KooBits - NUS - AnnualReport 2008 Page45

New Ventures
EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING
EDUCATION, RESEARCH
& ENTERPRISE
Faculty of Engineering
ANNUAL REPORT 2008
Vision To be a globally-distinguished engineering school
Mission To nurture engineer-leaders with a global outlook

and to provide technological leadership throu
ook
rough
high-impact research
Annual Report 2008 1
Contents
A Word from the Dean 2
Faculty Board 4
New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Education

Transformational Experiences 8
Global Opportunities 21
Redesigning Education 25
New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Research and Enterprise

Research Excellence 30
Global Recognition 40
Key Partnerships 46
New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Our People

National Honours 54
Outstanding Achievements 56
Visiting Professors 64
Alumni 66
Newcomers in 2008 72
Facts and Figures 75

2 A Word from the Dean
A Word
from the Dean
It gives me great pleasure to present you this 2008 component. It leads to an NUS Bachelor’s degree after
Annual Report of the Faculty of Engineering. 2008 three years, followed by a postgraduate programme
has been a year of New Ventures in Engineering. In at a top overseas partner university in the fourth year.
scaling greater heights as a research-intensive Faculty
that nurtures leaders in Engineering, we are taking In equipping our graduates to address complex
on unprecedented challenges such as climate change, challenges head-on, we have also focused on
natural disasters and ageing-related healthcare. We developing strategic research programmes. In line
have also introduced a new paradigm in engineering with national research thrusts, the Faculty will
education which will see graduates emerging pursue more use-inspired basic research that sees
from our Institution fully equipped, armed with more of our research output being translated into
entrepreneurial skills as well as the ability to lead and applications which benefit society. In 2008, we
solve complex problems. began to provide seed funding to some of these
strategic research programmes, to enable them to
In tandem with ongoing enhancements to the existing expand and develop major proposals for external
curriculum, we have put in place two new major funding. Concurrently, faculty research centres
initiatives which will be launched in the Academic and laboratories are being re-aligned to constitute
Year 2009-2010. These are the Design-Centric platforms for championing multi-disciplinary
Engineering Curriculum (DCC) and the Global research.
Engineering Programme (GEP). The DCC, which
emphasises problem-based learning, crosses disciplines, With the setting up of the new NUS Global Asia
fosters creativity and develops strong design skills to Institute, the Faculty will contribute to multi-
prepare graduates for a globalised economy. The GEP disciplinary research projects that address a variety of
is an exclusive programme for our very best students, large-scale research issues across Asia. With its core
and incorporates a notable global learning teams of researchers, it will work with other faculties
in NUS and spearhead thought leadership on critical issues such as climate change,
sustainable development and engineering in medicine.
Our faculty members were awarded research grants totalling S$53 million in the first
eight months of FY2008-2009. Worthy of special mention are Dr Tong Yen Wah from
the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, who is the first person
from Singapore to receive a grant directly from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;
Dr Sujeet Kumar Sinha from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr Yeo
Yee Chia from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, who received
substantial grants from the National Research Foundation (NRF). In addition, the
Faculty also garnered four of the nine research grants in the most recent Proof-of-
Concept call for proposals from NRF. The Faculty was also honoured through the
efforts of Dr Liu Bin from the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering,
who received the 2008 Singapore Young Scientist Award for her research on polymer
chemistry and the application of polymers in biosensors and solar cells.
In graduate education, the Faculty is home to the largest graduate student

enrolment (27%) in NUS. As of 2 September 2008, we are proud to have
more than 2,650 graduate students, of whom almost 60% are pursuing
higher degrees by research. The number of doctoral students has reached
an all time high of 1,275, representing
over 82% of the 1,546 research students.
We have started, and
will continue to pursue
I have every confidence that the Faculty engineering excellence
is well placed to lead in academic in new ventures.
entrepreneurship that will create
economic payoffs and make significant contributions globally.
We have started, and will continue to pursue engineering
excellence in new ventures.
Since taking office in April 2008, it has been my privilege and

honour to work with a dynamic leadership team in the Faculty.
Together with the growing community of students, faculty,
alumni, and industry and overseas partners who bring with
them outstanding talent and abilities, we seek to propel the
NUS Faculty of Engineering to new frontiers and heights of
excellence. I trust that this report will give you an insight into
what we have accomplished, as well as what we are pressing
on towards.
Professor Chan Eng Soon

Dean, Faculty of Engineering
4 Faculty Board
Faculty Board
Prof Chan Eng Soon Prof Lim Seh Chun

Dean Deputy Dean
Assoc Prof Ashraf Prof Chua Assoc Prof Loh Prof Victor
Kassim Kee Chaing Han Tong Shim
Vice-Dean Vice-Dean Vice-Dean Vice-Dean
(Undergraduate (Research) (Graduate (External
Studies) Studies) Relations)
Prof Colin Prof Chew Prof Chow

Sheppard Yong Tian Gan-Moog
Head, Division Head, Department Head, Department
of Bioengineering of Mechanical of Materials Science
Engineering & Engineering
Prof Hang Assoc Prof Tang Prof Lawrence Assoc Prof Lee
Chang Chieh Loon Ching Wong Fook Hou
Head, Division Head, Department Head, Department Acting Head,
of Engineering of Industrial of Electrical Department
& Technology & Systems & Computer of Civil Engineering
Management Engineering
Engineering
Prof Lee Prof Ong Prof Poo Prof Wang

Jim Yang Say Leong Aun Neow Chien Ming
Acting Head, Acting Head, Director, Director,
Department Division of Bachelor of Engineering
of Chemical Environmental Technology Science
& Biomolecular Science & Programme
Programme
Engineering Engineering
6
New Ventures in Engineering Excellence
Education
8 New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Education
Transformational
Experiences
A Transformational,
Immersive Experience
For third-year student
Mr Veerappan Swaminathan,
his time at NUS has been nothing
short of transformational and
extraordinary. The co-inventor
of three patent applications
explains why.
When the Mechanical Engineering

(ME) student was accepted for the NUS
Overseas College programme (NOC)
in Silicon Valley, little did he expect
that he would have the exciting opportunity to be experience from NUS helped me in a big way during
involved in not one but three patent applications. my internship. I had all my basics in place from
classes I had taken at NUS,” says Veerappan.
During his internship as an Intellectual Property
engineer at biomedical device start-up Voyage As part of the NOC programme, he also took classes
Medical, he found himself involved in three patent at Stanford University, where he learned to analyse
projects. As he chose materials, did machining and technology opportunities, develop business plans
made SolidWorks drawings, he drew upon the and marketing models, and to build and grow a new
foundation built in NUS. “My engineering design venture.
“It has been interesting to be exposed to the ME Department, encouraged bold thinking and
entrepreneurial thinking and stand at the crossroads supported his team as they developed the solar pond
of engineering and business. This experience has fruit dryer. The team, together with their partners
helped me develop a great sense of adventure from the Mumbai University Institute of Chemical
and discovery,” says Veerappan. As a result of the Technology (MUICT), eventually won the award.
opportunities arising from the NOC programme, Their cash prize of €20,000 provided seed-funding to
he had the honour of addressing the audience at pursue the project further, to offer the technology to
the ‘Programme for the Future’ conference and more villages in India.
the privilege of meeting with Mr Steve Wozniak,
co-founder of Apple. He also took time, as many
exchange students do, to embark on hiking trips at
various national parks, jump off a plane and attempt
to ski at Lake Tahoe.
“My engineering education in NUS has been nothing

short of transformational,” declares Veerappan.
“What I found really
transformational
were the professors,
students and staff
of the Faculty. I (Extreme top left clockwise): Mr Tan Yi Han, ESP, NUS;
Mr Tan Huei Ming, ESP, NUS; Prof Bhaskar N Thorat,
found them to be
Chemical Engineering Department, MUICT; Mr Veerappan
an innovative and Swaminathan, ME Department, NUS; Mr Muhd Ibnur
resourceful group Rashad bin Zainal Abidin, ESP, NUS; Mr Darshan Mehta and
Mr Vaibhav Tidke, both from the Chemical Engineering
of people who are Department, MUICT, at the Mondialogo award ceremony
very much in touch
with the frailties of All this happened during his first year in NUS, and
the world – hunger, Mr Veerappan Swaminathan with it was his maiden brush with thermal solar energy
Mr Steve Wozniak, co-founder of
environmental Apple and a legend in the Silicon and the clean technology sector. Since then, for the
degradation and Valley past two years, he has been part of the leadership of
poverty. With them, engineering is not merely a Start-Up@Singapore, which is Singapore’s national
course to study or get through, but a means of business plan competition.
tackling the biggest problems facing humanity
today.” “I find it fascinating that in just two and a half years,
I have had the opportunity to experience the clean
This inspired Veerappan to compete for the technology, biomedical and information management
Mondialogo Engineering Award 2007 organised by industries in an immersive fashion. I have to say that
UNESCO. The challenge: to develop a technology this is in no small part due to the opportunities and
for farmers in rural India that uses solar energy to education I have received here in NUS,” he says.
store fruits and vegetables for a longer time. This
undertaking was like “knowingly walking into what Veerappan plans to further his studies and focus
was a big unknown,” he recalls. on performing quality research on technology
applications in one or more of these sectors. Five
Thankfully, mentors Prof Arun Sadashiv Mujumdar years from now, he sees himself running a technology
and Mr Shek Mohammad Atiqure Rahman both from business in a technical field of his interest.
Learning in the Fast Lane

Having built their seventh FSAE (Formula Society of Automotive Engineers) racecar, the NUS FSAE is
certainly establishing a very creditable track record in international competitions. The only team from Asia
to make it among the top ten in Engineering Design, it ranked first in Asia and fourth worldwide for Fuel
Economy, and was also world’s best for Marketing Presentation.
The heroes who designed, built and raced Centennial 4
The FSAE competition, a super-scale engineering Department’s educational programme.

design competition, has been organised since 1981 by
the Society of Automotive Engineers. Over 120 varsity At the famous Michigan International Speedway
teams from all over the world flock to Michigan, USA in May 2008, the 2008 model by NUS, christened
every May, each with a Formula racecar designed Centennial 4, turned in an overall ranking of 22nd
and built from scratch by their FSAE team. Over five out of 121 teams from universities the world over. In
days, they are judged by automotive and motorsports addition to its top 20 percentile overall positioning,
experts on their knowledge, design and construction, Centennial 4 was also ranked fourth for Fuel
and race in acceleration, skidpad, autocross and 22km Economy (best in Asia) and tenth in Engineering
endurance events. Design, making them the only semi-finalist from Asia
in the latter category. It also came in first place in the
The NUS FSAE project is hosted by the Department Marketing Presentation category.
of Mechanical Engineering (ME), with contributions
from the Civil Engineering (CE), and Electrical & The judge commented that the NUS team had put
Computer Engineering (ECE) Departments, and tremendous effort into details, both in the design
generously supported by NUS and many corporate as well as in the construction of the racecar. He said
sponsors. It is now an important part of ME sound engineering and reliability were evident when
the team finished the final (22 km endurance)

race without a hitch. Only 32 other teams
completed the final race within the time limit.
The Centennial 4 team, comprising 11 ME and

two ECE undergraduates, took over a year to
design and build their winning racecar from
scratch. The 13-member team persevered and
worked incessantly even during term breaks,
weekends and public holidays, to prepare the car
and train the race drivers.
They were up against stiff competition from the

Team Leader Mr Nah Zhong Hui escorting then NUS President Prof Shih
top seven teams, namely University of Western Choon Fong to unveil 2008 FSAE car
Australia, University of Stuttgart, Technical
University of Munich, University of Wisconsin-
Madison, RMIT, Graz University of Technology
and Cornell University.
Mr Tan Heng Lee (in car) with team mate Mr Liew Zhen Hui,
after an exhausting 22km endurance race
Centennial 4 on track in USA
problems in an imperfect world where things do go

“Formula racing represents the pinnacle of wrong. Thank God we overcame Murphy’s Law in
automotive engineering, with an unforgivingly USA and completed the four dynamic events without
small margin of error,” says Project Supervisor, Assoc any incident.”
Prof Seah Kar Heng from the ME Department. “A
Formula racecar undergoes tremendous forces and The three ME graduates from the 2008 FSAE team
speeds. A thousand and one things can go wrong – are continuing to make their mark in engineering
during design, construction, testing, or competition. excellence. Team leader Mr Nah Zhong Hui and
During our testing phase, every time some part Powertrain leader Mr Tan Heng Lee are working in
malfunctioned, we suffered downtime repairing Keppel FELS, while Mr Liew Zhen Hui, a Research
it, depriving us of sorely needed air time for our Engineer in the ME Department, is helping to guide
drivers’ training. Through it all, the team members the 2009 FSAE team in preparing for the 2009 FSAE
learnt that in practical engineering, one has to solve competition.
Tracing the roots of NUS FSAE

HOPE 03 (2001 to 2003)
The car that gave birth to
the NUS FSAE project.
SGR-01 (2003 to 2004)

First NUS FSAE car to compete at the inte
international competition held
in the USA, ranked 58th overall out of 1
140 teams. One of the 40 cars
that completed the 22km endurance e
event, ranking 25th.
The Centennial (2004 to 2005)

First NUS FSAE car to incorporate aluminium honeycomb monocoque
chassis, dry sump engine, and ca
carbon-fibre suspension arms. Broke the
4-second barrier for the 0-100
0-100kph sprint. Christened “The Centennial”
to commemorate NUS’ cente
centenary.
Centennial 2 (2005 to 2006)

Ranked ninth for engin
engineering design at the annual FSAE competition held
in the USA (best in A
Asia and the only Asian team to enter the design
semi-finals), and 27
27th overall out of 140 teams (also best in Asia).
Centennial 3 (2
(2006 to 2007)
First NUS FSAE car to weigh less than 200kg, with adjustable
pedal box to suit drivers of different leg lengths. Ranked 14th
for enginee
engineering design out of 130 teams (best in Asia).
Centen
The be
best results so far at the annual FSAE competition. Out
of 12
121 registered teams, it ranked 22nd overall, 10th in
eng
engineering design (best in Asia and only Asian team to
ge
get into semi-finals), first in marketing presentation,
and fourth in fuel economy (best in Asia).

