NUS Formula Race Car in top 20 ranking at international ... - NewsHub

NUS Formula RaceCar in top 20 rankingat international FSAEcompetitionSIXTEEN STUDENTS from NUS Facultyof Engineering did Singapore proud bybeing the only team from Asia to be inthe top 20 ranking in the prestigiousinternational intervarsity FormulaSociety of Automotive Engineers (FSAE)competition. Held at the MichiganInternational Speedway in USA, the NUSFSAE team took 19th place in the racecar competition which had a total of 119registered teams.Students from top universities worldwidehad to design and build their car fromscratch for the competition. Over threedays, the teams were judged on areassuch as Formula race car engineeringdesign, marketing presentation andfour dynamic tests, including a 22kmendurance race to test the performance,reliability and durability of their race car.The NUS FSAE team almost missed thecompetition due to a precautionarysuspension on official travel to affectedcountries following the global InfluenzaA (H1N1) situation. Fortunately, sixdays before the competition, the travelsuspension was lifted and the teamproceeded with their trip to the UnitedStates for the FSAE competition.Faculty Advisor for the NUS FSAE RaceCar project Assoc Prof Seah Kar Hengsaid: “The 2009 NUS Formula SAE teamhas built a fantastic car, as proven by thecompetition results. If we had not come,we would never know how good the caris and its educational value would havebeen lost.”At the competition, the NUS FSAEteam also bagged the 6th prize in thepresentation segment and came in 16th inthe 22km endurance race.

May/June 2009Vol.08 No.10Editor’s RoundupTEN DISTINGUISHED educators, researchers andprofessionals were paid tribute at this year’sUniversity Awards. Honoured for their distinctionin areas of education, research and service to theUniversity, these exceptional individuals haveshown fervour and dedication in their workand have made notable contributions in theirrespective fields. At the award ceremony held on24 April 2009, NUS President Tan Chorh Chuansaid: “Each of them has recognised the potentialto produce real impact and value in theirteaching, research or service, and in the peoplearound them. Acting boldly and with passion,they have unleashed that potential.”To further enhance the University’s learningenvironment, the NUS Teaching Academy isestablished with the aim of fostering a strongculture of teaching excellence, adding to theongoing efforts to enhance the quality of anNUS education. Tapping on the University’s besteducators, the 18 members of the Academy areprevious recipients of the Outstanding EducatorAward – they will drive various projects, includingdeveloping new educational thinking andinitiatives aligned with the University’s visionand mission, and serve as mentors to futuregenerations of educators.In the ongoing pursuit of excellence, NUS hasalso scored accolades in other areas. At this year’sShell Eco-marathon in Germany, the NUS eco-carmoved up 13 positions from last year’s position torank 5 th in the competition. Also racing their wayup the international rankings is the NUS FormulaSociety of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) teamfrom the Faculty of Engineering – it was the onlyteam from Asia to be ranked in the top 20 at theprestigious inter-varsity FSAE competition in USA.Another remarkable achievement was attainedby two researchers from the NUS Centre forQuantum Technologies. Dr Murray Barrett andMr Kyle Arnold have successfully achieved the“Bose-Einstein condensation”, an importantphenomenon in many areas of physics andcurrently the subject of intense theoretical andexperimental study. This is a significant localachievement that not only raises the nation’sstanding in the league of experimental atomicphysics, but provides local researchers withthe most sophisticated tools to investigate thequantum properties of matter.In April this year, NUS also hosted the StateCouncillor of the People’s Republic of China, HerExcellency Madam Liu Yandong. During the visit,Madam Liu expressed her admiration for NUS’status as an attractive and competitive worldclassuniversity. She also noted that the strongbilateral relations between Singapore and Chinaserves as the foundation for close cooperationand exchange between NUS and several Chineseuniversities.Editor: Jinny Claire SimWriter: Veronique Y W Ah SenDistribution Manager: Matthew SeahOffice of Corporate RelationsNational University of SingaporeUniversity Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing UHL#05-0321 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077Tel: (65) 6516 6822 Fax: (65) 6775 6386E-mail: Knowledge_Enterprise@nus.edu.sgwebsite: newshub.nus.edu.sgISSN 0219-614XCompany Registration Number: 200604346E

2May/June 2009Outstanding achievers recognisedNUS HONOURED 10 outstanding individuals atUniversity Awards 2009 for their excellence ineducation, research and service to the University.This year’s recipients have set new standards intransformative education, research and servicededication.Speaking at the award ceremony held at theUniversity Cultural Centre on 24 April 2009, NUSPresident Prof Tan Chorh Chuan said: “The passion,boldness and achievements of the University Awardrecipients inspire us to reach even higher, propellingNUS to the next level of excellence. In doing so,we can help shape the future through thoughtleadershipand transformative global education andresearch.He added: “As educators, our goal and responsibilityis to help our students discover their latent talentsand to unleash the potential within. And to dothis, we need to stretch them, to challenge themintellectually and to take them out of their comfortzone so that they can grow as individuals.”Prof Tan also said that the environment and supportin NUS for research and scholarship is getting betterand better – faculties are tackling tougher researchquestions which have the potential to unlock highimpactinsights and discoveries.Introduced this year was the Outstanding Partner inResearch Award which recognises individuals whohave made exceptional accomplishments in his orher research field, and achieved highly-significantcontributions in enhancing the research reputationof NUS.The annual University Awards honours andrecognises the best in NUS for their consistentlyoutstandingperformance and resolute commitment.Eight recipients were cited this year for excellingin education and research; one was awarded forOutstanding Service and another conferred anEmeritus Professorship.OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARDAssoc Prof Goh Say Song, Department ofMathematics at the Faculty of Science, is involved inthe formulation, implementation and evaluation ofteaching.Assoc Prof Kenneth Paul Tan, Lee Kuan Yew Schoolof Public Policy, engages in various aspects of tertiaryeducation – from curriculum development andchange to creating opportunities for internationalstudents to interact with Singapore leaders.OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER AWARDProf Wong Tien Yin, Department of Ophthalmologyat the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, has ledgroundbreaking research into the role of retinalimaging to further understand the mechanismsand pathways of diseases, including diabetes. He iswidely credited for retinal examinations becomingincreasingly common in international clinicalguidelines and their value in identifying risk fordiseases.YOUNG RESEARCHER AWARDAssoc Prof Markus Wenk, Department ofBiochemistry at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine& Department of Biological Sciences at the FacultyNUS establishes education think-tankIN CONJUNCTION with theUniversity Awards 2009, aneducation think-tank drawing onthe excellence of NUS educatorshas been set-up. The NUS TeachingAcademy is aimed at contributingto key educational processes withinthe University.“The Teaching Academy willdraw on the very best teachersin our University to help driveNUS’ education to new heights ofexcellence, and play a critical rolein shaping the University’s policiesand directions in education,”announced NUS President Prof TanChorh Chuan.Noting that the Academy will boostongoing efforts in improving thequality of NUS education, NUSDeputy President (Academic Affairs)& Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye,said: “By enabling our exemplaryeducators to share their expertiseand innovative teaching methodswith the University community,we hope to enhance the learningenvironment at NUS.”The Teaching Academy willcomprise winners of theUniversity’s Outstanding EducatorAward as well as electedfaculty who have contributedsignificantly to education inNUS. The Fellows will spearheadefforts in promoting excellence inteaching and learning at NUS, andprovide leadership in educationalinitiatives such as teaching andlearning master-classes, andmentorship schemes among otherroles. The Fellows will also serve asambassadors and connectors forthe University and the NUS Centrefor Development of Teachingand Learning. Beginning with 18Fellows, there are plans to increasethe number to 30 in the next fiveyears.One of the Academy’s first taskswill involve the developmentof new educational thinkingand initiatives in line with NUS’Global-Asia strategy. NUS BusinessSchool’s Assoc Prof Jochen Wirtz,who is also the Academic Directorof the UCLA-NUS Executive MBAProgram and a Teaching AcademyFellow, said: “There are a lot ofcommon issues in teaching andlearning which cut across faculties,presenting opportunities for crosslearningand cross-fertilisationamongst the various faculties anddepartments.”

