NURTURING
ENGINEER-LEADERS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Faculty of Engineering
ANNUAL REPORT
2011
CONTENTS
A word from the Dean
02
Faculty Board
04
Education
08
Research & Enterprise
24
Our People
40
Facts & Figures
60
NURTURING
ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE
CLASSROOM
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
02 A WORD FROM
THE DEAN
YEAR 2011 has indeed been exciting –
one of crossing new thresholds in our
mission to nurture Engineer-Leaders.
A significant milestone has been the
establishment of the Institute for
Engineering Leadership (IEL), which will
develop intellectual depth and enhance
the engineering leadership potential
of individuals and enterprises through
research, education and innovation
programmes. This Institute holds great
promise, with stimulating programmes
and strategic partnerships worldwide
in the pipeline.
More and more, engineers are required to manage complexity
and unpredictability in an increasingly changing global
environment. We need professionals with the right skills,
mindsets and expertise to overcome such obstacles, turning
adversities into advantages. Engineers are also needed to
pioneer new technologies and innovations that will put us
on the path towards sustainability. In collaboration with
A*STAR, we have launched two new research programmes to
nurture skilled professionals in the area of green electronics.
These programmes will prepare NUS graduates for even more
specialised and higher level jobs in industry, and will take new
technologies to greater heights to tackle worldwide challenges
of energy supply and sustainable development.
As we take stock of new beginnings and the fruits of our labour,
I am glad to note that our Division of Bioengineering has become
a full-fledged department. Celebrating its 10th anniversary,
it now has an academic staff of 28 members and almost 100
students per cohort. It has grown from strength to strength,
since beginning as an initiative with 40 students. Within a short
span of a decade, it has garnered a sizeable amount in terms
of research grants – over $54 million. This is an indication of
the standard of research conducted in Bioengineering. In the
last three years, the Department has been ranked among the
top 10 with respect to citations. It has two award-winning
spin-off companies which have received considerable worldwide
attention – AyoxxA and Clearbridge NanoMedics. Both are
further developing their inventions – biochips with medical
and healthcare applications sparked off by innovative ideas
from multiple disciplines. The two companies are now working
hard to roll out their products to the global market.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
A WORD FROM 03
THE DEAN
It is indeed a time to celebrate staff achievements and
thought leadership at the Faculty. Faculty Research Awards
were launched in 2011 to encourage research leadership
among staff and to recognise their achievements and
contributions. My heartiest congratulations to Professor
Neal Chung, who was conferred the Engineering Research
Leadership Award, Professors Lim Chwee Teck and Zeng
Hua Chun, who received the Faculty Research Award,
and Assistant Professor Yan Shuicheng, the Young Faculty
Research Award. Two winners of the Faculty Research
Awards were also given the nation’s highest accolade for
achievements in Science and Technology. Professor Lim
Chwee Teck received the President’s Technology Award while
Dr Yan Shuicheng received the Young Scientist Award. The
2008 Young Scientist Award recipient, Associate Professor Liu
Bin, was honoured again this year for her work on polymer
biosensors and solar cells, as a recipient of the L’Oreal
Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowship.
The year also saw the establishment of the Engineering
Lecture Series, with a line-up of public lectures on impactful
engineering developments that affect the way we live.
The inaugural lecture was delivered by Professor Lian Yong,
Provost’s Chair Professor with the Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering, to a packed auditorium comprising
members of the public, industry, schools, and academia.
Professor Lian’s topic on bioelectronics revolutionising
the future of healthcare stimulated much discussion and
questions from the audience.
Professor Lian Yong and Dr Lee Poh Seng were bestowed
the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award from the
Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr
Yaacob Ibrahim, at the National Engineers Day celebrations
in November. Our list of achievers is impressive, and includes
Professor Zeng Hua Chun who has been named one of the
top 100 chemists. Released in 2011 by Thomson Reuters, the
listing identifies the world’s top 100 chemists over the past
10 years ranked by the impact of their published research.
On the student front, Year 2011 has also been nothing
short of remarkable. They have proven again that
engineers are good all-rounders, finding time from their
full schedules to excel in other areas they are passionate
about. We have Cherie Tan, a national bowler with the
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, as well as
Zhang Jin, a Civil & Environmental Engineering student,
bringing home medals from the 26th SEA Games.
Cherie won three gold and two silvers, while Zhang Jin,
NUS Sportsman of the Year 2010, clinched a gold medal
in the air rifle event – a remarkable feat, considering
that he only managed to have time for just one practice
when he was at the Games before rushing back for his
examinations after winning the medal.
I am also heartened to know that our students continue
to test their skills, knowledge and mettle in other
competitions. The NUS Engineering team, for the first time
in the history of APEC- IDEERS (Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation - Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake
Engineering in Schools) organised annually in Taiwan, came
first in all three categories. They were also the only team
to be ranked within the top four for four consecutive years.
The team was able to do well even though the competition
went up a few notches in posing tougher challenges for
participants, requiring them to handle real life conditions
and constraints.
Our teams also took part in a national contest organised by
the Ministry of Home Affairs. Called NAB (Novel Automotive
Barrier) Challenge, the contest saw one of our teams
comprising members from various Engineering disciplines as
well as the School of Design and Environment, taking the
first prize with their innovative design of a barrier to arrest
a vehicle travelling at 60kmh and prevent it from crashing
into buildings and facilities.
The community is never far from the minds of engineers.
One initiative by our students is a charity event for the
hearing-impaired. They organised Singapore’s first ever
photography workshop for such people – resulting in a
competition and exhibition of their works, as well as the
sale of bookmarks featuring the winning entries.
I am glad that these students have their hearts in the
right place, and that our heart-ware increases in strength
alongside technology and innovations emerging from
the Faculty of Engineering. I believe that what drive
engineering to new frontiers are our heart and soul,
and a strong passion to come up with solutions for the
betterment of society.
Professor Chan Eng Soon
DEAN
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
04 FACULTY BOARD
PROF CHAN
ENG SOON
Dean
ASSOC PROF ANG
KOK KENG
Vice Dean
Student Life
PROF LIM
SEH CHUN
OUR
VICE DEANS
AND
ASSOCIATE
DEAN
Deputy Dean
DR YAP CHEE
Associate Dean
MENG
OUR
HEADS OF
DEPARTMENTS,
DIVISIONS AND
PROGRAMMES
ASSOC PROF ASHRAF
Vice Dean
Undergraduate Studies
KASSIM
PROF CHEONG HIN FATT
Head, Department of Civil
& Environmental Engineering
FROM JULY 2011
PROF JAMES GOH
Head, Department
of Bioengineering
PROF HANG CHANG CHIEH
Head, Division of Engineering
& Technology Management
PROF LEE JIM YANG
Head, Department of Chemical
& Biomolecular Engineering
PROF POO AUN NEOW
Director, Bachelor of
Technology Programme
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
FACULTY BOARD 05
PROF QUEK
SER TONG
Vice Dean
Graduate Studies
Chairman
Global Engineering Programme
PROF CHEW YONG TIAN
Head, Department of
Mechanical Engineering
TILL SEPT 2011
PROF TANG LOON CHING
Head, Department of
Industrial & Systems Engineering
PROF VICTOR SHIM
Vice Dean
External Relations
PROF TAY TONG
EARN
Vice Dean
TILL SEPT 2011
FROM OCT 2011
Research
PROF TAY TONG EARN
Head, Department of
Mechanical Engineering
ASSOC PROF TEO
Vice Dean
PROF CHOW GAN MOONG
Head, Department of
Materials Science & Engineering
KIE LEONG
Research
PROF CHUA KEE CHAING
Head, Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering
FROM OCT 2011
PROF WANG CHIEN
Director, Engineering
Science Programme
MING
PROF WONG YOKE SAN
Director, Engineering Design
& Innovation Centre
TILL JULY 2011
PROF THAM MING PO
Director, Engineering Design
& Innovation Centre
FROM JULY 2011
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
06
Vision
A LEADING ENGINEERING
SCHOOL THAT INNOVATES
FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
Mission
TO NURTURE ENGINEER-LEADERS
AND TO ADDRESS GLOBAL
CHALLENGES THROUGH
RESEARCH, INNOVATION,
INSPIRATION, AND INFLUENCE.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
07
EDUCATION
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
08 EDUCATION
NUS ENGINEERING IN GLOBAL TOP 10
NUS FACULTY of Engineering is 7th best in the world for Civil Engineering. The
Faculty was also rated 10th best in the world separately in Chemical, Electrical
and Mechanical Engineering. The rankings were revealed in the first instalment
of a four-part release of the London-based Quacquarrelli Symonds (QS), based
on employer and academic reputation, as well as research quality. The QS
methodology had been tailored to each subject, in consultation with the QS
Global Academic Advisory Board.
Said NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, Professor Tan Eng Chye:
“We are pleased that
NUS has once again
been ranked among
the best universities in
Asia and the world. The
results reflect a strong
recognition from global
employers and the
academia of the worldclass quality of NUS’
education and research.”
The Faculty of Engineering receives
high QS ranking. Picture shows
Class of 2011 ready to step into the
world with heads held high.
The Faculty of Engineering will continue to build on its strengths to nurture
leaders with a global perspective while pioneering high-impact research in areas
of strategic importance to Singapore and beyond, Professor Tan added.
Towards this direction, the Institute for Engineering Leadership (IEL), launched in
August with Professor Hang Chang Chieh at its helm, will enhance engineering
leadership potential of individuals and enterprises through appropriate research,
education and innovation programmes.
NUS BIOENGINEERING MARKS
10 YEARS OF SUCCESS
JUST 10 years ago, it was a division with about 40 students (per cohort). Today,
as a full-fledged department of about 100 students (per cohort), the NUS
Department of Bioengineering is set to push frontiers further. With impactful
research breakthroughs which are among the first in the world, the department
is ranked among the top 10 in citations. Speaking at the department’s 10th
anniversary celebrations (29 Oct), Head of Department, Professor James Goh said
they have started as an initiative in 2000 to support Singapore’s vision to become
a biomedical hub. The Division of Bioengineering was set up in 2001, with an
inaugural intake of about 40 students. The first cohort graduated in 2007.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
EDUCATION 09
Groundbreaking researches are being taken to commercial level. For example,
the microscopy technology developed by the Department has led to a worldwide
exclusive license agreement with Carl Zeiss. Associate Professor Chen Nanguang
has developed a novel focal modulation microscopy (FMM) which enables
deeper imaging depth of up to 600 microns – three times deeper than what the
conventional confocal microscope can do.
Bioengineering spinoffs such as AyoxxA, Clearbridge NanoMedics and Clearbridge
BioMedics have also been making waves. AyoxxA’s biochip, developed by
Assistant Professor Dieter Trau can detect hundreds of diseases with just a
pinprick of blood. The development has been hailed by Singapore’s Deputy Prime
Minister Teo Chee Hean as a good example of academic entrepreneurship
in Singapore.
Clearbridge BioMedic’s co-founder, Professor Lim Chwee Teck, has developed
a world’s first, a biochip which can detect, isolate and retrieve live circulating
tumour cells without the use of biomarkers. And Clearbridge NanoMedics which
was also co-founded by Professor Lim, is developing nanofibres which help wound
healing besides applications in cosmetics.
The Department’s celebrations included a public lecture “Perspectives of
Biomedical Engineering” by Professor Shu Chien, Director of the Bioengineering
Institute at the University of California, San Diego. He flew in to Singapore shortly
after receiving the National Medal of Science from the US President in recognition
of his contributions in the field of cardiovascular physiology and bioengineering.
Besides an open house showcasing its research and facilities, the Department
also held a dinner graced by the Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost
Professor Tan Eng Chye. A book showcasing the department’s 10 years of
achievements, was also launched.
One of the pioneer graduates from the Department of Bioengineering featured
in the commemorative video produced by the Department in celebration of its
10th anniversary.
Prof Shu Chien delivered a public
lecture in celebration of the
Department’s 10th Anniversary.
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
10 EDUCATION
COLLABORATING WITH INDUSTRY…
AND THE WORLD AT LARGE
THIS year, more than 20 companies participated in the Department of Mechanical
Engineering’s annual Together In Design: Industry and ME. Many are already
familiar names with the Faculty – names such as DSO National Laboratories,
GEC, Keppel, Philips, PSA, Rotary Club, Singapore Technologies, Siemens and
Sembcorp Marine. These companies and organisations shared their requirements
and expertise with the students who then went about to design solutions and
prototypes which are often developed into real life applications.
Projects included a crane customised for lifting utilities onto vessels. It has many
advantages over current cranes. Said leader of the team, Alan Kwek:
“Our design was inspired by the conveyor belt as well
as the pulley system for transporting goods. Unlike
common cranes, there is no boom swing. With the use
of our design, we can cut down manpower as well as
loading time drastically. Usually, six to seven workers
are required to see to the loading of vessels, with each
loading taking up to four hours. With our design, only
two workers would be required and the job can be
completed in 30 minutes.”
