meet our student leaders - nus science

MEET OURSTUDENT LEADERSOur student leaders advise howto make the most of campus life

WHY COLLEGE OF HUMANITIESAND SCIENCES (CHS)?Freshmen share why they chose CHS

SCIENCEJune 2021

The ScienceBehind Our Scientists

“I liken chemistry to architecture at a molecular level. I find it

fascinating that natural product synthesis resembles art.”

Assoc Prof WU Jie Faculty Young Scientist Award (2020)

Dr Allan LIM successfully pivoted from biology to a career in food science

NUS-Shell Research Collaboration Agreement

Prima Group Benefaction

Pitstop@Science OpeningLaunch of the Centre for Data Science and Machine Learning

HIGHLIGHTS

CHS Inaugural Case Competition

Interdisciplinarity in Action

v

06 Interdisciplinarity in Action

Nature, a Balm for Mental Wellbeing

Making Science Accessible for Children

Turning Food Waste into a Resource

04 NUS-Shell Research Collaboration Agreement

04 Launch of the Centre for Data Science and Machine Learning

05 Prima Group Benefaction

05 Pitstop@Science Opening

05 Case Competition Series: NUS College of Humanities and Sciences

JUNE 2021 ISSUE

25 A Taste of Food Science and Technology

25 NUS Chemistry Week 2021

26 School Learning Journeys

26 e-Research Talk: “Advancing the Frontiers of Science and Technology with Chemistry”

DEPARTMENT EVENTS

OUTREACH

04HIGHLIGHTS FACULTY EVENTSCon

tents 13 Science Industry Day 2021

13 Home Team Career Talks

14 Inaugural College of Humanities and Sciences Outreach

Open House Events

Department Engagement Events

16 Science Sports Games

17 Don’t Say Bo Jio

17 Exam Welfare Pack Distribution

EDITORIAL TEAMEditor JANICE QUAHWriter ADRYL LEONG Designers AHMAL SUKRI NUR SARAH

With thanks to contributors from sections, departments, industry partners and student societies

Advisors CHEW FOOK TIM CHNG SHU SIN SHAW LAY PHENG SOW CHORNG HAUR

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS11

24

1808 Meet Our Student Leaders

10 Hear from College of Humanities and Sciences Freshmen!

12 Crafting a Different Path: Dr Allan LIM

07OUR STUDENTS

OUR ALUMNI

June2021

11 The Science Behind Our Scientists Assoc Prof WU Jie, Department of Chemistry

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Marine Protection Programme (MPP) 4

For enquiries, please email:[email protected]

Dean’s Office, Faculty of ScienceBlock S16 Level 9, 6 Science Drive 2 S (117546)

12

18 Institute of Mathematical Sciences Workshop

18 A Date with DBS Series

19 Tan Jiak Kim Circle Visit

20 Virtual Fireside Chat with Alumni

20 e-Symposium: “Recent Advances on Crystal Engineering and Solid-State Chemistry”

21 Department of Food Science and Technology Industry Day 2021

21 Ice Cream Making and Baking Workshop

22 Explain My Research Conference

22 Pharmacy-based Immunisation Delivery Certificate Training Programme

23 C.S.I. at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

23 Virtual Vacation to Christmas Island

24 Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Marine Protection Programme (MPP)

24 CHIJ Kellock Day Camp

27WHAT’S UP?

Pharmacy-based Immunisation Delivery Certificate Training Programme Page 22

Ice Cream Making and Baking Workshop Page 21

JUNE 2021 | 3 | OMNISCIENCE2

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Hear from College of Humanities and Sciences Freshmen! Page 10

Pitstop@Science Opening Page 5

Interdisciplinary in Action Page 6

Prima Group Benefaction

Pitstop@Science Opening

NUS-Shell ResearchCollaboration Agreement Launch of the Centre for Data

Science and Machine Learning

The Prima Group contributed $3 million to the Department of Food Science and Technology towards supporting a professorship, scholarships and research in food sciences for long-term food sustainability efforts. This was marked by a cheque ceremony on 3 May.

NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye (far left, front row) and SIT (Singapore Institute of Technology) President Prof Tan Thiam Soon (far right, front row) accepted the cheques on behalf of their universities from Mr Primus Cheng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prima Limited (third from left, front row)

The Pitstop@Science lounge was revamped by the Science Welfare Subcommittee and opened on 12 March with a carnival. Students could redeem free items at festive booths such as cotton candy, cream puffs and temporary tattoos, and enjoy a polaroid photo-taking service. Pitstop@Science is intended as a cosy corner for students to relax with friends, and to create a sense of belonging in the NUS Science family. It provides a wide array of board and Nintendo Switch games. It is open to all Science students from 10 am to 4 pm every weekday during the school term. Students can gain access with their matriculation cards.

(From left) Prof Sun Yeneng, Dean of Science; Ms Emily Tan, General Manager, City Solutions, Shell Renewables and Energy Solutions; Ms Aw Kah Peng, Chairman, Shell Companies in Singapore; Assoc Prof Jason Yeo, Department of Chemistry; and Prof Chen Tsuhan, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology).

There is a growing demand for novel and cost- effective methods to carry out carbon dioxide reduction. To address this, Assoc Prof Jason YEO, Department of Chemistry, will work closely with researchers from global energy company Shell to develop eco-friendly processes that can sustainably convert carbon dioxide into cleaner fuels and useful chemicals. This $4.6 million research programme is supported by the National Research Foundation and was formalised at a signing ceremony on 14 May.

The Centre for Data Science and Machine Learning (CDSML) was launched on 17 May to address the challenges of the data revolution. It was formed by restructuring its predecessor, the Centre for Wavelets, Approximation and Information Processing. The Centre focuses on the synergy of mathematics, statistics and computer science in the domains of data science and machine learning, as well as artificial intelligence.

It will serve as a focal point to support research and educational activities, and consult on industry projects, in the areas of data science and machine learning. The CDSML will also coordinate the administration of students in our Master’s programme in Data Science and Machine Learning.

Case Competition Series: NUS College of Humanities and SciencesThe inaugural College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) Case Competition was launched on 26 July. The competition is specially designed for NUS students, and enables participants to synthesise ideas and perspectives from different disciplines to solve complex, real-world challenges. The competition themes, “Sustainability” and “Technology and Us”, are highly topical today. The problem statement - Encouraging electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Singapore - is an important real-world topic, even as Singapore ushers in a future of electric mobility as a key piece of the puzzle in the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

At the virtual launch, our competition partners - the Ministry of Transport, KPMG and Schneider Electric - discussed plans by the Singapore government to usher in the future of EV, Schneider Electric’s vision of a 100% electric mobility future with net-zero carbon emissions and upcoming trends in mobility solutions identified by the advisory arm of KPMG. Participants will have the opportunity to attend mid-term workshops in mid-August. The project submissions will be judged in the final round on 20 September by representatives from our competition partners. The launch was attended by more than 100 teams (close to 200 individual attendees) from across NUS.

HIGHLIGHTS

“For nearly a decade, NUS researchers have been building up fundamental research capabilities in the area of carbon dioxide reduction…the innovative and commercially viable solutions generated through this research programme will help to build a path for a greener future for generations to come.”

Prof Chen Tsuhan NUS Deputy President

(Research and Technology)

Sponsor Partners

HIGHLIGHTS

JUNE 2021 | | OMNISCIENCE4 5

During the pandemic lockdown, city dwellers living in concrete jungles around the world found an unexpected source of calm and joy in green spaces. Indeed, immersing in nature, opening up our senses to take in our natural environments, has been shown to promote mental wellbeing, among other benefits.

A study by Assoc Prof Roman CARRASCO (left), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science (FOS) and Dr Lohsnah JEEVANANDAM (right), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), found that exposure to green spaces with high biodiversity was positively linked to restorativeness, which in turn improves emotional wellbeing and reduces the risk of anxiety and depression.

The results show an important link between the seemingly unrelated disciplines of biodiversity conservation and public health, and highlight the importance of maintaining biodiverse ecosystems that contribute to urban dwellers’ mental health.

The world post-COVID will be marked by multifaceted complexities and deep uncertainties that call for knowledge and competencies across different fields. To prepare our students for this world, the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) offers a distinct interdisciplinary curriculum, focusing on integrating knowledge across science, the arts and humanities. Here, we showcase how NUS scientists, students and alumni apply interdisciplinarity to formulate solutions to address problems.