May/June 20093at NUS University Awards 2009OUTSTANDING ACHIEVERS: (Back row, from left): Assoc Prof Ng How Yong, Assoc Prof Mansoor Bin Abdul Jalil, Assoc Prof Goh Say Song,Prof Mohan Balasubramanian (on behalf of Prof William Chia), Prof Hew Choy Leong, Prof Liu Thai Ker, Prof Wong Tien Yin, Assoc ProfKenneth Paul Tan, Assoc Prof Markus Wenk and Assoc Prof Melvyn Sim. (Front row, from left): NUS Deputy President (Administration)Mr Joseph Mullinix, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye, NUS Board of Trustees member Mr ChandraMohan Nair, Pro Chancellor Mr Ngiam Tong Dow, NUS Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong, NUS President Prof Tan ChorhChuan and NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology) Prof Barry Halliwell.of Science is well-known for his research work inthe field of lipidomics, or the study of pathways andnetworks of cellular lipids in biological systems.Assoc Prof Ng How Yong, Division of EnvironmentalScience & Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering,is highly regarded as being among the top 100researchers in his field of physical and chemicalprocesses; membrane processes for waterquality control and water reuse; environmentalmicrobiology; and biological processes for wastewater treatment.Assoc Prof Mansoor Bin Jalil, Department ofElectrical & Computer Engineering at the Facultyof Engineering, has some 100 journal papers onnanotechnology and condensed matter physics tohis name. He has had more than 300 citations in thelast five years.Assoc Prof Melvyn Sim, Department of DecisionSciences at the NUS Business School, is a notedresearcher for his work in Robust Optimizationtheory and applications.OUTSTANDING PARTNER IN RESEARCH AWARDProf William Chia, Adjunct Professor at theDepartment of Biological Sciences at the Facultyof Science and Temasek Senior Investigator of theTemasek Life Sciences Laboratory, has been workingon high impact research in neural development andasymmetric cell division for over two decades. Hisfindings have had important implications for stemcellbiology and neural disorders.OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDProf Liu Thai Ker, Adjunct Professor at the Lee KuanYew School of Public Policy, is a pioneer in theimplementation of public housing and formulationof a vision for the urban development of Singapore.EMERITUS PROFESSORProf Hew Choy Leong, Department of BiologicalSciences at the Faculty of Science, has madedistinguished contributions to the field of biologicalsciences, in areas such as fish antifreeze proteins andthe development of transgenic fish technology.Singapore urban development pioneer honouredTHE MAN behind the implementation ofpublic housing and formulation of a visionfor the urban development of Singapore,Prof Liu Thai Ker, received the OutstandingService Award at the University Awards2009. Prof Liu is currently Adjunct Professorat the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.He is also the director of RSP ArchitectsPlanners and Engineers (Pte) Ltd.As Chief Architect and later Chief Executive Officer ofthe Housing Development Board (1969-1989), Prof Liuguided the Board’s planning concepts which included thecreation of two dozen self-sufficient new towns for some200,000 people each. Under the “Home Ownership forAll” policy helmed by the Government, Prof Liu oversawthe completion of more than half a million dwelling units.He went on to serve as the Chief Executive Officerand Chief Planner at the Urban RedevelopmentAuthority (URA) (1989 to 1992). During his timeat the URA, he oversaw and completed therevision of the Concept Plan which contributed toSingapore’s development into a vibrant global city.On his association with NUS, Prof Liu said: “Iam happy to be involved with NUS on academicmatters, campus planning and architecture. It is aprivilege and pleasure to see NUS growing from strength tostrength.”He hopes that through professional practice, he willcontinue to “push the boundaries of urban planning,environmental technologies and architecture in the interestof sustainability, liveability and beauty.”