Mechanical Engineering team looking at their crane designed with no boom swing.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
EDUCATION 11
Working adults need not ‘miss the boat’
Since its introduction in 1995, the Bachelor of Technology Programme has
produced more than 2,000 B Eng holders, contributing significantly to the
workforce. Specially tailored for working adults, the Programme saw a historical
high enrolment this year.
Working adults need no longer “miss
the boat” – there being two intakes
since 2007 to enable interested
applicants to join the Programme.
At the annual appreciation lunch, the
Director for the Programme, Professor
Poo Aun Neow, expressed his deep
appreciation for everyone who have
volunteered their service in one way
or another for the Programme. Faculty
who have volunteered, have been
giving the best of their effort and
time – and reaping great rewards
in the form of the graduates’ stellar
performance. Employers have given
excellent feedback from employers.
The standard of graduates of BTech
Programme is on par with those who
have achieved their B Eng full time.
Mr Deveraj Jayachandran, BTech
graduate in Chemical Engineering,
is now pursuing his postgraduate
studies with Purdue University
through their prestigious Lynn
Fellowship. In fact, after graduating
from the Programme, he has been
offered scholarships by Georgia Tech
and Pittsburgh as well.
One of BTech’s top Mechanical Engineering graduates also recalled rushing to
NUS after work on his motorcycle, four times a week. But it was well worth the
effort. Mr Sukarmin Salamun said he never had very good grades when he was in
the Poly. But when he was accepted into the BTech Programme, he discovered the
value of persistence and hard work.
A BTech class in action.
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
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12 EDUCATION
More PhDs to power green electronics
In collaboration with A*STAR, the Department of Electrical & Computer
Engineering has launched two new research programmes to nurture skilled
professionals in the area of green electronics. The programmes which started
in August, will lead to a PhD degree for successful candidates. A*STAR’s Data
Storage Institute and Institute of Microelectronics will work with the Department
to train and equip candidates with the skills and knowledge to enhance green
data centre technologies and develop next-generation power devices for greater
automotive and energy harvesting.
Said Head of the Department, Professor Chua Kee Chaing:
Department of Electrical & Computer
Engineering signs MOU with
A*STAR institutes on PhD research
programme in green electronics.
“With a focus on Green Electronics, the new research
programmes will help prepare NUS graduates for even
higher skilled jobs in the industry, and pioneer new
technologies and
innovations that
will propel the
electronics industry
into a new era of
growth. These
initiatives are timely,
in response to an
urgent need to tackle
the global challenges
of energy supply
and sustainable
development. NUS
and A*STAR have
multidisciplinary and
broad capabilities
in areas relevant to green electronics. We will leverage
on our unique strengths to nurture outstanding PhD
graduates who could lead a technology revolution in
the electronics industry.”
In conjunction with the launch of the research programmes, the Department also
held an inaugural Graduate Student Symposium showcasing students’ research on
Control, Intelligent Systems & Robotics; Microelectronic Technologies and Devices,
Integrated Circuits and Embedded Systems, Signal Processing and New Media;
and Communications and Network. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Lim
Khiang Wee, Executive Director, A*STAR Graduate Academy.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
EDUCATION 13
Collaborating with Aberdeen in offshore engineering
With offshore engineering being a
significant industry in Singapore and
the region, the Faculty has signed an
agreement to further collaborative
opportunities in research and
education with the University of
Aberdeen. It also includes a student
exchange programme between the
two universities.
NUS Engineering Dean, Professor
Chan Eng Soon and Associate
Professor Loh Wai Lam, Department
of Mechanical Engineering, inked the
MOU with Professor Ian Diamond,
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Aberdeen. Singapore
is a natural hub for activity serving
the oil and gas sector, said Professor
Diamond. “Achieving the benefits of collaborative activity in this geographical
location is a key objective for the University of Aberdeen and meets our
commitment to enhancing teaching and research through the development of
both industry and academic partnerships,” he added.
Engineering Dean Prof Chan Eng
Soon (centre) with Assoc Prof Loh
Wai Nam (2nd from left) in Aberdeen.
NUS ENGINEERING LECTURE
SERIES KICKS OFF
ELECTRONICS has influenced our lives in a big way. At the public lecture
by Professor Lian Yong, “Google, iPhone…What’s Next” (22 Sept), the
audience which packed the Engineering Auditorium, heard how electronics
can elevate quality of life – and not just through nifty electronic gadgets
like the mobile phones and laptops.
Electronics has been making impact on our lives even during the days
when our small screen was in black and white. Way back in the 1960s,
Dr Jose Delgado has experimented on an electronic implant in the brain
which years later resulted in an implant which can help to stop involuntary
movements for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Electronics has come a long way in medicine. Professor Lian has
established a spinoff company, Clearbridge VitalSigns to commercialise
and market their invention, the ECG chip which can be won as a thin,
self-adhesive plaster. The chip needs very little power to function – up to
20 times less power than current ECG monitoring devices on the market.
Prof Lian Yong presenting the inaugural
NUS Engineering lecture.
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
14 EDUCATION
One recent invention by NUS Engineering is a 450-nanoWatt fully integrated
ECG-on-Chip (electrocardiogram in an integrated circuit chip) solution that can
be totally powered by the body’s own heat through a thermal converter. The
ECG-on-Chip captures the ECG signal and converts it into digital format for
transmission. Such a chip allows for continuous monitoring of heart conditions
without the need of batteries.
The NUS Engineering Lecture series celebrates the Faculty’s achievements and
thought leadership. Delivered by eminent professors in the Faculty, the Series
highlights impactful engineering developments which affect the way we live.
Audience for the series includes those from industry, statutory boards; the
engineering professionals and the academic community.
GREATER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
A COMPULSORY new module (EE1003) in laser communication at the Department
of Electrical & Computer Engineering has broadened the world of experiential
learning for some 180 first-year students. Under the guidance of three lecturers,
Professor Kam Pooi Yuen, Associate Professor Marc Andre Armand and Dr Zhang
Jianwen, the students worked in groups on a system to convert voice signals to
digital signals and to transmit these signals using laser links.
A common everyday laser pointer
has proven to be a solution to one
of the biggest challenges. Said
Dr Zhang, “Laser pointers and
photodiodes are used as modulators
and detectors for this project. Laser
communications are power efficient,
and there’s also no need for messy
wirings and cablings.”
Getting a taste of working with laser.
Associate Professor Loh Ai Poh,
Deputy Head for Undergraduate
Programmes at the Department
said the new module would help
motivate students to learn in a
deeper way when they eventually
embark on the core curriculum. In
the process of conceptualising, designing and completion of their projects, the
students would have done a lot of problem solving. Such experience will stand
them in good stead when they progress to theories.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
EDUCATION 15
NUS FORMULA SAE TEAM IS
BEST ASIAN TEAM AGAIN
THE NUS Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) team beat strong
competition from 121 international teams at Formula SAE® Michigan to clinch the
2011 FSAE Chief Design Judge Award, the top prize in the area of Engineering
Design Drawing. The team also emerged as the best Asian team and was
placed among the top 20 percentile worldwide. In addition, it was ranked 23rd
worldwide – a vast improvement from 2010’s 58th position. The team also holds
a place of honour among the Competition’s league of Formula SAE Recognition
of Accomplishment for teams which have successfully scored in every single event
over the four grueling days of competition which was held from 11 to 14 May.
Referring to the team’s class act in clinching the FSAE Chief Design Award,
Faculty Advisor for FSAE, Professor Seah Kar Heng from the NUS Department of
Mechanical Engineering said:
“I am extremely
proud of the NUS
FSAE team. We
clinched top prize
for Engineering
Design Drawing this
year because the
boys learnt quickly
from their mistakes.
Last year we were
ranked almost last
in this category and
our drawings were
pinned up in the Hall
of Shame to show
the public what
should not be done.
This year, our drawings were pinned up in the Hall of
Fame to show people what should be done.”
The NUS FSAE team also put up a stellar performance in the Presentation
category, where they came in 2nd, up from 9th position in 2010. The team
garnered 10th position in the Fuel Economy Event, overcoming strong competition
from German teams who boast of remarkable technology and innovation.
NUS FSAE car in Michigan, taking
the 23rd position worldwide with
Nicholas Sim in the driver’s seat.
The FSAE team with Faculty advisor,
Professor Seah Kar Heng.
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
16 EDUCATION
NUS ECO-CAR 2011 TAKES DESIGN AND
HYDROGEN AWARDS
THE dust has settled. The victors have emerged. NUS Eco-car Team has garnered
the E-Mobility Hydrogen Award (for Urban Concept) as well as the Design Award
at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2011. It was vacation with a difference for the
team which spent four days challenging other students from Asia at the Sepang
track. This was one race which contestants do not compete for speed but for
fuel efficiency.
The 2011 NUS Eco car team with
NUS Deputy President (Academic
Affairs) and Provost, Prof Tan
Eng Chye (centre) and other
members of the Faculty.
The 2011 NUS Eco car took about a year to build .Given a bold new look, partly
inspired by the Singapore national flower, Vanda Miss Joachim, the car also had a
weight reduction in the fuel cell and the chassis department. Improved bearings
further made the vehicle formidably competitive in the marathon.
Boyle Suwono, as technical director,
tested many configurations before
the race to obtain fuel optimisation.
Tham Chee Hou, vehicle control
specialist, and Kwok Yeow Sheng,
fuel cell specialist, worked hard with
the rest of the team to make sure
the car was in tip-top condition.
They have designed their system
to be modular, allowing partial
removal of a section without causing
interference to the rest.
Jiang Shangfeng, an Electrical &
Computer Engineering student (the
rest of the team are Mechanical
Engineering students) took care of all
electrical matters while Kenneth Neo
Kang Wei as race director, took care
of the logistics.
Said Ong Shiyi, the team’s publicist and the 2nd female to have joined them so far:
“I attribute our success to our unique training
programme where senior members mentor the new
members. This way, we don’t repeat the same mistakes
they have made. And many thanks to Associate
Professor Lu Wen Feng, our supervisor and advisor who
always remind us that it is important to have a theme
at the start of the project.”
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
EDUCATION 17
GEP ON TRACK
BRIGHT eyed and bushy tailed, 22 students entered the Global Engineering
Programme (GEP) fraternity in July. Seniors from the pioneer batch (graduating
in 2012) as well as those from the second cohort organised games and activities
for the GEP freshmen. One fun activity which tested their engineering spirit was
building scaffolds to support an egg, using only spaghetti and marshmallows.
Orientation for freshmen through fun activities with an engineering and
scientific theme has been a norm (and on its way to being a tradition) since the
Programme started with a pioneer cohort of 17 in 2009. The Programme is an
accelerated track for students to work towards a B Eng degree in just three years,
including at least one semester overseas. In their fourth year, they will pursue a
Master’s degree or PhD in a top overseas partner university. Besides one-to-one
mentorship, GEP also provides early research exposure.
This year saw returnees from overseas universities such as Cambridge, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), University of Wisconsin and Korean
Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Among these are Koh Yan
Tian and Chee Enqing who have spent a year reading Mechanical Engineering
in Cambridge. The exchange
programme with Cambridge
was launched in 2010 with
sponsorship from Shell
Singapore. The NUS Faculty of
Engineering was the first Asian
university to have established
such an exchange programme
with Cambridge.
Final-year students had some
exciting times. For example,
Low Kee Guan, final-year
student reading Chemical
Engineering and his counterpart
Chan Wei Nian went on an
internship programme with
Shell. Lee Haoran (also reading
Chemical Engineering) did a
stint of research in UIUC after his student exchange programme there.
Ong Gim Hoe (Chemical Engineering) went on an internship through the
NUS Career Centre Global Internship & Mentoring (GIM) Programme while
Sun Xiaqin (Electrical & Computer Engineering) interned at Singapore
Technologies Engineering. Carmen Lim (Chemical Engineering) was also
attached to the National University Hospital for a month.
Orientating GEP freshmen in a fun
way: Class of 2011 building scaffolds
with spaghettis and marshmallows to
support an egg.
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
18 EDUCATION
THE DCC JOURNEY OF LEARNING
AND DISCOVERY
LOTS of ideas are hatching in the studios – from solutions for the terminally-ill
to coming out with a reward system for recycling wastes including a device to
extract metal alloys and plastics.
Currently on paper, these ideas will be taken to fruition by their originators –
1st- and 2nd-year Design-Centric Curriculum (DCC) students who will be
working with experts from across disciplines during their undergraduate years.
Commercially promising projects will be earmarked for further development
with industry partners.