FOS Life Sciences graduate CHEE Min Yee noticed how the pandemic disrupted learning, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and decided to take action. Together with four of her peers including FASS Psychology graduate Constance SEAH, they developed the sci@home programme, which aims to promote sustainable educational engagement of underprivileged children. The team leveraged their diverse backgrounds to curate affordable and relatable materials for the children, and successfully created and distributed portable science kits.

The growing amount of food waste generated in Singapore and the rest of the world poses economic and ecological problems. To address this, FASS Linguistics graduate CHUA Kai-Ning (left) and FOS Life Sciences graduate PHUA Junwei (right) co-founded Insectta, which harnesses the power of the black soldier fly and uses technology to convert food waste into high-value biomaterials for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and bioelectronics industries. Deep technology projects like Insectta depend equally strongly on the arts and sciences. As experts in the scientific field develop the technology, a solid humanities background helps in understanding the economic and social factors that drive the industry.

Nature, a balm for mental wellbeing

Making science accessible for children

Turning food waste into a resource

H IGHL IGHTS

INTERDISCiPLINARITy IN ACTION

OUR STUDENTS

Meet Our Student Leaders

and

Find Out Why Prospective Students Chose CHS


OUR STUDENTS

Meet Our Student LeadersOur student leaders from the Faculty’s Science Club and academic societies share their experiences and advice on how to make the most of campus life.

There are many opportunities to organise or participate in varied events, or to hone your leadership skills. Student life is about the fine balance between academics and fun! It is up to you to decide on, and define your student life.

Residential life comprises a big part of my student life. As part of the UTCP (University Town College Programme), I have many opportunities to engage the community and explore ‘hidden communities’, such as the elderly. This diversifies my learning experience.

NUS brings out the best in me. It gives me the opportunity to develop, and more importantly, make lifelong friends, in a caring and inclusive environment.

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TAY Chao Yuan President, NUS Students’ Science Club

MOH Tiang Xin President, NUS Food Science and Technology Society

Leon GOH President, NUS Chemical Sciences Society

NUS is a world-class university offering a plethora of majors for us to choose from and a wide variety of CCAs (co-curricular activities). I get to meet peers from all walks of life, and I enjoy ‘cool’ experiences with my friends after studying with them.

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Sanraj MITRA Vice President, NUS Statistics and Data Science Society (Previously NUS Statistics Society)

NUS offers diverse opportunities, from research to internships. In addition to academics, we have fun spaces, like the Pitstop@Science, to chill and relax. You will have the freedom to express and develop yourself.

NUS provides us a rigorous education for our next steps, whether in our careers or post-graduate studies.

NUS offers an education that is unparalleled in depth and breadth. Student life is…fun, friends, teamwork, collaboration, developing soft skills and learning from each other.

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TAN Yong Jie President, NUS Life Sciences Society

Darren KOH President, NUS Physics Society

LEI Zemin President, NUS Mathematics Society

My RC (Residential College) experience has been enriching and rewarding. At Cinnamon College, I get to experience communal living while interacting with like-minded peers through a variety of interest groups.

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Faith WONG President. NUS Pharmaceutical Science Society

OUR STUDENTS


PENG Shu Qin

WHY I CHOSE THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES (CHS)

We speak to freshmen from the inaugural CHS cohort to understand why they selected CHS and the courses they plan to pursue.

The flexibility to pursue a multidisciplinary degree was one of the main draw factors of CHS for me. As there is a variety of majors and minors available, I believe that the CHS curriculum will be beneficial intellectually since it offers the freedom to explore various fields of studies and delve into what we are interested in!

During my polytechnic studies, I was deeply intrigued by the possibilities of biology and research. It is my goal to pursue a career in biological research in the hope of contributing to advancing the diagnoses and treatment of diseases. This drove me to select the Life Sciences programme at the Faculty of Science. However, I am also considering taking up a relevant course in the social sciences at FASS, to broaden my horizons beyond my primary major and to understand our world from a different perspective.

OUR STUDENTS

Why did you choose CHS?

Why Life Sciences? Do you also plan on pursuing courses at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)?