4May/June 2009New members appointed to NUSBoard of TrusteesNUS ANNOUNCED the appointment of four prominent leaders from the business, real estateand investment sectors as new members of the Board of Trustees on 14 April 2009. They are:• Mr Hans-Dieter BottFormer Managing Director of Siemens Pte LtdImmediate Past President of Singaporean-GermanChamber of Industry and Commerce• Mr Hiew Yoon KhongChief Executive Officer of Mapletree InvestmentsPte LtdSenior Managing Director, Special Projects ofTemasek Holdings (Pte) Ltd• Mr Michael LienExecutive Director of Wah Hin and CompanyPte Ltd• Mr Sunny VergheseGroup Managing Director and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Olam International LtdNUS Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Wong NgitLiong said, "To meet the challenges of an everevolving global landscape, it is essential forthe Board to constantly renew itself to ensurethat NUS has the best and most able leadershipteam at helm to help shape its vision, chart itsfuture and pursue excellence with unrelentingvigour. I am confident that Hans, Yoon Khong,Michael and Sunny will bring to the Board theirindividual foresight, drive, wisdom and uniqueexperiences that will benefit the NUS and itscommunity."Under the leadership of Mr Wong, the NUSBoard of Trustees now comprises a total of 24outstanding leaders from diverse industries.Students welcome engaging with the BoardIN THE first of a series of monthly gatherings betweenstudents and members of the NUS Board of Trustees(BOT) , NUS students have welcomed the opportunityto interact with Board Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VentureCorporation Ltd, and BOT members Mr ChandraMohan K Nair, Partner, Tan Rajah & Cheah, andLG (NS) Ng Yat Chung, Senior Managing Director(Corporate Development, Portfolio Management andSystems), Temasek Holdings (Pte) Ltd.the opportunity to consult them in areas in whichthey require guidance. In return, BOT members hopeto get to know the students better and learn moreabout issues concerning them. Each of these sessionswill see BOT members hosting about eight studentsfrom diverse backgrounds and disciplines.Ms Sana Syeda Rahman, who attended the firstmeeting said: “These meetings are beneficial as it isa privilege to have the chance to learn from peoplewho are successful leaders in theirrespective fields. We have muchto gain learning from their insightsand guidance, which will help usfind the right direction in planningfor our careers.”ENGAGING STUDENTS: Board Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong (seated in the middle)interacting with students at the first monthly gathering.Mr Wong said: “Through these sessions, we hope toreach out to as many students as possible to betterunderstand the challenges they face as students, aswell as the richness of their educational experiencehere in NUS.”Besides being able to garner advice from BOTmembers during these meetings, students also haveAt the inaugural meeting heldon 15 May 2009, students talkedabout the challenges that theyface, their career aspirationsand gave suggestions onhow to further improve theeducational experience in NUS.They also shared on matters suchas accommodation and theirexperience living in Singapore.In sharing why they felt NUS tobe a university of choice, thestudents cited the good reputation that NUS enjoyswhich gives them a competitive edge in their futureendeavours.Following the first session, the University aims toreach out to a larger pool of students and encouragegreater interaction between students and membersof the BOT.

May/June 2009 5China’s State Councillor VisitsWITH CHINA currently conducting acomprehensive review of its tertiary educationsystem, the visit to NUS by the Chinese StateCouncillor underscores the Chinese view thatculturally, China and Singapore have a lot incommon and can learn from each other ineducation and research.global education programmes to train studentsto be effective in diverse cultures, and not justin a local setting; and placing emphasis on thedevelopment of postgraduate and PhD educationto equip students with the skills to continuallyacquire vital knowledge at various stages of theircareers.This observation was made by State Councillorof the People’s Republic of China, Her ExcellencyMadam Liu Yandong, when she called on NUS on24 April 2009. Her visit to Singapore was also herfirst to an Asian country since her appointment asState Councillor last year.Madam Liu observed that the strong bilateralrelationship between Singapore and Chinaforms the foundation for close cooperationand exchange between NUS and many Chineseuniversities. She expressed her admiration forNUS’ status as an attractive and competitiveworld-class university, with its continuous pursuitof excellence and provision of a broad-basededucation that develops well-rounded graduateswho can contribute to society.FOSTERING CLOSER COOPERATION: (From left) State Councillorof the People’s Rrepublic of China, Her Excellency Madam LiuYandong; NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan; Cancer ScienceInstitute of Singapore, Experimental Therapeutics ProgrammeLeader Dr Goh Boon Cher.STRENTHENING ALONG-STANDINGPARTNERSHIP:Members of theChinese delegationand NUS SeniorManagement.In his welcome remarks, NUS President Prof TanChorh Chuan said the University was honoured tohost HE Madam Liu and her delegation, addingthat there is much collaboration between bothcountries especially in the areas of educationand science. “I look forward to deepening andstrengthening this long-standing partnership.”During the discussion, Madam Liu showedinterest in learning more about the University’splans to prepare students to meet the challengesof the future. Prof Tan shared the three keychanges made to the education offered by NUS:providing a broad-based education to preparestudents for a lifetime of different careers,rather than a career for a lifetime; launchingMadam Liu later toured the TranslationalInterface Core Facility of the NUS Cancer ScienceInstitute of Singapore where she learnedmore about the cutting-edge research projectsconducted by the Institute, one of the threeResearch Centres of Excellence at NUS. Thefacility was established to help integrate clinicaland laboratory research in the prevention andtreatment of cancer.In undertaking its comprehensive review ofChina’s tertiary education system, Madam Liusaid that China has also sent delegates to visiteducational institutions in various parts ofthe world, including those in the US, UK andSwitzerland.

6May/June 2009NUS eco-car ranks 5 th at ShellEco-marathonKRUCE – short for Kent Ridge Urban ConceptEcocar – represented NUS at the world-renownedShell Eco-marathon competition in EuroSpeedwayLausitz, Germany in May this year. KRUCE is thefirst eco-friendly urban concept car with zerocarbon emission in Singapore that was designedand built by of a team of Engineering students,in collaboration with the School of Design andEnvironment.Powered by hydrogen fuel cell and with anexcellent noise damping feature, KRUCE was firstunveiled by NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuanand Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof ChanEng Soon at NUS University Hall on 20 April 2009.The aerodynamic structure and power sourceof this year’s entry was built from scratch by 10students from the Departments of MechanicalEngineering, and Electrical and ComputerEngineering. The body of the car was designedand fabricated by the School of Design andEnvironment’s Design Incubation Centreteam, working in close collaboration with theEngineering students.With a customised hydrogen fuel cell powerplant that drives an electric wheel hub motor, theteam was able to ensure that the single-seaterKRUCE achieves twice the energy efficiency ofconventional internal combustion engines. TheAt the Shell Ecomarathoncompetitionon 9 May 2009, NUScompeted against 66teams from over 30different countries inthe Urban Conceptcategory. The teamwas ranked 5 th overallin the category,moving up morethan 10 places fromtheir overall 18thranking achieved inFrance in 2008. Theywere also ranked 4 thinternationally inthe Fuel Cell Vehiclecategory. The NUSteam managed toachieve the highrankings despitehaving only the timeto compete in thelast official run. Theymissed the two earlier official runs due to theUniversity’s overseas travel suspension owing tothe global Influenza A (H1N1) situation.GOING GREEN WITH KRUCE: (From left) NUS Eco-car project supervisor Assoc Prof Lu Wen Fen; Deanof the Faculty of Engineering Prof Chan Eng Soon and NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan with theEco-car team.cell-like design of the car, which gives it a loweraerodynamic drag, allows for easy access to themechanical components for trouble-shooting.Team leader Zhang Weisheng said: “We racedagainst time to assemble the car back to optimumworking condition for the technical inspection,working late into the night until access to thepaddock area is no longer allowed. Some ofthe team members had to struggle with theirjetlag as they had no rest following arrival at theairport. We passed the technical inspection in themorning of 9 May, the last day of the race, andmanaged to take part in the last official run inthe afternoon.”The team behind KRUCE began designing theconcept car last August, working closely withGashub Technologies.The urban concept eco-car is a model project forthe Faculty of Engineering’s new NUS Design-Centric Engineering Curriculum (DCC), analternative learning pathway offered for the firsttime by a university in Asia. This will be availableto freshmen at the Faculty of Engineering in thiscoming academic year.