First NUS FSAE car to have launch/traction control,
centre lock nuts for wheels, carbon fibre pedal box,
and electro-pneumatic paddle gear shifter that can
change gear within 100 milliseconds. Competing
in May 2009.
Latest FSAE car Centennial 5 (2008-2009)

Fit to Race
NUS FSAE was very much at the forefront of Singapore’s inaugural F1TM SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in
September 2008.
Guest of Honour, Mr S Iswaran, viewing NUS FSAE racecars on display at Science Centre Singapore’s ‘The Science of F1TM’ Exhibition
In July 2008, at the pre-F1 event held at the newly of F1TM’ exhibition organised to educate the public on
erected Grand Prix Pit Building, two NUS FSAE the technology behind F1 cars.
racecars, namely, the 2006 and 2008 models, greeted
the crowds. Guest of Honour Rear Admiral (NS)
Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of
Education & Ministry of Information, Communications
and the Arts, and Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports, and Transport, were
among many who visited our booth to admire our
racecars and chat with the team members.
From August to October 2008, two other NUS FSAE

racecars, namely, the 2004 and 2007 models, were
displayed at the Science Centre as part of ‘The Science Assoc Prof Seah Kar Heng holds Rear Admiral (NS) Lui
Tuck Yew spellbound with NUS FSAE racecars
When Singapore held its inaugural F1 race in are unpacked until they are packed up after the race
September 2008, three NUS FSAE graduates were for their next destination. Each of the 20 cars had
among a privileged handful to be selected as F1 one assigned scrutineer. The three scrutineers, whose
scrutineers. Mr Han Zu Kwang (ME graduate), who competence was trusted by the F1 organisers during
belonged to the seven-man 2004 FSAE team, was the Singapore Grand Prix, attribute their background
assigned to Sebastien Bourdais’ car in the Scuderia knowledge on Formula racecars to their varsity years
Toro Rosso garage. Mr Pang Cheok Fun (CE graduate) with the NUS FSAE project.
who belonged to the same 2004 FSAE team,
scrutineered Adrian Sutil’s car in the Force India Says an elated Yee Kin, “It was a dream come true.
garage, while Mr Chiew Yee Kin (ECE graduate), a For many years, I could only catch the F1 action on TV.
member of the 2006 FSAE team, scrutineered David But this time, I was in the thick of things in the teams’
Coulthard’s car in the Red Bull garage. garages. The added bonus was that this historic
event, the pinnacle of motorsports, was happening
Their task was to ‘scrutineer’ or ‘scrutinise’ the F1 on our home ground! I had seen F1 cars in European
cars for compliance with the rules set by the FIA museums with their engine covers removed, but they
(Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), as well were mostly 4 to 5 years old. At this F1 event, I got
as to make sure that these powerful machines were to see current F1 cars and how they are packaged
safe for racing. Racecars that failed the inspection to optimise their performance, weight distribution
by these scrutineers were not allowed to present and cooling. This is useful to me as I am faced with
themselves at the start line. Scrutineering work such design challenges in my daily work.” All three
usually takes place around the garages assigned to engineers look forward to scrutineering for the
the various F1 teams from the moment the F1 cars Singapore Grand Prix again.
L-R: Mr Chiew Yee Kin, Mr Pang Cheok Fun, Mr Han Zu Kwang in the F1TM Pit Lane (Photo: Darren Heath, courtesy of Datum Branding)
Singapore’s First Eco-

friendly Car
A group of Mechanical Engineering students
Mr Wang Zi Zi
rolled out Singapore’s first eco-friendly city concept representing
car, which made its debut at the prestigious Shell National University
of Singapore in
Eco-Marathon Europe competition in France Shell exhibition
booth at
where participating cars were judged on their International
fuel-efficiency. Petroleum
Technology
Conference 2008,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
In December 2008, NUS ECO-1 was displayed at the

International Petroleum Technology Conference
(IPTC) to support the launching of Shell Eco-marathon
Asia. The conference was held in Kuala Lumpur
for 4,000 oil and gas scientists, engineers, educators,
students and other professionals from 30 countries.
L-R: Mr Chong Kai Siong, Mr Shang Jia Shun, Mr Ng

Chee Kiong, Mr Yeo Yicong, Mr Muhammad Ridhuan
Mukthar and Mr Chen Xianxi.
Team Gelomatrix tops
NUS-ECO 1, a futuristic-looking four-wheeled single
Lee Kuan Yew Global Business
seater car, came in 15th out of 40 participating urban
concept cars in the internal combustion engine Plan Competition
category. It runs on Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) fuel produced
from natural gas, is able to cover 100km with one An NUS team comprising four Engineering
litre of fuel, and accelerates up to 45km/h. students beat 222 business plans from 73
universities spanning 15 countries to win the
The car was built over ten months by six final-year Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition.
students led by Mr Muhammad Ridhuan Mukthar,
Their prize: US$10,000 cash and US$10,000 investment
an alumnus and a Research Engineer, and supervised
grant from Singapore Management University as well
by Assoc Prof Lu Wen Feng and Assoc Prof Ian Gibson,
as an investment grant of S$100,000 from HSBC.
all from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Team member Mr Wang Zi Zi declared that the Shell
The competition with an international panel of
Eco-marathon “the most inspirational learning journey
judges is a biennial international business plan
in my university education.” To build a car where every
competition for student entrepreneurs to showcase
drop of fuel was precious required an integration of
their business ideas and attract potential investors to
all the engineering knowledge they had gained in
help fund their plans.
undergraduate study. From Computer-Aided Design
(CAD) to various analysis/simulation techniques and
The team’s product Chondromatrix is an implantable
manufacturing technologies, the team realised that
material that repairs knee cartilage through in-vivo
the engineering education they had received at NUS
tissue regeneration. The procedure utilises stem cells
had equipped them with the knowledge essential for
from the patient’s bone marrow and is minimally
the design of such a vehicle.
downloaded the images

mages from
hen located
the Internet and then
the objects at the scene.
“Designing this
vision system
was a difficult
task and I had to
write a number
of complex
algorithms in
just two months.
L-R: Mr Goh Qing Zhuang, Mr Chua Zi Yong, Mr Cher
Wei Liang and Mr Darren Luo Xueli But the concepts
I learned doing
invasive. Said Mr Cher Wei Liang: “Our in-depth
the engineering
market research – speaking to orthopaedic surgeons,
courses and
consultation sessions with entrepreneurs and other
the practical
related experts in the industry – was a key factor in
experience
our success.”
accrued over
three years as a Mr Ajay Kumar Mishra with the robot
All four team members were on a one-year internship which he developed to make it “see”
research student objects.
programme in Bio Valley, Philadelphia through the
at NUS helped
NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) Programme when they
me build the system rather easily,” said Ajay.
got together and developed their business plan. In
recognition of their achievement, Gelomatrix also
received the NUS Student Achievement Award 2008.
IDEERS Earthquake
Gelomatrix comprises Bioengineering students Challenge 2008
Mr Cher Wei Liang and Mr Chua Zi Yong, Electrical &
Computer Engineering student Mr Goh Qing Zhuang The NUS team came in first among the foreign
and Mechanical Engineering student Mr Darren Luo teams participating in IDEERS Earthquake
Xueli. Challenge 2008 held in Taiwan in September 2008.
IDEERS, or Introducing and Demonstrating

The Semantic Robot Vision Earthquake Engineering Research in Schools, is a
Challenge programme that promotes earthquake engineering

and seismic protection education.
PhD student Mr Ajay He received his award
Kumar Mishra has at the Conference on The four-member NUS undergraduate team from the
won top place at Computer Vision and Department of Civil Engineering (CE), comprising
The Semantic Robot Pattern Recognition Mr Tony Loo Dong Li (team leader), Mr David Cheong
Vision Challenge for held in June 2008. In the Wai Keong, Mr Kwa Chin Soon and Mr Harrif Santo,
developing a vision challenge, his robot was mentored by Dr Pang Sze Dai, came in first among
system that helps given the names of 20 the foreign teams, which included the University of
robots ‘see’. random objects for which it Auckland and Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology, Taking part in the competition was an eye-opener

and was for the team and gave them a greater appreciation
ranked of structural seismic design as they learnt by doing.
fourth IDEERS is jointly organised by the Taiwan National
overall. Centre for Research on Earthquake Engineering
(NCREE), the National Applied Research Laboratories
Teams were (NARL), the National Science and Technology Centre
required for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) and the Asia Pacific
to design Network of Centres for Earthquake Engineering
and build a Research (ANCER).
model that
had at least
four floors
National Concrete Canoe
and would
fit within Competition 2008
an L-shaped
Display of the model submitted by NUS Two teams, Viper and Voyager from the NUS Civil
undergraduate team and the mini-poster building
describing the design philosophy Engineering (CE) Club emerged as champion and
area 20cm
first runner-up respectively in a competition that
by 30cm.
required them to design, build and manoeuvre a
Floor area had to be within the range of 760cm² to
concrete canoe.
1,800cm². For inspiration, the NUS team visited the
Shih Gang Dam, the 921 Earthquake Museum and
Taipei 101. The team’s model was one of the last few
to collapse under a loading of 700 gallons and had
an efficiency ratio of 33.82. This efficiency ratio put
them ahead of all the other foreign teams and earned
them certificates of award for quake-resistance and
excellence for efficiency ratio.
Members of Team Viper (Champion) and Team Voyager

(1st runner-up) with their prize money
The competition, the first of its kind in Singapore,

was held in May 2008. Preparations, including the
mix design, analysis, hull design, construction and
padding, spanned six months.
In the design phase, the teams had to balance

Members of the NUS CE undergraduate team. L-R: Mentor
Dr Pang Sze Dai, Mr Harrif Santo, Mr David Cheong Wai and optimise considerations of weight, stability,
Keong, Mr Kwa Chin Soon and team leader Mr Tony Loo
Dong Li (below)
manoeuvrability as well as aesthetics and construction
methods. The concrete mix had to be extraordinary the competition first came to Singapore in 2007,
in that it had to be lightweight (in order to be I competed in the event together with Shijia too but
floatable) as well as strong. A lot of effort went we were knocked out in the preliminary round,”
into producing lightweight concrete that could stay relates Zhiyong.
afloat. After various trials, the team eventually came
up with a winning formula.
Budget constraints were another challenge the teams

faced. They had to exercise utmost creativity to come
up with a design that was economically feasible and
efficient. The actual construction could not have
been done without the support and help from the
laboratory technicians and the department.
Building a concrete canoe that weighed between

70kg to 80kg and yet could stay afloat was daunting
enough. Now after building it, the teams had to
row in it! In the final phase, practice sessions were
organised and went a long way in building teamwork.
Mr Bai Zhiyong (left) and Mr Tay Shijia (right) receive the

All the hard work finally paid off on race day 2nd Runner Up Prize from Guest of Honour Mr Inderjit
when both teams won. It was a competition that Singh
had thoroughly challenged their mind, spirit and

physical skills. They resolved to do better by reading widely to
expand their business knowledge. Their efforts paid
off and they not only made it to the finals but edged
In the Crucible out the team from the Singapore Management
University for third place in a nail-biting tie-
Mr Bai Zhiyong, a double degree student of breaker. “The thrill of the competition, the pride of
Engineering and Business at NUS, together with representing the school, and the knowledge gained
Mr Tay Shijia from the NUS Business School, won from the preparation made the Tata Crucible an
third place in the Singapore Edition of the Tata inspiring and exciting experience,” says a jubilant
Crucible out of a field of 150 teams. Zhiyong.
Held in October 2008, the Tata Crucible was a campus

quiz organised by the Tata Group, a global business
conglomerate based in India that tests participants
ZelRealm Interactive
on their general knowledge of the business world, Currently incubating at the NUS Incubation
famous companies as well as prominent business Centre is ZelRealm Interactive, founded in June
people. 2008 by final-year undergraduate students from
various NUS faculties.
“It was not easy to prepare for Crucible because
of the fiendish difficulty of the questions, which ZelRealm Interactive seeks to offer a specialised
are never repeated from year to year. In fact, when service in the game development industry for game
development studios. The innovation behind this

After Graduation: Medical
service is the ability to centralise user transactions
into a main system through the Internet. This opens School
up a market for user management. It is currently in
the final phase of its initial development stage and In a move that highlights the versatility of
is looking forward to kick-start the product testing Engineering graduates to branch out into
phase. The team will launch this service offering in different disciplines, engineering alumna and
January 2010. Academic Year 2007-2008 valedictorian Ms Yong
Ming Hui is now undergoing postgraduate
medical school.
When presented with options, Ms Yong Ming Hui

has always chosen the more challenging path.
For her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of
Engineering, she chose to take up Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering even though it was reputed
to be a rigorous and challenging course. Now after
attaining her engineering degree, she is pursuing a
postgraduate course in Medicine at the Duke-NUS
Graduate Medical School Singapore.
L-R: Mr Joel Choy and Mr Elvin Li
The start-up was founded by Mr Joel Choy of the

Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), Mr
Elvin Li from the Faculty of Science, Mr Kok Si Chyi
from the NUS Business School and Mr Khoo Kien
Yong, a business partner. It is funded by the Ministry
of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA)
– Creative Community Singapore.
“It is heartening to know that many talented

and like-minded enthusiasts within the gaming
community have expressed a keen interest in our
developments, and are eagerly waiting to test our
She wanted to do medicine because she wanted a job
service offering. They have been the driving force
where she could interact with people and help them.
in our continual push for success,” says Joel, who
To her, medicine provides the greatest opportunity for
was grateful for the Faculty’s curriculum that had
this. “Although I find the workload very challenging,
equipped him with the analytical skills necessary
I am enjoying medicine greatly and love what I’m
in managing the business, as well as the support
learning about the human body, clinical diagnosis and
received from NUS Incubation Centre.
patient management,” says Ming Hui.
For her postgraduate studies, Ming Hui draws “In addition, the biomolecular and biochemistry
strongly upon her engineering education modules that I took gave me a good foundation to
and what it has instilled in her. She says, “My be able to cope comfortably with my modules in
experience of solving engineering problems has Duke-NUS that integrate genetics, biochemistry and
increased my confidence. My professors showed molecular biology.”
me how complicated real life chemical processes
could be conceptualised in simpler ways, then Ming Hui is confident that her engineering background
progressively modelled, simulated, designed and will position her for success now and in the future.
optimised. The mode of thinking I developed and “I am confident that the problem-solving skills one
utilised in engineering works well for me now in acquires in engineering would be useful in any career
understanding the workings of the human body.” I would choose to pursue in the future,” she says.
Operation Orion
Sixteen students from the NUS Civil
Engineering Club ‘Operation Orion’
installed solar panels to generate
electricity for a school in Cambodia.
The La Valla School for the Physically

Disabled in Takhmao District, Kandal
Province, Cambodia needed lighting
to enhance security in the school
compound, but could not afford it. In
December 2008, 16 students from the
NUS Civil Engineering Club installed
lights powered by solar energy, lighting
up four buildings throughout the night.
It was an unforgettable experience for the students as they learnt to apply their engineering skills to real life
situations. It was gratifying to be able to make an impact in this rural community. Said one team member,
“Operation Orion gives me the best opportunity to apply our engineering skills to make life better and I am proud to
be an engineer.”
Apart from this project, the team also engaged in a learning project at Agape Shalom Centre, where they taught
English and interacted with the locals.
Global Opportunities
Caltech-NUS SURF Programme Mr William Yap, an undergraduate pursuing a

double degree in Civil Engineering and Economics,
Mr Shi Yezhou, an undergraduate from the spent 10 weeks at Caltech under SURF to carry out a
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, cutting-edge research project on how climate change
was especially grateful to California Institute of would affect the energy demands of buildings. He had
Technology’s (Caltech) Summer Undergraduate the privilege to be mentored by Dr Tapio Schneider
Research Fellowship (SURF). The exceptionally vibrant of Caltech and assisted by Dr Christoph Reinhart of
research Harvard University.
environment,
intellectually One of the best
stimulating things about Caltech
culture and is getting the
value placed opportunity to meet
on a SURF many talented and
student’s brilliant scientists
contributions from around the
at Caltech world. William
spurred and created within him a sense of trust and recalls, “I even
responsibility. “My SURF experience was much more had the chance
than simply working on a research project. The rich to have dinner
interaction with people from different countries and with prominent
cultures, including faculty, alumni and fellow students Caltech faculty
gave me an experience far beyond the research members, including
topic,” declared Yezhou. Nobel Laureates!
I was amazed to be in the same building doing my and problem-

summer research with so many important people solving skills
and organisations, all sharing the same passion for garnered from
research. It was always interesting to talk to them engineering,
because everyone was doing a project that could complemented
change the world.” by the Penn
entrepreneurial
His experience at Caltech has increased his desire for engineering
research work and he looks forward to joining their courses, were
ranks in the future. particularly
advantageous
Ms Ning Du, an exchange student from Caltech, in overcoming
was attached to the Division of Environmental the challenges
Science & Engineering. “My past summer through that her
Caltech’s internship had brought about. “This has been an
SURF at NUS invaluable journey of learning and self-discovery. My
has been an engineering education has been instrumental in my
incredibly one year overseas tenure under the NOC programme
memorable and would prove to be relevant in the broader
experience. applications outside of engineering,” says Yee Ling.
Coming
from a
university with a strong focus on theoretical research, Student Exchange Programme
I appreciated the opportunity to be involved with a
project on air pollution and to be able to present the
(SEP)
results of my research. The exchange experience at Mr Ng Lip Tong of the Department of Mechanical
NUS opened my eyes to a vibrant Singapore Spirit,” Engineering (ME) spent five months under a
commented Ning Du. student exchange programme at the Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University.
This SEP
NUS Overseas College (NOC) was a new

