FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

ANNUAL REPORT 2007

Engineering E
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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/2007
Company Registration No: 200604346E
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34 38

CONTENTS
4 A WORD FROM THE DEAN
7 DEAN’S ADVISORY BOARD
8 FACULTY BOARD
11 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
It’s not what we do;
but the way that we do it!
23 GRADUATE EDUCATION
Moving Up the Ladder
62 29 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
AND ENTERPRISE
Fostering Vibrancy
41 OUR PEOPLE
Celebrating Excellence
53 ALUMNI
Inspiring Success
61 OUTREACH
Attracting the Best
66 FACTS & FIGURES
VISION
To be a globally-distinguished engineering school

MISSION
To nurture engineer-leaders with a global outlook
and to provide technological leadership through
high-impact research
A from
Wordthe
DEAN
 It is my pleasure to present to
you the 2007 Annual Report of
the Faculty of Engineering. This
report will give you a glimpse
of what we have accomplished
and affirms our position as a
reputable global institution
today. Our foundations remain
strong as we continue to attract
students of outstanding ability,
talented faculty members,
investment funds for research
and development (R&D),
resources for education, and
provide a robust ecosystem for
learning and innovation.
Today there is a vital need to
prepare our engineers for the
“With the backdrop of knowledge- and technology-
globalisation and transnational intensive economy. To produce
operations of companies, this technology-savvy
‘global orientation’ is a key knowledge asset, the Faculty
aspect of our curriculum.” offers a comprehensive range of
engineering programmes to give
students a strong foundation
The world is witnessing in engineering fundamentals
unprecedented changes as well as a wealth of
brought about by three forces opportunities to stretch their
– mobility of talent, mobility minds. With the backdrop of
of capital and mobility of globalisation and transnational
knowledge. Globalisation, operations of companies,
aided by technology and “global orientation” is a key
conducive international trade aspect of our curriculum.
and fiscal policies, is enabling Our curriculum is also evolving
companies to span their to ensure that our graduates
supply chains across countries will have the attributes
while being able to respond expected of the University and
quickly to market needs and the engineering profession.
opportunities. Companies are Further, our graduates will
realising a substantial portion have enhanced skills in critical
of their revenues outside their thinking and problem-solving
home bases and, in some cases, in the context of engineering
trans-border transactions are design and practice in the
larger than national economies. current business environment.
There is a generation of They will understand the
phenomenal amount of new importance and influence of
knowledge, and an accelerated their work through a systems
pace of innovation in products, approach and provide the
processes and services. The leadership necessary for the
human population has increased growth of Singapore as a key
exponentially over the last three
Photo courtesy of Mr Michael Ozaki

player on the world stage.

centuries to cross the six billion
mark, of which nearly half is set In 2006, the Institution1of
to live in urban areas. Growing Engineers Singapore
urbanisation has given rise achieved full signatory status
to global challenges in clean to the Washington Accord.
energy and water, security, This is a significant milestone
healthcare, environment and as our more established
sustainability. engineering programmes have
been accredited by various
 international bodies and the quality work and have received
local Engineering Accreditation international recognition. For
Board. A curriculum review is example, the intercultural team
also underway to prepare the of five NUS undergraduate
Faculty for outcome-based students and two Mumbai
accreditation processes. The University Institute of Chemical
latter will demonstrate that our Technology students has won
graduates have the necessary the prestigious Daimler-UNESCO
knowledge and skills to succeed Mondialogo Engineering Award
in the engineering profession. 2006-2007. The contest attracted (L-R): Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman and
CEO of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited,
The greater recognition of more than 800 entries from 89 Dean Seeram Ramakrishna and Prof Choo
our graduates’ academic countries. We recognise the need Yoo Sang, Founding Director of the Centre
qualifications translates into for constant revitalisation of for Offshore Research and Engineering and
Director of Offshore Engineering Programme,
their employability and a higher knowledge and expertise to stay having a discussion at the 5th Keppel Offshore
demand for them. at the forefront of education & Marine Lecture by Prof Andrew Palmer
and research.
We carried out the largest We shall continue, among
“We shall continue, among recruitment exercise in the last other efforts, to nurture
other efforts, to nurture five years, recruiting more than engineer-leaders, recruit
engineer-leaders, recruit high- 90 faculty members. In 2007 high-quality faculty members,
quality faculty members, alone, 25 new faculty members, translate research outcomes
translate research outcomes many of them leading experts in into dividends, and position
into dividends, and position their fields, were recruited from ourselves as a partner of choice
ourselves as a partner of choice all over the world. for industries. I would like to
thank the various advisory
for industries.” The graduate student enrolment
committee and board members
has reached more than 2,600 of
who have provided their support
which almost 56% are pursuing
and encouragement that have
their research degrees. As the
To build and sustain its brought us closer to achieving
doctoral programme is the prime
technological advantage our objectives. Many of our
focus of our research degree
in its next lap of economic alumni and friends have helped
programmes, our doctoral
development, Singapore to support our education,
students have already reached
has targeted R&D spending research and public service
an all-time high of about 1,200.
of 3% of GDP by 2010. The missions. I would also like to
Faculty recognises the critical Our total budget has increased thank all our partners for their
roles that R&D, innovation by 21% from S$163.4 million in contributions and look forward
and entrepreneurship play in FY2006-2007 to S$198.3 million to what we can accomplish
national strategic development, in FY2007-2008. This increase is together.
and has taken on an active role due mainly to our grants from
in national strategic research national funding agencies for
focuses such as Interactive and R&D activities, and investment
Digital Media, Environmental by industry. The Faculty has
and Water Technologies, successfully attracted a total
Clean and Renewable Energy, research funding of approximately
Nanotechnology, Biomedical S$85 million in the first eight Professor Seeram Ramakrishna
Materials and Systems, Logistics months of FY2007-2008. This Dean, Faculty of Engineering
and Supply Chain Management, amount represents a significant
and Offshore and Marine increase of 56% over FY2006-2007
Engineering. A notable trend and 148% over FY2005-2006.
6

in our research is the growing I am pleased to announce that

research partnerships with we attracted S$67.7 million worth
AR 2007 A WORD FROM THE DEAN

leading international institutions of external grants. This includes

and industry players, which have a total of more than S$19 million
led to the securing of external for two projects awarded by the
grants and the facilitation of National Research Foundation.
technology commercialisation These two projects focus on
activities. advancement of membrane
materials and spintronics
Our students and faculty
materials.
members have produced high
 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

DEAN’S 9 10 11

ADVISORY
BOARD
1 PROF LORD KUMAR BHATTACHARYYA 7 PROF VENKATESH NARAYANAMURTI
Head of Manufacturing Group John A and Elizabeth S Armstrong Professor of
University of Warwick, UK Engineering and Applied Sciences
Dean, School of Engineering and Applied
2 PROF CHONG TOW CHONG Sciences, Harvard University, USA
Executive Director, Science & Engineering
Research Council, A*STAR 8 MR INDERJIT SINGH
Executive Director, Data Storage Institute Chief Executive Officer, Infiniti Solutions Pte Ltd
Executive Chairman, Tri Star Electronics Pte Ltd
3 PROF DON P GIDDENS Member of Parliament, Singapore
Dean, College of Engineering
Lawrence L Gellerstedt, Jr Chair in Bioengineering 9 MR SOO KOK LENG
Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Chairman of JTC Corporation, Singapore
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA Technologies Electronics Ltd, Mt Faber Leisure
Group Pte Ltd
4 ER. LEE BEE WAH Adjunct Professor, Division of Engineering &
Principal Partner, LBW Consultants LLP Technology Management, NUS
Managing Director, LBW Engineering Pte Ltd
Member of Parliament, Singapore 10 ER. TAN SENG CHUAN
President, The Institution of Engineers Singapore
5 PROF LUI PAO CHUEN President, The Federation of Engineering
Chief Defence Scientist, MINDEF Institutions of Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Adjunct Professor, Department of Industrial & Director, CH2MHILL Singapore Pte Ltd
Systems Engineering, NUS
11 PROF IAN WHITE
6 PROF YOICHIRO MATSUMOTO van Eck Professor of Engineering
Dean, School of Engineering Chairman of the Council, School of Technology
The University of Tokyo, Japan University of Cambridge, UK
 FACULTY BOARD
1 PROF SEERAM RAMAKRISHNA
Dean
2 ASSOC PROF ANG KOK KENG
Vice-Dean (Outreach)
3 ASSOC PROF ASHRAF KASSIM
1
Vice-Dean (Undergraduate Programmes)
4 PROF CHOU SIAW KIANG
Vice-Dean (External & Industry Relations)
5 PROF CHOW YEAN KHOW
Vice-Dean (Academic Affairs & Graduate Studies)
6 PROF KOH CHAN GHEE
Vice-Dean (Research)
7 PROF YEO TAT SOON
Vice-Dean (Administration)
8 PROF ANG BENG WAH
Head, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering 2 3

9 PROF CHAN ENG SOON

Head, Department of Civil Engineering
10 PROF CHOW GAN-MOOG
Head, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
11 PROF LIM SEH CHUN
Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering
12 PROF RAJ RAJAGOPALAN
Head, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
13 PROF YEO SWEE PING
Head, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering 4 5
14 PROF COLIN SHEPPARD
Head, Division of Bioengineering
15 PROF HANG CHANG CHIEH
Head, Division of Engineering & Technology Management
16 PROF F MICHAEL SAUNDERS
Head, Division of Environmental Science & Engineering
17 PROF J N REDDY
Head, Engineering Science Programme
(till 30 November 2007)
18 PROF WANG CHIEN MING
Director, Engineering Science Programme 6 7
(from 1 December 2007)
8

19 PROF POO AUN NEOW

AR 2007 FACULTY BOARD

Director, Bachelor of Technology Programme

8 9 10

11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
It’s not what we do; but the way that we do it!
The Faculty of Engineering research and specialised Programme (UROP), exchange
is continually evolving its programmes in innovation and agreements were established
programmes to prepare its technopreneurship. Students with some of the top universities
graduates to be successful in who combine Engineering with in the world, including Imperial
the changing workplace. Our Business can complete double College, UK; INSA Lyon and
programmes are carefully degrees with Economics and Supélec, France; and National
tailored to equip graduates Business Administration or a Taiwan University of Science
with a competitive edge in second major programme in and Technology, Taiwan. These
their specialised fields while Management (Technology). experiences provide invaluable
retaining flexibility and knowledge of other cultures
Students may choose to study
relevance to a wider range of and prepare our graduates to
in the familiar disciplines of
employment opportunities. function effectively in the global
Chemical, Civil, Electrical or
Today’s professionals require economy.
Mechanical Engineering or look
excellent analytical and problem-
at the emerging opportunities in Our students compete with great
solving abilities, and these are
Bioengineering, Environmental success in many international
strongly developed as part of an
Science & Engineering, Materials competitions including the
engineering education.
Science & Engineering, and Formula Society of Automotive
Our students have a strong Industrial & Systems Engineering. Engineers race using cars
foundation in the basic sciences A decision on the field of study designed and built by students,
and engineering in the early need not be made until the end and have won top prizes in
years of their study before of the first year. innovation and entrepreneurship
pursuing specialised areas of challenges such as the Excitera
The Faculty also provides exciting
engineering in the later years. Innovation Challenge. Some
opportunities for international
They are given opportunities of our students have also
exposure through exchange
to tailor their own learning climbed Mount Everest! These
programmes, NUS Overseas
experiences, through elective experiences further develop
Colleges, joint/double degree
modules, projects, independent strong leadership skills in our
and summer programmes
study and special programmes. students.
with some of the world’s best
A particular feature is the
universities.
enhancement programme
which provides opportunities Under the Undergraduate
for industrial internships, Research Opportunities
 Prime Minister
LAUDS RESEARCH ENGINEER

Mr Mohamed Sharael (extreme left) and Assoc Prof Seah Kar Heng (second from left) showing Guest of Honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his
entourage one of the two NUS FSAE race cars on display at the Sengkang West National Day Carnival 2007

The NUS Formula Society At the carnival, NUS FSAE the admiration and respect
of Automotive Engineers alumnus, Mr Mohamed of his team-mates. He also
(FSAE) race car project is Sharael bin Mohd Taha had turned out to be a good racer,
spearheaded by the Department the opportunity to explain to specialising in the skidpad
of Mechanical Guest of Honour and autocross events. After
Engineering (ME). This Prime Minister Lee Sharael’s graduation, Prof Seah
project began in 2001; Hsien Loong about persuaded him to work as a
and since 2004, cars the NUS FSAE project research engineer at NUS. Prof
designed and built and the intricacies of Seah had preferred Sharael
by NUS engineering its race cars. PM Lee over an external candidate
undergraduates have was so impressed because he was adept at race
been competing at the with Sharael’s depth car engineering, a specialisation
annual international of knowledge and unavailable elsewhere in
FSAE competition in enthusiasm that, Singapore. Also, Prof Seah
the United States. in his speech at wanted someone capable of
the Mendaki 25th working round-the-clock like
On 12 August 2007,
Anniversary Dinner, himself, as all those who have
12

the 2006 and 2007

he named Sharael passed through the ranks of NUS
race cars went on
Mr Mohamed Sharael bin Mohd Taha as “just one of a FSAE are accustomed to such a
display alongside
growing number of lifestyle.
four foreign
Malays who are making a name
AR 2007 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

racers at the Sengkang West Sharael is now a research

for themselves.”
National Day Carnival 2007. engineer in the ME Department
The heartland-based event was Sharael was talent-spotted assisting Prof Seah in
one of the many organised as a second-year ME student supervising the NUS FSAE team
by the Singapore government by Faculty Advisor Assoc Prof in conceptualising, designing,
to prepare the public for an Seah Kar Heng who, without fabricating and testing the 2008
important milestone in the field hesitation, put him in charge race car; and in teaching and
of motorsports – when Singapore of the NUS FSAE’s race car preparing the new batch of NUS
hosts her first Formula One race engine. Sharael quickly became FSAE recruits in building the
in September 2008. an engine expert and gained 2009 and 2010 race cars.
NUS FSAE
PRODUCING GRADUATES WITH DARE AND SPEED
 Women
POWER
IN ENGINEERING

(L-R): Ms Elaine Tan, Ms Xie Yuwen and Ms Sharon Poon Sok Min
Ms Rao Tingting (not in photo) is currently overseas on a Masters programme

Once the domain of men, Ms Elaine Tan Ms Sharon Poon Sok Min
engineering is now a domain
shared by women. Many women Graduated from the Division Graduated from the Department
engineers have been making of Bioengineering. Now a of Chemical & Biomolecular
their mark on society, and many bioengineer with A*STAR’s Engineering. Now a Fuels
more will come, judging by the Institute of Bioengineering and Marketing Retail Pricing Analyst
growing population of female Nanotechnology. with ExxonMobil Asia Pacific
engineering students at NUS. Pte Ltd.
Elaine encourages female
students to take up engineering, Based on her personal experience,
especially if they love physics Sharon shares, “An engineering
and mathematics because education is not a one-way ticket
of the practicality of the to the type of engineering jobs
training it provides. Elaine says, where you may have to get your
“Engineering trains one to think hands dirty. Rather, it trains you
logically and sensibly.” with the skills and an analytical
mind that can be applied to
a myriad of occupations and
Ms Xie Yuwen industries.”
Among the many female high Graduated from the Department
achievers in the 2007 batch of of Chemical & Biomolecular
engineering graduates, four Engineering. Now an engineer
Ms Rao Tingting
stand out by clinching collectively with the Public Utilities Board. Graduated from the Department
three Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Gold of Electrical & Computer
Medals and four Institution of Fulfilled in her desire to
Engineering (ECE). Served as ECE
14

