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A U G U S T 2 0 1 0A Publication of National University of SingaporeCongratulations, Class of 2010!

NUS celebrates commencement of Class of 2010SOUNDS of joy, laughter and cheer rangthrough the NUS University Cultural Centrelast month as the University celebrated thecommencement of its new graduates. Thegraduation of the Class of 2010 took place over21 ceremonies held from 5 to 13 July 2010, with9,008 graduates being conferred their degrees,6,052 of whom received bachelor degreesand 2,956 received higher degrees. This year’scommencement also saw the first batch ofgraduates for 13 new degrees offered at NUS.for us.” Finally, on valuing one’s community, ProfTan said: “If we value our community, we willtake an active interest in it, and will contributethrough ideas and action, to the advancement ofthe peoples that make up the community.”Speaking of valuing one’s community, Prof Tancited the example of The Honourable the ChiefJustice of the Republic of Singapore Chan SekKeong, who stood out for his “deep empathy andconcern for the community” and who had shownthrough his work that it was by valuing one’ssociety that one could really serve it well.Chief Justice Chan was conferred an HonoraryDoctor of Laws at the main commencementceremony. He was recognised for his leadershipof the Singapore judiciary, his outstandingcontribution to the development of Singapore’scriminal justice system and constitutional law,distinguished service to the nation, and longstandingand continuing support to the Faculty ofLaw of NUS.COMMENCEMENT SPEECH: NUS President Prof Tan ChorhChuan urged the new graduates to stay curious, pursuetheir passion and value the community around themK N O W L E D G E E N T E R P R I S E2The main commencement ceremony on 5 Julycelebrated the graduation of more than 400students. The graduates were from a range ofjoint, concurrent and double degree programmesconducted in collaboration with top overseasuniversities as well as from various programmesat the Faculty of Engineering. Presiding over theceremony was President of Singapore and NUSChancellor His Excellency Mr S R Nathan.Congratulating the graduates,NUS President Prof Tan ChorhChuan said the day of graduation“does not mark the end of yourassociation with our University, butthe commencement of a new phaseas our valued alumni.” Raising thefine examples set by three highlysuccessful alumni, he gave thisadvice to the new graduates: “staycurious; pursue your passion; andvalue our community”.“Curiosity is crucial for lifelonglearning which, in turn, isessential for us to keep pace withthe rapid changes in knowledgeand technology,” he said. As forpursuing one’s passion, he notedthat “most of us are more likely tosucceed and to make a difference,if the goals and paths we pursuehold a deep and real significanceMAIN COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY:Presiding over the ceremony was President ofSingapore and NUS Chancellor Mr S R NathanCELEBRATORY MOOD: The new graduates posedfor pictures after their commencement ceremony

GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTSNew ambassadors call on NUS PresidentFOUR new ambassadors paid courtesy calls onNUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan in recentmonths – Korea Ambassador to Singapore HisExcellency Oh Joon (on 12 May); United StatesAmbassador to Singapore His Excellency DavidUNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL of the United Nations(UN) and Executive Director of the UN HumanSettlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)Dr Anna Tibaijuka visited NUS on 28 June 2010.Dr Tibaijuka is the first African woman electedas Under-Secretary-General of a UN programme.She is currently serving a second four-year term asUnder-Secretary-General and Executive Director ofUN-HABITAT.Adelman (on 18 May); Israel Ambassador toSingapore Her Excellency Amira Arnon (on 26May); and China Ambassador to Singapore HisExcellency Wei Wei (on 29 June).AT NUS: China Ambassador to Singapore H E Wei Wei (in left picture) and US Ambassador toSingapore H E David Adelman (in right picture) meeting with NUS President Prof Tan Chorh ChuanUN leader in human settlements visits NUSCommissioned by the UN General Assembly topromote socially and environmentally sustainabletowns and cities ensuring adequate shelter for all,UN-HABITAT spearheads initiatives and programmesto help policymakers and local communities dealwith