collaboration
Ms Tan Yee Ling, a student in the Department between
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, spent a the ME
year working full-time as an intern at the Orbius Department,
Corporation, a social media networking company, NUS and the
and studying part-time at the University of Department
Pennsylvania (Penn) under the NUS Overseas College of Petroleum
(Bio Valley) programme. She had found her work Engineering,
daunting initially as it seemed that very little of what Texas A&M
she had learnt in Chemical Engineering could be University.
applied there.
In most circumstances, students are only allowed
However, Yee Ling soon discovered that the analytical to enrol for core modules in their own discipline
during the SEP semester. Lip Tong, who specialises the research-oriented culture in NUS, so when the
in Offshore Oil and Gas Technology, read four opportunity for UROP placement at NUS came, Siew
specialised modules that went beyond his scope of Ping did not let it slip away. UROP proved to be a
study and managed to achieve excellent grades for totally eye-opening and enriching experience. For
all. “This exchange programme was truly an enriching eight weeks in 2008, Siew Ping was attached to the
cultural experience and a rich intellectual adventure Institute of Microelectronics and exposed to research
for me,” says Lip Tong. work in the field of microelectromagnetic energy
harvesting devices. Said Siew Ping, “I truly cherish this
Mr Amarnath Hegde, a graduate exchange experience and would recommend it to all who wish
student from the Indian Institute of Technology to experience a world-class research culture.”
Bombay (IITB),
was attached to
the Department
Graduate Research Internship
of Civil
Engineering. Programme (GRIP)
The world-
PhD student Mr Hossain AKM Mahtab from the
class facilities,
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
lush campus
interned at Honeywell Technologies in Bangalore,
and warm
India, under
hospitality
the Graduate
added new dimensions to his educational experience.
Research Internship
Said Amarnath, “I go back with a sense of confidence
Programme (GRIP)
and satisfaction. Working with my supervisor Assoc
made possible
Prof Lee Fook Hou has helped me not only become a
by NUS Overseas
good researcher but a better person.”
College.
The internship
University Research Opportunity
programme,
Programme (UROP) open to full-
time graduate
Ms Low Siew Ping, an undergraduate from students enrolled
Imperial College London, UK had heard about at the Faculty of Engineering, is designed to grow a
community of India-savvy students who are familiar
with technology commercialisation processes.
Hossain’s background as a PhD student specialising

in wireless communications enabled him to become
an efficient member of the Honeywell Technology
Solutions Laboratory’s (HTSL) ‘Ultra-Wide Band’
(UWB) group, which tackles a wide range of research
projects including detecting moisture content in oil,
measuring respiration rates of humans, and detecting
an empty parking lot. “I was involved in the research
of detecting moisture content in oil, and helped easily with the help and support of the people in
in the project of detecting an empty parking lot. CHCI. Interacting with the researchers in the Human-
Furthermore, I inspected the ‘localisation’ prospects Computer Interaction field also helps me broaden
using UWB signals which became very helpful for my my research perspective. I am also grateful for the
PhD research, because, up to that point, I had only opportunity to make new friends, try new food,
worked with narrow-band signals,” says Hossain. experience new culture and visit new places,” says
Thiha.
Hossain applied for the GRIP scholarship because
he had a desire to become a young entrepreneur
At the same time, CHCI also
after graduation. “The internship accorded me with
sent Mr Blake Sawyer , a
a wealth of real-life working experience which was
Masters student to Ambient
eye-opening and enriching at the same time. I was
Intelligence Laboratory/
also pleasantly surprised to discover how the whole
Communications Laboratory,
process of laboratory research is directed and
at the Department of
focused on meeting customers’ needs. I can
Electrical & Computer
confidently say that the internship has helped me
Engineering. Says Blake,
to gain a deeper insight and understanding of
“My summer internship at
industrial research, new ventures and corporate
the National University of
culture. It would certainly put me in good stead
Singapore was one of the
if I decide to pursue a business start-up,” concludes
greatest adventures of my life; both with the people
Hossain.
I met and the places I visited. Initially, I was worried
how I would adjust to a new place. However, the
people in the Ambient Intelligence Laboratory went
NRF-IDM Project on “Live out of their way to make me feel at home. I am
Spaces” extremely grateful for the opportunity of coming to

NUS to do my graduate research.”
PhD student Mr
Thiha Aung These exchanges will be expanded and will continue
interned at Centre until the end of 2010.
for Human-Computer
Interaction (CHCI),
Virginia Tech, Virginia,
USA, as part of a
research collaboration
under the NRF-IDM
project. “It was a
rewarding experience
doing the summer internship at Virginia Tech. I was
able to adjust to the new environment relatively
Redesigning Education
Introducing Design to in class, they immediately engage in hands-on

application to reinforce their understanding.
First-Year Engineering Students
In the Engineering by Design module, students
Lectures, laboratory sessions and ‘design-and-
engage in brainstorming and critical thinking as they
build’ project work are all integrated into one
design and build a “Transporter” for walking across
rich educational experience, as NUS engineering
water without getting wet. They also undertake the
students come up with novel and innovative
challenge of designing and building a portable water
solutions to problems.
purification system within a 13-week timeline.
Undergraduate students in their first semester at the
NUS Faculty of Engineering are being introduced to The interactive module generated much enthusiasm
the exciting world of engineering through a new about engineering. At the end of this module, one
series of General Elective student proclaimed, “Taking this module has been
Modules (GEMs). one of the best decisions I have made this semester!”
In these modules, students

are given the opportunity
to apply the principles
of design and integrate
the fundamentals of
engineering to come up
with novel and innovative
The transporter that
solutions to problems. enables a student to walk Water purification systems
After learning the basics across water fabricated in this class
and regulation in practice. Each group project

A Summer Design Programme
involved students from both PSU and NUS. This cross-
The Department of Mechanical Engineering has national teaming provided a diversity of ideas and
successfully launched a summer programme on enriched the development of design concepts and
design where students from Pennsylvania State learning experience.
University (PSU) come to NUS for a full-time two-
week session. This programme will be offered as a special term
module to PSU and NUS students, and also to
students from other universities.
Launch of Major in Systems

Engineering
The Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering
has launched a Second Major in Systems Engineering
to equip graduates from outside the Department
with a good foundation in systems engineering.
Visit to Philips
The complex and interdependent world creates the
Professors from both PSU and NUS co-teach need for the adoption of a systems engineering
the programme and the students from the two perspective to identify and manage the trade-offs
institutions get to interact intensively during the of the goals of key stakeholders. Graduates who
two-week period. Such cross-cultural interaction can maximise the performance of any system within
offers great pedagogical value, especially for product the ambit of these trade-offs under resource and
design in a globalised environment. political constraints will be in demand.
Eight PSU and 10 NUS students participated in the The foundational building blocks of systems
two-week programme in late May and early June engineering (SE) dealing with the understanding of
2008. During the two weeks, students were involved the basic systems concepts, optimisation, economic
in interactive classroom sessions, group projects and analysis and the stochastic nature of the world are
visits to companies to observe product development compulsory in this major. Specific skills in modelling
and managing the systems are among the restricted
electives offered. Finally, given that the usefulness of
systems engineering rests mainly in the application
domain, modules with the systems aspects from
other engineering disciplines are included as
electives to enable the students to integrate the
major with their own domain.
Students must complete 48 modular credits (MCs)

to obtain this second major. 24 MCs will be from
foundational modules in systems engineering, at
least 8 MCs are from more advanced topics in the
NUS-PSU Summer Programme students area offered by the Department, with the other
(MSE) in March 2008, and Department of Electrical

& Computer Engineering (ECE) and Department of
Mechanical Engineering (ME) in September 2008.
The purpose of the visits was to accredit the degree
programmes offered by these departments and
divisions. The visits involved scheduled meetings
with the Dean and the five faculty departments and
divisions, committees and stakeholders, as well as
visits to the teaching and research laboratories.
At the conclusion of their visits, the team

recommended full accreditation for the following
degree programmes for a term of five years:
PSA is an example of systems engineering at work which
deals with work-processes and tools, and overlaps with both
technical and human-centered disciplines • ECE – Bachelor of Engineering
(Electrical Engineering), Bachelor of Engineering
(Computer Engineering) and Bachelor of
Technology (Electronics Engineering)
• ME – Bachelor of Engineering
(Mechanical Engineering), Bachelor of Technology
(Mechanical Engineering) and Bachelor of
Technology (Manufacturing)
• ESE – Bachelor of Engineering

(Environmental Engineering)
The team also accredited the Degree Programme

for Bachelor of Engineering (Bioengineering)
for graduating classes in years 2007 to 2010, and
requirements fulfilled by electives that include the
provisional accreditation for MSE’s Bachelor of
systems engineering application from the various
Engineering (Materials Science & Engineering) for
engineering disciplines.
graduates admitted in the years 2005 to 2009 as full
accreditation could only be considered after two
The Second Major in Systems Engineering welcomes
batches of students have graduated.
its first intake in Semester 2 of AY2008-09.
This accreditation is an affirmation of the dedication,

commitment and investment put in by all involved
Visits by Engineering in bridging and reinforcing pedagogy with research.
Accreditation Board Via this accreditation, signatories in the Washington

Accord recognise the substantial equivalence of these
The evaluation teams of the Engineering programmes in satisfying the academic requirements
Accreditation Board of the Institution of Engineers, for the practice of engineering at the professional
Singapore visited the Division of Bioengineering, level. With this, the international reputation and
Division of Environmental Science & Engineering (ESE) position of the Faculty is well poised for growth and
and Department of Materials Science & Engineering enhancement.
28
29
Research and
Enterprise
30 New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Research and Enterprise
Research Excellence
A Greater Harvest:
A Bold, New Solution
in Medical Engineering
A multi-disciplinary team from
NUS has invented a device which
extracts more stem cells from
the placenta than current methods.
While out on a coffee break, the eyes

of Prof Ng Soon Chye and Assoc Prof
Tan Kok Kiong fell upon the orange
juicer.
That sparked an idea about how to

extract more cord blood, and hence
more haemopoietic stem cells, from
Work and fun - recipes for a good invention. L-R: Assoc Prof Tan Kok Kiong, Dr Tang
the placenta. Kok Zuea, Prof Lee Tong Heng and Dr Huang Sunan
“We had an idea: squeeze as much as possible, like Stem cells, extracted from the umbilical cord after
the juicer,” recalls Prof Ng, an Adjunct Professor at birth, are used to treat people who have blood
NUS and Director of O&G Partners Fertility Centre at diseases and in bone marrow transplants to produce
Gleneagles Hospital. healthy white blood cells. Current extraction methods
Engineering (ECE), and Prof Ng Soon Chye, Prof Jerry

Chan Kok Yen and Ms Tan Lay Geok from the Yong
Loo Lin School of Medicine (Department of Obstetrics
& Gynaecology).
The revolutionary apparatus has since been licensed

to SG Meditech Pte Limited, which will develop this
technology for commercial use in the near future.
Robotics for Rehabilitation

Article extract reproduced with permission
from SPH – The Straits Times
A revolutionary robotic device developed by NUS
Faculty of Engineering has been validated in a
use a syringe to aspirate blood from the umbilical clinical trial and proven to help stroke patients
cord during the small window of opportunity after regain their hand functions.
birth, extracting typically between 80 to 100 ml, or
between 600 to 800 million cells, which is insufficient
to treat an adult. The minimum requirement for
a stem cell transplant is 15 million cells per kilo of
patient body weight.
About 97 per cent of cord blood, which is rich in

stem cells, is found in the placenta. The new device
presses down and squeezes on the placenta to extract
as much cord
blood as possible.
It also facilitates
perfusion, which
means that further
rounds of collection
to dislodge cells L-R: Assoc Prof Teo Chee Leong, Mechanical Engineering
student Mr Hyet Khine and Tan Tock Seng Rehabilitation
attached to the Centre’s Senior Therapist Mr Hong Yun with the Haptic Knob
system
vessels within the
placenta can be
done. The cells The Haptic Knob, developed by a research team
harvested through headed by Assoc Prof Teo Chee Leong of the
the new method Department of Mechanical Engineering, has now
manifest the same been proven to help stroke patients regain their hand
haemopoietic nature and significantly outnumber the functions.
cells collected through the current syringe approach.
The results of a clinical trial at Tan Tock Seng
The research team comprises Assoc Prof Tan Kok Kiong, Hospital’s Rehabilitation Centre suggest improvements
Dr Tang Kok Zuea, Dr Huang Sunan and Prof Lee Tong in hand function in terms of precision of movement,
Heng from the Department of Electrical & Computer movement smoothness and force coordination. Clinical
assessments also show a decrease in the impairment of Driven by a vision to quench global thirst by
stroke patients, who reported improved hand function producing high-grade potable water for water-
in their daily activities, specifically in operating knobs, stressed countries and cities, Prof Ng Kim Choon
and grasping and holding objects. and his team from the Department of Mechanical
Engineering (ME) have developed and patented
Arm and hand functions are often impaired after a novel AD thermodynamic cycle and achieved a
a stroke, strongly limiting patients in their daily power consumption of 1.38 kWh/m3 – the lowest ever
activities. The Haptic Knob, a 2-degree-of-freedom recorded for desalination to-date.
(DOF) robotic device, helps patients to recover
grasping and forearm rotation functions, two The technology uses low-temperature activated cycles
movements critical to daily activities. The device was and it mimics the natural processes of evaporation
developed in collaboration with Dr Etienne Burdet of and condensation. A prototype of this, with internal
the Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College heat recovery processes, is being constructed at the
London, UK. King Abdullah University of Science & Technology
(KAUST), Saudi Arabia.
Training of the hand using the Haptic Knob
The use of such robotic devices for rehabilitation

is a promising solution to complement classic
rehabilitation therapies and increase the intensity
of treatments proposed to post-stroke patients. The
Haptic Knob was previously given the Best Application
Paper Award among 2,166 submissions at the 2006
IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent
The waste heat-driven adsorption desalination cum chiller
Robots and Systems. plant in the ME Department, NUS
L-R: Dr Bidyut Baran Saha (Senior Research Fellow),
Prof Ng Kim Choon and Mr Kyaw Thu (Research Engineer)
Most Energy-Efficient NUS has licensed the AD patents to Aik Moh Paints
Desalination & Chemicals Pte Ltd. The company has since won
a Climate Technology Initiative business award
NUS engineers have successfully developed the from International Energy Agency, and successfully
most energy-efficient and environmentally- sold three desalination-cum-cooling units in the
friendly adsorption desalination (AD) cum region. This research has received external funding
cooling cycle. amounting to more than US$5 million.
Soaring High: Drone Helicopters Take Off
L-R (Front Row): Mr Dong Xiangxu, Prof Ben

M Chen, Prof Lee Tong Heng and Dr Lin Hai
L-R (Back Row): Mr Yun Ben, Mr Lin Feng
and Mr Cai Guowei
A team comprising researchers from the Actual experiment tests by

Department of Electrical & Computer the research team, jointly
Engineering (ECE), Temasek Laboratories (TL) and led by Prof Ben M Chen,
DSO National Laboratories has successfully built a Prof Lee Tong Heng
series of fully functional Unmanned Arial Vehicle and Dr Lin Hai (ECE
(UAV) helicopter systems which boasts of next- Department), Dr Lum
generation sophisticated hardware design and Kai Yew (TL/DSO) and
real-time software systems. Dr Chen Chang (DSO), have
shown that the UAV systems are capable of achieving
high performance full-envelope flights, including
auto-takeoff and auto-landing.
A comprehensive non-linear dynamical model for

the drone helicopter systems – aptly named the Lion
family – has been researched and identified, and an
advanced next-generation automatic flight control
system has also been designed using a non-linear
control technique newly developed by the team. In
addition, the team has also developed new state-
of-the-art mini/micro-UAV prototypes for urban and
indoor navigation.
S$5.28 Million Research Grant

Dr Sujeet Kumar Sinha
and his Mechanical
Engineering Team
have received a S$5.28
million National
Research Foundation
(NRF) Competitive
Research Grant.
Theirs is a three-
year project aimed at
biologically-inspired design,
fabrication and lubrication
of small machines such as
Microsystems and micro-
electro-mechanical systems
(MEMS/NEMS). This project
will investigate novel
methods of solving surface
related engineering issues
that will help design new generations of MEMS/ “Total engineering of surfaces is the way to go when
NEMS for greater functionality and longer life. The it comes to tiny devices, for performance, low energy
total grant from NRF is S$5.28 million. consumption, longer life and the functionality of the
device,” said Dr Sinha.
The team will use this research grant money to
establish new laboratory facilities to study many The team includes seven members from the
biological systems that specialise in the modifications Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and
of their surface properties such as adhesion and four international collaborators. The team consists of
friction by unique chemistry and surface texturing. Prof Lim Seh Chun, Assoc Prof Lim Kian Meng,
Examples include the super hydrophobic properties Dr Zhou Guangya, Assoc Prof Lim Siak Piang,
of the lotus leaf and the highly lubricious human hip Assoc Prof Vincent Tan Beng Chye and Dr Nalam
and knee joints. Satyanarayana. External collaborators are Prof Hugh
Spikes (Imperial College London, UK), Prof Kyung-
The team will mimic biological surfaces and Suk Kim (Brown University, USA), Prof Ernst Meyer
implement these novel ideas into several device- (University of Basel, Switzerland) and Prof Sanjay
level Microsystems such as MEMS. This research Biswas (Indian Institute of Science, India).
brings together mechanical engineers, materials
scientists, physicists and chemists to find an Dr Sinha has published more than 100 research
enabling solution to a multi-disciplinary problem articles in international journals and conference
and is poised to strengthen Singapore’s effort in proceedings. He is on the Editorial Board of
becoming a world-class centre for research and three international journals and chaired the 2nd
commercialisation of microsystems and medical International Conference on Advanced Tribology in
devices. Singapore in December 2008.
terms of revenue and emission credits earned.

