCNHM’s team of scientists gauged that the whale would have been 9 to 12 metres long when alive.

Baleen whales are large marine mammals distinguished by the presence of baleen plates instead of teeth. Made of keratin and comprising bristle-like hairs bound in connective tissue, these baleen plates are used to filter zooplankton and other small prey. Presently, there are 16 known species of baleen whales worldwide, ranging from the 6.5 metre long pygmy right whale to the 30 metre long blue whale.

Rare opportunity to study whale specimen

“Whale encounters in Singapore waters are rare. Hence, each stranding provides unique opportunities to study these large marine mammals,” said Dr Chua.

It has been a decade since LKCNHM has had the extraordinary opportunity to encounter and study a whale carcass found in Singapore waters. Affectionately named Jubi Lee, the sperm whale specimen that was washed up near Jurong Island in 2015, has since become one of LKCNHM’s most iconic gallery exhibits.

Associate Professor Darren Yeo, Head of LKCNHM, shared, “It is both moving and serendipitous that another whale carcass should arrive in our waters during our 10th anniversary year—exactly 10 years after the Museum’s launch and the discovery of Jubi Lee —just as we have been reflecting on a decade of research, public engagement, and conservation.”

More than a century ago, in 1907, the skeleton of a 13.4 metre blue whale that was found near Melaka in 1892 was put on display at the Raffles Museum at Stamford Road (now the National Museum of Singapore). The specimen was a major attraction until it was formally gifted to the National Museum of Malaysia (Muzium Negara) in 1974.

LKCNHM is currently conducting further studies on the whale carcass and has harvested tissue samples for genetic analysis. The age and sex of the whale is still undetermined. More details on the dissection process and subsequent findings will be shared in due course.

• Money 89.3FM, 18 September 2025
• The Straits Times, 19 September 2025, The Big Story, p7

• Lianhe Zaobao, 19 September 2025, Singapore, p6

• Lianhe Zaobao, 19 September 2025, Singapore, p6

• The Straits Times, 19 September 2025, pA16

• CNA, 16 September 2025
• Channel 5 News, 16 September 2025
• 8world News, 16 September 2025
• Suria News, 16 September 2025
• Vasantham News Online, 16 September 2025
• CNA938, 16 September 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 16 September 2025
• Warna 94.2FM, 16 September 2025
• The Straits Times, 17 September 2025, The Big Story, pA2
• The Business Times, 17 September 2025, p4
• Lianhe Zaobao, 17 September 2025, Singapore, p6
• Berita Harian, 17 September 2025, p3
• Tamil Murasu, 17 September 2025, p2

From founding grassroots mental health initiatives to writing plays and producing films, to conducting research on issues such as autism and pain, NUS Psychology undergraduate Titus Yim has used every platform to amplify voices at the margins.

His 2024 debut short film Tilam (“mattress” in Malay) exemplifies this commitment, weaving together personal caregiving experiences and cultural perspectives to challenge stigma around autism. The 25-minute work is making waves – it has been screened at local and international film festivals and offered as a psychoeducation resource to special education schools and hospitals.

Tilam: Bringing autism stories to the screen

“Tilam had two key aims – to destigmatise autism diagnoses and special education, and to offer a culturally-sensitive portrayal of double-minority families that was often absent in Singapore media,” Titus explained.

The inspiration for the film, which tells of a Malay-Muslim mother navigating cultural expectations and an autism diagnosis for her seven-year-old son, came from Titus’ own experience witnessing his aunt take on a caregiving role for his autistic foster cousin, and his stint at the National University Hospital’s (NUH’s) Child Development Unit in his freshman year.

To ensure authenticity and accurate cultural depiction, Titus had insights on caring for autistic children from within the Malay-Muslim community and collaborated with Malay-speaking co-writers on the script.

The film took two years to develop and received support from the Temasek Foundation’s OSCAR Fund, the National Youth Council and private sponsors.

Since its debut on 24 August 2024, Tilam has been selected for screening by seven local and international film festivals worldwide, including in Japan, the UK and India.

Through local partnerships, 50 caregivers were able to attend a private screening and dialogue. Local media platform Our Grandfather Story (OGS) also released the film online, reaching over 100,000 views in a month. More importantly for Titus, it has been distributed free to over 11 special needs schools and hospitals as a psychoeducational resource.

Amplifying voices through advocacy, storytelling and research

Beyond diversity and inclusivity, his advocacy also extends to issues related to mental well-being.

In junior college, the pressures of school, compounded by a schoolmate’s suicide, spurred Titus and his friends to start MentalHealthCollectiveSG, a grassroots initiative that promoted collaboration between ground-up initiatives, students, schools, parents and mental health service providers in Singapore for the mental health cause.

He also co-founded OCDNetworkSG – Singapore’s first non-profit society that supports individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Through this initiative, he journeyed with a couple of people with OCD and even adapted one woman’s recovery story into a play titled “Struggle of a Touch” that was staged as part of a 2023 OCD public forum.

“I was very much inspired by the dedication of my aunt, who is a psychologist, when she works with people with OCD. I’ve seen how clients are willing to attempt difficult therapeutic exposure tasks primarily because they trust my aunt. And that cemented my desire to be in a career of building relationships. "

Titus credits NUS with providing the academic grounding and international opportunities needed to deepen his passion for psychological research in autism, psychopathology and even pain.

For example, during a student exchange at King’s College London, he joined the laboratory of renowned neuroscientist Professor Francesca Happé, a pioneer in working with older autistic adults, where he helped design a survey on healthcare professionals’ awareness of autistic features in older adults – and how this awareness influences the interventions they provide.

Wanting to support the elderly, like his grandmother, who suffer from chronic pain, he has been working on a meta-analysis of non-pharmacological pain interventions under NUS Psychology Associate Professor Stuart Derbyshire for the past two years.

These experiences, Titus reflected, have been the highlights of his university education so far,  adding another dimension to his advocacy work. “For me, social impact work is both head and heart – we need knowledge to guide effective action, and we need soul and relationships to remind us why the work matters. That is what research and the arts mean to me.”

Now in his final year at NUS, Titus continues to straddle advocacy, research and the arts. He is working on a new play about migrant workers with local theatre company Toy Factory Productions and exploring a documentary project on minority communities. Research-wise, he hopes to conduct Singapore’s first qualitative study on older autistic adults after completing a psychology course on autism.

When asked what motivates him through his many projects, Titus points to his family – such as his aunt who fostered his autistic cousin, his grandmother’s quiet dedication as a babysitter, and his mother’s instinct to care for others. Titus shared, “If I had to drill it down, it’s really the strong women in my life who either subconsciously or otherwise, shaped my desire to pursue a career and a life where I can derive meaning from connecting with others.”

Click on the following link to watch Tilam on OGS’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQE6iShJcKc.

The NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) marked a new chapter for its alumni community with the launch of its very first alumni-to-alumni mentoring initiative – the FASS Alumni Mentoring (FAM) programme on 20 August 2025. The programme aims to connect senior and junior alumni to discuss career and industry insights, skills development and networking opportunities.

The launch was marked by an inaugural networking session that brought together over 35 alumni – experienced alumni mentors as well as young working alumni mentees who have graduated from NUS within the past 15 years – for an engaging evening themed around the art of networking.

A community built on shared growth

The FAM programme was created to nurture a supportive, intergenerational network, empowering participants to share knowledge, offer advice, and inspire one another with their insights and experiences. Recognising the demands of work and family life and a growing preference for short-term, targeted mentoring over traditional long-term programmes, the programme emphasises short-term, session-based mentoring to allow alumni to connect meaningfully without the pressure of long-term commitments. The FAM programme will be conducted twice a year.

FASS Dean Professor Lionel Wee noted how the FAM programme reflects the spirit of the FASS community, where alumni look out for one another, share experiences generously, and create opportunities for growth across generations. He said, “My hope is that FAM will become a cornerstone of our alumni network, sustaining our graduates through every stage of their personal and professional journeys.”

From contacts to connections: FASS alumni Mr Soh Yi Da on the art of networking

Mr Soh Yi Da, Singtel Director of Strategic Government and Institutional Relations and an alumnus from FASS Political Science and the former NUS University Scholars Programme delivered his compelling keynote speech on “From contacts to connections: The art of relationship cultivation in networking.”

Mr Soh drew on Social Network Theory to illustrate the value of cultivating meaningful connections. The theory highlights how people are linked through networks of relationships, and how these ties shape the flow of information, opportunities and influence.

He emphasised the importance of both strong ties (such as with family and close friends) and weak ties (looser connections such as acquaintances or contacts from different fields), and the value of bridging gaps between different groups. He encouraged alumni to go beyond transactional networking, invest in genuine relationships, and find common ground to build trust – reminding them that while a tribe – a close‑knit group bound by shared identity, values, and mutual support – provides support, networks built on meaningful connections fuel growth and innovation.

Mr Soh praised the FAM programme as a meaningful new platform for fellow FASS alumni to connect and learn from one another.

He reflected, “It was a privilege for me to share my personal reflections on nurturing authentic relationships and growing a lasting network that truly matters. What was most rewarding was the immediate impact afterwards – I received numerous LinkedIn connection requests, and attendees reached out for deeper follow-up conversations. It was an affirmation that effective mentoring occurs when people feel empowered to take action right away.”

The quick and active application of the discussion’s insights by participants, he noted, was clear evidence of the programme’s immediate impact.

Mentoring in action: Lively exchanges

The rest of the evening saw lively, candid exchanges between mentors and mentees in smaller groups. Mentors shared their insights and personal approaches to building professional relationships. These included Ms Yeap Su Phing, Political Science ’06, Principal Speechwriter, Singapore Management University; Ms Carolyn Lim, History ’05, Head of Corporate Communications, Musim Mas Group; Mr Chua Ching Hock, Political Science ’08, General Manager of Seletar Airport, Changi Airport Group; and Mr Edwin Koh, Economics and Sociology ’91, CEO of Centrum Global Tech Pte Ltd. Together, the mentors underscored Mr Soh’s point – that authentic networking can open doors, strengthen communities and provide enduring support throughout one’s career.

Ms Joelle Ngooi, a Communications and New Media ’25 alumna, remarked, “These mentor-speakers have a wealth of experience in their respective fields and offered valuable insights into how they progressed in their careers, such as transitioning from being a specialist to being a generalist. I also had the chance to connect with people from the same industry, which was particularly meaningful as I step into the workforce. Additionally, I gained exposure to other industries, which broadened my perspective”

Building on the strong turnout and lively exchange at its debut, the FAM programme is set to become a meaningful part of the FASS alumni experience. The next session is slated for the second quarter of 2026. Announcements on the event will be made via the Faculty’s website and social media channels.