Engineers Singapore (IES) Gold play a part in caring for the

Club President. Now overseas on
Medals. The LKY Gold Medal is environment, Yuwen says,
a Masters programme with the
awarded to the best graduate “An engineering degree
Singapore-MIT Alliance.
throughout the respective opens the door to an ocean of
AR 2007 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

course of study, while the IES opportunities. Female students “Engineering has given me
Gold Medal is awarded to the should consider their interests an insight into cutting-edge
top graduating student in the and strengths before deciding technology, taught me the
respective course of study. which area of engineering to importance of team spirit, and
enter into, and then use their laid the solid foundation for
These four women are now either education to play a part in my further studies and career
furthering their engineering developing ways to overcome development,” says Tingting.
education or establishing their the multitude of problems
promising and meaningful mankind faces.”
careers in related fields.
 WASHINGTON ACCORD
IN TOWN
Towards Outcome-based
Accreditation
The Washington Accord
will be in Singapore in June
2008 to conduct a workshop
on accreditation matters.
The Institution of Engineers
Singapore (IES) is the Singapore
signatory to the Washington
Accord with effect from June
2006. In May 2002, IES set up the
Engineering Accreditation Board
(EAB) to accredit engineering
programmes that are delivered
and awarded in Singapore.
(L-R): Mr Manish Unnithan, Mr Saravanan Palaniappan and Mr Nantha Kumar
A programme is eligible to
be accredited only after it has
Learning from graduated at least two batches
of students. When a programme
NATURAL BEAUTY is new with no graduate

AND ENGINEERING BRAINS output, it may be considered for

provisional accreditation. The
Believing in the importance of a global experience, the Faculty has Engineering Science Programme
numerous student exchange programmes with various universities was the first to seek such
worldwide. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are internationally provisional accreditation and
renowned as centres of academic excellence. They are reputed for was recommended a provisional
their dynamic and relevant academic programmes, and for graduating accreditation of four years,
students of outstanding calibre. The student exchange between the the maximum allowed by EAB,
Faculty and the IITs in Bombay, Madras, Guwahati, Roorkee, Kanpur and in October 2007. The BEng
Kharagpur is aimed at spawning a pool of talent for greater depth and (Industrial & Systems Engineering)
diversity in research. programme was awarded full
accreditation, while the BEng
Attached to different IIT campuses in India between July and December (Bioengineering) and BEng
2006, three third-year mechanical engineering students experienced and (Materials Science & Engineering)
learned from some of the world’s best brains in engineering and science. programmes have commenced
“Ultimately, all the challenges I encountered made this experience one of work to seek accreditation from
the most memorable in my life, and learning with the brightest in India was EAB.
certainly refreshing and enriching.” In accordance with the
Mr Nantha Kumar, student exchange to IIT Roorkee Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology’s
“Although academic standards at IIT Madras are high, I found that most of (ABET) criteria on programme
the students led balanced lives, playing as hard as they studied.” outcomes, EAB will follow an
Mr Manish Unnithan, student exchange to IIT Madras outcome-based accreditation for
all our engineering programmes
“The beautiful sunrise and sunset over the nearby hills overlooking the with effect from 2009.
IIT Guwahati campus made me wonder whether real beauty lies in the
mere man-made structures that we encounter in our daily urban lives or in The Faculty is planning to
organise a workshop jointly with
Mother Nature.... Being an exchange student in IIT Guwahati has given me
EAB and IES in February 2008 to
the opportunity to make friends from virtually every part of India, to learn
address key accreditation issues
about their lives as well as to be an ambassador for Singapore to them. The and prepare staff to engage in
experience has given me a much broader perspective of life.” the international accreditation
Mr Saravanan Palaniappan, student exchange to IIT Guwahati workshop by the Washington
Accord.
 Mr Vaibhav Tidke (left) and Mr Veerappan Swaminathan at the award ceremony with the organisers

Mondialogo Engineering Award

A Global Innovation Award Promoting Sustainable Development
The intercultural team of Yi Han, Mr Tan Huei Ming and
undergraduate students from Mr Set Ying Ting, all from the
the Faculty of Engineering, Engineering Science Programme
NUS and Mumbai University (ESP); and MUICT students Mr
Institute of Chemical Technology Vaibhav Tidke and Mr Darshan
(MUICT) has won the prestigious Mehta. They developed a
Mondialogo Engineering Award fruit processing method using
for 2006-2007 and a prize money solar technology. This method,
of 20,000 euros (S$42,000) which allows drying to be done
for their project Economic even at night and markedly (Extreme top left clockwise): Mr Tan Yi
Improvement of Indian Farmers reduces drying time, provides an Han, ESP, NUS; Mr Tan Huei Ming, ESP,
by Solar Processing of Agro- inexpensive way to extend the NUS; Prof Bhaskar N Thorat, Chemical
16

Engg Department, MUICT; Mr Veerappan

Products. There were more than shelf life of fresh agricultural Swaminathan, ME Department, NUS; Mr
800 entries from 89 countries produce; thus helping farmers to Muhd Ibnur Rashad bin Zainal Abidin, ESP,
NUS; Mr Darshan Mehta and Mr Vaibhav
that registered for this year’s get a better price and earn extra Tidke, both from the Chemical Engg
awards, twice as many compared income. Department, MUICT, at the award ceremony
AR 2007 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

with the inaugural contest in

The award, instituted in
2004-2005.
2002-2003, is an initiative by the
The team comprises NUS German company Daimler-Chrysler
engineering students and UNESCO to promote an
Mr Veerappan Swaminathan “exchange of knowledge between
(team leader) of the Department engineering students of different
of Mechanical Engineering, and continents.”
Mr Muhd Ibnur Rashad, Mr Tan
WIKI on the Move Passion-Driven
Engineer
While at the NUS Overseas
College in Stockholm, Sweden, Despite an interest in a financial

Photo courtesy of SPH - The Business Times

Mr Sriram Krishnan and his career, Mr Andy Chin chose
team-mates, Mr David Haddad to study in the Department
and Mr Michael Frantzen, of Electrical & Computer
from KTH - Royal Institute of Engineering because he strongly
Technology, beat 90 other teams believed that the quantitative
to win the Excitera Innovation and systematic problem-solving
Challenge 2007. Sriram, from skills imparted by an engineering
the Department of Electrical & Mr Sriram Krishnan education would better equip
Computer Engineering, had met him for the future. This decision
his team-mates at an Internet has led Andy to achieve much.
The ‘Spontu’ mobile application
conference he co-organised will allow users in Facebook to At the end of his freshman
in Stockholm. He was later spontaneously meet up in real year in May 2004, Andy was
approached by Michael to be life. For example, mobile phone awarded the National/ASEAN
part of the team via LinkedIn, a users could send an SMS to Undergraduate Scholarship for
business networking website. update a designated ‘Spontu’ his outstanding academic merit
The ‘Spontu’ team, once known number, highlighting the social and dynamic involvement in
as ‘Attention!’, won the top activity of the user. co-curricular activities.
prize which comprised S$40,000; The team is currently developing Whilst at the NUS Overseas
an offer of incubation space; the Facebook application and College at Bio Valley in 2006,
and free telco infrastructure the company ‘Spontu’ will be Andy interned full-time in a
support from a Swedish-based incorporated soon in Stockholm. start-up medical device company
telecommunication provider, while pursuing coursework at
For his outstanding achievements,
Telenor, during the start-up’s first the prestigious University of
Sriram received an NUS Student
six months. Pennsylvania.
Achievement Award 2007.
Now in his final year towards
achieving his BEng (Electrical

Honing Entrepreneurial Skills Engineering) with a Minor

in Technopreneurship, Andy
through PEAK TIME continues to be thoroughly
engaged in various co-curricular
In May 2007, engineering activities at international level.
students Mr Lawrence Ng As a member of the Singapore
Weiguang of the Division of National Water-Polo Team,
Bioengineering, Mr Adrian Zhou he competed in numerous
An Rong of the Department regional championships such
of Chemical & Biomolecular as Asian Championships and
Engineering, and Mr Ramkumar Commonwealth Games, and was
Shankar of the Department awarded the Singapore Sports
of Electrical & Computer Excellence Award annually from
(L-R): Mr Adrian Zhou An Rong, Mr Lawrence Engineering got together with 1999 to 2005.
Ng Weiguang, Mr Brandon Lee Kai An and Mr Brandon Lee Kai An of NUS
Mr Ramkumar Shankar achieved third place
at Peak Time Business School, and headed for
Riga, Latvia, to participate in
Peak Time International Business Peak Time. Mr Andy Chin
Student Competition, organised
by the Stockholm School of Drawing from their valuable
Economics, is the largest and entrepreneurial experiences
most well-known international acquired during their first-year
business student competition internships in USA and Sweden,
in the Baltic States, attracting which were part of the NUS
entries from the Americas, Overseas Colleges Programme,
Europe and across Asia. the team went on to the finals,
emerging third.
 Fanning a
SPARK OF TALENT

(Front row, L-R): Ms Chen Shunling, Creative Director, Nanyang Polytechnic graduate; Mr Nguyen Khanh An, Project Manager and Vietnamese Office
Manager, NUS School of Computing graduate
(Back row, L-R): Mr Wayne Chia, Manager of Business Development, NUS Faculty of Science final-year student; Mr Liu Rujie, IT Developer, NUS School of
Computing graduate; Mr Leon Leong, Project Manager, NUS School of Computing final-year student; and Mr Rex Huang, Co-Founder, Project Manager
and China Office Manager, ECE Department final-year student

Entrepreneurial roots run in his as well as in Southeast Asian The partners also capitalised
family of business owners. Credit countries. At this point, Rex’s on the Faculty’s offer to start
nature or nurture, Mr Rex Huang passion for IT was kindled, their development office in
Rongjia of the Department of and he started Techsailor with Guangzhou, China.
Electrical & Computer Engineering partners, Mr Yu Junde and
Says Rex, “Techsailor is still a
himself displays the same trait. Mr Xing Dongfeng, both from
small player in the IT industry
At the age of seven, at home the NUS School of Computing.
with no global impact, but we
in China, he sold fireworks
are doing business globally
to neighbourhood kids. On “Techsailor is still a small – our management team is in
entering NUS, he began fuelling player in the IT industry with Singapore; development teams
his enterprising ways with no global impact, but we are are in China and Vietnam; and
Technopreneurship courses. Today
doing business globally.” clients are not only in Singapore
this final-year undergraduate
and China, but also in the United
co-owns Techsailor, a web - Mr Rex Huang
18

States and Europe. We believe

solutions business with an
we have the right strategy and
international team and clientele.
A subsequent year-long NUS are heading in the right direction
From being an air ticket agent Overseas Colleges programme, to becoming a big company.”
AR 2007 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

to foreign students in NUS involving internship with a US

during his first year, Rex went IT start-up and a study stint at
on to start a magazine called the University of Pennsylvania
SNAG (acronym for Sensual inspired Rex so much that on
New Age Guy) with a few his return to Singapore, the
Technopreneurship course mates. three partners began ambitious
With funding from NUS Venture expansion plans for Techsailor to
Support, the publication grew hit half a million dollars in annual
to attract readership nationwide sales by February 2008.
 New Bachelor of
Technology Programme
Launched
Singapore’s increasingly service-
based economy is raising demand
for systems-level talents. In
engineering, this translates
into the demand for versatile
engineers well equipped to
lead in a rapidly changing and
increasingly knowledge-based
economy.
These engineer-leaders must
possess a combination of
broad-based fundamentals and
specialised knowledge, including
the ability to understand key
drivers of industry and business
performance, model transactional
(L-R): Mr Sun Jinyang, ME Department; Mr Cheong Kah Meng, NUS School of Computing;
Mr Alvin Sim Yixiang, ME Department; Mr Kenneth Tan Jiecong and Mr Wu Di both of the ECE processes, identify problems
Department and opportunities, and develop
balanced solutions accountable to
diverse stakeholders’ conflicting
goals.

Exoro Promotes Pre-empting the demand surge

for such talents, the part-time
Bachelor of Technology in
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP Industrial and Management
Engineering (BTech (IME))
“Exoro has successfully conducted ExoroGame™ sessions for over programme was launched by
1,000 students in secondary schools, junior colleges and universities” the Department of Industrial
& Systems Engineering with its
In 2006, Mr Wu Di of the Department of Electrical & Computer pioneer intake in August 2007.
Engineering and four NUS mates got together and co-founded Exoro The programme aims to graduate
Pte Ltd, whose mission is to promote youth entrepreneurship through professional industrial and
effective training, networking and opportunities creation. And so, the management engineers who
company’s first product, ExoroGame™ was developed. possess strong systems mindset
It is a simulation game which fuses realistic elements of real-life and foundation in relevant
modelling and methodological
company operations with high level of interactivity and fun while
expertise, and are thus able
retaining the company’s quality educational values.
to contribute to the national
Exoro has successfully conducted ExoroGame™ and global society through
sessions for over 1,000 students in secondary innovation, enterprise and
schools, junior colleges and universities. leadership.
It organised the first-ever National Youth Building on existing knowledge
Entrepreneurship Conference, together and experience, BTech (IME)
with the First National ExoroGame™ Youth admits working engineers with
Challenge, in Singapore on 7 July 2007. good polytechnic diplomas and is
Exoro plans to expand its business globally and all set to accept two intakes
promote entrepreneurship on a larger scale. The company per year.
is also in the midst of developing an online business simulation game.
 Photo courtesy of SPH – The Straits Times
INNOVATIVE TEAM EFFORT:
Mr Low (second from right, holding the
yarn) and third-year mechanical engineering
students (from left) Mr Tan Wei Yong,
Mr Willy Zhang, team leader Mr Nicholas Ang,
Designing THE FUTURE
and Mr Ang Kheng Wee with the changeable In economies such as Singapore, creative and innovative design gives
slippers, the bamboo charcoal and the fabric
in their hands. a competitive advantage
(Not in photo: Mr Freddy Tan, Mr Tan Wee Lip,
and Mr Chester Choo) Skills in design are a characteristic of a well-educated professional
engineer. Design can be defined as “purposeful activity through which
needs are met or problems solved through the application of existing
knowledge, skills and experience”. In economies such as Singapore,
creative and innovative design gives a competitive advantage.
Last year, a group of third-year mechanical engineering students
successfully designed and developed a prototype of wheelchair for
physically-disabled athletes to play tennis. The prototype, which is
aesthetically pleasing, has many advantages such as low manufacturing
cost, easy to adjust to suit the user’s preference and comfort, and easy to
manoeuvre.
The special features include an adjustable seat and footrest, and a built-
in anti-skid feature. The wheelchair is lightweight and can be easily
converted from the sports mode to the normal mode with simple camber
adjustments.
Another group of seven NUS students seized on the chance to work with
Greenyarn, a successful business in the United States, and spent six months
developing new product ideas. Greenyarn manufactures fabric that has
minute particles of bamboo charcoal in its weave. Its CEO, Mr Robin Low,
20

32, an NUS engineering graduate who is currently based in Boston, has

made his mark in the business of marketing innovative products based on
nanotechnology.
AR 2007 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