S$1.4 Million Grant for
Optimising Offshore Power The developed technologies are being applied to oil-
Systems rig power systems with Keppel FELS, marine power
systems with Neptune Orient Lines; and extended to
Assoc Prof Chang Che Sau and his team have wind-farms with Vestas Technology.
been awarded a S$1.4 million grant to develop
technologies and algorithms for improving the Prof Chang’s Co-Principal Investigators in this project
economy, reliability and emission for Offshore are Assoc Prof Sanjib Kumar Panda, Assoc Prof Tan
Power Systems. Woei Wan, Dr Panida Jirutitijaroen and Dr Sanjib
Kumar Sahoo, all from the ECE Department; and Prof
Choo Yoo Sang, Director of the Centre for Offshore
Research & Engineering (CORE).
Prof Chang
has a
proven track
record in
collaborative
research
with industry
partners. He
and his team
completed
a project for
intelligent
systems
design and
Keppel’s DSSTM series of semi-submersibles optimisation
are the most technically advanced
deepwater drilling rigs to be designed for the North-
and completed by Singapore to date.
East MRT Line
Photo: Courtesy of Keppel Offshore and
Marine Limited with Land
Transport
Authority, and completed two similar projects with
L-R (standing): Assoc Prof Chang Che Sau, Research Fellow British Railways Board and Kowloon & Canton
Dr Bai Hong and Research Engineer Mr Parikshit Yadav,
(Seated) Research Fellow Mr Xavier German Railway Corporation (Hong Kong). He and his team
also developed intelligent algorithms with Toshiba
Prof Chang of the Department of Electrical & Corporation (Japan) for de-noising and detection of
Computer Engineering (ECE) and his team are partial discharge in Gas Insulated Substations.
developing novel computer algorithms to synthesise
the design and location of offshore power plants for One of the members of the research team was Mr
greater cost-effectiveness. The algorithms will also Xavier German, who came to study in NUS as part
optimise the operation and maintenance schedules of a double degree programme with Supélec (École
for the adopted offshore power system, in order to Supérieure d’Électricité). This programme allowed
lower risks and achieve the best investment returns in him to study for four years in France and then do a
Master of Prof Sheppard has had a long history in developing

Engineering microscope instruments. He built one of the world’s
in NUS while first confocal microscopes, and invented multiphoton
receiving microscopy, now important techniques in biological
a Diplôme research and clinical diagnosis. Dr Chen is an Assistant
d’Ingenieur Professor in the Division of Bioengineering, and
from Supélec. holds a joint appointment with the Department of
Xavier Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE).
enjoyed the
tropical climate, multi-cultural setting and dynamic
research environment so much that he stayed on
after graduation to work as a research fellow on this
project. “Working here has allowed me to build on
my experience and broaden my knowledge,” he said.
S$1 Million Research Grant

Prof Colin Sheppard and Dr Chen Nanguang have
been awarded a S$1 million collaborative grant L-R: Mr Wong Chee Howe, Dr Chen Nanguang and
under the Joint SBIC-SSCC Grant Call to develop Prof Colin Sheppard and with their prototype Focal
Modulation Microscope (under construction)
a prototype Focal Modulation Microscope that
can greatly increase imaging penetration into The research team comprises Dr Gerald Udolph of
biological tissue. Institute of Medical Biology, Dr Martin Wasser of
Bioinformatics Institute and Mr Wong Chee Howe,
Prof Sheppard,
a graduate student from the ECE Department.
Head of the
The grant is from A*STAR’s Singapore Bioimaging
Division of
Consortium (SBIC) and Singapore Stem Cell
Bioengineering,
Consortium (SSCC).
and his team
are developing
a novel
instrument that SPRING Singapore’s Proof-of-
uses spatio- Concept Award 2008
temporal
modulation to NanoBright Technologies Pte Ltd, a high-tech
discriminate start-up from the NUS research laboratory
against scattered light that usually swamps the of Prof Chow Gan-Moog, was awarded SPRING
signal when imaging deep into tissue. They Singapore’s Technology Enterprise
haveinvented and patented focal modulation Commercialisation Scheme (TECS) Proof-of-
microscopy, a fluorescence- based technique that Concept grant in October 2008.
can be used to obtain high resolution, molecular-
specific information. The prototype will be used by Its work focuses on developing a nanostructured
researchers in A*STAR for studies in developmental coating on photovoltaic cells to help the solar cells
biology. convert sunlight into electricity more effectively.
The company’s core platform technology is based The projects were picked from 136 submissions by
on luminescent materials. Special focus is placed on a panel comprising heads of prominent firms in the
nanostructured phosphors for solar cell performance biomedical and technology sectors. Recipients of
enhancement, these grants are expected to develop products with
fluorescent paints commercial viability.
and inks for
various security The four Principal Investigators are:
and commercial Dr Dieter Trau
applications. The project team from the
Division of Bioengineering has
Incorporated in developed an ultra low-cost
November 2007, its manufacturing technology for
founders include parallel biomolecular microarrays,
Prof Chow Gan- and seeks to prove its application
Moog, Dr Yi Guang to blood/serum testing, as well
Shun (Formerly a as to scale up the manufacturing
Research Fellow in Prof Chow’s group and currently process. The ability to reduce the manufacturing
the Chief Technology Officer of the company) and costs of these microarrays will enable it to displace
two businessmen, Mr Anthony Ho and Mr Yap existing test platforms, opening it up for applications
Pow Look. in many areas of biomedical research, clinical and
home and diagnostics, as well as for the monitoring
of biological threats in air, water and food.
Proof-of-Concept (POC) Grants The patent pending technology works well in a ‘lab
environment’ and the POC grant will be used to
prove its applicability for real samples and to develop
Four out of nine Proof-of-Concept Grants have
the technology into a robust method.
been awarded to the NUS Faculty of Engineering
by the National Research Foundation (NRF), a
The research team consists of Dr Trau and Visiting
government agency which promotes innovation
Assoc Prof Liu Wen-Tso, both from the Faculty of
and entrepreneurship.
Engineering, and Dr Daniel Lubrich from the Faculty
of Science at NUS.
Dr Steven Zhou
Imagine viewing videos on YouTube
or photos in Flickr in 3D. That
is what this project is about. Its
objective is to create an easy-
to-use mobile stereoscopic (e.g.,
IMax movie) content creation and
publishing platform by which the
end-user can use mobile devices or
Under the Proof-of-Concept (POC) scheme, each digital cameras to capture; use mobile devices or PC
project receives a grant of up to S$250,000. NUS to customise, publish, and share; and use different
received a large share of five grants from this round types of displays to share and view their own 3D
of POC, with four of them coming from the Faculty. stereoscopic photos/videos.
Stereoscopic photography has more than 150 years of Dr Mehul Motani

history. Despite the advancements in computer vision This project seeks to develop
techniques and hardware, Stereoscopic contents today technology that will be used to
are still very expensive to make and can only be done design a cooperative wireless
by professionals. There has not been any one-stop communication network and
solution for the consumers to create, edit, publish, enhance the performance and
and share their own Stereoscopic contents. This throughput of wireless networks
project’s goal is to build a complete platform (both based on a concept called
software and hardware) for creating, editing, viewing, Distributed Information Sharing
publishing, and sharing Stereoscopic images/videos. (DISH).
Dr Zhou has a wealth of experience in A DISH network consists of a variety of devices such
commercialising laboratory technologies. As as laptops, mobile phones and PDAs, communicating
the founder and director of MXR Corporation, with each other using a special DISH-based protocol.
a company that specialises in MiXed Reality, an It will enable higher rates of data transfer than
emerging cutting-edge technology, he owns many existing systems, thus providing higher download
patents and has been named Lifetime Fellow of the speeds and enhancing multimedia experience. The
World Technology Network. DISH network will be designed to be seamless to the
end user and work like existing wireless network
The research team consists of Dr Zhou and the access systems. Further advantages of the DISH
research staff from his Interactive Multimedia network are that it does not require the installation
Laboratory at the Faculty of Engineering. of additional hardware to users’ devices nor does it
require the deployment of additional equipment like
Assoc Prof Anjam Khursheed access points and base stations.
This project seeks to redesign the
Scanning Electron Microscope The researchers have developed the theoretical
(SEM) so it can detect and underpinnings of the technology and now aim
simultaneously capture the entire to verify their theoretical results in this project
energy range of its scattered by developing a cost-efficient infrastructure for
electrons. If successful, this will distributed cooperative wireless networking.
lead to significant improvements in
the SEM’s performance, effectively The research team consists of Dr Motani and Mr
transforming it into a powerful analytical tool Tie Luo, both from the Department of Electrical &
that can quantitatively map chemical/elemental Computer Engineering at NUS.
information on the nano-scale. Several commercial
partners have expressed interest to invest in this
technology upon successful completion of the project.
Novel Semi-Underground
Prof Khursheed has been researching and developing Fuel Storage Tanks
novel ideas in electron beam instrumentation for
A US provisional patent application on a new
the last 25 years and is the inventor of the portable
semi-underground fuel storage tank (SUFST)
SEM column concept and innovator of several
design has been filed.
different types of SEM attachments. Apart from
graduate students, the research team consists of Prof
Khursheed, Dr Mans Osterberg and Mr Luo Tao. This was developed by Prof Wang Chien Ming of
the Department of Civil Engineering and Director of Manovega is the third and latest start-up founded
Engineering Science Programme, Dr Joshua Kuma, by Prof Garg of the Department of Electrical &
Director of Operations, M3TC and Engineering Science Computer Engineering (ECE). In Indian mythology,
students Mr Hafiiz Osman and Mr Liew Jen Hong. Manovega, which means the ‘speed of thought’ in
Sanskrit, is the fastest thing there is.
Prompted by the need to increase oil storage capacity
in land-scarce Singapore, the design may be deployed Manovega makes high-speed Internet access
in both existing and new construction of oil tank available using existing mobile networks, hence
farms. Singapore is already building underground oil its slogan – “Broad-band is good. Broader-band is
storage facilities and is seriously planning to construct betterTM”. The company is driven by the belief that
floating storage facilities to augment the land-based all Internet access must be high-speed, and that all
oil tank farms. Internet access must be provided on an ‘anytime,
anyplace, anywhere’ basis.
In the Information Age where time is the most

L-R: Mr Hafiiz Osman
and Prof Wang precious resource, multiple mobile networks are
Chien Ming available to a customer wherever he or she is.
Manovega technology provides 300%-500% speed-
ups for Internet access on existing mobile networks.
This solution leverages on “The fierce urgency of
NOWTM” that is felt around the globe as it shrinks in
size and interconnects us all.
His first start-up, PurpleAce, attracted venture

capital funding within two years of its formation
while the second, Fatte Telecom, was acquired by
This novel SUFST is a hybrid the GlobalRoam Group. Powered by Fatte Telecom’s
of the traditional above- innovations, technologies and solutions, the
ground steel tanks (AST) GlobalRoam Group is
and the state-of-the-art now a listed company in
large-scale underground/ Singapore.
in-ground composite tanks (UST), which have their
limitations in storage capacity. The SUFST overcomes “I have enjoyed
the limitations of an individual AST and UST, and tremendous support
increases storage capacity by making use of the from the Faculty of
underground space beneath the oil tanks. Engineering and the NUS
leadership, including NUS
Enterprise. NUS people
Assoc Prof Hari K Garg are friendly, professional,

courteous, and above all knowledgeable. NUS policies
– A Serial Entrepreneur promote, encourage and facilitate enterprise at every
step. NUS is driven by the dedication, passion and
Faculty member Assoc Prof Hari K Garg has
vision of its leadership. All this makes the journey of
founded not one but three start-ups, aptly
innovation and enterprise that much more rewarding
earning him the title of ‘serial entrepreneur’.
and fun,” says Prof Garg.
Global Recognition
Virus Catcher Dr Tong, of the Department of Chemical &

Biomolecular Engineering and the Division of
Dr Tong Yen Wah has become the first researcher Bioengineering, has received US$100,000 in October
in Singapore to receive a grant from the Bill & 2008 for his research in developing a novel synthetic
Melinda Gates Foundation for his research on antibody to capture viruses and inactivate them.
a “virus catcher” that may save lives. If successful in his endeavour, he will receive US$1
million to continue this work for two more years.
Dr Tong’s idea is that of a ‘sieve’ with tiny moulds

imprinted on it - a synthetic equivalent of human
antibodies that can trap viruses which cause diseases
such as influenza, hepatitis, AIDS or Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). He hopes to develop
nanoparticles that can recognise a particular virus,
capture it and inactivate it and by so doing, remove
viruses from the body and prevent infection from
taking place. In a procedure similar to kidney dialysis,
a patient’s blood can then be extracted, pumped
through the sieve, have the inactive virus removed
and then have the blood returned to the body.
“We are honoured that our research work has gained

the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
which supports the development of highly innovative