LEOW Shuen Ling

I have had a passion for both chemistry and history since secondary school, but I could not decide which I like more. The structural revamping and the common core curriculum in CHS create more points of overlap between these contrasting disciplines, allowing me to pursue my interests in both areas with more ease. And it gives me more time to decide what I should major in! Other offers did not provide such flexibility to explore my academic interests.

I plan to pursue a double degree. I like history for the stories, argumentation and debate, and chemistry because it is like a micro puzzle that never fails to intrigue me. The systematic nature of chemistry and fluidity of history perfectly complement each other. Interdisciplinary education is the buzzword now and since I have broad interests, I am hoping to ride this tide and increase my employability when I eventually discover the industry I want to enter.

Why did you choose CHS?

Why this unusual combination?

THE SCIENCE BEHIND

OUR SCIENTISTS

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

The Faculty is at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific research.

Our researchers are realising this vision in their various fields by breaking new ground and gaining acclaim for their work.

In this column, our researchers share their achievements, the challenges and rewards of their work, and their plans moving forward.

Assoc Prof WU Jie’s research group is interdisciplinary, leveraging on the advantages of flow-reactors to realise conventionally inaccessible transformations and automated synthesis. His research group has published more than 40 peer-reviewed research papers on continuous-flow synthesis and photo chemical synthesis in top-tier journals such as Nature Chemistry, Chem and Journal of the American Chemical Society. He is a recipient of the Asian Core Programme Lectureship Awards (2017 to 2019), the Department of Chemistry’s Young Chemist Award (2018), Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2019), and the Faculty of Science’s Young Scientist Award (2020).

“I liken chemistry to architecture at a molecular level. At seminars during my undergraduate studies, I found it fascinating that natural product synthesis resembles art. I later joined a natural product synthesis group at Boston University for my PhD, where I completed the total synthesis of Virginiamycin M2, a natural product which displays potent antibiotic activity against methicillin-, erythromycin-, and vancomycin-resistant S.aureus.

Later, I embarked on my postdoctoral research in continuous-flow synthesis under Prof Timothy JAMISON and Prof Alan HATTON’s group at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since I joined NUS in 2015, my research group has been involved in two main research fields in organic synthesis: continuous-flow synthesis and photocatalysis.

Continuous-flow reactors have several significant processing advantages, compared to conventional stirred reactor vessels. These include improved mass/heat transfer, better reproducibility, enhanced safety, reduced equipment footprint, and facile scaleability, which are in line with future demands for sustainable chemical and drug manufacturing. Academic research on continuous flow synthesis has been rapidly expanding in the last 15 years, and it is now an active research area substantially funded at top universities and research institutions.

My group is now known for our niche expertise in applying micro-flow reactors to harvest visible-light as energy inputs, in order to develop new green transformations that directly transform feedstocks (e.g. natural gases, unfunctionalised alkanes and silanes) into value-added fine chemicals. I am gratified to share that my group invented the “stop-flow micro-tubing” reactor to unlock the value of gaseous feedstocks under light irradiation to form fine chemicals. We also disclosed that neutral eosin Y could be used as a direct hydrogen atom transfer photocatalyst to enable numerous green synthetic transformations. We pioneered a novel technology of merging continuous-flow synthesis and solid-phase synthesis for end-to-end synthesis of drug molecules and derivatives, which could potentially shift the paradigm of pharmaceutical development. Moving ahead, I hope to deploy advanced technologies such as flow reactors and photochemistry to better control active radical species. I would also like to leverage continuous-flow technology for automated synthesis, which would ultimately open the way to 3D printing of organic molecules in an on-demand fashion.

In addition, my research team aspires to commercialise our technologies, for which we have filed four patents to date.”

“I liken chemistry to architecture at a molecular level. At seminars during my undergraduate studies, I found it fascinating that natural product synthesis resembles art.” Assoc Prof WU Jie Department of Chemistry


Crafting a Different Path

Crafting a Different Path

Dr Allan LIM (PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1995)) trained as a biologist but successfully pivoted to a career in food science. He is currently a Group Manager at Nestlé R&D Center, Singapore. Here he shares highlights on his career pathway.