By the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is transforming research across disciplines—enabling faster data analysis, deeper insights, and new methods of discovery in both foundational AI and AI-driven scientific research. For universities such as NUS, this presents a strategic opportunity to lead in innovation and address complex real-world challenges with greater impact.

To support a growing demand for advanced GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) resources, NUS has expanded its capability by implementing a state-of-the-art supercomputer, Hopper, that can perform a staggering 25 quadrillion calculations per second — or 25 PetaFLOPS — giving NUS researchers access to High-Performance Computing (HPC) power. To put that in perspective, a researcher performing one calculation per second would take millions of years to match what Hopper does in just one second.

The Hopper has been placed in 105th position on the TOP500, a list ranking the world’s most powerful computing systems. Hopper is the highest-ranked supercomputer in Singapore and the only university-operated supercomputer in Southeast Asia to make the cut — marking a significant milestone for NUS and the region in HPC resources for academia.

Driving breakthroughs across disciplines

Since going live in June this year, Hopper has already transformed research workflows across the University, powering ambitious, data-intensive research projects hitherto constrained by time or computing power.

Assistant Professor Mike Shou from the  Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at NUS described Hopper as a game-changer in his research into developing new deep learning methods to allow machines to understand actions and complex events in videos.

“Its powerful performance and system stability have laid a solid foundation for our work in video generative AI,” he said. “We can now generate both short-form and long-form videos and build multimodal agents that operate across a wide range of previously unseen environments.”

Asst Prof Shou’s work can power many applications such as perception system for self-driving cars — which allow vehicles to sense and interpret their surroundings, healthcare robots assisting patients in wards or the elderly at home, smart CCTV cameras, social media recommendation systems, and intelligent video creation tools for journalists and filmmakers.

Hopper is also driving advances in the field of biomedical engineering. Recently, Assistant Professor Jin Yueming and her team from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS CDE leveraged Hopper to develop SurgVLM, a vision-language model designed to support surgical intelligence.

“Hopper’s NVIDIA H100 GPU nodes and the high-speed InfiniBand network have been instrumental to our key experiments. Once deployed, SurgVLM can provide real-time cognitive assistance during surgery, immersive surgical training, and automation in robotic procedures,” said Asst Prof Jin.

Meanwhile, at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in NUS CDE, Hopper has helped fast-track next-generation battery design for clean energy infrastructure. Assistant Professor Deng Zeyu and his team have been using the system to run large-scale quantum mechanical calculations and train sophisticated machine learning models to aid the design. With Hopper’s GPU acceleration, they can now complete molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations up to 12 times faster than with traditional CPU (Central Processing Unit) systems.

“Tasks that used to take three months now take a week,” Asst Prof Deng said. “It’s like switching from a bicycle to a high-speed train — Hopper has completely transformed our research pace and possibilities, allowing us to explore new frontiers in battery technology and support the development of next-generation electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions.”

Levelling the research playing field

Hopper’s shared, centralised infrastructure means that even smaller research teams — those without the resources to maintain their own GPU clusters — can now leverage advanced computing power. From AI and engineering to medicine, climate science, and the social sciences, Hopper is enabling researchers across NUS to scale their work faster and tackle more complex challenges.

By the end of 2025, the system is expected to support up to 120 active research projects. A university-wide call-for-projects was launched to invite NUS researchers from all disciplines to apply for access to Hopper’s GPU capabilities, with onboarding already underway.

Built for the Future

Hopper was designed and deployed by the HPC-AI team at NUS Information Technology (NUS IT) and built with infrastructure from Dell Technologies. Purpose-built to support the university’s growing computational needs, the system emphasises performance, scalability and long-term sustainability.

As research becomes increasingly complex and compute-intensive, Hopper positions NUS to stay ahead — enabling researchers to tackle the world’s pressing challenges with speed and precision.

“This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter,” said Mr Rikky W. Purbojati, HPC-AI Team Head at NUS IT. “With Hopper, NUS researchers can dream bigger, advance faster, and solve the complex problems of our time.”

With its debut on the TOP500, Hopper affirms NUS’ commitment to research excellence, cross-disciplinary collaboration and building the technological foundations that will power tomorrow’s discoveries.

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

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

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

• The Straits Times, 17 September 2025, Opinion, pB1 & B2

By Mr Ma Qi Xiang and Mr Yi Xin, Research Fellows at the Asia Competitiveness Institute at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Business Times, 17 September 2025, p16

• 8world Online, 15 September 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 16 September 2025, Singapore, p9

• Lianhe Zaobao, 16 September 2025, Singapore, p7

• CNA Online, 16 September 2025
• 8world Online, 16 September 2025 
• Suria News Online, 16 September 2025 
• CNA938, 16 September 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 16 September 2025 
• Warna 94.2FM, 16 September 2025 
• Kiss92FM, 16 Septenber 2025
• One FM 91.3, 16 September 2025 
• AsiaOne, 16 September 2025 
• The Star Online, 16 September 2025
• The Straits Times, 18 September 2025, pA14
• Lianhe Zaobao, 17 September 2025, Singapore p8
• Berita Harian, 17 September 2025, p2
• Tamil Murasu, 17 September, p3

By Mr Ng Chia Wee, Teaching Assistant in the Dept of Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS; and Dr Fung Fun Man, Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Dept of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS

• The Straits Times, 16 September 2025, Opinion, pB2
• Berita Harian, 19 September 2025, p9

• zbSunday, 14 September 2025, News, p8

As we celebrate 120 years of excellence, the National University of Singapore (NUS) continues to expand the frontiers of knowledge and discovery. Innovations That Matter, a five-part Channel NewsAsia (CNA) documentary series, uncovers how our faculty, researchers, staff, students and alumni are driving solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. From the lab to the community, these game-changing ideas — across ageing, sustainability, AI, entrepreneurship and cross-generational impact — are transforming lives in Singapore and beyond.

Discover how 120 years of NUS breakthroughs continue to shape the future in these episodes:

• The Straits Times, 15 September 2025, Singapore, pA14

• The Straits Times, 15 September 2025, Science, pA16

Can a material once dismissed as the “poor man’s timber” be reframed as a sustainable solution to counter deforestation? A group of NUS College students have set in motion a mindset shift towards bamboo in the Philippines with a two-year project that engaged Filipino youths in hands-on workshops to demonstrate the plant’s potential.

The group of seven students, dubbed Team Bayanihan, worked with Grow School Philippines to design and lead a series of Bamboo for the Future workshops that has reached more than 100 youths. Through activities such as weaving coasters and constructing catapults, the workshops aimed to shift perceptions of bamboo as a low-cost material to a sustainable and economically promising alternative.

This student-led project is one of more than 30 initiatives showcased today at the inaugural Impact Festival, themed ‘Emergence’ and organised by NUS College (NUSC), the honours college of the National University of Singapore. (See Annexe for highlights of the IEx projects showcased at the Impact Festival.)

The festival is a celebration of community-driven change powered by NUSC students through the College’s signature Impact Experience (IEx) programme, in which the students work in interdisciplinary teams with community and regional partners over two years to tackle complex real-world challenges across Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Building a generation of changemakers

IEx is designed to enable NUSC students to create real-world success and impact through their work, beyond the confines of a traditional university course. Working closely with local and regional communities, students hone critical competencies, a global orientation and relationship-building skills as they tackle pressing issues such as sustainability, food security, education and social isolation. They develop a community-first mindset, learning to collaborate effectively across diverse disciplines and cultures to create social impact that is both deep and scalable.

The Impact Festival celebrates the efforts of more than 350 students from NUSC’s first cohort, who over the course of the two-year programme have learnt how to work across disciplines, cultures and communities to put people and partnerships at the heart of problem-solving.

“The Impact Experience is at the heart of what makes NUS College distinctive. It’s not just about what our students learn in the classroom, but how they take that knowledge into the world, work alongside communities and create meaningful change. The Impact Festival celebrates their dedication and the tangible impact they’ve made,” said Professor Simon Chesterman, Dean of NUSC.

“We chose the theme ‘Emergence’ because it reflects both the students’ growth and the new possibilities that arise when diverse people come together to tackle complex problems. What emerges is not just solutions to today’s challenges, but a new generation of leaders who are imaginative, responsible and deeply connected to the region we call home,” he added.

At the festival, Team Bayanihan will screen Project Bambusiness, a narrative film they produced about their experience of working with youths in the Philippines to shift perceptions, raise sustainability awareness and improve livelihoods.

Andrew Toh Yung Weii, a final-year Communications and New Media major from Team Bayanihan, shared: “Working with my peers and our partner Grow School Philippines to create our Bamboo for the Future Workshop has been exciting and fulfilling. We have engaged over 100 youths and raised awareness about bamboo’s versatility and value as a sustainable material with economic potential. Running this project has also inspired us to embrace our role as environmental stewards in other aspects of our lives, such as being more conscious of our everyday decisions and their impact on the environment.”

Also on showcase will be Would You Love Me If I Were A Worm?, a children’s book featuring Jerome, a boy who wonders if his mother would still love him if he were a worm. Through playful storytelling, the book introduces composting to young readers and their families, encouraging them to adopt small sustainable habits like reducing waste and starting their own gardens.

The book was developed by w(eight)st not!, a team whose project tackled food waste in Singapore’s hospitality industry while supporting community gardens. Working with Fairmont Singapore and Corridor Farmers, the team piloted a circular waste management that successfully recycled 100 kg of hotel kitchen scraps by turning them into compost that was distributed to community partners such as MINDS and the Metta Welfare Association.

Platform for dialogue and collaboration

The Impact Festival aims to spark dialogue and drive meaningful collaborations between Singapore and Southeast Asia to co-create sustainable solutions for the future. It is open to the public, welcoming students, policymakers, non-governmental organisations and the wider community to join the conversation.

The festival features interactive project showcases of community initiatives around the region, ranging from films and agriculture-themed games to art activities. Visitors can also contribute to a participatory art installation by renowned Singaporean artist Wang Ruobing, where they will use marine debris to co-create a giant map of Southeast Asia to inspire dialogue on sustainability.

Another festival highlight is the IEx Roundtable, where NUSC students and their IEx project community partners will share insights from their experience on how collaborative partnerships can drive lasting social change.

From fully believing that he had bungled one of his speeches to emerging champion at his first international public speaking competition, NUS Law final-year student Kamal Ashraf Bin Kamil Jumat’s experience at the World Universities Public Speaking Invitational Championship 2025 was quite the rollercoaster ride.

The University of Macau invited 11 prestigious universities, including NUS, Tsinghua University, Korea University, the University of Oxford and the University of British Columbia, to send representatives to the inaugural edition of the championship that it hosted on 30 August 2025. Participants were required to prepare and deliver a speech based on the theme “Creating a Diverse Future Together”, answer questions from a panel of judges, and deliver an impromptu speech based on a randomly selected topic.

