When it comes to juggling life’s many commitments, these three NUS graduates from the Class of 2025 are in a league of their own. Not only did they thrive in their studies, but they also stood out for their relentless pursuit of sporting excellence.

Rebecca Ong: Composure under pressure on and off the piste

As the creepy figure dressed as a vampire slowly made her way on stage, the audience at Playhouse 2023/24, NUS Medical Society’s annual drama production, watched on in fear and suspense. Nailing the corpse-like role was Rebecca Ong Jia Min, who starred in the original play titled The Department of Occult Medicine. She had auditioned for the role to enjoy another side of university life. “I wanted to experience the arts, and NUS gave me that chance.”

This shot at theatrical exploration was a refreshing departure for the passionate athlete and one of many experiences Rebecca embraced during her university years. Having picked up fencing in 2011 when she was 10, Rebecca has represented Singapore in multiple Southeast Asian (SEA) Games since 2019. She was part of the team that won Singapore’s first gold in women’s team épée at the 2022 SEA Games.

“We trained very hard and cohesively. During the matches, we each knew our roles because we had practised as a team many times before. We knew when we had to go all out to score points and when we had to focus on holding the score. We fought hard together and cheered each other on,” she said.

Rebecca credits her many years in competitive sports for setting a foundation for her medical career. She is currently a house officer at the National University Hospital.

“Fencing and medicine both demand split-second decision-making under pressure,” she explained. “In a bout that’s only three minutes long, you don’t have time to think twice. It’s similar to emergency situations we encounter in the hospital.”

Her university journey also offered many opportunities to explore different areas of interest during the elective periods, from tending to snakebite victims in Taiwan as part of a rural medicine elective to studying oil painting in Rome for a fine art elective. 

“Overall, the NUS Medicine curriculum has been very enriching. It has given me many eye-opening experiences and some of the fondest memories of my university days,” she reflected. Due to the demanding schedule while transitioning from student to doctor, Rebecca has scaled back her fencing commitments for now, but continues to spar with her juniors and give them pointers to improve. 

“Just like in medicine, I’ve realised that I really enjoy taking time to learn about others’ lives and offer help where I can,” she said. 

Rebecca graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery on 10 July 2025. 

Mirza Nabil: Building mental fortitude through martial arts 

For Mirza Nabil Putra Azhar, silat is more than a sport — it was a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He had enrolled in the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies in 2021, when most classes were held online. But while on the silat mats at the Multipurpose Sports Hall, he found the engagement he had been craving in a pandemic-disrupted world.

“Silat was my second home,” he said. “I heard about silat for the very first time during orientation. The NUS Silat Captain back then described the student sports group as a family — and that’s exactly what it became for me.”

Over four years, Mirza rose through the ranks at NUS Silat, clinching golds in the artistic team category at the National Tertiary Silat Competitions in 2022 and 2023, a gold in the doubles category at the same competition in 2023, as well as a bronze at the 2024 ASEAN University Games.

He cites venturing out of his comfort zone as his biggest achievement. “It wasn’t the medals. It was pushing myself to compete in two categories. That was my personal mountain,” he noted. “When I did it, it proved to me that I could handle more than I had thought possible.”

His journey was not always smooth. He had to deal with a series of personal losses, including the passing of his uncle and grandmother.

During that time, he drew strength from his loved ones and found solace in the practice of silat. “Sharing my struggles with my close friends and family helped. I would say silat also helped my mental health — I was able to see steady progress in this physical endeavour, and that really boosted my confidence.”

Mirza also discovered another passion through his nursing course: the field of mental health. “The importance of reaching out to others is underrated. Your emotions are valid, and you must know how to articulate them,” he said. It was also this discovery that inspired his graduation thesis on psychotherapeutic interventions that improve the psychological well-being of Muslims with depression.

Beyond the classroom, Mirza served as the Vice President and Head of Programmes for the NUS Muslim Society, where he led numerous initiatives to uplift the student community, strengthen bonds within the wider campus population, and contribute meaningfully to society at large.

He will continue to pursue his deep passion for mental wellbeing and serving others when he embarks on his career as a nurse with the Institute of Mental Health in August.

Mirza graduated on 10 July 2025 with a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) with Honours (Highest Distinction).

Vivien Tai: Syncing to focus and discipline

Asked by a friend to give artistic swimming a try at age 10, Vivien Tai Wen Ting gamely said yes — and eventually went on to make a splash in the artistic swimming arena.

After she qualified for the national team, one of her earliest memorable achievements was a gold in the team free routine at the 2017 SEA Games. She then went on to captain the team at the 2023 Asian Games, where they placed fifth – Singapore’s best-ever team showing at the regional competition.

Juggling the intense training with her Bachelor of Pharmacy studies was no walk in the park. During weekdays, Vivien would spend her days at school before heading off for training in the evening. The pace hardly let up on weekends – she would train from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, and from 8am to 1pm on Sundays.

“There were days I wanted to give up. But the responsibility that I owed to the team is what kept me going on hard days,” she shared.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she would even attend online classes by the poolside to be on time for training. She is grateful to her professors and schoolmates, who would check in on her if she missed any classes or needed to catch up on her schoolwork.

“I knew I had to plan ahead and manage my time well. In university, it’s very hard to catch up on a backlog, so I could not afford to fall behind,” she said.

NUS also made provisions for her when competitions clashed with her exams. For instance, she took her final examinations during the summer vacation break in 2023 due to her Asian Games commitments. “That kind of understanding was so crucial,” said Vivien.

She has since retired from competitive artistic swimming and is now working as an event operations executive at Singapore Aquatics while continuing to coach on the side. Nevertheless, she holds dear the precious lessons from her training days. “Artistic swimming taught me fortitude, time management, and empathy — especially on the bad days, when emotions are running high, you have to try to consider all points of view. These are qualities that go far beyond the pool”.

Vivien is confident that the breadth of her experiences will serve her well when she embarks on the journey towards obtaining her pharmacy license in the near future.

On 17 July 2025, Vivien will be graduating with a Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours (Distinction).

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2025, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2025. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2025 on our social media channels!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative tools in modern science and technology. However, its value extends beyond high-performance algorithms or advances in automation. At NUS, researchers are applying AI in practical, human-centred ways to improve lives across a range of everyday settings.

From empowering older adults to take charge of their cognitive health, to helping people with visual impairments navigate the world with greater immersion, and enabling better oral health through diet tracking, NUS researchers are designing AI innovations that respond to real needs in the community.

On AI Appreciation Day 2025, we celebrate the adaptive, context-aware AI innovations that empower independence, dignity, and decision-making, a departure from one-size-fits-all approaches. What unites them is a clear focus on accessibility, personalisation and long-term benefit, each playing a role in reshaping the lives of ordinary people through the power of AI.

CURATE.DTx: Personalised cognitive training to support healthy ageing

As Singapore’s population ages, the risk of age-related cognitive decline is becoming an increasingly urgent health concern. For many older adults, early signs of memory loss or mental fatigue may go unnoticed or unaddressed until more serious symptoms emerge. Spotting this gap, a research team at NUS has developed CURATE.DTx, a digital platform that uses AI to deliver personalised cognitive training and potentially identify early warning signs of cognitive decline in a simple, engaging format.

The CURATE.DTx platform is adapted from a NASA-designed system which simulates real-world tasks to understand the user’s responses. The NUS team, co-led by Associate Professor Bina Rai from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) and Dr Alexandria Remus, who is the Head of Digital Therapeutics at both the Institute of Digital Medicine and N.1 Institute for Health (N.1) at NUS, designed a gamified experience that challenges seniors to manage four concurrent tasks, such as watering plants, feeding fish or responding to audio cues, within a two-minute session. Each task is designed to train a specific aspect of cognitive function such as attention, memory or coordination.

The crux of CURATE.DTx is how the game adapts in real time to the individual’s performance. Integrating the platform with CURATE.AI, an AI engine originally developed for personalised medicine, enables the system to continuously fine-tune the game’s difficulty level based on how a user performs. If a player completes a round with ease, the AI will gently increase the challenge; if they struggle, it will dial back the complexity. The goal is to keep users engaged at just the right level — not too easy to be boring, not too hard to be frustrating.

Unlike most AI systems that rely on large datasets from many people, CURATE.AI uses only the individual’s own data to generate a personalised cognitive profile. This “small data” approach ensures that each person’s cognitive training is tailored to their abilities and progression over time.

“Older adults are not a one-size-fits-all group. CURATE.DTx recognises that even the same person may perform differently from day to day. By using their own performance data to adapt and improve, the system offers training that is both personalised and dynamic,” said Dr Remus who is also Senior Research Fellow at the Heat and Resilience Performance Centre at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

As part of her thesis work, final-year NUS undergraduate student Cathlin Theophilus from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, CDE, helped to develop the latest adaptation of CURATE.DTx called “Life As A…” through several rounds of community testing with older adults.

“Designed with user-friendliness in mind, the game includes culturally familiar scenarios, like gardening, and intuitive touch controls. Participants receive positive feedback from a friendly virtual character and can earn in-game coins for completing tasks, reinforcing motivation without penalties for mistakes” said Assoc Prof Rai who is also a Principal Investigator at the N.1.

Early usability studies conducted in partnership with public hospitals, the first community engagement hub at the Health District@Queenstown, and BME for Good – an initiative by the Department of Biomedical Engineering at CDE - showed high engagement and willingness to continue playing. Many participants found the game enjoyable, especially when the storyline reflected familiar hobbies. Participants also identified the need for clear audio instructions and simplified interfaces.

Looking ahead, the team aims to refine the game’s mechanics further and test its long-term effectiveness in supporting cognitive health. Eventually, they aim to scale the tool for home use, making preventive cognitive care more accessible and less stigmatised.

SonicVista and AiSee: Enhancing daily living for the visually impaired through sound and smart assistance

Supporting independence in daily life is a key priority for people living with visual impairment. At NUS School of Computing, Associate Professor Suranga Nanayakkara and his team are developing tools that harness AI to address everyday challenges — to enhance how users connect with and enjoy the world around them and for functional navigation.

SonicVista is a mobile application that transforms panoramic scenes, such as parks or cityscapes, into immersive soundscapes. The application analyses an image of the user’s surroundings to identify key visual elements and generate realistic ambient audio: rustling leaves, distant church bells, and people conversing nearby. These AI-generated sounds are then layered with spoken descriptions to provide a multi-sensory experience of the environment.

The AI models behind SonicVista were trained to detect objects and simulate audio in a way that feels natural and spatially coherent. Instead of just hearing a list of what is around, users can experience the mood and texture of a scene through sound. For example, a visually impaired visitor to a garden might hear birdsong to the left, footsteps on gravel to the right and narration guiding them toward the next trail. This auditory experience brings leisure and exploration into reach, while preserving important environmental cues like voices or traffic.

Complementing SonicVista is AiSee, a wearable assistive device first developed in 2018. Since then, the team has introduced a range of improvements to make AiSee even more practical and intelligent. The current version features an open-ear speaker design that enhances comfort and allows environmental awareness, essential for safety and orientation.

More significantly, AiSee’s AI system now functions like a digital assistant that can perform complex tasks beyond simple object recognition, such as reading food labels and translating text. A video mode allows AiSee to assist users over extended activities, such as locating items at home or navigating a shopping centre. The team has been testing the device with visually impaired users in Singapore since late 2024, using feedback to refine both hardware and software. The NUS research team plans to include public trials at spaces like the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where visually impaired visitors can borrow a headset to explore the grounds independently.

“Our focus has always been on creating tools that empower, not just assist,” said Assoc Prof Nanayakkara. “Combining intelligent audio and interactive AI allows us to design technologies that help people experience more of the world on their own terms.”

Dental Diet Diary: improving dental health through informed diet-tracking

Tooth decay remains one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, yet many people continue to underestimate how much their diet contributes to oral health issues. In Singapore, sugar-sweetened beverages and frequent snacking are widespread dietary habits, but patients often struggle to track how these behaviours affect their teeth. At the NUS Faculty of Dentistry, Assistant Professor Charlene Goh saw an opportunity to bridge the gap.

Together with collaborators from NUS School of Computing and Smart Systems Institute, they developed the Dental Diet Diary, a mobile tool that uses AI to recognise food from photos and offer personalised, dental-focused dietary feedback. The app was designed to support people in making small, informed dietary changes that could reduce their risk of dental caries.

The idea was sparked from conversations with dental students, who found traditional paper-based diet diaries to be inconvenient and outdated. Patients were often reluctant to complete them and, even when they did, dentists had little time to analyse the information in detail.

Existing nutrition-tracking apps tend to focus on calorie counting or general health. The Dental Diet Diary, however, combines deep learning with behavioural nudges tailored to the local context. Users simply snap a photo of their meal or drink, and the application’s AI model identifies the item and matches it to a nutritional database. The model was trained on over 200,000 images across 241 food categories, with a strong focus on familiar local dishes and beverages.

Once the food is recognised, the application highlights tooth decay-related factors such as sugar content, acidity and snacking frequency. Users receive real-time prompts, such as reminders to drink water after a sweetened kopi or to limit sticky desserts between meals. These messages are written in an informal, relatable style — “Do you ‘lim kopi’ with your buddies at tea time? Try asking for siew dai or kosong” — to help users connect the advice to their own habits.

“We wanted the app to be simple enough for everyday use, but also smart enough to guide meaningful change,” said Asst Prof Goh. “We’ve created a tool that supports oral health in a way that feels personal and relevant by narrowing the focus to caries prevention and designing around local diets.”

The project team includes researchers from the NUS School of Computing: Professor Ooi Beng Chin from the Department of Computer Science, Dr Zheng Kaiping, Senior Research Fellow with the NUS Database Systems Research Group, and Liu Changshuo, a PhD student. Together, they adapted existing food recognition technologies to better serve dental goals, reducing interface complexity and adding oral health education modules.

A pilot trial with Year 1 dental students demonstrated positive reception and usability. The team now plans to expand testing to patients at high risk of dental decay and is exploring a WhatsApp-based interface to widen accessibility. Future versions may also link the app to electronic health records to enable dentists and patients to co-manage diet-related risk factors with greater ease and continuity.

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

• The Straits Times, 15 July 2025, Opinion, pB1 and B2

• Lianhe Zaobao, 15 July 2025, Singapore, p6

• CNA, 14 July 2025
• Channel 5 News, 14 July 2025
• 8world Online, 14 July 2025
• Suria News Online, 14 July 2025
• Vasantham News Online, 14 July 2025
• The Straits Times, 15 July 2025, Singapore, pA12
• Lianhe Zaobao,15 July 2025, Singapore, p6

The National University of Singapore School of Computing (NUS Computing) proudly hosted the inaugural International Cybersecurity Olympiad (ICO) from 22 to 28 June 2025, marking a global milestone in cybersecurity education and talent development. The event, held at the NUS Computing’s Sea Building, aimed to raise global awareness of the importance of cybersecurity, nurture young talent, facilitate global networking, and encourage international collaboration.

ICO 2025 was supported by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT), and Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau. Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, was the Guest-of-Honour at the Opening Ceremony on 23 June, while Professor Xu Guo Qin, Director and Chief Principal Investigator at NUS Research Institute in Suzhou, graced the Closing Ceremony on 26 June.

Speaking to enthusiastic participants at the opening ceremony, Mr Tan said, “This Olympiad is a perfect example of cross-border collaborations, bringing together institutions from around the world to provide a platform that nurtures the next generation of cyber defenders. By creating opportunities like this – where mentorship, friendship and shared learning are central – we are not just levelling up the playing field. We are raising the game for everyone.”

Prof Xu said, “Today, AI is shaping every corner of our lives. But amid this excitement, we must ask a crucial question: Are our systems secure enough to withstand the risks that come with this intelligence? Because no matter how smart a system may be, it takes just one cyberattack to bring it down.”

“An AI model can write poetry, detect disease, or drive a car. But if its data is stolen or manipulated, or if its decision logic is compromised by cyber attackers, the consequences could be devastating. This is why I believe cybersecurity deserves equal attention and investment as AI,” he elaborated.

Nurturing global talent in cybersecurity

Inspired by renowned competitions such as the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) and International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), ICO 2025 brought together the brightest young minds from 28 countries to compete, collaborate, and innovate in addressing pressing cybersecurity challenges. It provided a dynamic platform to identify and nurture future cybersecurity professionals, addressing the global shortage of skilled talent in this critical field.

Over the course of the week, 170 participants engaged in knowledge sharing and cultural exchanges, while also fostering international collaboration. They also participated in two rigorous five-hour contest rounds, tackling both attack-style and defence-style Capture-The-Flag (CTF) challenges.

Tan Jun Heng, from NUS High School of Math and Science, won the Overall Champion Shield for his outstanding achievements. Twelve participants clinched the gold medals while 22 participants were awarded silver medals and 34 participants received the bronze medal.

Jun Heng said, “I am honoured to be able to represent Singapore, and to win the Overall Champion Shield of the inaugural ICO. Being able to compete with talented individuals from around the world was an educational and fun experience. However, what made it special was not just the competition itself, but also the connections I formed with participants from all around the globe; it was truly inspiring to meet so many like-minded people who share the same passion for cybersecurity.”

He added, “I would like to thank NUS Computing for organising this inaugural event and for their dedication to building a global cybersecurity community. I look forward to seeing ICO continue to evolve and inspire future cybersecurity talent in the years to come!”

Associate Professor Tan Sun Teck, who is Chair of the ICO 2025 Organising Committee and a faculty member of NUS Computing, said, “The inaugural ICO is a significant step towards shaping a future-ready global cybersecurity workforce. We are thrilled to see the level of technical excellence, international camaraderie, and cross-cultural exchange on display. This initiative will continue to grow as a global beacon for cyber talent and nurture the next generation of skilled cybersecurity professionals.”

"CSIT celebrates the success of the inaugural International Cybersecurity Olympiad and is proud to have played a significant role not only as a sponsor, but also by lending our expertise as trainers and challenge contributors. This reflects our continued commitment to nurturing cybersecurity talent through such immersive learning experiences,” said Mr Chris Wong, Director of Advanced Security Technology, CSIT.

Looking ahead

The ICO continues its global journey with upcoming editions to be held in Sydney, Australia, in 2026; Turin, Italy, in 2027; and Tunis, Tunisia, in 2028.

The ICO community looks forward to building on the strong momentum of this year’s Olympiad, as they continue to inspire and nurture the next generation of cybersecurity talents.

Marching to the beat of their own drums, Elton Lee and Bian Tong have been pursuing music in and out of school. Their passion has brought them not only personal success, but also precious memories of their time at NUS.

Elton Lee: Writing pop music for the stars

The NUS University Cultural Centre Theatre filled with enthusiastic cheers as Elton Lee walked among the audience, waving his hands and getting them to sing along to the hit, “Just the Way You Are”, by Bruno Mars. 

This rousing pop concert was the capstone project of Elton, a student at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST) with a major in Music, Collaboration & Production and a minor in Entrepreneurship. From stage management and music arrangement to event promotion and marketing, he pulled off the one-man show with panache.

But this was far from his first brush with music production. Elton picked up songwriting in secondary school and began penning songs professionally for local productions and well-known artistes when he was 17.

Elton found early on that in addition to his passion for singing, songwriting allowed him to better express his emotions and thoughts. What started as a creative outlet soon blossomed into a professional career, when his composition was published as a sub-theme song for a local drama on Mediacorp in 2016. He then progressed to producing music and writing songs for artistes like South Korean boy band THE BOYZ, and Mandopop singers Rita Wang Yijin, and Jocie Guo. Since then, Elton has continued writing several theme songs for Mediacorp, some of which were nominated for the annual Mediacorp Star Awards (红星大奖).

Even as an established pop songwriter, Elton wanted to solidify his foundation in music production to get to the next level. This urge to strengthen his music production knowledge led him to join YST in 2021.

Elton attributes his success in staging the concert for his graduation capstone project on 14 March 2025 to those who supported him behind the scenes.

“I collaborated with my cohort mates who performed as my string orchestra, NUS VOICES students who were part of my pop band, and the NUS Arts Production Crew who managed the lighting of my entire show. The show would not have been possible without their contributions and expertise,” he said.

The concert was part of the NUS Arts Festival lineup, and the staff at the NUS Centre For The Arts (CFA) provided guidance on the event organisation process. Elton also enjoyed curating the set list of his own concert — creative freedom that not many pop singers who have signed management contracts get. Drawing together the combined support received, he ultimately chose to stage a show centred around emotional ballads, performing six original songs and seven covers.

More broadly, during his years at YST, Elton’s professors tailored their lessons to support his budding Mandopop career and help him enrich his music. Elton learnt, for instance, to arrange music to suit live performances and write string quartet scores for pop ballads. “After joining YST, I discovered how to bring my music to life — having a pop string quartet, accompanied by a pop band, along with lush ballads,” he said.

Beyond YST’s academic grounding, Elton’s journey at NUS expanded his musical stage and horizons. He joined the student band in King Edward VII Hall and VOICES, a student arts group for Mandopop musicians, performing in harmony with other music enthusiasts. These activities opened the doors to bigger opportunities — in 2023, Elton performed with the Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra, and in 2024, he performed with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra alongside Dr Liang Wern Fook, a pioneer in a genre of songs originating from Singapore known as Xinyao. 

Alongside these diverse experiences, Elton continued to actively advance his career as a singer-songwriter. A pivotal experience was teaming up with a fellow YST student, Jeffery Tan, to write and produce a song titled “Remember to Forget”. This song was developed as part of Elton’s Year 1 Project, where he was the composer, vocalist, and arranger, while Jeffery handled the production and mixing. It won the Best Song Award at the 2022 SG:SW I Write the Songs, a national Mandopop songwriting festival.

More recently, Elton had the opportunity to be an ambassador for the 2025 SG:SW festival, where he encouraged the next generation of singer-songwriters to find their voice and share their stories.

Elton, who released a five-song EP in 2024, is preparing for a new release later this year. He hopes to continue improving as a singer-songwriter and make music that touches the hearts of his listeners.

“I want to use my talents in songwriting to create lasting memories for people,” he shared.

On that note, Elton will be releasing a graduation song in July 2025 titled “The Soundtrack of Youth(谱写的青春)”, which he will be performing at the NUS Commencement Dinner, as a tribute to his peers and all graduating students. The accompanying music video was filmed at the YST building in NUS.

Elton will graduate with a Bachelor of Music in Music, Collaboration, and Production with Honours (Distinction) with a minor in Entrepreneurship on 21 July 2025.

Bian Tong: Jazzing up lives

For Bian Tong, jazz is not just a blend of rhythm and melody but a powerful tool for social good. That vision took centre stage at Gardens by the Bay in April 2025, when he gathered hundreds of nursing home seniors and volunteers to celebrate Singapore’s 60^th birthday and UNESCO International Jazz Day.

As the crowd grooved to the smooth rhythms and brassy tunes at the JASG60 event by The Jazzlings, a youth jazz collective helmed by Bian Tong, he was reminded of how music can bring communities together and bridge generations.

The Business Analytics major from the NUS School of Computing (NUS Computing) founded The Jazzlings in 2023, when he was discovered along with some members of the NUS Jazz Band at the NUS Commencement dinner. After enjoying their performance, Professor Chong Yap Seng, Dean of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, invited them to perform at a formal dinner at the school.

The gig was to take place just two days after the Commencement dinner, and Bian Tong, who plays the saxophone, had to decide on a name for the group on the spot. He went with The Jazzlings, a nod to their constant learning journey in jazz.

Since then, The Jazzlings has grown from a collective of 13 members to a commercial outfit of almost 60 performers. It hit a six-figure revenue in 2024.

While music and business analytics are worlds apart, The Jazzlings’ success, in some ways, can be attributed to Bian Tong’s flair for business. Learning about topics like profit and cost in class and witnessing the ups and downs of start-ups he worked with as External Liaison Director of the NUS Entrepreneurship Society, meant he was well-equipped to run the collective. As founding director, he deals with logistics, accounts, marketing and more.

At times, he was so busy running the start-up that he struggled to meet academic deadlines. “JASG60, for example, was just a random idea that came to me, but it took so much away from me and away from my academics,” Bian Tong shared.

Thankfully, his course mates would remind him of upcoming deadlines and share their notes. Professors also answered his questions in the wee hours of the night. Their support went beyond his schoolwork. Some engaged The Jazzlings for gigs, while others gave ideas for expansion.

“A huge shoutout to all my professors. From Prof Chong, who started it all and even funded our jersey, to Assoc Prof Loy Hui Chieh from the Department of Philosophy at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Assoc Prof Ben Leong from the Department of Computer Science at NUS Computing, who were very supportive and advised me on what The Jazzlings should do.”

Bian Tong also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Associate Professor Kang Hway Chuan, who is the Master of West Wing of NUS College (NUSC), for supporting The Jazzlings by allowing them to use his master’s commons at NUSC for rehearsals. Assoc Prof Kang is also from the Department of Chemistry at the NUS Faculty of Science.

The collective also volunteers at hospitals and teaches jazz every fortnight at Changi Prison, a suggestion from Dr Norman Vasu, a Senior Lecturer at NUSC. Through jazz lessons, they stay in touch with offenders even after their release and connect them with social enterprise Architects of Life, which helps ex-offenders with reintegration.

As The Jazzlings continues to spread its wings, music is becoming an increasingly viable career option for Bian Tong.

“I’ll devote more time to The Jazzlings and see how it goes. But, of course, if that doesn’t work out, I can always fall back on my Business Analytics degree,” he said.

Bian Tong received his Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics with Honours (Merit) on 11 July 2025.

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2025, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2025. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2025 on our social media channels!

Commencement season is in full swing, with the Class of 2025 ushering in a new chapter of their lives during a milestone year for the University as it celebrates a 120-year legacy of excellence, innovation and service alongside the achievements of more than 17,000 graduates.

This year’s Commencement also marked the conferment of honorary degrees on three distinguished leaders for their accomplishments in their respective fields. They were Ambassador-at-Large Chan Heng Chee from the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs; social scientist Dr Noeleen Heyzer, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Rector of NUS’ Ridge View Residential College; as well as global technology pioneer Mr Wong Ngit Liong, Executive Chairman and founder of Venture Corporation.

All three leaders, who are former NUS Trustees, were conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters at a ceremony presided over by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, on 14 July 2025. The event at the University Cultural Centre took place during a ceremony for the Class of 2025 graduates from NUS Business School, which is also celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year.

The Honorary Degree is the University’s highest tribute to outstanding individuals who have rendered distinguished service and made a noteworthy impact on Singapore and the world.

“We are very proud to confer honorary degrees this year on three eminent leaders and visionaries – Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Dr Noeleen Heyzer and Mr Wong Ngit Liong – all of whom have distinguished themselves through excellence and innovation in their fields, and elevated Singapore’s standing on the international stage. Their profound accomplishments are a testament to their exceptional capabilities and steadfast commitment to the advancement of society and betterment of communities in Singapore and beyond,” NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said in a statement.

Ambassador Chan Heng Chee: A leading figure in diplomacy, geopolitics and public policy

Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, an NUS alumna, was recognised for her distinguished work in policy studies, international relations and intellectual think tanks, marking a lifetime of contributions to scholarship, diplomacy and civic life.

A leading voice on Singaporean politics, she was the first female head of Political Science at NUS and the founding director of the NUS Institute of Policy Studies think tank.

She has served as Singapore’s United Nations (UN) Representative and Ambassador to the United States of America, bringing scholarly rigour as well as diplomatic finesse to the world stage. Her 16 years in Washington deepened ties between Singapore and the US, culminating in the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, for which her contributions were honoured in Singapore and internationally.

As a public intellectual, her contributions have included serving on the Council for Minority Rights and launching the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, where she was the Former Chair.  She was also a member of the NUS Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2024.

“Throughout her career, Ambassador Chan has helped to shape how Singapore understands itself and how Singapore is understood by the world — as an academic, as a diplomat, and now as one of our leading intellectuals,” Professor Simon Chesterman, NUS Vice Provost (Educational Innovation) and Dean of NUS College, said in his delivery of the citation for her conferment. “Ambassador Chan brings together a rare combination of intellectual independence, global experience, and a deep and abiding commitment to public service.”

Taking to the stage to offer her thoughts on the future, she emphasised to the graduates the importance of cultivating intellectual curiosity and an awareness of geopolitics in an era when artificial intelligence is disrupting life and work, and unpredictability is the new normal. “Try to understand and follow what is happening in the world and in your country.  It is crucial for your future. . . . going forward, geopolitics is an inescapable part of our future, and we should be prepared to ride it, and to deal with it.”