DCC students sharing a moment of
laughter while trying out an idea
during their prototyping session.
Said Professor Tham Ming Po, Director, Engineering Design and Innovation Centre
(EDIC) which delivers the DCC:
“DCC students work on
self-defined research
projects for periods
ranging from three
to three and a half
years. These projects
are related to real-life
problems faced by
people in Singapore
and many parts of the
world. They are complex
problems requiring
students to adopt
an interdisciplinary perspective in order to identify
potential solutions. More importantly, DCC students
learn how to deal simultaneously with a myriad of
challenges and to manage uncertainties.”
Said DCC lecturer, Dr Andi Sudjana Putra: “Students working in the healthcare
project for the terminally-ill, for example, are expected to come out with an
all-rounded system promoting the patient’s wellness. It would need to take into
consideration all the factors and conditions affecting the patient, for example,
the kind of treatment and care the patient needs, the kind of work the patient is
able to do to help improve their well-being. The range of ideas will be fine-tuned
and translated into holistic solutions for the elderly, especially in Singapore
where the ageing population is a real concern.”
DCC students, M Avinash and Shanmuga Prasad agreed that they have
gained knowledge and learned through DCC how to formulate thoughts into
concrete ideas.
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A series of talks to enrich their learning experience have also been launched.
The inaugural talk, “Learning from Nature – an Engineer’s Perspective” was
delivered by Deputy Dean, Professor Lim Seh Chun at the Prince Georges’ Park
Residences in October.
ESP UNDERGRADUATES PUBLISH
JOURNAL AND CONFERENCE PAPERS
SEEING their research findings published is becoming something of a trend for
Engineering Science students even in their undergraduate years – something which
their seniors are more familiar with.
Professor Wang Chien Ming, Director of Engineering Science Programme, explains
that this is because ESP students are involved in breaking research. “They may even
publish as lead authors when they are only in their second or third year,” he said.
For example, papers by Nguyen Vu Phuong Nam and Ningyi Kuo have been
accepted for publication by Journal of Materials Chemistry and Soft Matter when
Phuong Nam was only in his 3rd-year and Ningyi in his 2nd year. Working with
Dr Loh Xian Jun in his lab at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering
as part of their ESP course requirement, their findings have suggested that
thermo-gelling polymers could potentially be used as an injectable gel depot for
the release of bioactive cytokines for tissue repair and other related applications.
Others who have done promising research and published their findings include
Liu Nannan, lead author of “Nickel Injection Mould Fabrication via Proton Beam
Writing and UV Lithography” published in Key Engineering Materials. This was
based on a research project which Nannan worked on under the supervision of
Dr Jeroen A van Kan, NUS Department of Physics. Nannan has since graduated, and
a research assistant with the Faculty. He has also co-authored another which has
been accepted for publication by Nuclear Instruments and Methods A.
Another paper by Teoh Hao Fatt has demonstrated for the first time, the close
correlation between the mechanical force and work functions of carbon nanotube.
His supervisors, Dr Zhang Chun, Department of Physics and Dr Ho Ghim Wei,
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, said the findings will have
implications on the customization of carbon nanotube for various nano-electronics
applications. Hao Fatt is now pursuing his postgraduate studies at the NUS
Graduate School of Integrative Sciences and Engineering.
Extra Sensory Perception
Engineering Science students in their third year had a taste of presenting
their research projects as well as defending them – just like their final-year
counterparts. The 12 groups of students presented posters as well as prototypes
of their innovations to a panel of examiners – including a 10-minute “elevator
pitch” on how they are going to take their projects further. They had one semester
of preparing their papers and presentations.
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The theme being “creating sensors”,
there were all sorts of sensing
systems put together at low cost
but with great potential for being
further developed for a wide range
of applications. One group showed
off their “Electronic Goniometer for
Finger Rehabilitation” – to measure
the range of movement of fingers
affected by injuries or medical
conditions such as arthritis. The young
researchers in the team explained
that this could be modified to easily
differentiate joints with a healthy
range of motion from those with
more limited range of motion.
ESP students presenting their
research project, an Electronic
Goniometer which measures the
range of movement of fingers.
The sensory device which is worn
like a glove is able to track the
entire hand and hence able to help
clinicians know exactly how much the
patient’s hand is affected by medical
conditions such as arthritis or injury.
Currently, it is more common to
have systems which test each finger
separately. The team members are
Khor Shu Heng (2nd from left), Aqdas
Nida (2nd from right) and Deepan
Bala (wearing the glove).
Another group came out with a “Diode Thermal Sensor”, a portable thermal
sensing system for body temperature monitoring. The team explained that the
system is different from a thermometer as it can be strapped round different parts
of the body to measure isolated areas – while a thermometer can only show
the temperature of the entire body – this would be useful for example, when
clinicians need to map the temperature of different areas in the body to find out
the causes for sleep disorder.
ENGAGING THE SCHOOLS
AND COMMUNITY
AN OUTREACH effort by the
NUS Department of Electrical &
Computer Engineering has resulted
in practical innovations for the
elderly. It has also proven to be
meaningful as well as a lot of fun
for upper secondary and JC students
who took part in the project.
Participants from River Valley High
School (in red jackets) with their
NUS mentors and Mayor Dr Amy Khor
and other participants.
Jointly organised with the
Southwest CDC, Agilent
Technologies and River Valley
High School, the students worked
on simple-to-use devices to help the elderly in their daily lives. A group of
60 students from different schools interviewed the elderly in rental blocks at
Boon Lay to know more about their needs in daily lives and to provide solutions
based on technology and innovation to solve their problems.
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The students presented their efforts at a competition on 15 January. They also
displayed their innovations at the “Safe and Bright Home” – a community event
organised by Southwest CDC which was graced by the mayor, Dr Amy Khor.
“All the gadgets they have invented are in ready-to-use state. The technologies
behind are not new but the students think of ingenious ways to re-design and
package them so that they are low cost, easy and convenient to use,” said
Associate Professor Tan Kok Kiong, NUS Department of Electrical & Computer
Engineering, coordinator of the project and mentor.
Chew Yingying and her group from River Valley High School won the first prize.
One of their innovations was a medication reminder system for the elderly living
on their own. Said Yingying, “Our groups have benefitted from the project in
many intangible ways. We now appreciate the little things that we are fortunate
to have. We have been very motivated. Above all, we now communicate better
with our elders as we are able to empathise more.”
Project coordinator at River Valley High, Mr Xu Weiming said the school is
keen to continue with the programme. “The students thoroughly enjoyed
the experience and found meaning and significance in applying science and
technology to helping the greater community. They have also learnt important
life skills in communicating with people from diverse backgrounds, empathy and
key considerations in designing solutions to help the elderly. The programme has
given them ample opportunities to think critically and practically. On top of that,
the exposure demonstrated the capabilities of electronics solutions. This is indeed
an invaluable experience for students,” said Mr Xu.
They have great fun… and lessons in Engineering
Engineering has proven to be fun for many students. The happy and enthusiastic
faces tell the story of how students from schools and junior colleges enjoyed
themselves while getting some lessons in Engineering and Science.
Engineering Quest 2011: Besides
attending talks on Engineering,
students also go on industry visits to
companies such as ST Kinetics.
Picture: ST Kinetics.
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Women in Engineering 2011:
Girls from JCs and schools having fun
at the annual event organised by the
Faculty’s External Relations Office.
Amazing Race 2011:
Students having fun at a lab
in the Faculty of Engineering.
Teachers’ Workshop 2011:
Teachers also have fun at the
Faculty of Engineering. The
workshop, organised every year
by the Faculty’s External Relations
Office, is customised for teachers
to imbue their students with
passion for Engineering.
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NEW STUDY ON THE MECHANICS
OF CANCER CELLS
RESEARCHERS at NUS Bioengineering are one step nearer to discovering how
we can stop cancer cells from spreading. Cancer-related deaths are mainly
attributed to their spread to distant organs to form secondary tumours. So once
we know how cancer cells move, perhaps ways can be devised to stop them
from their treacherous journey round the body.
Professor Lim Chwee Teck and his team at the
Department of Bioengineering have come out with
an easy-to-use methodology to show clearly the
behaviour and travel pattern of cancer cells. Tracking
the movement of these cells as they zip around
outside a demarcated area, the researchers are able to
tabulate their speed and movement pattern. Based on
these observations, their system is able to distinguish
normal cells from those which spell trouble. With this
system, doctors will be able to tell easily whether
patients are responding well to cancer treatment or
whether the cancer cells are still “aggressive” and
ready to invade other areas.
Prof Lim’s microchip wonder,
a tiny device which using cell
mechanics principles, is able to
detect, isolate and retrieve living
cancer cells from the patient’s
blood without biomarkers.
The innovation is a world’s first.
The team has already published a paper on novel method in a special issue of
Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering Journal in September 2011, describing
how their method can capture cell movements in 2-D. They are now ready to
publish a new paper on the application of their method in 3-D which would
make for even more accurate prediction and analysis.
Their system has been proven to be accurate after two years of study and tests
in their lab. The researchers used a gel mixture of collagen fibres and gel to
imitate the cellular matrix of our body, and then introduce breast cancer cells
into the gel to study and time their movements. The team found that cancerous
cells behave in an erratic manner as compared to normal cells. Benign cells
show an intact cell-cell adhesion, as well as a uniform cluster formation. Normal
cells also migrate for shorter distances, and all the while in close proximity with
neighbouring cells.
Professor Lim said their method is ready for any clinicians to use along with their
treatment of cancer patients. It would be a much easier method to use, compared
to current methods, one of which is the “scratch wound” method where cells are
scratched away to see whether they would move back into the “evacuated” area.
Their new method also complements a recent invention by Professor Lim and his
Bioengineering team – a biochip now marketed and further developed by NUS
spin-off Clearbridge BioMedics (of which Professor Lim is a co-founder). The
medical device is a world’s first in using cell mechanics principles to detect, isolate
and retrieve live circulating cancer cells from blood without the use of biomarkers.
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Awarded S’pore’s highest honour in technology
Professor Lim Chwee Teck was conferred the 2011 President’s Technology
Award (8 Nov) at the Marina Bay Sands by the Singapore President,
Dr Tony Tan, for his discovery of a novel micro biochip capable of
detecting, isolating and retrieving live cancer cells from the blood stream
of patients – without the use of biomakers. This groundbreaking work
which employs cell mechanic principles, is a world’s first. The President’s
Technology Award gives recognition to research scientists and engineers
in Singapore who have made outstanding contributions to research
& development resulting in the invention or discovery of significant
technology with industrial applications.
MICROALGAE TO CLEAN WASTEWATER
AND GENERATE BIOFUEL
THE green scum which you work hard to scrub off the fish tank is really
microalgae and they are just what’s needed to make our wastewater clean
again – and generating almost enough energy to drive the cleaning process.
A team at NUS Engineering’s Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
led by Associate Professor Loh Kai Chee together with Associate Professors Tong
Yen Wah and Lanry Yung (and Dr Rudiyanto Gunawan, a former NUS Assistant
Professor, now with ETH Zurich) researching the symbiotic relationship between
wastewater and algae, have invented a new treatment method.
Explained Associate Professor Loh,
“Conventional wastewater treatment
plants rely on microorganisms to
consume much of the contaminants
in wastewater through a process
that requires oxygen called ‘activated
sludge’ process. This part of the
treatment is the most energy intensive.
In addition, during this process,
microorganisms produce carbon
dioxide as byproducts which are then
released to the environment, adding
to the greenhouse effect. However, we
have designed and developed a system
that will reduce not only the energy
consumption but also captures the
carbon dioxide that is emitted during
the wastewater treatment process.”
The ‘microalgae’ team (from left):
Assoc Prof Loh Kai Chee, Ms Vu-Tran
Khanh Linh (PhD student), and
Assoc Prof Tong Yen Wah.
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How does their system work? The carbon dioxide produced during the activated
sludge process is used by the growing microalgae, with the help of sunlight.
Oxygen produced by the microalgae during its growth is used by the microbes in
the sludge – activating the aeration process where microorganisms “chomp up”
the contaminants in the sludge.
Using a hollow fibre membrane technology, the team grows both activated sludge
microorganisms and microalgae symbiotically. Carbon dioxide produced by the
sludge permeates through the membrane to feed the microalgae – and oxygen
produced by the microalgae crosses over to act on the sludge.
“What’s more, the algal biomass can subsequently be
used to produce biogas such as methane to supplement
energy demand for the wastewater treatment plant,”
said Associate Professor Tong.
This is the first time such a concept has been demonstrated to work successfully.
Algae have been studied for wastewater treatment, but mainly cultivated in the
wastewater itself, with limited efficiency. However, the uniqueness of the NUS
Engineering team’s method lies in its ability to exploit the synergy between algae
and activated sludge. Their method can potentially reduce energy required for the
treatment process by about 80 per cent.