When NUS was invited to field a student speaker for the competition, Ms Sim Ee Waun, a tutor at the Department of Communications and New Media (CNM), immediately recognised her student Kamal’s potential to do well on this stage and put his name into the pool of nominees. After he was selected, she mentored him in the lead-up to the competition.

Despite battling nervousness as a first-time competitor in a field of high-calibre speakers, Kamal completed the first two segments with relative confidence, trusting in his pre-competition training and rehearsals. His prepared speech, entitled “Bringing Tomorrow”, discussed how diversity grows through active, consistent efforts and used stories such as the origins of Singlish and his own experiences as a firefighter in National Service to encourage listeners to build trust through communication.

For the third segment, he hoped to draw topics relating to Education or Culture from the three possible categories of impromptu speech topics, as they could relate more closely to his experiences in youth and community volunteering.

Instead, he drew “How do friendships shape our personal growth?” from the Friendship category.

With just 10 seconds of preparation time, he recalled Ms Sim’s advice to “give a speech only you can give” and rapidly composed a speech using the philosophical metaphor of tabula rasa to frame anecdotes of how his multicultural friendships have shaped him.

Kamal felt extremely nervous during the impromptu speech and left the stage disappointed with his performance. He immediately texted Ms Sim: “I don’t think I made it.”

Ms Sim was watching the livestreamed competition and disagreed with his assessment. She described his impromptu speech as “brilliant,” noting: “Not only was his speech eloquent and personal, it carried good points too. Believe me, it is not easy to do this in 10 seconds.”

She added: “His win reminds us that on the world stage, we should expect to win. Why not? We may be a little red dot, but we do punch way above our weight, and Kamal is a shining example of that.”

Although Kamal was unhappy with the speech at the time, it ended up being a meaningful and precious element of his win.

“I managed to talk about how my friends from other races have always been allies to me, helping me to feel comfortable in preserving my traditions and my daily practices. These anecdotes didn’t fit into my prepared speech, so I’m glad I got to present these messages that are important to me, at a time when Singapore is celebrating SG60, diversity and multiculturalism,” he said.

Speaking from the heart

As a debater since primary school and now a law student, Kamal is no stranger to speaking before judges and an audience. He currently serves as a part-time debate coach for a local secondary school and chairs a national debating academy organised by the Malay Youth Literary Association. His law training also includes polishing his trial advocacy and interpersonal communication skills through pro bono projects at the Syariah Court.

In his quest to learn more about the art of public speaking, he took up Public Speaking and Critical Reasoning offered by CNM as an elective course in Semester 2 of AY2024/2025. “I wanted to learn the technical skills behind speaking in front of people and connecting with them — something a bit more based on personality and more heartfelt, rather than doing it as part of a job,” said Kamal, noting that he learnt how to tailor material to the audience and craft speeches in different styles.

Nominating him for the competition was an easy decision, said Ms Sim. “In my five years of teaching public speaking at NUS, Kamal stands out as an incredibly talented public speaker who speaks with conviction and polish, and he is sharp as a pin. So when there was a call to nominate students for this competition, it was only natural that I put his name forward.”

Kamal spent the second half of the semester and part of his summer writing and rewriting his draft with Ms Sim’s help via WhatsApp and Zoom calls, while juggling an internship that left him with little time to rehearse until he arrived in Macau two days before the competition.

He started his days in Macau at 6am to rehearse intensively in his hotel room before heading out for activities organised by the University of Macau, such as soundchecks and workshops with his fellow competitors. Although most of the contestants were friendly, Kamal grew nervous as he learnt about their competitive speaking experience and training.

“These were some of the best public speakers I’ve ever met,” he said. “They were fantastic and they came from very established institutions that are well known for their craft in the English language, so the pressure was there.”

His nervousness was offset by the knowledge that he had supportive family and friends who would be happy for him regardless of the results. His mother frequently reminded him to just enjoy himself, and his friends refrained from pressuring him to come back with a win.

“They knew there was no point in adding pressure onto me, because they knew I was going to do it myself anyway,” said Kamal in jest.

He came away from the experience with a deep respect for the other contestants and a drive to continue improving his craft. When he was asked to give an acceptance speech with some of his public speaking tips at the competition’s closing dinner, Kamal expressed his admiration for his fellow competitors by asking them to share their own tips with him.

“Some of them had styles which I couldn’t pull off. Sofia (Lopez Castillo, first runner-up) from the University of British Columbia — her style was very emotional, very heartfelt. I’m a bit too clean or refined sometimes, and it’s hard for me to dig deep and hit those emotive notes,” he said. “For every one word of advice I was asked to give, I knew I had ten times as much to learn in return.”

Another outstanding speaker he recalled was second runner-up Benjamin Thomas from Stanford University, who was impressively calm in his delivery, especially when answering the impromptu questions.

Kamal concluded: “There are elements that I want to take from all 10 other speakers to become a better speaker, because this is just at the university level and I can see all these different skills that I need to pick up. The biggest takeaway for me is that there’s a lot more that I can learn.”

The full recording of the World Universities Public Speaking Invitational Championship 2025 is available on YouTube.

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

• Lianhe Zaobao, 12 September 2025, Opinion, p18

• Lianhe Zaobao, 12 September 2025, Business, p21

• Lianhe Zaobao, 12 September 2025, Singapore, p8

NUS Chief Information Technology Officer, Ms Tan Shui-Min, has been named Transformational CIO of the Year at the SPARK Asia Digital Leaders Award 2025, which honours Chief Information Officers across Asia who have delivered game-changing outcomes through digital innovation.

Under Ms Tan’s visionary leadership, NUS has reimagined its digital landscape — from developing AI-Know, a university-wide platform that democratises AI access, to implementing green IT infrastructure that advances both operational efficiency and sustainability. AI-Know has introduced tools such as AI-Minute for automated meeting summaries and AI-Create for building no-code digital agents, saving the University more than 265,000 man-hours in 2024 and set to generate millions in cost savings and cost avoidance.

She has also championed sustainability through the Green Data Centre Network Upgrade Project, which reduced power consumption by 45 per cent and rack space by 49 per cent, resulting in significant energy and cost savings while advancing NUS’ Green Plan 2030 commitments.

Collaboration is a hallmark of Ms Tan’s leadership. She has pioneered a co-creation model with more than 120 departments, working closely with colleagues to identify pain points and design fit-for-purpose AI solutions. Examples include the laboratory inspection tool with the Office of Risk Management and Compliance, and chatbots with the Offices of Finance and Human Resources. These partnerships ensure business relevance, foster shared ownership, and accelerate adoption. She also spearheaded My Virtual Lab, NUS’ first 3D immersive virtual laboratory, which redefines STEM education by enabling interactive, risk-free training and collaborative simulations.

Looking ahead, NUS is scaling up research capabilities through expanded high-performance computing facilities, currently ranked among the world’s top 110 supercomputers. At the same time, initiatives such as NUSHub and the NextGeneSIS programme are enhancing student engagement and optimising the learner experience across both degree and lifelong learning pathways.

These initiatives are guided by the IT Strategic Plan blueprint envisioned and driven by Ms Tan in 2023. Anchored by four strategic goals — Digitally Empowered Business, Cyber Fortress, Flexible Infrastructure, and Future-Ready IT Workforce — the roadmap ensures technology initiatives are closely aligned with NUS’ mission and vision, supporting both operational excellence and future growth.

Reflecting on the award, Ms Tan said: “I am deeply honoured by this recognition, which is a testament to the collective spirit of NUS. It reflects our shared commitment to building a ‘Borderless University, Powered by Infinite Technology,’ where innovation is open and accessible to all. My guiding principle has always been to empower others – fostering an environment where staff and students feel encouraged to experiment, learn, and thrive.

Looking ahead, I remain committed to advancing our digital transformation, ensuring that technology not only keeps pace with the evolving needs of our university but truly enriches the everyday experiences of our community.”

The University’s flagship sustainability festival, NUS Sustainability CONNECT, returns for its third edition this September – featuring close to 40 events throughout the month!

While the festival has typically showcased sustainability research and best practices, there is a growing momentum across the wider NUS community to incorporate green initiatives into day-to-day work. More NUS units outside the traditional sustainability sphere are recognising the value and relevance of sustainability and are eager to share their efforts.

For instance, this year’s CONNECT welcomes partners such as NUS Libraries, NUS College (NUSC) and University Health Centre (UHC), all of which are organising events to engage and inspire the broader NUS community on sustainability efforts.

Walking the talk in sustainability: NUS Libraries’ guided tours and solar panel exhibition 

Did you know that BookBridge on Level 2 of NUS Central Library was among the first structures in Singapore to use tropical mass engineered timber, a renewable and sustainable building material?

Choosing eco-friendly construction materials is just one of the many ways NUS Libraries is making sustainability a daily reality. To showcase its efforts, NUS Libraries will be conducting a guided tour of the Central Library on 17 September 2025 to share how it is walking the talk in sustainability, including reducing its carbon footprint in daily operations.

In recent years, NUS Libraries has been steadily developing its four sustainability pillars – green libraries; green resources; green programming; and green digital and innovation – in support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Beyond this, NUS Libraries will also be hosting a guided tour to a garden that was set up on campus in the early 1980s. Happening on 24 September 2025, this historical garden under the care of the Department of Biological Sciences, houses legacy plants, such as the cycads, which have been around in the garden since its founding years. Rarely open to the public, the garden offers a glimpse into the space that supports the department’s outreach and teaching activities.

In addition, NUS Central Library is running an exhibition – Solar Energising Heritage: Coloured Solar Panel Development for Historical Shophouses – from now till 6 October 2025. This collaborative project with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), NUS Museum and NUS Baba House features custom-designed coloured Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) panels developed for NUS Baba House, using SERIS’ unique dotlism pattern technology.

Going forward, NUS Libraries is committed to paving the way in advancing sustainability in teaching, learning and research.

Inspiring change: Student-led sustainability initiatives at NUS College’s Impact Festival

Committed to delivering interdisciplinary education, NUSC will present the Impact Festival on 17 September 2025 – a vibrant showcase of student projects from the Impact Experience programme. This is a capstone course where students collaborate with communities in Singapore and across Southeast Asia to drive meaningful social change.

Given that sustainability is inherently interdisciplinary, it is no surprise that a number of these projects focused on sustainability-related themes such as transforming food waste management, promoting sustainable tourism, protecting animal welfare, restoring coral reefs and cultivating sustainable agriculture.