Top 100 Engineers 2009 Listing
solutions to address global health issues. This multi-
disciplinary project could provide an innovative and Honorary Doctorate for
solution to infectious disease management and we Prof Mujumdar
are grateful that we have been given the opportunity
to pursue an unconventional approach,” said Dr Tong. Prof Arun S Mujumdar has as been
selected as one of International
ational
Currently, there are no commercially available cures Biographical Centre’s (IBC)
C) Top
for viral diseases; infectious viral diseases are managed 100 Engineers for 2009. He
mainly through immunisation or by therapeutic has also been conferred
treatment. This “virus catcher” offers a potentially Doctor Honoris Causa
cheaper alternative that could avoid some limitations by Lodz Technical
of current University, Poland.
treatments,
such as their Prof Mujumdar of the
high costs and Department of Mechanical
their inability Engineering has been
to keep up recognised as one of the
with viral IBC’s top 100 Engineers –
mutations. 2009, an accolade credited to individuals who have
fulfilled “a standard of merit in the eyes of their
“The idea peers that is beyond the norm”. This honour is a
of a ‘virus symbol and lasting tribute achieved by a select few
catcher’ is an who have made significant contributions in their field
extension of for the benefit of the many.
our previous
work on Prof Mujumdar was also accorded Doctor Honoris
protein- Causa, the highest honour conferred by Lodz
imprinted Technical University of Poland, for his global
polymeric leadership and excellence in the field of innovative
nanoparticles. drying research and development.
Our research
group has patented an approach to separate out
only one specific type of protein – albumin – from a
mixture of different proteins. Talks to commercialise
this technology are in progress and should be
available to drug companies in three years,” said
Dr Tong.
This project is one of 104 to be awarded a grant

by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the first
funding round of the Grand Challenges Explorations,
an initiative to help scientists around the world
explore bold, new solutions for health challenges.
He is a world leader in innovative thermal drying and management of research and development.”
technologies, and renowned in both academic
and industrial professional circles for his research Her research lies in the areas of design and synthesis
in thermal and non-thermal drying, a process that of organic molecules with architectures that optimise
consumes 10-20 per cent of national industrial energy their optical and electrical performances with
in developed countries. particular emphasis on the development of water-
soluble conjugated polymers and the exploration of
Prof Mujumdar also has a prestigious international their applications in biosensors, chemo-sensors and
award named after him, Arun S Mujumdar Medal, optoelectronic devices. With her team, Dr Liu also
for his outstanding contributions to drying R&D, works on conjugated polymer-based solid state dye
mentoring younger generations of researchers and sensitised solar cells. The team has also achieved good
promoting drying research on a global scale. device performance that could efficiently champion
this type of solar cells.
NSTA Young Scientist Award She has published 62 papers in top international
journals and her work has been cited more than 1,000
times in the last five years. As principal investigator, Dr
Dr Liu Bin has been awarded the National Science
Liu also holds 14 patents for the application of these
& Technology Awards (NSTA) Young Scientist
water-soluble polymers in biosensors and devices.
Award (YSA) 2008 for her outstanding research
Several of these patents have been used to spin-off a
on polymer chemistry and the application of
start-up company, Sirigen Pte Ltd. Her research team
polymers in biosensors and solar cells.
is currently working on polymer amplified PCR free
microarray technology for real-time detection of
genes and pathogens.
INSIC Distinguished
Contribution Award and IBM
Faculty Award
Prof Charanjit Singh Bhatia has received the
Distinguished Contribution Award 2008
from the Information Storage
Industry Consortium
Dr Liu Bin receiving the NSTA YSA 2008 award from Mr Lim
(INSIC) in honour and
Hng Kiang, the Minister for Trade and Industry recognition of nearly
a decade and a half of
Dr Liu of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular leadership and outstanding
Engineering has gained international recognition in contribution to tribology
the polymer community. The prestigious NSTA YSA research for magnetic
is given for outstanding individuals who have made data storage achieving
distinguished, sustained and exceptional contributions. an extremely high
The award also recognises her strategic role in the density recording
development of Singapore through the “promotion of 10 Terabit/in2.
He was honoured for his leadership and pioneering

efforts to include the nation of Singapore in INSIC’s
Young Researcher Award
research programmes through his involvement in A prolific inventor who advanced the frontiers of
National University of Singapore (NUS), Data Storage nanoscale electronic devices, Dr Yeo Yee Chia
Institute and, more recently, Institute for Materials has won the Young Researcher Award 2008.
Research and Engineering. Prof Bhatia had earlier
been awarded the INSIC Leadership Achievement Dr Yeo of the Department of Electrical & Computer
Award in 1998 and 2003, and is the only individual Engineering has patent applications covering a wide
in the history of INSIC to have been awarded the range of advanced semiconductor processes and
honour twice.
devices that are deployed in the manufacturing of

Prof Bhatia of the Department of Electrical & integrated circuits. He is an inventor with 130 issued
Computer Engineering also received the IBM patents, including 76 US patents. He is also one of
Faculty Award 2008 for his project on Fabrication, the 10 young recipients of the National Research
Characterisation and Performance of Thin film Foundation inaugural individual research grants
Si Photovoltaic (PV) cells. The IBM award is a worth up to S$2.1 million each.
competitive global programme intended to foster
collaboration between researchers at leading
universities worldwide
and those in IBM
research, development
and services
organisations. It also
aims to promote
courseware and
curriculum innovation
to stimulate growth
in disciplines and
geographies strategic
to IBM. This award is a
first for a NUS faculty.
“I am very happy to receive this award on behalf of Dr Yeo is also a world-leading nanoelectronics
NUS and especially happy for our graduate students, researcher. He has a strong technical acumen in
who will now have a chance to work on cutting edge nanoelectronics and focuses on high-impact tasks of
research and collaborate with some of the top notch relevance to technology needs. With his experience in
scientists from the IBM research centre in New York,” engaging experimental and theoretical research
said Prof Bhatia. in electrical engineering, solid-state physics and
materials science, he has founded a world-leading
He has already signed a Joint Study Agreement research group at NUS with multiple breakthroughs
(JSA) with IBM, which has facilitated additional in nanoscale transistor technologies.
joint research projects. NUS students and faculty are
collaborating with a team of world-class research Under his leadership, NUS engineers unveiled
scientists at IBM’s T J Watson Research Center, New transistor technology for scaling electronic devices
York, USA. down to 5 nanometers. This technology enables multi-
fold increase in circuit functionality and speed as well The Young Investigator Award is given to authors
as immense savings in power consumption and has who are 35 years of age or below. These awards are
advanced the frontiers of semiconductor technology. given on the basis of creativity, originality and high
impact on biomedical engineering and health care.
He is also widely credited and known in the
semiconductor industry for being the first in the Prof Lim’s research has been featured in the MIT
world to demonstrate that a new material comprising Technology Review magazine as one of the 10
silicon and carbon can be incorporated in transistors Emerging Technologies of 2006. He was also featured
to enable electronics to operate at significantly in the cover story of Pharma Focus Asia magazine in
higher speeds. He aspires to be a global leader 2008, with two other renowned researchers from the
in advancing knowledge in nanoelectronics and US for their nanobiomechanics research.
semiconductor science and technology.
Young Investigator Award

(First Prize)
Assoc Prof Lim Chwee Teck, of the Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Division of
Bioengineering, and his PhD student, Ms Yow Soh
Zeom have been awarded the Young Investigator
Award (First Prize) at the International
Conference on Biomedical Engineering 2008.
The duo reported a collagen-based fibrous scaffold Investigating cell response to stretching using a live cell
imaging microscope
for the encapsulation and seeding of human
mesenchymal stem cells. This cell encapsulation
in scaffold technique is simple and less toxic as Prof Lim was the first in NUS to initiate
compared to existing fabrication techniques. mechanobiological research on human diseases at
cellular and molecular levels. Noting a lack of such
research in NUS, Prof Lim, trained in mechanics
at Cambridge and set up the Nano Biomechanics
Laboratory in 2002. His research has suggested that
the pathophysiology of diseases such as malaria and
cancer may be partly due to changes in the physical
properties of diseased cells.
He has won more than eight research awards,

delivered over 100 plenary, keynote and invited talks
at international conferences and institutions, and has
over 300 scientific publications – 130 journals and 200
Assoc Prof Lim Chwee Teck with Post-Doctoral Fellow
conference papers – to his name.
Dr Li Ang observing microstructure of bacteria using
an atomic force microscope
He works with researchers from top universities such e-books using interactive digital media, it presents
as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard digital content in a much richer and dynamic
University, Duke University, Institut Pasteur, Peking environment and allows authors to create state-
University and Tohoku University. He gives full credit of-the-art digital books by seamlessly fusing digital
to his multi-disciplinary team of Post-Doctoral Fellows media such as text, images, animation, flash, video, 3D
and graduate students. “I was fortunate to have in one coherent format. These user-created e-books
an exceptionally talented and hardworking team are then uploaded to the KooBits publishing portal,
including medical doctors, engineers and physicists. read, shared and distributed in the global village.
Also, having good research support definitely helps as
it allows me to focus more on the important scientific Through Personal e-Motion, a start-up founded by
questions,” he said. the trio, KooBits™ Author has been successfully
deployed in many primary and secondary schools
Currently, he and his team are working on a micro in Singapore and around the region, as well as
device to retrieve circulating tumour cells in human internationally.
blood, which has attracted great interest from
oncologists. Ultimately, he hopes to develop new
diagnostic devices that are not only fast but also
sensitive in detecting diseases at the earliest possible
stage. Such devices are especially needed for diseases
where early diagnosis and detection are crucial.
KooBits™ Author wins awards

KooBits™ Author has won the prestigious
InfoComm Singapore Award and the Asia
Pacific ICT Award (E-learning Category).
KooBits™ Author is the brain child of Alumni

Mr Stanley Han Xiaoyan and Dr Chen Xiangdong, and
Prof Sam
Ge Shuzhi
of the
Department
of Electrical L-R: Dr Chen Xiangdong, Mr Stanley Han Xiaoyan (standing)
& Computer and Prof Sam Ge Shuzhi with their awards
Engineering.
A cool Prof Ge has a passion for nurturing his students in
technology entrepreneurship as they participate in the process
that enables of developing technologies and bringing these
children to technologies out from the laboratories into the
KooBits Portal create truly markets. He says, “At www.KooBits.com, every dream
interactive is possible and every soul soars!
Key Partnerships
Collaboration with King Partnership is one of a number of Global Collaborative

Research Programmes funded by KAUST at major
Abdullah University of Science universities around the world, including Stanford,
and Technology (KAUST), Cornell, University of California (Berkeley), Cambridge,
Oxford, and Imperial College, among others.
Saudi Arabia
In a partnership that will foster research in chemical,
energy and materials sciences, the King Abdullah SDWA - MOU with Deltares,
University of Science and Technology (KAUST) signed
a Special Academic Partnership agreement with NUS
United Water International
in March 2008, offering a research award of about and Flinders University
US$5.5 million in support of three research projects in
the fields of desalination and nanomaterial synthesis
in the Faculty of Engineering.
The NUS-KAUST Partnership is directed by Prof

Raj Rajagopalan of the Department of Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) through the Office
of the Deputy President for Research and Technology.
The project leaders include Prof Ng Kim Choon of the
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof Neal
Chung Tai-Shung and Prof Zeng Hua Chun, both from
ChBE Department. The NUS-KAUST Special Academic
In June 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding

NUS-EADS Partnership:
(MOU) was signed between the Singapore-Delft
Water Alliance (SDWA) at NUS, Deltares (formerly Partnering a global leader in
Delft-Hydraulics) from The Netherlands, United Aerospace
Water International and Flinders University, both
from Australia, to collaborate in creating effective NUS and European Aeronautic Defence and Space
water management technologies and packaged Company (EADS), a global leader in aerospace,
solutions for the urban environment so as to manage defence and related services, entered into a Contract
precious water resources and address environmental Research Framework Agreement (CRFA) in February
challenges due to climate change. Under the MOU, 2008. The CRFA will facilitate the setting up of joint
the parties will pursue in the collaborative project research collaborations between the University
entitled “Modifying and Improving Porous Sol-Gel and EADS. One of these collaborations is the newly
Materials for Water Purification.” The project will launched “Flow Control Project”, set up jointly by
combine cash and in-kind contributions amounting NUS and Airbus, one of EADS’ global companies.
to a total of A$1.1 million and will be effective for
R-L: Prof Loh Hong
seven years. Sai (then-Acting
Director of IRO),
Prof Chew Yong
Tian (Head, ME
Department), Prof
SDWA – MOU with Delft Barry Halliwell
(Deputy President
University of Technology for Research &
Technology) and
Dr Jean Botti (at
the MOU signing
ceremony
Heading the research team from NUS is Prof Chew

Yong Tian, a fluid mechanics expert from the
Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME). The
present project focuses on the fundamental study
of flow control technologies for reducing drag
around streamlined bodies. A successful outcome
and application of these studies would reduce the
L-R: Prof Barry Halliwell, Deputy President for Research fuel consumption of aircrafts, resulting in savings for
& Technology, NUS with Drs Paul Rullman, Vice President
of Education, Delft University of Technology at the MOU airline companies and their customers.
signing ceremony
The agreement also saw the launch of the NUS-
In November 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding EADS Internship Programme, which will sponsor
(MOU) was signed between NUS and Delft University selected undergraduates from the University to intern
of Technology (TUD), at the Singapore-Delft Water with one of EADS research centres in Europe. The
Alliance (SDWA) Board of Trustees Meeting in Delft, Programme will add a new dimension to the NUS’
The Netherlands, effective for a period of two years. Aeronautical Engineering Specialisation Programme
The MOU aims at developing academic exchange and offered by the ME Department. Established in 1989,
cooperation in teaching and research and to promote the Internship Programme has produced graduates
joint research and development activities. This paves with strong engineering foundation to meet the
the way for a Double MSc degree programme in needs of the local aerospace industry, including works
Hydraulic Engineering between TUD and NUS. in maintenance, repair and overhaul.
Visit by Tianjin Eco-city Think Tank

Two Chinese delegations visited the Faculty in April
2008: One from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural
Construction of the Beijing Central Government, led by
Director General Mr Tang Kai, and the other from the
Tianjin Municipal Government, headed by Director General
Mr Guo Lijun, Chairman of the Tianjin Binhai New Area. The
visit was part of the Chinese delegations’ trip to Singapore
to discuss the Tianjin Eco-city project, coordinated by
Singapore’s Ministry of National Development.
L-R: DG Mr Tang Kai, DG Mr Guo Lijun, Vice-Provost Tan
Thiam Soon and Dean Chan Eng Soon
Prof Tan Thiam Soon, NUS Vice-Provost (Education), hosted
the meeting with the Dean, Prof Chan Eng Soon, and the Deputy Dean, Prof Lim Seh Chun. Other NUS participants
included the Dean of the School of Design & Environment, Head of the Division of Environmental Science &
Engineering, and representatives from the Faculty’s External Relations Office.
Prof Lim shared the Faculty’s perspectives on areas of environmental concern and research in Singapore, while Vice-
Provost Tan welcomed DG Guo’s suggestion of collaboration in developing talent with respect to the Eco-city project.
This meeting paved the way for further discussions and follow-up visits.
Agilent-NUS Joint Research Facility

Agilent Technologies Inc. and NUS have officially
opened a joint teaching and research facility
in the Department of Electrical & Computer
Engineering (ECE). This joint collaboration is part
of a series of collaborations initiated between
Agilent and the NUS Faculty of Engineering,
following an earlier visit of Agilent’s President and
CEO, Mr William P (Bill) Sullivan to the University.
As part of the collaboration, ECE students working

Opening Ceremony officiated by Prof Chan Eng Soon, Dean of Faculty
on their final year projects will get to leverage of Engineering and Mr Rob Young, General Manager of Agilent
on Agilent’s test and measurement systems
to formulate innovative solutions to real and
challenging industrial problems, and participate
in the Agilent Applications Development
Competition.
The Agilent-ECE Control Laboratory is equipped

with comprehensive solutions in measurement and
control systems, offering a full range of industrial-
grade instruments to students and faculty to carry Visit by Mr William P (Bill) Sullivan, President & CEO of Agilent
out electronics and control related experiments and projects.
Agilent is a premier measurement company and a technology leader

in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. This
collaboration leverages on Agilent’s strength in test and measurement
solutions for the development of future engineers with strong industrial
instrumentation skills and knowledge.
Tour of Agilent-NUS Joint Research Facility
NI-NUS Joint Research Facility

A new joint teaching and research
facility initiative of National
Instruments ASEAN (NI) and
NUS Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering (ECE),
was officially opened in
November 2008.
The NI-ECE Graphical Systems