Dr Noeleen Heyzer: A legacy of peace and justice

Dr Noeleen Heyzer, an NUS alumna who served as Trustee from 2013 to 2018, was honoured for her visionary leadership in advancing the empowerment of women globally, raising Singapore's international profile and making a global impact through her service at the UN and beyond.

A trailblazer of women’s empowerment across the world, Dr Noeleen was the first woman from outside North America to head the UN Development Fund for Women, turning it from a modest entity into a global force. She was also the first woman to serve as Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, leading the commission in advancing regional cooperation.

As the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Timor-Leste and later as Special Envoy on Myanmar, she worked closely with conflict-affected communities and leaders to forge paths toward peace. Beyond her efforts in advancing peace, her work in global governance has continued through her service on many boards and committees, including the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation. 

In her citation for Dr Noeleen’s conferment, Associate Professor Leong Ching, NUS Vice Provost (Student Life) and Acting Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, lauded Dr Noeleen for her courage and clarity of purpose. “Her leadership has redefined the nature of power itself — as a force for dignity, inclusion, and transformation. She has dedicated her life to building a more peaceful and sustainable world.”

“[In various settings], she brought integrity, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to dialogue and justice,” she added.

In her acceptance speech, Dr Noeleen encouraged the graduates to hold firm to their values and uplift societies by reshaping the world in positive ways. “Be the leaders who build not just companies, but weave communities. Use your talents not only to grow economies, but to reimagine them. Let your success be measured by achievements that uplift people, that value human dignity and care for our planet,” she told the graduates.

Mr Wong Ngit Liong: A visionary leader in business, education and public service

Mr Wong Ngit Liong was lauded for his achievements as a leader and pioneer in the global technology industry, contributions to Singapore’s higher education and national development, and dedication to public service through active involvement on national boards and committees.

As Executive Chairman and founder of Venture Corporation, he has been instrumental in the company’s transformation from a start-up in electronics manufacturing services to a leading provider of technology services, products and solutions worldwide, exemplifying visionary leadership and strategic foresight.

As Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2016, Mr Wong’s steadfast leadership and bold vision transformed NUS from a respected local teaching institution into a leading global university highly regarded for its scholarship and research.

Mr Wong’s dedication to public service is further reflected in his active participation in numerous national committees, such as the Economic Development Board, the then-Trade Development Board, DBS Bank, and Singapore Exchange. In recognition of his exceptional contributions to Singapore, he has been conferred the Meritorious Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Order.

“Mr Wong has made lasting contributions to Singapore’s higher education and national development. . . . He was instrumental in driving major reforms that propelled NUS into the ranks of the world’s top universities,” Professor Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, said in his citation for Mr Wong’s conferment. “His leadership was crucial in the corporatisation of the university and its structural transformation.”

Lauding NUS’ progress as an educational powerhouse, Mr Wong said, “NUS has grown tremendously and developed into a mighty river of life, pregnant with new knowledge, innovative research, contributing relevant and impactful services and solutions to Singapore and the world.”

“The world today needs new analyses and deep, strategic thinking and also bold execution. NUS is capable of playing that vital role going forward,” he added.

During the ceremony, close to 100 graduates from the Master of Urban Planning and Bachelor of Science with Honours (Real Estate) Concurrent Degree Programme, as well as the Bachelor of Science with Honours (Real Estate) Double Degree Programme, took to the stage to applause from their families and friends.

The occasion was also marked by an uplifting performance by JDN Party Quest, comprising graduands from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music who delivered a whimsical rendition of “Dancing Sea Otter” from the popular online game MapleStory, and a nostalgic performance of “Rasa Sayang”.

The spirit of the season was aptly captured by Mr Tan Kah Yong, valedictorian from the NUS Business School. “Our ability to step out of our comfort zones, adapt and grab opportunities that come our way is something that we all have inside us, and something that we can do as we move on to the workforce,” he said. “Most importantly, let us believe in ourselves, put in the effort and trust the process, and I’m sure we will be a better version of who we are today.”

This year’s Commencement season began on 10 July 2025, with 35 ceremonies scheduled until 21 July 2025. The celebrations will culminate in the Commencement Dinner, to be held on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. 

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2025, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2025. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2025 on our social media channels!

Read the press release on the Honorary Graduates here and watch the full ceremony below.
 

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters on three distinguished leaders: Ambassador-at-Large Chan Heng Chee with the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs; social scientist Dr Noeleen Heyzer, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Rector of Ridge View Residential College, NUS; as well as global technology pioneer Mr Wong Ngit Liong, Executive Chairman and founder of Venture Corporation.

The honorary degrees were presented during a Special Ceremony, held as part of the NUS Commencement 2025, presided by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration. The Honorary Degree is the University’s highest form of recognition for outstanding individuals who have rendered distinguished service and have had a noteworthy impact in Singapore and globally.

This year's Commencement holds added significance as the University commemorates its 120th anniversary – celebrating a proud legacy of excellence, innovation, and service.

Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, an NUS alumna, was recognised for her distinguished work in policy studies, international relations and intellectual think-tanks, marking a lifetime of contributions to scholarship, diplomacy and civic life.

Dr Noeleen Heyzer, who is also an NUS alumna, was honoured for her visionary leadership in advancing the empowerment of women globally, raising Singapore's international profile and making global impact through her service at the United Nations (UN) and beyond.

Mr Wong Ngit Liong was lauded for his achievements as a leader and pioneer in the global technology industry, contributions to Singapore’s higher education and national development, and dedication to public service through active involvement on national boards and committees.

The NUS Class of 2025 comprises 17,646 graduates: 7,948 students will receive Bachelor’s degrees and 9,698 will receive graduate degrees. A total of 35 ceremonies will be held at the NUS University Cultural Centre over a period of 12 days, from 10 to 21 July 2025. NUS Commencement 2025 will conclude with the Commencement Dinner, which will be held on 22 July 2025.

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said, “We are very proud to confer honorary degrees this year on three eminent leaders and visionaries – Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Dr Noeleen Heyzer and Mr Wong Ngit Liong – all of whom have distinguished themselves through excellence and innovation in their fields, and elevated Singapore’s standing on the international stage. Their profound accomplishments are a testament to their exceptional capabilities and steadfast commitment to the advancement of society and betterment of communities in Singapore and beyond. They have greatly inspired us with the journeys they have taken and we are celebrating the achievements of these outstanding individuals today.”

This year, 268 students will be graduating as the pioneer cohort of 13 programmes:

• Master of Science (Behavioural and Implementation Sciences in Health)
• Master of Science (Precision Health and Medicine)
• Master of Science (Applied Biomedicine)
• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Master of Arts (Japanese Visual Cultures)
• Master of Science (Strategic Analysis and Innovation)
• Master of Science (Data Science for Sustainability)
• Master of Science (Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability)
• Master of Science (Physics for Technology)
• Master of Pharmacy (Clinical Pharmacy)
• Master of Science (Semiconductor Technology and Operations)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Infrastructure and Project Management)
• Master of Design in Integrated Design

2025 Honorary Doctor of Letters Recipient – Ambassador Chan Heng Chee

Ambassador Chan Heng Chee began her career as a political scientist, graduating with First Class Honours in Political Science from the University of Singapore, a Master of Arts degree from Cornell University, and a PhD from the University of Singapore.

She taught at NUS and became the University’s first female head of Political Science. Through award-winning books, she established herself as a leading voice on Singaporean politics, unafraid to ask discomfiting questions and bring clarity to complex issues. She was next appointed to lead the new Institute of Policy Studies, which remains an influential think tank.

In 1989, as Singapore’s United Nations Representative and Ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Chan brought scholarly rigour as well as diplomatic finesse to the world stage. Her 16 years in Washington deepened ties, culminating in the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. Her contributions were honoured in Singapore and internationally.

Ambassador Chan has also made significant achievements as a public intellectual, joining the Council for Minority Rights and launching another think-tank: the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities.

Throughout her career, Ambassador Chan, who also served as a member of the NUS Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2024, has helped shape how Singapore understands itself and how it is understood by the world — as an academic, a diplomat, and leading intellectual. She brings together a rare combination of intellectual independence, global experience, and a deep commitment to public service.

Please refer to Annex 1 for the Citation for Ambassador Chan Heng Chee.

2025 Honorary Doctor of Letters Recipient – Dr Noeleen Heyzer

A trailblazer of women’s empowerment across the world, Dr Noeleen Heyzer’s leadership has redefined the nature of power itself – as a force for dignity, inclusion, and transformation.  She has dedicated her life to building a more peaceful and sustainable world and raised Singapore's international profile during her career at the United Nations (UN) and beyond.

Dr Noeleen was the first woman from outside North America to head the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). During her tenure, she transformed UNIFEM from a small organisation into a leading powerhouse empowering woman globally. She was instrumental in securing the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which recognises women as essential to peace and security, and post-conflict recovery.

Dr Noeleen was the first woman to serve as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) since its founding in 1947. Under her leadership, ESCAP grew in profile and stature, advancing regional cooperation rooted in equity, resilience, and sustainable development.

Dr Noeleen’s courage and clarity of purpose have shaped peacebuilding efforts in some of the world’s most fragile contexts. As the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Timor-Leste and later as Special Envoy on Myanmar, she worked closely with conflict-affected communities and leaders to forge paths toward peace.

Dr Noeleen has made global impact through her service in many local and international boards and committees, including UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation. Dr Noeleen also served as a member of the NUS Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2018. She is also the Rector of NUS Ridge View Residential College, where she continues to inspire generations of young Singaporeans.

Please refer to Annex 2 for the Citation for Dr Noeleen.

2025 Honorary Doctor of Letters Recipient – Mr Wong Ngit Liong

Mr Wong Ngit Liong is a distinguished leader and pioneer in the global technology industry. As Executive Chairman and founder of Venture Corporation, he has been instrumental in building the company into a leading provider of technology services, products, and solutions worldwide. Since its inception in 1984, Mr Wong has led Venture Corporation’s evolution from a start-up in electronics manufacturing services into a globally recognised technology powerhouse, exemplifying visionary leadership and strategic foresight.

Mr Wong holds a Bachelor of Engineering (First Class Honours) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Malaya, a Master of Science in Electronics Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (Fulbright Scholar), and a Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) from McGill University. His professional career began at Hewlett-Packard (HP), where he played a pivotal role in expanding HP’s operations in Singapore and Malaysia.

In addition to his corporate leadership, Mr Wong has made lasting contributions to Singapore’s higher education landscape and national development. As Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2016, he was instrumental in driving major reforms that propelled NUS into the ranks of the world’s top universities. His leadership was crucial in the corporatisation of the university and its structural transformation.

Mr Wong’s dedication to public service is reflected in his active participation on numerous national boards and committees, including the Economic Development Board, the then-Trade Development Board, DBS Bank, Singapore Exchange, the Committee to Review Salaries of Political Appointment Holders, the Constitutional Commission to Review the Elected Presidency, and the 2002 Economic Review Committee. In recognition of his exceptional service and contributions to Singapore, Mr Wong has been conferred the Meritorious Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Order.

Please refer to Annex 3 for the Citation for Mr Wong.

Mason Andre Lim has walked a long road of redemption – one paved with determination, second chances and the will to rebuild his life.

At 36, he is graduating from the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours, majoring in Communications and New Media (CNM) – a milestone that marks not just academic achievement, but a powerful personal turnaround.

With his driven and enterprising outlook, it is hard to tell that Mason had drifted off course in his early 20s, grappling with academic pressures, emotional setbacks, and decisions that would eventually derail his life.

However, Mason held on to slivers of hope – buoyed by love and support from his mother – and eventually found his way back from a period marked by instability, depression and eventual incarceration.

Battling darkness and depression

Mason’s journey was fraught with early setbacks. He dropped out of Victoria Junior College at 17 and left Temasek Polytechnic midway through his final year. He was by then hooked on weed – having started “smoking socially” at gatherings – and lured by the profits from hosting poker games in a rented apartment.

He fell into severe depression after a friend failed to repay a large sum of money. Devastated, he retreated to Thailand and spent months playing video games as well as taking drugs to stave off the emptiness.

His addiction did not stop even after he returned to Singapore. “My mental state was completely haywire,” said Mason, recalling those dark times when he was wracked by depression and the sinking feeling that he had let his family down.

At 24, the age many consider to be their physical prime, Mason struggled to even climb a flight of stairs and was dependent on opioids and other debilitating drugs to make it through the day. Physically and mentally, he was at an all-time low.

Not long after, the Central Narcotics Bureau came knocking on his door and Mason was sentenced to five years in jail on drug-related charges.

An unexpected lifeline and path to redemption

Ironically, his years in Tanah Merah Prison were the happiest part of his 20s, Mason said. Living by the motto “every day spent here is another day closer to home”, he saw prison time as an opportunity rather than just punishment.

“I remember my mother telling me when I was at my lowest point, that ‘Mummy will never give up on you’. That cut through a lot of the pain I was feeling and made me want to turn my life around,” Mason recounted.

Enrolling in prison school, he found the structured environment a boon for his studies. “There’s no social media, there’s no TV, there’s nothing else I can do. I just sat in front of class and paid attention and did my homework,” he said.

The laser focus paid off. In 2021, Mason completed his A levels, becoming Prison School’s top student with five As and one B. This caught the attention of Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, then-Minister of State for Home Affairs, during a visit to meet the graduating cohort.

When Assoc Prof Faishal asked about his plans, Mason shared that he would like to pursue further studies. Given his good conduct and rehabilitation progress, Mason was assessed by the Singapore Prison Service to be suitable to be emplaced on a community-based programme, where he served the tail-end of his sentence in the community. He was emplaced in the community programme for a period of three months. In addition, Mason received the Yellow Ribbon Fund STAR (Skills Training Assistance to Restart) Bursary, which fully covered his university tuition fees.

Mason’s acceptance into NUS signalled a fresh start for him after prison. He was eager not to let his past define him. 

Slightly apprehensive at being a fresh undergraduate at 32 – almost 10 years older than his peers – Mason kept mostly to himself, worried about the age gap and how readily his peers would accept him because of his past.

However, most of his fears were unfounded. “Everybody took (my past) quite coolly. I think Gen Zs don’t really bother about such stuff,” he quipped.

Determined to make up for his late start in adulting, Mason grew adept at juggling multiple commitments. To earn an income as he baulked at the thought of relying on his parents for pocket money, he sold high-end vacuum cleaners in between tutorials – something he excelled at owing to his knack for persuasion.

His academic work in the NUS CNM Department further honed his communication and rhetorical skills and taught him to sharpen his persuasive powers.

A key highlight for Mason was the Consulting as a Communication and Career Skill course by CNM Adjunct Associate Professor, Dr Alan Tea. His clear articulation and deep insights into the nuances of corporate language in Business-to-Business (B2B) versus Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sales were an eye-opener. The course not only sharpened his consulting skills but also provided knowledge he could directly apply to his own sales work. Inspired by the experience, Mason dedicated his thesis to examining the differences in consulting strategies and approaches between B2B and B2C contexts, under Dr Tea’s guidance.

Dr Jinna Tay’s media course, which delved into the complex disruptions of Singapore’s national identities, media texts and institutions through the media production and policies that shape them, and included an industry visit to Mediacorp, was also an experience he deeply relished.

While some of his peers fretted over their grades, Mason was largely unfazed by university. “I’ve been through severe depression, I’ve been through jail, so nothing really gets to me that much,” he said, matter-of-factly.

He also found time to captain and manage an adult football team, volunteer at Meet-the-People sessions and elderly home visits in the Cheng San neighbourhood, and take travel breaks.

“So, when people tell me they don’t have time to do anything, I cannot relate,” he said.

Proof of what’s possible

A graduation scroll marks not just an academic achievement, but also a personal milestone.

“I’ve quit junior college, I’ve quit polytechnic, so I told myself, I’m going to finish this, no matter what. I’m going to prove to people I can complete all these things at once,” said Mason, who is grateful to his family, girlfriend, and professors like Dr Tea and Dr Tay for motivating him.

“I feel the greatest sense of achievement when I tell people I’ve managed to complete university while juggling work.”

Having obtained his Real Estate Salesperson certification during his four years in NUS, Mason plans to become a property agent and also harbours dreams of launching his own premium streetwear brand one day.

In the meantime, he is in a good mental space and is busy paying it forward. He delivers talks at the prison school and recently shared his experiences at the Singapore Boys’ Home – an arrangement by the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates.

Mason’s journey from the depths of addiction to the peaks of academic and personal fulfilment is proof that with resilience, resolve, and the right support, transformation is possible at any stage of life.

“It really just boils down to your mindset and how much you really want something,” he said.

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2025, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2025. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2025 on our social media channels!

Pursuing the arts is more than a pastime. As three NUS graduates from the Class of 2025 can attest, it’s a way of making sense of the world through media like theatre, fiction and poetry. Better yet, it has also enriched their time at NUS.

Jade Ow: Singapore’s trailblazing deaf actress

As a teenager, Jade Ow was always told that her voice was not “standard or conventional” enough for theatre. Born with moderate-severe deafness, she turned instead to visual arts, literature, and dance as outlets of expression.

But Jade still longed to break into theatre. In 2021, she decided to take a leap of faith and enrolled in Theatre Studies at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with a minor in Chinese Translation.

“I had a really difficult time convincing people at first that I could go into theatre,” admitted the 23-year-old. Her family was also worried about the financial viability of theatre as a career.  

Thankfully, she found a “support crew” at NUS. “Teachers came together to really help me with my journey, and I’m very grateful for them,” she shared. For instance, Dr Noorlinah Mohamed, who taught the course Voice Studies and Production, guided her through intensive voice and speech training in her second year.

The Student Accessibility Unit also equipped her with assistive speech-to-text technologies, helping her fill in the gaps when she lip-read during conversations and classes. They even connected her with theatre professionals, including director and disability arts advocate Peter Sau, who is currently her mentor in ART:DIS Singapore, a non-profit that advocates for opportunities for persons with disabilities within the arts scene. These experiences honed her craft and expanded her industry network.

By 2023, Jade had found not only her voice, but also her calling. Today, she has carved a niche for herself as one of Singapore’s few deaf actresses.

“Every chance to put myself out there is one step closer to where I want to be… It’s not really about achieving an Oscar or a 金马奖 (Golden Horse Award),” she said. “To me, the highest level of artistry is getting to that level where I feel satisfaction when I am performing.”

Her biggest role to date is her breakthrough autobiographical performance in Through The Looking Glass, directed by Claire Teo, and performed as part of the Light to Night Festival in conjunction with Singapore Art Week 2025. She credits NUS for providing a rare confluence of cultural diversity, academic freedom, and advocacy platforms. “I don’t think I could have gotten such a journey anywhere else in the world,” she noted.

Her family has since thrown their support behind her career choice. Post-graduation, she continues her journey as a theatre professional, while working with arts entities such as the National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Drama Educators Association to promote disability arts in the region.

She also wishes to inspire other disabled artists. “I’m hoping to visit more special education schools, share my experience as an artist and disability advocate, and encourage students to see the arts as a path they can take too,” she said.

Ng Ziqin: Blending law with a love for writing  

Ng Ziqin’s passion for the literary arts began before her NUS days. She started writing novels in secondary school, completing a coming-of-age novel, Every School a Good School, just before entering university. The book was a 2022 Epigram Books Fiction Prize finalist.

During her four years at NUS Law, Ziqin led University Court Friends, a pro bono project under the faculty’s pro bono group; served as Editor-in-Chief of its digital publication, Justified; and taught writing classes via Book-a-Writer, a programme started by literary non-profit SingLit Station.

For the 23-year-old, who lived on campus for two years under the NUS College (NUSC) programme, law and writing are two sides of the same craft. “NUS taught me what kind of lawyer — and person — I want to be,” she said. “I want to keep being someone who finds purpose in my job and maintains a personality and friends outside of work.”

At NUSC, she honed her short-story writing skills through the Global Experience (GEx) Paris programme, choosing a course centred on the arts, diplomacy, and social innovation. During the month-long programme, which included language classes and seminars, she found time to visit 18 museums in Brussels, Paris, Villers-Cotterêts and Giverny. This immersive journey inspired a collection of five short stories, titled Tales from the Pyramides, currently unpublished.

Ziqin even found a way to merge her interest in law and creative writing. For instance, she joined the scriptwriting team for Law IV, an annual musical traditionally staged by the graduating law cohort. 

These creative projects are ways of “exploring authenticity”. This process is critical for Ziqin who “draws from lived experience” to pen her stories.

Ziqin will be preparing for the Bar exam in the coming months — but that doesn’t mean she is putting her creative work on the backburner.

When time allows, she hopes to spend the latter half of 2025 working on her next novel, about a university student stranded with a Chinese ethnic minority tribe during a trip to China.

The idea was sparked by her visit to Betel Nut Valley in Hainan, a lived experience she wishes to capture in writing.

Stephanie Peck: Finding purpose in poetry and psychology

In the quaint, seaside town of Swanage, England, with its chalk cliffs and sea breeze echoing with bird cries, Stephanie Peck and her friends came to a realisation: life was bigger than the woes they faced as secondary school students.

“It was so peaceful, our brains couldn’t handle it,” she said with a laugh. 

“The adolescent period is not easy. (Psychologists) call it a period of storm and stress,” said Stephanie. Then 15, she was in Swanage to learn about geography. But the trip ended up sparking her curiosity about the human mind and mental health.

Now 23, she has traversed an eclectic academic journey. She initially enrolled in medicine, but eventually switched to psychology, along with a double minor in English Literature and Southeast Asian Studies at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. In hindsight, the arts was the right place as she grew creatively and academically.

During her five years in the College of Alice & Peter Tan (CAPT), a pivotal moment came in 2022 when she took the course Identities in Asia. It was taught by Senior Lecturer, Dr Kankana Mukhopadhyay, who encouraged the budding poet to submit poetry reflecting on the course’s field trips.

With Dr Kankana’s support, Stephanie launched “Beginner’s Guide to Writing Poetry”, the following year, a reading and writing group she facilitated within CAPT for her final three semesters. One participant, who had long wished to learn to write poetry but never had the chance, described the sessions as “an answered prayer”.

In 2024, Stephanie took her love for the arts abroad to Botswana for a two-month teaching internship at Delta Waters International School in Maun, a key partner of CAPT’s Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment (STEER) programme. There she taught English, Literature, and Creative Writing to secondary and primary school students.

Post-graduation, Stephanie hopes to pursue clinical psychology, kickstarting her career in the mental health and social service sectors.

“What draws me to both poetry and psychology is their shared power to surprise — to shift a person’s perspective when they feel stuck. Sometimes, change begins with simply seeing things differently,” she said.

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2025, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2025. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2025 on our social media channels!

The National University of Singapore (NUS), in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Lifelong Learning Singapore (LLSG), with support from the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), hosted the SkillsFuture Festival × NUS 2025 on 12 July 2025. Guest-of-Honour Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment, delivered a speech and toured the booths showcasing the IHLs’ Continuing Education and Training (CET) initiatives. The event attracted more than 350 attendees.

IHLs doing more to support Continuing Education and Training

Themed ‘FutureWork’, SkillsFuture Festival × NUS 2025 brought together industry, thought leaders and practice-based academics to address key challenges, exchange new perspectives on up-and-coming trends, and uncover strategies on how Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), working professionals and mid-career individuals can make the most of lifelong learning to stay resilient and future-ready amidst the shifting global landscape.

In recent years, IHLs have progressively embarked on a series of initiatives to empower the local workforce to respond to workplace challenges stemming from the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), geopolitical uncertainties, and other similar disruptive forces. These initiatives range from tie-ups championing industry transformation, to refreshing existing CET programmes and the introduction of new courses.

To support mid-career individuals switching to new industries or job roles, IHLs are rolling out 54 new courses under the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) this year (see Annexe). These new courses are designed to help mid-career individuals adapt to evolving job demands – from pivoting into new sectors and launching entrepreneurial ventures, to upskilling in emerging areas such as AI and immersive media.

Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President said, “It is our privilege to host the SkillsFuture Festival this year with the support of SSG and our partners from various IHLs. The collaborative ecosystem in continuous learning and development is vital in preparing and equipping all our students, graduates and working professionals to be resilient, adaptable and future-ready to thrive amidst global uncertainties and in the digital economy.

NUS is committed towards developing and delivering courses which are highly relevant to industry practice and work – by keeping abreast of skills that employers are looking for and designing our courses to impart such in-demand skills. Our bite-sized micro-credentials are popular, as we recognise how such stackable courses are more appealing to and better meet the needs of working adults.”

Mr Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive of SSG said, “Our IHLs are key partners of the SkillsFuture movement. With their strong pedagogical know-how, content knowledge and considerable industry networks, they bring three Rs to our adult learning ecosystem – Rigour in content creation and delivery, Relevance to industry needs, and Responsiveness to changes in the economic landscape. SSG will partner our IHLs to raise the water level for the entire CET sector.”

Empowering workers for the future: Insights, skills and learning opportunities

At a panel discussion held in conjunction with the event, Professor Bernard Yeung, Emeritus Professor from the Department of Finance and Department of Strategy and Policy at NUS Business School, and Professor Danny Quah, Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS, shared valuable insights on the changing world order, and the threats and opportunities that companies and the workforce should prepare for.

Additionally, the event featured 15 future-oriented workshops across a wide range of topics including the use of AI agents; using AI in areas like design, storytelling, and leadership; digital security; technopreneurship; and how we can drive sustainable change in our environment. Participating IHLs, LLSG and SSG also set up booths to share more information about their CET programmes and initiatives, as well as the Jobs-Skills Portal.   

Five stellar alumni from the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) were lauded with the FASS Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Awards (DASSAA) on 10 July 2025 for their outstanding service and contributions to society.

Established in 2015, the DASSAA celebrates alumni who have made a meaningful impact on the University, the wider community, and Singapore, or who have advanced the arts and social sciences through their dedication and achievements locally or internationally.

This year’s honourees are culinary curator and chef Ms Violet Oon; diplomat and former politician Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong; diplomat, Brigadier-General (Retd) and respected community leader Mr Ishak Ismail, pioneering social worker and advocate Dr Sudha Nair; as well as academic and innovator in education, Professor Low Ee Ling.

Changemakers shaping the aspirations of the next generation of FASS minds

FASS Dean Professor Lionel Wee underscored how the Faculty has long stood as a beacon of intellectual curiosity, cultural advancement, and social responsibility and that the vision has “always been to nurture not only thinkers and creators, but also compassionate leaders who use their knowledge for the greater good.”

These recipients, he added, inspire current and future students not only to dream boldly but also to use their knowledge in the service of others. “In a time when the world needs thoughtful leadership more than ever, your examples inspire others. Your journeys remind us that success is not just measured by personal accolades, but by the positive impact we create in the lives of others,” he said.

The event featured videos of the award recipients reflecting on their university days as they shared key moments in their professional journeys.

Mr Ishak fondly recalled his time at NUS, where he bonded with fellow Sheares Hall hostelites over sports and activities, and spent long hours studying with friends in the library after classes. It was also at NUS that he met his life partner.

When asked how her FASS education had shaped her career, Ms Oon shared that studying sociology and political science made a “world of difference” in how she approached food heritage and culture.

“So I don’t interpret food as delicious or not – that is a given,” she said. “What matters is what does it mean to a people? How do you judge the food? You have to learn about the culture and the proper techniques of cooking. That comes from studying, from checking. And if you take a subject like sociology, everything is based on facts and on research – I think that is so important.”

From food heritage to public leadership: FASS Alumni who left their mark on Singapore society

This year’s award recipients have left their mark in areas ranging from Peranakan cuisine and diplomacy to family violence intervention and academic leadership.

Widely regarded as the grande dame of Singaporean cooking, Ms Oon began her career as an arts and music critic before pioneering a food column that launched her decades-long career as Singapore’s leading food writer. She opened her first Peranakan restaurant in 1993, and today, the “Violet Oon Singapore” restaurant group is synonymous with heritage cuisine, with iconic outlets like Violet Oon Singapore at Dempsey and ION Orchard. As Singapore’s food ambassador, she led national chef delegations at international culinary festivals and her accolades include being inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (2016) and receiving the Singapore Tourism Board’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2019).

Mr Tan is Singapore’s Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs and Non-Resident High Commissioner to Canada. He has built a distinguished career in public service, diplomacy, and civic leadership. From 2009 to 2020, he served as Senior Parliamentary Secretary and Minister of State in several ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. He was also a Member of Parliament from 2006 to 2020. Mr Tan held key community and cultural leadership roles, including CEO of Business China (2007 to 2009), where he strengthened Singapore-China ties. For his longstanding service, he was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2002.