May/June 2009 7Prof Wang Gungwu conferred HonoraryDoctorate by the University of CambridgeIN RECOGNITION of his contributions as ahistorian of China and the Chinese, Chairman ofthe East Asian Institute Prof Wang Gungwu wasconferred the Honorary Doctorate of Letters bythe University of Cambridge on 12 June 2009.The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters isconferred upon outstandingindividuals who have madescholarly contributions at theinternational level, in the arts,humanities or social sciences.Prof Wang is the first Chinesehistorian to be honoured by theUniversity.On his conferment, Prof Wangsaid: “I am deeply honouredthat my work on Chinese historyis considered to be significantenough to be recognised. Moreimportantly, China’s positionnow attracts wider attentionand universities acknowledgethat understanding China’shistory is invaluable to thosewho want to engage China fromnow on.”As one of the world’s leading authorities onChinese studies, Prof Wang’s work focusesprimarily on Chinese history and the history ofMAKING HISTORY: Chairman ofthe East Asian Institute Prof WangGungwu.relations between Southeast Asia and China.Of particular relevance to the present are issuesrelating to the rise of China and its economic andpolitical relationships with the region.In the course of his career in academia, Prof Wanghas received several awards,including being elected Presidentof the Australian Academy of theHumanities, 1980-1983 and madeForeign Honorary Member of theAmerican Academy of Arts andScience in 1994. Prof Wang wasalso awarded the InternationalAcademic Prize, Fukuoka AsianCultural Prizes in 1994 and thePublic Service Star Award fromthe Government of Singapore in2008.With the conferment of theHonorary Doctorate of Lettersby Cambridge, Prof Wangjoins eminent leaders fromthe myriad fields of religion,business, science, music, history,philanthropy, politics andeconomics to have received theaward at a Congregation in a ceremony laudedas a colourful ‘scarlet day’ in Cambridge’s Senate-House.EAI shares China insight with Thai PrincessTHE EAST Asian Institute (EAI) which aims to promoteacademic and policy-oriented research on East Asianeconomies including contemporary China, providedan insightful appraisal of China and its economy toThailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn duringHer Royal Highness’ recent visit to the Institute on23 April 2009. The Princess, travelling with her royaldelegation, was in Singapore for a five-day visit on theinvitation of President S R Nathan.Accompanying Her Royal Highness on the visit to NUSwas Minister for Community Development, Youth andSports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and his wife, Mrs JoyBalakrishnan.During the discussion, EAI Chairman Prof WangGungwu mentioned that China is now faced withcompetition from a number of players on the globalstage. EAI Director Prof Zheng Yongnian added thatunder China’s Hu-Wen administration, namedafter General Secretary Hu Jintao and PremierWen Jiabao, more attention was given to statemacro-control as well as issues pertaining topublic health care, social security, education andmarket regulations. Prof Zheng also highlightedChina’s anti-corruption efforts. This wasfollowed by an insight into China’s economicsituation amidst the current global downturnby EAI Research Director Prof John Wong.BILATERAL TIES: (From left) Mrs Joy Balakrishnan; Dr VivianBalakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth andSports; Prof Wang Gungwu, Chairman of the EAI; Her RoyalHighness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn; Prof Zheng Yongnian,Director of the EAI and Prof John Wong, Research Director of EAI.Her Royal Highness noted that Thailandcould likely tap on EAI’s expertise to betterunderstand China in relation to issues such asnationalism, urban planning and the Chineseeconomy. This is Her Royal Highness’ third visitto EAI since 1999.

8May/June 2009Development of sustainableplant energy efficienciesNUS partners K S Natural ResourcesTHE YEAR-LONG partnership between K SNatural Resources (KSNR) and NUS Faculty ofEngineering’s Minerals, Metals and MaterialsTechnology Centre (M3TC) was announced on21 April 2009. The Centre will serve as thetechnological solutions and research anddevelopment arm of KSNR.KSNR, the fully-owned Singapore-basedsubsidiary of India’s K S Oils Ltd (KS) and one ofIndia’s leading agri-based public listed companies,is also the first such company from India to beconferred International Headquarters (IHQ) statusby the Economic Development Board (EDB) onthe same day.“There are close to 3,700 companies from Indiawho have a presence in Singapore today,” saidEDB Assistant Managing Director Mr Quek SweeKuan. “K S has become the first agri-basedcompany from India to join our distinctive groupof companies which have been conferred theInternational Headquarters status.”The company’s establishment in Singaporethrough KSNR is part of its strategy to becomea fully-integrated edible oil company withcapabilities across the entire value chain.Explaining his company’s expansion, K S OilsManaging Director Mr Sanjay Agarwal said“We want to replicate our success in India first inAsia, and then across the globe. With agri-assetsand a strong backend supply chain both in Indiaand abroad, we aim to become a leader in one ofthe key global edible oil markets – India.”KSNR and M3TC have been working on R&Din mineral analysis and suitability of lands forplantations, energy saving systems using theCentre’s developed mathematical-modellingcapabilities, as well as on continuous educationand training of KSNR employees. M3TC CentreDirector Prof Arun Sadashiv Mujumdar, said “Thispast year we have successfully completed thefirst stage of work with KSNR, which involvedextensive mineral and nutrient analyses ofplantation sites in order to devise an optimal planto achieve accelerated crop growth.”M3TC Director of Operations Dr Joshua Kumaradded that further mineral analyses on potentialfuture plantation sites for KSNR have beencarried out, while the third phase of collaborationwill be targeted to provide state-of-the-arttechnological solutions towards optimising KSGroup’s overall production facilities.Mr Sanjay also added that the KS Group is acompany that is truly open to new ideas andinnovative technological solutions in the effortto develop an overall sustainable, low-costproduction model.KSNR aims to achieve annual revenue ofUSD 1 billion by 2014 through trading andshipping activities in Singapore and oilinvestment in Malaysia and Indonesia.GLOBAL EXPANSION: (From left) Prof Arun Sadashiv Mujumdar, Director of the Minerals, Metals and Materials TechnologyCentre, NUS; Mr Sanjay Agarwal, Managing Director of K S Oils; Mr Jimmy Mahtani, board member of K S Oils and Mr QuekSwee Kuan, Assistant Managing Director at the Economic Development Board.