Science Industry Day was held on 23 February. It was a two-part event , comprising an Industry Webinar and a vir tual Jobs and Internships Fair. The event commenced with the webinar, featuring industry leaders from technology solutions company Aleta Planet , DHL, biotechnology company MiRXES and Shopee, whose representatives shared how their organisations adapted to the pandemic, what hiring managers seek in candidates, and advice for graduates embarking on their first jobs.

The vir tual fair provided our students and graduates a showcase of career opportunities and internships from employers in different industries. Participants had the opportunity to meet and engage with employers through one-to-one video chats and group video chats.

The event was organised by the Faculty and supported by NUS’ Centre for Future-ready Graduates.

Assoc Prof Stella TAN, the Faculty’s Assistant Dean (Undergraduate Studies and Student Life) hosted four vir tual Home Team Career Talks in March. The sessions featured candid sharing sessions by officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Prison Service (SPS), who spoke on their personal journeys and work experiences at these agencies.

Ms NG Hui Lian, our alumna (Life Sciences and Forensic Science, 2019) who is now an Engineer (Biometrics and Profiling Centre of Expertise), HTX, went through how her educational journey prepared her for her current role and responsibilities.

It was a culture shock. I had to switch from working in microgram to kilogram scale, from handling carcinogenic substances to materials that you have to taste at the end of experiments. However, the fundamental principles in chemistry, physics and biology do not change. You just apply them differently.

It is a misconception that the food industry is only about formulation and processing. On the contrary, the food value chain spans from farm to fork, often calling for multidisciplinary approaches. Progressive food companies employ scientists and engineers trained in different domains like agronomy, life sciences, mathematics, materials science, data science, mechanical and chemical engineering.

My background in molecular biology enables me to apply advanced technologies such as biotransformation to food processing. It also prepares me for new fields like nutrigenomics, which explores the relationship between nutrients, diet and gene expression.

What were the challenges transitioning to the food industry?

Do you utilise the skills and knowledge from your training on the job?

Mr Shannon LIN (Chemistry, 2009), a senior officer at SPF, discussed how he works with his team on investigations and strategies to suppress specific crimes through enforcement , engagement and education.

OUR ALUMNI FACULTY EVENTS

Science Industry Day 2021

Home Team Career Talks


INAUGURAL COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES (CHS) OUTREACH

Open House Events

COVID-19 has dramatically altered the Open House and outreach experience but nevertheless, the Faculty successfully pivoted to offer engaging virtual experiences for prospective students and their parents.

NUS’ e-Open House (OH), one of the university’s biggest events, was held virtually for the second year running. To optimise engagement, the CHS Open House from 27 to 28 February featured a specially curated online programme. The highlights included: talks on the CHS curriculum and Majors offered by the Faculty of Science (FOS) and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), the two faculties driving CHS.

Student ambassadors shared their takeaways on multidisciplinary learning and provided the ‘inside scoop’ on making the most of campus life. A special panel was convened where distinguished speakers from SkillsFuture Singapore, EY, Citibank and Organon and Co. discussed the impact of the pandemic on industry and the value of interdisciplinary learning at the workplace. The Faculties’ joint OH from 14 to 15 May further offered customised, small group physical tours for prospective students to visit FOS and FASS educational, research and student spaces and key facilities, as well as online sharing sessions by student leaders and engagement with our Professors through online forums.

“The e-OH provided me with sufficient insights to make an informed choice about what I wanted to

do in university.” TOH Ping Ting

River Valley High School graduate

Department of Biological Sciences’ faculty members at its engagement session.

The Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Food Science and Technology, Mathematics, Pharmacy, Physics, and Statistics and Data Science (then Statistics and Applied Probability), as well as the Data Science and Economics, Environmental Studies and Pharmaceutical Science programmes, as well as the Special Programme in Science, hosted a series of online engagement events from 17 to 24 April to encourage prospective students who received admission offers to study science at NUS.

The customised programmes included online talks on our undergraduate academic programmes, Cross-Disciplinary programmes, research and internship opportunities, and student life / student societies’ activities; engagement with faculty members, senior students and alumni; and talks by industry leaders and career professionals.

Dr Leong Lai Peng, Department of Food Science and Technology, challenged students to dare to be different and venture into paths not trodden.