Design Laboratory will develop
advanced graphical system design
innovation and will offer a rich
and open environment that
Opening ceremony officiated by (L-R) Prof Lawrence Wong (Head, ECE Department),
students can use to explore all Mr Chandra Nair (Managing Director, NI ASEAN), Prof Chan Eng Soon (Dean, Faculty
of Engineering) and Mr Victor Mieres (Vice-President of Sales, NI Asia)
aspects of embedded systems
design. It will also provide
undergraduate and graduate students with embedded system
design experiential research and development opportunities
using NI technologies.
In addition, it also brings together members of the NUS

community, including student and post-doctoral researchers
and faculty from a variety of departments.
Tour of NI-ECE Graphical Systems Design Laboratory
The collaboration between two powerhouses in academia and
industry will definitely up the ante on multiple levels, cultivating
the next generation of highly adaptable and versatile engineers
and merging classroom theories with real-world applications.
NUS was recently ranked No. 11 in the World’s Top Universities
Ranking in Engineering and Technology by The Times Higher
Education Supplement – Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS) while
National Instruments is a distinguished leader in computer-based
Dr Tang Kok Zuea shares some recent results with
measurement and automation.
industry guests during the laboratory tour
At present, the main photovoltaic production

Launch of SERIS
capacities are located in Japan, Europe and China,
The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore with the United States catching up. Singapore has
(SERIS) located at NUS was launched in February the potential to become the hub of photovoltaic
2008 and attracted S$60 million of research production in South East Asia, addressing the
funding from the NRF Clean Energy Programme regional as well as global market.
Office managed by the Economic Development
Board. SERIS conducts industry-oriented research and
development as well as use-inspired basic research in
The global solar energy market has been growing the field of solar energy conversion. It will provide
considerably during the past decade. Solar electricity NUS the opportunity to enhance its position and take
is expected to contribute significantly to the global leadership in solar energy technology.
energy supply in the near future. Singapore, with
its strong new clean energy policy specially supports The new Institute is headed by Prof Joachim Luther,
the use of solar energy and is playing an important former Director of the Fraunhofer Institute of Solar
role in Asia Pacific. SERIS was established to meet the Energy Systems and Professor of Physics at Germany’s
regional demands in application-oriented research University of Freiburg. SERIS will focus on three
and innovation, in particular in photovoltaics. main areas of research, namely in development of
silicon photovoltaic technologies, nano-structured
solar cells and the development of materials and
innovative components for solar and energy-efficient
buildings. A special service unit of SERIS will provide
photovoltaics module performance testing. SERIS will
also assist in training of manpower for Singapore’s
solar energy industry.
New Aquatic Science Centre at

Sungei Ulu Pandan
Optical Surface Profilometer
The first of its kind in Asia, the upcoming Aquatic
Science Centre at Sungei Ulu Pandan (ASC@Sg
Ulu Pandan) will be a hotspot for urban water
research when it is completed by the end of 2009.
Launched in July 2008 in conjunction with the

Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) initiative
to set up environmental observatories at critical
locations, the 1,800m2 outdoor centre will be the
first of a series of environmental observatories for
urban freshwater management research to be built
in Singapore. Work at the Centre will go a big way
Silicon Wafer Solar Cells
to improve the water quality of Singapore’s canals,
Photos: Courtesy of Solar Energy Research Institute
of Singapore (SERIS) reservoirs and lakes.
Assoc Prof Vladan Babovic, Director of

SDWA said, “The challenges we are trying to
address are posed by greater urbanisation
and the pressures that the environment
feels as a consequence of centuries of
human activities.”
Expected to cost about S$9 million, the

Centre – jointly funded by the NUS, PUB and
the Environment & Water Initiative of the
National Research Foundation – will include
an interactive showcase of urban freshwater
research projects and technologies for public
education. It will also host visitors, schools
and organised groups to raise awareness of
urban freshwater management in Singapore
and other cities.
L-R: Prof Barry Halliwell (Deputy President for Research & Technology),
Prof Shih Choon Fong (then-President of NUS), Mr Chris Sanders
(Ambassador, The Kingdom of the Netherlands), Dr Yaacob Ibrahim
(Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) and Mr Khoo Teng
Chye (CEO of Public Utilities Board), at the launch
The project is a collaboration between NUS, Public Utilities Board

(PUB) and Deltares (formerly Delft Hydraulics), and is located at
the Ulu Pandan Canal. The Aquatic Centre will be a joint effort
of engineers, environmental scientists, social scientists and policy
makers. Nearly 20 researchers from various disciplines ranging
from biology to engineering will look into integrated approaches
to urban water problems, including improving water quality and
supply, mitigating flood risks and understanding the interaction
between plants, soil and water bodies. Researchers will also study An artist’s impression of the Aquatic Science
how organisms like plants and animals use natural systems to Centre showcases the wave-form roof, which will
provide shade and act as a rainwater collection
minimise pollution. point of research
52
Our People
54 New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Our People
National Honours
National Day Awards 2008 and new research initiatives. This includes the holistic
development of Kent Ridge campus, Bukit Timah
Public Service Star campus, University Town and Duke-NUS Graduate
Prof Yong Kwet Yew, PPA, Medical School into vibrant and connected campuses.
BBM, of the Department
of Civil Engineering (CE) Public
was awarded the Public Administration
Service Star in 2008. This Medal (Silver)
is his third National Day Prof Tan Thiam Soon,
Award after the Public PPA, of the Department
Administration Medal of Civil Engineering
(Silver) in 2000 and the (CE) was awarded the
Public Service Medal in 2004. The Public Service Star Public Administration
(2008) was given on the recommendation of the Medal (Silver). Prof Tan
Ministry of Transport for his contribution as Board has made numerous
and Executive Committee Member of the Land highly respected contributions in his service to the
Transport Authority (LTA), and his significant input to University, including being the former Vice-Dean of
many aspects of land transport development since his Engineering and the Dean of Admissions.
appointment to the LTA Board in 2002.
Prof Tan is currently Vice-Provost (Education) and
Prof Yong is currently Vice President (Campus assists the Provost in setting educational directions
Infrastructure) and oversees matters related to the and policies for the University, in ensuring high
planning and sustainable development of campus academic standards, and in education quality
facilities to meet increasing student enrolment assurance. He has oversight of the Registrar’s Office,
Office of Admissions, Office of Student Affairs, Centre the Head of Division of Engineering & Technology
for Development of Teaching and Learning, and Management in the Faculty of Engineering. He is
Centre for English Language Communication. also the founding Chairman of the university-level
Interactive & Digital Media Institute.
Public
Administration This is the second public sector recognition for Prof
Medal (Bronze) Hang, who won the Public Administration Medal
Assoc Prof Teo Chee (Gold) in 1998 for his distinguished contributions to
Leong, PPA, of the NUS as Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Department of
Mechanical Engineering
(ME) and Director of the
Home Team NSman of the Year
NUS Overseas Colleges
was conferred the Public Mr Cheah Kok Keong, who manages the
Administration Medal (Bronze). Prof Teo is a man Professional Activities Centre at the Faculty of
of character with outstanding commitment and Engineering, has been named the Home Team
dedication to his work. He is extremely passionate NSman of the Year in 2008.
about making a difference in the NUS community.
A National Service (NS) key appointment holder in
With his infectious enthusiasm, he constantly the Singapore Civil Defence Force, LTC (NS) Cheah is
motivates his staff to give of their best at their work. the Battalion Commander of a Rescue Battalion. He
He also goes beyond the call of duty and takes time also serves as Chairman of the HomeTeamNS-JOM
to meet up with students and to encourage and spur Clubhouse Committee. He credits his excellence to
them on to realise their potential. NUS for allowing him to plan his work around his
NS schedules. NS has helped him to step out of his
Public Service Medal comfort zone, take charge of difficult situations and
Prof Hang Chang Chieh, make appropriate operational decisions as a Battalion
PPA, PBM, was awarded Commander.
the Public Service Medal
during the National Day
for his contribution to Mr Cheah
the gravity of Intellectual Kok Keong
receiving
Property in Singapore. He his award
has been the Chairman of from Mr K
Shanmugam,
the Intellectual Property Minister
for Law
Office of Singapore (IPOS) Board of Management and Second
since the establishment of IPOS as a statutory board Minister for
Home Affairs
with effect from 1 April 2001.
The Home Team NSmen of the Year award was
During the past seven years, he provided outstanding introduced in 2007 to accord greater recognition to
guidance and leadership to the organisation. He outstanding Home Team NSmen for their contributions
guided the top management in strategic thinking and achievements towards National Service. Given
needed to sustain and grow the organisation up to annually, it is the highest and most prestigious award
the present stage. He also served as Chairman of accorded to individual outstanding NSmen during
the HR Committee of IPOS. Prof Hang is currently their Operationally Ready National Service.
Outstanding
Achievements
First Asian President of IMarEST from 101 countries that promotes the development
of marine engineering, science and technology. Prof
In a historic development, Prof Choo Yoo Sang Choo, who took over in March 2008, is from the
from the NUS Faculty of Engineering becomes Faculty’s Department of Civil Engineering (CE).
the 106th and First Asian President of IMarEST.
During his tenure as President of IMarEST, Prof Choo
intends to act as a bridge between the East and
the West, to help draw young talents to meet the
needs of the industry, and to actively engage in the
advancement of engineering science and technology,
and international networking.
As the new President, Prof Choo presented his

Presidential Address on ‘Reflections on Offshore
Engineering Research and Education’ to a full
audience at the Institute’s headquarters in London
on 13 October 2008. Prof Choo then presented his
Keynote Address at the Third Pan Asian Association
President Choo and Honorary Fellow Mr Choo Chiau Beng
of Maritime Engineering Societies (PAAMES) Forum
Based in the UK, the prestigious Institute of Marine and Advanced Maritime Engineering Conference
Engineering Science and Technology (IMarEST) is an (AMEC) 2008 on 20 October 2008 in Chiba-city, Japan.
international professional membership body and
learned society consisting of marine professionals In keeping with the growing concern on climate
Prof Cheok of the Department of Electrical &

Computer Engineering (ECE) is one of the two
Singaporeans among 245 leading executives, public
figures and intellectuals – all aged 40 or younger –
chosen from around the world for their professional
achievements and potential to shape the world.
The World Economic Forum bestows this prestigious
honour yearly to recognise and acknowledge the top
200-300 young leaders from around the world for
their professional accomplishments, commitment to
society and potential to contribute to the future of
the world. Past winners include Google founders
President Choo at IMarEST Annual Dinner
Mr Larry Page and Mr Sergey Brin – and from
Singapore, Members of Parliament Mr Teo Ser Luck
and Ms Penny Low.
The Young Global

Lead
Leaders for 2008
inclu 121 business
include
lead
leaders, as well
le
as leaders from
gove
government, academia,
me
media and society
fr
from 65 countries.
L-R: PAAMES – Prof Choo, Prof Hang S Choi, Prof Zhang D
Drawn from a pool
Shengkun and Prof Shigeru Naito
of almost 5,000
change, Prof Choo plans to initiate an International candidates, the
Student Competition on Green Marine. This move will Young Global
underscore IMarEST’s encouragement to young Leaders 2008
engineers and scientists to explore solutions to the were chosen
problems of global warming. by a selection
co
committee of 31
At the Faculty of Engineering, Prof Choo is the i
eminent international
Director of the Offshore Engineering Programme at media leaders. As part of their engagement, the
the CE Department, and Founding Director of the Young Global Leaders give their time to task forces
Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering (CORE). to initiate, develop and drive innovative solutions on
important, globally-oriented issues, including health,
education, the environment, global governance and
security, and development and poverty.
Young Global Leaders
Assoc Prof Adrian David Cheok receives the At NUS, Prof Cheok is the Founder-Director of the
Young Global Leaders 2008 Award from World Mixed Reality Laboratory, and Deputy Director
Economic Forum for his achievements in virtual (Research) of the Interactive & Digital Media Institute.
reality.
team involved optimising the process for treating

Singapore Youth Award
waste water without aeration, producing electricity
Assoc Prof Ng How Yong receives the Singapore directly and generating less waste sludge in the
Youth Award 2008 for his ground-breaking process.
contribution to the technology that uses bacteria
to generate electricity from organic matter.
Prof Ng of the Division of Environmental Science &

Triple Honours
Engineering received the Singapore Youth Award Assoc Prof Phoon Kok Kwang receives not one
(SYA) 2008 – Science and Technology (Individual). The but three prestigious awards in recognition of
SYA honours young people who have excelled in their his outstanding contributions in research and
respective fields, contributed back to the community service.
and whose achievements serve as an inspiration to
others.
Assoc Prof Ng How Yong receiving the Singapore Youth

Award 2008 from Prof S Jayakumar, then Deputy Prime
Minister, and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security L-R: Prof Tan Thiam Soon, Assoc Prof Phoon Kok Kwang and
at the Istana on 6 July 2008 Prof Leung Chun Fai
Prof Ng led a research effort to fine-tune technology Prof Phoon of the Department of Civil Engineering
that generates electricity cheaply while cleaning used (CE) received the IACMAG Excellent Contributions
water. His work on microbial fuel cells uses bacteria Award from the International Association for
to generate electricity from organic matter and has Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics in
won a S$2.3 million grant from the Environmental October 2008 for his excellent scientific contributions
and Water Industry (EWI) Development Council to and leadership in the advancement of probabilistic
develop a prototype microbial fuel cell suitable for methods and large-scale computing in geomechanics
large-scale application. and geotechnical engineering practice. This
prestigious award is conferred every four years and
In current methods of used water treatment, about awarded to individuals who have made significant
half its operating cost is taken up by a process called contributions in research, academic activities and
aeration which also creates sludge, a by-product that professional service in the interdisciplinary area of
is costly to dispose of. This breakthrough by Prof Ng’s geomechanics.
committee consisting of 34 distinguished academics

and practitioners as chair since 2003.
In the CE Department, Prof Phoon serves as Research

Manager and is the Director of the Centre for Soft
Ground Engineering.
Outstanding Educator Award

Prof Phoon receiving the 2008 Committee of the Year Award
from Dr Barbara Luke (Chair, Technical Coordination Council, Assoc Prof Ashwin Khambadkone receives the
Geo-Institute) on 10 March 2008 in New Orleans, USA
Outstanding Educator Award 2008 in recognition
of his excellence in teaching.
Prof
Khambadkone
of the
Department
of Electrical
& Computer
Engineering
Prof Phoon receiving the IACMAG Excellent Contributions (ECE) is always
Award from Prof John Carter (Pro Vice-Chancellor, exploring
The University of Newcastle, Australia) on 4 October 2008
in Goa, India ways to create
learning
Prof Phoon was part of a three-member team from environments.
the CE Department, together with Prof Tan Thiam His classes
Soon (who is also the Vice-Provost, Education) stimulate and encourage student participation
and Prof Leung Chun Fai (current Chairman of and come with comprehensive well-designed and
the Professional Activities Centre), to receive the thought-provoking materials. No wonder then
Minister’s Innovation Award (Distinguished) conferred that his efforts have been aptly rewarded with the
by Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport in Outstanding Educator Award 2008.
recognition of their contribution towards a strategic
national project, in November 2008. The team was His goal is to educate students who can manage
engaged as the expert geotechnical consultants to their own learning and who have the ability to
assist in the planning, design, and implementation of investigate, design and solve problems in Electrical
an innovative method of reclamation. and Electronics.
In March 2008, Prof Phoon also received the He was also instrumental in developing core
Committee of the Year Award from the Geo-Institute, curriculum design for ECE programmes and
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USA on developing new assessment methods for final year
behalf of the Risk Assessment and Management projects. He says, “My goal is to become a more
Committee “in recognition of their distinguished proficient educator so as to enable learners to
service to the Geo-Institute”. He has led this achieve their true potential.”
international cooperation in engineering education

iNEER Recognition Award
and research that have led to close interaction
Assoc Prof Tan Kay Chen receives the 2008 between institutions in two or more nations.
iNEER Recognition Award for his outstanding
contributions to engineering education and Prof Tan was also a winner of NUS Outstanding
research. Educator Award (2004), Engineering Educator Awards
(2002, 2003, 2005), NUS Annual Teaching Excellence
Prof Tan of the Awards (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), and NUS
Department Honour Roll (2007).
of Electrical
& Computer
Engineering
2008 American Society for
(ECE) received
the Recognition Materials (ASM) Fellow
Award (2008)
Prof Seeram Ramakrishna was elected as 2008
from the
ASM Fellow by the Board of Trustees of ASM
International
International for pioneering research on polymer
Network for
composites, biocomposites and nano-fibres.
Engineering
Education and
Research (iNEER) for his outstanding contributions
to engineering education and research. This award
was presented to him at the annual International
Conference on Engineering Education (ICEE) in
Hungary in July 2008 by the iNEER International
Advisory Board.
Prof Seeram Ramakrishna receives the 2008 Fellow