A ‘NANOSCOPE’ TO STUDY VIRUSES
AND DNAs IN REAL TIME
A NOVEL microscope to image viruses, DNAs and biomolecules in real time
is in the offing. The device is dubbed a “nanoscope” as it can image molecules
as small as 50nm.
In a paper published in Nature Communications (March 2011), Associate Professor
Hong Minghui, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, described their
efforts in developing an optical microscope that overcomes the limitation of a
conventional optical microscope. Others in the team are from the Laser Processing
Research Centre, School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Civil Engineering,
University of Manchester; the Corrosion and Protection Centre, School of Materials,
University of Manchester and the Data Storage Institute of Singapore.
The team’s optical “nanoscope” uses ordinary glass micro beads to overcome
white light diffraction limit. The smallest object that can be seen is set by a
physical property known as the diffraction limit. For visible light, resolution is
limited to about 200nm.
The team researched optically transparent microspheres as far-field super lenses
and developed a microscope capable of operating in both transmission and
reflection modes and generating magnified virtual images with a magnification
of up to x8.2.
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Their invention is robust, economical and easy
to accommodate different kind of samples, even
biological objects. Their technique makes use of
“evanescent waves” emitted very near an object. The
beads gather the light and re-focus it, channelling it
into a standard microscope.
“We have demonstrated that
optically transparent microspheres
are high-performance optical super
lens that could resolve 50nm objects
by near-field virtual imaging under a
white-light source illumination,” said
Associate Professor Hong.
“Diffraction limit stems from the loss of evanescent waves in the far-field. To
overcome this, super lenses need to be illuminated with a specific laser source
coupled with other conditions. However they become heated up in the process,
absorbing samples and damaging them. We overcome this by developing super
lenses which are able to operate through white light,” he added.
The ‘nanoscope’ team (from left):
Mr Chen Zaichun, PhD student,
research collaborator, Prof Boris
Lukiyanchuk, Senior Scientist
(Advanced Concepts Group) of Data
Storage Institute and Assoc Prof Hong
Minghui, Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering.
COLLABORATING WITH GAMESA,
GLOBAL LEADER IN WIND ENERGY
Mr Jose Antonio Malumbres,
Chief Technology Officer, Gamesa
(left) and Prof Lim Hock, Director
of the Division of Research
Governance and Establishment,
NUS, after inking the MOU.
THE harvesting of wind energy through wind turbines has become increasingly
important as the world looks towards sustainable and renewable energy sources.
Researchers at the Faculty of Engineering are working with Gamesa, a global
leader in wind energy technology, on the development of lightweight but strong
fiber-reinforced composite materials and structures for wind turbines.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between NUS and Gamesa in April.
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The NUS Engineering team, led by Dr Kevin Kuang, Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering, will work on a project that will result in turbine
blades that are stronger, longer-lasting and smarter – with focus on the structural
health monitoring through use of embedded smart sensors.
Said Professor Tay Tong Earn, who was Vice Dean (Research) then and currently
Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering:
“Wind turbines are often located in remote areas
which are not readily accessible, in mountainous
regions, deserts and offshore, increasing maintenance
and repair costs. It is therefore important that the
composite materials used in the blades are able to
withstand extremely harsh environments without
compromising strength and integrity. Smart sensors
will be able to detect damage and transmit relevant
and timely data remotely to engineers, reducing cost
and increasing reliability.”
The second project will focus on the characterisation and prediction of fatigue
lives of composite turbine blades. It will incorporate the latest in composites
design philosophy and technology to maximise the fatigue lifespan and enhance
the long-term behaviour of advanced composite turbine blades.
‘SINGLE BEAM’ NOT JUST STAR TREK
FICTION
RESEARCHERS at the NUS Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering have
proven that particles, human cells and objects can be moved by light. This means
that the method described in sci-fi “Star Trek” for “beaming” Captain Kirk back to
the spaceship may not be too far-fetched after all.
For years, researchers have been able to move tiny particles over very short
distances by using laser beams. At the 44th anniversary of Star Trek, an Australian
National University team announced that they had built a device that could
counter-push small particles over a short distance using two opposite laser beams.
This implies that Kirk has to have one laser on his space ship – and another laser
machine behind the object under his control.
But the NUS team’s discovery is unique in that its method uses only a single
beam to pull objects. Their findings were published in November by Physical
Review Letters, the world’s foremost physics letters journal reporting significant
fundamental research in physics.
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The team, led by Dr Qiu Cheng-Wei, is
now working with Dr Andrey Novitsky
from the Department of Photonics
Engineering, Technical University of
Denmark and A*STAR’s DSI as well as
the NUS Department of Bioengineering
to physically demonstrate this extremely
interesting phenomenon in selected
applications in biomedicine, for example,
in “sorting” or “stretching” cells.
“We may need to stretch
the molecules of drugs to
enable better absorption
by the body, enabling
them to slip through
clogged or deformed
capillaries for example,”
explained Dr Qiu, adding
that the method could
out-perform optical tweezers which make use of highly
focused laser beams to manipulate nanoparticles.
Dr Qiu Cheng-Wei, Department of
Electrical & Computer Engineering,
plans to set up the world’s first device
to move particles with a single beam.
NOVEL SOLUTIONS WIN BILL &
MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION GRANT
TEAM led by Associate Professor Ng How Yong, Director, Centre for Water
Research at the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, was awarded
a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant of US$100,000. Associate Professor Ng
was among the eight recipients of the grant to “reinvent the toilet” announced
globally at the Foundation’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WSH) strategy at the
AfricaSan Conference in Rwanda (19 July). The team includes Associate Professor
He Jianzhong, Associate Professor Hu Jiangyong, Professor Ng Kim Choon and
Professor Ong Say Leong.
Associate Professor Ng said that low-cost decentralised treatment systems
which are also able to recycle wastes into nutrients for agriculture, are essential
for rural areas of developing countries. “We proposed the development and
implementation of a decentralised modified pneumatic urine and excreta diversion
dehydration toilet system for use by a small community of about five to six
households. The systems will have separate collection and treatment of urine and
faeces with water and resources recovery,” he said.
Assoc Prof Ng How Yong’s solution
for treating wastes wins
Bill & Melinda Gates grant.
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Through the advanced adsorption desalination system proposed by the NUS team,
urine is made highly concentrated so that it can be used as fertilisers, with clean
freshwater as a byproduct. Faeces are transferred by a novel pneumatic system to
a nearby central collection system where they are dried and combusted. The final
ashes can also be reused in agriculture.
The heat generated by combustion is used to provide energy for the advanced
adsorption desalination system to extract freshwater which is subsequently
disinfected by either a solar disinfection system or photovoltaic UV disinfection
system – resulting in clean potable water for household cleaning and
consumption.
“The main novelty of this proposal is its affordability and sustainability. It requires
zero net energy input. The complete prototype will be developed in Singapore. We
hope it can be implemented in developing countries such as India, Bangladesh
and in Africa,” said Associate Professor Ng.
Iris recognition system on cell phones
A research project led by Dr Eldin Lim Wee Chuan at the Department of Chemical
& Biomolecular Engineering has also garnered a US$100,000 grant from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will support Dr Lim’s project, “Cell
Phone-Based Iris Recognition Biometric Technology” as part of the Foundation’s
Grand Challenges Explorations initiative.
The team is developing a solution for biometric recognition which can be applied
using just a common handphone. Said Dr Lim, “With the grant, we are developing
an algorithm which is able to process images of irises that are captured with
typical cell phone cameras using normal light. The algorithm will be able to
convert each iris image into a single mathematical equation that can be stored
very efficiently in a database which can then be retrieved for comparison and
identification purposes. Administrators of immunisation programmes will simply
need to capture images of the iris of individuals to obtain complete identification
information and medical records of individuals.”
Dr Eldin Lim is developing a
biometric solution for iris
identification using handphones.
A major roadblock faced by the developing world in immunisation programmes is
the identification of children or infants – and the maintenance of medical records.
Accurate identification of a child is essential, as well as checking the medical
history of the child. Names and addresses may not be adequate and paper based
recording media such as identification cards may be misplaced or damaged easily.
One of the most ideal parts of the human body for biometric identification is
the iris of the eye. It is protected against damage and wear unlike fingerprints
which can become difficult to recognise after years of manual labour. However,
the majority of iris recognition benchmarks are implemented in Near Infrared
(NIR) imaging in order to avoid light reflections from the cornea in the iris which
make the captured images very noisy. Though NIR imaging provides good quality
images, it loses pigment melanin information which is a rich source of information
for iris recognition. In contrast, visible wavelength imaging provides rich sources
of information coded as shape patterns in the iris.
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NRF COMPETITIVE RESEARCH
PROGRAMME FUNDING
TWO research teams from NUS Engineering have been awarded the National
Research Foundation’s Competitive Research Programme Funding to develop
enabling technologies towards sustainability of land and water. They received up
to $10 million each over five years.
Research project entitled Enabling Technologies for Large-scale Urban
Subterranean Space Exploitation in Soft Soil Condition, led by Professor Lee Fook
Hou, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, looks into creating more
land for use. A large part of Singapore including much of the downtown area,
are underlain by soft soils. In such situations, underground construction generally
requires cut-and-cover operations.
“The objective of our programme is to develop scientific
know-how and enabling technologies which will allow
large-scale urban subterranean construction, such as
caverns, to take place with minimal disturbances to
pre-existing overlying facilities and structures as well
as the ground surface. This will open up more options
to agencies and urban planners on the location and
development of subterranean space,” said Professor Lee.
The second project, Advanced Forward Osmosis Membranes and Membrane
Systems for Wastewater Treatment, Water Reuse and Seawater Desalination is led
by Professor Neal Chung, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering.
Professor Chung’s team is a world leader in membranes for water reuse and
desalination. They were the first to develop nano filtration PBI forward osmosis
membranes with very narrow pore-size distribution for water reuse
and desalination.
Prof Lee Fook Hou leads research
on enabling technologies for
large-scale urban subterranean space
exploitation in soft soil conditions.
Prof Neal Chung (far right) leads
research in membrane technologies
for wastewater reuse, water
treatment and desalination.
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EXPERTS SHARE LATEST RESEARCH
ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES
EXPERTS in electric vehicles (EV) from the UK, China and Singapore met at NUS
Faculty of Engineering for a symposium organised by the UK-Singapore Partners
in Science Programme. Reinforced by a Prime Ministerial agreement between the
UK and Singapore in 2005, some 63 workshops have since been held, stimulating
numerous lasting collaborations between researchers and organisations in the UK
and Singapore.
Deputy President (Research & Technology) Professor Barry Halliwell opening the
symposium said that EV technology is inevitable and will revolutionise vehicle
manufacture and use as we know it. “Singapore is an excellent test bed for new
EV technology and we hope that NUS will lead the way towards a brighter and
cleaner future,” he said.
Mr Lew Yii Der, Land Transport Authority’s Group Director, Corporate Planning and
Research speaking at the symposium, said the use of EVs are anticipated to pick
up from 2015 onwards and will become fully commercially viable and ready for
the mass market after 2020.
Working with ST Kinetics on EVs
A Mechanical Engineering team led by Professor Andrew Tay has been awarded
a research grant close to $3million by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) to
develop a new high-performance battery pack for electric vehicles. The other
members of the team are Professor Wong Yoke San, Professor Lu Li, Associate
Professor Hong Geok Soon, Associate Professor Lu Weng Feng, Dr Sam Wong
and Dr Sun Jie. Using high-performance battery materials which have been
patented by the researchers, the team will develop an innovative, intelligent,
integrated power and thermal management system to ensure safe, efficient
and long-life performance of the battery pack. The industrial collaborator of the
project is ST Kinetics.
“We will initially install the battery power pack in a
small 1.2KW experimental electric vehicle which will
be built by the Department and test it on the road.
Subsequently, a larger battery pack will be developed
and this will be installed in a full-sized commercial
EV to be provided by ST Kinetics. We will then conduct
comprehensive road testing in collaboration with
ST Kinetics to study the performance of the new
battery pack,” said Professor Tay.
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In energy terms, from well to wheel, the EV is about two to three times as
efficient as a conventional petroleum-powered internal combustion engine
vehicle, especially for urban driving conditions where there are frequent stops and
starts. EVs are of course, also much quieter besides producing less atmospheric
pollution. The stumbling blocks for EVs as a popular means of transport are the
long battery recharging time and the high cost of the battery pack. The minimum
time required for fast charging of current Li-ion battery power pack is about
30 minutes. The team is developing a battery pack which can be recharged in
about three minutes which is 10 times faster – and yet retaining its full capacity.