Chemistry students Quek Siying, Marcus Seto, Arnold Teo and Christine Ng shared their undergraduate life experiences.

Assoc Prof Victor Tan, Department of Mathematics, gave a webcast preview of a typical mathematics lecture.

The Department of Pharmacy held separate OH sessions, which included talks by alumni and students, and sharing by professionals.

Prof Sow Chorng Haur, Department of Physics, spoke on the many careers open to graduates.

Assoc Prof Ho Han Kiat delivered a sample Pharmaceutical Science class.

Special Programme in Science’s Assoc Prof Liou Yih-Cherng highlighted reasons why the programme is special.

Department Engagement Events


FACULTY EVENTS FACULTY EVENTS

DSBJ was held on 5 February this year. Floorball, an activity that students can pick up easily while having fun at the same time, was the game of choice.

DSBJ is a series of sports sessions, offering different sports each session to cater to students’ diverse interests and provide exposure to new sporting activities. DSBJ also promotes a healthier lifestyle through exercise, enabling students to de-stress while meeting new people in friendly competition.

This year, a hybrid EWP giveaway was adopted, comprising physical goody bags and online vouchers, the latter for students who completed a NUSSU (National University of Singapore Students’ Union) welfare survey. The distribution period spanned a week from 12 to 16 April, to reach out to students who were unable to return to campus for physical lessons. The Welfare Packs seek to motivate and encourage students prior to their examinations.


Bo JioDon’t SayDon’t SayBo Jio(DSBJ)(DSBJ)

Exam Welfare Pack (EWP) Distribution

SSG was held on 21 March this year, and it was scaled down due to social distancing measures. At the one-day event, the competitive segment featured volleyball, while basketball and volleyball were played in the non-competitive (recreational) segment. The games nurture a spirit of sportsmanship amongst participants and encourage a healthy lifestyle through sports at the same time.

SSG is an annual faculty-wide event where our students, staff and alumni participate in a variety of games and sports. Competitive segments can include basketball and volleyball while non-competitive segments can combine competitive sports with more unusual games such as bubble soccer, laser tag or nerf war. This year’s participants received a goody bag and an event tee-shirt.

Science Sports Games (SSG)

FACULTY EVENTS FACULTY EVENTS

Institute for Mathematical Sciences Workshop

A Date with

DBSSeries

The Workshop on Data Science was organised by the Centre for Data Science and Machine Learning, NUS and AI Lab at Sea Limited on 17 May at the Institute for Mathematical Sciences. The workshop ser ved to bring together data scientists to discuss cutting edge research in data science, machine learning and their applications. The workshop was also a platform to facilitate collaboration between data scientists in academia and industr y in Singapore. 11 invited speakers spoke on the foundations of data science and its applications in vision intelligence, online business, healthcare and biomedicine. The workshop was held virtually, with some 60 participants in attendance.

Prof KOH Lian Pin, Professor of Conser vation Science, Technology and Policy, and Director, Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, spoke on biodiversity conser vation, current economic challenges and opportunities for Singapore amidst the pandemic, as well as key growth areas in Singapore identified by the Emerging Stronger Taskforce.

department events

Tan Jiak Kim Circle Visit

On 19 March, members from the Tan Jiak Kim Circle, set up to honour its benefactor, visited teaching and research facilities at the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST). This was part of a series of specially curated stewardship events to showcase NUS’ innovation and enterprise efforts. The guests toured the FST Research Corridor, Teaching Laboratories and the Foodomic and Food Safety Laboratories and heard from Professors on their research interests. Topical issues like food sustainability, 3D food printing and food security were also discussed.

Prof Zhou Weibiao, FST Head of Department (second from left) and Prof Leo Tan, the Faculty’s Director of Special Projects (left), hosted the guests, including Mdm Ho Ching (centre).

department events


Virtual Fireside Chat with Alumni

Recent Advances of Crystal Engineering and Solid-State ChemistrySeven NUS speakers from the Department of Chemistr y and Department of Physics, and two international speakers, Prof SHIN Sung Lee from Gyeonsang National University, South Korea, and Prof Pance NAUMOV from the New York University, Abu Dhabi, covered a wide range of contemporar y research areas in basic and applied chemistr y at an e-symposium. The 26 March event was held in conjunction with Prof Jagadese J. VITTAL’S retirement in December 2020, and commemorated his 23 years in the department and contributions to the scientif ic community. It was well-attended by students, researchers, scientists and faculty members from around the world.