The team made three inventions using the company’s fabric. One invention
is a sleeping pack that combines the cumbersome essentials of a backpack
and a sleeping bag for mountaineers. The other prototype is a pair of
changeable slippers that allows consumers to create three different looks
simply by adjusting the straps. Both inventions had appealed to Mr Low,
and he is working with manufacturers in Taiwan and expects to market the
products in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
The group hopes to team up with another entrepreneur to develop their
third invention, a hamster wheel that could reduce the odour emitted by
these popular pets.
 Commercially-Fortified
Engineering Management
Education
The Division of Engineering and
Technology Management
(D-ETM) has been busy bringing
the Faculty closer to realising its
mission of “nurturing engineer-
leaders with a global outlook
and providing technological
leadership through high-impact
research”.
D-ETM incorporated the Centre
for Management of Science and
Ms Ang Lay Teng with her award Technology into its fold on 1 July
2007. The new division continues
to offer coursework-based
Outstanding Paper GOLD AWARD Masters (MSc) programmes to
engineering postgraduates and
Ms Ang Lay Teng, an undergraduate of the Division of Bioengineering, the Minor in Management of
received the Outstanding Paper Gold Award on 19 May 2007 at the Technology (MOT) programme
4th Scientific Meeting jointly organised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic to engineering undergraduates.
and the Biomedical Engineering Society, Singapore. Her paper titled Around the same time,
Cell Delivery to Electrospun Scaffolds by Coaxial Electrospinning was D-ETM’s MSc (MOT) programme
co-authored with Dr Sambit Sahoo, Assoc Prof Goh Cho Hong and accepted its third intake and
Assoc Prof Toh Siew Lok from the same Division. saw its first batch of 17 part-
time students graduate, while
Lay Teng’s work shows the feasibility of using coaxial electrospinning its MSc (Intellectual Property
to fabricate cell scaffold-integrated constructs for tissue engineering Management) and MSc (Systems
applications. and Design Management)
programmes respectively saw
their first batches of five and two
full-time students graduate.
First Runner-up In August 2007, the Second
QUEEN’S ENTREPRENEURS’ Major in Management
(Technology), established
COMPETITION through months of active
collaboration between D-ETM
Every year, Queen’s University and the NUS Business School
organises the Queen’s for Engineering, Computing
Entrepreneurs’ Competition, the and Science undergraduates,
country’s longest-running business accepted its first intake of
plan competition. The NUS team, 51 Engineering freshmen.
“Team Nodens Health”, presented Under this second major
their business plan from their programme, D-ETM offers
Engineering Entrepreneurship class, three new undergraduate
under the NUS Overseas Colleges modules – MT3001: Systems
programme, and was named first Thinking and Engineering,
runner-up after tackling gruelling MT4002: Technology
Mr Adrian Zhou An Rong showing the questions in the two-round Management Strategy, and
business plan
competition. MT4003: Engineering Product
Development – which are also
The team comprised Mr Adrian Zhou An Rong of the Department of
offered as electives under the
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, and Ms Alicia Li Jia’en and Mr
engineering undergraduate
Brandon Lee Kai An, both from NUS Business School.
curriculum.
 SingSpring Desalination Plant, Singapore

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 Excellence in graduate education

GRADUATE is a strategic mission of the

Faculty of Engineering. We

EDUCATION
aim to provide our students
with a high-quality educational
experience infused with a
Moving Up the Ladder global outlook. We offer a
vibrant and stimulating research
environment in which students
get to work with state-of-the-art
research facilities and renowned
professors.
More than 50% of our faculty
members and graduate students
come from countries such as
America, Australia, Bangladesh,
Canada, China, France, India,
Iran, Russia and ASEAN countries
such as Indonesia, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand
and Vietnam.
Our PhD programmes are the
strategic focus of the Faculty and
PhD students account for 80%
of the current total research
students. Lectures on “Research
Methodology and Research
Ethics” have been introduced
to develop thinking and
questioning in graduate students
and imbue in them a deep sense
of social responsibility and high
ethical standards.
The MSc coursework programmes continue to be an integral part of our
graduate studies. They provide well-trained manpower for our economy
and help make Singapore an attractive place for foreign investments.
In the strategic area of “Water”, we are planning a new Double Masters
Degree Programme in Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources
Management with Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands.
We continue to forge global partnerships in education with top overseas
universities in the form of joint PhD programmes and double Masters
degree programmes to prepare students for a globalised economy.
We have just established a joint PhD programme with the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras and have integrated and extended
our double degree programme and joint PhD programme with École
Supérieure d’Électricité (Supélec), France.

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE
Global Partnerships in Graduate Education
The Faculty has created exciting opportunities for students to embark
upon joint programmes to venture, to learn from the best of both
worlds, to gain exposure to foreign cultures and to network with the
best students at some of the best institutions around the world.

Joint PhD Programmes Double Degree Programmes

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA École Centrale de Paris
Australian National University, Australia École Polytechnique
Indian Institute of Technology (Bombay), India École Supérieure d’Electricité
Indian Institute of Technology (Madras), India École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
École Supérieure d’Électricité, France École des Mines de Paris
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands Groupe des Écoles des Télécommunications
Dual Masters Programme In the Pipeline
Tsinghua University, China Double Masters Degree with Delft University of
Technology, The Netherlands
Brain-Controlled
WHEELCHAIR
Controlling objects or machines
by thought is fast becoming a
science and technological reality
in the Department of Mechanical
Engineering (ME). Ms Woo Xing Yi with her poster

A working prototype of a Brain-

Controlled Wheelchair (BCW)
is being developed at the ME
Second Award from
Department. Installed with a AIChE
P300-based brain computer
At the American Institute of
interface – a communication
Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
tool that interprets electro-
Annual Meeting held in
encephalographic (EEG) signals
San Francisco from 12 to 17
to input text or commands into a
November 2006, Ms Woo Xing Yi
computer by thought – the BCW
of the Department of Chemical &
is designed for people unable to
Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE)
use other interfaces such as hand
won the Graduate Student
joystick or gaze tracking and, in
Award comprising a certificate
particular, for patients suffering
and US$500 for her poster titled
from Amyotrophic Lateral
Developing a Systematic Design
Sclerosis.
Approach to Tailor Crystal Size
Targeted for use in hospitals Distribution for Mixing-Sensitive
The Brain-Controlled Wheelchair (top)
and homes, the system is safe, Crystallisation Processes under
easily set up with minimal the Food, Pharmaceutical and
infrastructure modifications and P300-based brain computer interface (below) Bioengineering Division.
adaptable to individual user’s
The year before, Xing Yi won
preferences. The BCW is all
the Graduate Student Award for
geared up to help users regain
a paper under the Separations
some autonomy in their daily
Division. Both of her works
lives.
were co-authored with her PhD
advisors, Prof Richard D Braatz
of the Department of Chemical
& Biomolecular Engineering,
University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign and Assoc Prof
Reginald Tan Beng Hee, ChBE
Department, NUS.
AIChE’s various Division
Awards recognise individuals’
outstanding chemical
engineering contributions in the
named fields.
 Training with
A WORLD LEADER IN
MICROELECTRONICS
Dr Yu Hongyu conducts semiconductor R&D for CMOS logic and
memory devices at IMEC, a world-leading independent research
centre in nanoelectronics and nanotechnology in Belgium. He returns
to Singapore in 2008 to pass on his knowledge and skills to future
generations of engineers and researchers as an assistant professor.

Dr Ren Chi works in Singapore to customise technology development at

the United Microelectronics Corporation, a world-leading semiconductor
foundry specialising in contract manufacturing of customer-designed ICs
for high-performance semiconductor applications.
“I believe our job is to
Prof Dim-Lee Kwong of the Department of Electrical & Computer
train PhD students to be
Engineering (ECE) co-supervised Dr Yu and Dr Ren during their PhD
innovators, and be able
candidatures. Prof Kwong, then a Temasek Professor in NUS, is among
to create next-generation
the world’s leading microelectronics researchers. Co-supervised
technologies. The knowledge
respectively by Prof Li Ming-Fu and Prof Daniel Chan, both of ECE
and training gained through
Department, Dr Yu had worked on Advanced Gate Stack for CMOS
the PhD experience provide
Devices, while Dr Ren had worked on Metal/High-k Gate Stack, the heart
an excellent foundation to
of next generation CMOS devices.
help solve the great technical
challenges of our industry.” Both individuals attribute their successes today to Prof Kwong’s forward-
thinking training. Besides leading them through their PhD research,
- Prof Dim-Lee Kwong
Prof Kwong encouraged and guided them to think for themselves
from project conceptualisation through research process to technology
enhancement. This has taught them not only work skills that have
boosted their careers, but also life skills like self-confidence, persistence
and lateral thinking.

Prof Kwong’s constant push for his mentees to benchmark themselves

against the world’s best has challenged Dr Yu to constantly set higher
standards for himself even today. Dr Ren believes Prof Kwong’s knack
for pre-empting industry trends gives his students a career headstart.

Says Prof Kwong, “I believe our job is to train PhD students to be

innovators, and be able to create next-generation technologies. The
knowledge and training gained through the PhD experience provide an
excellent foundation to help solve the great technical challenges of our
Dr Ren Chi (top) industry.”
26

and Dr Yu Hongyu (bottom)

were Prof Dim-Lee Kwong’s All the same, Prof Kwong attributes Dr Yu’s and Dr Ren’s current
former PhD students
successes and promising future to their impressive traits as they are
AR 2007 GRADUATE EDUCATION

hardworking, highly self-motivated, passionate and persistent in

everything they do.
Award-Winning Innovations
IN MATERIALS AND DEVICE STRUCTURE
Mr Rinus Lee Tek Po and of the Institute of
Mr Ang Kah Wee, both from Microelectronics, who co-
the Department of Electrical supervises Kah Wee.
& Computer Engineering
The students’ projects delved
(ECE), won the 2007 Taiwan
into the development of next-
Semiconductor Manufacturing
generation semiconductor
Company Limited Outstanding
technology, essentially higher-
Student Research Award (Gold)
speed nano-scale transistors.
in Taiwan on 29 June 2007.
Rinus approached it from the
Each received a trophy and
materials angle while Kah Wee
NTD 100,000 (S$4,700).
approached it from the angle of
Dr Yeo Yee Chia, ECE new device physics and design.
Department, is the main
As transistors are fundamental
supervisor for Rinus and
components in electronic
Kah Wee, and Principal
products such as computers
Investigator leading research
and mobile phones, both
efforts in enabling more
developments could pave the
powerful electronic devices Mr Rinus Lee Tek Po (left) and Mr Ang Kah
way for computationally more
through the use of new materials Wee with their awards
powerful electronic products.
and new device designs. He
collaborates with Dr Chi Dongzhi Both students are currently
of the Institute of Materials furthering their efforts in their
Research and Engineering, who respective award-winning
co-supervises Rinus, and projects towards their PhDs.
Dr Narayanan Balasubramanian

Paper on ACL
WINS GOLD AWARD
It is widely known that athletes and soldiers
commonly suffer knee injury, also known as
anterior cruciate ligament failure.
Bioengineering PhD student, Mr Yeow Chen Hua,
and his team won a gold award at the 4th Scientific
Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society
(Singapore) on 19 May 2007 for the paper entitled
Mechanism of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
Failure During Impact Compression of the Knee
Joint. The paper investigated and provided
several approaches to improving future
prophylactic knee braces so as to reduce
injury risk.

Mr Yeow Chen Hua with a knee model

Growing
beyond
the challenges of today

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 RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT
AND ENTERPRISE
Fostering Vibrancy

The Faculty of Engineering • S$24 million from the Public innovation and technology
has played an active role in Utilities Board for Singapore- transfer. Most notably, GE Water
national strategic research Delft Water Alliance at NUS & Process Technologies, a unit
focuses, including Interactive and of General Electric Company,
• S$13.2 million from EDB for the
Digital Media, Environmental has committed to invest S$130
formation of Minerals, Metals,
and Water Technologies, million over the next 10 years
and Materials Technology Centre
Clean and Renewable Energy, to establish the GE Water &
Nanotechnology, Biomedical • S$8.12 million from Media Process Technologies Global
Materials and Systems, Logistics Development Authority for R&D Centre. Other industry
and Supply Chain Management, Interactive and Digital Media grantors include Neptune Orient
and Offshore and Marine Programme Lines, BASF South East Asia,
Engineering. Hitachi and Seagate Technology
• S$5.37 million from A*STAR
International.
As a research-intensive faculty, and Maritime and Port Authority
we have been highly successful of Singapore for Offshore The Faculty has been consistently
in bringing in research grants. In Engineering Technology ranked among the World’s
FY2007-2008 as at 30 November Research Programme Top 10 engineering schools by
2007, the Faculty has already the Times Higher Education
• S$2.71 million from A*STAR
attracted a total research Supplement for four consecutive
(including its Research Institutes)
funding of approximately S$85 years. This is indeed a credible
for Science and Engineering
million, which excludes research and compelling tribute to our
Programmes
scholarships of about S$18 million. relentless pursuit towards both
This amount at eight months • S$2.4 million from the Defence fundamental and application-
into the financial year represents Agencies for Defence Technology oriented research excellence.
a significant increase of 56% and Systems Programme
Another focus of the Faculty
compared to the whole of Our research reputation is is to facilitate and support
FY2006-2007, and an increase of manifested in many ways, technology commercialisation
148% compared to FY2005-2006. such as publication in high- activities among students
Among the competitive research impact papers, invited keynote and faculty members. As an
grants awarded by the National presentations, editorial enhancement programme of
Research Foundation (NRF), memberships in top-tier the undergraduate curriculum,
Agency for Science, Technology journals, international and the Faculty runs a business
and Research (A*STAR), regional research awards, and incubation centre that provides
Economic Development Board strategic alliances with leading amenities and a platform to
(EDB) and other agencies, several overseas institutions. We also companies founded by students.
notable ones include: have strong partnerships with
industries in terms of research,
 (L-R): Mr Jan Groen, Managing Director, Delft Hydraulics; Mr Pim Kraan, Charge d’Affairs of
the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands; NUS President Prof Shih Choon Fong; and
Mr Khoo Teng Chye, PUB Chief Executive and EWI Executive Director at the SDWA launch

Singapore-Delft
WATER ALLIANCE
Singapore-Delft Water Alliance as test-bed findings on relevant A proposed MSc programme
(SDWA) is a joint university-level real-world problems. This really in collaboration with the Delft
30

research initiative consisting of means that the research activities University of Technology will
National University of Singapore, are both demand-driven and facilitate graduate students to
PUB Singapore and Delft directly translated into real- acquire a strong understanding
AR 2007 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AND ENTERPRISE

Hydraulics. world advanced applications. of the principles of integrated

In such a fashion, SDWA intends water resources planning and
Within SDWA, the three partners
to establish itself as one of the management.
synergistically combine their
scientific and technological
knowledge and experience in
leaders in the world. SDWA also
addressing a wide range of
intends to develop state-of-the-
water-related issues, including
art software tools and, in the
urban water systems, maritime
long run, translate its research
problems as well as issues related
work into specialist consultancy
to climate change.
services.
The main research objective
In addition to research activities,
of the alliance is to advance
SDWA also actively pursues
science and technology as well
educational programmes.
 Gill Cells
KEEP FLOATING STRUCTURES IN SHAPE