One notable example is a project led by Team Bayanihan (which means unity in Tagalog) comprising seven NUSC students. For decades, bamboo has been viewed as the poor man’s timber in the Philippines. To change this mindset, the team developed a unique bamboo-based curriculum to help Filipino youth appreciate this sustainable resource that is readily available in their own backyard. 

In partnership with Grow School Philippines, Team Bayanihan conducted three workshops in Nasugbu, Batangas, teaching hundreds of young people the art of bamboo weaving and the science of structural design. The goal was to showcase bamboo’s versatility, both as a material for crafts and a medium for constructing larger structures, to the next generation of Filipinos. Through this, Team Bayanihan hopes to inspire youth across the Philippines to embrace the beauty and utility of bamboo in building a more sustainable future.  

Championing sustainability through healthy eating: UHC’s sustainable granola workshop

Eating healthily and supporting the planet can go hand in hand, and UHC is keen to demonstrate how.

It is conducting a sustainable granola workshop on 19 September 2025 to share with participants how spent grains can be upcycled into nutritious granola. Guided by experts in the sustainable food innovation sector, participants will not only create and sample their own sustainable granola, but also take home a recipe kit on how to make these wholesome grains.

The complimentary workshop for NUS staff, which was fully booked within a day, is part of the Centre’s Feel Good Friday series, which explores practical ways for the NUS community to adopt greener habits while maintaining a balanced diet and nutrition.

Encouraged by the strong response, UHC plans to offer more workshops to promote sustainable habits and healthy eating across the NUS community.

To learn more about NUS Sustainability CONNECT or register your interest for the above events, please click here.

By NUS Sustainability and Resilience Unit

By Dr Clemens Chay, Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute at NUS

• CNA Online, 10 September 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 10 September 2025

NUS paid tribute to seven outstanding educators, researchers and professionals for their contributions to the University, Singapore and the global community at the NUS University Awards 2025. The annual Awards recognise members of the NUS community who are trailblazers in their fields and have made sterling contributions to NUS, Singapore, and the global community.

Speaking at the awards ceremony held at the University Cultural Centre on 12 September 2025, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye highlighted the significance of this year’s awards, noting that 2025 marks NUS’ 120th anniversary. He thanked all award winners for their contributions and commitment towards building NUS into what it is today. 

Acknowledging the central role of AI in shaping the future, Prof Tan emphasised that as a forward-looking university, NUS must not remain on the sidelines while others build capabilities, innovate and ride the AI wave. To this end, NUS is mounting a robust and comprehensive approach to AI that spans its core mission areas of education, research, innovation and enterprise, as well as administration. “We will stay ahead, empower and uplift the whole organisation to fully leverage on AI in all that we do. We are striving forward, with AI and through AI, towards our vision to be a leading global university, shaping the future,” he added.

Top accolade - Outstanding Service Award

This year, the prestigious Outstanding Service Award was conferred on Professor Cheong Koon Hean, Rector of NUS College and Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities Advisory Panel under the Ministry of National Development; and Mr Liew Mun Leong, CEO of Gelephu Mindfulness City and Founder and Principal Consultant of Building People Consultancy Pte Ltd., in recognition of their inspiring leadership and dedicated service. Both are accomplished individuals who have made sustained contributions in selflessly serving the University and society.

Professor Cheong Koon Hean

A globally recognised urban planner and architect, Prof Cheong is instrumental in shaping Singapore’s urban form across multiple decades, from strategic land use and heritage conservation to sustainable public housing and smart‑town innovation.

As former CEO of both the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing & Development Board, she redefined the standards of city-making—spearheading transformative plans for Marina Bay and introducing new generations of public housing marked by inclusivity, biophilia and smart technologies.

As a member of the NUS Board of Trustees for 12 years and now the Rector of NUS College, Prof Cheong bridges academia with public policy through her extensive experience in public service. She has also served on the advisory committees of the former NUS School of Design and Engineering, and NUS Faculty of Engineering.

Currently Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities Advisory Panel and the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Prof Cheong continues to influence national and international agendas on urban innovation and sustainability. She also advances global urban sustainability through her many advisory and leadership roles with institutes such as the International Federation for Housing and Planning, the Urban Land Institute, and the World Economic Forum’s Real Estate and Urbanisation Council.

Delivering the citation for Prof Cheong’s conferment, Professor Simon Chesterman, NUS Vice Provost (Educational Innovation) and Dean of NUS College said, “Professor Cheong is a stateswoman of city planning and a champion of public service. Her leadership exemplifies the integration of academic excellence, policy insight and civic responsibility.”

On her motivation to serve, Prof Cheong shared, “One of the greatest rewards in serving NUS is to see it grow from strength to strength. My wish is for NUS to not only achieve world-class academic excellence, but to also be the catalyst that encourages curiosity, innovation and risk-taking, nurturing young hearts and minds to think beyond grades and self, aspiring to make a better world.”

Watch this inspiring video on Prof Cheong’s dedicated contributions towards the University and society.

Mr Liew Mun Leong

The veteran corporate leader’s five-decade career is marked by many valuable contributions to both public infrastructure and private enterprise. Contributing to Singapore’s journey towards becoming a key transportation hub, Mr Liew played a pivotal role in the corporatisation of Changi Airport. He also provided strategic leadership across major infrastructure projects, including Terminal 4, Jewel Changi Airport and Changi East.

In the private sector over a span of 32 years, he led as CEO and was an active board member of several significant companies, many of which were publicly listed. These include CapitaLand, Capital Mall Trust (the first REIT in Singapore) and the Singapore Exchange. He also chaired the boards of Capital Mall Asia, Changi Airport Group, Surbana Jurong Consultancy Holding and Pavilion Gas.

Throughout his extensive career, Mr Liew has shared his expertise in engineering, strategic management and infrastructure development on various boards and panels. In 2024, he was appointed by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as CEO of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special administrative region envisioned as a vibrant economic hub within Bhutan.

An NUS alumnus, Mr Liew was Provost’s Chair Professor (Practice) at the NUS Business School, Faculty of Engineering, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He also provided expertise on various boards within NUS, including NUS Business School's management advisory board and NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education’s inaugural industry advisory board, where he fostered collaborations between academia and industry. Mr Liew was also the Rector of Ridge View Residential College, where he provided mentorship to students.

Delivering the citation for Mr Liew’s conferment, Professor Teo Kie Leong, Dean of the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, lauded his visionary leadership and dedicated services to Singapore, as well as NUS, “Mr Liew’s impact is felt both nationally and internationally, spanning the fields of engineering, infrastructure development, business and public service.”

Sharing his aspirations for the University, Mr Liew said, “Having served as Practice Chair Professor (pro-bono) across Business, Public Policy, and Engineering in NUS, I encourage the university to deepen its engagement and foster stronger collaboration between academia and industry. A university’s ultimate measure lies not only in education but in the practical application of knowledge—preparing graduates to innovate, lead and deliver impactful solutions to real-world challenges.

Watch this inspiring video on Mr Liew’s dedicated contributions towards the University and society.

The honour roll

The NUS University Awards 2025 also recognised the accomplishments of five outstanding educators and researchers.

University Research Recognition Award

Professor Liu Xiaogang, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, and the Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, was recognised for his groundbreaking research that has placed NUS at the forefront of his area of expertise.  

A global leader in nanophotonics and bioimaging, Prof Liu has made transformative contributions to the development of advanced X-ray imaging and optical sensing technologies. His work on all-inorganic perovskite nanoscintillators and high-resolution X-ray luminescence extension imaging has redefined deep-tissue visualisation. This remarkable research has enabled breakthroughs in diagnostics, radiotherapy monitoring and multi-spectral imaging.

Young Researcher Award

Assistant Professor Hou Yi from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Design and Engineering; and Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore was commended for conducting groundbreaking research with the potential to extend the frontiers of knowledge in his field.

A Presidential Young Professor, Asst Prof Hou has made sterling contributions to the field of renewable energy, particularly in perovskite solar cell technology. He has received global acknowledgement for his work, including his inclusion in the MIT Innovators Under 35 list for the Asia-Pacific region. His recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in the Cross-Field category from 2022 to 2024 further highlights his exceptional impact on his field.

Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award

Professor Yan Ning from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, was honoured for his excellent and committed mentorship in nurturing the next generation of scholars and thought leaders.

Prof Yan is one of the world’s foremost names in the broad area of catalysis, particularly in the conversion of waste biomass feedstocks into valuable molecules such as amino acids and fuels. Under his guidance, his students have made many impactful research contributions, won prestigious awards at various international scientific competitions, and flourished in diverse and illustrious careers as academics, industry practitioners, and even entrepreneurs.

Outstanding Educator Award

Two faculty members were acknowledged for being exemplary educators who have excelled in engaging and inspiring students in their quest for knowledge:

1) Associate Professor Damith Chatura Rajapakse from the Department of Computer Science, School of Computing

Assoc Prof Rajapakse is a teacher who inspires, a mentor who empowers, and an innovator whose influence is felt far beyond the campus. His teaching evaluations consistently soar above School and Department averages, and his students regularly nominate him for best teaching in every course he conducts. A trailblazer in educational technology, Assoc Prof Rajapakse also has a flagship innovation known as TEAMMATES, a peer-evaluation platform now used by over a million users across more than 1,500 institutions worldwide, which has significantly enhanced collaborative learning.

2) Associate Professor Peter Alan Todd from the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science; and Tropical Marine Science Institute

An experimental marine ecologist who focuses on organism-environment interactions in nearshore waters, Assoc Prof Todd’s teaching philosophy is “learning by doing science”. He employs problem-based learning to inspire creative thinking and designs authentic assignments that challenge students to use high-level cognitive skills. His courses are designed to encourage knowledge synthesis where students get to produce “ready-for-submission” scientific papers. Over 50 journal papers by undergraduate students as first authors have been published with his guidance.

Read more about the NUS University Awards recipients here and the NUS press release here.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) today recognised seven outstanding individuals who distinguished themselves with their achievements and contributions in the areas of education, research, mentorship and service to the University, Singapore and the global community. They are recipients of the annual NUS University Awards which recognise 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 Professor Cheong Koon Hean, Rector of NUS College and Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities Advisory Panel, Ministry of National Development; and Mr Liew Mun Leong, CEO of Gelephu Mindfulness City and Founder and Principal Consultant of Building People Consultancy Pte Ltd., in recognition of their inspiring leadership and dedicated service. Both are accomplished individuals who have made sustained contributions in selflessly serving the University and society.

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said, “This year’s University Awards recipients have won their award in a special year. 2025 is a significant year for NUS as we celebrate our 120th anniversary. We are proud of the profound dedication of our winners to pursuing excellence in education, research and service at the highest levels, raising the standards and reputation of NUS as a leading global university, shaping the future. The impact of their work is far-reaching, and their contributions have left an indelible mark that inspires us to scale greater heights. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all award recipients.”