Mr Ishak served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for over 29 years, rising to the rank of Brigadier-General and playing a pivotal role in transforming SAF’s training systems and leadership development. He later held senior roles in private firms that focused on defence solutions and regional growth. He is now Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to Pakistan, and chairs both the Families for Life Council and the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council. He is also Principal Consultant at i-Grow Partners Pte Ltd, where he has been a certified coach appointed by the SAF to facilitate team leadership and development since 2016. He received the Public Administration Medal (Military) in 2008 and the Public Service Medal in 2023.

A social work veteran for over 30 years, Dr Nair began her career in 1987 at the Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre (FSC), transforming it in 17 years into a model for other FSCs to follow. In 1999, she co-founded the Centre for Promoting Alternatives to Violence (PAVE), Singapore’s first one-stop specialist centre for family violence, which now manages around 2,000 cases annually. Beyond frontline work, Dr Nair has nurtured future social workers through research and teaching at the NUS Department of Social Work, and has served on national bodies such as the Council of Presidential Advisers. Her many accolades include the Outstanding Social Worker Award (1998) and the Public Service Star (2022).

Prof Low is President’s Chair Professor in Education (Applied Linguistics and Teacher Education) and Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University. A leading voice in teacher education, applied linguistics, and educational policy, she has shaped NIE’s strategic directions through initiatives like “A Teacher Education Model for the 21^st Century. For her dedication, she received the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2012. Internationally, she was recognised for her exemplary scholarship by the Academy for Leadership in Teacher Education (ALiTE) at the University of Hong Kong in 2021, and has been selected as the President-Elect of the International Academy of Education (IAE) in 2024.

The recipients were presented with their awards at a simple ceremony at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay. Joining to celebrate the occasion with them were 56 family and friends of the honourees, as well as FASS staff and faculty.

Click here for more information on the award recipients

Singapore's nuclear safety research initiative has been established as a full-fledged institute, now known as the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI). Operating from a new purpose-built facility at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the institute has been strengthened with a $66 million grant under the Research, Innovation & Enterprise plan for its next bound of research into nuclear safety.

Mr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation, announced these developments at the official launch of the SNRSI Building on 11 July 2025.

SNRSI’s expanded research scope is part of Singapore’s national efforts to strengthen capabilities to understand and assess nuclear technologies and nuclear safety. This will support studies on potential deployment of nuclear energy, while enabling better assessment of the impact of regional nuclear developments.

Working with international partners and other research performers across the research ecosystem, such as those specialised in mechanical engineering and material science, SNRSI will coordinate and expand research in nuclear safety, radiobiology, radiochemistry, and nuclear policy.

As the key institute for Singapore to develop and concentrate expertise in nuclear technology and safety, SNRSI plans to grow to a pool of 100 experts by 2030, up from 50 today.

The new building will provide more space and potential for SNRSI to grow its manpower strength and enhance its facilities in the future. Specialised equipment and state-of-the-art laboratories will enhance SNRSI’s research capabilities in reactor safety, radionuclide dispersion, radiobiology, radiochemistry and nuclear policy. Additionally, the new building will provide dedicated facilities to enhance public education on nuclear science and technology (please refer to Annexe A for more information on the new building).

SNRSI complements Singapore's national capabilities in radiation protection and nuclear safety, working closely with agencies like the National Environment Agency (NEA). The new building will also house NEA's scientific facilities in radiation monitoring, including the National Radiochemistry Laboratory, Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory, and advanced ambient radiation monitoring station. This co-location enables seamless sharing of expertise and resources, strengthening Singapore's nuclear safety ecosystem. (refer to Annexe C for more information on NEA’s laboratories).

SNRSI participates in regional forums and collaborations, including the ASEAN Network on Nuclear Power Safety Research (NPSR), to foster cooperation on nuclear safety within the region. Looking ahead, it is poised to play a key role in representing Singapore on international technical and scientific platforms, while fostering collaboration with other research institutes. The revamped SNRSI will be able to host regular visits by international experts, building on its partnerships while also expanding its network of partnerships with other research labs, IHLs, and research institutes around the world. These efforts will also enhance SNRSI’s ability to attract talent and develop a strong pipeline of technical experts in the nuclear field (refer to Annexe B for more information on SNRSI’s research areas).

Associate Professor Chung Keng Yeow, Director of SNRSI, said, “The Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute’s new facility and establishment as a full-fledged institute put us in good stead to expand our team and research capabilities. With our strong capabilities and expertise in research and policy, we are well-poised to be at the forefront of research in nuclear safety, as well as enhance regional collaboration and develop talent in this area.” 

Ms Koh Li-Na, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Meteorological Services and Radiation Protection at NEA, said, “The establishment of SNRSI as an institute and the growth of SNRSI will deepen our scientific capacity to understand and assess nuclear safety and radiological impacts, working with international partners and other local research institutions. With NEA's radiation monitoring laboratories also located in the new SNRSI building, we look forward to partnering SNRSI to strengthen our national capability in radiation protection and nuclear safety.”

NEA is Singapore's regulatory authority for radiation safety and environmental protection. It also implements international conventions relating to nuclear safety, security and safeguards that Singapore is a party to.

Ask any university student about the struggles they face, and you are likely to unearth a cornucopia of answers — from tight deadlines to difficult readings to project work woes.

But some, in particular, have to overcome far greater challenges – from facing financial difficulties to managing a loved one’s illness. Two graduates in the NUS Class of 2025 in particular, have shown grit and gumption through adversity.

Sebastian Eu: From overcoming personal adversity to launching a career in finance

When he was 11 years old, Sebastian Eu’s grandparents sat him down and broke the news: his father had been in a motorbike accident in Malaysia. His right leg had been amputated, causing Sebastian’s mother to take unpaid leave from her job in a semiconductor assembly line to care for him.

That news marked a turn in the family’s fortunes. While Sebastian’s family could once afford to dine out and buy him toys and games, they now had to cut back on expenses as medical bills piled up. His mother stepped up, taking on part-time work in addition to her full-time job to pay the bills.

Seeing how hard his mother worked, he also did his best to help. “I still (wanted) to get toys and games, but I realised it was… tough on my mum,” recalled the now-27-year-old. “She could afford it, but it meant that something had to be cut elsewhere in our finances.”

He continued to be prudent, exercising frugality whenever he could. “I would go for cheaper alternatives when I was eating out, whether in school or with my friends. It helped me build my saving habits,” he added.

These childhood experiences shaped his decision to study business, which he hoped would help him secure a stable job. In 2021, Sebastian enrolled in NUS’ Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme, with his tuition fees paid for by bursaries such as the government-funded Higher Education Bursary.

Then he put his ambitions to work. Knowing that finance was a deeply competitive field, he invested his time into finding out more about the industry and networking with experts.

One of the first things he did was join the NUS Asset & Wealth Management Club, a student-led interest group that regularly invited industry professionals for sharing sessions. “I would stay behind and talk to (them),” he said, adding that the conversations sparked his curiosity about working in a private bank.

He decided to find out. After polishing his resume with the help of an NUS Business School career advisor, he successfully applied for an internship at the Bank of Singapore in his third year. It was time to suit up for corporate life.

“It was my first finance and banking stint, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I had to learn on the job,” he noted. “Things move quickly, and sometimes (the situation) can be volatile. Going to work was a refreshing experience because I wasn’t doing the same thing every day.”

Having dipped his toes into finance, Sebastian was ready to dive in headlong. In his final summer, he applied for another internship with HSBC’s global private banking division. His strong performance and dedication during the stint led to a full-time offer as a graduate analyst post-graduation.

The first person he told was his mum, who was overjoyed as she was worried whether he could find a job. But she was his inspiration. “Looking at how hard my mum worked was (one of) the reasons I pushed myself so hard,” he said.

Julia Liaw: How chance led to a career in law

Growing up, Julia Liaw spent a lot of time in libraries. The reason: She did not have a phone.

Money was tight for her family, especially with two other siblings and a mother battling chronic illnesses. So Julia whiled away her time among the shelves, devouring Enid Blyton books. She went so often that the librarian memorised her identity card number.

“That, in part, was why I decided to pursue law. It’s such a reading-inclined industry,” said Julia, 24. But her journey from libraries to law school came about by chance.

Attracted by the breadth of the curriculum, she initially applied for the liberal arts programme at Yale-NUS College. It was her mother who nudged her towards something more “practical” and encouraged her to pursue a professional degree like law. 

After doing the math and factoring in financial aid and a study award she had received from Yale-NUS, Julia realised that studying both — via the Double Degree Programme in Law and Liberal Arts — seemed like the best of both worlds, both academically and economically. She signed on the dotted line, kickstarting her university journey. But it wasn’t always easy.

“In my first year of law school, I struggled a lot academically,” Julia admitted. “It was only in my second year, after going around and seeking guidance from my peers, that I started figuring things out.” Her grades improved so much that she clinched the Most Improved Student Award and secured a place on the Dean’s List.

Despite her academic struggles, Julia continued to push herself outside her comfort zone in other ways. She volunteered as a tuition teacher and student peer counsellor, and even took up extra-curricular activities like ultimate frisbee.

“My experiences growing up contributed to the reasons why I do what I do. When I was a kid, I wished I had more tuition, but I didn’t want my parents to spend money on it,” she said. That was why she volunteered with TEACH SG, an NUS initiative that allows NUS students to mentor youth from disadvantaged families.

She also found time for pro bono work, where she helped the elderly navigate legal matters and crafted publications to raise awareness for sexual assault survivors – work that she found deeply meaningful. “Pro bono work keeps me grounded. It’s the human aspect of law,” she explained. She also joined NUS Law’s Pro Bono Group and its Mooting and Debating Club (MDC), on top of working a slew of part-time jobs outside of school for income. Her days were hectic, often packed to the brim from morning to midnight.

Her experiences challenged her and helped her grow through discomfort. One example was the B.A. Mallal Moot, Singapore’s oldest and most prestigious mooting competition, organised by the MDC.

“It made me very uncomfortable going in front of people and speaking when you can’t fully predict the questions that are coming to you. I really disliked it, but I did it because I disliked it,” she said. “It’s made me a clearer thinker, a better speaker, and someone who can see both sides of a point. These are soft skills which I think are the most valuable things I can get out of law school.”

Most importantly, she seized opportunities to have fun — such as travelling to Malaysia for an impromptu dive trip together with a group of friends from Yale-NUS. As her time at university draws to a close, she has planned her next step. Apart from joining a reputable law firm, Julia intends to continue her pro bono work as far as possible.

“I might have a high threshold for burnout – perhaps my circumstances have made things easier for me in that way,” she said with a laugh. “But there are still a lot of things for me to learn when I go into the workplace, and I am excited to grow, both as a lawyer and as a person.”

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2025, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2025. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2025 on our social media channels!

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

• The Straits Times, 9 July 2025, Opinion, pB3

NUS marked its 120^th anniversary with a grand gala dinner on 3 July 2025 at Marina Bay Sands, gathering close to 2,000 alumni, donors, partners and friends, including Guest-of-Honour Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (Medicine ’85, MMed ’91), Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (Arts '64, HonLLD '15), and Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon (Medicine ’96, MMed ’03). The evening paid tribute to NUS’ astounding journey of service, innovation and impact since its founding in 1905.

From its roots as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School with only 23 students, NUS has grown into a globally renowned institution spanning 15 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses.

In his opening remarks, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85) reflected on its founding purpose: "The Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School was the forerunner of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, honouring a legacy of service from tending to the wounded in World War II to serving on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he shared. “Today, the School of Medicine is pushing the frontiers of groundbreaking research discoveries such as developing life-saving CAR-T cell immunotherapy to treat leukaemia, and the world’s first blood-based diagnostic test for early gastric cancer detection.”

Prof Tan noted that this same spirit of service still drives NUS today, which now educates over 7,000 undergraduates each year, producing graduates who contribute across society — including more than half of today’s Cabinet ministers.

Relevance in a changing world

Yet Prof Tan was clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. Rapid technological disruption, shifting student expectations and geopolitical uncertainties will test the University’s resilience and relevance. "To remain relevant, we must continuously adapt — renewing our value in each new generation, not only in how and what we teach, but how we lead and inspire," he emphasised.

Against this backdrop, Prof Tan reaffirmed the role of education as an intrinsic part of the Singapore social compact. “A significant number of our students and alumni are the first in their families to go to university. In providing opportunities to study at NUS, we are nurturing the best and brightest talents, uplifting families, and inspiring the next generation to realise their aspirations.”

In the last financial year, NUS received S$233 million in philanthropic gifts, including S$26 million earmarked to support students from low-income families through the Enhanced Financial Aid Scheme, benefitting around 3,000 undergraduates annually. 

Addressing global health challenges

Next to address the guests was the Dean of NUS Medicine, Professor Chong Yap Seng (Medicine ’88, MD ’07), who highlighted how NUS’ founding mission — to meet public health needs — is just as critical today. He described an increasingly complex health landscape marked by geopolitical instability, climate change, the promises and threats of artificial intelligence and misinformation spread on social media.

"A whole-of-society, whole-of-planet approach is required more urgently than ever," he said, adding that "the combined efforts of people with diverse skills, expertise and perspectives will be vital to creating a healthier and more sustainable future."

A citadel with open gates

Guest-of-Honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, a former president and chairman of the NUS Students’ Union, spoke about how global volatility will inevitably affect academia and science, potentially leading to higher inflation, greater risks for smaller nations and a slowdown in innovation. He described NUS through three vivid metaphors: first, as a cradle nurturing Singapore’s national identity and unity since 1905; second, as a citadel with open gates — strong yet welcoming to talent and ideas.

"NUS needs to have open gates, and we need to have our fair share of access to talent and ideas, while still remembering that this is the citadel based in Singapore, to protect Singapore," he explained.

Lastly, he urged NUS to be a launch pad for new technological breakthroughs, ensuring Singapore and Asia do not get left behind in a fast-changing world. His words echoed NUS’ international outlook, which is supported by a global alumni network of nearly 390,000 across more than 100 countries.

A night of joy, gratitude and pride

The gala dinner was a lively celebration of NUS spirit and camaraderie. Guests were welcomed by a candle-lined walkway and a playful photo wall with handheld props featuring messages like “I love NUS” and “Where I Found My Tribe.” Student and alumni performances from NUS Dance Blast! and The Jazzlings provided entertainment during the dinner, while video segments highlighted NUS’ incredible growth and brought celebratory greetings from alumni across the world. The occasion was also truly global, with alumni travelling to Singapore from cities such as Tokyo, Jakarta, Yangon, Vancouver, London, and Melbourne.

Interactive exhibits filled the foyer, from the AiSee assistive technology demonstration by NUS Computing to a showcase of Duke-NUS young alumni leading in innovation. NUS Libraries also delighted guests with a fun campus landmark quiz. In a meaningful gesture, Dr Balakrishnan, Prof Tan, Prof Chong and Chief Alumni Officer Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts & Social Sciences ’89) unveiled and watered a Tembusu tree — a living symbol of resilience and growth.

"Tonight, we celebrate 120 years of NUS — but this evening is about so much more than a number. It’s about the remarkable journey of a humble medical school that has grown into one of the world’s leading universities," Ms Lim-Rajaram told the guests.

Celebrating milestones and a vision for tomorrow

The celebration also honoured key milestones across NUS’ schools and faculties, including the 120th anniversary of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 70 years of NUS Engineering, 60 years of the NUS Business School, 50 years of NUS Computing, 45 years of Kent Ridge Hall, 20 years of Duke-NUS Medical School and NUS High School, and 15 years of Tembusu College.

As the evening concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, guests looked forward to a year of commemorative events — from the NUS120 Homecoming at Bukit Timah Campus, the Distinguished Speaker Series, the #NUSLife Photo Exhibition, NUS120 SuperNova, to Rag and Flag — that will continue to connect past, present and future generations. As NUS looks ahead to its next 120 years, it stands ready to nurture bold thinkers, responsible leaders and a community grounded in service and shared purpose.

By NUS Office of Alumni Relations

Commencement celebrations for more than 17,000 graduates from the NUS Class of 2025 have begun, with 35 ceremonies taking place at the University Cultural Centre from 10 to 21 July 2025.

In tribute to the University’s beginnings as a small medical school founded in 1905 to serve the community, the season’s first ceremonies honoured graduates of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine).

As the University and NUS Medicine celebrate their 120th anniversaries, these founding ideals and dedication to service have continued through the decades. Addressing graduates at the inaugural ceremony, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye underscored this enduring ethos of scholarship and service. “While we have grown and evolved, we remain steadfast in our mission to serve the needs of our country and society. As you move forward with purpose, passion, and confidence, you join a legacy of dreamers, changemakers, and trailblazers to shape a better future for all.” 

Now embarking on their next chapter, three NUS Medicine graduates share the challenges and milestones that marked their path through university.

Sophie Xie: When presence is a present

For Sophie Xie Jia Lin, medicine is as much about human connection as it is about clinical knowledge.

Back in junior college, she was drawn to pursuing medicine as a career for its blend of academic rigour and deep human connection. Now undergoing supervised clinical practice in Internal Medicine at the National University Hospital, the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) graduate recalls a recent encounter that affirmed her career choice.

“One of the patients whom I discharged came to give me a hug. She told me, ‘You are a good doctor and I love you because you made me feel cared for.’ I hadn’t thought much about what I’d done for her, but that was when I realised that being present can be as powerful as any procedure,” she said. “Moments like these really make my job a lot more meaningful.”

Her journey at NUS Medicine also took her beyond the wards and lecture halls. She participated in projects like NUS Medicine’s Receiving and Giving (RAG) and Flag performance in her first year, even when the COVID-19 pandemic meant recording choreography over Zoom.

In her second year, she co-led the production as part of the organising committee, drawing on her years of training in Chinese dance and her interest in choreography and film to direct the project. “These creative outlets have been essential in helping me stay grounded and reconnect with myself outside of medicine. I see a parallel between my journey in medicine and in the arts – just as I continue to grow in clinical knowledge, I also seek new ways to grow in my pursuits. I think the beauty of NUS Medicine lies in the fact that I had the freedom and opportunities to continue exploring and growing even outside of class,” said the former resident of King Edward VII Hall (KEVII), home to many students from NUS Medicine.

Sophie also teamed up with fellow medical student Joseph Lim, from the same graduating class of 2025, to produce two short films. “Filmmaking was a really interesting opportunity for me to see how different art mediums can convey a message and give the audience this very visceral feeling,” she said.

When she felt isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, she leaned on her KEVII family. “There was a strong sense of camaraderie all across NUS Medicine. From clinical rotations to preparing for exams, we had each other’s backs,” she said.

Looking ahead, Sophie aims to pursue a career in Internal Medicine, where she hopes to provide continuity of care and spend meaningful time with patients, in line with her belief that medicine is, at its core, about human connection. “Medicine stimulated me intellectually. But more than that, it has given me the space to form deep human bonds,” she noted. “[Medicine] is a very humbling journey, with many things to learn. There’s an analogy that I try to practise: life is like hiking a mountain. When we look forward, it feels endless and tough, but when we take a pause and look back, we realise we have actually come such a long way.”

Ashlee Tan: Diving deep into medicine and sport

When her best friend said she wanted to be a paediatrician when she grew up, a young Ashlee Tan Yi Xuan adopted the same dream.

This fun childhood wish turned into a firm ambition as she grew older. One striking moment was a project in primary school, where she learnt about less fortunate children in impoverished parts of the world with no access to proper healthcare.

Seeing medicine as a way to contribute to society, Ashlee, who is also a national diver, applied to study MBBS at NUS Medicine. However, at her admission interview in 2019,  someone advised her to pick between her first love — diving, which she had picked up at the age of 11 — and her medical studies.

But she took the plunge anyway. “I didn’t think it was possible to thrive at NUS Medicine while continuing to pursue competitive diving,” she said. “Everyone said medicine was too intense. As it turns out, if you really want it, you’ll find a way.”

And so she did, even taking a gap year in 2023 to train full-time. The decision came after the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, held right after her final exams in Year 3.

“It was brutal — studying and training simultaneously. I could not even fly to Hanoi together with the rest of my team because I still had practical exams,” she recalled. “We missed out on silver, but that reignited the fire in me and I realised that I was not ready to hang up my swimming suit.”

The gap year culminated in the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, where she narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympics. “It wasn’t the result I wanted, but it reminded me I could compete at that level. It gave me more confidence to tackle not just diving but medical school too,” she recounted.

Training 30 hours a week during her gap year and maintaining a lighter but consistent schedule after returning to school helped to hone her time management skills. Her strategies for managing her time well included doing up colour-coded physical timetables and task lists. Although she focused on full-time training, she still spent at least two hours studying every day, which helped make her final year more manageable.

“I’m very visual. Planning helped me stop panicking. And nothing beats the satisfaction of striking a task off my to-do list,” she explained.

Ashlee is still putting in the hours at the pool as she eyes the 2028 Olympics. Now undergoing clinical training at the internal medicine division of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, she shared, “I’ve learned to make quality count more than quantity. It’s about pacing myself and training smart.”

One piece of advice she would give her younger self? “Go all in, even from the first year. Don’t assume anything is impossible,” she laughed.

Ang Jing Xuan: Seeing the person behind the patient

Caring is at the heart of nursing. For Ang Jing Xuan, that meant understanding the person and not just the condition.

This inspired him to take on a second major in Sociology while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine’s Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies. One early clinical placement confirmed that he was on the right path.

“I was caring for an elderly patient who kept coming back for the same condition,” he recalled. “Medically, everything was right. But she told me, ‘It’s hard when you’re doing this alone.’ That hit me. It wasn’t just a physical problem, it was a social one too.”

Sociology gave him the vocabulary to articulate what he was observing — and the tools to respond. “Nursing taught me to notice the details of a patient’s condition, but Sociology taught me to notice the bigger picture,” he explained.

He applied this approach beyond the hospital wards, including during a 2024 summer internship at DBS, where he helped gamify a customer service initiative. “After watching how the bank managed change with empathy, patiently teaching their staff how to use new technology, I thought I could bring this human-centred perspective back to nursing,” he said.

Juggling a second major was challenging. “I’d overload my semesters just to feel productive,” he confessed. “But during exam season, panic would hit. My friends and I turned it into a late-night mission: staying up till 3am, quizzing each other and trying every trick to cram those slides into our heads. We were all over-caffeinated, half-delirious, but we got through it together.”

Now on the cusp of his nursing career, Jing Xuan is drawn to the adrenaline rush of the emergency wards and intensive care units. But he also hopes to use his training in Sociology to improve systems and support patients more holistically.

“I don’t just see a diagnosis anymore,” he said. “I see the person behind it — and all the structures that they’re navigating. That perspective has made me more thoughtful, more curious, and more committed to finding ways we can support people in their everyday lives. I also want to make a small but real change in nursing, perhaps by finding ways to streamline patient care or support staff during their most hectic shifts.”

 

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2025, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2025. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2025 on our social media channels!

In a time marked by rising global tensions, fractured trade relations, and deepening social and economic divides, the National Economics and Financial Management Challenge (NEFMC) 2025, organised by the NUS Economics Society (ECS), brought together nearly 1,000 pre-tertiary students in June to grapple with a question that could define their generation: What does economic resilience look like in a world that’s increasingly divided?

This year’s theme, “Economic Resilience in a Divided World”, reflects a reality that young people are already living through — a world where geopolitical instability, climate shocks, and market fragmentation are no longer abstract headlines, but defining features of the systems they will one day lead.

Hridayansh Khera, the incoming 63rd ECS President and a first-year Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Economics major, remarked at the opening ceremony, “The theme couldn’t be more timely. Our participants aren’t just solving economic problems — they’re building the mindset needed to lead through disruption.”

A landmark year of record participation, esteemed collaborations and thought leadership

Organised annually by ECS, NEFMC 2025 saw its biggest edition yet with participation expanding nearly threefold in scale this year compared to previous iterations. This year also marked a major milestone, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) joining as the event’s key sponsor for the first time, underscoring the challenge’s increasing significance in the national pre-tertiary academic landscape.

The competition scored another first when it hosted Professor Lars Peter Hansen, the 2013 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences from the University of Chicago, for a virtual keynote dialogue on 10 June 2025 titled “Scientific Uncertainty in Climate Policy: Conceal or Confront?”.

At the session, Prof Hansen emphasised that uncertainty in climate models should not be a justification for inaction but directly integrated into policymaking. He cautioned against the risks of overconfidence in the modelling process and explained why effective policies must strike a balance between preparation for worst-case scenarios and waiting for better data.

During the competition, students across three regional rounds tackled real-world economic challenges through case analyses, policy strategy and live presentations. The first two rounds saw teams of four or five competing in an online assessment that tested their understanding of economics and finance fundamentals, followed by a research analysis of the effects of geopolitical tensions on supply chain dynamics. The top six teams entered the final round and presented their cases for how low- and middle-income countries can navigate geopolitical shocks in areas such as trade finance, energy transition, and wealth and income inequality.

The esteemed panel of judges included Mr Joe Hooper, Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development; Mr Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat; Mr Richard Stein, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs; and Ms Benish Aslam, Regional Lead of Government Affairs and Policy at The Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed).

After intense deliberation, the judging panel awarded the top prize to Team Financial Decimators from NUS High School of Mathematics and Science. Their presentation stood out for its detailed analysis and strong, evidence-based policy recommendations tailored to the needs of developing countries. The winning team represented Singapore at the Australasian Economics Olympiad last week and emerged in second place in the team category!

Building a green Singapore

The finals also saw Mr Stanley Loh, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, deliver his keynote address titled “Sustainable Singapore: Building a Green Economy in an Ever-Evolving World”. Mr Loh, who is also an alumnus of NUS Economics and former ECS President, then participated in a fireside chat with Mr Khera, discussing the impact of geopolitical tensions on the development of a green economy and some of his personal experiences from when he was a student.

Mr Loh laid out the stark implications of climate inaction, warning that sea levels could rise by up to 1.15m by 2100 – a scenario that would place large parts of Singapore at serious risk. He noted that temperatures could rise by up to 5°C, with today’s coolest month (January) being warmer than the hottest month (May) in the 1960s. Beyond these extremes, he emphasised the severe externalities climate change could bring, including detrimental impacts on public health, infrastructure, and food systems. 

Global coordination, he reminded participants, is essential, with the global community leveraging the diverse relative strengths of nations to create a more efficient and globally coordinated response to the climate crisis. “Each country brings something different — some have advantages in alternative energy, others in R&D or systemic implementation. We need to tap on comparative advantage in climate action too.”

Inspiring young economists

Reflecting on the experience, Zhu Yancun from Team Financial Decimators noted how the NEFMC was an incredible opportunity for the team to explore the exciting intersection of economics, geopolitics, and finance. “We worked across multiple time zones during the competition period because we were in different countries across the competition period. The challenges of collaborating online only strengthened our bond as a team and made our success more rewarding. We now walk away inspired by the role economists can play in building a more sustainable and equitable world.”

At the closing ceremony, outgoing and 62nd ECS President Colin Chow shared, “At its core, NEFMC has always been more than just observing policy from the sidelines. It’s about sparking curiosity, challenging assumptions, and empowering students to reshape the way we think about policy. I believe that the best ideas come when students are given the space to experiment and reimagine—and it’s been incredibly rewarding to watch this cohort do exactly that.”

By the NUS Economics Society at NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

• Lianhe Zaobao, 8 July 2025, Singapore, p7

• The Business Times, 7 July 2025, p16

By Dr Lin Jing, Researcher at the Middle East Institute at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 July 2025, p16

• The Straits Times, 7 July 2025, The Big Story, pA4

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

• Berita Minggu, 6 July 2025, p11

• The Straits Times, 2 July 2025, Singapore, pA19

• The Straits Times, 2 July 2025, Singapore, pA19

• The Straits Times, 2 July 2025, Singapore, pA19

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

By Prof Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School and Ms Wang Zihan, Manager from the NUS Executive MBA-Chinese & Master in Public Administration and Management at NUS Business School

• Lianhe Zaobao, 1 July 2025, Opinion, p9

• Lianhe Zaobao, 1 July 2025, Fukan, Front Page

Governments around the world are imposing stricter rules on social media use, shifting the focus from regulating content to regulating access. Countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia are implementing policies such as identity verification, platform licensing and age restrictions. Dr Chew Han Ei, Senior Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies at the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, highlights that while these measures aim to enhance online safety, especially for younger users, they risk excluding vulnerable groups, anonymous users, and those unable to verify their identity, potentially pushing them toward less regulated platforms.

Dr Chew cautions that true digital safety goes beyond gatekeeping; social media systems need to be redesigned to ensure that they can respond to failures and hold up under pressure. He added that rather than relying solely on access controls, a safer internet requires platforms to be accountable, and are equipped with robust reporting tools, responsible algorithms, responsive moderation, and interface designs that prioritise user safety and well-being.