human settlements and urban issues and findeffective sustainable solutions.WELCOME: Under-Secretary-General of theUN and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT DrAnna Tibaijuka received by NUS Vice President(University and Global Relations) Prof Lily KongA T A G L A N C EK N O W L E D G E E N T E R P R I S E4• The Institute for Mathematical Sciences atNUS announced the set-up of the AsianInitiative for Infinity (AII) at its 10 th anniversarycelebrations on 24 June 2010. The AII is fundedthrough an endowed gift of S$1.4 millionfrom the John Templeton Foundation, andis eligible for the dollar-for-dollar matchingfund from the Singapore Government. TheAII seeks to establish in Asia a robust andself-sustaining programme in MathematicalLogic with emphasis on the subject of Infinity,by promoting and facilitating research andtraining.• For two consecutive years, NUS has hostedthe Association of Pacific Rim Universities(APRU) Undergraduate Summer Programme.This is the final year. Held from 5 to 16 July2010, the fifth APRU Undergraduate SummerProgramme saw 49 student participantsfrom 12 countries. Besides touring landmarkattractions in Singapore, the students visitedPSA International, the second largest portoperator in the world; NEWater Visitor Centrewhere they learnt about Singapore’s waterreclamation technology; and FusionWorld, ashowcase gallery of cutting-edge technologiesdeveloped by researchers in Singapore. Theywere also involved in talks, dialogue sessionsand workshops covering various aspectsof leadership, entrepreneurship and theSingapore experience.

Risk Management Institute presents newcredit rating systemTHE NUS Risk Management Institute (RMI)unveiled the results of a new credit rating systemof firms in 12 Asian economies at its fourthannual conference held from 15 to 17 July 2010.Themed “The Risk Management Paradigm in thePost-Crisis Era”, the conference was attendedby some 200 local and international participantsfrom government agencies, the academia andRISK MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE: It was attendedby some 200 local and international participants fromgovernment agencies, academia and industryindustry. The Guest-of-Honour was DeputyManaging Director of the Monetary Authority ofSingapore (MAS) Mr Ong Chong Tee.“RMI launched its own not-for-profit creditrating initiative, using a unique and distinctivelyscientific methodology it developed. Thisresearch initiative has attracted attentionand wide support, with nine partnerteams across the globe and three fromNUS itself to take on the challenge ofmodelling credit risk for several hundredfirms from 12 Asian economies. Thisinitiative has indeed helped thrust RMI asa research centre of excellence on creditrisk at a global level,” said NUS PresidentProf Tan Chorh Chuan at the conference.RMI was established in 2006 as auniversity-level research arm of NUSfocused on financial risk management.Headed by Cycle & Carriage Professor ofFinance Duan Jin-Chuan, the Instituteis supported by the MAS under itsProgramme on Risk Management andFinancial Innovation.DHL and NUS launch Asia Pacific’sfirst Sustainable Supply Chain CentreLEADING logistics company, DHL, and TheLogistics Institute-Asia Pacific (TLI-Asia Pacific),NUS, launched the first Sustainable Supply ChainCentre of Asia Pacific (SSCCAP) on 1 July 2010.“Given the projections for supply chain logisticsgrowth in the region, there is a need for an Asianfocus on sustainability,” saidDHL Supply Chain Asia PacificChief Executive Officer Mr PaulGraham.On the S$3 million Centre, NUSDeputy President (AcademicAffairs) and Provost Prof Tan EngChye said: “It will be a premiercentre for joint applied researchas well as for outreach andeducation complementing thewell-established THINK brandedprogrammes in the Institute’sportfolio of activities.”Key outputs of SSCCAP will include a “ThinkSustainability” conference series to bring keysupply chain stakeholders together, as wellas surveys, interviews and white papers topromote best practices. Rapid assessment tools tobecome industry references will be rolled out inpartnership with national policy teams.GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTSHosted at NUS’ TLI-Asia Pacific,the SSCCAP will have sevenfull-time employees and willbe steered by a committeecomprising representativesfrom DHL, NUS, the SingaporeEconomic Development Board,and industry partners.SUPPLY CHAIN CENTRE LAUNCH: (From left) NUS DeputyPresident (Academic Affairs) and Provost Prof Tan Eng Chyewith DHL Chief Executive Officer (Asia Pacific) Mr Paul GrahamA U G U S T 2 0 1 05

GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTSK N O W L E D G E E N T E R P R I S E6Singapore, Peking and Oxford ResearchEnterprise to promote water eco-efficiencyNUS, Peking University and the University of Oxfordjointly launched a S$63 million five-year initiative topromote research, education and commercialisation ofenvironmental and water technologies. Officiating thelaunch of the “Singapore, Peking and Oxford ResearchEnterprise (SPORE) for Water Eco-Efficiency” on 30June 2010 was Permanent Secretary of Singapore’sMinistry of the Environment and Water Resources MrTan Yong Soon.“NUS is very pleased to establish furthercollaborations this time in a very significant area ofglobal interest, water eco-efficiency, with two veryprestigious universities and fellow members of theInternational Alliance of Research Universities,” saidNUS Deputy President (Research and Technology) ProfBarry Halliwell.SPORE is also supported by the National ResearchFoundation’s Environment and Water IndustryProgramme Office (EWI), as well as competitiveresearch grants and industry partnerships. Hostedby the NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI),SPORE is headed by Prof Sam Li from NERI and theNUS Department of Chemistry.At least 40 research scientists and engineers areexpected to be trained through SPORE’s postgraduatedegree programmes and executive programmesover the next five years. The three universities willresearch into areas such as efficient systems for safedrinking water, integrated technology based on“Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R)”, and river ecologicalrehabilitation.SPORE will also look into market-oriented technologyexploitation, and has secured its first industrypartner, Sinomem Technology Limited, which will becontributing S$3 million funding over the next fiveyears to study eco-efficient and green technologies forwater treatment plant as well as green technologicalpark and eco-city planning, design and construction.LAUNCH OF RESEARCH ENTERPRISE: Keyrepresentatives of partnering organisations presentwere: (From left) Prof Alistair Borthwick, DeputyHead of Department of Engineering Science,University of Oxford; Prof Barry Halliwell, NUSDeputy President (Research and Technology); MrTan Yong Soon, Permanent Secretary of Singapore’sMinistry of the Environment and Water Resources;and Prof Wen Hai, Peking University Vice-PresidentDirector of the Yellow RiverConservancy Commissionspeaks at NUSDelta Programme Commissioner visits NUSDELTA Programme Commissioner Mr Wim Kuijkenwas at NUS on 29 June 2010 to meet up with NUSDeputy President (Research and Technology) ProfBarry Halliwell, Deanof the NUS Facultyof Engineering ProfChan Eng Soon, andSingapore-DelftWater Alliance(SDWA) DirectorAssoc Prof VladanBabovic. Alsoinvolved in themeeting were keyrepresentatives ofDeltares – ManagingDirector Mr HarryBaayen, Director ofAT NUS: Delta ProgrammeCommissioner Mr Wim KuijkenStrategic Researchand DevelopmentNUS hosted a public lecture by Director of theYellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC)Li Guoying on 30 June 2010. Jointly organisedby the NUS Environmental Research Institute,Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy andNUS Business School, with support from PUB,Singapore’s national water agency, the lecturewas on YRCC’s integrated water allocationprogramme. YRCC was presented with theprestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010during the recent Singapore InternationalWater Week, in recognition of its landmarkaccomplishments in integrated river basinmanagement.Prof Arthur Mynett, and Dr Nauta Tjitte, as well asSDWA researchers – Dr Carol Han, Dr Daniel Friess,Dr S K Ooi and Dr Joost Buurman.The first Delta Programme Commissioner, MrKuijken was appointed on 1 February 2010 fora term of seven years. His mission is to draw up,update and implement the Delta Programme,which involves the long-term safety of theNetherlands and its freshwater supply, on behalfof his country’s cabinet.SDWA is distinguished by its multinational,interdisciplinary research on water topics. Aninitiative of the National Research Foundation inSingapore, SDWA is a collaborative effort involvingPUB Singapore’s national water agency, NUSand Deltares. It is hosted by NUS which providesscientists and engineers involved with a base forresearch.