Currently, some batteries can be charged as rapidly as 12 minutes but with drastic
reduction in capacity.
“Our new batteries will also have longer cycle life, greater efficiency and higher
energy density,” said Professor Lu Li, who has also been awarded a National
Research Foundation grant to take his novel lithium batteries which has ultrafast
charge velocity to prototype stage for various high performance applications.
Professor Tay also pointed out that the new batteries will also reduce the need to
construct numerous charging points at public car parks in housing estates, office
buildings and shopping centres.
As heat can also affect battery life, an intelligent thermal management system will
be designed as part of the new battery pack. The intelligent system monitors the
history, state of health and charge of each cell in the pack. It will also be smart
enough to enable each cell to charge or discharge at an optimum rate to enable
the battery pack as a whole to achieve optimum performance and durability.
The NUS Engineering project funded
by EMA will result in EVs being an
attractive option for Singapore
roads. Team (from left): Prof Lu Li,
Prof Hong Geok Soon, Prof Wong
Yoke San, Assoc Prof Lu Wen Feng
and Prof Andrew Tay.
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E-bikes in the making
Prof Robert H Todd (far left),
Capstone Director, Fellow of the
American Society for Engineering
Education, Department of
Mechanical Engineering of Brigham
Young University with Prof Wong
Yoke San, NUS Department of
Mechanical Engineering at the
NUS for the Summer Design
Programme where students from
Brigham Young and Pennsylvania
State University worked with NUS
Engineering students to have
a crack at designing an e-bike
suitable for Singapore.
A prototype electric bicycle that is suitable for Singapore users is in the making.
For a start, Mechanical Engineering students in their 3rd and 4th year are
studying the design and mechanics of a commercial e-bike.
Mechanical students are studying the model and thinking of innovative ways of
improving it with the intention of eventually coming out with their own prototype.
Said Professor Jerry Fuh, one of the professors leading the project:
“We are studying various models to see how we can
improve on the design, functions and technology.
We would want to look at the battery technology
for example, to try to come out with a system that
can give longer distance per charge. We want to
encourage and challenge our students to look at issues
and problems from design to finish. In the long run,
we want them to address all major issues concerning
future transportation systems.”
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Their hybrid e-bike wins environmental awards
Two young researchers won three awards at an international competition for their
mobility solution to a cleaner environment. They took the Environmental Awards
for zero vehicle emission; and for lowest well-to-wheel carbon dioxide emission
at the Challenge Bibendum in Berlin, Germany (18 to 22 May). They also received
a Participation Award for representing NUS, the only Southeast Asian university
taking part in the competition.
Organised by Michelin about every two years,
the competition challenges participants to
come out with smart and clean solutions
towards sustainable road mobility. The NUS
Faculty of Engineering team was the only other
team from universities to take up the challenge
in the “Electric Assisted Bicycles” Category,
competing with major industry players such as
Michelin and Peugeot.
The duo, Mr Joerg Dieter Weigl, an instructor;
and Mr Wang Zizi, a teaching assistant with
the Faculty, combined their skills and expertise
to come out with a power pack that weighs only
about 12kg, using hydrogen fuel cell. The power
pack enabled their bicycle to go a distance of
more than 250km on a single tank of hydrogen.
This is about 5-10 times more the distance of
other electric-assisted bicycles, said Mr Weigl.
Commercially available ones could only go a
distance of 25km to 50km per charge before
they need to be recharged again.
Mr Wang added that hydrogen refueling for
their power pack is also much faster, about five
minutes, compared to the usual four to six hours
charging time for current electric bicycles.
The power pack can also be adapted for other vehicles. Said Mr Weigl:
“Our hydrogen fuel cell system design is extremely
portable. It also offers higher energy density than any
battery solutions currently available.”
Winning duo Mr Weigl and
Mr Wang at the Bidendum Challenge
2011 in Berlin.
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NOVEL ‘COOLING FINS’ IN TOP 10 AT
US DEFENSE ENERGY CHALLENGE
MECHANICAL Engineering team led by Assistant Professor Lee Poh Seng and his
Research Fellow Dr Jin Liwen, has developed novel micro fins system for taking
away the heat in electronic instruments and equipment. Their technology was
ranked among the top 10 at the Clean Technology and Sustainable Industries
Organisation Defense Energy Technology Challenge in September.
Said Dr Lee, “Our high performance, energy efficient and
compact liquid cooling solutions cover a wide range of
applications, including next-generation integrated power
systems, electric vehicles, electromagnetic weapons
and aviation electronics. However, the technology is
particularly relevant for the High Energy Laser systems
as it meets challenges such as stringent temperature
control. Laser devices produce high heat fluxes leading
to overall inefficiency.”
Assistant Prof Lee Poh Seng (fore,
left) with his team at the Thermal
Process Lab, NUS Department
of Mechanical Engineering.
Their system consists of “fins” – protrusions with
oblique sections to disrupt the development of
boundary layers that would otherwise become thicker
as the cooling fluid travels downstream in heat sinks.
A heat sink is a component designed to increase
the surface area in contact with the cooling fluid
surrounding it. The reduction of the thickness of the boundary layer results in
better heat transfer. The oblique openings also enable the creation of secondary
flows which further cools temperature.
The NUS team has incorporated a company, GCoreLab Private Ltd to
commercialise their technology. They have also secured grant to prove the value
of their technology. Their technology has the potential to be a highly effective and
reliable thermal management technique which can dissipate high heat fluxes and
maintaining uniform temperature distribution.
IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement
Awards for NUS Engineering researchers
Assistant Professor Lee Poh Seng received the IES Prestigious
Engineering Achievement Award for leading a team at the Department
of Mechanical Engineering in the development of a novel micro fins
system for cooling electronic instruments and equipment.
The Award also went to Professor Lian Yong (Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering) for leading a team in the development
of a “wearable” ECG chip for managing cardiovascular disease.
The innovation in 2009 has led to the formation of a spinoff called
Clearbridge VitalSigns in January, with Professor Lian as the co-founder.
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AUGMENTED REALITY PHONE APP FOR
GETTING AROUND
THE Faculty is pushing ahead in its drive to motivate and inspire students to
use the campus as a test bed for ideas and innovations. Excited by such an
opportunity to exploit this environment on campus, a group of students at the
Department of Mechanical Engineering decided to have a go at transforming
their idea into reality.
Working with Professor Andrew Nee
and Associate Professor Ong Soh
Khim, they rolled out an Augmented
Reality application for smart phones
for freshmen in July.
Said Associate Professor Ong, “This
application provides navigation
information in the form of graphics,
text, etc, based on destinations
selected. The propriety technologies
used in this application are researches
that we have been working on in
our Augmented Reality and Assistive
Technology Lab, such as user-interface,
content rendering and animation,
sensor-based user localisation,
orientation and way-finding.”
Currently, the application can help freshmen walk around the Engineering campus
with important information and graphics being displayed to them at various
locations – such as laboratories, canteen, department offices, lecture theatres,
toilets, handicap rams and other facilities.
Mr Andrew Yew, chief architect of the application and a second-year PhD student
reading Mechanical Engineering, said:
“The technology behind can also be adapted for other
purposes, for example, using it for tours such as a museum
tour with pop-up information on displays and artifacts.
Looking at its potentials, one can think of travelling
agencies adapting and customising it for various tours
to different cities, media and public campaigns featuring
fun treasure hunting games encompassing whole
neighborhoods and towns, and information services using
it to provide real-time geo-located information such as
upcoming events at various venues.”
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A WORLD’S FIRST BI-AXIAL BIOREACTOR
FOR GROWING CELLS
NUS researchers led by Professor Teoh Swee Hin, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, working with Singapore Polytechnic (SP) have developed the world’s
first bi-axial bioreactor. The system is ideal for slow-growing cells, such as bone
cells, stem cells and primary cells. A start-up company, QuinXell Technologies, has
exclusively licensed this technology from NUS and SP.
The bi-axial bioreactor rotates simultaneously on two independent axes. This
gyroscopic spinning movement leads to an improved flow of the fluids within the
bioreactor, compared to other commercially-available, single-axial bioreactors.
The bi-axial bioreactor can control every single axis of movement, and it is also
flexible enough to adopt a single-axis movement, if required.
“We came up with the idea of a bi-axial rotation by
trying to mimic the way that a foetus rotates within
its mother’s womb, which inarguably is nature’s best
bioreactor. We believe that this is the first bioreactor
to be successful in growing bone tissue outside the
body. In fact, using the bi-axial bioreactor, we were
able to see white bone mineral deposits after just
four weeks of the cells having been seeded onto the
scaffold,” said Professor Teoh.
The NUS Industry Liaison Office has filed a patent for this invention in the US
which was granted and issued in 2010.
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OUR PEOPLE
 STAFF
 STUDENTS
 ALUMNI
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STAFF
RECOGNISED FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE
AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Honoured for their scholarly
achievements (front, from left):
Prof Mansoor bin Jalil, Dr Yeo Yee
Chia, Prof Neal Chung and Prof Lian
Yong with Deputy President Prof Tan
Eng Chye and Engineering Dean
Prof Chan Eng Soon (centre).
Honoured for their teaching
excellence (back, from left): Assoc
Prof Rajasekhar Balasubramaniam,
Assoc Prof Adeyeye Adekunle
Olusola, Prof Loh Kai Chee, Assoc
Prof Tan Woei Wan, Dr Pang Sze
Dai, Assoc Prof David Chua, Assoc
Prof Dipti Srinivasan, Assoc Prof Chin
Hoong Chor and Prof Victor Shim.
OUTSTANDING and impactful scholarly accomplishments were acknowledged
at an inaugural ceremony in May. Five faculty members were honoured –
Professors Neal Chung, Lian Yong and Phoon Kok Kwang were appointed
Provost’s Chair Professors. Professor Mansoor bin Abdul Jalil and Assistant
Professor Yeo Yee Chia were appointed Dean’s Chair Professors.
Professor Chung, internationally known for design and fabrication of polymeric
membranes for separation of gases, water, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, was
cited to have brought in the largest sum of funding ($37.2 million in 15 years) to
the Faculty of Engineering.
Professor Lian is a renowned researcher in the field of biomedical circuits and
systems. His research team developed the world’s first nano-watt fully integrated
programmable sensor interfaces for ECG and EEG recordings.
Professor Phoon is known for his outstanding research on the reliability
of geotechnical systems, a multi-disciplinary field that grapples with the
rationalisation of risk associated with subsurface construction in the face of
intrinsic ground variability.
Professor Mansoor is noted for his research in theoretical nano-electronics,
the study of the properties of ultra-small devices. His research to understand
the underlying physics of these phenomena, and to harness them in practical
devices will ultimately lead to improved device performance such as low energy
consumption, higher speeds and greater robustness.
Dr Yeo’s strength is in transistor technology research and development. His team
has designed and made the world’s smallest strained transistor, with a gate length
of only 5 nanometers – 20,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.
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At the same ceremony, Associate Professor David Chua, Associate Professor
Chin Hoong Chor and Dr Chew Soon Hoe, Department of Civil & Environmental
Engineering; Associate Professor Adeyeye Adekunle Olusola and Associate
Professor Tan Woei Wan, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering,
received the Innovative Teaching Award.
Receiving the Engineering Educator Award were Associate Professor Rajasekhar
Balasubramanian and Dr Pang Sze Dai, Department of Civil & Environmental
Engineering; Associate Professor Loh Kai Chee, Department of Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering; Associate Professor Dipti Srinivasan and Professor
Lee Tong Heng, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering; and Professor
Victor Shim, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
HONOURED FOR LEADERSHIP AND
IMPACTFUL RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS
THEIR research has made an impact in the academic world as well as society
at large. The NUS Faculty of Engineering paid tribute and conferred four
outstanding researchers at the inaugural Faculty Research Award Ceremony.
Professor Neal Chung was conferred the Engineering Research Leadership
Award while two others, Professor Lim Chwee Teck and Professor Zeng
Hua Chun, were conferred the Faculty Research Award. Assistant Professor
Yan Shuicheng was conferred the Young Faculty Research Award.
Professor Chung, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, a
renowned expert in membrane technology, said he will continue to help build
up the next generation of Engineer-Leaders, citing principal investigators as
well as co-principal investigators who are less than 40 years old and who
have shown remarkable capabilities.
Professor Lim, Department of Bioengineering and Department of Mechanical
Engineering, said,“Having visited many universities and institutions, I am indeed
very fortunate and appreciate being able to work in the Faculty of Engineering
and be given the opportunity and environment to excel in our pursuit of
excellence in research.”
Honoured for their research.
The winners (from 2nd left) Prof
Neal Chung, Prof Lim Chwee Teck,
Prof Zeng Hua Chun, Dr Yan
Shuicheng with Deputy President
(Academic Affairs) Prof Tan Eng Chye
(far right) and Engineering Dean,
Prof Chan Eng Soon (far left).