May/June 2009 9Discovering the coolest spot onthe EquatorTHE CENTRE for Quantum Technologies (CQT) – Singapore’sfirst Research Centre of Excellence – might well beconsidered the coolest place on the Equator. Investigatorsat the CQT laboratories have successfully accomplished theBose-Einstein condensation, in which a collection of atomsreach a state of matter that is as cold as the fundamentallaws of physics will allow.The Bose-Einstein condensate is named after SatyendraNath Bose and Albert Einstein who predicted such a statein 1924. However, it was not until 1995 that a groupof researchers managed to produce the Bose-Einsteincondensate in the laboratory. In recognition of their work,they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001. InSingapore, CQT’s Principal Investigator Dr Murray Barrettand PhD student Kyle Arnold have successfully produced thestate near the Equator.Dr Murray Barrett likened a gas of atoms or moleculesto a collection of billiard balls bouncing off one another.He noted that temperature provides a measure of howenergetic or fast the molecules move. “However, in thepeculiar world of quantum physics, it is impossible to obtainprecise knowledge of both the position and speed of anatom at the same time,” he said.He explained that the “billiard balls” description of atomsbreak down when they reach a critical temperature lessthan a millionth of a degree above absolute zero, whichis 0 Kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius. “The atoms becomeso cold that the uncertainty in their position is comparableto the separation between atoms. This means that severalatoms can occupy the same region of space at the sametime and this is something that billiard balls simply cannotdo! At this critical temperature, all the atoms condenseinto the lowest energy state available. They lose theirindividuality completely and behave as a single quantumentity – the Bose-Einstein condensate.The condensates are produced only in the world’s mostadvanced laboratories. The achievement of the CQT istestament to Singapore being in the premier league ofexperimental atomic physics and provides local researcherswith the most sophisticated tools in which to investigatethe quantum properties of matter. While to-date there isyet applications for the condensates, there are potentialapplications in fields such as nanotechnology andholography on the horizon.BOSE-EINSTEINCONDENSATERESEARCHERS:Dr MurrayBarrett (left)with KyleArnold.QUANTUM RESEARCH: Dr Tony Tan (centre) withDr Murray Barrett (second from right) and KyleArnold (far left) at CQT lab.Building researchexcellenceSINGAPORE is able to attract thebrightest and most committed researchtalent to carry out breakthrough science.Speaking at the NUS Centre for QuantumTechnologies (CQT) where two of theCentre’s researchers achieved the“Bose-Einstein condensate” on22 April 2009, Chairman of the NationalResearch Foundation Dr Tony Tan said:“I commend the CQT for achieving sucha difficult undertaking in a relativelyshort time. The remarkable achievementof Dr Murray Barrett and Kyle Arnoldmakes Singapore one of a small numberof countries in the world to achieve thiscomplex atomic physics experiment.”To-date, only a select number ofcountries in the region including Japanand Australia are known to have beenable to produce the condensate.Dr Tan highlighted that despite thecurrent economic downturn, Singaporewill still continue to invest in researchand development. It is only in doing sothat the country will not stagnate and beovertaken by other developed nations.The CQT is the first Research Centre ofExcellence (RCE) established in Singaporeto help local universities becomeresearch-intensive through world-class,investigator-led research that has aglobal impact. Besides helping first-rateacademic investigators perform highquality, high-impact research, RCEs aimto enhance graduate education and trainquality research manpower. It also aimsto create new knowledge in areas ofstrategic relevance to Singapore.

10May/June 2009Urine test study a first inpredicting lung-cancer riskSCIENTISTS have found the reason why somesmokers are more likely to develop lung cancerthan others from a study that is the first to link atobacco-specific chemical in urine to lung-cancerrisk in humans.A research team led by Assoc Prof Koh Woon Puayof the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine’sDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health,and Assoc Prof Yuan Jian-Min of the University ofMinnesota, found that the level of a metabolite– NNAL – from a tobacco-specific chemicalmeasured in the urine of smokers correlated withtheir subsequent risk of lung cancer.The results of the study were presented at theAmerican Association of Cancer Research’s 100 thannual meeting in Denver, USA, in April thisyear. The findings were also published in theprestigious biomedical journal Cancer Research.Measurements done on urine samples showedthat smokers who subsequently developed lungcancer had elevated levels of NNAL in their urineat baseline relative to smokers who remainedfree of cancer. In fact, smokers with the highesttertile of urinary NNAL measurement had a morethan 2 times increased risk of developing lungcancer compared to those in the lowest tertile.When both levels of cotinine (a metabolite ofnicotine) and NNAL were measured, it was foundthat smokers who had high levels of both NNALand cotinine had an 8 ½ times increased risk ofdeveloping lung cancer.The Singapore Chinese Health Study, conductedby the Department of Epidemiology and PublicHealth in the National University of Singapore,is a prospective, long-term study of dietary,genetic and environmental determinants ofcancer and other chronic diseases in Singapore.CANCER RESEARCH: Assoc Prof Koh Woon Puay (left) with Assoc Prof Yuan Jian-Min.The research examined 63,257 men and women ina Singapore cohort (The Singapore Chinese HealthStudy) and 18,244 men in a Shanghai cohort. Theresearchers conducted personal interviews toassess intensity and duration of cigarette smoking,alcohol consumption, dietary and lifestylefactors, and medical history of the participantsat recruitment between 1993 and 1998 for theSingapore cohort, and between 1986 and 1989for the Shanghai cohort. The team also collectedblood and urine samples from more than 50,000participants in these two cohorts. Among thesmokers who donated urine for the researchand after an average of five years in follow-up,researchers identified 246 smokers who went onto develop lung cancer and compared them with245 smokers who did not develop the disease.The study was established between April 1993and December 1998 by the recruitment of aresidential cohort of 63,257 middle-aged andelderly Chinese men and women. Assoc Prof Kohnoted: “This study would not have been possiblewithout our Singaporean participants who werewilling to contribute information about theirlifestyle and bio-specimens for the purpose ofresearch. By participating in such prospectivestudies, any Singaporean can help scientists makeimportant discoveries and put Singapore on themap of scientific research.”According to figures from the Singapore CancerRegistry in 2009, lung cancer is the secondcommonest cancer among men and the thirdcommonest cancer among women.