Bold project to improve liveabilityof global citiesFOUR eminent researchers from NUS, the SwissFederal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich)and University of Fribourg produced “An EmpiricalStudy on Ranking of Global Liveable Cities andPolicy Simulations”, commissioned by Centre forLiveable Cities (CLC), Singapore. The study centredon a Global Liveable Cities Index (GLCI) developedby the team which reflects the characteristics ofan ideal liveable city and suggests how cities indifferent parts of the world can progress to becomemore liveable.Summit 2010. “This shows that our objective is notjust a pure beauty contest, but to be constructive,to help those who are not ranked among the top,especially the emerging cities. Hopefully these citieswould come to us – to the CLC or the Global PolicyResearch Unit (GPRU) of the Lee Kuan Yew Schoolof Public Policy (LKY School) – which quite a numberof cities and ministers on behalf of cities have done.They want to know how their cities can improve,and we would work with them,” explained AssocProf Tan Khee Giap who heads the GLCI study.The GLCI is more comprehensive and balancedthan other existing frameworks due its widerange of indicators which are grouped under fivecategories: economic vibrancy and competitiveness,environmental friendliness and sustainability,domestic security and stability, quality of life anddiversity, and good governance and effectiveleadership.Using the GLCI, the team evaluated and ranked64 global cities and 35 Asian cities. However, theydisclosed only the position of the top 35 globalcities and 20 Asian cities at the recent World CitiesRANKING OF GLOBAL LIVEABLE CITIES: Headingthe study is Assoc Prof Tan Khee Giap at theGlobal Policy Research Unit of NUS’ LKY SchoolHis team’s greater interest was to benefit theordinary stakeholder in emerging cities. Hencetheir methodology included “what-if” simulationswhich showed potentially better results that couldbe achieved upon improvements made in certainweaker areas.Each of the four researchers in the teambrings to the project a wealth of experienceand expertise. Both Assoc Prof Tan and his coauthorAssoc Prof Chen Kang, founders of NUS’LKY School’s GPRU, are well-known for theirknowledge of the Chinese economy. Their Asianexpertise complements the understanding ofEurope and North America of their other twocollaborators: University of Fribourg Prof HansWolfgang Brachinger, an expert statistician; andETH Zurich Prof Renate Schubert, a prominentenvironmentalist. Renowned economist Prof WingThye Woo, who holds concurrent portfolios inBrookings Institution, University of California andColumbia University, is a discussant to this study.Moving on to the next phase of the study, theresearch team hopes to enhance the relevanceand accuracy of the GLCI by including more cities,gathering more data and working more closelywith forthcoming institutions and cities, as wellas acquiring adequate funding to enable theseendeavours. The final report is targeted for releaseat the World Cities Summit 2012.Crucial index measuring adequacy ofdrinking water in over 144 countriesTHE lack of a good measuring tool formonitoring access to drinking waterprompted four researchers from theInstitute of Water Policy (IWP) of NUS’Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy(LKY School) to come up with a firstof-its-kindIndex of Drinking WaterAdequacy (IDWA). The IDWA measuresand compares countries’ performancesin providing adequate drinking water tocitizens using the following indicators:resource availability, access to improveddrinking water sources, capacity to buywater, water usage and quality.The thinking, methodology andapplication of IDWA are elucidatedin a monograph entitled Index ofMONOGRAPH: It showsthe Index of DrinkingWater Adequacy (IDWA)for 23 Asian economiesand the IDWA-Global for144 economies of theworldDrinking Water Adequacy (IDWA):International and Intra-nationalExplorations. The monograph waslaunched at IWP’s Second GlobalWater Policy Dialogue on 30 June2010. Co-edited by Visiting Professorat the IWP Bhanoji Rao and foundingDirector of both IWP and the NUSGlobal Asia Institute Prof SeetharamKallidaikurichi E, the monographalso includes contributions from IWPResearch Associates Ms Fan Mingxuanand Mr Ngo Quang Vinh. It shows theIDWA for 23 Asian economies and theIDWA-Global for 144 economies of theworld, and covers intra-country studiesacross Indian states, Chinese provincesand Vietnam.A U G U S T 2 0 1 07