Mooring Loads
dolphin

Floating structure

Watertight cells
Slits/Holes in the bottom
slab/plate of a gill cell

Led by Prof Wang Chien Ming of the Department of Civil Engineering,

the Very Large Floating Structures (VLFS) research group, together
with engineers from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and
Jurong Consultants Pte Ltd, have made a huge impact on the offshore
and marine industry with their invention called gill cells – compartments
within floating structures with holes or slits in their bottom surfaces to
allow water to freely fill and empty from the compartments.
The invention has potential application in VLFS, mooring buoys, spars Prof Wang Chien Ming
and semi-submersibles. Pontoon-type VLFS, already used elsewhere in
the world, are sometimes more effective than traditional ways – building
underground and land reclamation – to counter land scarcity. They are
environmentally friendly, easily removed or expanded, not an issue
to construct despite deepwater depth or soft seabed, and impervious
to earthquakes. However, beyond certain dimensions (in super-large
floating structures) and when heavily loaded in the centre, VLFS begin
to deflect unevenly, resulting in large differential deflections that
may disrupt on-board operations. The differential deflections may be
32

minimised by stiffening the structure with thicker top and bottom slabs,
having a larger draft under heavily-loaded regions, and/or implementing Deflection surfaces of a floating
a ballast system; but all these solutions add unwanted weight and costs container terminal without (left) and
AR 2007 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AND ENTERPRISE

with gill cells

to VLFS.
By strategically positioning gill cells throughout a floating structure,
buoyancy forces in high-stress regions are removed, thereby significantly
reducing differential deflection and stresses with little effect on the
structure’s stiffness. Many other benefits also ensue.
An International Patent Cooperation Treaty Application for the
invention was published on 19 April 2007. The research group also filed
for a patent on offshore bunker supply base or a floating petrol kiosk.
It could save bunkering costs for bunker suppliers and ship owners, and
valuable anchorage space in Singapore waters. Proposed offshore bunker supply base

Seabed
 Nanotech Paper
NEW ENERGY STUDIES Highly Cited
INSTITUTE LAUNCHED The paper entitled Fabrication
of ZnO ‘Dandelions’ via
Modified Kirkendall Process
by MEng graduate Mr Liu Bin
and Prof Zeng Hua Chun from
the Department of Chemical
& Biomolecular Engineering,
was ranked “Hot Paper” in the
Journal of the American Chemical
Society.

Towards Excellence
in Inter-disciplinary
Research
The Interactive and Digital Media
Institute (IDMI) was established
in April 2007 at NUS. Its initial
Prof Chou Siaw Kiang
eight laboratories cover a range
Prof Chou Siaw Kiang of the Department of Mechanical Engineering was of inter-disciplinary research
appointed the Executive Director of the Energy Studies Institute (ESI), a activities, including IDM-inspired
multi-disciplinary, autonomous research institute established within the arts and creativity, electronic
National University of Singapore. Launched on 12 November 2007, ESI games, social robotics and mixed
seeks to advance the understanding of local, regional and global energy reality, among others. Through
issues through independent research and analyses aimed at addressing, start-up grants and some
informing and influencing public opinion and policies. ESI’s research industry funding, early headway
areas of focus are energy economics, energy security and geopolitics, has already been achieved,
and energy and the environment. resulting in some visible project
deliverables, particularly from the
Mixed Reality Laboratory.
The IDMI Principal Investigators

Cost-Effective have received more than

S$13 million in research project
MICRO-MACHINING PROCESS funding from the first National
Research Foundation’s call for
IDM proposals. A planned R&D
Mr Abu Bakar Md Ali Asad,
centre – the NUS-Keio Research
a graduate student of the
Department of Mechanical Centre – is likely to be sited in
Engineering, was awarded IDMI by April 2008.
the Commendation Prize of a Additionally, as part of an
certificate and S$1,000 cash in the incentive programme to facilitate
Open Section at the Tan Kah Kee
the Chinese Academy of Sciences’
Young Inventors’ Award 2007. He
(CAS) research presence in
had developed a patent-pending
micro-machining process that Singapore, a joint research
improves the fabrication of high- collaboration with CAS is being
Mr Abu Bakar Md Ali Asad (left) receiving the aspect-ratio micro-feature and finalised with about S$5 million
Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors’ Award from
Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR makes it more cost-effective. funding support from the Media
Development Authority’s IDM
Project Office.
 BCA’s
Highest
Honour
for Going
`GREEN´
Sustainable Construction of
COMPAC GREEN Wall

Assoc Prof Wee Tiong Huan led the

research on COMPAC GREEN Wall

In response to the Building and

Construction Authority’s (BCA)
call for sustainable construction,
and simultaneously to address The 210-unit Goodwood Residence on Bukit Timah Road clinched the BCA Green Mark (Platinum)
Award for its high environmental standards. One of its winning ‘green’ features is the application
the recent disruption in sand of COMPAC GREEN Wall system for internal partitions. (Photo courtesy of GUOCOLAND)
and granite supply, Assoc Prof
Wee Tiong Huan and his research
team from the Department of
34

granite fines, and possesses eco-friendly features, one of

Civil Engineering developed the excellent performance that which is the use of COMPAC
COMPAC GREEN Wall. This stems exceeds requirements. GREEN Wall internal partitions.
AR 2007 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AND ENTERPRISE

from their earlier invention, These walls can eventually be

Taking this concept further, the
the COMPAC Wall System/ demolished and recycled to
COMPAC GREEN Wall uses 100%
Technology, developed under the produce new COMPAC GREEN
recycled aggregates obtained
earlier joint BCA and NUS R&D Wall, paving the way for a
from waste concrete generated
project. closed-loop up-cycle recycling
from construction, renovation
The COMPAC Wall System/ approach. The BCA Green Mark
and demolition of existing
Technology offers a process to (Platinum) Award is the highest
buildings.
produce, by extrusion, optimally- honour for any ‘green’ building
Riding on this success, in Singapore, awarded only for
designed hollow-core wall panels
Goodwood Residence, an the second time since its launch
which are compact for strength
upcoming luxury condominium in 2005.
and robustness, yet lightweight.
by GuocoLand Group, won the
The technology, for which NUS
prestigious BCA Green Mark
has filed a patent, uses natural
(Platinum) Award for its two
aggregates sand and crushed
 Decomposition
NRF’s Inaugural Technique Adopted
COMPETITIVE RESEARCH by National Energy
PROGRAMME Agencies
In its inaugural and high-profile Competitive Research Programme Prof Ang Beng Wah and
his collaborators from the
designed to support multi-disciplinary research teams in high-impact
Department
areas, the National Research Foundation (NRF) has selected six projects
of Industrial
which are awarded up to a total of S$60 million in funding. Out of & Systems
these six projects awarded in Singapore, two are from the Faculty of Engineering have
Engineering, NUS. pioneered work
One team, led by Prof Neal Chung of the Department of Chemical & in decomposition
analysis and
Biomolecular Engineering, will develop membrane materials for purifying
developed a
natural gas, syngas and hydrogen/carbon dioxide mixtures for efficient
technique called
and clean energy. The team includes Assoc Prof Hong Liang, an expert in the Logarithmic
ceramic membranes; Dr Jiang Jianwen and Prof Raj Rajagopalan, experts Mean Divisia Prof Ang Beng Wah
in computational physics and material design; and Prof Bill Krantz, an Index (LMDI)
expert in transport phenomena in membranes. The team will also include method.
other collaborators from the Department and foreign experts who will
The LMDI can be used to factorise
provide critical support for the programme.
changes in aggregate energy use
The other team, led by Assoc Prof Ding Jun of the Department of Materials and track economy-wide energy
Science & Engineering (MSE), aims to develop the potential of spintronics efficiency performance. National
in data storage, quantum logic and other significant applications. The energy agencies like the Office of
team includes Assoc Prof Adekunle Olusola Adeyeye and Assoc Prof Wu Energy Efficiency of Canada, US
Department of Energy’s Office of
Yihong, both from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering;
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Prof Chow Gan-Moog and Dr Chen Jingsheng, both from the MSE
Energy, and the Energy Efficiency
Department; as well as others from the Faculty of Science, Singapore and Conservation Authority of
Synchrotron Light Source (NUS), School of Physical & Mathematical New Zealand have adopted this
Sciences (NTU) and one collaborator from Chartered Semiconductor method.
Manufacturing Ltd.

CORE’s S$10 MILLION BOOST

NUS’ Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering (CORE) has received
a S$10 million boost to realise its vision of becoming a leading offshore
engineering centre in research, development and application of
technology for the advancement of the offshore and maritime industry.
On 22 March 2007, CORE launched the Offshore Technology Research
Programme. Witnessed by Mr Peter Ong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Trade and Industry and Chairman of Maritime and Port Authority of (L-R): Prof Seeram Ramakrishna, Dean,
Singapore (MPA), CORE signed an MOU with EDB, A*STAR and MPA. Faculty of Engineering; Prof Chong Tow
Chong, Executive Director, Science &
The EDB will support CORE through its Training and Attachment Engineering Research Council, A*STAR; BG
Programme. (NS) Tay Lim Heng, Chief Executive, MPA;
Mr Manohar Khiatani, Assistant Managing
CORE will collaborate with its industry partners, Keppel Offshore Director, EDB; Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS
Senior Deputy President; and Prof Chan Eng
& Marine Limited, SembCorp Marine Limited, Lloyd’s Register Asia, Soon, Executive Director, Centre for Offshore
American Bureau of Shipping, WorleyParsons Pte Ltd, J Ray McDermott Research & Engineering
Asia Pacific and Cameron International.
M3TC Gets
S$13.2 MILLION GRANT FROM EDB
The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Technology Centre (M3TC) is a newly
established centre, operational since April 2007, as a result of a S$13.2
million grant from the Economic Development Board (EDB). M3TC’s
vision is to become a world-class R&D centre capable of conducting
relevant commercially-oriented R&D activities, while providing technical
support and consultation services to industries and businesses in the
mineral, metal, and material processing sectors in the region.
Vision-driven, M3TC will address current and strategic engineering
R&D needs of these industry sectors in the region and beyond by
drawing together internationally-recognised multi-disciplinary expertise
of various industrial sectors as well as major research and academic
institutions from around the world.
The M3TC plans to propose elective courses in relevant areas for
engineering students, and professional development courses for
practicing engineers and technologists in the industry.
Although established only recently, M3TC is already at advanced stages
of developing close linkages with major national and multi-national
companies in the aerospace and marine industries on design and
development of novel state-of-the-art composite materials. In addition,
Loading of mined high calorific value coal M3TC is actively involved in multi-disciplinary R&D on innovative
onto barges from stockpile area materials for flexible solar panels and coal conversion
technologies including conversion of coal
to methanol, hydrogen and other
high-value products.

Recent visit by M3TC and EDB officials to a coal mine to view a large coal seam and loading of coal onto a dump truck
Photos courtesy of Bayan Group
Keppel Professorship
WELCOMES ITS SECOND CHAIR
Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited on Arctic Offshore Structures, Ice
and the National University of Engineering and Ice Mechanics on
Singapore (NUS) have appointed 6 June 2007 at NUS.
Prof Andrew Palmer as the second
Backed by more than four
Keppel Chair Professor with the
decades of research, teaching
NUS Centre for Offshore Research
and industry experience in the
& Engineering, Department of
pipeline and offshore engineering
Civil Engineering. Prof Palmer,
field, Prof Palmer spoke about the
69, takes over from Norwegian
vast opportunities for petroleum
marine structures expert, Prof
development in the Arctic Prof Andrew Palmer (right) receiving the
Torgeir Moan, who held the first
Seas, the challenges engineers certificate of appointment from NUS
Keppel Chair between 2002 and President Prof Shih Choon Fong
encounter when working on
2006. Prof Palmer’s tenure will be
petroleum development beneath
for a two-year period.
the Arctic Seas, and how ice
Marking his new appointment, influences the design and
Prof Palmer delivered the 5th construction of offshore structures
Keppel Offshore & Marine Lecture in harsh and deep waters.

World-Renowned LRET Chair

DELIVERS INAUGURAL LECTURE
The Inaugural Lloyd’s Register Centre for Offshore Research & cluster and offshore research
Educational Trust (LRET) Lecture Engineering (CORE), the offshore engineering hub.
was delivered by eminent and maritime community, and
An expert in design work, Prof
Prof Peter W Marshall on engineering students. CORE
Marshall worked for Shell Oil
5 September 2007 to a full works with major industry
for 32 years and had won many
house at the NUS Engineering partners to advance engineering
distinguished awards including
Auditorium. research in order to give
the Alfred Noble Prize given by
Singapore the technological
The Lecture, titled Offshore US engineering societies and,
edge in a highly competitive
Technology: Lessons Learned more recently, the Offshore
offshore industry that is
the Hard Way, was attended Technology Conference (OTC)
experiencing rapid growth.
by industry partners of the 2006 Distinguished Achievement
Prof Marshall’s appointment as Award for his accomplishments.
LRET Chair Professor in Offshore He had broken many world
Engineering was a result of an depth records in the building of
earlier S$3 million donation by offshore structures that led him
the trust fund. In November to lead the initial design team
2005, the Ministry of Education for Bullwinkle, the present world
and the Maritime and Port record fixed platform at 1,350
Authority of Singapore each feet water depth.
matched the donation, resulting
in a total of S$9 million, to
(L-R) Mr John Stansfeld, President of Lloyd’s promote and help transform
Register Asia; and Prof Peter Marshall, LRET
Chair Professor in Offshore Engineering
Singapore as a maritime
 Dr Daniel S Pickard
WINS THE NUS YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
Dr Daniel S Pickard, a new faculty member with the
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and
an Associate of the Engineering Science Programme, has
been awarded an NUS Young Investigator Award (YIA) in
December 2007 by the Office of Deputy President (Research
& Technology). The award offers research funding to highly-
promising young faculty members.
Under the YIA, Dr Pickard will initiate a plasmonics research
programme at NUS which exploits his expertise in plasmonics,
low work-function materials and charged particle optics to
explore new methods of imaging and probing plasmonic
devices. The field of plasmonics is aimed at harnessing the
unique properties of surface plasmon polaritons (i.e. collective
charge oscillations excited on a metal surface) to mould the
flow of light on the nano-scale, enabling radically new devices
and functions.
Potential applications of plasmonic devices span many
disciplines including high-speed nano-scale interconnects,
meta-materials, chemical and biological sensing, sub-
wavelength optics and waveguides, near-field-optical molecule
trapping, high-density data storage, and the enhancement of
non-linear effects, to name a few.
At the heart of Dr Pickard’s programme is a state-of-the-art
photoemission electron microscope (PEEM), a multi-million
dollar instrument. With the support of the YIA, Dr Pickard will
enhance this microscope’s capability to enable the imaging of
plasmonic devices with unprecedented spatial and temporal
resolution. When the enhancements are completed, the PEEM
Dr Pickard, shown here with his photoemission electron will be the only instrument of its kind in the world and will
microscope, wins the Young Investigator Award for his provide critical information needed for validation of plasmonic
research on novel nano-scale imaging techniques of surface
plasmons and plasmonic structures device functionality, comparison with theoretical models, as
well as tremendous potential for new discoveries.
38