May/June 2009 11Funding boost further enhancesNUS innovation ecosystemNUS HAS received innovation grant fundingof $9million from the National ResearchFoundation (NRF) to nurture futuregenerations of entrepreneurs. This is partof the $22million from the NRF’s $50millionUniversity Innovation Fund (UIF) aimed atstrengthening the innovation and enterpriseecosystems at the three local universities– through encouraging innovation andfacilitating the creation of high-tech startupcompanies in bringing R&D results from labto market.“The launch of the University Innovation Fundwill provide additional opportunitiesfor NUS to further advancethe scope and depth of ourenterprise and innovation activities,as well as strengthen the impactof our contributions to Singapore’sknowledge-based economy.”– Prof Tan Chorh ChuanThe $50million UIF ispart of the $360 millionNational Framework forInnovation and Enterprise(NFIE) which wasannounced by the PrimeMinister on 28 March2008 to make innovationand entrepreneurshippervasive in Singapore.The remaining $28millionof the $50million UIF willbe set aside to supportfuture proposals from theuniversities.“The new fundingfrom NRF will providea significant boost tothe entrepreneurial and innovation activities atNUS,” said NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan.“The six NUS Overseas Colleges provide a uniqueentrepreneurial education that students havedescribed as ‘life-transforming’, while NUS’downstream commercialisation initiatives aregrowing in pace and impact. The launch of theUniversity Innovation Fund will provide additionalopportunities for NUS to further advance thescope and depth of our enterprise and innovationactivities, as well as strengthen the impact of ourcontributions to Singapore’s knowledge-basedeconomy.”NUS Enterprise CEO Dr Lily Chan added: “NUSEnterprise has spent the last three years puttingin place a comprehensive enterprise ecosystem.This grant from NRF will further enhanceand support our innovation and enterpriseactivities, including entrepreneurship educationprogrammes, platforms to encourage start-upformation, guidance to aspiring entrepreneursand activities that promote entrepreneurship– elements of a vibrant and self-sustaininginnovation ecosystem.”ADVANCING INNOVATION: (From left) NRF Chief Executive Officer Dr Francis Yeoh, NTUPresident Dr Su Guaning, Permanent Secretary (National Research and Development)Mr Teo Ming Kian, NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan and SMU President Prof HowardHunter addressing the media at the launch of the University Innovation Fund.The strong innovation ecosystem created byNUS Enterprise has benefitted young companieswhich have been making significant milestonesover the years. Together with the innovativeLocal Enterprise Achiever Development (iLEAD)programme, the spirit of enterprise is furtherinfused into the NUS education with thesetting up of the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC)programme in 2002.NUS will use the $9million innovation grantto continue to nurture future generations ofentrepreneurs in Singapore by enhancing andexpanding the NOC and iLEAD programmes,particularly in high-impact entrepreneurial hubslike Beijing and India. The grant will also be usedfor two new major initiatives for postgraduatestudents and faculty members, namely, theExtra Chapter Challenge and the Enterprise andInnovation Award.Both the Nanyang Technological University andthe Singapore Management University will alsoreceive $6.5million each from the initial UIFbudget.

12May/June 2009Accountant’s gift to benefit NUS Business SchoolTHE ESTATE of the late accountant Mr Foo Hee Limhas pledged $1.77 million to the NUS Business School.The gift will provide assistance to academically-strongaccountancy students in financial need. A well-reputedprofessional in his field, Mr Foo strongly believed inthe importance of education and has bequeathedhis support of deserving students who would in turncontribute to society.NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan said: “This giftwill be instrumental in providing outstanding studentswith a transformational university experience at NUS.We are grateful to the family of the late Mr Foo HeeLim for this gift as it will provide opportunities fordeserving students to achieve beyond themselves – tobe self-surpassing.”The gift will be used to set up the Foo Hee Lim Bursaryand Foo Hee Lim Prize to benefit NUS students in theBachelor of Business Administration (Accountancy)programme. Beginning from Academic Year 2009/10,bursaries worth $6,800 each year will be awarded todeserving students to cover annual tuition fees andstudy-related expenses for three years, starting fromtheir first year of study. The Foo Hee Lim Prize willbe given to the best graduating Bachelor of BusinessAdministration (Accountancy) Honours Year studentwho will be pursuing the profession upon graduation.The annual prize will consist of a cash award of $3,500and a medal.Dean and Stephen Riady Distinguished Professorof NUS Business School Prof Bernard Yeung said:“We deeply appreciate this generous gift from theEstate of the late Mr Foo, especially in such timesof economic downturn. Our School’s goal is toprovide our students with strong basic training andopportunities for them to become confident andenterprising business professionals who are sociallyresponsible as well. This gift will further help us toattract and develop young promising individuals tobecome professionals in the field of accountancy.”The late Mr Foo’s estate has also pledged anequal amount of $1.77 million to the NanyangTechnological University. The combined gift of$3.5million will be matched dollar-for-dollar by theSingapore government, bringing the total funding to$7 million.GIVING TO NUSLions Clubs’ 50 th anniversary gift to benefit 22 NUS studentsTHE SINGAPORE LIONS CLUB mark 50 years ofcommunity service with a gift of $75,000 to helpbright tertiary students who are in need of financialassistance. At NUS, 22 students from the Faculty ofArts and Social Sciences (FASS) stand to benefit fromthis gift.The gift will go towards establishing the SingaporeLions Clubs’ Bursary at the Faculty. Each bursary isworth $2,000 and will be given out over a threeyearperiod. They will go to academically-talentedstudents who are Singaporeans or SingaporePermanent Residents in need of financial aid. For thenext academic year 2009/2010, 10 NUS students willreceive the bursaries.The gift of $75,000 from the Lions Clubs will alsobenefit students at the Singapore ManagementUniversity (SMU) with the establishment of theSingapore Lions Clubs’ Study Award.young people in both universities and nurture theirparticipation in the Singapore Lions Clubs’ services fordisadvantaged communities.”NUS Dean of FASS Prof Tan Tai Yong said that theBursary would provide much needed financial supportespecially given the current economic slowdown.He added: “The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences(FASS), in particular our Social Work Department,has had a long tradition of engagement with thesocial services sector, and as a result, has producedgenerations of leaders in the field. The Faculty activelypromotes community involvement by its students,and the contribution by the Singapore Lions Clubsunderscores the close link which exists between theFaculty and the community service sector.”The first Lions Club was founded in 1958 inSingapore with the aim of being the foremostvoluntary welfare service organisation in the country.Since its formation, Lions Club has been helpingthe disadvantaged and underprivileged elderly andrecipients of the bursaries are thus encouraged tovisit and participate in the services and activitiesoffered by the Lions Home for the Elders and theLions Befrienders Service.Chairman of Singapore Lions Community ServiceFoundation, Past District Governor Isabel Cheongsaid: “The Bursary and Study Award will not onlyenable us to support undergraduate academic needsbut will also allow us to connect more closely withLIONS CLUB’s GIFT TO NUS: (From left) Past District GovernorIsabel Cheong, Chairman, Singapore Lions Community ServiceFoundation; Guest-of Honour, Hjh. Ellis Suriyati, InternationalDirector, Lions Clubs International; and Prof Tan Tai Yong, Deanof NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