Award from ASM Past President, Dr Dianne Chong
Assoc Prof Tan Kay Chen displaying his award with
Prof Laszlo T Koczy (left) and Prof Ian Rouse (right)
Established in 1913, ASM International is a professional
organisation that brings materials professionals
This iNEER recognition award recognises an individual together. Today, nearly 100 years later, the members
or education partnership for innovations and of ASM International continue to share information
sustained, dedicated and exemplary contributions to and ideas that advance the study, development
and application of materials and processes. Prof Academic Palms) is an Order of Chivalry of France
Ramakrishna, who was then the Dean of the Faculty to academics and educators originally created by
of Engineering and is now Vice-President of Napoleon to honour eminent members of the
Research Strategy of NUS, says, “There is no parallel University of Paris. The Ordre des Palmes académiques
to the recognition by the highest international has three grades – Commandeur (commander),
professional society to an individual in his own Officier (officer) and Chevalier (knight).
profession. As a young engineer, I grew up learning
from the ASM International community and Fellows.
This recognition is an invaluable honour and joy
to me. I sincerely thank ASM colleagues for this
recognition and their confidence in me.”
IEEE Fellow 2009

Prof Dim-Lee Kwong
of the Department of
Electrical & Computer
Engineering (ECE), who
is currently seconded
as Executive Director
to the Institute of As the Advisor to the International Relations Office,
Microelectronics, a NUS, Prof Lim successfully set up the French Double
research institute Degree programmes between NUS and six top French
with the Agency for prestigious Engineering Schools (Grandes Ecoles).
Science, Technology and These programmes are now important channels for
Research, was conferred the Institute of Electrical & the constant flow of the best students from NUS and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow 2009 for Region the Grandes Ecoles in both directions. Prof Lim was also
10 (Asia Pacific Region) in November 2008. This is in appointed as the Director of the Franco-Singaporean
recognition for his contributions to silicon technology Joint Research Laboratory (SONDRA) in France from
and leadership in directing microelectronics research. 2003 to 2006. He continues to advise the Faculty of
Engineering in academic affairs relating to France.
French Decoration Award

TIIMES Adjunct Scientist
Assoc Prof Lim Kah Bin of the Department of
Mechanical Engineering (ME) has been decorated Assoc Prof Rajasekhar
with the l’Officier dans l’ordre des Palmes Balasubramanian of the
Academiques in 2008 for all his contributions in Division of Environmental
promoting French culture and education. This is Science & Engineering has
a promotion from the previous decoration of le recently been appointed
Chavalier dans l’ordre des Palmes Academiques which as TIIMES (The Institute
he received in 2003. for Integrative and
Multidisciplinary Earth
The l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Studies) Adjunct Scientist
at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research Prof Wang

(NCAR), USA. Chien Ming
of the
Department
This appointment is in recognition of Prof Bala’s
of Civil
international standing in atmospheric sciences and
Engineering
the prospects for NCAR-NUS sustained collaboration
(CE),
in biosphere-hydrosphere-atmosphere interactions
and also
research.
Director
of the
Through this appointment Prof Bala will be involved
Engineering
in collaborative research with NCAR to investigate
Science
biosphere-hydrosphere-atmosphere exchanges
Programme,
and feedback under natural and urban-influenced Prof Wang Chien Ming
received the
conditions as part of a multi-national effort under
IES Outstanding Volunteer Award for his leadership
the BEACHON (Bio-hydro-atmosphere Interactions
to the IES/IStructE Joint Committee and his service as
of Energy, Aerosols, Carbon, H2O, Organics, and
the Chief Editor of the IES Journal Part A: Civil and
Nitrogen) Project. This research is critical to guide
Structural Engineering.
policies, practices and economic development
associated with water resources management, urban
Faculty alumni were
pollution, and sustainable food supplies in an era of
also recipients of these
climate and global change.
prestigious IES Awards.
They are Mr Kang Choon
NCAR is a National Science Foundation (NSF)
Seng, Mr Bhupendra
sponsored research institute, engaged in multi-
Singh Baliyan and Dr Boh
disciplinary research with emphasis on Earth systems
Jaw Woei as well as a
science.
fourth year student, Mr
Thang Wei Wang of the
Department of Electrical
IES Excellent Service Awards & Computer Engineering
Assoc Prof Foo Swee Cheng
and Outstanding Volunteer (ECE) from the Young
Members Committee.
Awards
The IES was established in
Three members of the Faculty of Engineering
July 1966 as the national
have been honoured by the Institution of
society of engineers in
Engineers, Singapore (IES) for their contributions.
Singapore. Its mission
Dr Chew Soon Hoe of the Department of Civil is to advance and
Engineering (CE) and Assoc Prof Foo Swee Cheng promote the science,
of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular art and the profession
Engineering (ChBE) were recipients of the IES of engineering for
Excellent Service Awards – Bronze for their significant the well-being of
contributions to the IES Council. mankind and national Dr Chew Soon Hoe
development of Singapore. Today, IES represents Federation of

the voice of engineers in Singapore, upholding their Engineering
professional status and image nationally, regionally Organisations
and internationally through its representation in the Honorary
Professional Engineers Board, Singapore, the ASEAN Fellowship
Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) by the then
and its links with other professional institutions of President of
engineers worldwide. the Institution
of Engineers,
Singapore (IES),
SPRING Standards Council Er. Tan Seng

Chuan, at the
Distinguished Award IES Appreciation
Night 2008.
Assoc Prof
Reginald Tan
Beng Hee of
the Department 2008 URSI Young Scientist
of Chemical & Award
Biomolecular
Engineering Dr Qiu Chengwei, Research Fellow of the
(ChBE) has Department of Electrical & Computer
received Engineering (ECE) has been awarded the 2008
the SPRING URSI Young Scientist Award from International
Standards Union of Radio Science.
Council
Distinguished The prestigious
Award in award is given to
recognition of young researchers
distinguished below the age
service and contribution to the Singapore National of 35, and was for
Standardisation Programme 2007, awarded by his paper entitled
Standards Council of Singapore under the auspices of “Peculiarities
SPRING Singapore. He was earlier awarded the Merit in Scattering
Award in 2005. Properties by
Spherical Particles
with Radial
Anisotropy”.
ASEAN Federation of This is Dr Qiu’s
Engineering Organisations third major
Honorary Fellowship award after the SUMMA Graduate Fellowship Award
in Advanced Electromagnetics in 2005 and IEEE
Emeritus Prof Lee Seng Lip of the Department of Antennas and Propagation Society Graduate Research
Civil Engineering (CE) was conferred the ASEAN Award in 2006.
Visiting Professors
There were 25 new visiting staff who assumed duty in 2008.
Here are some of them.
Distinguished Visiting Shuttle Tile problem that arose eight months prior to
Professors (Research) the first mission.
Prof Frederick F Lange has

Prof William Ireland
been appointed Distinguished
Milne has been appointed the
Visiting Professor (Research) at
Distinguished Visiting Professor
the Department of Materials
(Research) of the Department
Science & Engineering from
of Electrical & Computer
March 2008 to March 2011. He will develop major
Engineering for one year from
high-quality research programmes in the area of
September 2008 to September
advanced functional ceramic materials. He is currently
2009. He has been working in the Signal Processing
a Professor at University of California, Santa Barbara’s
and VLSI Laboratory. Prof Milne has been Head of
Materials Department and Department of Chemical
Electrical Engineering at Cambridge University since
Engineering.
1999 and Head of the Electronic Devices and Materials
group since 1996 when he was appointed to the ‘1944
He was elected a member of the National Academy of
Chair in Electrical Engineering’.
Engineering, USA, since 1992. He is also a Fellow and
Distinguished Life Member of the American Ceramic
His research interests include large area Si and carbon
Society. He has won a number of awards, including
based electronics, thin film materials and, most
Rutgers Distinguished Engineering, Outstanding
recently, Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)
Educator Award from Ceramic Education Society, Ross
and carbon nanotubes and other 1-D structures for
Coffin Purdy Award and many others. He was
electronic applications. He currently collaborates with
identified as ISI Highly Cited Researcher in 2002. In
various companies including Thales, Hitachi, Nokia,
1980, he was awarded the Rockwell Engineer of the
Dow Corning, ALPS (Japan) and FEI and is also currently
Year for recognising the failure mode for a Space
involved in five European Union projects and Maritime Technology

several UK Government funded projects. He has Professor
published and presented over 600 papers, of
Prof John Patrick Dempsey
which 120 were invited.
has been appointed as the first
Maritime Technology Professor in
On arriving in Cambridge, Prof Milne set
the Department of Civil Engineering
up the Electronic Devices and Materials
from August to December 2008.
group, which now has seven staff members,
Prof Dempsey has served as an academic staff in Clarkson
approximately 30 post-doctoral research staff
University, USA, since 1980, holding the position of Professor
and Fellows and over 50 PhD students. The
in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
yearly income is over €15 million.
since 1990. He has researched and made significant
contributions in fracture mechanics and arctic engineering.
Prof Milne obtained his BSc from St Andrews
He delivered lectures and conducted R&D in the area of
University in Scotland in 1970 and then went
arctic engineering, which is one of the most up-to-date areas
on to read his PhD in Electronic Materials at
in offshore engineering at present. There is a pressing need
Imperial College London,UK. He was awarded
for expertise in arctic technology as Singapore’s offshore
his PhD and Diploma of Imperial College in
industry becomes increasingly involved in the construction of
1973 and in 2003, a DEng (Honoris Causa)
offshore structures in arctic conditions.
from University of Waterloo, Canada. He was
elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of
Engineering in 2006 and was awarded the
Visiting Professor
JJ Thomson medal from the Institution of Prof Jaap Wardenier joined the
Engineering and Technology (IET) in 2008. He Department of Civil Engineering as a
is a Guest Professor at HuangZhou University Visiting Professor from November 2008
in Wuhan, China and a Distinguished Visiting to October 2009. Prof Wardenier is
Professor at South East University in Nanjing, Emeritus Professor of Steel Structures
China and at KyungHee University, Seoul. from Delft University of Technology (TU
From 1973 until 1976 he worked at the Delft), Netherlands, but is still involved in education, design
Plessey Res Company, Caswell afterwhich he and consultancy and is internationally renowned in many
joined Cambridge University’s Department of areas of tubular structures and joints. He has written many
Engineering as an Assistant Lecturer. design guides (translated into many languages) and over 200
publications. He has served as President, Chairman or Member
Prof Hiroo Kanamori, Prof Jeroen in many International and National Committees on Steel
Tromp and Prof Jean-Philippe Avouac Structures.
from California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) have been appointed Distinguished In recognition of his significant achievements, Prof
Visiting Professors (Research) in the Wardenier has received many awards and honours which
Department of Civil Engineering from May include: ISOPE Award; ISOPE Best Paper Award; ISOPE
2008 to May 2009. Their appointments are Osaka Award; Honorary Fellow of Singapore Structural
aimed at supporting and complementing the Steel Society; IIW Houdremont lecturer; Kurobane Lecturer;
research work of the newly established Centre Kurobane Award of IIW-XV-E – Tubular Structures and Medal
for Hazards Resarch (CHR). All three professors of Honour of the Netherlands Institute of Welding. As an
are world renowned researchers in the areas international authority, Prof Wardenier has been involved as a
of seismology, geophysics and earthquake consultant in many onshore and offshore projects. He has also
geology. contributed significantly in codes, standards and handbooks.
Alumni
NUS alumnus Prof career. He highlights three distinctive qualities where

Ho Teck Hua is his engineering foundation and training have given
a chair professor in him an advantage over many of his peers:
marketing at the Haas • First, it made him a powerfully logical thinker,
School of Business having a step-by-step way of processing
at University of information. The uniqueness of this trait has
California, Berkeley. helped him to perceive situations in fresher ways.
• Second, it trained him to be a superb problem
Prof Ho has certainly solver. Having a systematic approach where every
come a long way since situation can be modelled as a well-structured
he graduated from NUS with First Class Honours in problem with possible solutions, even outside the
Electrical Engineering in 1985. Upon graduation, he engineering realm, is highly effective.
joined the Singapore Economic Development Board • Third, he is a system thinker after his engineering
(EDB). In 1989, he undertook PhD studies in Decision education. In engineering situations, every
Science/Marketing at Wharton School of Business system has its inputs and outputs, where inputs
at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). After are divided into controllable and uncontrollable
completing his doctorate in 1993, he taught at three factors. Seeing marketing and other real life
business schools (UCLA, Penn and UC Berkeley). He situations in this way is often illuminating and has
received his academic tenure at the Wharton School given him penetrating insights into situations that
of Business in 1999 prior to joining UC Berkeley in others have missed.
2002.
His best advice to engineering students is to be
Prof Ho has no doubt that his engineering training at passionate about what they do and pursue their
NUS has contributed to his success in his academic genuine interests relentlessly. The key is to not get
too caught up in what appears to be popular at the the Senior Vice-President of Engineering Research &
moment and just to follow the crowd for the sake Development in Seagate Technology International.
of short-term profit. Global job markets can always
change. “When I first started out in my current In managing the Singapore-based Research and
research field 15 years ago, it was not yet well Development Centre – Seagate’s only product design
developed; now, it is hot and seen as highly valuable. and development centre outside the US – Mr Say
I could not have predicted its current success, but oversees a wide range of mission-critical product
simply followed my interests.” research and developments for the company,
especially in personal and consumer electronics
He also encourages students to engage in intense storage products. He is currently responsible for the
discussions with their professors. He has personally research and development of the notebook market.
benefited from the many deep conversations with Under his leadership, the R&D engineering team has
his academic mentors and their advice has shaped his experienced phenomenal success in the entry-level
way of thinking and has a strong impact on him to desktop computing and consumer solutions market;
this day. delivering well over 1,000 new inventions, 164 trade
secrets, 208 US patents and 13 international products
Prof Ho has this final bit of advice, “Despite the to date.
current economic slump, young engineers need not
be pessimistic. Clear thinkers and capable engineers Mr Say attributes the success in his career to his
are always in demand; the field of engineering itself solid engineering education and background. It
might change, but the process of thinking in which has positioned him with the necessary skill sets to
engineers are trained will never go out of style. manage the many demands and complexities of
They have impressive skill sets, so as long as they are leading high-performing engineering personnel. It
versatile and are willing to learn new things, they has also provided the analytical skills for him to see
should not have much trouble succeeding in the problems at the system level and enabled him to be
world, no matter what they choose to do.” able to understand the various needs of engineers
and the engineering skills required to grow a
successful R&D team.
Mr Say Kwee Teck
leads the R&D team When asked what he believed were the keys for
at Seagate’s only engineering students to succeed, this was what he
product design and had to say, “Stay with the fundamentals and adapt
development centre quickly to new technology. Constantly strive to
outside the United innovate and push yourself to find improvements
States. His team has or new solutions. Engineers create and improve the
delivered over 1,000 quality of life for people around them.” He also
new R&D inventions, had some words to inspire engineering students
164 trade secrets, 208 in today’s global slump, “The most important
US patents and 13 international products engineering skill that you would have picked
to date. up in the course of your training is the ability to
make analytical judgments, to have a broad-based
Having graduated with a Bachelor in Electronics approach to looking at issues. These skills are highly
& Electrical Engineering (Hons) and a Masters desired in any discipline of work. It provides the
in Engineering degree from the NUS Faculty of broadest entry point in the job market.”
Engineering in 1980 and 1986 respectively, Mr Say is
Mr Say has more than 24 years of experience in the about four years. It was only in 1995 that he stepped
disk drive research and development industry, and into the Financial Services industry as a full- time
has garnered nine US patents to date. Prior to his agent. He was promoted from insurance agent to
venture into research and development, Mr Say was manager and was sent on a nine-month intensive
involved in automation at Hewlett Packard. course called the Agency Management Training
Course (AMTC) in 1996 where he emerged as the top
student. “I believe my success in the AMTC course was
Mr Harold Ng is made possible because of my engineering training
a leader in the in the University, Government and the MNC that
insurance industry, enabled me to be systematic and process oriented,”
where his engineering declared Harold.
training continues to
give him a leading Harold shares what he has gleaned as keys to success:
edge over his peers. “One of the most valuable character traits that I have
gained while pursuing my engineering degree at
Mr Harold Ng, who NUS is the ‘never-say-die’ attitude which has seen me
graduated from the through many challenges.” Another key is to balance
Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1985, has both drive and empathy. Although the general
had an illustrious career with Great Eastern that perception is that engineers are more analytical and
spans almost two decades. In 2006, he was appointed logical with the drive element being more dominant,
as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President what is needed is a balance of both drive and
Director of PT Great Eastern Life Indonesia. During his empathy to get ahead.
tenure there, Harold managed to increase their sales
ten-fold and clinched exclusive distribution rights to The other key for engineers to succeed is the
a public-listed bank. Now back in Singapore, Harold courage to take risks. “I learnt about risk-taking in
continues to grow Great Eastern through his agency, conducting experiments and attempting difficult
Harold Ng & Associates. engineering problems. I have applied this in my
life. I have taken a calculated risk to jump into the
In 2008, Harold Ng & Associates was the Top Group insurance industry, giving up a comfortable and
in the entire Great Eastern Life Singapore and he prestigious career with the MNC and have been
was appointed as the Senior Director of the Financial rewarded for that leap of faith. My income has
Services of Great Eastern Life. Together with seven grown many-fold and I now have the freedom to
of his associates, Harold was among the first 12 direct the way my business is run.”
people in the industry, to be a Certified Financial
Practitioner under the Financial Industry Certification “In today’s global slump, we need to have the never-
Standard (FICS), which is the highest honour that can say-die attitude, the ‘can do’ spirit, the willingness to
be awarded to a sales person. Being reasonably good take risks and the courage to venture into ‘uncharted
at Mathematics when he was in school, pursuing his territories’ that appear difficult and uncertain. Many
degree in Engineering was a natural choice. But it big names today were those who took courage to
was really after graduating with a Master’s Degree plunge in during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
in Science (Engineering) that he has applied many of I believe many big names will similarly emerge in the
the engineering concepts to his life. future and will relate their successes to this financial
tsunami,” says Harold.
Harold started his career in engineering in a
Government R&D company and joined an MNC after
L-R: Mr Stanley Png, Mr Alvin Leong, Mr Jeff Tang, Mr Peter Ho, Mr Ng Kiang Loong and Mr Ong Tek Wee.
(Seated in front) Mr Michael Leong
Hope Technik – High-Performance Engineering