Groundbreaking Find for Reclamation Projects

AR 2007 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AND ENTERPRISE

At the Main Meeting of the American Society of Testing for Materials

(ASTM) International Committee D18 on Soil and Rock in Norfolk,
Virginia, USA on 25 June 2007, Dr Muthusamy Karthikeyan, Prof Tan
Thiam Soon and Assoc Prof Phoon Kok Kwang, all from the Department
of Civil Engineering, received the C.A. Hogentogler Award 2007.
ASTM International’s most prestigious technical award acknowledges the
team’s meritorious paper on soil and rock for engineering purposes. The
paper entitled In-Situ Evaluation of Radioisotope Cone Penetrometers in
Clays by Dr Ganeswara Rao Dasari, Dr Muthusamy Karthikeyan,
Prof Tan Thiam Soon, Dr Mamoru Mimura and Assoc Prof Phoon Kok
Kwang appeared in the Society’s Geotechnical Testing Journal, (L-R): Assoc Prof Phoon Kok Kwang,
Dr Muthusamy Karthikeyan and Prof Tan
January 2006 edition. Thiam Soon with the C.A. Hogentogler
Award 2007 from the American Society of
Testing for Materials (ASTM) International
Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
Assoc Prof Lee Fook Hou
HEADS NEW CENTRE FOR
HAZARDS RESEARCH
The dawning of the 21st Century centre which can co-ordinate
has brought many changes the development of technology
Assoc Prof Lee Fook Hou introducing the Centre
to conventional paradigms of and expertise to better for Hazards Research during its launch
mankind’s existence. Amongst understand, monitor, model,
the new watchwords in this mitigate and manage the risk The activities of the Centre
Century is the term “hazards”. of natural hazards under one for Hazards Research will be
Global urbanisation means that umbrella. The initial thrust of complemented by other centres
the potential of any hazards the Centre for Hazards Research and institutes in NUS. Assoc Prof
impacting upon properties and will focus on earth tremors in Lee Fook Hou of the Department
human lives is correspondingly Singapore. Seed funding for this of Civil Engineering, who heads
accentuated, and we are now aspect of the Centre’s activities the new Centre, says, “I hope
assailed daily by news of loss has already been approved the Centre’s research will shed
of human lives and properties by NUS, and discussions are new light on earthquakes. The
due to earthquakes, volcanic underway with other agencies Centre also hopes to work with
eruptions, flooding, inundation to initiate research projects. several government agencies,
and other natural hazards. The objective of the centre including the Building and
is not just to address specific Construction Authority, and the
The initial thrust of the aspects of earth tremors, but Housing & Development Board,
Centre for Hazards Research to examine the entire spectrum and construction companies to
will focus on earth tremors of issues ranging from those examine the performance of our
in Singapore. associated with the Sumatran buildings against future earth
faults to those associated with tremors and, where necessary,
soil and structural conditions in develop appropriate adaptation
It is in recognition of this that
Singapore. measures.”
NUS has decided to establish a

Hot on the Trail Towards

BETTER CANCER TREATMENT
Cancer, one of the most dreaded agents travel from body entry make them ideal as in-vivo
diseases, may be treated by point to targeted cancer cells. hyperthermia agent.
hyperthermia therapy. Using
Dr Bae Seongtae of the The team’s findings, touted
elevated temperatures to kill
Department of Electrical & as one of the hottest frontier
localised or deeply-seated cancer
Computer Engineering and research news by USA’s
cells, it has significantly less
his team made a possible Nanowerk Spotlight on
side effects than chemotherapy
breakthrough by developing 23 January 2007, have since
and radiotherapy. However,
chitosan-coated NiFe2O4 been widely published in
all hyperthermia techniques
magnetic nanoparticles whose Applied Physics Letters, IEEE
introduced thus far have not
very promising self-heating, Transactions on Magnetics,
been maximally effective due to
temperature-rising and superior Journal of Biotechnology and
temperature loss and destruction
biocompatible characteristics Journal of Nanoscale Technology.
of healthy cells as hyperthermia

Self-heating temperature-rising
characteristics of solid-state
(left) and agar-state (right)
NiFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles
are determined by applied
magnetic fields at the fixed
frequency of 40 kHz
The World’s Leading Digital Media Solution Provider
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 OUR PEOPLE
Celebrating Excellence
Excellence will continue to glow at the heart of our activities in
teaching, research, service and administration. Our people, both
academics and non-academics, are the pillars of our institution’s
strength. We applaud those who have made a mark and whose
achievements have helped to sustain our institution to be a global
choice for all.
Over the past one year, the Faculty saw an overall increase of
12% in the number of academic staff (including other teaching
and adjunct staff) and research staff from 699 in 2006 to 783 in
2007. The highest increase was in the number of research staff at
22.8%. There was also an increase of 5.5% in the number of full-
time faculty members, which included three senior hires, namely
Prof Dim-Lee Kwong, Prof Michael Saunders and Prof Bhatia Singh,
whose areas of work in Microelectronics, Water & Environment
and Data Storage respectively are of national interest.
The Faculty has built strong linkages with industry and research
STAFF PROFILE institutes by engaging adjunct staff to provide an exciting
(as at 1 November 2007)
dimension to teaching and research in the Faculty. Adjunct staff
make up approximately 10% of the total academic and research
Full-time Faculty 304 26%
staff.
Members
Adjunct Staff 79 7%
“Our people, both academics
Other Teaching Staff 56 5%
and non-academics, are the
Research Staff 344 29% pillars of our institution’s
Administrative Staff* 64 5% strength.”
Non-Academic Staff* 337 28%

* Includes staff employed under grants

 DEAN SEERAM
Elected Vice-President of IFEES
Appointed Founding Chair of GEDC
With the strong support of the American Society for Engineering
Education (ASEE), the International Federation of Engineering Education
Societies (IFEES) formed the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) at
(L-R): Prof Seeram Ramakrishna, Vice- the IFEES Global Engineering Education Summit held on 30 September
President of IFEES and founding Chair of 2007 in Istanbul. Prof Seeram Ramakrishna, Dean of the Faculty of
GEDC; Prof Hans J Hoyer, Deputy Secretary
General of IFEES and Director of International Engineering, NUS, was elected the Vice-President of IFEES at this
Programmes and Strategy, American Society meeting. He was also appointed the founding chair of the GEDC.
for Engineering Education (ASEE); Ms Lueny
Morell, President Elect of IFEES and Director, The GEDC envisions the enhanced
University Relations Latin America, HP Labs,
Hewlett Packard Company; Prof Javier Paez, capabilities of engineering deans to “...the GEDC will provide a
former Vice-President of IFEES; Mr Xavier transform their schools in support forum for engineering deans
Fouger, Director, Dassault Systemes Global
Learning and PLM Academy, Vice-President
of their societies in a globalised to exchange information,
of IFEES; and Prof Krishna Vedula, Executive world. In keeping with its vision, discuss challenges,
Director of the Indo US Collaboration for the GEDC will provide a forum for
Engineering Education experiences and best
engineering deans to exchange
practices in leading an
information, discuss challenges,
experiences and best practices in
engineering school.”
leading an engineering school. It will
also provide a means for them to
partner one another in innovation, collaborate with industry and other
stakeholders, and build a network supporting engineering deans to play
a leadership role in the development of regional and national policies
for the advancement of economies.
The first GEDC Executive Committee plans to meet in Paris, France in
May 2008.

Prestigious International Award

Named After
PROF ARUN S MUJUMDAR
A prestigious award has been named after Prof Arun S Mujumdar
of the Department of Mechanical Engineering for his outstanding
contributions to drying R&D, mentoring younger generations and
promoting drying research on a global scale.
The first Arun S Mujumdar Medal was presented to Prof Czeslaw
Strumillo of the Technical University of Lodz, Poland
at the 5th Asia-Pacific Drying Conference held at the
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,
Hong Kong from 13 to 15 August 2007. The award
42

was in recognition of Prof Strumillo’s extensive

Prof Czeslaw Strumillo (left) of the Technical
University of Lodz, Poland, receiving the first
pioneering contributions to research, service to the
Arun S Mujumdar Medal from Prof Arun international community and mentoring of several
outstanding researchers in drying.
AR 2007 OUR PEOPLE

The Arun S Mujumdar Medal will continue to be bestowed on

outstanding contributors to the field of drying over the next decade at
major international conferences devoted to drying R&D.
 NEWLY ELECTED FELLOW
ASEAN Academy of Engineering
and Technology
Prof Seeram Ramakrishna was elected Fellow of the ASEAN Academy
of Engineering and Technology (AAET) at its Annual General Meeting
held in Cebu, Philippines on 30 November 2007. His election adds to a
total of nine AAET Fellows from Singapore. With eminent engineers,
applied scientists and other allied professionals in academia, research,
government and industry as its Fellows, the Academy is the authoritative
body providing strategic research, study and advice for the advancement
of engineering and technology in ASEAN for the benefit of ASEAN
countries and its people.

Prof Seeram Ramakrishna

(Front row, L-R): Prof Michael Davies (Dean of Engineering,

U of Auckland), Prof Soo-Won Kim (Dean of Engineering,
Korea U), Prof Dianne Wiley (Dean of Engineering, U of New
South Wales), Prof Seeram Ramakrishna (Dean of Engineering,
NUS), Prof Graham J Davies (Head of Engineering, U of
Birmingham), Prof Christopher Rudd (Dean of Engineering,
U of Nottingham)

(Back row, L-R): Ms Robyn Horwood (Faculty Manager of

Engineering, U of New South Wales), Mr Lin Qing (Vice-
Dean of Engineering, Fudan U), Prof Chen Liangyao (Dean
of Engineering, Fudan U), Prof Jannie van Deventer (Dean of
Engineering, U of Melbourne), Prof Brendon Parker (Director,
Special Projects, Faculty of Engineering, NUS),
Prof John Hancock (Dean of Engineering, U of Glasgow),
Prof Klas Malmqvist (Deputy Dean of Technology, Lund U),
Ms Patricia CC Duncan (Faculty Secretary of Engineering,
U of Glasgow), Mr Neil Robinson (Faculty General Manager of
Engineering, U of Melbourne), Prof Stephen Walker (Executive
Dean of Engineering, Physical Sciences & Architecture,
U of Queensland)

U21 Engineering Deans Meet

NUS is a member of Universitas engineering education and organisational structures,
21 (U21), an international research. At this meeting, eleven research assessment and
network of twenty leading U21 partners were represented, changing budget models.
research-intensive universities with Korea University present for
The deans noted that their earlier
spanning thirteen jurisdictions. the first time. The welcome and
collaborative initiative on Water
U21 facilitates collaboration opening addresses were given
had been taken up by U21 and
and cooperation among by Prof Tan Eng Chye, Deputy
was developing strongly. They
member universities, and President (Academic Affairs)
decided to work towards a
creates opportunities for them and Provost, and Prof Seeram
second initiative on Energy which
to cooperate in agreed projects Ramakrishna, Dean, Faculty of
would be open for collaboration
by pooling their resources and Engineering, who chaired the
by all U21 engineering faculties.
talents. meeting.
The inaugural meeting of
The Faculty hosted the 8th During the meeting, each this initiative will be held in
Meeting of Engineering Deans dean presented an overview Birmingham in 2008. It is hoped
from 21 to 22 May 2007. of activities at the respective that the next Engineering Deans
Seventeen Deans of Engineering universities, and discussed meeting will be scheduled
and Faculty Managers met common themes including to coincide with the Energy
to discuss issues relating to attracting quality students, meeting.
 Public Administration
Medal, Gold
Prof Low Teck
Seng of the
Department
of Electrical
& Computer
Engineering,
and currently
the Principal
and CEO
PROF MICHAEL
of Republic GRAETZEL
Prof Low Teck Seng Polytechnic,
was awarded A Distinguished
The Public Administration Medal,
Gold (Pingat Pentadbiran Awam, Visiting Professor
Emas) in his capacity as Principal
and CEO of Republic Polytechnic.
The Medal was awarded by
the President of the Republic
of Singapore as part of the
National Day Honours 2007. The
Public Administration Medal,
Gold is given to individuals “for
their outstanding efficiency,
competence and industry”.
Prof Low has played major roles
in Singapore’s education over the
last two decades. He set up the
Magnetics Technology Centre, the Prof Michael Graetzel directs the Laboratory of Photonics and
predecessor of the Data Storage Interfaces at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and
Institute (DSI). In that capacity, he
is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Department of Materials
contributed significantly to the
Science & Engineering (MSE). Prof Graetzel discovered a new type of
development of Singapore’s data
storage industry by developing solar cells, also commonly referred to as Graetzel cells, based on dye-
a platform for technology sensitised mesoscopic oxide particles. Besides that, he pioneered the use
development and initiated of nanocrystalline materials in electroluminescent and electrochromic
extensive collaborations between displays as well as Lithium ion batteries and bioelectronic sensors.
DSI and industry. Prof Low was
Prof Graetzel authored over 500 publications and two books, and is
Dean of Engineering in NUS prior
an inventor with more than 50 patents to his name. With over 40,000
to his appointment to establish
Republic Polytechnic. citations, he ranks amongst the most highly-cited scientists worldwide.
According to a recent Institute for Scientific Information survey,
Prof Graetzel was named the most highly-cited author on solar cell
Assoc Prof Lai Man On research. In 2005, he was selected by the Scientific American as one of
the 50 top researchers in the world.
receives the SAC
Distinguished Award Prof Graetzel has received numerous prestigious awards, including the
European Millennium Innovation Award, the Faraday Medal of the
Assoc Prof Lai Man On of the British Royal Society of Chemistry, the Dutch Havinga Award, the Italgas
Department of Mechanical Prize and the Gerischer Award. He was also awarded the Harvey Prize in
Engineering received the 2007.
44

Distinguished Award from the

Singapore Accreditation Council As a Distinguished Visiting Professor, he collaborates with the MSE
(SAC) in 2007 for his dedicated faculty members to establish a globally competitive solar energy
service for the past 14 years. technologies centre focusing on new generations of cost-effective thin
AR 2007 OUR PEOPLE

His role as chairman of the film photovoltaic cells such as high efficiency solid state dye-sensitised
Technical Committee for solar cells. Building on Singapore’s strengths in the semiconductor
Mechanical Testing is to ensure industries, namely, manufacturing technologies and nanotechnology,
that international standards the Clean Energy programme has a high potential of establishing a new
are met by the local mechanical
high-tech industry sector in Singapore.
testing laboratories.
First Asian President Elect of the Public Administration
Medal, Silver
IMarEST
Prof Andrew Nee Yeh Ching of
Prof Choo Yoo Sang, Founding Director of the Centre for Offshore the Department of Mechanical
Research & Engineering (CORE) and Director of Offshore Engineering Engineering and
Programme, Department of Civil Engineering, has been named the current Director of the
new President Elect of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Office of Research,
Technology (IMarEST). was awarded The
Public Administration
IMarEST is an international Medal, Silver (Pingat
professional membership body Pentadbiran Awam,
and learned society for all marine Perak) by the President
professionals, with members in 101 of the Republic of
different countries. It promotes the Singapore as part
development of marine engineering, of the National Day
Honours 2007. Prof Andrew Nee
science and technology, provides
opportunities for the exchange of Prof Nee is a well-rounded
ideas and practices, and upholds individual who has made
the status and knowledge of significant contributions in all
marine professionals by organising three areas of teaching, research
conferences and seminars, and and service. He has provided
highly committed and dedicated
publishing books and specialist
service to the Department, Faculty
marine journals. Since being
and the University throughout the
founded in 1889, it counts Rt Hon past 30 years, working tirelessly
Lord Kelvin and HRH Prince Philip, for long hours to advance the
the Duke of Edinburgh, as illustrious interests of the University and
Prof Choo Yoo Sang (right) with IMarEST past presidents. Beginning his term inspiring others to do the same.
current President Dr Wyn Williams after
the 2007 Council Meeting held at IMarEST in March 2008, Prof Choo is the first
headquarters Asian and second individual outside
the UK to serve as president. Exemplary
Service Award