Besides the Outstanding Service Award, the other award categories are University Research Recognition Award, Young Researcher Award, Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award and Outstanding Educator Award.

Outstanding Service Award

Professor Cheong Koon Hean

A globally recognised urban planner and architect, Professor Cheong Koon Hean is instrumental in shaping Singapore’s urban form across multiple decades, from strategic land use and heritage conservation to sustainable public housing and smart‑town innovation.

As former CEO of both the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing & Development Board, she redefined the standards of city-making—spearheading transformative plans for Marina Bay and introducing new generations of public housing marked by inclusivity, biophilia and smart technologies.

As a member of the NUS Board of Trustees for 12 years and now the Rector of NUS College, Professor Cheong bridges academia with public policy through her extensive experience in public service. She has also served on the advisory committees of the former NUS School of Design and Engineering, and NUS Faculty of Engineering.

Currently Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities Advisory Panel, Ministry of National Development and the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Professor Cheong continues to influence national and international agendas on urban innovation and sustainability. She also advances global urban sustainability through her many advisory and leadership roles with institutes such as the International Federation for Housing and Planning, the Urban Land Institute, and the World Economic Forum’s Real Estate and Urbanisation Council.

Mr Liew Mun Leong

Mr Liew Mun Leong’s five-decade career as a veteran corporate leader is marked by many valuable contributions to both public infrastructure and private enterprise. Contributing to Singapore’s journey towards becoming a key transportation hub, he played a pivotal role in the corporatisation of Changi Airport. He also provided strategic leadership across major infrastructure projects, including Terminal 4, Jewel Changi Airport and Changi East.

In the private sector over a span of 32 years, he led as CEO and was an active board member of several significant companies, many of which were publicly listed. These include CapitaLand, Capital Mall Trust (the first REIT in Singapore) and the Singapore Exchange. He also chaired the boards of Capital Mall Asia, Changi Airport Group, Surbana Jurong Consultancy Holding and Pavilion Gas.

Throughout his extensive career, Mr Liew has shared his expertise in engineering, strategic management and infrastructure development on various boards and panels. In 2024, he was appointed by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as CEO of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special administrative region envisioned as a vibrant economic hub within Bhutan.

An NUS alumnus, Mr Liew was Provost’s Chair Professor (Practice) at the NUS Business School, Faculty of Engineering, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He also provided expertise on various boards within NUS, including NUS Business School's management advisory board and NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education’s inaugural industry advisory board, where he fostered collaborations between academia and industry. Mr Liew was also the Rector of Ridge View Residential College, where he provided mentorship to students.

Five exemplary educators and researchers honoured

The NUS University Awards also celebrated the accomplishments of five outstanding academics and researchers:

University Research Recognition Award

1) Professor Liu Xiaogang, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science; and the Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

A global leader in nanophotonics and bioimaging, Prof Liu has made transformative contributions to the development of advanced X-ray imaging and optical sensing technologies. His work on all-inorganic perovskite nanoscintillators and high-resolution X-ray luminescence extension imaging has redefined deep-tissue visualisation. This remarkable research has enabled breakthroughs in diagnostics, radiotherapy monitoring and multi-spectral imaging.

Young Researcher Award

2) Assistant Professor Hou Yi, Presidential Young Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Design and Engineering; and Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore

Asst Prof Hou has made groundbreaking contributions to the field of renewable energy, particularly in perovskite solar cell technology. He has received global acknowledgement for his work, including his inclusion in the MIT Innovators Under 35 list for the Asia-Pacific region. His recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in the Cross-Field category from 2022 to 2024 further highlights his exceptional impact on his field.

Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award

3) Professor Yan Ning from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Design and Engineering

Prof Yan is one of the world’s foremost names in the broad area of catalysis, particularly in the conversion of waste biomass feedstocks into valuable molecules such as amino acids and fuels. Under his guidance, his students have made many impactful research contributions, won prestigious awards at various international scientific competitions, and flourished in diverse and illustrious careers as academics, industry practitioners, and even entrepreneurs.

Outstanding Educator Award

4) Associate Professor Damith Chatura Rajapakse from the Department of Computer Science, School of Computing

Assoc Prof Rajapakse is a teacher who inspires, a mentor who empowers, and an innovator whose influence is felt far beyond the campus. His teaching evaluations consistently soar above School and Department averages, and his students regularly nominate him for best teaching in every course he conducts. A trailblazer in educational technology, Assoc Prof Rajapakse also has a flagship innovation known as TEAMMATES, a peer-evaluation platform now used by over a million users across more than 1,500 institutions worldwide, which has significantly enhanced collaborative learning.

5) Associate Professor Peter Alan Todd from the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science; and Tropical Marine Science Institute

An experimental marine ecologist who focuses on organism-environment interactions in nearshore waters, Assoc Prof Todd’s teaching philosophy is “learning by doing science”. He employs problem-based learning to inspire creative thinking, and designs authentic assignments that challenge students to use high-level cognitive skills. His courses are designed to encourage knowledge synthesis where students get to produce “ready-for-submission” scientific papers. Over 50 journal papers by undergraduate students as first authors have been published with his guidance.

As part of NUS Global Relations Office’s Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment (STEER) programme, 15 NUS students from the College of Alice & Peter Tan (CAPT) embarked on a 10-day overseas trip to multiple municipalities and districts in Timor-Leste, including Dili, Ermera and Metinaro. Led by Dr Toh Tai Chong, Director of Residential Life and Resident Fellow at CAPT, the trip centred on the themes of youth and community development. Despite being the youngest Southeast Asian country, independent since 2002, Timor-Leste offered students the chance to gain deep insights into the country’s agricultural, educational and community leadership systems through engagement with various stakeholders, communities and organisations.

Agriculture as the backbone of Timor-Leste’s economy

Coffee is one of Timor-Leste’s top export crops, deeply rooted in the country’s history due to Portuguese colonisation. Today it remains a vital part of the nation’s economy and identity, and the team had the chance to visit various coffee production sites and local cafes, experiencing firsthand the full harvesting process.

Alongside coffee production, the Timorese government is also positioning agriculture as one of the country’s key exports by tapping on the country’s land space and natural potential for agricultural production. To support this push, universities like Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e and University of Peace, are training youth in agriculture.

Through conversations with university students and professors, the CAPT team discovered the importance Timorese youths placed on agricultural education as a pathway to improve their country’s farming industry. Many have aspirations to work abroad, particularly in places like Australia, in order to bring back new agricultural techniques to benefit their communities.

However, it has been challenging with the country’s long dry seasons lasting up to nine months, and growing concerns about climate change, resource depletion and pollution that make environmental conservation even more critical. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Permatil hope to address this by equipping young people with knowledge about permaculture and water restoration, empowering them to implement sustainable agricultural practices in their own communities.

Education as a means to engage and empower youths

To learn more about the youths and the local education system, the team visited different educational institutions, from pre-schools to universities. They were able to gather deeper insights on the ground about the education scene in relation to their pre-trip seminars conducted by  professionals who shared their personal and professional experiences working in Timor-Leste. One notable takeaway was how the importance of agriculture was actively communicated to young people. Many universities offer agricultural courses aimed at equipping the next generation with the skills needed to sustain and advance the industry so vital to the country’s development.

On a more personal level, the team was deeply moved by conversations with students, teachers and staff, many of whom shared that they aspired to become educators in order to give back to society. Clarence, a Year Three CAPTain from the Faculty of Science, said, “It is heartening to see the passion of these students and staff — not just in educating us, but in their eagerness to connect. Despite the challenges they face, it was truly inspiring to witness their determination and intentionality they display in creating meaning and value for themselves and their communities.”

Uniting communities through community leadership

Another key theme which surfaced during the trip was the quiet strength of community leadership. Many of the community leaders the students met shared about their desire to give back and empower fellow Timorese by providing them with jobs, training and skills to uplift their families. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep commitment to their communities, these leaders have creatively leveraged existing resources to advocate for a range of causes – from sustainability and women’s rights, to coffee production and local spirits – while carefully balancing support from NGOs with their pursuit of self-reliance. When visiting one of the NGO, Alola Foundation, Year 2 CAPTain and Business student Lynette Saw (pictured in the left photo below) was inspired by the stories that were shared at the visit and how it only takes a collective vision to spark meaningful, intergenerational change for women in Timor Leste.

Given the constraints faced by the local government, the students saw how community leadership plays an important role in Timor-Leste’s development, and how local initiatives and grassroots leaders complement the government’s work by helping to drive social progress and enhance community resilience. Year Three CAPTain from the College of Design and Engineering Tan When Young, not only held deep respect for the community leaders but developed a newfound respect for the meaningful work that the NGOs do. “Many of the NGOs truly went above and beyond in the work to support the local communities. While it is definitely not easy and there are a lot of challenges, it is heartening to witness the fruits of their labour.”

The trip left the team cognisant of the challenges this young nation faces, yet deeply hopeful about its untapped potential. With the right support systems and sustained investment in the local communities, they believe that Timor-Leste has the potential to flourish – grounded in unity and driven by a shared vision and strong sense of national identity.

• Channel 5 News, 9 September 2025
• The Straits Times, 10 September 2025, The Big Story, pA2
• Lianhe Zaobao, 10 September 2025, Focus, p3
• CNA Online, 10 September 2025
• Suria News Online, 10 September 2025
• Berita Harian, 10 September 2025, p10
• Warna 94.2FM, 10 September 2025
• Tamil Murasu, 11 September 2025, p2

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

• Suria News Online, 9 September 2025

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

• Lianhe Zaobao, 9 September 2025, Opinion, p17

By Dr Ruklanthi de Alwis, Deputy Director of the Centre for Outbreak Preparedness and Asst Prof in the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School; Assoc Prof Yeo Tsin Wen, from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU and from Woodlands Health; Prof Lisa Ng, Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Labs at A*STAR; and Prof Neelika Malavige, from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

• The Straits Times, 9 September 2025, Opinion, pB2

By Mr Sriram Iyer, Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Dept of Management and Organisation at NUS Business School

• The Straits Times, 9 September 2025, Opinion, pB2

• Suria News Online, 9 September 2025

• The Business Times, 9 September 2025, p3

• The Straits Times Online, 8 September 2025

• CNA, 8 September 2025
• Channel 5 News, 8 September 2025
• CNA Online, 8 September 2025
• Suria News Online, 8 September 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 9 September 2025, Singapore, p6

• Suria News Online, 7 September 2025

• The Straits Times, 8 September 2025, Science, pA16

• The Straits Times, 8 September 2025, Science, pA16

• The Straits Times, 8 September 2025, Singapore, pA15
• Tamil Murasu, 8 September 2025, p3

Solar photovoltaics (PV) and green roofs are increasingly being adopted worldwide as sustainable solutions for urban environments. While PV systems help to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions, green roofs lower building energy use for air conditioning, mitigate urban heat island effects, and enhance the aesthetics of rooftops.