If you are seeking a solution to a high- and come from a motorsports background, where
performance engineering problem, try Hope the working culture is used to fast-paced engineering
Technik, a company where the partners are all solutions.”
NUS Department of Mechanical Engineering
graduates. Within three years of operation, they have turned
out over 100 projects for applications ranging from
Hope Technik prides itself on being able to provide the most technically challenging and world leading
workable, cost-effective solutions in a limited time. ‘proof-of-concept’ projects to production parts that
The team comprises FSAE 2003 team leader Mr Peter are already flying in some of the RSAF’s best planes.
Ho Yew Chi, FSAE 2004 team leader Mr Michael Having built up the capabilities of a full engineering
Leong Han Chin, FSAE 2006 team leader Mr Jeff solution provider, their designs are materialised
Tang Lip Wei, and FSAE 2006 team member Mr Ng in-house where the team has supplied solutions
Kiang Loong, who graduated with First Class Honours for unmanned aerial vehicles, equipment for the
in only three and a half years. Says Michael, “You inaugural Singapore F1 race, biomedical devices, and
give us a problem, we fix it. It is high-performance even our SMRT Circle Line.
engineering where you are not looking for an off-
the-shelf solution. People are asking for extreme There is plenty that Hope Technik can be proud
engineering solutions. We have a certain set of skills of. For instance, their design of a transmission oil
pump is arguably the lightest in the world. The

components were sourced from abroad, built to
specification and sold under the Hope Technik
brand. They are also one of only five sellers in
the world of an air-jack exhaust valve, part of a
package that helps to reduce the time during a
pit stop. Meanwhile their all-aluminium version
of an ‘elephant leg’ – which allows a car to be
raised to twice its normal height in a garage – is
used by customers like Jaguar Motorsports and Le
Mans prototypes including race car components
that are used by leading Le Mans and World
Touring Car teams. Hope Technik products already
Source: The Business Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.
enjoy distribution in Europe and Japan and their Permission required for reproduction
objective is to become world players.
NUS alumna invents a home appliance

– automated chapati machine
Zimplistic Inventions and its founder Ms Pranoti Nagarkar has been awarded a S$50,000 SPRING Singapore
grant for her ground-breaking invention.
Ms Pranoti Nagarkar, who graduated from the After graduation, she joined a product design firm
Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2006, Inovasia and embarked on a few projects for Philips
invented an automated chapati machine for home designing products that were answers to real life
use. For that, she and her entrepreneurial start-up practical problems. Being able to see the entire
Zimplistic Inventions have been awarded the SPRING product cycle from concept to the final manufactured
Singapore grant under the Young Entrepreneurs product gave her the impetus to begin her own
Scheme for Startups (YES! Startups). product development.
Like her mechanical engineer father, Pranoti has “I found one particular problem that had a good
always enjoyed tinkering with appliances at home. value proposition,” recalls Pranoti. “Indians eat
She had a taste of success during a third-year chapati (wheat flat bread, similar to tortilla) as our
undergraduate design project where she and her staple food, and making them is a very tedious,
team designed a working prototype for Philips that repetitive and skillful task. And yet there is no
could automatically iron shirts, and won the best automated appliance for making it. I began thinking
design prize. She was also inspired by Assoc Prof on the concept, modelled a few concepts in CAD, and
Ian Gibson, the supervisor for her Final Year Project knew that this was definitely doable. That is when I
who is actively involved in the making of ergonomic quit my job, started Zimplistic, and came up with our
wheelchairs and other equipment for handicapped first invention: an automatic chapati/roti machine,
people, and Assoc Prof Seah Kar Heng, who is a the size of a mini microwave oven. Currently I am
constant support behind the Race car building project. building a full blown working prototype that will
enable us to attract further investment.”
With the help of NUS Enterprise, she was given

office space at the NUS Incubation Centre
for her start-up and was awarded funding from
SPRING Singapore’s YES! Start-ups. “Singapore is
a great place to start a company. There is support
given at every level. I had the support of NUS
Enterprise. They gave me guidance pertaining to
intellectual property, legal and corporate advice,
networking with investors and grant opportunities”
It was also through NUS Enterprise that she

approached Spring Singapore, and after a round of
interviews, presentations and demonstrations, she
was selected for the YES! Start-ups grant. “I put in
S$12,500 and I have received a funding of S$50,000,”
says Pranoti, crediting the entrepreneurial seedbed of
NUS for her achievement.
SPRING Singapore’s YES! Start-ups seeks to nurture,

encourage and support youth enterprise and
innovation by matching S$4 for every S$1 of funding
raised, up to a maximum of S$50,000.
Newcomers in 2008
1 Cabibihan, John-John 8 Lin Yi-Pin
PhD (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy) PhD (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA)
Assistant Professor Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Division of Environmental Science & Engineering
Research areas: Social Robotics, Tactile Sensing and Research areas: Environmental Chemistry, Water
Synthetic Skins Quality and Treatment
2 Duh Been-Lirn 9 Mandar Anil Chitre

PhD (University of Washington, USA) PhD (National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Assistant Professor Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Research areas: Human-Computer Interaction, Research areas: Underwater Communication,
Cognitive Engineering, Interaction Design Autonomous Vehicles, Signal Processing, Emergent
Behaviour, Systems Biology
3 Hong Minghui
PhD (National University of Singapore, Singapore) 10 Ryohei Nakatsu
Associate Professor PhD (Kyoto University, Japan)
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Professor
Research areas: Laser Microprocessing and Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Nanofabrication Director, Interactive and Digital Media Institute
Research areas: Communication, Interactive Media,
4 Huang Boray Human Interface, Communication Robot
PhD (Northwestern University, USA)
Assistant Professor 11 Thirumalai Venky Venkatesan
Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering PhD (City University of New York and Bell
Research areas: Supply Chain Management, Laboratories, USA)
Production and Inventory Control, Stochastic Professor
Optimisation Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
and Department of Physics
5 Jirutitijaroen, Panida Director, NanoCore
PhD (Texas A&M University, USA) Research areas: Novel electronic and magnetic
Assistant Professor phenomena in oxides and Nano structured
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering materials
Research areas: Power System Reliability and
Optimisation 12 Wang Qing
PhD (Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of
6 Joshi, Shailendra Pramod Sciences, China)
PhD (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India) Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering/ Research areas: Mesoscopic Charge Transport for
Engineering Science Programme Associate Energy Conversion and Storage
Research areas: Computational/Experimental
Mechanics; Instabilities and failure processes in
advanced materials
7 Kim Sujin
PhD (Cornell University, USA)
Assistant Professor
Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering
Research areas: Simulation Optimisation, Stochastic
Simulation, Applied Probability
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
74
Facts and
Figures
76 Facts and Figures
Facts and Figures

urres
Students
Class of 2008
BEng 1,342 63%
Graduate Diploma 5 1%
MSc 510 23%
MEng 107 5%
PhD 182 8%
Undergraduate Student Enrolment*

Engineering 131 2%
Bioengineering 285 5%
Civil Engineering 345 6%
Electrical Engineering 1,452 26%
Industrial & Systems Engineering 297 5%
Materials Science & Engineering 188 3%
Mechanical Engineering 1,333 23%
Chemical Engineering 1,107 19%
Computer Engineering 337 6%
Engineering Science Programme 121 2%
Environmental Engineering 199 3%
Graduate Student Enrolment*

PhD 1,275 48%
MSc 1,117 42%
MEng 271 10%
*Figures as at 2 September 2008

Staff
Staff Profile*
Full-time Faculty Members 308 24%
Adjunct Staff 84 6%
Other Teaching Staff 58 4%
Research Staff 437 34%
Administrative Staff1 76 6%
1
Non-Academic Staff 332 26%
1
Includes staff employed under grants
Full-Time Faculty Members*

Professors 80 26%
Associate Professors 128 41%
Assistant Professors 95 31%
Senior Lecturers and Lecturers 5 2%
All full-time faculty members are PhD degree holders
Non-Academic and Administrative Staff*

Non-Academic Staff1 332 81%
Administrative Staff1 76 19%
1
Includes staff employed under grants
*Figures as at 31December 2008

Research
Total Research Grants awarded to Faculty of Engineering
(excluding Research Scholarships)
*Period reported for FY2008-2009: 1 April 2008 – 30 November 2008
Amount (S$)
in millions
100
80
60
40
20
0
FY2003-2004 FY2004-2005 FY2005-2006 FY2006-2007 FY2007-2008 FY2008-2009*
25,884,353 38,753,106 37,739,858 55,275,325 94,563,453 53,098,144
Breakdown of Research Grants awarded in FY2008-2009

Period reported: 1 April 2008 – 30 November 2008
Ministry of Education $ 11,822,498 22%

A*STAR $ 2,315,100 5%
NRF $ 20,355,075 38%
Defence Agencies $ 2,520,800 5%
Other Government Agencies $ 5,416,071 10%
Industry $ 10,668,601 20%
Total $ 53,098,144
Research
Research Grants and Scholarships awarded in FY2008-2009
Period reported: 1 April 2008 – 30 November 2008
MOE Research Grants $ 11,822,498 14%

MOE Research Scholarships $ 27,483,147 34%
External Research Grants $ 41,275,646 51%
External Research Scholarships $ 647,825 1%
Total $ 81,229,116
Entrepreneurial Activities at the Faculty of Engineering

As at 30 November 2008
Figures are Cumulative
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Spin-off Commercialised Products/ Inventions
Companies Licensed Technologies Patented
2002 and before

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Research
Number of Citations
(in 5-year intervals)
Times
Cited
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
1998-2002 1999-2003 2000-2004 2001-2005 2002-2006 2003-2007 2004-2008
Citing Years
Financial Year 2008
Grants from Government and Statutory Boards

Direct Allocation from Ministry of Education $95.4 million 76%
Other Ministries and Statutory Boards $2.8 million 2%
Research Scholarships $27.5 million 22%
Total Budget $125.7 million
Collections
Tuition and other fees $15.4 million 90%
Donations and Sponsorships $1.7 million 10%
Total Income $17.1 million
Figures extracted from April 2008 - January 2009

Annual Report Committee
Prof Victor Shim (Chairman)
Maureen Kwee (Manager)
Deborah Chew
Devi Asokan
Espallela Wasion
Siti Zarina Mohamed Mukhtar
Faculty of Engineering
National University of Singapore
9 Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117575
Tel: 6516 2101 Fax: 6777 3847 www.eng.nus.edu.sg/ar/2008 Company Registration No: 200604346E

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New Ventures

Mission To nurture engineer-leaders with a global outlook

New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Education

New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Research and Enterprise

New Ventures in Engineering Excellence – Our People

Facts and Figures 75

In graduate education, the Faculty is home to the largest graduate student

Since taking office in April 2008, it has been my privilege and

Professor Chan Eng Soon

Prof Chan Eng Soon Prof Lim Seh Chun

Prof Colin Prof Chew Prof Chow

Prof Lee Prof Ong Prof Poo Prof Wang

New Ventures in Engineering Excellence

When the Mechanical Engineering

“My engineering education in NUS has been nothing

Learning in the Fast Lane

The heroes who designed, built and raced Centennial 4

The FSAE competition, a super-scale engineering Department’s educational programme.

the team finished the final (22 km endurance)

The Centennial 4 team, comprising 11 ME and

They were up against stiff competition from the

Centennial 4 on track in USA

problems in an imperfect world where things do go

Tracing the roots of NUS FSAE

SGR-01 (2003 to 2004)

The Centennial (2004 to 2005)

Centennial 2 (2005 to 2006)

Centennial 5 (2008 to 2009)

Latest FSAE car Centennial 5 (2008-2009)

From August to October 2008, two other NUS FSAE

Singapore’s First Eco-

In December 2008, NUS ECO-1 was displayed at the

L-R: Mr Chong Kai Siong, Mr Shang Jia Shun, Mr Ng

downloaded the images

IDEERS, or Introducing and Demonstrating

Challenge programme that promotes earthquake engineering

Technology, Taking part in the competition was an eye-opener

Members of Team Viper (Champion) and Team Voyager

The competition, the first of its kind in Singapore,

In the design phase, the teams had to balance

Budget constraints were another challenge the teams

Building a concrete canoe that weighed between

Mr Bai Zhiyong (left) and Mr Tay Shijia (right) receive the

had thoroughly challenged their mind, spirit and

Held in October 2008, the Tata Crucible was a campus

development studios. The innovation behind this

When presented with options, Ms Yong Ming Hui

L-R: Mr Joel Choy and Mr Elvin Li

The start-up was founded by Mr Joel Choy of the

“It is heartening to know that many talented

The La Valla School for the Physically

Caltech-NUS SURF Programme Mr William Yap, an undergraduate pursuing a

I was amazed to be in the same building doing my and problem-

NUS Overseas College (NOC) was a new

Hossain’s background as a PhD student specialising

Spaces” extremely grateful for the opportunity of coming to

Introducing Design to in class, they immediately engage in hands-on

In these modules, students

and regulation in practice. Each group project

Launch of Major in Systems

Students must complete 48 modular credits (MCs)

(MSE) in March 2008, and Department of Electrical