Education Prize in Control Theory

and Applications
Prof Hang Chang Chieh of
the Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering was
selected as a winner of the 2007
Assoc Prof Phoon Kok Kwang receiving the
Asian Control Association Wook award from Dr John E Anderson, President,
Hyun Kwon Education Prize, Geo-Institute of ASCE
which honours outstanding Assoc Prof Phoon Kok Kwang
contributions to education in of the Department of Civil
control theory and applications Engineering has been serving
in the Asia-Oceania region. Only as an editorial board member
two winners, Prof Hang and Prof of the American Society of
Shimemura (Advanced Institute Civil Engineers’ Journal of
of Science and Technology, Geotechnical and
Japan), were selected from the Geoenvironmental Engineering
outstanding pool of nominees. since 2004. For his exemplary
They each received a certificate service in this capacity, the Geo-
and US$1,000 cash award at the Institute of the American Society
Prof Hang Chang Chieh Society of Instrument and Control of Civil Engineers honoured him
Engineers banquet in Kagawa, with the Editorial Board Member
Japan on 19 September 2007. Exemplary Service Award for
2005-2006 on 21 February 2007.
 Two Prestigious Awards
FOR QUALITY MANAGEMENT &
APPLIED STATISTICS
Prof Goh Thong Ngee of the Department of Industrial & Systems
Engineering (ISE) was named the 2007 recipient of the William G Hunter
Award. The award, established in 1987 by the Statistics Division of
the American Society for Quality in honour of its founding chairman,
is presented annually to encourage the creative development and
application of statistical techniques to problem-solving in the field of
Prof Goh Thong Ngee (left) receiving quality. This is the first time the award is presented to a recipient from
the 2007 William G Hunter Award from
Prof Douglas C Montgomery, Chairman Asia.
of Hunter Award Committee. This award
was given by the Statistics Division of the Earlier, Prof Goh was the inaugural recipient of the
American Society for Quality at the Fall Walter E Masing Book Prize of the International
Technical Conference 2007 held from
11 to 12 October 2007 in Jacksonville, Academy for Quality in recognition of his
Florida, USA contribution in co-authoring the most noteworthy
book in quality management as adjudged by a
panel of peers. The prize-winning book titled
Six Sigma: Advanced Tools for Black Belts and
Master Black Belts (published by Wiley) was co-
authored by Assoc Prof Tang Loon Ching of ISE
Department; and Mr Yam Hong See and Mr Timothy
Yoap, both formerly with Seagate Technology.

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY, COLIN!

A special commemorative session
on confocal microscopy was held in
celebration of Prof Colin Sheppard’s
(Head of Division of Bioengineering)
60th birthday at the 3rd Asian
and Pacific Rim Symposium on
Biophotonics in Cairns, Australia on
11 July 2007. The speakers were Prof
Gert von Bally, University of Münster,
Prof Colin Sheppard (centre) celebrating his
Germany and Associate Secretary 60th birthday with (from extreme left) Prof
of the International Commission Kishan Dholakia, University of St Andrews,
Scotland; Dr Chen Nanguang, National
for Optics; Dr Martin Booth, Oxford University of Singapore; and Prof Gu Min,
University, UK; Prof Satoshi Kawata, Swinburne University, Australia
Osaka University, Japan; Dr Huang
Zhiwei, National University of Singapore; Prof Gan Xiaosong, Swinburne
University, Australia; and Prof Gu Min, Swinburne University, Australia
and Conference Chair.
At the session, Prof von Bally described Prof Sheppard’s role in the early
46

development of the confocal microscope. Prof Kawata presented 10 of his

favourite choices among Prof Sheppard’s papers. Dr Booth spoke about the
historical items (microscopes and displays) remaining at Oxford University’s
Engineering Science Department while Prof Sheppard was there from 1974
AR 2007 OUR PEOPLE

to 1989. Prof Gan remembered his time as Prof Sheppard’s first graduate
student at Sydney University, and Prof Gu spoke of his time as
Prof Sheppard’s research fellow at Sydney University.
YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD 2007 Chief Editor
Appointed
Dr Ng How Yong of the Division to New
of Environmental Science &
Engineering was the sole recipient IES Journal
of the Young Scientist Award (YSA) Series Prof Wang Chien Ming
2007 in the Physical, Information
and Engineering Sciences category. In June 2007, the Institution of
Engineers Singapore (IES)
The YSA is organised by the
appointed Prof Wang Chien Ming
Singapore National Academy of
of the Department of Civil
Science and supported by A*STAR.
Engineering the Chief Editor of
It recognises young researchers
The IES Journal Part A: Civil and
who are actively engaged in
Structural Engineering.
R&D in Singapore, and who have
shown great potential to be world- The publication is one in the new
Dr Ng (right) receiving the award from class researchers in their fields of journal series that showcases
Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and
Industry expertise. local and overseas research and
development in the various
Incorporating nanotechnology, Dr Ng has developed a new generation
engineering disciplines, and is set
of membranes for forward osmosis, which will enhance water
to attain global recognition with
productivity and reduce water reuse cost. The sought-after speaker
leading international academic
at international conferences has also developed an efficient microbial
publisher, Taylor & Francis Group
fuel cell system for producing electricity directly from wastewater – a
at its helm.
groundbreaking technology in an era of increasing energy cost and
global warming.
In recognition of his expertise, he has been invited to be an Associate
Editor of Water Research, a top-tier journal in the field. Recognition for
Contributions to
Student Exchanges
with Germany

ASMI Gold Award Spurred by his belief in

broadening his students’
education through international
exposure, Assoc Prof Liong
Prof Poo Aun Neow of the Shie-Yui of the Department of
Department of Mechanical Civil Engineering has been making
Engineering received the valuable contributions to student
ASMI Gold Award 2007. exchanges, particularly those
The award was presented between Germany and Singapore,
to him by the Association mutually benefiting students
of Singapore Marine from the countries involved. For
Industry (ASMI) for his this, Prof Liong was awarded
valuable contributions the Bundesverdienstkreuz (also
and outstanding service in known as Order of Merit of the
raising workplace safety Federal Republic of Germany) on
and health standards in 11 January 2007.
the marine industry. He is
a member of the National
Workplace Safety and
Health Advisory Committee.

Prof Poo Aun Neow (left) receiving

the ASMI Gold Award 2007 from
Mr Michael Chia, President of ASMI
on 19 October 2007 at the
Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore

Assoc Prof Liong Shie-Yui

 Wireless, RFID

C2C
Air Space

Telecoms
PCB FABRICATION

chip package module

PCBA Workskop

B2B Image Detection Hybrid EM Simulator

PCB Workskop

Futronic Research, Design, Development & Fabrication

Futronic Technologies is a design company registered in Singapore. It has a lot of experiences in RFIC and MMIC
design, collaborating with WINS, UMS, IBM, UMC and GCS foundries. It possesses DSRC, RFID, 60GHz WLAN,
76GHz communication Radar IPs and several air space application IPs. Currently, it is involved in WCDMA, RFID
and radar image projects.

In collaboration with IC/package/PCB/mechanic manufacturers such as Glorysky Electronics Co., Ltd for PCB
fabrication, Futronic can provide one-stop service from system integration, IC design, package and module.
Futronic Technologies is also honoured to be their overseas sole agent.

Futronic Technologies Glory Sky Electronics

521 Bt Batok St 23, #02-06, Singapore 659544 • Tel: +65 96184370 • Fax: +65 65612186 • email: [email protected] www.futronictech.com www.glorysky.com.cn
 1 2 3 4

5 6 7

1 Palani BALAYA
PhD (University of Hyderabad, India)
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering/
Engineering Science Programme Associate
Research area: Nano-ionics for Energy Systems
2 Michael BEER
Dr.-Ing. (Dresden University of Technology, Germany)
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Research areas: Structural Reliability, Uncertainty Modelling and
Robustness
3 BHATIA Charanjit Singh
PhD (University of Minnesota, USA)
Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Research areas: Magnetic Data Storage, Tribology, and Nanostructures
4 CHUI Chee Kong
PhD (University of Tokyo, Japan)
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Research areas: Medical Engineering and Robotics, and Simulation
Games
5 Jeffrey Lee FUNK
PhD (Carnegie Mellon University, USA)
Associate Professor, Division of Engineering & Technology Management
Research areas: Technology and Innovation Management, and
Entrepreneurship
6 HUI Hon Tat
PhD (City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR)
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Research areas: Antennas and Propagation, Wireless Communications
and Wireless Signal Processing
7 Hui-Chih HUNG
Welcome PhD (The Ohio State University, USA)
Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering

ABOARD Research area: Operations Research

 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23

24 25
50
AR 2007 OUR PEOPLE
 8 KIM Hoon 17 SUN Ying
PhD (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and PhD (Carnegie Mellon University, USA)
Technology, Korea) Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical &
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering Research areas: Medical Imaging and Computer Vision
Research area: Lightwave Communication Systems
18 SZETO Wai Yuen
9 Sangho KIM PhD (The Hong Kong University of Science and
PhD (Drexel University, USA) Technology, Hong Kong SAR)
Assistant Professor, Division of Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Research areas: Hemorheology, Microcirculation, Research areas: Dynamic Traffic Assignment and
Microfluidics, Cell Mechanics and BioMEMS Network Design/Reliability
10 Dim-Lee KWONG 19 Ping TAN
PhD (Rice University, USA) PhD (The Hong Kong University of Science and
Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Technology, Hong Kong SAR)
Engineering Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical &
Research areas: Nanoelectronics, Si Photonics and Computer Engineering
Bioelectronics Research areas: Computer Vision and Computer
Graphics
11 LEE Poh Seng
PhD (Purdue University, USA) 20 TEO Chiang Juay
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical PhD (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
Engineering Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical
Research areas: Microfluidics, Microscale Heat Transfer Engineering
and Thermal Management/Electronics Cooling Research areas: Fluid Mechanics, Propulsion and
MEMS
12 NG Tsan Sheng, Adam
PhD (National University of Singapore, Singapore) 21 XUE Jun Min
Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial & PhD (Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese
Systems Engineering Academy of Science, China)
Research areas: Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science
Operations Research Applications & Engineering
Research areas: Biomedical Materials and Nanoscaled
13 Daniel Shawn PICKARD
Materials
PhD (Stanford University, USA)
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical 22 YANG Hyunsoo
& Computer Engineering/Engineering Science PhD (Stanford University, USA)
Programme Associate Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical &
Research areas: Nanophotonics, Plasmonics and Computer Engineering
Advanced Imaging Technologies Research areas: Spintronic and Optoelectronic Devices
14 QIAN Xudong 23 YAN Shuicheng
PhD (National University of Singapore, Singapore) PhD (Peking University, China)
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical &
Research areas: Fracture and Fatigue of Steel Computer Engineering
Research areas: Computer Vision and Machine
15 QIU Anqi
Learning
PhD (Johns Hopkins University, USA)
Assistant Professor, Division of Bioengineering 24 Evelyn YIM
Research area: Computational Functional Anatomy PhD (Johns Hopkins University, USA)
Assistant Professor, Division of Bioengineering/
16 F Michael SAUNDERS
Department of Surgery
PhD (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA)
Research areas: Tissue-engineering, Nanotopography
Professor and Head, Division of Environmental Science
and Cell-biomaterial Interaction
& Engineering
Research areas: Bioprocess Systems; Environmental 25 ZHOU ZhiYing, Steven
Engineering PhD (National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical &
Computer Engineering
Research areas: Mixed Reality, Human Computer
Interaction, and Interactive Digital Media
LEADER OF MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES
FOR STATE-OF-THE-ART APPLICATIONS WORLDWIDE
Makino Asia, a global brand in the Precision Engineering industry since 1973, is a fully
integrated manufacturing company with its R&D, engineering production and business
administration under one roof. Over the years, Makino Asia has made progressive
improvement to its advanced engineering processes in the manufacturing chain.
Committed to produce innovative and competitive total solution to the fields of
electronics, medical, automotive as well as aerospace, Makino Asia continuously develop
CNC talents and products to meet worldwide demands.
 ALUMNI
Inspiring Success

Alumni are an important part of the Faculty of Engineering’s extended

family. Today the extended engineering family is not only the largest
in NUS, but it also counts cabinet ministers and chief executive officers
among its 33,000-strong community.
November 9, 2007 was a significant milestone for the engineering
alumni. The Faculty rallied and engaged alumni from different fields
and industries to revitalise the Engineering Alumni Singapore (EAS)
which had been dormant since 1993. Some 60 alumni - among them a
handful of “life” members - gave their hearty endorsement for the new
Executive Committee of EAS at the Annual General Meeting held at the
Raffles City Convention Centre.
In this segment of the annual report, we profile just a few of our alumni
who have transformed their engineering education into successful
careers that range from the engineering profession to the interestingly
unusual, and made a name for themselves in the process. These
engineers, businessmen, and even a violin maker bear witness to the
versatility of an engineering education at NUS. One of them, Mr Lai
Kim Seng, was presented the NUS Distinguished Alumni Service Award
2007 and four others, Mr Sevugan Alagappan, Mr Stefen Chow E-Fung,
Mr Peter Ho Yew Chi and Mr Tan Aik Hong, were presented the
NUS Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2007.
 Mr Teh Bong Lim

Award-winning
Engineer-Leader
TAKES COMPANY
FROM S$180,000
TO S$1BILLION
Mr Teh Bong Lim, a 1980 mechanical engineering honours graduate,
is the founder and Group Managing Director of MMI Holdings Limited,
a Singapore public-listed multi-industry contract manufacturing
company. What began in a rented factory space with just two machines,
10 staff and S$180,000 as initial investment in July 1989 now boasts
13 manufacturing plants manned by over 10,000 workers in Asia,
including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China, with sales of
US$511.3 million in 2006.
In April 2007, the company announced that Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
& Co., the US private equity giant best known for its 1998 takeover
of RJR Nabisco, would be paying just over S$1 billion for it. The deal
was completed in July 2007 with Mr Teh continuing as the CEO of the
company.
MMI Holdings directly owes its success to Mr Teh’s strong leadership
which earned him the Best CEO of the Year for companies with market
caps under S$500 million at the 2007 Singapore Corporate Awards.
The award is a testament to Mr Teh’s ability to radically transform a
business and grow shareholder value on a sustained basis while ensuring
good corporate governance.
Mr Teh and MMI Holdings have also won many other accolades
54

including the Enterprise Award at the Singapore Business Awards in

1999, the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Faculty of Engineering
AR 2007 ALUMNI

in 2000, the Grand Entrepreneur Award at the NUS Centennial

Entrepreneurship Awards in 2005, and being among 19 Singapore firms
on Forbes Asia’s 2006 list of top 200 listed companies in Asia Pacific with
sales below US$1 billion.
Six Sigma Programme for
GLOBAL BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY
Today’s hypercompetitive economic environment necessitates
operational excellence for business sustainability, and the Six Sigma
programme addresses this aspect of business. Dr Orlando O Atienza has
been leading Six Sigma implementations since acquiring his PhD from
the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, NUS, in 1999.
From mentoring 25 Six Sigma Black Belts across USA and Europe with
Textron, to being hired as Corporate/Enterprise Master Black Belt at
Ingersoll Rand (IR), Dr Atienza now chairs the latter’s Lean Six Sigma
(LSS) Council. Being a multi-brand commercial-products manufacturer
serving customers in diverse global markets, IR’s different business
sectors inevitably practised their own versions of the LSS programme. “Dr Atienza and his Council
aims to take their LSS
On being appointed LSS Council Chairman in early 2006, Dr Atienza
revitalised the Council; established a standard enterprise-wide LSS
programme to the next level
training and certification programme which has since trained more by developing systems that
than 600 Green and Black Belts; and initiated the Master Black Belt will help users better identify
certification programme aimed at developing candidates’ leadership and prioritise projects,
and business acumen in addition to technical skills. and to encourage high belt
Looking ahead, Dr Atienza and his Council aims to take their LSS utilisation.”
programme to the next level by developing systems that will help
users better identify and prioritise projects, and to encourage high belt
utilisation.
 Success
ROOTED IN NUS TIES
- Dr Jeffrey Wang

Jointly organised by the Faculty of Engineering and the Students’ Business

Incubation of Global Organisations (BINGO), the NUS Entrepreneurship
Dr Jeffrey Wang
Awards (NEA) promote entrepreneurship among NUS students and
rewards outstanding established and upcoming entrepreneurs among NUS
alumni. Amid impressive competition, Dr Jeffrey Wang, Managing Director
of Tritech International Holdings Pte Ltd., won the Best Entrepreneur
Award under the Faculty of Engineering category for his company’s
sustainable competitive advantages, the result of remarkable knowledge
management, management philosophy, innovations, capacity and market
presence. The award was presented at the 2nd instalment of the NUS
Entrepreneurship Awards on 3 September 2007.