Read more here.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 4 July 2025, Singapore, p7

• CNA, 3 July 2025
• 8world Online, 3 July 2025
• Channel U News, 3 July 2025
• The Straits Times, 4 July 2025, Singapore, pA12
• Lianhe Zaobao, 4 July 2025, Singapore, p9
• Money 89.3FM, 4 July 2025
• Oli 96.8FM, 4 July 2025
• Tamil Murasu, 5 July 2025, p2

The two-day Regen Asia Summit (RAS) 2025, part of the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) 120th anniversary celebrations, was launched on 4 July 2025 as a dynamic platform to address environmental and social concerns through regeneration, which focuses on healing current environmental degradation and strengthening social resilience by nurturing resilient ecosystems. A total of 600 bright young minds, including 31 student leaders from the ASEAN region, gathered at the Summit to discuss strategies for restoring, renewing and revitalising ecosystems.

The participants, together with around 100 impact leaders and innovators from around the world – including thought leaders from indigenous communities – discussed ways to use interdisciplinary frameworks to address socio-environmental problems and foster intergenerational solutions. By promoting meaningful dialogue and idea-sharing, RAS aims to empower youths to sharpen skills and build lasting intergenerational networks for regeneration.

Held in connection with the NUS College (NUSC) course, Regeneration: Paradigm & Practice for Planetary Health, which equips students with the basic principles and concepts of regeneration, RAS embodies a bottom-up approach, with students leading the charge as conveners and creators of regional conversations. The Summit is fully organised by a team of 31 students from the ASEAN region, who make up the International Student Executive Committee. Led by NUS final-year students Misha Rajendran and Brendan Toh from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Committee conceptualised and brought the Summit’s vision to life, overseeing all aspects from programming and speaker outreach to logistics, sponsorship procurement, design, media, and engagement.

Ms Rajendran shared, “This Summit brought together young people from across Asia, united by a shared commitment to both people and the planet. Bringing this vision to life was only possible through the passion and creativity of the student leaders, supported every step of the way by dedicated staff. Leading this diverse team, spanning different geographies, disciplines, and lived experiences, was an incredible privilege. Together, we created a space where intergenerational voices and innovative ideas could flourish, inspiring holistic solutions to restore the health of our ecosystems and societies. This experience has shown me that when young people unite around a shared vision, there is truly no limit to what we can achieve.”

Centred on the theme “Intergenerational Collaboration for Regeneration”, RAS features fireside chats and close to 50 panel discussions, showcases and workshops exploring regeneration across six core domains – Culture & Society, Ecology, Economy, Governance & Civil Society, Built Environment, and Life & Wellbeing. RAS’ innovative approach aims to move the conversation beyond sustaining the present to actively restoring, healing, and revitalising ecosystems and communities.

A highlight of RAS was a fireside chat featuring President of the Republic of Singapore Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who inspired young leaders with valuable insights on the evening of July 4. President Tharman later joined participants at the Summit’s Impact Leaders Dinner for further interaction.

President Tharman, who is also NUS Chancellor, shared, “The Regen Asia Summit is an important new platform for student leaders across the region. It enables them to envision paths to development that preserve societies’ balance with nature, while advancing resilience and the well-being of vulnerable communities.”

The Summit is the latest in a line-up of programmes and events to celebrate NUS’ 120th anniversary this year, commemorating a legacy, forged over generations, of excellence, innovation and service. NUS President Tan Eng Chye said, “NUS is proud to host the inaugural Regen Asia Summit which brings together passionate students and thought leaders from around the world. This is a very impressive ground-up effort by a team of over 30 student leaders from the ASEAN region who collaborated across borders and joined hands to discuss environmental protection and social resilience. Their deep commitment to cross-cultural exchange will inspire more young people towards regional solidarity and youth-driven leadership in tackling pressing global challenges. We are confident the Summit will inspire positive change and grow into a powerful force for good – both in the region and beyond.”

As a starting point to engage diverse stakeholders, encourage collaboration across Asia, advocate for action, and shape policy, RAS sets the stage for the upcoming Asian Undergraduate Symposium (AUS) 2025, where ideas are translated into impact projects for a chance to secure seed grants. Organised as the NUS-AUN (ASEAN University Network) Summer Camp, the annual AUS brings together 300 undergraduates from over 50 ASEAN partner universities each year and will take place between 7 and 19 July 2025 at NUS College.

Multilateral institutions and society at large are dangerously unprepared for the most critical and interconnected risks threatening humanity. If left unaddressed, these risks have the potential to exacerbate geopolitical tensions, societal discord, crisis response challenges and much more.

This is the key takeaway from the inaugural 2024 United Nations’ Global Risk Report (UNGRR), which identifies a clear set of “Global Risk Vulnerabilities” – risks rated as highly important by respondents yet multilateral preparedness is gravely lacking.

The report is based on a global survey conducted in 2024 of over 1,100 experts and stakeholders across governments, industry, academia, and civil society, and offers a snapshot of how they perceive global risks and assess the multilateral system’s readiness to address the risks. The LRF Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR) at the National University of Singapore was the survey partner to the UN, leading the design of the survey methodology and conducting the analysis, contributing invaluable insights that helped shape key findings of the report.

Mis- and disinformation was the top global risk vulnerability followed by three high-priority risk clusters, each belonging to a single risk category and all regarded as crucial but under-addressed by current global systems:

1.     Digital and cyber risks such as cybersecurity breakdown and AI
2.     Health and social risks such as pandemics and mass migration
3.     Resource/environmental risks such as natural hazards and biodiversity loss

When asked to identify which stakeholder group would be best placed to act on each global risk vulnerability, respondents overwhelmingly said joint action by multiple governments was the most effective response. Joint action between governments and civil society, and joint action by governments and the private sector, also consistently ranked as top choices.

“This report makes clear that our world is not just facing isolated risks, but a web of vulnerabilities that are deeply interconnected and under-addressed. It’s also clear that the solutions lie not in silos but collaborative action. It is imperative that we move beyond fragmented responses and invest in more agile, inclusive, and collaborative approaches to safeguard our future,” said Professor Leonard Lee, IPUR Director and contributing author of the UNGRR.

Singapore’s deep interconnections to international trade and financial networks mean that it is particularly important for the country to follow trends in global risks, as any disruptions or shifts in these networks such as economic downturns, geopolitical tensions, and technological changes can have significant and immediate impacts on the country’s economy, stability, and long-term growth prospects.

Dr Olivia Jensen, Deputy Director at IPUR and contributing author of the UNGRR, said, “As an individual, thinking about rising global risks can leave us feeling fearful and helpless but the UNGRR suggests that the critical factor shaping outcomes is how we respond when risks materialise rather than the risks themselves. In times of great uncertainty about global trends, there is even more value in engaging as citizens and employees to signal to our leaders which actions we want them to take.”

The report further outlines how interconnections between risks frequently amplify vulnerabilities. For example, climate change drives migration and political tension, technological advancements can widen inequality gaps, and mis- and disinformation can erode social cohesion and trust in governing institutions. These feedback loops can trigger cascading crises, overwhelming global and regional systems.

Insights from the report were used to develop four foresight scenarios, potentially unfolding between now and 2050. These scenarios demonstrate the potential for “global breakdown” if vulnerabilities remain unaddressed but also highlight the promise of “global breakthrough” through urgent, cooperative, and targeted action on these vulnerabilities.

Other key findings from the report:

• Across all regions, environmental risks emerged as the highest priority, with climate change inaction and large-scale pollution ranking at the top.
• Climate change inaction was seen as a strong driver of biodiversity decline, resource shortages, natural hazards, and mass migration.
• The biggest perceived barriers to action were weak governance/coordination, lack of political consensus, and low trust/accountability.
• Regional vulnerabilities showed that some areas, especially lower-income regions, faced acute threats from economic shocks, while others grappled with the destabilising impact of technology or geopolitics.

Two exceptional NUS researchers have been named in Tatler’s Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2025, a prestigious list celebrating young changemakers across Asia who are shaping the future of their fields.

The NUS honourees, Associate Professor Benjamin Tee and Assistant Professor Jocelyn Chew Han Shi, embody the spirit of innovation and public impact, translating cutting-edge science into real-world solutions that improve lives.

Assoc Prof Benjamin Tee: Blazing trails as an ecosystem builder, entrepreneur and materials scientist

Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS is recognised for his entrepreneurial impact and contributions in nurturing startups.

In his role as Vice President (Ecosystem Building) at NUS Enterprise, Assoc Prof Tee drives innovation platforms and programmes such as the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), BLOCK71 Global Network, and the NUS Overseas Colleges programme. These platforms give tech and deeptech founders the boost they need to turn their early ideas into reality.

Balancing his role in shaping vibrant startup ecosystem in NUS, Singapore and beyond, Assoc Prof Tee has also made his mark as a successful serial entrepreneur. In 2019, he co-founded TwoPlus Fertility with a partner, combining his expertise in medical technology and passion for entrepreneurship. The company aims to assist over a million couples through at-home fertility aids, from supplements to test kits, in their journey towards parenthood.

Assoc Prof Tee has also co-founded three other start-ups: Privi Medical (acquired), Hannah Life Technologies and Tacniq.AI.

In the lab, Assoc Prof Tee is charting new frontiers in electronic skin and intelligent sensor technologies. He leads the Sensors.AI Labs, where his research bridges materials science, electronics, and advanced technologies to build devices inspired by human skin—capable of sensing, healing, and adapting.

His innovations include the development of world’s fastest sensing electronic skins, brightest stretchable and self-healing lighting device, and high-performance sensors for applications in human-robot interactions.

Assoc Prof Tee’s achievements in scientific research have earned him prestigious international recognitions, including the World Economic Forum’s Singapore Young Scientist of the year in 2019, the National Research Foundation Fellowship in 2017, and the MIT Technology Review’s TR35 Innovator (Global) in 2015. In 2021, his team’s work on healthcare sensors emerged as the International Winner of the James Dyson Foundation Prize — marking Singapore’s first global win in the award’s 17-year history.

“It is an incredible honour to be named among Tatler Gen.T’s Leaders of Tomorrow 2025 list. This recognition reflects my collaborative spirit to drive research, innovation, and enterprise from Singapore to the world. I am excited to continue advancing solutions that pushes the frontiers of technology and deliver meaningful impact on society,” said Assoc Prof Tee.

Read the citation on Assoc Prof Benjamin Tee here. 

Asst Prof Jocelyn Chew Han Shi: Driving digital behavioural health and servant leadership

Assistant Professor Jocelyn Chew from the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing) has been recognised for her visionary work at the intersection of digital health, behavioural science, and nursing innovation.

“Being named a Tatler Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow is both an honour and a reminder of the responsibility we carry to shape a healthier, more equitable future,” she said. “At NUS, I’m privileged to work at the intersection of science, innovation, and care—where bold ideas can translate into real-world impact for the communities we serve.”

Asst Prof Chew’s academic journey at NUS is marked by three key themes: translational research, personal growth, and community inspiration.

In the realm of translational research, Asst Prof Chew has led interdisciplinary work in obesity management and cardiometabolic health. One of her flagship innovations is the Modu^© app (formerly known as eTRIP) and the LIGHTER programme, which uses behavioural science, digital phenotyping and novel counselling techniques to encourage healthier lifestyle habits. In addition, she founded the Singapore Nursing Innovation Group, set up a nurse-led translational service, and has consistently worked to build platforms that empower students and clinicians to address unmet clinical needs.

According to Asst Prof Chew, her personal and professional growth has been deeply shaped by the dynamic academic environment at NUS. Balancing roles as a scientist and mother of two young children, she is grateful for her family’s support and expresses a deeper appreciation for work-life integration and servant leadership in academia.

Asst Prof Chew draws constant inspiration from her students, mentors, and colleagues across disciplines. “The collegiality and diversity of thought at NUS make it a truly energising place to work and grow,” she added.

She expressed her appreciation to colleagues and mentors including Professor Dean Ho, Adjunct Professor Ngiam Kee Yuan, Associate Professor Shefaly Shorey, Professor Wang Wenru, Professor Nick Sevdalis, Professor Roger Foo and Professor Liaw Sok Ying (Head of NUS Nursing), for generously sharing their wisdom and providing unwavering support over the years.

Read the citation of Asst Prof Jocelyn Chew here.

Clean, safe water is vital for human health and well-being. It also plays a critical role in our food security, supports high-tech industries, and enables sustainable urbanisation. However, detecting contamination quickly and accurately remains a major challenge in many parts of the world. A groundbreaking new device developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has the potential to significantly advance water quality monitoring and management.

Taking inspiration from the biological function of the oily protective layer found on human skin, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering at NUS translated this concept into a versatile material, named ReSURF, capable of spontaneously forming a water-repellent interface. This new material, which can be prepared through a rapid micro-phase separation approach, autonomously self-heals and can be recycled. The researchers incorporated the material into a device known as a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which uses the energy from the movement of water droplets to create an electric charge. The resulting device (ReSURF sensor) can be applied as a water quality monitor.

“The ReSURF sensor can detect various pollutants, such as oils and fluorinated compounds, which are challenging for many existing sensors. This capability, together with unique features such as self-powered, self-healing, reusability and recyclability, positions ReSURF as a sustainable solution for real-time, on-site, and sustainable water quality monitoring,” said Assoc Prof Tee.

The team’s design of the ReSURF material and performance of the novel water quality sensor were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications on 1 July 2025.

Rapid and sustainable water quality sensing

Existing water quality monitoring technologies such as electrochemical sensors, optical detection systems, and biosensors are effective in certain specific applications, such as detecting heavy metals, phosphorus, and microbial pollution.

However, these technologies often face limitations including slow response, high costs, reliance on external reagents or power sources, limited reusability, and the need for bulky laboratory equipment or specialised instrumentation.

The ReSURF sensor developed by the NUS team effectively overcomes these challenges, particularly in on-site real-time water quality sensing. The self-powered device has demonstrated the ability to detect water contaminants in approximately 6 milliseconds (i.e. around 40 times faster than a blink of the eye).

Additionally, the ReSURF sensor is designed to be self-healing and recyclable, making it a sustainable and low-maintenance solution. Being stretchable and transparent, the material can be easily integrated into flexible platforms, including soft robotics and wearable electronics, setting it apart from conventional sensing materials.

Furthermore, the ReSURF material applied as a sensor offers an environmentally friendly solution as it can be easily recycled due to its solubility in solvents, enabling it to be reused in new devices without suffering a loss in performance.

ReSURF sensor: How it works

The ReSURF sensor monitors water quality by analysing the electrical signals generated when analytes — such as salts, oils, or pollutants — in the water droplets, contact its surface. When water droplets containing analytes strike the water-repellent surface of the sensor, they spread out and slide off quickly, generating electric charges within milliseconds. The magnitude and characteristics of the signal generated would vary according to the composition and concentration of the analytes present. By monitoring these signals in real time, the ReSURF sensor can rapidly and accurately assess water quality without the need for external power sources.

To demonstrate its capabilities, the researchers tested the ReSURF sensor on a pufferfish-like soft robot in detecting oil in water and perfluorooctanoic acid – a common contaminant found in water sources. The test produced promising results with both contaminants producing different voltage signals, providing a proof-of-concept that the ReSURF sensor can be used in early surveillance of possible contamination.

Safeguarding water quality

The ReSURF sensor offers broad application potential. It can be deployed in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs to enable early surveillance of pollutants, allowing for quick response to water contamination emergencies. In agriculture, it is capable of monitoring water safety in areas like rice fields. In industrial settings and sewage treatment plants, the ReSURF sensor could provide valuable insights for wastewater management.

Next steps

The research team hopes to optimise the ReSURF sensor by enhancing the specificity of pollutant detection, integrating wireless data transmission capabilities, and scaling the system for long-term or large-scale environmental monitoring. Additionally, the researchers plan to explore more eco-friendly material alternatives to enhance sustainability and align with evolving environmental regulations.

“Future iterations could integrate additional sensing modalities or machine learning–based signal analysis to enable more precise identification and classification of pollutants. We envision this platform as a foundation for the development of more intelligent and responsive water quality monitoring systems,” said Assoc Prof Tee.

As countries race towards achieving net-zero emissions through renewable energy adoption, research plays a pivotal role in shaping how we harness these greener energy sources to power our cities, move people, and manage resources. Professor Dipti Srinivasan from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS is combining her passion for artificial intelligence (AI) with a deep commitment to sustainability by developing smart tools that make clean technologies -- like electric buses and renewable energy -- not just viable, but efficient and scalable.

Her journey began with a simple yet powerful question: How can AI solve real-world energy problems? Over time, this curiosity evolved into a focused mission — to help society reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by making renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, more reliable and accessible.

“I wanted to find smart, data-driven ways to help integrate renewable energy sources better into our power systems and support a cleaner, more sustainable future,” Prof Srinivasan explained.

A data-driven vision for greener cities

Prof Srinivasan’s current research investigates how computational intelligence — drawing on nature-inspired methods like neural networks and evolutionary algorithms — can optimise renewable energy integration and electrified transport systems.

Computational tools are particularly useful in harnessing complex systems, such as city-wide electric bus networks or national power grids, to provide insights for planning and balancing supply and demand, as well as supporting decision-making under constraints such as battery capacity or power grid limits.

Prof Srinivasan and her team leverage on evolutionary computation, which mimics natural selection, to find different solutions by keeping the best-performing ones and improving them over time — just like how nature evolves stronger species. The research team applies this technique to determine the best locations and sizes for battery storage, so that energy is stored and delivered efficiently across the power grid.

Smarter charging, smarter fleets

In a study last year, Prof Srinivasan and Dr Can Bark Saner, who is a research fellow from the Department of Mathematics at the NUS Faculty of Science, introduced a multi-module optimsation framework for the planning and operation of electric bus (e-bus) shuttle fleets to reduce life cycle cost, and maximise savings on charger procurement, electricity, and battery degradation.

The framework was published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems on 21 August 2024.

As part of the framework, the NUS team proposed a three-module model comprising:

·      a vehicle scheduling module to determine e-bus deployment and trip assignments to ensure alignment with energy consumption and mitigate battery degradation;

·       a charger deployment and charging planning module that determines the number of chargers to deploy at depots and across e-bus charging schedules to minimise life cycle costs; and

·       an online charging scheduling module which updates charging schedules to handle uncertainties in trip energy consumption.

Her team’s work complements the focus on computational intelligence-based decision-making — especially in the context of large-scale electrical vehicle (EV) charging and integration with renewable power. With this proposed framework, they demonstrated a life cycle cost reduction of up to 38.2 per cent, facilitating up to a 90.2 per cent decrease in battery degradation cost.

“We’re working on how to manage EV charging at scale, especially for large fleets in cities, workplaces, or public charging hubs. The goal is to maximise the use of solar and wind power during EV charging, by aligning charging schedules with periods of high renewable energy generation. That way, we make the most of renewable energy and reduce stress on the grid,” said Prof Srinivasan.

The team is also developing algorithms to support Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies, allowing EVs not just to consume power, but to return it to the electrical grid when needed — turning EVs into mobile storage units that help stabilise the power system.

Beyond technologies -- towards consumer adoption

Integrating EVs and renewable energy into existing infrastructure is not just a technical challenge, it involves various stakeholders from industry partners to consumers. Prof Srinivasan stresses the importance of looking beyond infrastructure. For clean technologies to succeed, people need to understand, trust, and feel supported in adopting them.

“We must think about affordability, ease of use, and awareness. People need clear information, strong incentives, and policies that support their choices,” said Prof Srinivasan.

She added, “People need access to clear information, financial incentives, and reliable technology that fits seamlessly into their lives. Supportive policies and a strong focus on consumer behaviour and acceptance also play a key role in driving the transition to clean energy.”

Envisioning Singapore’s renewable energy future

Looking towards a sustainable future, Prof Srinivasan sees enormous potential in Singapore’s approach to energy innovation.

She envisions a future where renewable energy plays a central role in Singapore’s power system — enabled by smart tools, supported by strong policy, and integrated into everyday life. Prof Srinivasan highlighted that with land constraints, breakthroughs are needed in solar deployment, energy storage, and grid management.

At the heart of her work is a belief that technology, when designed thoughtfully and deployed strategically, can drive real change for a greener and more sustainable future with renewable energy.

“This work isn’t just about algorithms or software. It’s about building systems that support a cleaner, more resilient future, and making sure that the shift to renewables and electric mobility is not just possible, but practical,” said Prof Srinivasan.

As cities and countries plan for more e-buses, greener grids, and sustainable transport systems, Prof Srinivasan’s research offers a critical piece of the puzzle — ensuring we don’t just adopt clean technology, but do so intelligently, affordably, and equitably.

• The Straits Times, 30 June 2025, The Big Story, pA6

• The Straits Times, 30 June 2025, Science, pA17

• The Straits Times, 30 June 2025, Science, pA17
• Tamil Murasu, 1 July 2025, p4

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

• The Straits Times, 30 June 2025, Opinion, pB3

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

• Berita Minggu, 29 June 2025, p11

• Lianhe Zaobao, 28 June 2025, Business, p23

By Adjunct Assoc Prof Jeremy Lim from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS; Dr Taufeeq Wahab from NUHS; and Ms Sheryl Ha, an incoming student at Duke-NUS Medical School

• CNA Online, 28 June 2025

• The Straits Times, 27 June 2025, Singapore, pA14

• CNA938, 26 June 2025
• Oli 96.8FM, 26 June 2025
• CNA Online, 26 June 2025
• 8world Online, 26 June 2025
• Suria News Online, 26 June 2025
• The Straits Times, 27 June 2025, The Big Story, Front Page & pA2
• Lianhe Zaobao, 27 June 2025, Singapore, p7
• Tamil Murasu, 27 June 2025, Front Page

Dr Chew Han Ei, Senior Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• CNA Online, 26 June 2025

Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have demonstrated a perovskite–organic tandem solar cell with a certified world-record power conversion efficiency of 26.4 per cent over a 1 cm² active area — making it the highest-performing device of its kind to date. This milestone is driven by a newly designed narrow-bandgap organic absorber that significantly enhances near-infrared (NIR) photon harvesting, a long-standing bottleneck in thin-film tandem solar cells.

This latest research breakthrough was achieved under the leadership of Assistant Professor Hou Yi, who is a Presidential Young Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS and leads the Perovskite-based Multijunction Solar Cells Group at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at NUS.

The NUS research team published their groundbreaking work in the prestigious scientific journal Nature on 25 June 2025.

Unlocking the promise of tandem solar cells

Perovskite and organic semiconductors both offer widely tunable bandgaps, enabling tandem cells to approach very high theoretical efficiencies. “Thanks to their light weight and flexible form factor, perovskite–organic tandem solar cells are ideally suited to power applications that are run directly on devices such as drones, wearable electronics, smart fabrics and other AI-enabled devices,” said Asst Prof Hou.

However, the absence of efficient NIR thin-film absorbers – which help to capture sunlight in the NIR region more efficiently and hence improving the overall efficiency of tandem cells - has kept perovskite–organic tandem cells lagging behind alternative designs.

Harnessing the near-infrared

To overcome this challenge, Asst Prof Hou and his team developed an asymmetric organic acceptor with an extended conjugation structure, enabling absorption deep into the NIR region while maintaining a sufficient driving force for efficient charge separation and promoting ordered molecular packing. Ultrafast spectroscopy and device physics analyses confirmed that this design achieves high free charge carrier collection with minimal energy loss.

Building on the organic subcell’s performance, the researchers stacked it beneath a high-efficiency perovskite top cell, interfacing the two layers with a transparent conducting oxide (TCO)-based interconnector.

The newly designed tandem cell achieved a power conversion efficiency of 27.5 per cent on 0.05-cm² samples and 26.7 per cent on 1-cm² devices, with the 26.4 per cent result independently certified. These findings mark the highest certified performance to date among perovskite–organic, perovskite–CIGS, and single-junction perovskite cells at comparable size.

“With efficiencies poised to exceed 30 per cent, these flexible films are ideal for roll-to-roll production and seamless integration onto curved or fabric substrates — think self-powered health patches that harvest sunlight to run onboard sensors, or smart textiles that monitor biometrics without the need for bulky batteries,” noted Asst Prof Hou.

Next step

In the next phase of their research, the NUS team will focus on enhancing real-world operational stability and advancing towards pilot-line manufacturing - crucial steps in bringing flexible, high-performance solar technology to market.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has appointed Professor Tulika Mitra as the new Dean for the NUS School of Computing (NUS Computing), and Associate Professor Leong Ching as the Acting Dean for the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP). Both appointments will take effect from 1 July 2025. Assoc Prof Leong will hold the Acting Dean appointment concurrently with her role as Vice Provost (Student Life), while a Dean search is underway.

They succeed current Deans Professor Tan Kian Lee and Professor Danny Quah respectively, who are returning to their academic pursuits at NUS in research and teaching.

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, said, “We are pleased to appoint Prof Tulika Mitra as Dean of the School of Computing and Assoc Prof Leong Ching as Acting Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy while a search for the Dean is being carried out. With their extensive academic and industry experience, I am confident that their leadership will propel NUS Computing and LKYSPP towards higher levels of excellence, enabling us to be at the forefront of teaching, research and innovation while nurturing future-ready students with deep intellectual rigour and the resilience and adaptability to thrive in today’s digital economy.”

School of Computing

Prof Mitra has served as Vice Provost (Academic Affairs) since January 2021 and as the Chair of the University Promotion and Tenure Committee (UPTC) since May 2020. From fostering a more supportive and robust promotion and tenure culture to introducing the induction programmes for new faculty, she has been instrumental in identifying and recruiting top academic talents, upholding academic excellence, strengthening the Singaporean academic pipeline. She has created a direct pathway for Full Professorship through impactful educational leadership and incorporated clear guidelines for practice track promotions. Her contributions were recognised with the Singapore Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2024.

Prof Mitra is a leading expert in hardware-software codesign of computing systems, specialising in real-time embedded systems and energy-efficient AI accelerators. Currently Provost’s Chair Professor in the Department of Computer Science, she has been with NUS Computing since 2001. She has served as the Editor-in-Chief of ACM Transactions on Embedded Computing Systems, Member of the ACM Publications Board, and General/Program Chair of many conferences. Additionally, she serves on the DSTA Board of Directors, Scientific Advisory Board of MPI-SWS, Barkhausen Institute, and international expert panels of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, INRIA France, and KTH Sweden.

On taking up her new appointment, Prof Mitra said, “I am honoured to lead the School at a time when our discipline is central to interdisciplinary innovations reshaping the modern world. I look forward to returning to my roots and working closely with the NUS Computing family of exceptional colleagues and students.”

Prof Mitra will concurrently take on the role of Vice Provost (Special Projects) in addition to helming the School of Computing. She will support the Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost in leading high-impact strategic initiatives for the University.

Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Associate Professor Leong Ching joined LKYSPP in 2014 and was appointed to her current position in 2019.

An economist with a focus on applying institutional theory to the policy sciences, Assoc Prof Leong is today among the leading scholars in the field of behavioural public policy (BPP), with visiting appointments at the London School of Economics and Cambridge University.

She uses large field experiments to understand the motivating forces of government and public behaviour where her work has had significant impact on water policy and sustainability issues, as well as on public willingness to accept novelty such as recycled drinking water as a solution to global water scarcity. In the recent COVID-19 pandemic, her work on the willingness to accept new science in the form of mRNA vaccines has been cited by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an important behavioural intervention to reduce hesitancy.  

Beyond her contributions to public policy research and academic excellence, Assoc Prof Leong is committed to student growth and development. In her current role as Vice Provost (Student Life), she has overseen the integration of student life into the NUS curriculum. 

In her new role as Acting Dean at LKYSPP, Assoc Prof Leong will build on LKYSPP’s strengths and track record in research, education and engagement, while fostering partnerships with government, industry and society. She will be supported by the current members of the LKYSPP Deanery who will continue to contribute towards leadership for the School.

Assoc Prof Leong said, “The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy is built on a belief in the transformational power of policy ideas. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue producing these global public goods so as to inform government and public decisions on the most pressing problems of our time.”

New Vice Provost (Academic Affairs)

Professor Ho Ghim Wei, who has been serving as Associate Provost (Academic Affairs), will succeed Prof Mitra as Vice Provost (Academic Affairs) from 1 July 2025. In her new role, she will lead the University’s efforts to nurture, develop and empower faculty members towards excellence in education, research and innovation.

At the Office of the Provost, Prof Ho has been supporting the Vice Provost in overseeing the academic review process and upholding standards of excellence in faculty career progression. She has been playing key roles in organising faculty development workshops and events, as well as in outreach and recruitment efforts.