Rekindling memories and renewing tiesat Homecoming 2010FOND memories and joyous reunions make everyhomecoming at NUS an occasion to look forwardto. More than 1,000 alumni participated in thisyear’s Homecoming @ Bukit Timah Campus (BTC)and Homecoming @ Kent Ridge Campus (KRC). Forthe Class of 1960, Homecoming @ BTC on 8 July2010 was extra special because it marked the 50 thanniversary of their graduation.Speaking at the Homecoming dinner at BTC,NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan said: “itis wonderful that today and throughout thesepast few years we are seeing our alumni comingCAKE-CUTTING CEREMONY: Class of 1960 celebrating thegolden anniversary of their graduation with dinner gueststogether, bonding with the rest of the university,being part of the wider community, enriching ourcommunity; and I hope the community, too, isbringing joy and enriching our alumni’s lives.”He also took the opportunity to encourage thealumni present at the dinner to participate in someof NUS’ many events occurring throughout theyear, and added that “we very much like to buildfurther on the NUS community, particularly to drawupon the talent, expertise and energies of ouralumni, including all of you here.”Besides entertaining speeches, other highlightsof the two homecoming events included campustours, musical performances, sumptuous buffetspreads, a wine appreciation workshop, and afascinating lecture on forensic science given by NUSAlumni Advisory Board Member and Adjunct AssocProf Stella Tan.Homecoming @ KRC on 10 July 2010 also saw 12students being presented with the NUS AlumniStudent Exchange Award and 185 new alumnifrom the Class of 2010 being appointed as ClassAmbassadors, that is, alumni leaders who willbe encouraging their cohort of friends to stayconnected with one another and with their almamater.Family’s gift to help needy studentsTHE Wan Boo Sow Charity Fund Limited, set upby the children of the late Mr Wan Boo Sow andwife Mdm Annie Tan, has made a gift to NUS tohelp students in financial need.The Fund was established to honour the memoryof Mr Wan (a Pharmacy graduate of NUS’predecessor institution, King Edward VII College ofMedicine, Class of 1948) and Mdm Tan.K N O W L E D G E E N T E R P R I S E8Despite being born into poverty, Mr Wan went onto complete his education and created a successfulbusiness manufacturing insecticide under thebrand name of “Ridsect”. He is remembered by hischildren – five of whom are also NUS alumni – as ahumble and kind man who lived according to hismaxim: “If you always think only of yourself, youwill always be unhappy”, and as someone whowas always ready to help the less fortunate.The Wan Boo Sow and Annie Tan Bursary willsupport NUS students from its Alice Lee Centrefor Nursing Studies, Department of Pharmacy,KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISE n AUGUST 2010 VOLUME 10 NO. 02Editor: Fua Lee Na n Writer: Veronique Y W Ah Sen n Distribution Manager: Matthew SeahOffice of Corporate Relations, National University of SingaporeUniversity Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing UHL#05-03, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077Tel: (65) 6601 1341 Fax: (65) 6775 6386 E-mail: Knowledge_Enterprise@nus.edu.sg Website: newshub.nus.edu.sgISSN 0219-614X Company Registration Number: 200604346EMr Wan Boo Sow (right) showing former Deputy PrimeMinister of Singapore Dr Goh Keng Swee (middle)around the Ridsect factory at its official openingDepartment of Social Work and the Faculty ofLaw, who face financial difficulties.To find out how you can make a tribute gift toNUS to honour the memory of your loved ones,please contact Ms Clara Lim at clara.lim@nus.edu.sg or telephone 6516-7489.Cover photo courtesy of MCS Lifestyle Photography