The visionary grew Tritech from

“Dr Wang banks on one a start-up in 2001 to its current
true sustainable competitive comprehensive engineering group
advantage – having a with an audited turnover of over
dynamic enterprise culture S$30 million per annum as of March
of cohesiveness, alertness 2007. Its R&D develops cutting-edge
and agility so that the technologies that support Tritech’s
company can constantly gain expansion and diversification, giving
new distinctive advantages the company its revolutionary
whatever the external competitiveness. Still ever mindful
environmental factors.” of the fast changing competitive
environment, Dr Wang banks on
one true sustainable competitive
advantage – having a dynamic enterprise culture of cohesiveness,
alertness and agility so that the company can constantly gain new
distinctive advantages whatever the external environmental factors.
To this end, Dr Wang staffs his company with quality talents – many of
Tritech’s directors are PhD holders from NUS.

Dr Wang believes his success stems from his eight years of study and
research to acquire his second PhD in the geotechnical field under the
dedicated supervision of Assoc Prof Lee Fook Hou and Prof Tan Thiam
Soon both from the Department of Civil Engineering. The experience has
sharpened his knowledge, methodologies, ethics, vision, courage and
perseverance, thus empowering him to face difficulties, solve problems
and provide better customer service leading to business growth. It has also
acquainted him with NUS classmates who have, of late, become Tritech’s
keystones.

Moreover, whenever needed, NUS has always lent Tritech its full
56

technological and expert support. In appreciation Dr Wang conveys, “I am

AR 2007 ALUMNI

proud of NUS. I am proud of being an NUS alumnus.”

To would-be entrepreneurs, Dr Wang has this to share, “In whatever

circumstances, we should be confident about our future and persist in
what we strive for.”
Tenacity to Fight a rare musical career. Barely completely certain he wanted
AGAINST THE a year after graduating from to be a full-time luthier (French

ODDS the Department of Mechanical

Engineering in 2003, Mr Tong
for violin repairer). The unusual
career posed unchartered
founded AmberCraft Violins, risks, but Mr Tong saw it as an
a company that provides opportunity as it also meant
maintenance as well as sells lesser competition in Singapore
violins. and in the region.
In Year 2, when he became After studying a couple of
the NUS Symphony Orchestra’s masters - a bow repairer
president leading a team and and a violin repairer - from
managing orchestra matters, a culturally-vibrant New York City,
career in music struck a chord. Mr Tong boldly established
Realistic about the odds of AmberCraft Violins. Led by his
becoming a soloist, he aimed fierce commitment to delivering
upstream to be a master violin international standard quality,
maker. He constructed his first the business quickly gained the
violin during the weekends over trust of the stringed community
a period of four years. He also in Singapore for his products and
visited local violin shops while maintenance services.
on an exchange programme to
In all these, Mr Tong says his
McMaster University, Canada. The
engineering education has played
Mr Tong Ming Xi violin masters shared with him
a major role. It trained him to
their business start-up experiences
solve problems in a structured
and teething problems.
Little could Mr Tong Ming Xi manner, and helped him run
have known that his engineering By the time he returned to his business efficiently and
education would lead him to Singapore, Mr Tong was sustainably.

High Flyer In our extensively global

economy, exposure and
mechanical engineering class
of several hundred students,

PREFERS adaptability to different cultures

and environments are critical to
winning many prizes such as
the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew

PREMIUM LOCAL a sustainable career. This strongly

prompts most students to jump
Gold Medal, Institution of
Engineers Singapore Gold Medal,
EDUCATION at any opportunity to study
overseas, especially when offered
ExxonMobil Medal, Professional
Engineers Board Gold Medal,
a scholarship. and Institution of Mechanical
Engineers Frederic Barnes
Not for Mr Anthony Chor Xingyou
Waldron Prize for his academic
though, who chose to study
excellence, outstanding co-
locally despite being offered an
curricular activities and public
overseas Singapore Armed Forces
service records.
(SAF) scholarship. He did this for
good reasons – a degree from During his final year, he was
a premium institution like NUS selected for the gruelling task
was highly prized, and it enabled of leading the NUS FSAE race
him to remain close to his family car project team in the design,
and friends. Furthermore, fabrication and testing of the
overseas opportunities abound 2007 race car, as well as leading
at NUS with its various platforms the team at the annual inter
such as the NUS Overseas varsity FSAE competition in USA
Colleges programme, Student in May 2007.
Exchange Programme and
Currently, Mr Chor is working as
Overseas Industrial Attachment
a Military Engineering Officer
Programme, among many others.
with the SAF (Army).
Mr Chor has since graduated
as the top student in his
Mr Anthony Chor Xingyou
 Mr Sevugan Alagappan (left) receiving the NUS Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2007 from Mr Wong Ngit Liong, Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees

Trailblazing ENTERPRISE
In recognition of his professional FriarTuck produced the
achievements, which have workforce optimisation
inspired all graduates of NUS, software which contributed “It boasts National
Mr Sevugan Alagappan received to the successful landing of Aeronautics and Space
the NUS Outstanding Young the Rover on Mars. It boasts
Administration (NASA) as
Alumni Award 2007. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) as one of
one of its key customers.”
Mr Alagappan, a 2002
its key customers.
graduate from the Department
of Electrical & Computer Mr Alagappan’s enterprising
Engineering (ECE), is the CEO of spirit and dedication towards
FriarTuck, a spin-off company promoting entrepreneurship has
from its NUS-based origin. deeply inspired fellow alumni
It specialises in developing and students, and his passion
software solutions that allow and dedication is a source of
enterprises to deploy and pride for many within NUS and
manage their workforce the alumni community. It is
optimally. Unlike other poignant to note that this ECE
approaches that rely on time- alumnus is an exemplary role
consuming manual processes or model for young adults aspiring
simplistic, rules-based software, to be trailblazers in today’s
FriarTuck employs breakthrough increasingly knowledge-based
mathematical techniques that economy.
58

rapidly synthesise and process

complex workforce factors to
AR 2007 ALUMNI

automatically create optimised

schedules.
Passion for ALMA MATER
Mr Lai Kim Seng received the alumni body of NUS from 2001
NUS Distinguished Alumni to 2005 and participated actively
Service Award 2007 in in the Bukit Timah Campus
recognition of his outstanding Alumni Appeal Committee that
service and dedication to NUS led to the return of the Bukit
and the alumni community. Timah campus to NUS.
When Mr Lai graduated from the Mr Lai is presently a member of
Faculty of Engineering in 1971, the NUS Alumni Advisory Board, Mr Lai Kim Seng
he never really left his beloved and chairs the project committee
alma mater. He has a long- overseeing the soon-to-be- When NUS was commemorating
standing record of involvement completed Alumni Complex, its 100 years, Mr Lai sat on the
and service to NUS, with a a joint partnership between Centennial Celebrations Advisory
consistent and sustained level NUS and NUSS. As President of Committee and Centennial
of close interaction with the NUSS, he and his management Campaign Advisory Board, both
University in various ways and committee colleagues helped of which saw the University
capacities over the past decade. to strengthen ties and realise through a series of celebratory
synergies between NUSS and the events and a capital campaign.
He served as the President of
University through collaborative
National University of Singapore
initiatives aimed at benefiting
Society (NUSS), the largest
the entire alumni community.

Reciprocating WITH A WARM HEART

Mr Tan Aik Hong returns as a volunteer to promote harmonica music

Mr Tan Aik Hong, a 2006 graduate from the Department of Electrical

& Computer Engineering, is working in the banking industry. Also an
accomplished musician, he was presented the NUS Outstanding Young
Alumni Award 2007. The award is a tribute to his passion and dedication
to the promotion of harmonica music at NUS, and to his success in raising
the profile of Singapore via his achievements in international harmonica
competitions.
Mr Tan won 6th place in the Solo Harmonica category at the World Music
Festival Competition held in Trossingen, Germany in November 2005, and
was also the Champion in the Solo Chromatic category at the Singapore-
Malaysia harmonica competition held in Kuala Lumpur in June 2006.
Mr Tan credits and is grateful to NUS for supporting the development of
both his academic and musical skills. He also attributes his achievements
to the NUS Centre for the Arts for nurturing his interest in harmonica, and
for giving him several opportunities to explore and excel in his interest
and passion for the harmonica.
Today Mr Tan continues to return to NUS to promote harmonica
music and volunteers as a senior demonstrator for the NUS Harmonica
Orchestra.
Strength from Diversity
Our vision is to be the leading Contract Manufacturer in electro-mechanical systems in the
Asia Pacific region, providing world-class precision engineering and manufacturing
solutions through a full range of electro-mechanical manufacturing services.

Our value-added services include turnkey design, manufacturing integration solutions in

precision engineering components, subassemblies, and modules, to complete finished
products, capital equipment and systems.

29 Woodlands Industrial Park E1, #01-16, Northtech Building, Lobby 3, Singapore 757716
Tel : 6767 8276 • Fax : 6762 7768 • www.mmi.com.sg
OUTREACH
Attracting the Best
In just two years of existence, the Faculty of Engineering’s
Outreach Office has achieved much. All because we believe in
the constant evolution and improvement of the programmes and
activities we offer to keep them fresh and fascinating. We have
thus been successful at nurturing the interest of potential students
in engineering, and at impressing upon them that engineering
is the foundation for exciting, sustainable and rewarding
opportunities.
One of the AY2006-2007 highlights was an event called “Women
in Engineering” (WiE). This exclusive event was to champion
females into engineering.
Other outreach activities included the Ministry of Education-
NUS Amazing Lab Race, Engineering Quest, research mentorship
programmes and outreach talks. For the year 2007, the total
number of students who had participated in these events and
programmes (excluding talks and fairs) showed a significant 80%
increase as compared to 2006.
Ingenium, the Outreach newsletter, was published in 2007, and it
aims to intrigue readers about engineering by introducing basic
foundation in science and mathematics through exciting facts and
interactive activities.
 Science
Research
Programme
FOR JUNIOR
COLLEGE
STUDENTS
Mr Seah Yi Lin making an evaluation after testing the flexible armour material at the Impact Mechanics Laboratory

The NUS Science Research professors on possible projects, research has definitely given
Programme (SRP) was initiated Yi Lin decided to investigate me invaluable experience that
two decades ago for first-year whether the ballistic resistance I could never have obtained
Junior College (JC) students of flexible armours is affected from classroom lessons or from
to experience research in a by the way their high strength books.”
laboratory in NUS. Each year, fabric layers are stacked before
it admits 80 students into its being stitched together.
year-long programme. Under this
Yi Lin found the experience
scheme, faculty members act as
exceptionally fulfilling. Through
mentors to guide and nurture
his impressive commitment and
the students’ research interests.
perseverance, his supervisor,
62

Mr Seah Yi Lin, a highly Assoc Prof Vincent Tan of the

motivated Jurong Junior College Department of Mechanical
student, worked on a project Engineering felt that “at JC
involving the use of high level, there are students who are
AR 2007 OUTREACH

strength fabric in bullet proof capable of and passionate about

vests in the Impact Mechanics research.” Mr Seah Yi Lin (left) and Assoc Prof Vincent
Tan testing flexible armour materials at the
Laboratory (IML). Through Impact Mechanics Laboratory
On his experience in NUS, Yi Lin
brainstorming sessions with IML
says, “Being able to conduct
 Fields of Opportunities
Some 1,300 Secondary Four
students had the opportunity
to attend one of the three
talk-cum-dialogue sessions
by Prof Hang Chang Chieh,
who is Head of the Division
of Engineering & Technology
Management, and former
Executive Deputy Chairman
of A*STAR from 2001 to 2003.
The sessions were held
at Hwa Chong Institution on
20 July and 19 September, Raffles
Institution on 19 October and
Dunman High School on
A WiE participant trying her hand at the “3D Story Cube” game
29 October 2007.
Citing many chief executives in
the private and public sectors
who were trained as engineers,
Prof Hang illustrated how an
engineering education has
provided them with analytical,

in Engineering creative and systems thinking

skills. These skills have, in turn,
contributed to the development
of their successful careers either
...the event aimed to dispel the notion that engineering is as conventional engineers, senior
boring and only for men management in engineering
or large organisations, or
entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs
In an effort to promote and raise the awareness of engineering and
include those who have created
its profession among the female community, the Outreach Office put
new successful companies as well
together an exclusive “Women in Engineering” (WiE) event to champion
as those who have established
females into engineering.
themselves as enterprising
Targeting female Junior College Year 1 (JC1) students, the event leaders in existing organisations.
aimed to dispel the notion that engineering is boring and only for
Prof Hang also explained that
men. Through motivational talks by female faculty members and
the emerging knowledge-
outstanding alumnae, simple and fun games and demonstration of
based economy in Singapore
exciting technologies, the students brought back with them a changed
has created many new jobs for
perspective about engineering.
engineers in R&D, high-end
The inaugural event was attended by about 100 top female JC1 Science manufacturing and technology-
students from 15 junior colleges filling the venue almost to capacity. enabled service sectors,
Encouraged by this turnout, the Outreach Office plans to organise a including logistics and finance.
bigger and better annual event from 2008. Indeed, engineering has
become an enabling education
for knowledge creators and
managers. Such individuals
will continue to remain well in
demand for many years to come.
 25