When combined, these systems allow for more efficient use of rooftop space by harnessing the cooling benefits of rooftop greenery and the generation of renewable electricity from solar panels.

A joint research study by the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and the National Parks Board (NParks) demonstrates the benefits of co-locating solar panels and green roofs in tropical climates – an area that is less well-studied compared to temperate regions.

Leading the research effort from NUS is Associate Professor Stephen Tay from the Department of the Built Environment at the College of Design and Engineering in NUS. The research findings were published online in the scientific journal Applied Energy on 4 June 2025.

“Our study shows that co-locating solar photovoltaics with green roofs in a tropical climate is technically feasible with multiple benefits – from improving solar panel performance and supporting greenery growth, to lowering roof surface temperature. These findings highlight the potential of integrating solar energy generation with rooftop greenery to advance sustainable urban developments in Singapore and beyond,” said Assoc Prof Tay.

Comparative analysis of four different set-ups

To evaluate the performance of co-located solar panels and green roofs under tropical conditions, an experimental study was conducted on the seventh-floor rooftop of Alexandra Primary School. Four different set-ups were monitored over a 12-month period, from November 2021 to October 2022, and a comparative analysis was conducted to assess the impact on solar energy generation, plant growth, and roof temperature.

The four rooftop set-ups comprised a bare concrete roof (BR-CT), a bare green roof (BR-GR), solar panels on bare concrete (PV-CT), and solar panels with green roof (PV-GR).

The study found that the PV-GR set-up delivered the highest overall performance, achieving both the highest photovoltaic performance, along with the lowest and most stable roof surface temperature. This enhances solar energy generation while providing effective cooling through greenery and shading. In addition, greenery growth in the PV-GR set-up improved significantly compared to the BR-GR set-up, with a 19.8 per cent higher horizontal coverage.

Other benefits were also highlighted in the study. Firstly, in the PV-GR set-up, evapotranspiration from plants was found to have a cooling effect on solar panels, which increased the performance ratio of the solar panels by an average of 1.3 per cent under clear sky conditions as compared to the PV-CT set-up.

Secondly, the co-location of solar panels and green roofs allows buildings to stay cooler. Roof surface temperatures were reduced by up to 4.7 deg C when compared to the BR-CT set-up, while indoor ceiling surface temperatures decreased by as much as 3 deg C when compared to the PV-CT set-up, as the roof is shielded from direct sunlight. Additionally, the PV-GR set-up exhibited the lowest variability in indoor ceiling temperatures, with average ceiling temperatures remaining below 30.5 deg C when compared with the PV-CT set-up, where indoor ceiling temperature can exceed 33 deg C in the day.

Thirdly, the research also tested five shade-tolerant plant species for green roof applications. Among them, Pilea depressa, Pilea nummulariifolia, Heterotis rotundifolia, and Sphagneticola trilobata achieved an average of 20 per cent higher horizontal coverage for the PV-GR set-up. Notably, Pilea depressa showed the most significant improvement when compared to the BR-GR set-up, indicating its suitability for co-located solar panel–green roof installations.

Optimising Singapore’s rooftop spaces for synergistic benefits

This study demonstrates that co-locating solar panels with green roofs is technically feasible, and offers three key benefits – enhanced solar energy generation, improved greenery coverage, and reduced thermal impact to the building.

For building owners, the outcomes from this study demonstrate the feasibility and added benefits of solar panel-green roof systems. Cumulatively, the impact from these benefits may translate into potential cost savings.

Given Singapore’s limited rooftop space, the co-location of solar panels and green roofs represents a smarter use of space, contributing to the nation’s green building initiatives and advancing its vision of becoming both a “Low-Carbon City” and a “City in Nature”.

“No man is an island.” This maxim held true during the inaugural Shaping Healthcare Innovation For Tomorrow (SHIFT) hackathon, a ground-up hackathon that empowers students to co-create innovative solutions to real-world healthcare challenges.

Organised by the Singapore Nursing Innovation Group (SNIG), a student-led initiative under the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing), over 100 students from five local universities and polytechnics — NUS, the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Ngee Ann Polytechnic , Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) and the Institute of Technical Education — collaborated on winning innovations spanning three subthemes: Chronic Disease Prevention & Early Detection, Lifestyle & Behavioural Health Modification, and Ageing Population & Preventive Care.

Held from 31 August to 6 September 2025, the interdisciplinary hackathon comprised almost 30 teams, with at least one Nursing student per team, offering a valuable opportunity for students to collaborate across fields and gain mentorship from healthcare professionals.

At the final showcase on 6 September 2025, three teams walked away with top honours for their innovative ideas — a smart sock, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) social network, and a behavioural change virtual pet — all poised to shape the future of healthcare.

Grand Prize: SafeStep Smart Sock

The top prize went to Team Wildcard — a trio from NUS comprising Magdalene Lim from NUS Nursing, Roopashini Sivananthan  from NUS College of Design and Engineering, and Hanzalah bin Azmi from the NUS Faculty of Law. Their prototype, SafeStep, is a breathable smart sock equipped with sensors that detect falls in real time and alert both wearer and caregiver. Designed for visually impaired elders, the sock aims to reduce fall-related injuries, one of the greatest impediments to seniors’ independence.

The smart sock is not the team’s first healthcare project. The trio, who first met at a design thinking workshop, had earlier collaborated on a pacifier for babies with cleft palates. They are now testing the viability and user experience of SafeStep by advancing it into the prototyping stage, with plans to conduct user interviews and design validation to ensure it meets patient and caregiver needs.

For Magdalene, the hackathon was a chance to bridge classroom learning with real-world insights. “As a student nurse, I don’t always have the full picture of what is being done in the community,” she said. “Our mentor’s wealth of experience really helped us see where the true pain points and gaps lie. That guidance shaped how we refined our idea, and it gave me a much deeper appreciation of how innovation must be rooted in real-world practice.”

1st Runner-Up: KampongNET for Seniors

Ctrl + Alt + Debride — comprising Winnie Low and Ivan Tan from NUS Nursing and NUS Faculty of Science (FoS), Maryam Syamilah Binti Mahmood Shah from SIT Computing Science, and Yi Jiaxin and Onquit Jake Davis Areglo from NYP School of Information Technology — took second place with KampongNET, a digital social platform with an AI voice assistant. Built for seniors living in rental homes within Silver Zone areas, the solution combats social isolation by fostering conversations and connections.

Several members of the team first met in NYP as volunteers. Winnie was the catalyst who brought them together, spurred by the opportunity to merge two disciplines rarely seen side by side. “Coding and nursing are such distinct fields, but through this hackathon we finally had the opportunity to merge them. I don’t see many nursing-focused hackathons — most are technically heavy and can feel daunting. When I saw this opportunity, I wanted to give it a try, especially with friends I knew from NYP,” she said.

2nd Runner-Up: HabiTot Virtual Pet

In third place, The Fantastic Four — Jin Li Yao and Daniel Chong Zhao Yang from FoS), Guo Xinyi from NUS Nursing, and Peh Jia En Leticia from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences — developed HabiTot, a Tamagotchi-inspired virtual pet that rewards children for spending less time on screens. The playful interface nudges kids toward social interaction, hobbies, and healthier daily routines.

Team member Li Yao said the hackathon provided a springboard for the team to think bigger. “We see real potential in HabiTot, and when time allows, we hope to expand the idea into a patent and explore collaborations to turn it into a working prototype. This hackathon gave us a starting point, and we’re excited to see how far it could go with the right partners.”

For NUS Nursing Asst Prof Jocelyn Chew, who founded SNIG, this stemmed from a conviction that nursing should be recognised not only for its role in bedside care, but also for its strength in problem-solving at the frontlines.

Her vision is for SNIG to grow into a national platform where nurses at all levels engage in cross-institutional collaboration, entrepreneurship, and evidence-based change. “We want to create an ecosystem that empowers nurses to go beyond solely delivering care, to also design the systems, technologies, and models of care that will shape the future of healthcare,” she said. That philosophy inspired SNIG’s first flagship project, the SHIFT Hackathon — a proving ground where students, practitioners, technologists, and community partners came together to co-create solutions.

SHIFT’s student organising committee, led by third-year NUS Nursing students Weslyn Low and Magdalene Tong, spearheaded the planning of the hackathon. They were supported by 25 nursing mentors from hospitals across Singapore, who guided teams through the fast-paced ideation and prototyping process.

Dr Lee Yee Mei, Deputy Director of Nursing at National University Hospital and one of the mentors, described the hackathon as both inspiring and a proud moment for the profession. Seeing students step up to innovate, she said, showed their potential to create ideas that benefit patients and nurses alike. She encouraged students to view innovation as part of nursing education itself — where even something as basic as measuring vital signs can be re-imagined.

Mr Wong Kok Cheong, Deputy Director of Nursing at Changi General Hospital and one of the judges for the hackathon, shared that it was indicative of a larger shift in nursing as a profession. “Nursing innovation is the next milestone for nurses – with an ageing population and shrinking workforce, innovation is essential to improving productivity and patient outcomes.”

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

• Berita Minggu, 7 September 2025, p11

By Ms Nurul ‘Ain Binte Razali, Part-time Lecturer at the Centre for Language Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Berita Minggu, 7 September 2025, p16

Over 300 students from across NUS gathered for “Building an Innovation Mindset” on 20 August 2025, a dynamic half-day event under the NUSOne initiative, hosted by NUS Enterprise in collaboration with the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) and the Office of the Provost. More than a theoretical introduction to entrepreneurship, the event offered an experiential journey, showing students how curiosity can be transformed into action, and how ideas can drive tangible, real-world impact.

Engineering innovation with entrepreneurial thinking

In the “Ideas to Innovation” lecture by Associate Professor Khoo Eng Tat, Assistant Dean (Research & Technology) at CDE, students were encouraged to view engineering (and learning) not just as calculations and prototypes, but as a platform for innovation and enterprise. His message: Entrepreneurial mindset is not innate – it is cultivated through questioning assumptions, embracing experimentation, and most importantly, learning from failure.

Luis Olguin Reyes, a Year 4 student at NUS Business School, aptly shared: “Failure is part of success, like in everything, but especially in entrepreneurship.” The sentiment captured the spirit of the lecture, reminding students that setbacks are not endpoints, but stepping stones for learning.