Prof Ho is an outstanding scholar from the College of Design and Engineering (CDE), where she leads the Sustainable Smart Solar Systems research group. Her team conducts fundamental and applied research on nanosystems based on emerging low-dimensional nanomaterials, interfacial interactions and hybridised functionalities for applications in energy, the environment, electronics and healthcare. She also served as Vice Dean for Student Life at CDE for over four years.

In appreciation

Expressing his gratitude to the two outgoing deans for their service, President Tan said, “I am deeply grateful to Kian Lee and Danny for their leadership and service. A homegrown talent, Kian Lee is an outstanding researcher, data scientist and educator who has steered the faculty from a small department in its early years into one of the world’s top and highly competitive computing schools. Danny is an eminent economist who has enabled LKYSPP to strengthen and anchor its position as a global thought leader, advancing impactful policy solutions and training policy makers for Singapore, the region, and beyond.”

“As they return to academia, I look forward to their continued contributions to NUS in inspiring future generations of researchers and students to shape the future of technology and serve for the greater good of society,” President Tan added.

Under Prof Tan’s leadership, NUS Computing has flourished, consistently drawing in and nurturing the best and brightest talents. In tandem with the growing prominence and impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the School has expanded its curriculum offerings with the launch of three new AI-centric degree programmes, and the opening of Sea Building and Sea Connect – featuring new collaborative spaces for teaching and innovation, and home to 12 research labs which will catalyse long-term, fruitful collaborations between academia and industry.

These efforts are vital in driving NUS’ bold ambitions in cutting-edge research, education, and collaboration, advancing the rapidly evolving fields in computing such as AI and data science.

A distinguished global scholar, Prof Quah returned from London in 2016 and joined LKYSPP to pursue research in and contribute to policy development on international economic relations, income inequality, and economic growth.  Over the past seven years as Dean of LKYSPP, he has been a visionary and transformative leader.

Under his stewardship, the School has strengthened its position as a leader and authority in public policy research and education, with distinct focus on Asia’s unique challenges and opportunities. Among the significant initiatives that expanded the School’s reach and impact are enhanced leadership training programmes; the Global-is-Asian platform, advancing research and collaboration across the Asia-Pacific and beyond; and the biennial Festival of Ideas, a flagship forum for policy dialogue bringing together experts and opinion leaders to address the most pressing issues of our time.

A prolific writer and sought-after speaker, Prof Quah has worked to push the frontiers of research in his field and, at leading international forums, drawn on that academic research to provide thought leadership in economic policy, global governance, and Asia’s role in international affairs.  

• Suria News Online, 24 June 2025

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

• CNA Online, 24 June 2025

• CNA Online, 23 June 2025

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

• CNA Online, 23 June 2025

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

• Suria News Online, 22 June 2025

• Berita Minggu, 22 June 2025, p20

• The Sunday Times, 22 June 2025, Life, pC8

• Lianhe Zaobao, 20 June 2025, Singapore, p10

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

• CNA Online, 18 June 2025

By Mr Tan Kway Guan, Research Associate and Principal Project Manager and Dr Yi Xin, Research Fellow, both from the Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• The Business Times, 19 June 2025, p16

• The Straits Times, 19 June 2025, The Big Story, pA6
• The New Paper, 19 June 2025
• Tamil Murasu, 19 June 2025, p2
• CNA (TV News), 19 June 2025
• Channel 8, 19 June 2025
• CNA938, 19 June 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 19 June 2025
• Hao 96.3FM, 19 June 2025
• Warna 94.2FM, 19 June 2025
• Suria News Online, 19 June 2025
• Vasantham News Online, 19 June 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 20 June 2025, Opinion, p3

A new lab-grown material has revealed that some of the effects of ageing in the heart may be slowed and even reversed. The discovery could open the door to therapies that rejuvenate the heart by changing its cellular environment, rather than focusing on the heart cells themselves.

The research, published recently in Nature Materials, was carried out by a team led by Assistant Professor Jennifer Young from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Asst Prof Young is also a scientist at the NUS Mechanobiology Institute (MBI).

The team focused on the extracellular matrix (ECM)—the complex framework that surrounds and supports heart cells. This net-like scaffolding made of proteins and other components holds cells in place and sends chemical signals that guide how the cells function.

As the heart ages, the ECM becomes stiffer and its biochemical composition changes. These changes can trigger harmful activity in heart cells, contributing to scarring, loss of flexibility, and reduced function.

“Most ageing research focuses on how cells change over time,” said Asst Prof Young. “Our study looks instead at the ECM and how changes in this environment affect heart ageing.”

To investigate this, the team developed a hybrid biomaterial called DECIPHER (DECellularized In Situ Polyacrylamide Hydrogel-ECM hybrid), made by combining natural heart tissue with a synthetic gel to closely mimic the stiffness and composition of the ECM.

“Until now, it’s been difficult to pinpoint which of these changes—physical stiffness or biochemical signals—play the bigger role in driving this decline, because they usually happen at the same time,” said Avery Rui Sun, PhD student in NUS CDE and MBI, and first author of the study.

“The DECIPHER platform solves this problem, allowing researchers to independently control the stiffness and the biochemical signals presented to the cells—something no previous system using native tissue has been able to do.”

When the team placed aged heart cells onto DECIPHER scaffolds that mimicked ‘young’ ECM cues, they found that the cells began to behave more like young cells—even when the material remained stiff. Closer investigation revealed that this included a shift in gene activity across thousands of genes associated with ageing and cell function.

In contrast, young cells placed on ‘aged’ ECM began to show signs of dysfunction, even if the scaffold was soft.

“This showed us that the biochemical environment around aged heart cells matters more than stiffness, while young cells take in both cues,” said Asst Prof Young.

“Even when the tissue was very stiff, as it typically is in aged hearts, the presence of ‘young’ biochemical signals was enough to push aged cells back toward a healthier, more functional state,” she added. “This suggests that if we can find a way to restore these signals in the ageing heart, we might be able to reverse some of the damage and improve how the heart functions over time.”

“On the other hand, for young heart cells, we found that higher stiffness can cause them to prematurely ‘age’, suggesting that if we target specific aspects of ECM ageing, we might slow or prevent heart dysfunction over time.”

While the work is still in the research phase, the team says their findings open up a new direction for therapies aimed at preserving or restoring heart health during ageing—by targeting the ECM itself. They hope the method could also be adapted to study other tissues affected by ageing and disease. Beyond the heart, the team believes the DECIPHER method could be applied to study ageing and disease in other organs as well due to the major role of the ECM in cell function across all our tissues.

“Many age-related diseases involve changes in tissue stiffness—not just in the heart,” said Asst Prof Young. “For example, the same approach could be applied to kidney and skin tissue, and it could be adapted to study conditions like fibrosis or even cancer, where the mechanical environment plays a major role in how cells behave.”

The study was a collaboration involving researchers from CDE, MBI, Department of Biological Sciences at the NUS Faculty of Science, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Institute at the National University Heart Centre Singapore.

The Tahir Foundation, established by prominent Indonesian philanthropist Dato’ Sri Professor Dr Tahir, Chairman of Mayapada Group, has pledged S$2 million to the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) in support of Indonesian students at the two universities. The gift was announced at a ceremony held on 12 June 2025, at NUS.

Each university will receive S$1 million for student financial aid, enabling more Indonesian students, regardless of their financial circumstances, to benefit from a world-class education in Singapore and to reinforce the strong people-to-people ties between Indonesia and Singapore.

A shared vision for ASEAN’s future

The gift reflects a broader regional ambition: nurturing future leaders, strengthening ASEAN’s talent pipeline, and deepening collaboration across borders. It also affirms the universities’ shared commitment to inclusive education and regional impact.

Dato’ Sri Professor Dr Tahir, Chairman of Mayapada Group said: “I strongly believe that education is fundamental in uplifting society and transforming our collective future. NUS and NTU, as leading global universities, are well-positioned to contribute significantly to Singapore and the world. I hope this gift will enable Indonesian students to realise their potential and inspire them to give back to their communities.”

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said: “At NUS, we believe education is transformative in empowering individuals and uplifting communities. This gift will open opportunities for more Indonesian students to pursue tertiary education at world-class institutions in Singapore, and help to build a more collaborative and resilient Southeast Asia region, by fostering ties, familiarity and connections between the youths of Indonesia and Singapore. We hope this gift will inspire others to also step forward to support and nurture the next generation of leaders in the region through education.”

NTU President Professor Ho Teck Hua said: “Dr Tahir’s gift reflects his belief in the power of education to transcend borders. It enables more talented Indonesian students to pursue their aspirations at NTU, opening doors to life-changing opportunities that can transform not just individuals, but entire communities. The gift embodies our shared conviction that education plays a pivotal role in nurturing future-ready talent and in fostering a more connected region.”  

A lifelong commitment to education

Dr Tahir has long championed education as a key driver of social mobility. He studied on a scholarship at Nanyang University, which later merged with the University of Singapore in 1980 to form NUS. He graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Commerce and is recognised as a distinguished alumnus of both NUS and NTU.

Over the past two decades, Dr Tahir has been a steadfast supporter of education, contributing to student bursaries and scholarships, as well as research and academic programmes in Singapore. In 2012, he made a landmark S$30 million gift to the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, his largest philanthropic gift to an educational institution. The gift helped advance medical research and academic programmes.

Dr Tahir also funded key initiatives such as the Tahir NTU-Universitas Airlangga Students Exchange Programme, which strengthens academic ties between Singapore and Indonesia, as well as the NTU Priorities Fund. In 2021, Dr Tahir made a gift in support of student bursaries, providing financial assistance to deserving NTU students and enabling them to pursue their education with greater peace of mind.

Investing in regional talent and collaboration

Strategically positioned in the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore serves as a vital hub for regional education and collaboration. As the nation’s flagship university and top-ranked institution in Southeast Asia, NUS plays a leading role in advancing research, innovation and global partnerships across the region.

Situated in Singapore’s innovation corridor, NTU is consistently ranked among the world’s top young universities and is recognised for its excellence in sustainability, engineering, and interdisciplinary research. The University plays a pivotal role in advancing technological innovation, industry collaboration and talent development, contributing to Southeast Asia’s progress and global competitiveness.

Through this latest gift from the Tahir Foundation, more Indonesian students will have the opportunity to join the vibrant, diverse and intellectually dynamic communities at NUS and NTU. This will not only shape their personal and professional growth but will also contribute to deeper regional understanding and cooperation — laying the groundwork for a stronger, more inclusive Southeast Asia.

• zbSunday, 8 June 2025, News, p4

• zbSunday, 8 June 2025, News, p14

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

• Berita Minggu, 8 June 2025, p11

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 June 2025, Singapore, p10

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

• CNA Online, 6 June 2025

By Asst Prof Elvin Ong, from the Dept of Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• The Straits Times, 6 June 2025, Opinion, pB3

• The Business Times, 6 June 2025, p14

• The Business Times, 6 June 2025, p2
• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 June 2025, Business, p23

• Lianhe Zaobao, 10 June 2025, Singapore, p7

• CNA Online, 29 May 2025

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

• The Straits Times, 29 May 2025, Opinion, pB4

• The Straits Times, 29 May 2025, World, pA9
• The Business Times, 29 May 2025, p15
• Tamil Murasu Online, 29 May 2025

• CNA, 28 May 2025
• The Straits Times, 29 May 2025, The Big Story, pA4
• The Business Times, 29 May 2025, p4
• Lianhe Zaobao, 29 May 2025, Singapore, p5
• Berita Harian, 29 May 2025, p5
• Tamil Murasu, 29 May 2025, p2

In celebration of its 15^th anniversary, the Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) at NUS Business School launched a commemorative e-book titled 15 Lessons in Corporate Sustainability and Governance on 16 May 2025, at an event organised by the school’s alumni office NUS BIZAlum to mark the Business School’s 60th anniversary.

The e-book is a compilation of commentaries on corporate governance and sustainability, many of which were previously published by local and international media platforms and updated for the commemorative publication. It aims to inspire individuals and organisations to embrace the cause through essays on the mindset, implementation steps, communication approach, and talent investments required to integrate sustainability into a business.

Aside from marking CGS’ milestone anniversary, the e-book embodies CGS Director Professor Lawrence Loh’s vision of the centre as a source of practical, understandable information. He noted that the emphasis by the media outlets on clarity and conciseness when reviewing the commentaries for publication has helped ensure that the content remains accessible to business practitioners, students, and policymakers. Prof Loh added that he envisions the e-book as a useful educational tool for his courses and lectures.

“We don’t want to be seen as an ivory tower. We want to be seen as a lighthouse that guides practice and policy,” he said, telling NUS News that his hope is for CGS to eventually go beyond pointing the way to actively leading companies to best practices, like a tugboat guiding ships into safe harbour.

Research with policy impact

Housed under the NUS Business School, CGS was first established as the Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations in 2010 with a team of five and an initial focus on corporate governance. Since the beginning, its work has centred on applied research, such as studies to identify baselines or trends among companies, using an integrative approach that leverages industry outreach and collaborations to ensure that its research yields useful insights for managers and policymakers.

Its current projects span corporate governance, corporate sustainability, and the interface between the two, yielding findings that are useful not only to the projects’ funding partners but also to consultants and policymakers who cite them in recommendations and proposals.

All this is accomplished by a lean team of 10, comprising Prof Loh, seven researchers, and two administrative staff, with the help of visiting PhD students on one-year appointments and student interns, research assistants, and Business School faculty members who contribute on an ad hoc basis. Their work has far-reaching impact, garnering the centre over 500 media mentions annually in recent years in local and international media outlets such as AFP, BBC, CNN, China Daily, Nikkei Asia, The Washington Post, and Xinhua News.

Prior to taking over from Professor Chang Sea-Jin as CGS director in 2015, Prof Loh played a pivotal role in adding corporate sustainability to the centre’s scope through his work on the first national study on sustainability reporting in Singapore as a research affiliate in 2014. The centre strengthened its corporate sustainability research pillar over the years with more studies and assessments, and it was relaunched as the Centre for Governance and Sustainability in 2021 to better represent its agenda.

In those early years, the topic was not on the radar for most of the business world, and Prof Loh recalls fielding basic questions like “What is sustainability?” from business leaders.

But CGS’ foresight was rewarded in 2015 when the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed and interest in corporate sustainability skyrocketed. CGS stood out as a reliable source that was already doing work in the field, and its reputation was further bolstered by official recognition and partnerships with regulators and business players, such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Singapore Exchange (SGX), and luxury group Kering.

For example, in 2013, MAS appointed CGS and the Singapore Institute of Directors as the Domestic Ranking Body to assess and rank Singapore’s listed companies on corporate governance for the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum. The central bank also uses CGS data in its annual financial stability review.

In 2019, CGS was appointed by SGX as an independent assessor to conduct biennial assessments of Singapore-listed companies’ sustainability reporting, and the Singapore Exchange Regulation website lists the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index, a key CGS project, among its sustainability resources for companies.

Since May 2024, CGS has been studying climate- and nature-related transition strategies among companies across Asia Pacific under a three-year collaboration with luxury group Kering, which owns brands such as Gucci and Bottega Veneta.

“Everything we do in CGS is evidence-based,” said Prof Loh, noting that the positions taken by CGS are not based on personal convictions or speculation but derived from data assembled with the help of industry partners and regulators. “Sustainability is not airy-fairy. It has to be factual.”

Prof Loh translates the findings into meaningful insights for businesses through his written commentaries, analysis provided to the media, and speeches at various business events and webinars. These have helped CGS gain mindshare in the business community and promote an evidence-based approach to the sustainability conversation.

Looking back, looking forward

In his 10 years as CGS director, Prof Loh has observed awareness of corporate sustainability evolve significantly, and he believes CGS has helped to drive market behaviour towards greater transparency and sustainability by providing the data to support policy changes and new regulations.

“What we have found over the years to be very interesting is this idea, that ‘What you regulate is what you get.’ As we track company disclosures, we found that whenever there’s a new regulation like a requirement or listing rule, there will be a corresponding change in market behaviour,” he shared.

Business leaders’ questions too have progressed from “Why do we need to care about sustainability?” to “How do we do it?” More recently, the questions have revolved around how much to invest into it, which Prof Loh says reflects a new perspective of sustainability as capital expenditure – a long-term investment – instead of operating expenditure.

It is an encouraging sign, especially since CGS has been working to get businesses to consider economics alongside the familiar environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework in their sustainability activities. Prof Loh has shared about this new EESG approach over the past year through opinion pieces and masterclasses like the one he delivered at the e-book launch titled “From ESG to EESG: Incorporating Economics into Sustainability,” in which he built the business case for sustainability efforts that go beyond responsibility and risk management to yield returns.

Even as the work of establishing EESG as the new norm has just begun, Prof Loh looks forward to CGS leading the charge to tackle what he sees as the final frontier of sustainability – fostering a well-being economy that supports human and environmental well-being rather than prioritising economic growth at all cost.

In July 2024, CGS signed a memorandum of understanding with TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) Group to establish the Well-Being and EESG Alliance, which will develop strategies and metrics to guide organisations in embedding well-being into their sustainability efforts.

Said Prof Loh: “In sustainability, looking at climate change is only half the story. An emerging area is human health, and well-being may be the final thing that sustainability is all about – well-being that is holistically defined, not just physically or physiologically, but also psychologically.”

Influencing such major change may seem ambitious for the small research centre, but Prof Loh’s hope is that CGS will not only be recognised for its successes but also rewarded with more resources to scale up its work in its next chapter. After all, the past 15 years have shown that the centre can punch well above its weight, even with limited staff and funding.

“We have reached a certain point where we just need that boost into the next curve, and an investment at this point would help us to ride on the goodwill from our work,” he said. “I think we have not realised our full potential yet.”

• 8world Online, 28 May 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 29 May 2025, Business, p25

• The Straits Times Online, 28 May 2025
• CNA Online, 28 May 2025
• 8world Online, 29 May 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 29 May 2025, Singapore, p5

• CNA, 28 May 2025
• Channel 5 News, 28 May 2025
• 8world Online, 28 May 2025
• CNA938, 28 May 2025
• The Straits Times, 29 May 2025, The Big Story, pA6
• Berita Harian, 29 May 2025, p4
• Tamil Murasu, 29 May 2025, Front Page

Professor Dariusz Wójcik from the Department of Geography at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has been conferred the prestigious Murchison Award by the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers (RGS-IBG) for geographical excellence.

The RGS-IBG noted that the award is in recognition of his body of publications, which has “forged a whole new branch of geographical science” and has established geography “as a key discipline for the study of money and finance”. They cited his recently published book The Atlas of Finance – the first-ever book-sized collection of maps and visuals dedicated to financial geography – as “a definitive contribution to our understanding of the geographical structure of the global financial system.” Past recipients of the award include the notable Dr Roger Tomlinson, a distinguished geographer and creator of the world’s first Geographic Information System.

Founded in 1830 and based in London, the RGS-IBG is a renowned institution dedicated to advancing geographical science through supporting and promoting geography and its practitioners through research, education and public engagement. With 16,000 members currently, the organisation is the largest and most active scholarly geographical society.

Prof Wójcik was presented the award by the Society’s President, Professor Dame Jane Francis, at a ceremony in London on 2 June. On receiving the award, he shared, “I feel honoured and humbled. I hope that this occasion serves as encouragement to others who study finance and space, within and beyond financial geography.”

A financial and economic geographer, Prof Wójcik’s research combines insights from geography, economics, political economy, sociology and anthropology. He has published 8 books and over 120 articles and book chapters in leading journals and edited volumes. Before coming to NUS, he served as a Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Oxford's School of Geography and the Environment until 2023. He is also the founder and inaugural chair of the Global Network on Financial Geography (FinGeo), a research network that fosters collaboration among scholars interested in the spatial aspects of finance, and the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Finance & Space journal.

Click here to learn more about Prof Wójcik in a RGS-IBG interview.

• CNA, 28 May 2025
• Berita Harian Online, 28 May 2025
• Vasantham News Online, 28 May 2025
• The Straits Times, 29 May 2025, Singapore, pA19
• Tamil Murasu, 29 May 2025, p3

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 3 June 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao, 3 June 2025, Singapore, p5

• Lianhe Zaobao, 3 June 2025, Singapore, p12

• Lianhe Zaobao, 3 June 2025, Focus, p3
• 8world Online, 2 June 2025

When we walk through a museum, we often marvel at the beauty, uniqueness, or exquisite craftsmanship of treasured artefacts, each with its own story to tell. But what if we could go deeper – beyond what the eye can see – to understand how these objects were made and the materials used?

This question brought together scientists, conservators, curators, and archaeologists from around the world to the “Inspiring Objects” session co-organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS) at NUS. Held at the Peranakan Museum on 20 May 2025, the session showcased how advanced analytical techniques – mostly powered by particle accelerators – are changing the way we understand and preserve art, history, and heritage.

The “Inspiring Objects” session is part of a five-day workshop, jointly organised by IAEA and NUS, to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest experimental advancements and methodologies to optimise best practices in accelerator-based heritage science.

“We are here to show how our colleagues in nuclear science can contribute to the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. Today, we are not diving into scientific complexity—but instead offering a glimpse of how these technologies can help us understand the past and connect with it in new ways,” said Dr Aliz Simon, a nuclear physicist at the IAEA Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences.

Using advanced scientific techniques to preserve cultural treasures

Accelerator technology utilises electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles such as electrons or protons to high speeds and energies which can give analytical information on objects at extreme sensitivity. This advanced technology can be used to analyse layers behind an object’s surface at the nanometre level without cutting or destroying the object. Harnessing accelerator techniques pushes the boundaries of analysing aspects of artefact properties such as pigments, art techniques and materials that are invisible to the naked eye.

At the “Inspiring Objects” session, scientists from 13 countries presented case studies, each demonstrating how accelerator-based and other advanced analytical methods can uncover the fine details of how artefacts were made and the process of degradation to better guide conservation and preservation strategies.

Presenting her study on a Portrait of Tan Beng Wan (1851-1891), Dr Agnieszka Banas, Principal Research Fellow from NUS SSLS, explained how the use of optical-photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, a recently developed technique that measures infrared absorption with high spatial resolution and sensitivity, offers a promising alternative for the analysis of heritage samples. Using O-PTIR, she uncovered the chemical changes behind the whitish haze seen on the bottom left side of the painting that was subtly altering the painting’s appearance with fine layers and tiny particles of degradation products that older techniques could not detect. This included a thin layer of gordaite measuring less than 2 micrometres, and crystalline zinc soaps, providing essential data that conservators can act on.

“With novel technology, we’re able to zoom in like never before—to see the exact compounds causing deterioration. That means we can give conservators the precise information they need to act. This work isn’t just about solving puzzles. We’re doing it for future generations,” said Dr Agnieszka.

Unpacking the details of another uniquely Singaporean artefact, a piece of Peranakan beadwork, was Dr Krzysztof Banas, Principal Research Fellow from NUS SSLS. Using synchrotron-based micro-X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (microXFM), the researchers traced how the colourful glass beads of the piece deteriorated over time.

“We found that the fading colours in these beads are caused by the leaching of potassium ions, which alters the internal structure of the glass. That discovery isn’t just scientifically interesting—it gives conservators a roadmap for how to protect these objects by controlling temperature and humidity,” said Dr Krzysztof.

45,000 years of stories – told through science

Among the presentations at the “Inspiring Objects” session were studies that span centuries, continents, and cultures, all brought together with a common goal of preserving key components of cultural heritage.

The oldest artefact presented at the session was the largest rock art region in Indonesia found in the Maros-Pangkep Karst area in South Sulawesi. This area is home to more than 400 rock art cave sites with distinctive images including hand stencil art, with squatting figures dating as far back as 45,000 years ago, making it a significant archaeological site. Using a combination of advanced analytical methods, the researchers from Indonesia found that the pigment weathering of these rock art images is due to the formation of whewellite, a mineral which is associated with microbial activity, on the pigment surface.  

Drawing focus onto the musical arts, researchers from Italy uncovered the acoustic secrets of the 17th–Century Guarneri cello which belonged to Andrea Guarneri (1623-1698), the founder of a family of luthiers from Cremona, a city in Italy. Using synchrotron radiation (SR) phase-contrast microtomography, an imaging technique that uses X-rays to visualise the internal structure of materials, the researchers revealed the secret recipe behind the coating of the cello that could be responsible for the quality of these instruments.

Researchers from China also demonstrated how understanding the past can pave the way for future innovations. Using ptychographic X-ray computed tomography (PtyCT) combined with X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XRF-CT), a method for 3D-imaging and elemental mapping at high resolution, the researchers found that the glaze on a Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) ceramic from Jianyang kilns in the Fujian province, contains the crystals of a rare form of iron oxide. This form of iron oxide remains challenging to synthesise with modern techniques. However, studying these crystals could provide insight to its unique patterns, guiding modern synthesis for applications in Materials Science.

Science for the humanities

The session provided an eye-opening, cross-disciplinary journey through time and space, united by a single idea: that every object has a story, and sometimes the story can be retold with new facts and perspectives through the lens of science.

• The Sunday Times, 1 June 2025, Singapore, pA14
• zbSunday, 1 June 2025, News, p9
• Tamil Murasu, 1 June 2025, p2

• zbSunday, 1 June 2025, zbW, p3

As geopolitical upheaval, technological disruption, and demographic shifts signal an impending economic slowdown for most of the world, social mobility is gaining recognition for its bearing on a society’s ability to tackle these challenges.

This characteristic of societies describes how closely the social status of individuals is linked to that of their parents, with social immobility resulting in barriers that prevent talented and hardworking people from realising their full potential. On the other hand, high social mobility ensures that people have access to opportunities and a fair chance to achieve their dreams, leading to greater stability and prosperity for society at large.

About 700 policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from across the people, public, and private sectors gathered on 29-30 April 2025 to exchange ideas and research findings for advancing social mobility at the inaugural International Conference on Societies of Opportunity. The conference was organised by Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).

Said Dr Justin Lee, Senior Research Fellow and Head of Policy Lab at IPS: “The topic of social mobility is timely as societies worldwide grapple with economic and technological shifts. The conference examines how government policies, corporate investments, and community action can contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.”

Over the two days, attendees gleaned insights from two keynote speeches, three plenary sessions, and four breakout sessions on effective ways that governments, community organisations, corporates, academia, and individuals can help to remove obstacles to progress and uplift those in the lower strata of society.

Close links between social mobility and economic growth

In the conference’s opening address, then Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat contrasted the post-World War period of strong economic growth and social mobility with the current era where opportunities and progress are being stymied by deglobalisation, technological disruption, and ageing populations. Countries that once relied on the free flow of people, ideas, and capital across borders for growth must now put more effort into maximising their existing resources, especially their human capital.

“As a small node in the global economy, Singapore cannot block the forces of global change. Instead, we must create opportunities for our people, by staying relevant and useful to the world,” said Mr Heng, who cited building partnerships with other countries, investing in research and education to keep pace with technological developments, and shoring up support for the lowest rungs of society as some of Singapore’s strategies for doing so.

The need for both macro- and micro-level interventions to achieve social mobility targets was explored in keynote speeches by Professor Danny Quah, Dean and Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Professor Raj Chetty, William A. Ackman Professor of Public Economics and Director of Opportunity Insights at Harvard University.

Prof Quah illustrated the importance of macro-level interventions using the Growth-Mobility Curve, which emerged from comparisons of cross-country data showing that past economy-wide growth foreshadows high social mobility. “Economic growth provides the space and the opportunity for all members of society to advance, especially those at the bottom end of the income distribution,” he said.

Approaching the question from the other direction, Prof Chetty shared findings on the direct impact of childhood circumstances on economic opportunities and mobility, uncovered through analysing large-scale data sets.

For instance, one study of 20 million people born in the United States found that their upward economic mobility was strongly linked to the levels of inequality, stability of family structures, education, and social capital in the neighbourhoods where they grew up. Another study of children whose families moved from poorer to richer neighbourhoods, even just across the road, showed a clear pattern of higher earnings in adulthood, with greater gains realised by those who moved earlier in life.

“If you take a given child and change that child’s environment, that dramatically changes their life outcomes,” said Prof Chetty, noting that the findings have been replicated in other countries. “This is very encouraging for those interested in improving economic opportunity and social mobility, because it shows that this is a tractable problem.”

Perspectives from research and practice

Making welfare systems more universal and prioritising cross-class mixing to increase social capital were some of the recommendations put forward in the conference to make social mobility efforts more effective.

Professor Irene Ng of the Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) highlighted the challenges that needy individuals face in navigating in Singapore’s welfare system, where an emphasis on self-reliance and keeping welfare spending low has resulted in a wide variety of programmes with various application processes and requirements to follow.