NUS Chemistr y collaborated with the American Chemistr y Society Student Chapter at NUS to host the first Virtual Fireside Chat for its alumni on 21 Januar y. Breakthrough rooms facilitated interaction with alumni from diverse sectors ranging from intellectual property to education, research, sustainability and operations. The alumni also shared on possible career pathways after graduation.

A total of 11 alumni shared their work experiences. They were Ms Jamie Neo, Ms Lim Shuxin, Dr Wendy Leong, Ms Lum Yi Chyi, Ms Wong Shuyii, Ms Khoo Xiang Yun, Mr Jansen Tan, Mr Rayston Leong, Dr Tan Yaw Sing, Mr Kenny Tan and Mr Varian Han.

DEPARTMENT EVENTS

Ice Cream Making and Baking Workshop

The annual event was held online on 15 April. Industr y partners and professionals were part of the event, providing valuable insights through their various talks. These included the National Centre for Food Science, the Singapore Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore, Givaudan, Nestlé, and the FrieslandCampina Asia Development Centre. They covered topics such as driving food safety research and

risk assessment to ensure a supply of safe food; economic development for Singapore’s food and nutrition industr y; from grass to glass; and more. At the event, FST’s f inal-year students also shared the findings from their honours research projects, covering topics including 3D printing laborator y-cultured meat, urban farming and flavour science, amongst others.

The FST Society held the latest edition of the workshop on 16 Januar y, which featured interesting recipes such as butterfly pea ice cream, choux au craquelin, as well as raindrop cake. The event was

organised by the FST Society for 40 participating NUS

students.

Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) Industry Day 2021

DEPARTMENT EVENTS


The e-conference on 20 April provided a platform for industry professionals, academics and students from around the world to discuss topics such as translational dissolution, new drug delivery strategies, and industrial applications of nanotechnology and biopharmaceutical research in light of disruptive innovation. 23 invited speakers spoke at multiple keynote lectures and sessions on their latest research outcomes.

The live seminar on 27 April was conducted by Dr HAN Zhe, and attended by community pharmacists and pharmacists working in healthcare institutions. The training programme is developed and produced by the American Pharmacists Association and NUS Pharmacy is the first licensed partner in Singapore to conduct it. The programme seeks to foster the implementation of interventions that will promote disease prevention and public health. The programme covered topics such as the impact of vaccines on public health, pharmacists’ roles in immunisation, immunologic principles of vaccine development and immunisations, vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines used to prevent them, as well as strategies for improving immunisation rates.

The conference was organised by the NUS Department of Pharmacy and NUS-American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Student Chapter, together with the scientific leadership of the Controlled Release Society, the Society for Pharmaceutical Dissolution Science, and A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) CoRE-Net.

Pharmacy-based Immunisation Delivery Certificate Training Programme

DEPARTMENT EVENTS DEPARTMENT EVENTS

This special programme was conducted from 9 to 13 December during the school holidays. Approximately 150 participants learnt how to pick up clues from the natural environment to solve crimes. They were also introduced to some simple forensic science, physics and biodiversity concepts as they walked through the crime scene using a docket filled with evidence, statements and various clues. The programme was organised in collaboration with the NUS Forensic Science Programme and NUS Physics Department.

C.S.I. at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM)

Virtual Vacation to Christmas IslandOver 200 participants tuned in online on 22 December 2020 to learn more about the history of Christmas Island and its connection to Singapore, as well as the interesting wildlife there.

Museum staff have been conducting research expedition trips to Christmas Island over the years, and this webinar shared expedition footage which showcased the brilliant blue waters, beaches, forests and caves on the island.

Expla in MyResearch Conference


Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Marine Protection Programme (MPP)

CHIJ KellockDay Camp

The programme offers members of the public complimentary workshops on marine conservation. Two public sessions were conducted on 10 and 24 April for over 60 participants. The 3-hour workshop included a guided gallery tour, hands-on activities and a marine ecology card game. The workshop highlighted the study findings on the Museum’s sperm whale exhibit and conservation issues related to its discovery. A similar programme was offered to Compassville Secondary School on 19 April as a virtual assembly talk.