May/June 2009 13Developing a passion for socialentrepreneurshipA TEAM of NUS Business School students haveput their passion for social entrepreneurship towork in a rewarding way - they have developeda savings and budgeting tool-kit to help familiesmonitor their expenditure on food, utilities anddebt payment.The pilot project undertaken by six Year 4undergraduates, benefits 20 low-incomebeneficiaries of The Straits Times Pocket MoneyFund. It is a joint effort between NUS BusinessSchool and the Tampines Family Service Centre(TFSC).Twice a month, the families attend workshopsconducted by the students and TFSC staff to learnhow to monitor their household expenses withthe budgeting tool-kit that the students devised.During these sessions, the families also receivedadvice on issues such as managing their loanrepayments and ways to reduce their utility bills.The social entrepreneurship project comes underthe Consulting Practicum (CP) module guidedby NUS Centre for Social Entrepreneurshipand Philanthropy Director, Assoc Prof AlbertTeo. The CP module allows students to earnmodular credits and apply classroom knowledgeto the real world by contributing to communitydevelopment.Translating what they learned in class has provedchallenging for the team as they appliedtheir knowledge of asset and private wealthmanagement to benefit those from lowincomebackgrounds. The team also hadto juggle between attending classes andholding workshops after school hours.NUS AMBASSADORS: (From left) Goh Khee Hong, Soh Weiling Donna,Koh Sze Chiah Serene, Leong Yan Wei Ian, Anderson Quah Shu Chipand Lai Wai Kit.Team leader Serene Koh Sze Chiahsaid: “The experience has taught us tocommunicate with families from differentbackgrounds. Although our team was thereto ‘educate’ these families on financialissues, we have also learned a lot from thefamilies.” The team has also given TFSCownership privileges of the budgetingtool-kit which they developed. They hope toextend the programme in the near future tobenefit more families.At a Glance• The Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research andTechnology Centre (SMART Centre), a newlyestablishedresearch enterprise between theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)and the National Research Foundation ofSingapore, has launched three programmestargeted at talented doctoral and undergraduatestudents. The programmes also hope to attractpostdoctoral researchers to embark on excitingresearch projects at the SMART Centre which willbe located at the Campus for Research Excellencein the upcoming University Town in NUS.The three programmes launched are theGraduate Fellowship Programme, theUndergraduate Research OpportunitiesProgramme (UROP) and the PostdoctoralResearch Fellows Programme.MIT Prof Rohan Abeyaratne, Director of theSMART Centre, said “The SMART Centre aims toundertake cutting-edge research projects thataddress critical problems of societal importance.At the same time, one of our major goals is toattract, nurture and anchor young talent inSingapore. The three programmes that we havejust launched aim to do just this.”More information on the programmes can befound at http://web.mit.edu/smart/index.html• The NUS Institute of Systems Science (ISS) wasselected as the pioneer Infocomm ContinuingEducation and Training Centre by the SingaporeWorkforce Development Agency and InfocommDevelopment Authority of Singapore on 9 April2009. ISS will deliver infocomm technologytraining under the National InfocommCompetency Framework to upgrade and enhancethe capabilities of infocomm professionals.Incepted in 1981, the ISS aims to providebroad-based advanced professional continuouseducation in Information Technology.For more information on the courses offered byISS, please visit: http://www.iss.nus.edu.sg

14May/June 2009Two outstanding inventors fromEngineering recognised atTan Kah Kee Young Inventors’ AwardsINVENTORS at NUS have proved their mettle yetagain with impressive wins at the Tan Kah KeeYoung Inventors’ Awards 2009. Dr Lee Poh Sengfrom the Department of Mechanical Engineeringclinched the Silver Award in the Defence ScienceSection while PhD student Tan Swee Jin fromthe Graduate School for Integrative Sciences andEngineering (NGS), received the Merit Award inthe Open Section.The event was jointly organised by the TanKah Kee Foundation, the Agency for Science,Technology and Research and the Defence Scienceand Technology Agency with the support of theScience Centre Singapore (SCS). Senior Minister ofState of the Ministries of National Developmentand Education Ms Grace Fu was guest-of-honour atthe award ceremony on 23 May 2009. All winninginventions were displayed at the SCS.Mr Tan worked with a team from the Division ofBioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and NGS,and together with the Institute of Microelectronicsdevised a micro device to physically extract cancercells from blood with high isolation efficiency andpurity. The isolated cancer cells hold informationon the development of the disease and is able toreveal the progress of treatment and medicationwhich the patient has undergone. Mr Tan wassupervised by Assoc Prof Lim Chwee Teck of theDepartment of Mechanical Engineering.Launched in 1986, the Tan Kah Kee YoungInventors’ Award was introduced by NobelLaureate Prof C N Yang. It aims to stimulatecreativity among youths and promote scientific andtechnological research in Singapore. There is also aShanghai chapter of the Award.Dr Lee won for his solution on thermalmanagement. He invented a “heatsink” micro system that effectivelytakes the heat off machines andsystems by 80 per cent. His creationspells applications for defence andeveryday life, including the loweringof temperatures in tanks as well asdecreasing the heat in CPUs. Dr Leeworked for a year before coming upwith his invention with the help of aUniversity grant.BRIGHT SPARKS: Tan Kah Khee Young Inventors’ Award recipients Dr Lee Poh Sengand Mr Tan Swee Jin receiving their awards from Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister ofState from the Ministry of National Development & Ministry of Education.Making their mark of excellenceWe celebrate the following achievements of our students in an array of endeavours:• Reuben Ng, an NUS Psychology and UniversityScholars Programme graduate from the Class of2006, emerged runner-up for the UK Economicand Social Research Council (ESRC) Neville ButlerMemorial Prize. Reuben was also awarded theInternational Fulbright Science and TechnologyAward in 2008 and is planning to pursue a PhDin Yale later this year.• Lim Qilun Royston and Liang Yanjie, boththird-year Industrial Design students, clinchedthe Silver award at the 5 th Furniture LifestyleInnovations Perspectives, or Fl!p, on 6 March2009. Their winning design, called the “Pogee”,is a child-size rocking animal companion.Another team from the School of Designconsisting of Abdul Rashid Bin Adnan andSamson Tan won the Merit award.• NUS team consisting of students from theDepartment of Real Estate, School of Design andEnvironment (Jalleh Shaun Ming Yi, Tang YongChing and Yvonne Tan Yi Wen) and BusinessSchool (Chong Kang Wei, Visayon Viravongand Wu Junhan) emerged the winner at the4 th USC Marshall International Real Estate CaseCompetition in the US, which was held over threedays from 13-17 April 2009. NUS also won at lastyear’s competition.• Chan Hian Yi, (Engineering), Chen Pengfei(Engineering), Crispina Tay Yan Bing (LifeSciences) and Tan Choon Han (Pharmacy) wonsecond spot at Peak Time 2009 – the biggestinternational business competition in Europe.Some 500 teams pitted against one another at theglobal competition organised by the StockholmSchool of Economics in Riga, Latvia.• NUS Soccer Team scored a first making its markas the first university to win the S R NathanChallenge Trophy since the competition beganin 2002, beating defending champion NanyangPolytechnic 1-0 in the finals. Team member VictorWong delivered the only goal of the game,sealing the win for the NUS team in the match.