“A low-income person’s mind is constantly preoccupied with how to pay the bills, how to put food on the table, and that leaves little cognitive space for other important tasks in life,” she said. “This has implications on how multiple programmes can cognitively overload low-income individuals, so that it has the counteracting effect of impairing their function and ability to succeed at work and comply with programmes.”

Citing research that shows more universal or generous welfare systems to be more successful at promoting social mobility, Prof Ng recommended consolidating programmes, simplifying processes, and incorporating automatic stabilisers like inflation indexing to ensure that assistance keeps pace with economic conditions.

To help lower-income groups increase their social capital, several speakers suggested ways to promote mixing between people of different socioeconomic classes, which can expose children to more potential career options and pave the way to opportunities through job referrals or advice.

“For opportunities to translate into uptake, people need the guiding hand of social capital, someone who comes alongside to say, ‘This is the way to go about it, this is what to say, this is how to say it,’” said Associate Professor Vincent Chua of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at FASS, whose research found that having a mentor like a trusted teacher increases the probability of a young person becoming a university graduate. He proposed matching effective teachers to less popular schools and prioritising mentor-mentee matching for students of lower socioeconomic status.

Along similar lines, social capital can be built through engaging parents and community members as volunteers in school activities like reading programmes, said Emeritus Professor Esther Ho, Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Educational Administration and Policy and Director of the Hong Kong Centre for International Student Assessment, both at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She noted that such programmes have a significant impact on reading habits and enjoyment especially among lower-income students whose parents may have less time to read with them at home.

Representatives from the social service, corporate, and philanthropic sectors underscored the need to ensure that invested capital drives outcomes and catalyses innovation, rather than simply funding well-intentioned programmes that may not yield meaningful results. This requires focusing on outcome metrics like learning improvements instead of activity metrics like teacher training hours, as well as forming strategic partnerships to tap the right expertise and leverage innovative mechanisms like blended finance.

Said Ms Tan Li San, CEO of the National Council of Social Service, “As society becomes more complex and the global environment becomes more uncertain, it’s even more critical to tap on different stakeholders who bring valuable expertise and assets that can help us create much greater social impact in our society.”

By Asst Prof Ryu Yongwook, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• CNA Online, 4 June 2025

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

• Lianhe Zaobao, 5 June 2025, Opinion, p19

By Prof Lawrence Loh, Director at the Centre for Governance and Sustainability; and Belle Tran an MBA student, both from NUS Business School

• The Business Times Weekend, 24 May 2025, p30

• Lianhe Zaobao, 2 June 2025, Singapore, p8

• The Straits Times, 2 June 2025, Singapore, pA14

• The Straits Times, 31 May 2025, The Big Story, pA2
• Lianhe Zaobao, 31 May 2025, Singapore, p4

• CNA, 28 May 2025
• 8world Online, 28 May 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 28 May 2025
• Warna 94.2FM, 28 May 2025
• The Straits Times, 29 May 2025, Singapore, pA18
• Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore, 29 May 2025, p8
• Tamil Murasu, 30 May 2025, p2

Associate Professor Ryan Chisholm from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) received the prestigious 2025 George Mercer Award for the paper “Unveiling the Transition from Niche to Dispersal Assembly in Ecology,” published in Nature on 7 June 2023. He received the award with lead author Dr Lynette Loke, an NUS DBS alumni.

The George Mercer Award was established in 1948 and is awarded annually for an outstanding ecological research paper published within the past two years by a younger researcher, with the lead author of the paper being 40 years of age or younger at the time of publication.

The researchers’ paper was recognised for advancing the understanding of the effects of immigration on species coexistence in intertidal communities. The authors planned a field experiment with a novel design for manipulating immigration rates. Dr Loke executed the experiment on seawalls in Sentosa, Singapore. The authors then combined these results with models to test a classic hypothesis about community assembly versus a novel hypothesis recently developed in Assoc Prof Chisholm's lab.

Consistent with the novel hypothesis, the authors showed that the number of niches in a habitat sets a low floor rather than a high ceiling on the number of coexisting species — and that there appears to be no ceiling at all if new species arrive rapidly enough. The results support the view that most species coexist transiently, not stably, and that coexistence is maintained by ongoing immigration.

The integration of field experiments with clear hypotheses and mathematical modelling provides novel insights that advance the understanding of the forces structuring ecological communities. The researchers also combined theory and empirical evidence in a creative and exceptionally well-written way.

See more

By Assoc Prof Gu Qingyang, Director of Chinese Executive Education from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 30 May 2025, Opinion, p10

Statisticians from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a pioneering approach for analysing population-scale metabolomic data, marking a major advancement in the precision and depth of metabolic profiling. This new method promises to improve both personalised healthcare and preventive medicine by improving the accuracy and interpretability of metabolic analyses.

The pioneering framework, developed by a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Yao Zhigang from the Department of Statistics and Data Science at the NUS Faculty of Science, employs advanced mathematical techniques to fit low-dimensional manifolds into the high-dimensional space of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based metabolic biomarkers. This effectively reduces noise and reveals meaningful patterns associated with metabolic change. It can be used to better stratify individuals based on their metabolic profile and associated risk of disease. The research was carried out in collaboration with Professor Yau Shing-Tung of Tsinghua University.

Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on 28 May 2025.

Exploiting manifold fitting techniques to decipher metabolic heterogeneity

Metabolomic profiling, particularly through NMR-based biomarkers, offers rich insights into human metabolism. However, the complexity and dimensionality of such data have long challenged conventional analytical techniques. Traditional methods often struggle to uncover the subtle and structured biological variations underpinning disease risks.

The new framework represents a significant advancement in overcoming these limitations. It begins by clustering 251 metabolic biomarkers—measured from over 210,000 participants in the UK Biobank—into seven biologically meaningful categories, reflecting the modular organisation of human metabolism. Manifold fitting is then applied to each category to reveal smooth, low-dimensional structures that capture the essential variations in metabolic states.

At the core of this framework is the manifold fitting module, which models how individuals are distributed in a low-dimensional space based on their metabolic profiles. This geometric representation not only reduces noise but also enhances interpretability by uncovering coherent metabolic patterns that correlate with health and disease outcomes.

The key innovation lies in the method’s ability to stratify the population. In three of the seven categories, the fitted manifolds clearly divide individuals into two major subgroups, each associated with distinct risks for conditions such as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune conditions.

During a plenary lecture at the 2025 International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians (ICCM), Assoc Prof Yao explained, "The new approach allows us to identify meaningful metabolic subgroups by fitting low-dimensional manifolds to high-dimensional biomarker data. This will significantly improve our ability to relate metabolic states to susceptibility to disease."

Compared to traditional analyses, this manifold-based framework demonstrates superior performance in preserving biological signals, identifying disease-relevant subgroups, and aligning with demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. These strengths position it as a powerful tool for metabolic research and precision health applications.

Future directions: Advancing genetic and longitudinal insight into metabolic health

Building on the success of this framework, the research team is now exploring several promising directions to deepen their understanding of metabolic heterogeneity and its clinical implications.

One key avenue involves integrating genetic data with the identified metabolic subgroups. By conducting genome-wide association studies within each manifold-defined subgroup, the researchers aim to uncover genetic variants linked to specific metabolic patterns. This could provide critical insights into the hereditary basis of metabolic diversity and help elucidate the genetic architecture underlying complex metabolic traits and their associated disease risks.

Another focus is the longitudinal analysis of metabolic manifolds to assess their stability over time and evaluate their potential as predictive biomarkers. By analysing time-series metabolomic data, the team seeks to trace how individuals transition between metabolic states over time and determine whether these shifts are associated with disease onset or progression. Such findings could pave the way for early detection systems and more precisely timed preventive interventions.

“Our framework not only captures the current structure of metabolic variation but also lays the foundation for investigating its genetic origins and temporal dynamics. These future directions could significantly enhance personalised healthcare by enabling earlier and more targeted responses to metabolic risk,” added Assoc Prof Yao.

This ongoing research continues to expand the frontiers of metabolic profiling, providing a robust and adaptable platform for population health studies and precision medicine.

Under the NUSOne initiative, the freedom to spend Wednesday afternoons pursuing out-of-classroom activities has given NUS students more opportunities to develop a richer, more holistic student life. Students have spent the time learning about sustainability and serving the community, equipping them with skills ranging from entrepreneurship to cookery and crafts, while building bridges with other segments of society.

At NUS College (NUSC), this allocated time has been turned into a community-building opportunity for faculty, staff, and students, some of whom live off-campus, with the rest spread across two residential colleges.

Inspired by weekly family meals that help families remain close even as children grow up and start to lead independent lives, Associate Professor Eleanor Wong, NUSC Vice Dean (Residential Programmes & Enrichment), proposed making Wednesday afternoons and evenings the default timing for all NUSC events.

“We want to create a regular time when members of the NUSC community – students, staff and faculty, past and present – know that if they ‘come home’ to NUSC during this time, there will always be some other members of our family there, there will always be some activity going on, and there will always be the chance to catch up with each other,” said Prof El, as she is fondly known on campus.

Thus was born “Wednesdays at NUSC”, an initiative that consolidates both student- and staff-led events into a consistent schedule of opportunities for the community to gather. The first run took place in Semester 2 of AY2024/2025 and the initiative is set to continue in the new academic year.

The NUS College Club, a constituent club of the NUS Students’ Union that represents the NUSC student community, leads the planning together with NUSC staff advisors by creating a list of event themes at the start of the semester and sending out a call for proposals. The college’s Student Life Team further supports them by facilitating collaboration among the committees and assisting with logistics and funding to make the ideas happen.

Every Wednesday of the past semester (except for Reading Week and Exam Week), the students have gathered for activities like watching movies, engaging in arts and crafts, and enjoying performances by NUSC interest groups. Casual gatherings were interspersed with structured events such as town hall meetings, start- and end-of-semester dinners, and a Valentine’s Day carnival with nostalgic activities and treats such as a bouncy castle and old-school ice cream.

The results have been “very encouraging,” said Prof El, who observed that the events attract consistent attendance from students and even some alumni. There is no pressure to attend every event, but with a wide variety to choose from, the hope is that most members of the NUSC community will attend at least a few in each semester and Wednesdays at NUSC will become a tradition that draws them back “home” whenever they can spare the time.

Combined efforts yield bigger, better events

Students have reacted positively to the initiative, with some noting that the fixed schedule aligned with their common free time makes it more convenient to attend the events. Those involved in organising the events also appreciate the additional support to make their efforts more impactful, since the initiative provides some funding and encourages collaboration between student interest groups.

“Previously, there were a lot of smaller-scale events planned by specific groups and the reach of each one was smaller. But when two committees collaborate, we can publicise the event via two channels and have greater reach,” shared Larissa Yong, a second-year Data Science and Analytics student with a second major in Quantitative Finance who served as vice president of community life in the NUS College Club for AY2024/2025.

“A lot of us also try to make it every Wednesday, since we know beforehand that there will be something to attend.”

The NUS College Club is now brainstorming ideas for the next semester, with possible activities including a primary school-style sports day featuring three-legged races and hula hoop games, as well as an arts-themed night to showcase student performances.

Ymir Meddeb, a third-year Computer Engineering major and director of NUSC’s Student Affairs Committee, said the Wednesdays at NUSC initiative helped his committee make this year’s combined NUSC Cultural Night and Chinese New Year Celebrations the largest edition of their diversity-themed events so far. Students and alumni set up about 10 booths with activities and food showcasing different cultures, traditions and religions, and the event attracted a turnout of about 120 students.

“It was stressful and took quite a bit of coordination with other committees, but when people started flooding in at the event, I felt like ‘Wow, I did that!’” he said.

With more opportunities to interact across cohorts, bond over shared interests, and try out new experiences like performing in front of an audience, first-year students like Psychology major Syed Ariq Miiad can integrate more quickly into the college, fostering a stronger sense of community and well-being among the students.

Miiad participated in several events where the Livecore (music and band) interest group was involved, quickly made friends with students who shared his interest, and ended up joining the group’s organising committee within his first year.

Said Summer Fong, a Year 2 Mechanical Engineering major: “Having these regular events makes the dorm experience much livelier, which is really important to help people feel like NUSC is their home, rather than their bedroom.”

Having an event to look forward to every Wednesday is also good for mental health, Miiad noted. “It offers something to do in the mid-week when you need to relax and take a break from academic work, and this is a way that people can use the time to chill and engage in community bonding.”

He added: “I feel that these events are important for well-being. Most people will probably choose to attend them rather than being alone in their rooms.”

• 8world Online, 28 May 2025
• The Straits Times Online, 28 May 2025
• The Straits Times Online, 28 May 2025
• The Business Times Online, 28 May 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 28 May 2025
• Tamil Murasu Online, 28 May 2025

• CNA, 28 May 2025
• 8world Online, 28 May 2025
• Money 89.3FM, 28 May 2025
• Warna 94.2FM, 28 May 2025
• The Straits Times, 29 May 2025, Singapore, pA18
• Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore, 29 May 2025, p8
• Tamil Murasu, 30 May 2025, p2

• The Straits Times Online, 28 May 2025

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

• The Business Times, 28 May 2025, p13

• Suria News Online, 27 May 2025
• Suria News Online, 3 June 2025

Some legacies aren’t written in legislation or court records, but in lives changed and minds inspired. The story of the NUS Pro Bono Group (NUS PBG) is one with such a legacy – sparked by student passion and shaped by professors who believed that the law should serve the public good.

Law students have been doing pro bono work since 1959, when students at the then-University of Malaya assisted the Legal Aid Bureau. In the 1990s, a handful of passionate NUS Law students became involved in pro bono work when they volunteered at prison facilities and children’s homes.

As student interest grew, so did the need for a formal platform – one that could sustain these efforts and weave pro bono work into the fabric of legal education at NUS Law. In 2005, under Professor Tan Cheng Han, SC’s then-deanship, that vision came to life with the launch of the student-initiated NUS PBG – Singapore’s first student-run pro bono group. This was a bold step at a time when pro bono work was not yet a part of mainstream legal education.

NUS PBG has just celebrated 20 years of student pro bono efforts, and two decades on, pro bono work and community work has become a cornerstone of the NUS Law undergraduate experience. The Faculty has a number of student-led pro bono groups who receive support from NUS Law professors and the NUS Law Centre for Pro Bono and Clinical Legal Education. Today, NUS PBG remains the largest student-run pro bono initiative in the country with over 240 students championing access to justice every year, working with migrant workers, at-risk youth, and many other underserved communities across 10 projects, including FIDReC, Syariah Law Friends and the Legal Education & Awareness Programme (LEAP). Pro bono work has also become mandatory for students in all three law schools in Singapore.

To mark the 20 year Anniversary of PBG’s founding, Prof Tan reflects on the challenges and evolution of student pro bono work, and how NUS PBG has made a lasting impact on legal education at NUS Law and in Singapore.

1. How did the idea of a Pro Bono Group at NUS Law first come about?

This was a student-led idea. It began when Joseph Wong, then a final-year law student, approached me with the idea of starting a student pro bono initiative within NUS Law. I had little hesitation agreeing as exposing students to pro bono cases has many advantages. These include defining the type of lawyer we want our students to be and giving them the exposure to practical problems that lawyers have to face in practice. It also showcases how meaningful the law can be, which we hope will instil pride in our students for the profession they will become a part of.

The initial idea was that this would be led by the school’s management. Instead, I challenged the student to make it a student-led initiative, with supervision from one of our Faculty, Associate Professor Helena Whalen-Bridge. My experience with NUS Law students is that they are creative, enterprising and idealistic. I had great confidence that if they embraced this approach, the activity would be a success, and that taking ownership of such an initiative was also an opportunity for them to learn and grow as individuals. They did not disappoint me. Assoc Prof Whalen-Bridge has reported that students embody the developments I envisioned, and that allowing students to identify legal need in the community has had a lasting impact.

2. What were some of the challenges the students faced when doing pro bono work then and what kind of impact has NUS PBG made on Singapore’s legal landscape?

Pro bono work was in its infancy up till the turn of the century, especially compared to where it is today. While there were groups of lawyers who engaged in pro bono work, it was not something that was emphasised  ̶   the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme initiated by the Law Society of Singapore being a notable exception.

NUS Law was the only law school in Singapore when NUS PBG was established. Student involvement in pro bono work had been somewhat minimal before NUS PBG, with activities largely stemming from personal connections with particular lawyers who did some pro bono work. Under the Legal Profession Act, only qualified lawyers can give legal advice, so when NUS PBG was established, it was crucial for the students to establish partnerships with lawyers and appropriate organisations to work collaboratively with.

I facilitated some of the initial connections and recall that one of the first collaborations NUS PBG established was with the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE). The students worked as research assistants with AWARE to prepare a paper for the Singapore Parliament on possible legislation to criminalise child sex tourism. This eventually led to the enactment of Section 376C of the Penal Code that made it a crime for a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore to have commercial sex with a minor outside Singapore. This initial project gave the students confidence that they could make a difference and led to many other collaborations, such as with the then-Pro Bono Services Office of the Law Society (now PBSG), the State Courts, and the Legal Aid Bureau.

NUS Law was also fortunate that Assoc Prof Helena Whalen-Bridge agreed to be the Faculty Advisor to the students. Her wise guidance and dedication over the past 20 years have been crucial to NUS PBG’s success.

3. How has the legal profession’s pro bono landscape evolved over the years?

Prior to becoming Dean of NUS Law in 2001, a senior judge whom I liked and respected cautioned that pro bono initiatives could be seen as pushing against established norms or ‘activism’, even if they were just ensuring access to justice.

That said, this perception has shifted over time. Today, pro bono work is widely recognised and even institutionalised, with practising lawyers being encouraged to take up more of such cases to help those in need and even government support for community legal clinics.

Over time, the NUS PBG also gained recognition as a vital part of the legal education at NUS, one that fosters a culture of community service and civic responsibility among law students. The benefits of pro bono work on the development of law students are so well-established today that it has been made compulsory for all law students in Singapore to complete at least 20 hours of pro bono work! I have no doubt that it was the success of NUS PBG that led to this outcome and contributed to the change of mindset.

4. Tell us more about the increasing importance of student-led initiatives in bridging the access-to-justice gap and empowering the next generation of lawyers to take on social responsibility.

Most societies are likely to have some access-to-justice gaps and Singapore is no exception. Engaging in pro bono work while in university sensitises students to the plight of those who cannot easily afford legal advice. It also makes them more aware of the opportunities in this space and the positive difference they can make as future members of the profession. All these set the foundation for members of the legal profession to continue to contribute meaningfully to the social fabric of Singapore. I am confident that NUS PBG and the legacy it has built will continue to influence future generations of law students to be engaged in helping the less able have better access to justice.

Please click here to learn more about NUS PGB’s projects and the communities they serve.

Professor Rickie Patani, who will soon join the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in August 2025, has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. This prestigious recognition celebrates excellence in the field and is a testament to Prof Patani’s leadership and impact on medicine and society.

A distinguished physician and scientist, Prof Patani has over a decade of research experience in neurodegeneration, particularly in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models. His work has significantly advanced understanding of ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism and cellular autonomy in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof Patani has received multiple prestigious awards for his research, including the Lister Research Prize, the Brain Sciences Young Investigator Award, International 3Rs Prize, Paulo Gontijo Prize in Medicine, Graham Bull Prize, and Goulstonian Lectureship from the Royal College of Physicians.

At NUS, Prof Patani will be Professor of Neuroscience in the Departments of Medicine and Anatomy. He will also take on the role of Director of the Neurobiology Programme at the Life Sciences Institute.

In addition to his research and clinical roles, Prof Patani contributes to the scientific community through service on several influential panels, including the MRC Neuroscience and Mental Health Board, MRC Training and Careers Strategy Board, and the MND Association Funding Panel.

• Suria News Online, 25 May 2025

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

• CNA Online, 26 May 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao, 26 May 2025, Singapore, p4

• The Straits Times, 26 May 2025, The Big Story, pA6                                                                       
• Tamil Murasu, 26 May 2025, p2

By Assoc Prof Chong Ja Ian, from the Dept of Political Science, at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• CNA Online, 22 May 2025

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

• The Straits Times, 23 May 2025, Opinion, pB3

Associate Professor Taberez Ahmed Neyazi from the Department of Communications and New Media at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has been named a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), Princeton for the Academic Year 2025-2026.

Founded in 1930, the IAS is one of the world’s leading centres for theoretical research and intellectual exploration. Renowned for providing an environment of deep intellectual engagement and academic freedom, its membership is awarded to individuals whose research is expected to produce significant and original contributions.

Members of the IAS span the academic spectrum, from early-career researchers of exceptional promise to distinguished senior scholars, and come to the Institute for residencies ranging from one term to several years. Past Members include luminaries such as Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist or ‘father of the atomic bomb’ J. Robert Oppenheimer, and renowned anthropologist Clifford Geertz.

This prestigious appointment places Assoc Prof Neyazi among a select group of approximately 200 scholars chosen annually from a competitive pool of applicants worldwide. He will begin his fellowship in IAS’ School of Social Science from September this year.

Assoc Prof Neyazi said, “I’m honoured to be selected as a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study. The IAS has long been a place where scholars are given the time and space to think deeply and engage critically with big ideas. I look forward to joining this extraordinary intellectual community and to advancing my research in such a uniquely stimulating environment.”

While in residence, he will be working on his book that focuses on the politics of internet shutdowns. As part of this project, he will be researching the evolving relationship between technology, governance, and power, with a particular focus on how digital infrastructure and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence shape political and social dynamics across different political regimes.

More broadly, Assoc Prof Neyazi’s research focuses on the relationship between media use and political behaviour, analysing campaign strategies, internet control, and misinformation. He pays particular attention to developments in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, examining how the evolving information environment shapes online behaviours and influences the future of democratic politics.

• The Straits Times, 21 May 2025, Life, pC3

In this series, NUS News explores how NUS is accelerating sustainability research and education in response to climate change challenges, and harnessing the knowledge and creativity of our people to pave the way to a greener future for all.

In the fight against climate change, a new generation of NUS student entrepreneurs is storming the sustainability frontier.

From reducing energy waste to reinventing urban agriculture, these eco-warriors have been tackling environmental challenges through viable business models. With support from programmes such as the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC), BLOCK71 at THE HANGAR, BLOCK71 Social Impact Hub (SIH), and various initiatives by NUS Enterprise, they have shown how the University serves as a fertile ground for sustainability innovation, proving that environmental responsibility and entrepreneurial success can go hand in hand.

Here’s how three promising NUS-supported start-ups are making a green mark.

EcoVolt

“Vampire energy” might sound like something out of a horror movie, but it’s a real environmental menace that silently drains power and resources. This phenomenon — where devices continue to “suck” energy even when not in use — accounts for over 16 per cent of power consumption in homes and offices.

Enter EcoVolt, a start-up determined to drive a stake through the problem. Founded by four NUS students who met through the Sustainable Development Goals Open Hack @ NUS 2024, it has developed a two-pronged solution to monitor and eliminate such energy wastage.

“We empower organisations to monitor, manage and eliminate plug load wastage,” said the team, which comprises Year 5 Computer Science undergraduate Eugene Chia, Year 4  Business undergraduate Raphael Chew, Year 4 Information Systems undergraduate Glenn Quah and Year 4 Electrical Engineering undergraduate Ho Wei Hao. All four are participants of the NOC programme, through which they undertook internships at overseas tech start-ups.

By employing custom-designed adapters, socket plates, and extension cords, EcoVolt collects and transmits data to its proprietary software platform, enabling users to monitor and manage plug loads across multiple locations — from individual desks to entire building networks. This allows users to easily track and target idle plug loads, or electricity consumed by devices that remain plugged in but are not actively used.

Incubated under BLOCK71 SIH since April 2025, EcoVolt hopes its technology will be widely adopted. “This is really an ‘every little bit counts’ initiative,” said the founders. “This is our only planet, so we need to find ways to stay on it.”

Cityscape Farms

As urbanisation increases, so does the distance between people and their food sources. Cityscape Farms is addressing this disconnect with plug-and-play hydroponic systems designed specifically for Singapore’s urban environment.

“Our mission is to bring sustainable farming to Singaporeans by integrating nature into homes, schools, and offices,” said the team founded by College of Design and Engineering alumni Davian Chan Sze Peng and Manzel Joseph Seet, School of Computing and Faculty of Science alumnus Ho Hol Yin, and Year 3 undergraduate from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Chew Chi Ying.

The start-up tackles two major sustainability challenges: urban food insecurity and inefficient use of space and resources in traditional farming methods. Their modular hydroponic systems, which are complemented by smart irrigation solutions, aim to reduce the reliance on traditional farming methods while promoting local food production with minimal waste.

After initially creating systems that were overly complex and costly, the team pivoted to a simplified design with a gamified app, making urban farming accessible to anyone, regardless of whether they have green fingers or experience in sustainable farming. The start-up aims to promote local food production, creating a win-win solution by reducing reliance on overseas imports and lowering the carbon footprint associated with them.

Currently incubated at the NUS Agritech Centre, the recipient of the NUS Enterprise Venture Initiation Programme ­— Impact Track is finalising its commercial products for corporate clients while expanding its outreach to schools, offices and even the broader Southeast Asian market.

PlasticTinkers

Over 900 million kg of plastic waste is generated annually in Singapore alone. Only a small fraction of this is recycled, while most end up in landfills or incinerators and contribute to pollution and carbon emissions.

PlasticTinkers tackles the growing plastic waste problem by giving discarded plastics a second life. The start-up collects and processes used plastic bottles, transforming them into filaments for 3D printing.

Co-founded by Edwin Lam, a Master of Architecture Year 5 student, the start-up consolidates the entire recycling process under one roof – from gathering waste plastic, converting it to usable filament, to producing functional products using 3D printing.

“We want to significantly increase the plastic recycling rate by empowering individuals and revolutionising the sustainability culture in Singapore,” said Edwin, whose start-up was awarded a project grant from the NUS x Hult Prize 2025 and is currently incubated under BLOCK71 at THE HANGAR.

In addition to promoting environmental awareness through hands-on workshops and community collaborations, the start-up collaborated with Yeo’s and other partners earlier this year to create Singapore’s largest 3D-printed fortune cat, measuring 1.2 m by 0.8 m. The project earned a spot in the Singapore Book of Records as the largest 3D-printed model made from recycled plastic bottles.

Moving forward, the team aims to develop a compact recycling machine deployable in collaborative workspaces and educational institutions across Singapore to enable and empower communities to produce their own 3D printing filaments from plastic waste.

Traditionally, success in meritocratic Singapore has been closely tied to academic achievement, career advancement and wealth accumulation – think elite schools, top university degrees and high-paying jobs in coveted professional industries like finance and law. But is this definition too narrow? And should it be broadened to include other considerations to foster greater individual well-being and societal resilience?

These questions, which many young Singaporeans have been grappling with more openly in recent years, were central to discussions at the recent Insights Singapore Forum (ISF) themed “Redefining Success: Navigating One’s Youth”.

Organised by the NUS Political Science Society (PSSOC), this year’s Forum gathered prominent speakers including Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport, Associate Professor Razwana Begum from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Nominated Member of Parliament, and Dr Mathew Mathews, Principal Research Fellow and Head of the IPS Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), for a dialogue with secondary- and tertiary-level students.

Speakers at the Forum weighed in on the themes of meritocracy, the reality of inherited privilege, and how peer pressure and social media can influence conventional ideas of success. While they emphasised the pivotal role of society and employers in recognising and valuing individuals who pursue less traditional career paths, they also stressed the need for individuals to align their purpose with market realities and evolving technologies, particularly with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution that is fuelled by advances in artificial intelligence.

The discussion also touched on the topic of elitism and whether such attitudes can be fully overcome. A key point of consideration for participants was whether the issue could also stem from an unintended and unfortunate consequence of meritocracy. Speakers pointed out that the belief in success as solely being the result of hard work can lead individuals to assume that those who have not done as well simply did not try hard enough.

Participants also discussed how meritocracy, while intended to reward individual effort and ability, can unintentionally entrench intergenerational privilege. This is because those who have benefitted from the system are better positioned to support their children not only in education, but also in access to resources, networks, and opportunities. While government interventions can address these imbalances, there was a call among speakers and participants for a broader societal shift – one that moves the focus beyond individual success toward a more inclusive and multi-dimensional understanding of success within society.

Another point raised during the discussion was whether having a narrow definition of success, based solely on academic and career achievement, could lead to negative outcomes such as narcissism, mental health issues, and a distorted sense of what success truly means. Instead of narrowly pursuing rigid definitions, a better definition of success could involve recognising each individual’s attributes and aspirations and celebrating achievements at different milestones,  the speakers suggested.