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Professor Zeng, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, was ranked
among the world’s top 100 chemists. “I attribute this Award to my Department
colleagues, students and many others who make our work visible,” he said.
Dr Yan, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has brought in research
funds totaling more than $4 million within 3.5 years of his career at NUS.
“I would like to thank the Dean and my Department Head, Professor Chua
Kee Chaing, for providing a very supportive environment enabling our young
faculties to achieve so much in such a short period of time,” he said.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Engineering Dean Professor Chan Eng Soon
said: “In the overall effort to develop the culture of excellence, there is a need to
encourage and recognise excellence. Over the past three years, we have managed
to garner external grants at an average of more than $95 million per year. Last
year, it was significantly more. With the implementation of the Faculty Research
Awards, we aim to promote within the Faculty a vibrant research setting where
cutting-edge and inter-disciplinary research activities abound and to position the
Faculty as a leading source of innovative technologies, products and processes
through our research activities.”
National recognition for Dr Yan’s research
ASSISTANT Professor Yan Shuicheng, Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering, was awarded the Young Scientist Award in
November at Marina Bay Sands. Organised by the Singapore National
Academy of Science and supported by A*STAR, the award comprises a
trophy, certificate and $10,000.
Dr Yan has solved a number of fundamental problems and produced
groundbreaking results in several high-profile areas in computer vision
and multimedia applications. In 2010, he won two best paper awards at
two of the most prestigious multimedia conferences (ACM Multimedia –
ACM MM, and International Conference on Multimedia & Expo – ICME)
for the research works on assistive multimedia techniques.
HONOURED FOR HIS PIONEERING AND
ENTERPRISING EFFORTS
ELECTRICAL & Computer Engineering Department’s Dr Steven Zhou received
the inaugural Outstanding NUS Innovator Award at the Enterprise Connection
Dinner 2011. The Award was an initiative by NUS Enterprise and the NUS
Society supported by the National Research Foundation’s University Innovation
Fund. The judging panel was impressed with Dr Zhou’s notable achievements in
his research on augmented reality, as well as his entrepreneurial spirit which he
has demonstrated in founding MXR Corporation Pte Ltd.
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Dr Steven Zhou is founder and director of his
own company, MXR Corporation which develops
patented Mixed Reality products for next
generation learning, providing Mixed Reality
technological solutions. His company successfully
commercialized the world’s first children’s
education product, wizQubes™, using mixed
reality technology.
Dr Zhou is also Director of the Interactive
Multimedia Lab at the NUS Department of
Electrical & Computer Engineering. He is
known for his contributions in mixed reality,
human-computer interaction, computer vision,
mobile computing, and multi-modal systems.
A Fellow of World Technology Network, his
work has won numerous awards including the
RTT Emerging Technology Award 2008 and the
SiTF Award 2010 in Digital Media.
Dr Steven Zhou (right) receiving the
inaugural Outstanding NUS Innovator
Award from NUS President, Prof Tan
Chorh Chuan.
AWARDED FELLOWSHIP BY
L’OREAL SINGAPORE
SHE was awarded the Young Scientist Award in
2008, for her outstanding research on polymer
chemistry and the application of polymers in
biosensors and solar cells. This year, Associate
Professor Liu Bin, Department of Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering was honoured again –
as a recipient of the L’Oreal Singapore for Women
in Science National Fellowship.
Associate Professor Liu researches organic
molecules with particular emphasis on the
development of water-soluble conjugated polymers
and exploration of their applications in biosensors,
chemosensors and optoelectronic devices.
She is the principal investigator who demonstrated
the basis of using conducting polymers for
label-free gene detection and for optical signal
amplification leading to high impact microarray technologies. Her research team is
also the first to utilise the fluorescence change of conjugated polymers for visual
detection and quantification of chemicals and biomolecules.
The National Fellowships were initiated by beauty giant L’Oreal, with the support
of UNESCO. They are part of a larger international award programme which is
widely regarded as the Nobel Prize for women.
Assoc Prof Liu Bin receiving the award
from Mr Christopher Neo, Managing
Director, L’Oréal Singapore.
Picture: L’Oréal Singapore.
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HELMING FOREMOST ACADEMY FOR
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING RESEARCH
PROFESSOR Andrew Nee, Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been
elected President of the Paris-based International Academy for Production
Engineering (CIRP) with effect from September. CIRP is the foremost
international academy dedicated to production engineering research.
Professor Nee, who is Director, Division of Research Administration, NUS Office
of Deputy President (Research & Technology) is the first Singaporean and
ethnic Chinese to hold the position in the 60 years of history of CIRP since
its establishment in 1951. Professor Nee has been CIRP’s Vice President from
August 2009 and a Fellow since 1990. He was also the first in the Asean region
to become Member and Fellow of the Academy.
Prof Andrew Nee
Said Professor Nee: “I am indeed very honoured to be the first Singaporean
president of the Academy. Over the last two decades, manufacturing industries
have been the major thrust of economic growth in Asia, which now rival that of
the EU and North America. Leveraging the international network of the pool of
preeminent CIRP experts in manufacturing engineering will be highly beneficial
to Singapore and this region. I see this as an excellent opportunity and would
certainly encourage greater CIRP presence here. As CIRP president, my role is
to ensure the continuity of all the excellent CIRP activities, and to embark on
new projects such as nurturing graduate students in manufacturing engineering
research with international mentorship from CIRP Fellows.”
GLOBAL RECOGNITION LEADS
TO ADJUNCT APPOINTMENT
PROFESSOR Wang Chien Ming, Director, Engineering Science Programme is
known for his leadership in the research of Very Large Floating Structures
(VLFS). Now, for his contributions in this area as well as his distinguished and
internationally recognised track record for research in structural mechanics and
engineering, he has been appointed Adjunct Professor in the Department of
Civil Engineering, Monash University.
The five-year appointment is another feather in the cap of this recipient of
numerous awards which include the Lewis Kent Award 2009. The adjunct
professorship is awarded by the Monash University Council only to those who
have proven themselves in the international research arena.
Prof Wang Chien Ming
Besides giving guest lectures at Monash, Professor Wang will embark on an
exciting area of research in collaboration with the University’s Drs Frank Collins
and Duan Wenhui (a former PhD student and research fellow with the NUS Faculty
of Engineering). They will be investigating into the use of carbon nanotubes to
enhance the properties of concrete to create stronger, lighter, more ductile and
easier-to-build structures. The team targets to come out with a mathematical
model for analysis and to design a process to produce “nanoconcrete” with
self-sensing capabilities, enhanced tensile and flexural (bending) strengths,
besides being able to better resist shrinkage and heat.
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RAMS 2011 BEST PAPER AWARD,
A FIRST FOR ASIAN UNIVERSITIES
PROFESOR Tang Loon Ching, Head, Department of Industrial & Systems
Engineering, has won the RAMS 2012 Ralph A Evans-P K McElroy Award for Best
Paper presented at 2011 RAMS. The paper, Spare Provisioning for Repairable
Systems under Fleet Expansion, was written with his former PhD student, Dr Liu
Xiao. This was the first time the award went to an all Asian team with authors
affiliated to a university in Asia.
The RAMS (Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium) has been the
premier conference in reliability engineering since 1954 with sponsorship from nine
professional societies including AIAA, ASQ, IEEE, IEST, IIE, SAE, SOLE, SRE and SSS.
Professor Tang and his team have also been awarded the IIE Transactions 2010
Best Application Paper in quality and reliability for their paper, A Reliability
Modeling Framework for the Hard Disk Drive Development Process. The paper
was published in IIE Transactions, the flagship journal of the Institute of Industrial
Engineers, and presented in an invited session of the 2011 IERC conference where
the award was given.
SOME OTHER NOTABLE FACULTY
AND STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS
Assoc Prof Marcelo Ang was appointed Honorary Professor at Obuda
University, Budapest, Hungary in September 2011 for his outstanding and
long term contributions to the scientific activities of Obuda University.
Prof Neal Chung, Assoc Profs Reginald Tan Beng Hee and Li Zhi
received a 4-year grant by the GSK-Singapore Partnership for Green
and Sustainable Manufacturing Fund Award in July 2011. Prof Chung
will conduct research to develop novel high-performance membranes
and green processes to separate high value-added pharmaceutical
intermediate products and common organic solvents during
pharmaceutical processing. Assoc Prof Tan will evaluate pharmaceutical
processes using LCA as a sustainability evaluation tool. Assoc Prof Li will
research green and efficient biocatalytic methods for amine synthesis via
alcohol substitution through the use of modern biotechnology.
Prof Lian Yong has been re-appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the
IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II for another two years
(from Jan 2012). This is the first time in the journal’s 57 years history
that an academic in Asia has been given this prestigious position.
Prof Dim-Lee Kwong was conferred the 2011 IEEE Frederik Philips
Award at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting in Washington
DC. The Award recognises his leadership in silicon technology and
excellence in the management of microelectronics R&D.
Prof Tang Loon Ching (right) and his
former PhD student, Dr Liu Xiao.
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Prof Richard Liew Jat Yuen was conferred Honorary Fellow by the
Hong Kong Institute of Steel Construction in June 2011 in recognition of
his outstanding contribution to structural engineering. He was also invited
to serve on the editorial board of a new international quarterly research
journal of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) to be
launched in 2012.
Dr Lee Taeyong, Mr Chen Wenming (PhD student), Prof Victor Shim
and Park Seung-Bum (Footwear Industrial Promotional Center, South
Korea), won the Martyn Shorten Award for Innovation at the 10th Footwear
Biomechanics Symposium, Tubingen, Germany (29 June – 1 July 2011).
Assoc Prof Meng Qiang and Mr Weng Jinxian, research engineer,
received the Best Paper Award for methodological development for their
work “Impact Analysis of Work Zone Configuration, Traffic Flow and Heavy
Vehicle Percentage on Traffic Delay at Work Zones” at the Eastern Asia
Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS) International Conference in
June 2011 in Jeju, Korea.
Prof Phoon Kwok Kwang was appointed a member of the Strategic
Advisory Board, Taiwan Building Technology Centre, National Taiwan
University of Science and Technology in May 2011.
Dr Shen Rui Fu received the SAC Assessor Awards (Silver) by the
Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) which operates under the
aegis of the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING
Singapore), at the Awards Ceremony for Quality and Standards 2011
Conference held in June 2011.
Prof Colin Sheppard and Assoc Prof Hong Minghui have been
elected Fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA) for their
contributions to the advancement of optics. This is reserved for no more
than 10 per cent of the total membership in OSA.
Assoc Prof Tan Kay Chen received IEEE Computational Intelligence
Society (CIS) Outstanding Early Career Award 2011, USA which
recognises outstanding young scientists or engineers who have
contributed significantly to the field.
Prof Wang Chien Ming received the IES/IStructE Best Paper Award
2009-2010 in Sept 2011 for the best paper published in eight issues of
the IES Journal Part A: Civil and Structural Engineering in 2009 and 2010.
Assoc Prof Winoto S H was presented the Asian Society of Visualisation
Award for great contribution to visualisation research for development
and application of experimental techniques to fluid flow, at the 11th
Asian Symposium on Visualization in June 2011, Niigata, Japan.
Prof Xu Jianxin is elected IEEE Fellow for his contributions to motion
control systems, effective 1 Jan 2012.
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NO STOPPING THEM FROM WINNING
TEAM CORO from NUS emerged top winner as well as the Best Exhibition Booth
at the NAB Challenge jointly organised by NUS Faculty of Engineering’s Centre
for Protective Technology and the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Office of the Chief
Science and Technology Officer. They won for themselves the first prize of $8,000
and $500 for the Best Exhibition Booth.
Team CORO, winner of the NAB
Challenge, with Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Law, Mr K Shanmugam
(former Minister for Home Affairs)
who graced the event.
The contest aimed to encourage team efforts to come out with innovative
concepts for a Novel Automative Barrier able to stop a vehicle travelling at
60km per hour from crashing into buildings and facilities. Mentor for CORO,
Professor Richard Liew, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, NUS,
said the composition of the team was a strong factor that led to the double
victory. Professor Liew said that one of the winning factors was “the right mix of
people from the right disciplines.” The team comprises three PhD students from
the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, one PhD student from
Mechanical Engineering and another PhD student from the School of Design
and Environment.
Professor Liew, who also leads research on deployable structures at the Faculty
of Engineering, said the concept for their automotive barrier actually makes use
of the weight and impact of the moving vehicle to its advantage, generating
sufficient friction to stop itself. Their barrier, made from a combination of metal,
steel and surprisingly even water, helps to distribute force and dissipate energy.