May/June 200915Taking the fear factor out ofvenoms and toxinsSNAKES and scorpions are better known– or maligned – for their deadly venoms, as inmany a Hollywood movie. However, to Prof PGopalakrishnakone of the Yong Loo Lin School ofMedicine’s Venom and Toxin Research Programmeand Department of Anatomy, the componentsof venoms can be used to develop drugs andhelp alleviate certain symptoms such as soothinginflammation in rheumatoid arthritis or painrelief in terminal illness.America. Prof Gopalakrishnakone is organising asection for Africa.Following his post-graduate studies in 1979,Prof Gopalakrishnakone was drawn to NUS asits Department of Anatomy had an establishedreputation in the region for publishing studiesusing electron microscopy in internationaljournals. For his contribution to research, he wasconferred the Doctor of Science by NUS. Besides“My love of nature especiallyfor animals goes as far as Icould remember. This made methink of a way to combine myhobby with my profession,”recalled the well-reputed ProfGopalakrishnakone on how hispassion for venom and toxinresearch came about. “I choseto work with dangerous animalsand their venoms as naturalvenoms have compounds withvery specific properties whichcould be used for the benefit ofmankind.”“I chose to work withdangerous animalsand their venoms asnatural venoms havecompounds with veryspecific propertieswhich could be usedfor the benefit ofmankind.”He added that while plants hadbeen investigated and used asdrugs for a number of years, itwas only in the last 50 years thatscientists have started studyinganimal venoms very seriously.Since then, a few blockbuster drugs derivedfrom animal venoms have been produced andapproved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA).Prof Gopalakrishnakone’s passion in toxinology– the specialised field of studying animal, plantand microbial toxins – has led him to serve asPresident of the prestigious International Societyon Toxinology (IST) for a three-year term. In hiscapacity as IST President, he will take the lead informulating a work-plan to look into key issuesin the field. This includes global issues on clinicaltoxinology, the nomenclature or naming systemof toxins, as well as the control and usage oftoxins. He is also actively involved in IST as CouncilMember and serving on the editorial board ofToxicon, the official journal of IST published byElsevier, the world’s largest publisher of medicaland scientific literature. Earlier, in 1985, he hadfounded the Asia-Pacific arm of the IST andorganised the first Asia-Pacific Congress on Toxinas well as the World Congress of IST in Singapore.There are currently IST sections in Europe andTOXINOLOGY EXPERT AND PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY ON TOXINOLOGY:Prof P Gopalakrishnakone.being a medical doctor, Prof Gopalakrishnakonealso holds a PhD from London and has garnered anumber of teaching and research awards over theyears: Outstanding University Researcher Awardin 1998 and National Science and TechnologyBoard Ministerial Citation winner in 2000. He alsoreceived the Faculty Outstanding Researcher Awardin 2003 as well as the Teaching Excellence Award inacademic year 2003/2004. Awarded his first patentin 2003 for “novel therapeutic and prophylacticagents”, he has gone on to apply for a number ofpatents and licensed “an analgesic peptide” to acompany for further development for clinical use.As for research, Prof Gopalakrishnakone plansto continue his work on venoms and toxins anddiscover more novel compounds – all this whileinspiring young talents to whom he could passon the baton. On teaching, he said, “I hope tocrystallise my experience in teaching medicalstudents for more than three decades into aguide format, and raise some critical issues so thatyoung teachers can work on them and solve themif possible.”

16May/June 2009Shooting for the best: capturingsnippets of campus lifeTHE PRIZE giving ceremony for the inauguralphoto contest – “People and Places: Snapshots ofLife on Campus”– was held on 17 April 2009 atNUS Central Library. Organised by NUS Office ofCorporate Relations (OCR), the event was gracedby Guest-of-Honour, Vice President (University &Global Relations) Prof Lily Kong.Witono Halim, a third-year engineering student,was all smiles as he bagged two of the threeprizes – a Sony PSP-3000 and an Apple iPod Nano– at the prize-giving ceremony. His photographof the University Cultural Centre (UCC), titled“The Moment Here”, won the Best Photographfor Campus Sceneries/Places and Best OverallPhotograph, which was the people’s choice vote.Fourth-year PhD student Le Huynh Nguyen Khangtook the Best Photograph prize for the CampusActivities/Events category – a Creative Vado HDCamcorder – for his photograph depicting sportslife on campus, titled “On the Pitch”. Ten meritawards were also presented to the finalists of thecompetition.PICTURE PERFECT: NUS Vice President (University and GlobalRelations) Prof Lily Kong (centre) with Witono Halim (right) and LeHuynh Nguyen Khang (left).On his choice of making the UCC thesubject of his winning photograph,Witono said: “UCC is one of the mostartistic and exotic places in NUS. Asa visual art and music lover, I alwaysenjoy my visits to the UCC for piano anddrama performances. Therefore, thesculpture ‘I WAS HERE’ outside of UCCeasily caught my attention and inspiredme to take a shot of it for the photocontest.”He added that photography hasproved to be his favourite medium forexpression. “I wanted to capture themoments and souls of life. I love to tellstories of people with my photographs.”THE MOMENT HERE: Witono Halim’s picture wins Best Photograph forCampus Sceneries/Places and Best Overall Photograph.ON THE PITCH: Best photograph for Campus Activities/Events byLe Huynh Nguyen Khang.The photo contest was aimed atcreating awareness of campus lifeand to promote a better knowledgeof the places and people of NUS.Close to 150 photographs werereceived for the contest. The judgingpanel comprised Straits Times’ DeputyPicture Editor Mr Malcolm Mcleod,Lianhe Zaobao’s Chief PhotographerMr Lee Tiah Kee, OCR DirectorMrs Ovidia Lim-Rajaram, as well asNUS Photographic Society PresidentMr Muhammed Firdauz bin AbdulRahman.

May/June 2009