Founders’ fireside chat: Turning passion into purpose

A highlight of the afternoon was the panel discussion on “How Founders Bring Passion to Life”, moderated by Remi Choong, partner at deep-tech venture capital firm Elev8.vc. Three NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) alumni also shared their journeys:

·       Grace Chia, Co-Founder & CEO of BeeX Autonomous Systems

·       M. Ibnur Rashad, Founder & CEO of Ground-Up Innovation Labs for Development (GUILD)

·       Chang Qingyang, Co-founder & CEO of ConcreteAI

Their stories were not polished pitches but honest reflections on long nights, bold pivots, and repeated failures. Through these raw insights, students saw how resilience, curiosity and adaptability are the real engines behind innovation.

Students left inspired to take bold actions, embrace diverse perspectives, and approach challenges with creativity. For Leonard Goh, Year 2 student at NUS School of Computing, he found the session eye-opening and quoted M. Ibnur Rashad: “Failure is the norm in entrepreneurship, and it should be expected, not avoided.”

For Reiner Ong, Year 2 student at NUS CDE, this was an eye-opener. She reflected, “I’ve always been afraid to start my own entrepreneurial journey because I feared setbacks. But after today’s panel, I’ve learned that failure is just part of the journey, and we must embrace and learn from it.”

Building mindsets, block by block

The event closed with “Problem Solving Piece by Piece”, a hands-on challenge using the SOMA cube, a classic spatial puzzle made of interlocking pieces. The activity sparked laughter, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, teaching participants the value of persistence, teamwork, and breaking complex challenges into manageable steps, key habits for building an entrepreneurial mindset.

Neryss Ho, Year 2 student at CDE, shared, “We were tasked to build the tallest tower using just a few 3D blocks, and it was so much fun thinking of creative ways to solve the problem. It was definitely my favourite activity.”

The activity underscored a vital truth: complex problems can be tackled when broken into parts - mirroring the process of entrepreneurial problem-solving in the real world.

Key takeaways: Planting the seeds of an entrepreneurial future

By the end of the event, one thing was clear: Entrepreneurship isn’t just about launching start-ups – it is a mindset. It is about cultivating curiosity and courage to ask “What if?”, and about embracing failure as a learning opportunity. It is about turning problems into possibilities, and taking the first small step toward something bigger.

Many students walked away with concrete goals, from solving one real-world problem a month to forming project teams with peers from different faculties.

“Building an Innovation Mindset” was more than a typical classroom lesson. It offered students not only a window into how ventures are built, but also personal growth in building confidence, skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset to take their first steps toward launching their own innovations and turning ideas into tangible impact.

By NUS Enterprise

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

• The Straits Times, 4 September 2025, Opinion, pB4

• 8world Online, 3 September 2025
• The Business Times, 4 September 2025, p11
• Lianhe Zaobao, 4 September 2025, Business, p27

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

• Berita Minggu, 31 August 2025, p11

Applying to NUS has become easier — the University has adopted a new digital system that offers a smoother, faster, and more intuitive experience for students.

A few years ago, NUS set out to reimagine and enhance the entire admissions journey, aiming to deliver a seamless and user-friendly experience for both applicants and administrators. This initiative to modernise the NUS Undergraduate Admission System (UAS 2) was recently featured as a case study by Gartner, a leading global research and advisory firm. Selected through a rigorous selection process and a thorough independent assessment, this recognition highlights the significant impact of NUS’ digital transformation efforts.

Putting automation at the core of the initiative, NUS Office of Admissions (NUS OAM) and NUS Information Technology (NUS IT) teamed up to transform the application experience, simplifying and optimising the entire process.

The new and modernised system was first launched in Academic Year 2022/23 and fully completed in June 2024. The introduction of the new system significantly enhanced the application process and enabled NUS OAM to efficiently handle a substantial increase in applications. The system also provided timely notifications of application outcomes — via email and SMS — to prospective students, reducing the volume of admissions enquiries to NUS OAM.

NUS Dean of Admissions Professor Goh Say Song said, “The application process marks students’ first pivotal step in their journey towards admission. When the process is simple and smooth, it instantly builds trust with the students and shows that we value their experience from the very beginning.”

This new platform enables automation and data-driven processes, replacing manual systems with a digitally enhanced approach to managing applications. This has optimised the use of IT resources and enabled more responsive and scalable operations. Extensive testing was also conducted by NUS OAM and NUS IT to ensure an integration of legacy systems with the new platform.

Transforming the application experience with automation

Automating the application process allowed NUS OAM to streamline its workflows, significantly reducing the time taken for administrators to process applications. Beyond enhancing operational productivity, the new platform offers applicants an intuitive, accessible and more personalised experience, setting NUS apart in an intensely competitive higher education landscape.

The modernisation of the admission system also had a tangible impact on the day-to-day work of administrators. With faster processing, more efficient use of IT resources, and higher applicant satisfaction, this reflects a broader cultural shift towards digital-first thinking and underscores the long-term value of the benefits of transformative technology.

NUS Chief Information Technology Officer Ms Tan Shui-Min shared, “Transforming an institution-wide system was fostered by strong cross-department collaboration that enabled us to overcome challenges and drive the platform’s success. The recognition as a Gartner case study reaffirmed NUS’s position as a digital leader in higher education and validated the efforts of our teams!”

Both teams have some nuggets of wisdom to share from the experience of facilitating this system upgrade. “Remain flexible, maintain an agile mindset when adopting new technology, and regularly engage and proactively communicate with end-users to determine adjustments that need to be made. The success of such initiatives lies in having a clear vision, a commitment to innovation, and a willingness to reimagine traditional processes for a better future.”

Climate change presents substantial challenges for Singapore and Southeast Asia. Recognising the importance of addressing these needs, NUS is contributing to a new national-level collaboration aimed at enhancing weather prediction for Singapore and the region by leveraging the latest advances in science and technology.

On 5 September 2025, Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with partners from the National Environment Agency (NEA), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) to establish the Climate and Weather Research Alliance Singapore (CAWRAS).

CAWRAS serves as a national research platform to advance tropical climate and weather research for Singapore and Southeast Asia. It will also nurture local talent pipeline in weather and climate science. Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary attended the launch as Guest-of-Honour.

Highlighting the significance of CAWRAS’ work, Dr Puthucheary said, “Climate science gives us a better glimpse into the future and helps reduce the uncertainty in climate projections, allowing us to plan and calibrate our various adaptation measures based on the latest available science, which we have done in areas such as coastal protection, flood resilience, heat resilience and food security. Weather services are crucial in providing the necessary data to government agencies and stakeholders for their operations.”

He added that there is a need to further understand tropical climate and weather systems, and develop localised, high-resolution products tailored to this region, which has our own uniqueness.

“The research alliance will bring together and harmonise the unique capabilities across our institutes,” said Dr Puthucheary. “This collaborative research model will also allow us to nurture a robust local talent pipeline in weather and climate science… We need to have that capability and expertise so that we position Singapore at the forefront of tropical urban weather and climate science.”

Five NUS projects have been awarded funding, among 10 projects, under a S$25 million Weather Science Research Programme funded under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan which will be implemented via CAWRAS.

NUS researchers will be spearheading the following research initiatives:

1.     Enhancing next-generation numerical weather prediction

Dr Srivatsan V Raghavan from the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute, will be leading a project team to enhance Singapore’s weather science capabilities by leveraging high-resolution radar data to improve thunderstorm prediction within the critical 0-6 hour range and reduce false alarms for heavy rainfall events.

2.     Modelling Singapore's complex urban environment and its effects on weather, including extreme conditions

A team of scientists led by Professor Matthias Roth from the Department of Geography at NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences will look into developing a next-generation urban-scale weather forecasting system to improve prediction capabilities from the current 1.5km resolution used by the Meteorological Services Singapore to much finer neighbourhood scales (100-300m). The enhanced system will provide more detailed forecasts for urban heat, wind flows, extreme rainfall, and air pollution dispersion.

3.     Understanding the effects of air-sea-land interactions on the weather of the Maritime Continent

Dr Kaushik Sasmal from the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore, will drive research efforts to develop a fully coupled atmosphere-ocean-land modeling system to improve weather prediction in the Maritime Continent region, particularly for phenomena strongly influenced by air-sea-land interactions such as squall lines, atmospheric and marine vortices, and the diurnal cycle of rainfall.

4.     AI foundation models for regional weather prediction in the Maritime Continent

Assistant Professor Zhu Lailai from the Department of Mechanical Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS will be leading a project to establish a general framework for fine-tuning existing AI Foundation Models tailored to high-resolution regional weather prediction in the Maritime Continent. The aim is to strengthen extreme weather detection, with aviation identified as a priority application.

5.     Leveraging advanced techniques to transform complex ensemble data into actionable tropical weather forecasts

A team led by Assistant Professor He Xiaogang from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS will be developing the Tropical Ensemble Model Post-processing with Explainable Scenario (TEMPEST) system to interpret ensemble forecasts through novel clustering algorithms.

Prof Liu said, “NUS welcomes this national research alliance as an integral part of our commitment to research and innovation in the areas of sustainability and climate change. Leveraging our research strengths such as urban climate modelling, hydroclimatology, artificial intelligence, and foundation modelling, we are excited to contribute significantly on a national level to Singapore's weather prediction capabilities while nurturing the next generation of weather and climate scientists.”

Elevating weather science capabilities, together

Led by the Centre for Climate Research Singapore, CAWRAS brings together leading research institutions to expand weather science capabilities at the national level. This coordinated effort comes at a time when advances in technology, such as high-resolution modelling, artificial intelligence, and enhanced observational networks, present new opportunities to improve weather prediction. The research alliance will expand its scope to include climate research on longer timescales in future.

The 10 research projects awarded under the WSRP, focus on four key areas: improving the use of weather observations, developing next-generation weather/climate models, performing a detailed historical weather re-analysis over recent decades for Southeast Asia, and enhancing weather prediction accuracy through advanced post-processing techniques.

Ms Koh Li-Na, Director-General of the Meteorological Service Singapore, NEA, said, "CAWRAS is a strong commitment by our research institutions, working with the Centre for Climate Research Singapore, to collectively tackle the unique challenges of predicting weather in our tropical urban environment and enhance our understanding of climate change. We look forward to translating science to improved services to bolster Singapore’s resilience in the face of climate change.”

Professor Lim Keng Hui, Assistant Chief Executive (Science & Engineering Research Council), A*STAR, said, "A*STAR is proud to contribute to this national effort to improve Singapore’s weather research. Our expertise in high performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), modelling and simulation will contribute to the development of the Climate and Weather Research & Evaluation Testbed (CAWRET) and support regional analysis. We look forward to working closely with our partners to translate scientific innovations into practical solutions that strengthen Singapore’s resilience to weather-related challenges, particularly in sectors in aviation, maritime, and urban planning.”