Prof Richard Liew who helms
deployable structures research at the
Department of Civil & Environmental
Engineering, provides mentorship for
the winning team.
Two of the team members, Mr Li Ya and Ms Ma Chenyin were also recent winners
of the 8th International Association of Shell and Spatial Structures Hangai Prize
for their work on deployable structures.
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STUDENTS
ENGINEERING PHD STUDENT HAS
ELDERLY AT HEART
ISOLATION becomes more pronounced for the elderly because of generation gaps.
Engineering PhD student, Wang Xuan wants to change this. She and a team at the
NUS Interactive Digital Media Institute (IDMI) have come out with a solution that
will help bridge generation gaps. The solution, which is now available online and
which may soon come in the form of an iPhone application, does not just bridge
generations, it is able to link us back to China of 2,000 years ago – through
Confucius, a well known educator of the Han Dynasty (500 BC).
Xuan who is supervised by Professor Adrian Cheok, Department of Electrical &
Computer Engineering, has come out with an online platform that enables the
elderly and their grandchildren to “chat” with Confucius. The online application,
Confucius Chat: Mediating Cultural Communication between Elderly and Children
won the Best Oral and Poster Presentation (Communication Technologies and
Interface category) at the Young Researchers and PhD workshop held at the AAL
(Ambient Assisted Living) Forum held in Denmark.
Said Xuan who read Electrical and Computer Engineering at NUS for her B Eng,
“The younger generation’s lack of understanding of the culture belonging to their
parents or grandparents may be what’s hindering their communication with each
other. Our system will provide an opportunity for the elderly and the young to sit
together and have a good time chatting with Confucius in a virtual setting. By
modeling Confucian knowledge extracted from classical texts, our system allows
users to have meaningful chats with him.”
Wang Xuan (left) on her project,
Confucius Chat which emerged
Best Oral and Poster Presentation
at the AAL Forum.
MAKING A CLEAN SWEEP OF TOP PRIZES
AT EARTHQUAKE CHALLENGE
NUS Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) team swept all the top prizes at
this year’s APEC-IDEERS competition, beating 41 international teams in the
undergraduate category. The competition, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation –
Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering in Schools has in fact
increased the level of difficulty just this year – requiring participants to apply their
knowledge and skills under actual challenges and constraints.
Unshaken, the CEE team designed a tower able to carry the heaviest loads
while undergoing simulated ground shaking that is comparable to those felt
in the 1995 Kobe earthquake. This is the first time a single team has won in all
three categories. It is also the only team to be ranked in the top four for four
consecutive years.
The team, under the mentorship of the Dr Pang Sze Dai and led by Mr Tan Kian
Keng, the team comprising Tan Li Hong, Tah Kok Hong and Caroline Ong Shu Xian,
took the Most Creative Structural Design Prize of TWD$20,000 cash (plus trophy
and certificates); the Most Creative Structural Design and the Most Creative
Architectural Design (each TWD$5,000 cash and certificates.)
CEE team (from left): Ong Shu Xian
Caroline, Tan Kian Keng, Mentor
Dr Pang Sze Dai, Tan Li Hong and
Tah Kok Hong.
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BOWLING DARLING OF MATERIALS
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
CHERIE Tan, 4th-year Material Sciences and Engineering student has become
the darling of sports media. Named Best Bowler of the Year 2011, Cherie won
the women’s single title at the bowling event at the SEA Games in Indonesia
(15 Nov), rolling a score of 1,286 pinfalls at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre to
win Singapore’s first bowling gold medal at the Games.
She picked up the Masters silver medal for Singapore at the 16th Asian Games
held in Guangzhou in 2010. She told The Straits Times after her win at the
women’s Masters that it was tough but she did all she could and it was one of
the best games she had ever played – overcoming the odds including a difficult
split. She also won the European Bowling Tour Masters 2011 which was
nothing short of spectacular. Her bowling balls were lost in transit and her flight
was delayed. Undaunted, she managed to win the competition.
National bowler Cherie Tan, Materials
Science & Engineering student.
Cherie who started competitive bowling at 18, regularly made headline news for
her never-say-die spirit. Besides engineering and bowling, Cherie’s other passion
is music – she holds a Grade 8 for trumpet and Grade 6 for piano. Quite a globe
trotter because of the bowling competitions which have taken her all over the
world, she was also in an exchange programme at Iowa State University.
ZHANG JIN HITS GOLD AGAIN
HE had but one practice session when he arrived in Palembang, Indonesia, where
the 26th SEA Games were being held in November. But Zhang Jin, 3rd-year Civil
& Environmental Engineering student and NUS Sportsman of the Year 2010,
defended the men’s 10m air rifle gold medal with a score of 685.9 points. He was
at the Games only for a day, after which he flew back for his examinations.
“It is a relief for me that the whole competition for me is now over. Because I am now
in university, it’s harder to find time to train, and as such, the consistency might not
be so good. So I had to really put in a lot of effort into each shot,” said Zhang Jin.
Earlier Zhang Jin had taken part in the World University Games, ranking 29th
(air rifle). His effort has helped the NUS team pull in a respectable 11th position.
He also took part in the South East Asian Shooting Association Championship
held in Laos in September and came in 4th (individual) as well as bagging the
gold for the team. The following month, he went on to take part in the Asian
Airguns Championships in Kuwait and was ranked 14th with a score of 589/600
for the competition.
Zhang Jin, sharpshooter
at Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering.
A recap of his major medals – at the 2009 SEA Games (Laos), he won a gold medal
for himself and a second gold for the Singapore team. At the 2007 SEA Games
in Thailand, he bagged a gold medal (team); scored a silver medal in 2006 at the
Commonwealth Games (Men’s) 10m Air Rifle event. In 2003, he took the bronze
medal for the 10m Air Rifle Team event at the 22nd SEA Games in Ho Chi Minh.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
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STUDENTS
SPORTSMANSHIP AND
ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH A HEART
ASK Mechanical Engineering graduate (Class of 2011) Veerappan Swaminathan
his formula for success and he would have given you an equation that involves
a passion for solving complex problems, taking on leadership roles and
sportsmanship.
His sportsmanship and teamwork is evident. He won the NUS Student
Achievement Award twice – in 2008 and in 2011 – in the Competitions (group)
category. He was a member of the NUS Varsity Floorball team as well as the
Convenor of the Temasek Alumni Hockey team.
In the years to come, Veerappan hopes to positively impact the lives of the
less fortunate. Having gone for a year of internship with a biomedical startup
in Silicon Valley, Veerappan and some other like-minded friends in NUS have
decided to continue their passion for social entrepreneurship. They are running an
experimental prototyping studio within the University Scholars Programme and
are in the process of developing a floating platform to grow vegetables.
Describing a startup idea, he said, “We want to do something in the social
development space that involves Engineering. We’ve found that many successful
competition entries were not developed further. This is a waste especially when
the ideas concern humanitarian innovations. Our innovation challenge model will
address the last-mile in getting the innovations manufactured and into the market.”
Veerappan (front, right) is into
winning innovations with a heart.
PASSION FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS
BEING “multidisciplinary” comes easy for Muhd Ibnur Rashad bin Zainal
Abidin who graduated in 2011 with B Eng in Engineering Science. He has
read Technopreneurship at Stanford University under the NUS Overseas
College Programme as well as Innovation and Healthcare Policy at the
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Not stopping at academics, Ibnur is also passionate
about addressing poverty issues. He was a member of
the team which won the UNESCO-Daimler Mondialogo
Engineering Award in 2007 and in 2009 – in both
instances the teams had come out with devices to help
the poverty-stricken.
As a youth delegate with the Clinton Global Initiative
EPIIC Symposium on “Global Poverty and Equality”
in 2008, Ibnur organised a field assessment trip
to villages near Medan with Pusaka Indonesia, an
Indonesia-based NGO, with target to raise at least
$10,000 to support their ‘Integrated Empowerment’
Sustainability Programme.
Ibnur (centre), helping to nurture
innovative minds.
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STUDENTS
His leadership qualities were further challenged when he was recently selected
to be the Country Leader for the Singapore delegation of four outstanding
individuals in the ASEAN Youth Forum on Innovation and Creativity (AYFIC) at
Labuan, Malaysia in April 2011. As Country Leader, he presented the Country
Report outlining Singapore’s achievements.
Awarded the NUS Innovation/Entrepreneurship Practicum Grant, he and a team
are now helping to groom innovation leaders through setting up prototyping
studios at the new University Scholars Programme Residential College and
Ground-Up Initiative.
Said Ibnur, “I hope others too will form their own innovation teams to help solve
problems facing our local community, our neighbours, and our world. My friends
and I will soon be working on a start-up focused on innovation challenges centred
on Asia, designing competitions, grooming collaboration teams and developing a
culture of creative experimentation in Singapore, Asean and Asia.”
COMING UP TOPS WITH TWO DEGREES
AT ONE GO
HE held perfect scores for almost every Industrial & Systems Engineering as well
as Business examination he was required to take. Ni Cao was in the Dean’s list
throughout his course at the Faculties of Engineering and Arts and Social Sciences
except for one semester when he was away on a student exchange programme.
Breezing through the Double Degree Programme, Ni Cao worked for about eight
months as an analyst with Barclays Capital after graduating in 2011 before
heading for Cornell University in the US to pursue his PhD in operations research.
“I have always wanted to learn how wealth is created and distributed. So it was
natural that I took up Economics. As for Engineering, my dad was a mechanical
engineer and proud to be one. I was very much inspired by him and have always
held engineers with high regards for their integrity and intelligence,” said Ni Cao.
With his wide overseas experience – one semester at UC Berkeley followed by a
summer research programme at MIT, Ni Cao has no qualms about studying at Cornell.
Ni Cao, graduating with two degrees,
and perfect scores.
“As a matter of fact, studying in NUS in itself is an overseas experience for me!”
said Ni Cao who is from China.
Always believing in being independent, Ni Cao rejected extension of his scholarship
when he was in his final year, paying his tuition fees with salaries earned from his
internship as well as a teaching assistant.
He also believes in giving back to society and has been active since primary
school in volunteer projects in Singapore and China. He recalled recording audio
textbooks for a school for the blind in Tibet as one of the most meaningful things
he has ever done.
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STUDENTS
SOME OTHER NOTABLE STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENTS
Bordin Bordeerath won the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES)
Student Prize Paper Award in April 2011.
Chen Mingsheng, Justin Wee and Tay Zhi Yung took part in
the The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust (The LRET) Collegium at
University of Southampton (11 July to 2 Sept). Mr Chen was in the
winning team (comprising students from other universities) to have
come out with solutions for carbon capture and storage (CCS) to
prevent global warming.
Chew Choon Yan was the only Singaporean to compete in the
Ironman Challenge in Osaka, clocking less than 15 hours for 3.8km
swim, 180.2km cycle and 42.2km run.
Markus Hartono was awarded Best Paper presented at 2nd
International Research Symposium on Service Management,
Yogyakarta, Indonesia (July 2011). The paper was co-authored with
Assoc Prof Tan Kay Chuan.
Jonathan Ley received the 2nd prize for Most Innovative Project
in July 2011 by Siemens Healthcare, Germany. He developed an
innovative solution for addressing medical imaging and therapy
challenges. The competition offered opportunities for students on
internship programme to work on real-life problems with Siemens
inventors for a period of three months.
Loganathan Ponnambalam was awarded the “Best Student Paper
Award” at the 4th International Conference on HealthGIS at New
Delhi, India in August 2011. His work was entitled “Spatiotemporal
correlates of the variation in health outcomes in the US during
infectious disease outbreaks: A county-level risk mapping for optimal
resource management”.
Muhammad Ariff Mahmud Munshi was ranked one of the top
six from over 300 worldwide in the SMU LKY Global Business Plan
competition in August 2011. He was awarded consolation prize
of US$500.
Nai Mui Hoon won Best Poster Award for paper on “Interface
Tailoring to Enhance Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube
Reinforced Magnesium Composites” at the SIMTech Post-graduate
Research Posters Exhibition 2011, Singapore Institute of Manufacturing
Technology in September 2011.
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STUDENTS
Shankar Narayan Mohan won first Prize, IEEE Region 10
Undergraduate Student Paper Contest 2011 in July 2011, USA.
Wang Huan won 2nd Place Award in the student poster competition
of the 21st Annual Meeting of North American Membrane Society
(NAMS) held at Las Vegas, USA in June 2011. Her entry was selected
from among more than 100 other entries. NAMS is a professional
society that promotes all aspects of membrane science and
technology development.
Zheng Fei won 2011 Virtual Environments & Systems Best Paper
Award for paper presented on “GPU-based Haptic Simulator for
Dental Bone Drilling” at ASME 2011 International Design Engineering
Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering
Conference in August 2011, Washington DC. The other authors of
the paper are Profs Lu Wen Feng, Wong Yoke San and Kelvin Foong
(School of Dentistry).