Three sessions of day camps were conducted from 10 to 12 March for over 180 CHIJ Kellock students. The students engaged in experiential learning where they explored the art and science of nature journalling. They also completed interactive activities such as Gyotaku printing, using a traditional Japanese method to make fish prints on a recyclable tote bag, and red cabbage painting, where red cabbage pigments were extracted to make natural paint. They also learnt how to identify birds that are commonly found in Singapore, and completed a fun augmented reality activity.

department events OUTREACH

A Taste of Food Science and Technology

A Taste of Food Science and TechnologYThis year’s annual outreach programme for Junior College students on 9 January featured specially curated activities such as experiments in food microbiology and flavour science, body composition measurements and even baking. Participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves to understand the science behind these activities.

NUS Chemistry Week 2021The Department of Chemistry held NUS Chemistry

Week 2021 from 31 May to 3 June, comprising a series of events for Secondary, Junior College and Polytechnic students. The week commenced with the 26th Chem-dot-Comm, held online for the first time this year. The theme of the Challenge was “Chemistry for Singapore 2030 and beyond”. Out of 27 participating teams, five winners were selected – NUS High School of Math and Science (Champion), Hwa Chong Institution, Raffles Institution, Catholic High School and River Valley High School. Assoc Prof ANG Wee Han (Vice Dean, Special Duties), Asst Prof LU Jiong and Assoc Prof CHI Chunyan delved into how chemistry brought them to explore the vast natural world. At the second event, “Colourful Chemistry”, Dr FOO Maw Lin demonstrated some chemistry concepts through daily-life experiments, and also showed the different colours generated from the experiments. Dr Michael PATUWO concluded with a research talk on advancing the frontiers of science.

The Champions of the 26th Chemistry Communication Challenge – NUS High School of Math and Science (Team 1)


e-Research Talk: “Advancing the Frontiers of Science and Technology with Chemistry”

Assoc Prof CHUA Lay-Lay shared how chemistry plays an important role in organic electronics, contributing to semiconductor and electronic device displays at the talk on 20 February. Assoc Prof WU Jie went through the synthesis of functional molecules enabled by advanced flow technology. Lastly, Dr Winston ZHAO spoke on the development and application of advanced imaging-based approaches to quantitatively probe the biophysical chemistry of chromatin dynamics at the single-cell level. 80 Junior College, Polytechnic and International Baccalaureate students attended.

School Learning Journeys

The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum customises a host of educational programmes to spark an interest in biodiversity learning in school students. Gallery tours and on-site workshops on themes such as adaptation, classification, marine ecology and evolution supplement the learning of primary, secondary and tertiary level students. Students can also attend outdoor biodiversity programmes covering various habitats in Singapore, such as terrestrial, coastal and mangrove habitats.

OUTREACH

Date Event

What’s Up?

Check out the events from June to November 2021!Check out the events from June to November 2021!

5 June A Date with DBS Series! – About Otters

10 June Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s Thursday Talk Shop Season 2: ‘Nature & Us’

17 June Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s Thursday Talk Shop Season 2: ‘Folklore, Myths & Misconceptions’

June - July Orientation Programmes

June - July Commencement Ceremonies

21 - 30 June Global Science Summer Programme 2021

9 - 14 July FoodTech Challenge 2021

10 July Pharmacogenomics Course

13 - 14 July College of Humanities and Sciences Orientation 2021

29 July ‘STEM education and workforce readiness’ Research Talk: Assoc Prof CHNG Shu Sin, Department of Chemistry

July - Mar 2022InSPIRxE(Inspiring Students in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science through inteRaction and Enrichment)

14 August ‘Colourful Chemistry’ Talk for Kent Ridge Alumni Family Day 2021: Dr FOO Maw Lin, Department of Chemistry

September Faculty of Science e-Safety Week 2021

September NUS Day of Service 2021

October A Date with DBS Series!

October - November Introduction to Bird Biology Workshop: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

9 November Virtual Intertidal Walk: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

15 - 19 November STEP Environmental Camp 2021: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in collaboration with St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory


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