Professor Ernst Kuipers, Vice President (Research) of NTU Singapore said, “Leveraging NTU’s established track record in Earth and environmental sciences, supported by infrastructure like the Earth Observatory of Singapore, and our pioneering Climate Transformation Programme, we are uniquely positioned to combine AI, remote sensing, and advanced environmental modelling to forecast tropical weather with enhanced accuracy. Through interdisciplinary collaboration spanning fields like medicine, public health, environmental engineering, and urban resilience, NTU will contribute to Singapore’s role as a leading hub for tropical weather and climate science research in Southeast Asia.”

• The Straits Times, 3 September 2025, The Big Story, pA6

• The Straits Times, 3 September 2025, The Big Story, pA6

Associate Professor Koh Ming Joo from NUS Department of Chemistry has been named an Asian Young Scientist Fellow in recognition of his achievements in base metal-catalysed alkene/alkyne functionalisations and glycosyl radical functionalisations, which have significantly accelerated small-molecule and carbohydrate synthesis. The Fellowship aims to support his exploration in catalytic skeletal editing transformations to create new functional molecules.

The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) announced 12 Fellows this year comprising accomplished early-career scientists selected for their exceptional scientific contributions and potential in their respective fields.

The AYSF annually selects early-career researchers in the fundamental science disciplines of life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and computer science. Each Fellow receives USD100,000 over two years to support their research, along with benefits from participating in the AYSF annual conference, academic activities, and access to a network of young scientists across Asia and globally. 

Assoc Prof Koh said, “It’s an honour to be named an AYS Fellow and represent NUS on the international stage. I believe this Fellowship will boost our efforts to develop transformative skeletal editing reactions that have the capacity to change the landscape of organic synthesis.”

See more

By Prof Tan Huay Cheem, from the Dept of Medicine,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 2 September 2025, Fukan, p2

By Dr Hanny Kusnadi, Senior Lecturer at the Dept of Accounting at NUS Business School

• The Business Times, 2 September 2025, p5

By Prof Danny Quah, Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Straits Times, 2 September 2025, Opinion, pB2

• CNA Online, 1 September 2025
• 8world Online, 1 September 2025
• CNA938, 1 September 2025
• Tamil Murasu, 2 September 2025, p2

• Lianhe Zaobao, 2 September 2025, Singapore, p9

• The Straits Times Online, 2 September 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 2 September 2025
• CNA Online, 2 September 2025
• 8world Online, 2 September 2025

• Money 89.3FM, 27 August 2025
• The Business Times, 28 August 2025, p15
• Lianhe Zaobao, 2 September 2025, Singapore, p10

• CNA Online, 28 August 2025
• CNA, 28 August 2025
• Channel 5 News, 28 August 2025
• 8world Online, 28 August 2025
• CNA938, 28 August 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 29 August 2025, Singapore, p7

• 8world Online, 28 August 2025

• Suria News Online, 28 August 2025

By Elyssa Liu, Legal Frameworks and Governance Team Leader at the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness

• CNA Online, 26 August 2025

Asian nations are today becoming more central to shaping global politics, economics and security. As Asia’s global influence grows, its countries must take responsibility for stability and peace, rather than allowing rivalries to define the century.

This point was underscored during the dialogue between veteran diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute (ARI) Mr Kishore Mahbubani and Singapore’s former foreign minister Mr George Yeo in conjunction with the launch of the book, Can Asians Think of Peace? Essays on Managing Conflict in the Asian Century, on 22 August 2025.

The book, co-edited by Mr Mahbubani and Dr Kesava Chandra Varigonda and Ms Kristen Tang from ARI, compiles 61 essays written by global scholars, policymakers and experts for the Asian Peace Programme (APP) from the time of its launch in July 2020 to December 2024. The essays examine possible areas of conflict in Asia, offering Asia-focused, pragmatic perspectives on conflict management and peacebuilding.

Published in July 2025 as an open-access volume to coincide with APP’s fifth anniversary, the book has already been downloaded 103,000 times and reached #3 on The Straits Times non-fiction bestseller list, reflecting its broad reach across academia, policy circles and the public.

In his opening address at the launch, ARI Director Professor Tim Bunnell recalled how the APP was conceived in the wake of the 2020 military clashes between Chinese and Indian troops, as there was a recognition of the need for a credible peace initiative that was “Asia-focused, Asia-centred and Asia-led”.

“This book stands as proof of the important work the APP has undertaken in addressing that need, with recent tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border serving as a reminder that such peace-making efforts remain as vital as ever for the region,” said Prof Bunnell.

Speaking at the launch event attended by about 250 guests from academia and policymaking, Mr Yeo lauded APP for demonstrating what he called “a bias for peace”, describing how the book contained a “treasure trove of perspectives” on the region’s most pressing challenges.

He highlighted the critical role of understanding one’s opponents in geopolitics, as effective peacekeeping demands strategic insight and a clear grasp of what motivates the opponents and where their interests lie.

“When we start seeing problems from the other person’s perspective, and we can only do it if we respect the interlocutor, then the possibility of win-win outcomes becomes possible,” Mr Yeo said.

The dangers of ‘demonising opponents’ were also discussed during the dialogue between Mr Yeo and Mr Mahbubani.

“When you demonise the other, you become fearful, you become self-righteous. And out of self-righteousness arises the greatest evil. Those who are evil…believe they are doing right by the people,” said Mr Yeo, adding that this troubling mindset had become increasingly evident, for example, in US-China relations. Rather than allowing fear and self-righteousness to shape interactions, he emphasised the value of building understanding through shared histories and cultures.

Mr Mahbubani pointed to the recent warming of China–India relations, which he described as critical to peace in Asia. Mr Yeo concurred, citing symbolic gestures on both sides: President Xi Jinping’s 2014 visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, where the Buddhist monk Xuanzang once spent time, and Mr Modi’s reciprocal visit to Xi’s hometown of Xi’an, where Xuanzang had returned with Buddhist scriptures.

Mr Yeo drew on a striking metaphor by eminent historian and NUS University Professor Wang Gungwu, who described Singapore as the place where the “mandalas” of India and China overlap.

Extending this imagery, he noted that Southeast Asia is where the spheres of influence of China, India and the West intersect at varying intensities across the 10 ASEAN nations – giving the region a unique vantage point to understand all three. “The work which the APP does, in a sense, can only be done in Southeast Asia, and perhaps only in Singapore, which makes it so special,” he said.

Indeed, it is Mr Mahbubani’s hope that the APP can make a meaningful difference by serving as “a small candle” that illuminates the path to peace in Asia and beyond.

Can Asians Think of Peace? Essays on Managing Conflict in the Asian Century is a culmination of the APP’s work, with its open-access format allowing anyone worldwide to read and cite these essays, amplifying their reach across academia, policy, and public discourse.

Download the book for free now at publisher Springer Nature’s website.

Sixty-three years after their formal separation, NUS and Universiti Malaya (UM) continue to honour their shared origins and enduring relationship.

Late last month, the two universities came together in Ipoh, Malaysia, to celebrate their social and academic ties through the 54^th edition of the UM-NUS Inter-University Tunku Chancellor Golf Tournament, as well as the concurrent UM-NUS Joint Academic Symposium on Precision Health.

To mark the occasion, a royal dinner was held on 25 August 2025 at the Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar. The event was hosted by the UM Chancellor, His Royal Highness (HRH) Sultan Dr Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Sultan of Perak, and the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Her Royal Highness Tuanku Zara Salim. It was attended by the NUS Chancellor and President of the Republic of Singapore, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and his spouse, Mrs Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, as well as Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Mr Vanu Gopala Menon (Business ’85) and his spouse, Mrs Jayanthi Menon (Law ’89). Other members of the NUS delegation included Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees; Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85), NUS President; and Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts & Social Sciences ’89), NUS Chief Alumni Officer, alongside participating academics and golfers.

In remarks made at the dinner, Professor Tan stated, “This is the second year we have paired the tournament with an academic symposium, symbolising the diverse and multilayered nature of the UM-NUS relationship: one that values both personal connection and intellectual exchange, each deepening and enriching the other.”

The sentiment was echoed by the Vice-Chancellor of UM, Professor Dato' Seri Ir. Dr Noor Azuan bin Abu Osman, who observed, “What gives universities their unique power is that we do not compete for resources in the same way states or corporations do. Instead, we compete by collaborating, and we grow stronger by sharing.”

Partners in progress

This commitment to collaboration and knowledge exchange was evident at the joint academic symposium on 26 August, themed around precision health. The event featured presentations from 10 distinguished researchers and professors from both UM and NUS, with speakers highlighting the ongoing transformation of healthcare from a one-size-fits-all model to one driven by personalised medicine and data-driven solutions.

“It’s always meaningful when we can come together to leverage our complementary strengths and address shared challenges,” said Professor Tai E Shyong from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. “UM and NUS have tremendous potential to advance medical research focused on Asian populations, with events like this providing a valuable platform to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and drive progress in ways that ultimately improve the healthcare outcomes of our communities.”

Friendship in full swing

Complementing the joint symposium, the UM-NUS Inter-University Tunku Chancellor Golf Tournament took place on 26 August 2025 at the Royal Perak Golf Club, following a social round held the previous day at the Meru Valley Golf & Country Club.  More than 100 golfers—including faculty, staff and alumni from both institutions—participated in the event.  

First held in 1968 as a symbol of the strong relationship between senior leaders of UM and NUS, the longstanding tournament is hosted alternately by the two universities, strengthening ties across their academic and alumni communities.

This year, the UM team emerged victorious, capping off an eventful two days reaffirming more than six decades of friendship and collaboration.

By NUS Office of Alumni Relations

By Dr Jean-Loup Samaan, Senior Research Fellow from the Middle East Institute at NUS

• CNA Online, 30 August 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao, 24 August 2025, News, p10

By Prof Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School

• The Business Times, 23 August 2025, p2

• CNA, 20 August 2025
• CNA Online, 20 August 2025
• Channel 5 News, 20 August 2025
• Vasantham News Online, 20 August 2025
• The Straits Times, 21 August 2025, The Big Story, Front Page & pA2
• Lianhe Zaobao, 21 August 2025, Singapore, Front Page & p6
• CNA938, 21 August 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 21 August 2025
• Kiss92FM, 21 August 2025
• One FM 91.3, 21 August 2025
• The New Paper, 21 August 2025
• Berita Harian, 21 August 2025, Front Page
• Tamil Murasu, 21 August 2025, Front Page
• Tabla!, 22 August 2025, p4
• Lianhe Zaobao, 25 August 2025, Opinion, p19