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ALUMNI
AWARD FOR TWO DISTINGUISHED
ALUMNI
THIS year, the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award (DEAA) went to Mr Tan
Gee Paw and Mr Seah Moon Ming. Mr Tan (Class of 1971), PUB’s Chairman,
joined the then Ministry of the Environment in 1974. During his time with the
Ministry, he was involved in the clean-up of the Singapore River. He drew up
the master plan and chaired the inter-agency committee to clean up the river.
Today, we still feel the beneficial impact of this massive project. Mr Tan has
also contributed significantly in ensuring the sustainability of Singapore’s water
supply, especially in the diversification of Singapore’s water sources to form the
Four National Taps. Beyond the environmental and water sector, Mr Tan plays
a substantial role. He was a member of the Presidential Council for Religious
Harmony and the Advisory Panel of the Centre for Liveable Cities.
Mr Seah (Class of 1981), Deputy CEO and President of Defence Business of
the Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, has been a true model for the
Engineering community. He has made his mark in both the industry and society.
He serves as the Chairman of Corporate Governance Committee at Ren Ci
Hospital and Medicare Centre, and is a director of Alexandra Health Pte Ltd
which manages Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
The awards, organised by the Faculty of Engineering’s External Relations Office
(ERO) were conferred at the Engineering Alumni Gala Dinner 2011 at the Guild
House. The turnout was excellent and the Guild Hall was filled to capacity. Those
who missed this dinner can look forward to next year’s reunion. Meanwhile
alumni can catch up with each other on the Engineering Alumni Facebook,
www.facebook.com/nus.eng.alum.
Mr Tan Gee Paw (2nd from left)
and Mr Seah Moon Ming (2nd
from right), recipients of the NUS
Distinguished Engineering Alumni
Awards (DEAA) 2011 with
Vice Dean (Enternal Relations)
Prof Victor Shim (far left),
NUS President Prof Tan Chorh
Chuan (centre) and NUS Dean of
Engineering, Prof Chan Eng Soon
(far right). The dinner (inset) was
attended by more than 250 alumni.
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ALUMNI
ALUMNUS WINS SINGAPORE
YOUTH AWARD
ENGINEERING alumnus (Electrical & Computer Engineering) Darius Cheung is in
the news again. This enterprising graduate is Singapore Youth Award 2011 winner.
Darius founded tenCube with three other NUS alumni in 2005 and later emerged
the Grand Champion of Startup@Singapore. Its anchor product, WaveSecure has
been making waves as a top 10 wireless innovation in Asia Pacific. Last year,
Darius sold tenCube to global security giant, McAfee.
Darius Cheung, entrepreneur
extraordinaire.
The entrepreneur, together with three other winners of the Singapore Youth
Award, was complimented by Mr Edward D’Silva, the chairman of the Singapore
Youth Award panel, as having contributed to the community besides giving stellar
performances in their own areas of expertise.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH A ‘NOSE’
FOR NATURE
HE spent two excruciating years on a paper. But the result was worth it when it
was eventually published in the British Journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society
A: Mathematical, Physical & Engineering Sciences (Vol 467, 2010). The paper
made news in the academic circle and was also highlighted in Nature (Vol 468,
2010). But for Dr Chew Huck Beng, the co-author of this groundbreaking paper
on the fracture of carbon nanotubes, it was not so much a matter where the
paper was published.
Said Dr Chew, an NUS alumnus (B Eng and PhD in Mechanical Engineering):
“I believe that the key to publishing good research papers
is to have an open mind and to never give up even in the
face of insurmountable obstacles. At the end of the day, the
quality of the research will not be judged by the type of
journal you publish in, but by the careful thought process
given, the depth of the work, and the thoroughness of the
research that you have demonstrated.”
Dr Chew Huck Beng, NUS Engineering
alumnus (B Eng, PhD Mechanical
Engineering) has been appointed to a
tenure-track position at UIUC.
Dr Chew who started his tenure-track position at University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign in 2011, said the process of turning out a good paper
was highly rewarding. “We learned a lot. We initiated this study with a highly
speculative assumption to the problem, which after months of struggle turned
out to be incorrect. Through the process of re-searching, we discovered a new
compressive fracture mechanism at the nanoscale, which was fundamentally
different from well-established fracture mechanics concepts which have been
around for over 30 years.”
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
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ALUMNI
ENGINEER, MUSICIAN, INTERACTIVE
ARTS DESIGNER
WHEN Khoo Eng Tat decided Electrical & Computing Engineering as his choice
for the Bachelor of Engineering degree, he never knew it would open up a world
which integrates technology with art and music. He said he has much to thank his
supervisor, Associate Professor Adrian Cheok, Director, Mixed Reality Lab and also
faculty member with the Department of Electrical & Computing Engineering.
An engineer, musician and designer, Eng Tat has developed innovative interactive
media systems which integrate language, dance forms such as body movements –
and music – on the same platform.
“I have always wondered how a poem would sound, in
the form of music. So I have developed a programme
which could translate poems into music – and in real time.
I think music ‘generated’ from poetry will transform the
parameters of appreciation for individuals. For example,
the music that emerges would depend very much on how
a poem is read by individuals as it varies with the cadence
and timbre of the voice of the reader,” said Eng Tat who
has recently completed his PhD at NUS.
Eng Tat is a founding member and interactive technology consultant of Ingenio
Moomba Music Programme, a commercial project to design and develop
interactive media for young children to explore and learn music, in a radically new
way. He has also collaborated with the Design and Performance Lab of Brunel
University, UK and their works were performed in various places including Sadler’s
Wells Theatre, London. In 2009, he founded MiDEA Lab, an inter-disciplinary new
media arts research group, supported by NUS Centre for the Arts, where he has
managed to get other Engineering students excited in this field.
He was a music composer with Rock Publishing, a Taiwan Chinese pop music
label, when he was still an undergraduate. When he graduated, he taught
computing for interactive arts degree students at the LaSalle College of the Arts.
His passion for the interactive media comes from his love to engage people.
Concerned about the plight of the elderly – that they seem to be marginalised
due to generation gaps and disabilities that come with age – Eng Tat hopes to
integrate them back to society through interactive media.
However, the richest reward for Eng Tat is to see people on the fringe being drawn
back into the joys of everyday living, and interacting with others – through one of
his ingenious inventions.
Khoo Eng Tat, artsy “interactive”
Engineering alumnus.
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ALUMNI
STARTING BAGOSPHERE
ENGINGEERING SCIENCE alumnus Lee Zhihan (Class of 2011) has sowed a
seedling in Philippines for a social enterprise to grow. BagoSphere is his effort
to help the poor villagers there to learn relevant skills to earn a living and
become self sufficient. Below is his story:
I have always been interested in the social side of
things, even during pre-university days. When I was an
undergraduate, I spent a few weeks at a time living in
rural villages of Laos and Thailand. My experience led
me to question why current solutions to poverty such
as education and charitable aid have either failed, slow
to take effect – or unsustainable.
Engineering Science graduate,
Class of 2011, Lee Zhihan decides
to start a social enterprise,
Bagosphere, in Philippines. Picture
shows him (1st from left, front)
with his big Bagosphere family.
During my 3rd year, I went to Stockholm to work for a medical device
start-up. There, I organised an event for social entrepreneurs and
thought-leaders to share their experiences to college students. I have
also been to India, working as an apprentice to social entrepreneurs.
I got to breathe and eat with zero-educated rural villagers who
live on less than a dollar a day. These barefoot people are the most
motivated people I have ever known. They could learn to speak, write
and type English all in eight months!
It occurred to me that the fastest way to learn how to change the
world is to do it. With a bunch of friends, we made plans for a social
enterprise in the Philippines. I had to do an extra two semesters
to make up for my time spent in Stockholm. During my 5th year in
NUS, we made trips to the Philippines to collect information and find
partners. Severe youth unemployment in the country is creating a
vicious cycle of poverty. BagoSphere intends to solve this problem
with two words – scalability and sustainability.
I plan to spend two years to build BagoSphere. By the end of next
year, it should be able to stand on its two feet. Once after that, I
may try to pursue research or set up another social enterprise in
Singapore, or work for a technology firm.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
OUR PEOPLE 59
ALUMNI
EXTRA0RDINARY SWORD-WIELDING
ALUMNA
NUS Electrical & Computer Engineering alumna (Class of 2009) Tao Yijun shone
again in Wushu at the SEA games held in Jakarta in November. She took the gold
medal in the women’s Duilian (team). Yijun was also part of the team that won
the event in the previous Games.
Yijun said she took up Wushu at a very young age after she became hooked on
to movies starring Jet Li, and the comics, Dragon Ball. She admired their moves
which she said were full of grace, beauty and agility. She got her first gold at
the 6th Beijing International Wushu Tournament in 2005 where she also won a
bronze medal for Taijijian (sword).
Ms Tao Yijun wields the Taijijian
with grace and agility that has won
her many medals, including the
recent gold at SEA Games, Jakarta.
Picture shows her being filmed for a
video featured at NUS Engineering
Commencement ceremonies in 2011.
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
60 FACTS &
FIGURES
STUDENTS
CLASS OF 2011
BEng
Grad Diploma
MSc
MEng
PhD
TOTAL
1703
4
606
74
181
2568
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ENROLMENT
Engineering
B Tech
152
1229
Bioengineering
334
Civil Engineering
382
Electrical Engineering
1080
Industrial & Systems Engineering
362
Materials Science & Engineering
252
Mechanical Engineering
1435
Chemical Engineering
1203
Computer Engineering
511
Engineering Science
197
Environmental Engineering
268
TOTAL
7405
GRADUATE STUDENT ENROLMENT
Grad Diploma
MSc
MEng
4
1356
209
PhD
1331
TOTAL
2900
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
FACTS & 61
FIGURES
STAFF
STAFF PROFILE
92
Professors
Associate Professors
122
Assistant Professors
105
TOTAL NUMBER OF
FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS
319
Adjunct Staff
100
92
Other Teaching Staff
571
Research Staff
92
Executive & Professional Staff
307
Non-Academic Staff
TOTAL STAFF STRENGTH
1481
RESEARCH
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES AT NUS FACULTY OF ENGINEERING (as at 31 December 2011)
Year
Spin-off / Start-up
Companies
Commercialised Products /
Licensed Technologies
Inventions
Patented
2002 and before
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
22
27
35
45
50
53
55
63
65
65
52
60
68
70
93
95
118
127
135
144
93
116
141
155
160
174
188
203
210
219
Figures are Cumulative
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
62 FACTS &
FIGURES
RESEARCH
TOTAL RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED TO FACULTY OF ENGINEERING (excluding Research Scholarships)
AMOUNTS
(S$) IN
MILLIONS
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
GRAND TOTAL
FY 2007/2008
FY 2008/2009
FY 2009/2010
FY 2010/2011
FY 2011/2012
101,616,600
77,290,657
123,960,628
95,425,504
95,204,170
NUMBER OF CITATIONS (in 5-year intervals)
Essential Science Indicators has been updated as of 1 January 2012 to cover a 10-year + 10-month period, 1 January 2001 – 31 October 2011.
TIMES
CITED
10,500
10,000
9,500
9,000
8,500
8,000
7,500
7,000
6,500
6,000
5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
9,878
8,887
7,995
6,709
5,836
5,026
4,328
2001-2005
2002-2006
2003-2007
2004-2008
CITING YEARS
2005-2009
2006-2010
2007-2011
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
FACTS & 63
FIGURES
RESEARCH
AVERAGE CITATIONS PER PAPER (in 5-year intervals)
Essential Science Indicators has been updated as of 1 January 2012 to cover a 10-year + 10-month period, 1 January 2001 – 31 October 2011.
CITATIONS
PER PAPER
4
3.5
3.63
3.28
3
2.94
2.5
2.53
2
1.5
1.81
2
2.24
1
.5
0
2001-2005
2002-2006
2003-2007
2004-2008
2005-2009
2006-2010
2007-2011
CITING YEARS
NUMBER OF PAPERS (in 5-year intervals)
Essential Science Indicators has been updated as of 1 January 2012 to cover a 10-year + 10-month period, 1 January 2001 – 31 October 2011.
NUMBER
OF PAPERS
2,800
2,700
2,719
2,709
2,720
2005-2009
2006-2010
2007-2011
2,649
2,600
2,597
2,500
2,511
2,400
2,389
2,200
2,000
2001-2005
2002-2006
2003-2007
2004-2008
CITING YEARS
NURTURING ENGINEER-LEADERS
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
64
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING National University of Singapore
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Tel: (65) 6516 3445 Fax: (65) 6779 5594
www.eng.nus.edu.sg