Ultimately, more open conversations amongst policymakers, educators, parents and young people themselves would also be imperative to communicate and catalyse such a paradigm shift.

The dialogue was moderated by Mr Ng Chia Wee from the Department of Political Science at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). Noting that the idea of success is “never an easy topic to grapple with in our society”, Mr Ng said he appreciated the speakers’ candour at tackling the topic and expressed hope that participants will build on these insightful takeaways and “continue the conversation in their own ways”.

One participant, Hwa Chong Institution’s Ms Soh Jia Min, shared that it was interesting to hear different perspectives about how success in today’s society no longer follows just a few conventional paths, and how there are structural efforts being made to support more diverse definitions of success.

Ms Irdina Duran, President of PSSOC and a Year 2 FASS student said: “We hope that attendees would have gained a clearer understanding of what success truly means: the steps we, as a society, need to take to get there, and the importance of embracing this mindset shift. We also hope that students managed to make meaningful connections with one another, and we truly appreciate their support and enthusiastic participation.”

Formerly known as Ninety Percent, the ISF is an annual dialogue aimed at fostering vibrant academic discussions on Singapore’s past, present and future to enhance political awareness among today’s youth. Previous iterations of the Forum have witnessed the discussion of a host of engaging and topical issues, both local and international, such as the role of the People’s Action Party in Singapore or political liberalisation in China. Past panellists have included prominent academics, members of parliament as well as representatives from civil society and non-governmental organisations.

By NUS Political Science Society at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

• Lianhe Zaobao, 17 May 2025, Singapore, p5

• Tamil Murasu, 17 May 2025, p7

• Lianhe Zaobao, 20 May 2025, Singapore, Page 6

By Sita Rahmani, Research Fellow from the Energy Studies Institute at NUS

• CNA Online, 20 May 2025

• The Straits Times, 19 May 2025, Science, pA14
• Tamil Murasu, 19 May 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 20 May 2025, Singapore, Page 8

• The Straits Times, 19 May 2025, Science, pA14
• Tamil Murasu, 19 May 2025, p2
• Berita Harian, 26 May 2025, p9

• Tamil Murasu, 19 May 2025, Front Page
• Tabla!, 23 May 2025, p5

By Prof Sing Tien Foo, Provost's Chair Professor from the Depart of Real Estate at NUS Business School, and Mr Robert Lee, CEO of SINGRASS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 19 May 2025, Opinion, p17

By Dr Chew Han Ei, Senior Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies, and Associate Professor (Practice) Carol Soon from the Dept of Communications and New Media at NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

• Lianhe Zaobao, 19 May 2025, Opinion, p17

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a scalable, non-viral technology that efficiently delivers genetic material into human immune cells. The platform, called Nanostraw Electro-actuated Transfection (NExT), uses tiny hollow nanostructures and electrical pulses to insert a wide variety of biomolecules — proteins, mRNA and gene-editing tools — into immune cells with high efficiency and minimal disruption.

The team, led by Assistant Professor Andy Tay from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering as well as the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology at NUS, demonstrated that NExT can transfect – that is, deliver genetic material into – over 14 million immune cells in a single run, including difficult-to-engineer cell types such as gamma-delta T cells, T regulatory cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, natural killer cells and neutrophils which are being developed as alternative immune cell therapies.

NExT makes gene delivery quicker and less damaging, which in turn helps lower manufacturing costs and improve the consistency of engineered cell products, including those used in chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapies for cancer. This could potentially widen patient access to advanced treatments that are currently limited by high costs and production challenges.

The team’s findings were published in the journal Biomaterials on 5 January 2025. Researchers from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine also contributed to the research breakthrough.

Next-generation gene delivery

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death globally, responsible for nearly 10 million lives each year. Among the most promising treatment strategies to emerge in recent times is CAR-T cell therapy, which involves reprogramming a patient’s immune cells to recognise, target and kill cancer cells. This personalised approach has demonstrated success in treating blood cancers, especially in those who have exhausted conventional options. However, it remains expensive and logistically complex.

On 1 August 2024, the Singapore Ministry of Health began to provide subsidies for cell, tissue and gene therapy products (CTGTPs) that are assessed to be clinically and cost effective. The first CTGTP eligible for subsidy is a treatment known as tisagenlecleucel, a type of CAR-T cell therapy for treating blood cancers.

“In Singapore, a single CAR-T cell infusion can cost about S$670,000. Although subsidies are available, they typically cover only a fraction of the cost. This may limit access to the therapy for a significant number of patients, even as demand grows,” said Asst Prof Tay.

One of the main hurdles in CAR-T manufacturing lies in the delivery of genetic material into immune cells. Current industry-standard methods include viral vectors and bulk electroporation. On the one hand, while viral approaches are effective, they raise concerns around safety, immunogenicity and random gene integration. On the other, bulk electroporation, which relies on high-voltage electric pulses, can stress and damage cells, thus reducing their therapeutic quality.

The NUS team’s NExT platform overcomes these limitations. It works by interfacing cells with a dense forest of nanostraws — microscopic hollow tubes less than a thousandth the width of a human hair. When a mild electrical signal is applied, the nanostraws open temporary pores in the cell membrane, allowing biomolecules such as mRNA or CRISPR/Cas9 complexes to enter the cell cytoplasm directly.

“Our NExT platform can handle a wide range of immune cell types. This is particularly timely as the field of cell therapy expands beyond traditional CAR-T approaches to include other cell types,” said Mr Arun Kumar, the paper’s first author and a PhD student at NUS supervised by Asst Prof Tay.

“Think of gene delivery like selecting a food delivery service. Ideally you want one that’s fast, reliable, keeps the food fresh and doesn’t cost a fortune. That’s what gene delivery should be like — efficient, cost-effective, doesn’t stress the cells too much, and adaptable to many different ‘orders’, or biomolecules,” added Mr Kumar.

In preclinical experiments, the NExT platform achieved transfection efficiencies of up to 94% for proteins and over 80% for mRNA in primary T cells, while maintaining key biological functions such as proliferation, migration and cytokine production.

“We were very encouraged to see that even after transfection, the immune cells retained their essential tumour-fighting characteristics. This suggests that the platform delivers both the efficiency as well as the cell quality needed for effective therapy,” said Asst Prof Tay.

More accessible and adaptable cancer treatments

The NExT platform can engineer alternative immune cells that are less likely to trigger severe immune reactions, and in some cases can function without matching the patient’s immune profile, making them suitable for “off-the-shelf” allogeneic therapies.

In addition, the high-throughput nature of the platform is designed to address the scale and cost bottlenecks of cell therapy production. The NUS researchers’ multi-well version of the platform can transfect over 14 million cells in a single run, enabling the simultaneous delivery of different genetic cargoes into multiple immune cell types from various donors to reduce production time.

Working towards clinical translation, the team’s next step is to validate the technology in preclinical studies before advancing to human trials. They are also working with industry partners to explore how the system can be integrated into existing cell therapy manufacturing workflows and are actively seeking opportunities to test the platform in real-world commercial settings.

Statement by Associate Professor Natalie Pang, University Librarian, National University of Singapore

In maintaining our library collection, excess books are routinely rehomed in other libraries or given away to faculty members and, at times, students. Books which are not taken up are then sent for recycling, in line with common library practices.

In our current exercise of relocating the books from the Yale-NUS College Library, the majority of the books has been rehomed within NUS Libraries.

In this instance, excess books were offered only to faculty members, and not students.

We understand later that many students are interested in having these books and we would have usually acceded to their requests. We did not do so on this occasion and we apologise for the operational lapse.

In view of the strong interest from students, we are now organising a giveaway on campus so that the excess books can find a new home.

Going forward, we are reviewing our process and will take proactive steps to distribute excess books to the NUS community and the wider public so that they can benefit as many people as possible.

By Zara Khanna, AI Research Intern at the Dept of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering at NUS

• The Straits Times, 16 May 2025, Opinion, pB2

By Ms Nur Diyana Azman, Senior Research Assistant, and Ms Atiqah Lee, Research Associate, both from the Centre for Ageing Research & Education at Duke-NUS Medical School

• The Straits Times, 15 May 2025, Opinion, pB3

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

• The Business Times, 15 May 2025, p17

By Prof Yeo Guat Kwang, Visiting Prof at NUS Business School and Advisor, National Trade Unions Congress, Singapore

• Lianhe Zaobao, 15 May 2025, Opinion, p23

By Assoc Prof Gu Qingyang from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 15 May 2025, Opinion, p24

NUS Information Technology (NUS IT) has been recognised with the Digital Achievers (Team) award at the Singapore Computer Society’s Tech Leader Awards 2025, in recognition of their trailblazing work on AI-Know—a transformative platform poised to redefine how the NUS community engages with artificial intelligence.

Developed in-house by the Enterprise Services Team at NUS IT in collaboration with departments across the University, AI-Know is a university-wide initiative aimed at empowering, enabling, and educating the NUS community on Generative AI (GenAI). Designed as a one-stop super-app for AI-driven tools and training, AI-Know has already impacted nearly 1,000 staff members across more than 120 departments, driving unprecedented levels of digital transformation and innovation.

At the heart of AI-Know is a centralised suite of AI productivity tools, namely, AI-Chat, AI-Draw, AI-Minute, and AI-Guide These tools are revolutionising traditional workflows by automating manual tasks, enhancing decision-making, and boosting efficiency across administrative and academic domains. For instance, the AI-Minute tool alone has saved an estimated 9,480 man-hours annually by automating the generation of meeting minutes.

“AI-Know isn’t just a project—it’s a movement,” said Mr Irving Neil Kwok, Head of Enterprise Services, NUS IT. “It exemplifies how a university can lead digital transformation from within. This award reflects our team’s commitment to making AI accessible, impactful, and sustainable for everyone at NUS. We’re proud that AI-Know has empowered our staff to build and use AI solutions tailored to their needs—and we’re just getting started.”

One of AI-Know’s standout features is its emphasis on citizen development, enabling staff to independently create AI solutions via the AI-Create platform. This bottom-up innovation has led to successful deployments such as the automation of hostel appeals processing by the Office of Student Affairs which helps reduce processing time and human errors; and the aptitude-based admissions process for the Office of Admissions speeding up decision-making while ensuring no promising candidate is overlooked.

Beyond its operational impact, AI-Know also prioritises AI literacy through tiered Digital Enablement training sessions, offering foundational to advanced skills in using GenAI for work. To date, over 1,000 NUS staff have undergone AI training sessions, fostering a future-ready culture of innovation across campus.

AI-Know’s scalability and agility are also key to its success. The platform supports rapid prototyping, iterative enhancements based on user feedback, and seamless integration of the latest AI models from OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. This ensures that the NUS community always has access to cutting-edge capabilities.

Looking ahead, the team is working to extend the reach of AI-Know to the 50,000-strong student community. One initiative on the horizon is a new AI-powered career guidance chatbot, co-developed with the Centre for Future Graduates, to deliver personalised support and boost career readiness.

With its comprehensive, collaborative, and future-facing approach, AI-Know is not only setting the gold standard for AI integration within higher education but also serving as a blueprint for digital transformation in institutions worldwide.

By Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice Dean of Global Health and Programme Leader of Infectious Diseases from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS

• The Straits Times, 14 October 2024, Opinion, pB3

By Bao Rong, a student from the Dept of Communications and New Media and the Dept of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 May 2025, Opinion, p17

• 8world Online, 6 May 2025
• The Straits Times Online, 7 May 2025
• CNA Online, 7 May 2025
• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 May 2025, Singapore, p8
• Suria News Online, 8 May 2025

Singapore is home to cultural neighbourhoods such as Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and the area around Tanjong Pagar that has become affectionately known as ‘Koreatown’. But did you know that there was once a ‘Little Japan’ too?

‘Little Japan’ was an area around Middle Road – part of what we know as Bugis today – that comprised businesses, schools and places of worship for a Japanese community that settled in Singapore in the 1800s and 1900s. A community of thousands, they were far from little. Their presence in pre-war Singapore was significant in shaping Singapore’s identity as a cosmopolitan port city in the colonial period.

Dr Clay Eaton, historian and lecturer in the NUS Department of Japanese Studies and Associate at the NUS Asia Research Institute’s (ARI’s) Inter-Asia Engagement cluster, said, “The Japanese wartime occupation of Singapore is well-known to many of us, but Japan and Singapore’s relationship predates World War II. The unique role that the Japanese played here, as representatives of a major imperial power as well as a part of the broader Asian community, can help us better appreciate Singapore’s rich cultural past. Very little work has been done on this community, especially in English, but they can tell us quite a bit about the social complexity of this period.”

In an attempt to reconstruct the pre-war Japanese community in Singapore’s “Little Japan” around Middle Road, Dr Eaton; Professor Naoko Shimazu, also an Associate at ARI’s Inter-Asia Engagements Cluster and former Research Cluster Leader; and Dr Chee Keng Lee from NUS College teamed up for a project known as ‘Mapping Middle Road’, the first public history project of its kind about the Japanese community in Singapore.

The project was carried out under the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) Heritage Research Grant and was hosted by ARI. It took two years to complete and was published as a story map for the National Library Board’s Curiocity[1]. Mapping these historical findings allows users to better visualise how past movements of the Japanese communities around Middle Road unfolded and changed with significant events, thus turning abstract historical change into something we can see and trace across a real-world landscape.

The findings in ‘Mapping Middle Road’ were widely discussed at conferences and talks in Asia and Europe.

The researchers’ findings were also further expanded and later developed into an online resource named ‘Middle Road: Pre-War Japanese Community in Singapore’ that is accessible to the public at MUSE, NHB’s digital heritage publication hosted on Roots.

Bringing the Japanese community’s shifting past to life through maps and movement

Developing this digital map to help users see not only where events and communities existed, but also how they shifted over time, was no easy task.

A team of faculty and student researchers combed through resources such as photos, advertisements, newspaper articles, travelogues and guides in various English- and Japanese-language materials residing in the National Library’s NewspaperSG online archive, the Japanese Association of Singapore’s collections, and the National Diet Library (the national library of Japan); to locate specific references to the Japanese community associated with particular places in the country.

They identified over 20 locations and institutions to feature in the story map, with their efforts culminating in the visual reconstruction of the presence and movement of various Japanese institutions over time. These included schools, clinics, places of worship and businesses – all of which together help us imagine what life was like for the Japanese community here in Singapore at that time.

Dr Eaton shared, “Perhaps our biggest surprise, since this was a mapping project, was how mobile some of the institutions we were tracking ended up being. Just about every prominent business moved at least once (like the clothier Ebisuya) or had multiple branch locations (like the Tamagawa restaurant).”  

Important locations such as the Japanese Consulate, Japanese Association and Toyo Hotel moved multiple times, making it challenging to pinpoint their locations onto a map, Dr Eaton shared. Ultimately, the team embraced the shifts in locations as a key factor in explaining the changes within the community over time.

The Consulate’s move from its original location on Sophia Road – located near the Japanese resident community along Middle Road – to the ‘Gudan’ district (the Japanese term for the Central Business District) came as Japan rose in political power globally. Its eventual return to quieter offices on Mt Emily before World War II presumably symbolised the growing isolation of the Japanese Empire on the world stage.

Prof Shimazu shared how researchers had also identified a significant class division within Singapore’s pre-war Japanese community, noting tensions between the first Japanese settlers in Singapore in the late 1800s and a more affluent and educated wave of Japanese immigrants who arrived after 1910 and worked in the Gudan district.

The establishment of elite institutions like the Japanese Association and Japanese Club did not help to bridge the gap. The Gudan expatriates played a crucial role in ending licensed Japanese prostitution in 1920, which affected the original Japanese community along Middle Road.

The stories the research team uncovered confirmed what they had initially thought – that the Japanese community was diverse just like any other and was made up of interesting and dynamic individuals who were at times at odds with each other, but at other times, brought together by a shared sense of national belonging.

[1] National Library Board’s Curiocity houses digitised maps, photographs and multimedia content that are combined for users to explore the past and see how it has shaped the present.  

By Elyssa Liu from the Centre for Outbreak Preparedness at Duke-NUS Medical School

• CNA Online, 6 May 2025

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

• The Straits Times, 6 May 2025, Opinion, pB1–pB2

In a world of rising sea levels, record-high temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, climate change knows no borders and addressing this requires urgent, wide-ranging solutions. NUS is stepping up to the plate with the launch of NUS Sustainable Futures (NUS SF) — a new initiative that encourages experts across different disciplines to work together to tackle green issues.

It aims to break down academic silos and foster collaborative research to develop solutions to complex sustainability challenges, said Professor Koh Lian Pin, NUS Vice President (Sustainability and Resilience) and Chief Sustainability Scientist, who heads the NUS SF team, in his welcome address at the launch.

Climate-related challenges are “amplifying the tensions and trade-offs among the competing priorities of society, creating wicked problems”, observed Prof Koh, adding that solving these challenges will require researchers and partners from different fields to work together.

The new NUS SF will answer that collaborative call. As a show of commitment, the University will invest S$10 million to support training and research, focusing on the areas of building energy resilience, addressing climate and nature-related challenges, and enhancing urban sustainability. It also aims to secure additional funding from the government and industry partners over the next 12 months.

In his opening address, the event’s Guest-of-Honour, Mr Stanley Loh, Permanent Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment, highlighted that the urgency for collaborative initiatives is real. Following the United States’ recent withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, an international treaty which pledges to cap global warming at 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, there was a notable shift leading to some uncertainties around global climate commitments.

“But what has not changed is the speed of climate change,” he stressed, adding that the government will not be able to solve challenges alone. “The public, private, and people sectors need to work together to co-create projects, systems, and mindset changes required for this huge transition.”

Additionally, a new NUS Sustainability Academy will complement NUS SF’s education and capacity-building arm. Jointly established with the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education, the Academy will curate programmes to upskill professionals on sustainability topics such as climate, energy, nature, and green finance. An example is the newly launched Professional Certificate in Carbon Services and Trading that is developed in collaboration with industry professionals and government agencies such as the Singapore Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore.

Also under the NUS SF umbrella is a Sustainability Plaza that will showcase NUS’ sustainability research and thought leadership, as well as facilitate engagements between the University and various external stakeholders in exploring partnership and entrepreneurial opportunities.

NUS Sustainable Futures Forum: Accelerating science translation through Public-Private-People partnership

The launch of NUS SF, held during the NUS Sustainable Futures Forum, brought together industry leaders, academics, and government officials across four panel discussions aligned with the key pillars of NUS SF:

• Advancing Grid Modernisation and Renewable Energy Integration for a Sustainable Future moderated by Professor Lee Poh Seng, Co-Director of the NUS Energy Solutions Hub, NUS SF;
• Transformational Changes for Climate-resilient Agriculture in Southeast Asia moderated by Associate Professor L. Roman Carrasco, Co-Director of Initiatives for Climate, Oceans & Nature, NUS SF;
• Capacity Building Track by NUS Sustainability Academy moderated by Ms Melissa Low, Head of the Academy, NUS SF; and
• Inclusive Cities for a Sustainable Future: Community, Health and Social Capital moderated by Associate Professor Yuan Chao, Co-Director of Integrative Urban Solutions, NUS SF.

Breaking down silos

Dr Su Bin, Senior Research Fellow and Division Head of NUS Energy Studies Institute (ESI) and panellist at the forum, said that energy modelling can inform policy and investment decisions across countries.

One of ESI’s key findings is that an integrated ASEAN power grid could reduce total system costs by up to 12 per cent. There is growing momentum in this area, with Singapore doubling its capacity to import electricity from Laos and Malaysia in 2024. 

Such collaboration should be extended beyond energy to the field of agriculture, which is the foundation of food security and sustainability. Yet, agriculture practices often come with an environmental cost — from deforestation to soil and water pollution as well as the loss of biodiversity — so how can we meet our food security needs while mitigating these harmful consequences?

In response, Associate Professor Janice Lee from Nanyang Technological University’s Asian School of the Environment suggested working directly with smallholder farmers to improve their green footprint, but cautioned that this needs to be complemented by strong governance that protects biodiversity.

There is, however, reason to be optimistic, said Assistant Professor Remi Luo from NUS’ Department of Geography. For instance, he noted that research has shown that oil palm production can be doubled by closing yield gaps without the need for deforestation. Yield gaps refer to the difference between a crop’s actual and potential yield.

“Some answers are already out there. We just need significant effort to pick them up and implement them,” he said. 

Education and equity in climate action

Panellists also discussed ways to mitigate the impact of climate change on different segments of society, by relooking policies, education and urban development. 

In the sinking capital of Jakarta, Indonesia, the wealthy are able to relocate to avoid rising sea levels, said Professor Yu Qin from NUS’ Department of Real Estate. The poor have no choice but to stay. Such “market failures” necessitate re-examining policies to see how they can help lower-income groups better adapt to the effects of climate change, she said.

But there are also opportunities for everyday folk to play their part, especially in the healthcare sector. As healthcare itself contributes significantly to carbon emissions –– more than aviation or shipping globally –– engaging healthcare workers in sustainability is crucial, said Adjunct Assistant Professor Amanda Zain, Deputy Director at the NUS Centre of Sustainable Medicine.

Given their trusted position in society, healthcare workers can be a “significant lever for climate action”, she said. For example, they can help to decarbonise the sector by switching to more environmentally friendly anaesthetic gases.

There is, however, a gap between will and action. While 80 per cent of global healthcare professionals expressed willingness to adopt sustainable practices, only about one-third knew what their country’s net-zero target was, she added.

NUS aims to improve awareness by enhancing sustainability education. For example, the NUS Sustainability Academy recently refreshed its flagship Climate Change and Sustainability 101 Course for Public Officers, which has been expanded to include additional topics on green supply chain and procurement, water sustainability as well as waste recycling.

The Academy has also partnered with the London-based Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures to launch its first regional “Train the Trainers” programme in Singapore, which aims to communicate nature-related financial disclosures to industry players in a more consistent way.

Sustainability, however, is a long game. The impact of sustainability education should be measured over extended timeframes, said Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the NUS Business School.

“We need three, five, 10-year follow-ups with our learners. Ultimately, we should bring them back for continuous learning as their career needs evolve,” he said.

By Mathavi Senguttuvan, Research Associate from the Centre for Biomedical Ethics, at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS

• CNA Online, 14 May 2025

• Vasantham News Online, 13 May 2025

The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) of the NUS Faculty of Science commemorated its 10th anniversary on 6 May 2025 with a series of engaging activities. Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore and NUS Chancellor, attended the celebration as the Guest-of-Honour, marking a decade of excellence in biodiversity research, education, and natural heritage conservation at LKCNHM.

Since its official opening on 18 April 2015, the Museum has transformed into a leading institute in Southeast Asia, dedicated to preserving biodiversity and inspiring future generations. Over the last decade, LKCNHM has welcomed more than 650,000 visitors, with 2024 recording its highest annual visitorship of over 88,000.

The Museum’s educational outreach efforts have also expanded significantly since its establishment, having engaged over 105,000 participants – from pre-schoolers to tertiary students – through gallery tours, talks, nature walks, and workshops. In addition, the Museum runs seasonal biodiversity programmes for the public and continues to enhance inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that learning opportunities remain available to all.

“Over the past decade, [the] Museum has been a beacon of learning and exploration, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors to its galleries and engaging tens of thousands of students through workshops and tours. It has also become an indispensable resource for NUS students, offering unique opportunities for experimental learning and deep dives into the rich biodiversity of Singapore and Southeast Asia,” said Professor Aaron Thean, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost.

“Our vision is to be a leader in Southeast Asian biodiversity research, education, and outreach,” said Associate Professor Darren Yeo, Head of LKCNHM. “To this end, we have actively pursued research and discovery with local and regional partners, imparted expertise to biodiversity and conservation, and nurtured awareness and interest in biodiversity, natural heritage and environmental issues.”

Living up to its name as a regional biodiversity research hub, LKCNHM’s Zoological Reference Collection serves as Singapore’s national zoological repository, and houses over one million specimens today – approximately double from when it was first launched in 2015. The Museum has been a catalyst for biodiversity research, leading over 20 expeditions and biodiversity surveys across Singapore and the region. These efforts have contributed to the discovery of new species and strengthened international scientific partnerships, reinforcing LKCNHM’s position as a research node in the region.

Appreciating the past to preserve a brighter future

As part of the 10th anniversary celebration, LKCNHM unveiled its special anniversary exhibition ‘A Decade of Discovery: Stories from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’, showcasing the Museum’s origins, journey, and milestones over the past decade. Reflecting LKCNHM’s legacy and outlining its vision for the future, the exhibition highlights how Singapore’s only natural history museum has served as a vital hub for scientific research, education, and community engagement – uncovering the rich biodiversity and deep historical connections of Southeast Asia.

One unique specimen on display at the exhibition is the leaf coral or Pavona Decussata, collected in 1974 from Pulau Hantu – an island located to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. This large coral colony was a gift donated to the Museum by Dr Chuang Shou-Hwa, a Singaporean zoologist who headed the Zoology Department of the then University of Singapore from 1971-1977.

At the event, the Museum also launched its commemorative book, Archipelago of Islands: Natural and Other Histories of Singapore, to mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence. The book explores the key roles of Singapore’s islands as habitats, homes and navigational landmarks — interweaving stories of nature, history, and culture, while also offering fresh perspectives on the nation’s archipelagic nature.

For example, a chapter in the book traces the historical identities of St John’s Island. Starting out as a quarantine location in response to a cholera epidemic in Singapore in 1873 and later repurposed as a detention centre for political detainees in 1948, the chapter explores St John’s Island’s historical evolution into the vibrant marine research and conservation hub it is today.

In conjunction with the 10th anniversary celebration, LKCNHM is also collaborating with the Science Centre Singapore on a special year-end exhibition themed around extinctions and dinosaurs, featuring an extraordinary journey over 400 million years of Earth’s history.

Embarking on a new decade of innovation and impact

Looking ahead to the future, LKCNHM seeks to continue its efforts in uncovering new insights into the natural history of Singapore and the region by expanding the adjacent wing of the LKCNHM building located in NUS. At the event, Assoc Prof Yeo shared LKCNHM’s aspiration that the expansion will realise the Museum’s “ambitions for growth and greater impact in the years to come” and “will ultimately lead to an enlarged and enhanced LKCNHM before our 20th year”.

Embracing the latest technological advancements, LKCNHM will expand its research scope to include artificial intelligence (AI) tools. “We are partnering with NUS School of Computing and NUS AI Institute to develop AI toolkits for researchers, educators, and the public,” said Assoc Prof Yeo.

“By leveraging on the Museum’s extensive biodiversity database and expertise, and collaborating with subject matter experts across NUS, we are well-positioned to execute this innovative interdisciplinary endeavour”, he added.

• The Straits Times, 12 May 2025, Science, pA14

By Prof Lionel Wee, Dean and Adj Prof Low Ee Ling, Dept of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies, both from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS, and Ms Nora Samosir, Lecturer, Acting and Musical Theatre at Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts, Singapore

• The Straits Times, 9 May 2025, Opinion, pB4

By Asst Prof Reuben Ng, Behavioural and Data Scientist from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• CNA Online, 8 May 2025

By Prof Hsu Li Yang, Director for Asia Centre for Health Security and Vice Dean of Global Health, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS

• CNA Online, 13 May 2025

• Lianhe Zaobao, 13 May 2025, Singapore, p7
• 8world Online, 13 May 2025

By Mr David Dickinson, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow; Prof Joseph Ooi, Professor of Real Estate at NUS Business School and Co-Director; and Ms Chen Huaying, Research Assistant; all at the Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies at the NUS Business School

• The Business Times, 8 May 2025, p11

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

• CNA Online, 7 May 2025

By Assoc Prof Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at NUS

• CNA Online, 7 May 2025

By Adj Asst Prof Maria Monica Wihardja from the Dept of Southeast Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, at NUS; and Ms Midzuki Low, Analyst in the Industry Research Dept at Mizuho Bank based in Singapore

• CNA Online, 3 May 2025

• Tamil Murasu, 5 May 2025, p4

Classic fables like Goldilocks and the Three Bears that feature anthropomorphised animals, or animals with human traits, have entertained children for centuries while aiming to teach moral values. But just how effective are these stories in instilling virtues?

NUS psychologist Associate Professor Ding Xiao Pan, along with her students Cleo Tay, Chua Yu Juan and Joey Cheng from NUS Psychology, carried out an experiment involving more than 200 Singaporean children aged three to six to determine if such moral tales are effective in teaching children honesty.

Assoc Prof Ding Xiao Pan noted that children’s books that feature anthropomorphised animals are very common in everyday life. She said, “Honesty is an important virtue, so we are seeking effective ways to foster it in young children. Most existing studies have been conducted in Western societies and often feature animals that many children in Singapore may not be familiar with, such as raccoons. Therefore, we sought to explore whether featuring animals they were more familiar with can most effectively support the development of honesty in our children.”

In the study, each child was instructed not to peek at a laptop screen while sitting in a room alone and unsupervised. However, most children would turn around and peek at the screen, unable to resist the temptation. After the experimenter came back the room, each of them was read a different version of the moral story, George Washington and the Cherry Tree, in which Little George, the protagonist, chops down his father’s favourite cherry tree and confesses to his wrongdoing when confronted. In each version, the protagonist was portrayed either as a human, an elephant, a rat or a ‘control condition’,  where the human protagonist opts not to confess to his wrongdoing.

Researchers then asked the children if they had peeked at the screen to measure if the type of protagonist influenced their honesty.

They found that for children aged three to four, the effectiveness of moral stories differed based on the type of character, with human characters having more of an effect on honesty than stories with anthropomorphised characters. In contrast, how the protagonist was portrayed had no effect on the honesty of children aged five to six.

Another interesting finding was that portraying the protagonist as a disliked character, such as a rat, rather than a preferred character, such as an elephant, was less effective at promoting honesty than using a human protagonist.

“The study’s findings are useful in helping us understand how children relate to and are influenced by the portrayal of characters in stories, and how we can modify classic moral stories to maximise their usefulness at promoting honesty and other values,” said Assoc Prof Ding.

Read more about the study here.

By Adj Asst Prof Maria Monica Wihardja from the Dept of Southeast Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, at NUS; and Ms Midzuki Low, Analyst in the Industry Research Dept at Mizuho Bank based in Singapore

• CNA Online, 3 May 2025

By Dr Sue-Anne Toh, Adj Assoc Prof at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; and Dr Prashanth Subramanian, Region Medical Lead for ASEAN, Korea, Australia and New Zealand at Boehringer Ingelheim

• The Straits Times, 3 May 2025, Opinion, pB1 and pB2

• The Straits Times, 3 May 2025, Sport, pB10
• The New Paper, 3 May 2025 

The National University of Singapore (NUS) today announced the launch of NUS Sustainable Futures (NUS SF), a whole-of-university initiative bringing together expertise from across its research ecosystem to advance interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations in addressing climate change challenges. Permanent Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Mr Stanley Loh launched this new initiative as Guest-of-Honour.

As climate change challenges become more complex and global, solutions to address these challenges will need to cut across disciplines, sectors and geographies. As such, NUS SF will adopt a mission-driven, problem-solving approach by converging NUS researchers to collaborate across sustainability domains, as well as with stakeholders including industry and government partners both locally and across Asia.

Additionally, NUS SF will round out efforts by the University and its key partners in developing and delivering continuing education training programmes rooted in climate, conservation and sustainability science and actionable research. The aim is to help professionals in the sustainability sector chart meaningful career transitions and equip them with the domain knowledge to address critical policy issues and meet regulatory requirements.

NUS will invest S$10 million to support three research focus areas as well as the NUS Sustainability Academy under NUS SF. To date, NUS SF has helped NUS researchers secure external funding of around S$5 million for low carbon energy system and other sustainability-related research. It aims to raise additional funding from the Government and industry partners over the next 12 months.

NUS SF is led by Professor Koh Lian Pin, NUS Vice President (Sustainability and Resilience) and Chief Sustainability Scientist. Helming the University’s sustainability agenda, Prof Koh oversees and champions sustainability-related research at NUS, tackling the twin planetary crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, through a whole-of-university strategy that bridges academia with policymakers, industry and civil society. He is also the Director of the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, as well as the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Conservation.

Prof Koh said, “Today’s launch of NUS Sustainable Futures is just the beginning – with seed funding from the University to support cross‑pillar research projects, and capacity building through our Sustainability Academy. Driven by Public‑Private‑People partnership, NUS Sustainable Futures is our blueprint to build a greener, more resilient, and low‑carbon future.”

Key pillars of NUS Sustainable Futures

Research in NUS SF will centre around strategic Sustainability Missions which will investigate wide-ranging Sustainability Challenges that will be tackled by Sustainability Communities through partnerships.

    (i)         Sustainability Missions

Currently, nearly one in three NUS faculty conducts sustainability-related research ranging from green hydrogen innovations for climate change mitigation, to nature-based and engineered solutions for coastal protection and adaptation, and sustainable redevelopment strategies for urban resilience. The University hopes to leverage this momentum to deepen its environmental impact while fostering greater collaboration across different disciplines, sectors and geographies.

NUS SF has identified three focal areas that had risen in salience over the last decade. In response, it will converge researchers in STEM, the social sciences and policy domains across NUS, as well as industry, government, philanthropic and civil society partners, to anticipate and identify emerging sustainability challenges, and develop cross-cutting programmes or solutions to address these challenges.

One of the focal areas pertains to energy sustainability and resilience, particularly in tropical and urban settings, as the world transits to a low-carbon economy. This will be led by Professor Lee Poh Seng, Co-Director of the NUS Energy Solutions Hub under NUS SF and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering (CDE).

Another focal area is on advancing technological innovations and nature-based solutions to address climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. This will be led by Associate Professor L. Roman Carrasco, Co-Director of Initiatives for Climate, Oceans & Nature under NUS SF, and Deputy Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Science.

The third focal area is to enhance urban resilience and sustainability in Singapore and the ASEAN region. This will be led by Associate Professor Yuan Chao, Co-Director of Integrative Urban Solutions under NUS SF, and Deputy Head (Research) of the Department of Architecture at CDE.

   (ii)         Sustainability Academy

Today, NUS offers a diverse spectrum of more than 800 sustainability-centric undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education and training (CET) courses. Building upon this, the new Sustainability Academy ― a collaborative effort between NUS SF and the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education ― will curate and develop a holistic suite of CET courses, from across NUS faculties and schools, to prepare the workforce in Singapore and the region for a low-carbon economy. These courses cover sustainability topics such as climate, nature, energy and green finance.

The Sustainability Academy will offer a new Professional Certificate in Carbon Services and Trading comprising a series of three courses which will be held in June, August and September 2025. The Professional Certificate seeks to support the national agenda of developing Singapore into a carbon services and trading hub by equipping professionals to take on new and emerging roles in carbon markets. It is developed after validation and in collaboration with industry professionals and government agencies such as the Singapore Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore.

Under a new partnership with the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, the Academy has also refreshed the curriculum for its signature Climate Change and Sustainability 101 Course for Public Officers. To support the public sector’s current and future sustainability efforts while upskilling its workforce, the course has been expanded to include additional topics on green supply chain and procurement, water sustainability as well as waste recycling.

 (iii)         Sustainability Plaza

The Sustainability Plaza will showcase NUS’ sustainability research and thought leadership, and help facilitate engagements between the University with industry, government and other stakeholders in exploring partnership and entrepreneurial opportunities. It will also coordinate the hosting of distinguished visitors to NUS; facilitate participation of NUS researchers in major international and national sustainability events; and organise outreach events and social engagements with stakeholders.

NUS Sustainable Futures Forum

Themed “Accelerating science translation through Public-Private-People partnership”, the NUS Sustainable Futures Forum was held on 6 May 2025 in conjunction with the launch of NUS SF. A partner event of Ecosperity Week 2025, the forum featured four insightful panel discussions which mirror the key pillars of NUS SF:

1. Advancing Grid Modernisation and Renewable Energy Integration for a Sustainable Future
2. Transformational Changes for Climate-resilient Agriculture in Southeast Asia
3. Capacity Building Track by NUS Sustainability Academy
4. Inclusive Cities for a Sustainable Future: Community, Health and Social Capital

For more information on the forum, please visit https://www.nus.edu.sg/research/research-capabilities/nus-sustainable-futures/Forum-cum-Launch-Event-2025.

Amid the strains of Balinese music, an Indonesian dancer ­— decked in gold from head to toe — launched into a traditional legong dance. Intricate hand movements followed increasingly frenzied footwork as the music built to a crescendo.

Following this first act, the dancer changed into an equally elaborate costume — this time more kaleidoscopic and silken — but moved to a more sedate rhythm in a dance inspired by Bornean traditions.

These two performances were put up by first-year Master of Arts (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship) student Ni Komang Ananda Gayatri at the NUS120: Our Global Story event, a cultural fiesta held at the NUS Central Library Atrium on 16 April 2025.

“Through dance, I’ve crossed oceans. I’ve met people, shared stories… And somehow, dancing brought me to NUS, one of the top universities in the world,” said Ananda, who hails from East Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo island, in a video that clinched second prize in the NUS People Stories Showcase that attracted over 30 submissions from NUS students, staff and alumni from around the world.

The showcase was one of the highlights of the cultural fiesta, which is part of a series of year-long celebrations held to mark NUS’ 120th anniversary. At the event, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye reflected on the University’s remarkable growth, paying tribute to a community whose collective efforts have shaped it into a world-class institution.

“We have become an institution that Singaporeans are very proud of,” said Prof Tan. “Today’s event celebrates the people — you! — who have helped to build NUS: our students, our faculty, our staff, as well as our alumni. You form a very vibrant, very diverse and, importantly, integrated and collaborative community, united with one single mission towards excellence.”

The event, attended by over 700 staff and students, was a celebration of such diversity. Not only did participants enjoy a smorgasbord of foods at an international food bazaar, they also watched a variety of performances – from traditional Japanese dance Kasa Odori to street dances by the NUS Korean Cultural Interest Group, set to the tune of contemporary hits like aespa’s “Pink Hoodie”.

Beyond performances, participants also had opportunities to attend workshops by youth organisation Fashion Parade, which included batik, block-printing, and Chinese knot-making. Proceeds from the event, which totalled over S$10,500 dollars, will support NUS Giving’s Enhanced Financial Aid Scheme to enable more students to “enjoy the full suite of the NUS experience, from a one-year stay at the hostel to possibly an exchange programme overseas”, said Prof Tan.

A global nexus

Diversity goes hand in hand with identity and belonging. There was a consensus among those who submitted their stories to the story showcase that NUS had imbued in them a sense of belonging – and for some, even safety.

Instructor of Physiology at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Noof Abdullah Saad Shaif, recalled the deeply challenging time studying medicine in her hometown Yemen amid war, “sleeping in the basement with my emergency bag strapped to me, never knowing if I would wake the next day.” At NUS, however, those fears dissipated and she found “a place I could call home.”

For Ananda, NUS –– home to 120 nationalities –– also offers an important international network. “In my class, we have students from all around the world – Switzerland, America, Malaysia, China, and more – and each of us bring with us different case studies to learn from,” she said, observing that different countries have different approaches to art.

“In Korea, for instance, K-pop has almost become a business product. Now compare that with India or Switzerland –– how are their approaches to their own music different?”

Such insights have encouraged her to set up the Bali-based production house Gayatri Art Lab in 2023, with an aim to preserve and promote Balinese art. “I want to show the world that Bali is not just a beach club,” she added with a smile.

NUS Business School Honorary Fellow Chu Singfat had a slightly wider grin on his face, after his submission was deemed the winning entry of the stories showcase. “Serendipity defines my affinity with NUS,” declared the former analytics professor, whose wife is an NUS Business School alumna, in his video submission. Coincidentally, he joined the school in 1991 and both his children are also studying here now.

Singfat reflected on NUS’ evolution, drawing parallels between the university and Mauritius, where he spent his formative years. Just as Hakka immigrants helped the Mauritian capital of Port Louis flourish as a cosmopolitan city, students and staff from around the world provided expertise that was vital to NUS’ transformation.

After 31 years at NUS, he has realised that the best students leveraged each other’s strengths. “In a team, what you need is somebody who can crunch numbers and somebody who can tell a story — that’s diversity,” he shared.

“I always tell students to form diverse teams — diverse in nationalities, diverse in skills. If you are all the same in a team, you won’t produce great results. Where NUS is today, you can say it’s because of diversity.”

• The Straits Times, 2 May 2025, Singapore, pA27

With ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools now able to write college essays and turn photographs into anime art, how close are we to the rise of a superhuman AI that poses an existential threat to humans?

Renowned AI pioneers, Professor Yoshua Bengio and Professor Yann LeCun, presented contrasting perspectives on the future of the field in separate lectures that marked the launch of the NUS120 Distinguished Speaker Series last week. The series is part of a line-up of events held to celebrate the University’s 120^th anniversary this year.

Prof Bengio, the founder and scientific advisor of Mila – Quebec AI Institute, warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences of AI, calling for “guardrails” to prevent the technology from turning against humans. Meanwhile, Prof LeCun, who is Vice President and Chief AI Scientist at Meta, homed in on the significant limitations of generative AI and expressed scepticism that it could lead to machines with human-level intelligence.

The two experts and recipients of the Turing Award, regarded as computing’s highest honour, were visiting Singapore for the 13th International Conference on Learning Representations, held in parallel with Singapore AI Research Week. Their lectures at NUS on 25 and 27 April 2025 attracted more than 1,000 registered participants and have since garnered over 11,000 views on YouTube.

Rise of the machines

In recent years, Large Language Models (LLMs) — AI systems such as ChatGPT that can generate language by processing huge amounts of data — have shown exponential progress in their capacity for abstract reasoning.

Prof Bengio, who is also a Full Professor of Computer Science at Université de Montreal, said rapid advancements in AI could pave the way for a vastly powerful technology that might have its own goals and become our competitors.

“They could use their intelligence in many ways, to at the minimum disrupt our societies, and at worst get rid of us,” he said. “It’s something that sounds like science fiction but, unfortunately, is very plausible.”

Part of this stems from the fact that a lot of AI is trained on data from human behaviour.

“Every living thing is trying to preserve itself…but it might not be a great idea to create machines that want to preserve themselves against our wishes,” Prof Bengio pointed out. “Unfortunately, that is what we are starting to observe.”

Researchers have observed AI engaging in deceptive behaviour to ensure its own “survival”, be it by cheating in chess, or lying to ensure a certain line of code survives a system update.

This is especially risky when the AI is “agentic” — autonomous and capable of making decisions without human intervention — and programmed to seek reward maximisation. 

AI also has an advantage over humans in several ways, Prof Bengio added. Besides being “immortal” and easily replicated, they can communicate with one another quickly and absorb vastly more information.    

Role of Large Language Models

Prof LeCun, who also serves as the Jacob T. Schwartz Professor at New York University, was more circumspect about the attainability of human-level AI — known in the industry as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), or, as Meta calls it, Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI).

Machines will eventually be smarter than humans, but this could be a matter of 10 or a hundred years. A four-year-old, Prof LeCun noted, would have seen 50 times more data than the biggest LLMs. Even cats and dogs, he argued, were more advanced, and the odds of AGI being achieved with LLMs were near zero.

“LLMs are very useful, there’s no question about that. But if you are really interested in reaching human-level AI, you should not work on LLMs,” he said.

These models face other severe limitations, particularly when it comes to “Systems 2”, in which AI is able to reason and draw conclusions from information they have not encountered before. Generative AI, of which LLMs are a part, does not work well for images and videos.

One step towards addressing this gap is the Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture (JEPA), a non-generative AI model by Meta that learns by predicting parts of a video or image that have been masked, Prof LeCun noted. This method discards unpredictable information, rather than trying to predict every pixel.

Guardrails against bad actors

While AGI is a “global public good” with enormous potential, several precautions are needed, stressed Prof Bengio.

He called for a safer type of AI system modelled after the Platonic idea of a scientist — where the AI is completely honest, free from self-interest, and focuses on generating theories rather than acting autonomously in the real world. This type of AI system could be used to control agentic AI, and serve as a “guardrail” against it, he noted.

Prof Bengio also highlighted the importance of AI regulation. AI organisations need independent oversight, otherwise they may start cutting corners and overlooking safety and security in a race to get to AGI first.

“When the interests of a company as a profit-making organisation and society diverge, you (have) a problem,” said Prof Bengio, who was responding to a question from moderator Professor Simon Chesterman, NUS’ Vice Provost (Educational Innovation) and Dean of NUS College.

“Economic domination can easily turn into political domination — military domination — because these systems can be used to develop new technology,” Prof Bengio argued, adding that advanced AI could also be exploited by terrorists in cyber and other attacks.

While Prof LeCun agreed that AI control should not be in the hands of just a few corporate entities, he said that building objective-driven AI with human-like intelligence was necessary to achieve what he saw as the future of AI — a world where everyone is walking around with intelligent virtual assistants. The solution, he argued, lay in open-source AI.

Singapore as a nexus

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, who delivered remarks at both events, was confident AI would continue to shape human civilisation.

“When applied thoughtfully, AI can help resolve some of our biggest challenges,” he said, citing its applications in managing healthcare needs of rapidly ageing populations and optimising urban systems for efficiency. “The question remains: how will AI continue to innovate?”

On the market implications of AI, Prof Bengio warned that the rise of super-AI companies could trigger an economic upheaval if these firms use their superintelligent AI technologies to dominate markets by offering superior services at lower costs. “They could potentially wipe out the economy of the planet, except for their profit,” he cautioned.

Prof LeCun offered a different take, based on what he believed to be the consensus among economists: “We are not going to run out of jobs because we are not going to run out of problems to solve.”

He stressed the importance of “deep technical knowledge”, and advised students to pursue subjects with a “longer shelf life”. Faced with the choice of taking a course on mobile app programming or one on quantum mechanics, he recommends choosing the latter because the underlying methods and thinking skills it imparts are likely to remain relevant even as technologies evolve.

AI development also presented opportunities for Singapore, suggested Prof LeCun, responding to a question from the moderator, NUS AI Institute Director and Provost's Chair Professor of Computer Science, Professor Mohan Kankanhalli.

Currently, the data being used to train AI systems does not represent the full diversity of cultures, languages and value systems in the world. But AI-relevant data should not be filtered only by AI companies in China or the West Coast of the United States, Prof LeCun added.

He laid out a future where organisations in the US, China, and Europe would provide foundation models — which are expensive to build — as open-source infrastructure that could be trained collaboratively with players in other countries.

This is where Singapore, and its universities such as NUS, could play a key role: working with others in Southeast Asia to gather data to train worldwide foundational models, and providing computing infrastructure, expertise, and data centres.

“It could be a nexus for Asia,” Prof LeCun added.

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

• Lianhe Zaobao, 29 April 2025, Opinion, p18

• 8world Online, 28 April 2025

By Prof Elaine Ho, Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at NUS and Vice Dean at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS; Assoc Prof Vincent Chua, Dept of Sociology and Anthropology; and Assoc Prof Feng Chen-Chieh, Dept of Geography, both from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• The Straits Times, 26 April 2025, Opinion, pB1 – pB2

• Lianhe Zaobao, 26 April 2025, p12

By Li Zhijun, a Psychology undergraduate from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 25 April 2025, Opinion, p23

By Dr Chen Gang, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow from the  East Asian Institute at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 25 April 2025, Opinion, p23

By 2030, NUS aims to be a zero-waste establishment. To reach this goal, the University seeks to increase overall campus recycling rates to 60 per cent through incentives and schemes such as a “pay-as-you-throw” system in refuse bin centres, the adoption of reusable items for takeaways, and platforms for exchanging pre-loved items – efforts that encourage the community to embrace sustainability as a way of life.

Two recent NUSOne initiatives are building on that effort by encouraging students to reduce waste and approach their consumption habits in a more sustainable and responsible manner. Held on Wednesday afternoons, these sessions aim to broaden students’ access to a wide range of activities, promoting holistic learning beyond the classroom.

On a visit to Google Asia-Pacific’s headquarters on 16 April 2025, over 40 NUS students had an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Google’s innovative food sustainability practices, discovering how the global tech firm promotes health, reduces waste, and champions sustainability in its operations. As the final event this semester in a diverse series of NUSOne activities organised by NUS Enterprise, this highly oversubscribed visit sought to expose students to sustainability practices, rounding out a line-up that centred around entrepreneurial skills, self-discovery and resilience, culinary and cultural experiences, and community service and gratitude.

The visit was carefully curated to give the students a glimpse into Google’s mammoth operations, highlight the growing role of sustainability in shaping entrepreneurial mindsets and encourage students to reflect on how environmentally responsible practices can create value, enhance operational efficiency, and unlock new business opportunities. With three cafes and coffee bars as well as 14 micro-kitchens, the technology giant serves up an estimated 4,000 meals, including breakfast and 1,500 cups of coffee daily, in addition to 90 catered monthly events.

A key initiative for Google is single-use plastic reduction. As part of these measures, plastic bags for food deliveries have been replaced with reusable containers. Snacks are now served in bulk, replacing individually wrapped snacks that are often packed using single-use plastic. Conventional plastic pots used to serve yoghurt have also been swapped out for glass pots.

Students also learned creative ways to reuse food waste, which are at the forefront of Google’s food sustainability initiatives. In partnership with a local bakery, Google repurposes used coffee grounds to create artisanal sourdough loaves. This is in addition to transforming the flesh of carved pumpkins into comforting autumnal dishes on Halloween, and showcasing snack companies that utilise “imperfect” and otherwise unsellable produce, which is then turned into tasty products.

Some tips on caring for the environment were also shared, such as switching to eating more vegetables to reduce the environmental impact of food production. “I learned that food sustainability is not just about reducing food waste but also about upcycling,” said third-year student Haziq Hamzah from NUS Business School, noting that being eco-friendly can also involve “using materials such as biodegradable starch to make consumables such as tea bags.”

The students also visited the coffee bar – not to try the brew, but to learn how coffee husks, a waste product from coffee bean processing, are upcycled into durable, reusable cups to replace ceramic and plastic cup alternatives. Upon reaching the end of their life cycle, the cups are returned to a vendor and repurposed into entirely new products. In line with efforts to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, this regenerative approach minimises waste and maximises the reuse of finite resources by turning yesterday’s waste into tomorrow’s resource.

Google staff also explained the use of LeanPath, a programme that uses technology to generate data on food waste. In their micro-kitchens, mechanised scales measure food waste from meal preparations, with the interface displaying the weight of food wasted and the total cost incurred after each meal service. The programme also measures how much food was prepared in comparison with the amount that was consumed, which helps inform production levels. In this manner, Google tracks food consumption and expenditure patterns, helping them cater food according to estimated demand.

For Prashant Rai, a first-year student from the Faculty of Science, Google’s tracking of food waste and use of data to improve kitchen operations was inspiring. “It shows how small, consistent practices can build over time into something impactful. It also made me realise that if something is made easy to follow and built into your daily routine, it becomes second nature.”

Following this visit, Prashant is keen to play a part in advancing sustainability practices. One way he hopes to do so is through his start-up, WATTR, which promotes more mindful shower habits. Equipped with ultrasonic sensors that track the amount of water being used in real time, its device can be clipped onto water pipes, enabling users to adjust their water consumption on the spot.

“This visit showed me that sustainability is becoming a serious priority across all types of companies, even technology giants like Google, which takes bold steps to lower its environmental impact. This was encouraging to see as it reminded me that there is a real space and demand for sustainability-driven solutions. It also gave me confidence that if our product can help people save water while also lowering operational costs, there’s going to be a strong market for it,” he shared.

Another event that took place in early April was the upcycling workshop for textile waste. This event was one of NUS Office of Student Affairs (OSA)’s community engagement programmes, organised to support students in applying their skills and knowledge to enhance the well-being of the community and the environment.

In line with this aim, the workshop highlighted NUS’ broader zero-waste objective by repurposing single-use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) banners from major university events that would otherwise be discarded, giving them a new lease of life. OSA had also canvassed for these banners ahead of time.

During the three-hour-long workshop, over 20 participants were introduced to the basics of machine sewing and learned how to operate a sewing machine. Later, they put their newfound skills to practical use by crafting tote bags and pouches from the templates provided. In addition to the PVC banners, participants were provided with many second-hand textiles such as cut-up polo-tees, denim jeans, beads, and other fabrics. The hands-on nature of the workshop underscored the importance of individual ownership and environmental protection, emphasising the role everyone has to play in conserving the environment.

Caylee Chua, a final-year Master of Science student from the College of Design and Engineering, said of the workshop, “It was really fun and a great hands-on introduction to using a sewing machine. The variety of fabric scraps helped us see the potential creativity in upcycling – style isn't always about the newest trend, it's about recombining items you already have in new and exciting ways.”

• Lianhe Zaobao, 28 April 2025, Singapore, p8

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

• Suria News Online, 21 April 2025

By Assoc Prof Gu Qingyang, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS

• Lianhe Zaobao, 21 April 2025, Opinion, p20

By Dr Qi Dongshou, Senior Researcher, from the East Asian Institute at NUS and Professor Li Xiaodong from the Institute of International Relations at Yunnan University

• Lianhe Zaobao, 21 April 2025, Opinion, p20

• zbSunday, 20 April 2025, News, p8

• The New Paper, 19 April 2025
• The Sunday Times, 20 April 2025, Singapore, pA16

• Tamil Murasu,19 April 2025, p3
• The Sunday Times, 20 April 2025, Singapore, pA16
• Berita Harian, 3 May 2025, p10

By Dr Georgios Georgiou, Senior Lecturer in the Dept of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS

• The Business Times, 19 April 2025, p21

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

• Lianhe Zaobao, 15 April 2025, Fukan, p2

By Dr Chew Han Ei, Senior Research Fellow from the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS, and Assoc Prof Carol Soon, from the Dept of Communications and New Media, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS 

• CNA Online, 15 April 2025

At Tembusu College, students are not just learning about society—they are learning with it. Through carefully designed, socially responsive learning experiences, the College’s Communities and Engagement (C&E) Senior Seminars invite students to step beyond their disciplinary boundaries and confront real-world complexity head-on.

Engaging directly with community partners, students co-create knowledge and build mutual understanding with individuals such as elderly residents, migrant workers and public health officers. For these students, such conversations become the curriculum—they are not only taught to think critically, but also to act meaningfully.

Each Academic Year, over 220 students from diverse academic backgrounds participate in small, interdisciplinary seminars that extend beyond classroom walls. Rather than relying solely on textbooks, they immerse themselves in complex social environments, engaging in participatory research and reflection to cultivate both intellectual rigour and emotional intelligence.

“As part of our diverse, humanistic, interdisciplinary, inquiry-oriented programmes that broadens students’ perspectives, we connect theory with practice, and transform ideas into impact,” explained Dr Connor Graham, Director of Studies at Tembusu College. “People-centred learning allows students to develop an awareness of others and their worldviews, reflexivity and adaptability in addition to the more academic outcomes of thinking critically and questioning with relevance”.

Building empathy through action

Tembusu College’s people-centred pedagogical model fosters openness across disciplines—from sociology and biomedical science to engineering and the arts—while uniting students under a shared ethos: Helping People and Species in Need, Engaging the World, Developing Creativity, and Promoting Interdisciplinarity.

In small-class settings and interdisciplinary teams, students apply methods such as ethnographic field notes, interviews, and participatory observation to tackle pressing social issues. These are not short-term projects. Many are rooted in longstanding partnerships with community organisations, allowing successive cohorts to build on previous work and deepen engagement over time.

One such course, Health and the Community in Singapore, is part of an ongoing partnership with the Health Promotion Board. It aims to bridge the STEM–non-STEM divide and understand gaps in public health literacy.

In April 2024, students conducted research into the health needs of youths using community-based participatory methods. One group designed a low-sodium dietary intervention tailored for NUS undergraduates, featuring a visually intuitive labelling system to nudge the making of healthier food choices. Their project received a grant from NUS Health & Wellbeing and is under plans for a collaborative pilot study with Associate Professor Alberto Salvo from the NUS Department of Economics.

In another course, Technologies and Ageing in Singapore, students explored the ageing process and the lived experiences of elderly citizens through interviews, fieldwork, and person-centred therapy frameworks. Between February and April 2024, one group developed an assistive tool to facilitate end-of-life planning conversations with seniors, which was piloted at the Evergreen Circle Active Ageing Centre and later adapted for use at St Luke’s Eldercare (Ayer Rajah).

Another group created Dig Deeper, a reflective card game designed to prompt family conversations about end-of-life matters. One parent who participated in the exercise said, “As a family, we’ve never really talked about end-of-life topics. We’re not that old yet, but this game really made us reflect on our beliefs and values, and the legacy we want to leave behind.” The student participant added, “It’s funny how I haven’t felt this close to my parents in such a long time. Sometimes we’re so busy doing our own things that we forget how important it is to connect.”

Understanding happiness through dialogue

The Happiness by Design course also exemplifies Tembusu College’s people-centred approach. Partnering with social enterprises such as Happiness Initiative Singapore, students explore the multifaceted nature of well-being and life satisfaction through interviews, focus groups, and thematic analysis.