The expanding
world of engineers
In response to a Think piece on Singapore’s success in the ranks of each engineering cohort.
Women are active in all areas of engi-
ed sectors while others venture into
the service sector. An engineering edu-
reducing its reliance on manufacturing to grow the economy, neering. Currently, some engineering cation, with its positive attributes,
the dean of engineering at NUS, Prof Seeram Ramakrishna, courses of study have female student could increasingly come to be seen as
enrolment of nearly 50 per cent. Their the “liberal arts education” of today
gives his views on the changing face of engineering. overall proportion in engineering con- and tomorrow.
tinues to increase, which is an encour- Throughout history, engineering has
IN TODAY’S world, systematic and manage large-scale projects/mega de- aging trend. This year, four female NUS been driven to meet the human need
critical thinking minds attract a pre- velopments, design early-warning students topped their classes in vari- for food, water, shelter, health, commu-
mium. In the Singapore context, this systems against natural catastro- ous disciplines in chemical, environ- nications, defence, energy and even the
is a direct result of an engineering phes, and complement banks, securi- mental, electrical and bioengineering. provision of entertainment and infor-
tertiary education which, through its ties fund managers and investment They won the Lee Kuan Yew and IES mation.
curriculum design and pedagogical firms in making decisions. (Institution of Engineering) gold
The great challenges of the future
approach, trains the mind to system- Thus, the traditional scope of engi- awards at the recent graduation cere-
monies. await engineering – global warming,
atically analyse complex sets of infor- neers has been broadened considera- the increasing need for clean water, en-
mation and to apply systems think- bly to encompass the service sector, An engineering education is so flexi-
ble and diversified that many engineers ergy, food and security. Their solution
ing in designing solutions. where engineers now contribute sig-
are also recruited by large corpora- will, in all likelihood, not be limited to
But, for many, it is not uncommon nificantly to its overall growth.
tions in banking, finance, logistics and just one country.
to still think of engineers as the peo- Globalisation continues to fuel
ple who build high-rise buildings, un- the need to process more informa- commerce. This need not be viewed as For Singapore, it is most heartening
derground tunnels and shopping tion at an even faster pace and to a problem but a tribute to the versatili- to see that engineers are contributing
malls. Since the early part of the last make decisions within shorter time- ty and attraction of an engineering to the growth of not just its service sec-
century, engineers have been in- frames. Hence, both the manufactur- training and education. tor but also to the resolution of these
volved in the making of cars, aero- ing and the service sectors have be- Globally, as the world economy di- new challenges. The island nation is
planes and other forms of transporta- come more and more knowledge- versifies, career choices will inevitably well poised to provide regional and
tion. and technology-intensive. also widen. As expected, a majority of world leadership in engineering.
More recently, engineers are Companies, organisations and engineering-trained graduates will take
thought of as the people who design even nations need a workforce that up jobs in manufacturing and associat- The opinions expressed are the writer’s own.
and manufacture electronic goods does not “fear” technology but em-
such as TVs, computers, cellphones, braces and thrives on it. This is Article courtesy of SPH - The Straits Times
and also medical devices and hospi- where an engineer’s training helps to
tal equipment. Engineers are also systematically analyse complex infor-
identified with the refining of petro- mation and apply a holistic (system-
chemicals and the bulk manufacture atic) approach in designing solu-
of generic drugs. All these sectors tions. This is also where and when
are generally grouped under manu- such professionals become highly
facturing. sought after and with which comes
However, with the advent of a the commanding of a premium.
services-oriented economy, engi- Some 40 years ago, Singapore pro-
neers are now also highly sought af- duced a handful of engineering grad-
ter to design and manage health-care uates. Today, on a national level, ter-
systems, run data and information tiary institutions educate and train
management systems, design and nearly 4,000 engineering graduates
run complex logistics and supply annually for the workforce. The field
chain systems, run transportation was once considered the bastion of
systems, manage efficient distribu- males but there are now notable
tion of water and energy supplies, numbers of female students among
The top earners are – engineers
Most highly-paid sole holder of a degree in
public administration.
corporate chiefs of The others have not stat-
listed firms have ed, either in their compa-
engineering degrees nies’ annual reports or web-
sites, what first degrees
By MICHELLE QUAH they hold.
The findings should as-
[SINGAPORE] Finance,
suage the fears of those
banking, law and account-
who worry that engineer-
ancy are often tipped to be
ing may be less lucrative
the university courses
than other professions.
which students hoping for
Such concerns arose
a lucrative career should
when the government pub-
take.
lished the benchmark to
Too often have we heard
which civil service pay will
parents and peers alike ex-
be pegged. The median sal-
tolling the fiscal benefits of
aries of the top eight earn-
earning one’s livelihood in
ers for six professions used
the financial and legal sec-
to compute the salary
tors.
benchmark indicated that
But now, a recent bit of the earnings of engineers
research by The Business was a far cry from those of
Times might suggest other- other professions.
wise.
Member of Parliament
Our examination of the Lee Bee Wah addressed
most highly paid chiefs of those concerns in parlia-
listed companies here ment, pointing out some en-
shows that it’s the engineer- gineers have gone on to do
ing and hard science de- very well as CEOs of top
grees that have stood these companies. Other than
professionals in good those in the top 55 list, she
stead. also said “that more than
A BT check of annual re- 40 per cent of our current
ports and corporate web- ministers and many more
sites found that senior exec- top civil servants are engi-
utives with engineering de- neers by training too”. And
grees form the bulk of top “this shows the flexibility of
earners from companies in someone with an engineer-
the Straits Times Index ing background”.
(STI). Prime Minister Lee Hs-
This list of the 55 ien Loong picked up on Ms
best-paid executives of STI Lee’s remarks, saying: “Lee
companies gained fame Bee Wah did us a favour ex-
when it was distributed by plaining that engineers
Prime Minister Lee Hsien have done very well and
Loong in Parliament in lots of bright students
April - to illustrate the earn- ought to go and study engi-
ing power of the private sec- neering.”
tor, during the debate over Of the engineers, the
the increase in ministerial most highly paid is Keppel
pay. Corp’s executive chairman
An updated version by Lim Chee Onn, who took
BT shows how much these home between $7.25 mil-
executives - mostly CEOs, lion and $7.5 million in the
executive chairmen and financial year just ended.
managing directors - earn. Mr Lim is a science degree
Their annual pay packets holder with a doctorate in
range from above engineering.
$250,000 to more than $9 The trio from Venture
million. Corp - all engineers - also
And engineers feature featured prominently.
prominently among the big Chairman and CEO Wong
earners. Seventeen of the Ngit Liong took home be-
55 executives - that is, 30 tween $4.25 million and
per cent, the most of any $4.5 million for the year
profession - graduated with ended Dec 31, 2006. He
engineering degrees. holds a first class honours
Science degree holders degree in electrical engi-
were the next best achiev- neering from the University
ers, with 12 of them mak- of Malaya.
ing the top 55 list. It is possi- He was followed by fel-
ble that some of these also low executive directors Soo
specialised in engineering - Eng Hiong and Tan Choon
with most engineering de- Huat, who were paid be-
grees being bachelor of sci- tween $1 million and $1.25
ence - but further informa- million in 2006. Mr Soo has
tion was not available. a degree in electronics
As a group, accounting, from the University of
business administration, Southampton in the UK,
economics and commerce and Mr Tan has a degree in
graduates made up 11 of electrical engineering from
the top 55. Others, like UOB the University of Liverpool Of the engineers, the most highly paid is Keppel Seventeen of the 55
chief Wee Cho Yaw and in the UK.
DBS Group Holdings chief SembCorp Marine Corp’s executive chairman Lim Chee Onn, who took top-earning execs –
operating officer Frank group president and CEO
Wong, have not said what Tan Kwi Kin and ST Engi- home between $7.25 million and $7.5 million in the that is, 30 per cent,
first degrees they hold but neering CEO Tan Pheng
are well-known bankers Hock - both engineering financial year just ended. the most of any
here. graduates - also received
Arts graduates took two impressive pay packages profession –
positions on the list. Dr Lim last year.
Cheok Peng, managing di- But it isn’t just engi-
ed from the University of
Singapore with a civil engi-
gapore Airlines CEO Chew
Choon Seng each took
gineering from the Universi-
ty of Singapore.
Class Honours degree in
Civil Engineering from Im-
graduated with
rector of Parkway Hold- neers working in an engi-
ings, is the sole doctor - he neering-related field who
neering degree and is a reg-
istered professional civil en-
home between $2.75 mil-
lion and $3 million in
Genting International’s
executive chairman Lim
perial College, London and
Singapore Press Holdings’
engineering
is a cardiologist. City Devel- are among the top earners.
opments executive chair- Many others have made
gineer. He was the
fifth-best paid executive on
FY06. Dr Fam has a first
class honours degree in en-
Kok Thay holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Civil
CEO Alan Chan holds a
Diplome d’Ingenieur from
degrees.
man Kwek Leng Beng is the good in other industries. the list, with a pay packet of gineering from the Universi- Engineering from the Uni- the Ecole Nationale de
sole law graduate. And To- Property giant Capita- $5.14 million in 2006. ty of Western Australia, versity of London, Keppel l’Aviation Civile in France,
tal Access Communication Land’s president and CEO Fraser & Neave chair- Perth. Mr Chew has first Land’s managing director which is equivalent to an en-
CEO Sigve Brekke is the Liew Mun Leong, graduat- man Michael Fam and Sin- class honours degree in en- Kevin Wong holds a First gineering degree.

Article courtesy of SPH - The Business Times

 Facts & Figures
Global Standing
World’s Top 15 in Technology
Times Higher Education Supplement-Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS)
• The Faculty is second among Asian
Rank Institution Country universities in Technology
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA • The ISI Essential Science Indicators
2 University of California, Berkeley USA rated the Faculty in the world:
8th for Papers and 12th for
3 Stanford University USA
Citations (November 2007)
4 California Institute of Technology USA
• Approximately 300 editorial
5 University of Cambridge UK positions in international journals

6 Imperial College London UK

7 Carnegie Mellon University USA

8 Georgia Institute of Technology USA

9 University of Tokyo Japan

10 National University of Singapore Singapore

11 University of Toronto Canada

12 University of Oxford UK

13 ETH Zurich Switzerland

14 Princeton University USA

15 Harvard University USA

Budget
BUDGET FY2006
R&D (including scholarships) S$ 72.5 million 45%

Tuition + other fees S$ 43.2 million 26%

Direct Govt Allocation S$ 47.7 million 29%

Total budget S$163.4 million

BUDGET FY2007
66

R&D (including scholarships)* S$104.2 million 53%

AR 2007 FACTS & FIGURES

Tuition + other fees S$ 46.0 million 23%

Direct Govt Allocation S$ 48.1 million 24%

Total budget S$198.3 million

* Period reported: 1 April to 30 November 2007
 Milestones
Faculty of
Engineering
was constituted
Professional under the
engineering University of
education Singapore
commenced in with three
University of departments Dept of Postgraduate Engineering
Malaya at Bukit - Civil, Electrical Chemical School of Division of Science
Timah Campus and Mechanical Engineering Engineering Bioengineering Programme

1956 1969 1979 1990 2002 2006

1968 1972 1980 1995 2005 2007

First batch Dept of National Bachelor of Dept of Division of
of Singapore Industrial University of Technology Materials Engineering
Polytechnic & Systems Singapore Programme Science & & Technology
graduates Engineering Engineering Management
received the BEng
Division of
degree from the
Environmental
University of
Science &
Singapore
Engineering

Students
AY2006 AY2007+

Semester Average*
Total Enrolment (FTE) 7,647 7,733
Undergraduate 5,741 5,781
Graduate Coursework 657 646
Graduate Research 1,249 1,306

Total Enrolment (EFTE) 5,953 5,956

Weighted Undergraduate 4,047 4,004
Graduate Coursework 657 646
Graduate Research 1,249 1,306 CLASS OF 2007
+ Figures for Semester 2 are projected BEng 1,384 66%
* Average of Semesters 1 and 2
Graduate Diploma 13 1%
FTE - Full-Time Equivalent
EFTE - Effective Full-Time Equivalent MSc and MTD 441 21%
Graduate students
EFTE = FTE
MEng 95 5%
Full-time = 1
Part-time = 0.5 PhD 145 7%
Faculty of Engineering undergraduate students
EFTE = ∑ module MC taken in the Faculty + 0.2 ∑ module MC taken outside the Faculty
∑ module MC taken in the year

Students from other NUS faculties

EFTE = 0.8 ∑ module MC taken in Faculty of Engineering
∑ module MC taken in the year
 Students Staff

STAFF PROFILE+
Full-time Faculty Members 304 26%
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT Adjunct Staff 79 7%
ENROLMENT*
Other Teaching Staff 56 5%
Mechanical Engineering 1,328 23% Research Staff 344 29%
Chemical Engineering 1,058 18% Administrative Staff* 64 5%

Civil Engineering 390 7% Non-Academic Staff* 337 28%

* Includes staff employed under grants
Electrical Engineering 1,549 27%
Environmental 177 3%
Engineering
Engineering 144 3%
Bioengineering 276 5%
Computer Engineering 366 6%
Industrial & Systems 278 5%
Engineering
Materials Science 134 2% FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS+
& Engineering
Professors 73 24%
Engineering Science 78 1%
Associate Professors 131 43%
Programme
Assistant Professors 97 32%
Senior Lecturers 3 1%
All full-time faculty members are PhD degree holders.

GRADUATE STUDENT ENROLMENT* NON-ACADEMIC AND

68

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF+
AR 2007 FACTS & FIGURES

PhD 1,195 45%

Non-Academic Staff* 337 84%
MSc 1,141 43%
Administrative Staff* 64 16%
MEng 306 12% * Includes staff employed under grants

* Figures as at 4 September 2007 + Figures as at 1 November 2007

Research

RESEARCH GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS BREAKDOWN OF RESEARCH GRANTS

AWARDED IN FY2007-2008 AWARDED IN FY2007-2008
(S$104,177,173) (S$85,051,979)
External Research S$67,669,742 65% Industry S$3,098,578 4%
Grants
Education Ministry S$17,382,238 20%
External Research S$1,180,911 1%
A*STAR S$6,182,947 7%
Scholarships
NRF S$26,034,216 31%
MOE Research S$17,944,282 17%
Scholarships Defence Agencies S$1,904,846 2%

MOE Research S$17,382,238 17% Other Government S$30,449,154 36%

Grants Agencies

Period reported: 1 April to 30 November 2007 Period reported: 1 April to 30 November 2007

TOTAL RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED TO ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES AT THE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
(excluding Research Scholarships) (As at 15 September 2007)
Figures are cumulative
Period reported for FY2007-2008:
1 April to 30 November 2007
200

2002 and before

175
S$85,051,980
FY2007-2008

100 2003

150
2004

2005
S$54,648,701
FY2006-2007

80
125 2006

2007
Amount S$ in millions

100
S$38,388,741
FY2004-2005

60
S$34,475,208
FY2005-2006

75
S$25,841,251
FY2003-2004

40

50

20
25

0 0
Spin-off Companies Commercialised Products/ Inventions Patented
Licensed Technologies
 Research
World’s Top 15 Institution Rankings in Engineering by Citations
Rank Institution Total Citations

1 MIT 34,670

2 Univ Illinois 34,223

3 Univ Calif Berkeley 34,157

4 Stanford Univ 28,995

5 Univ Michigan 24,030

6 Univ Texas 22,658

7 NASA 22,063

8 Georgia Inst Technol 21,115

9 Univ Calif Los Angeles 19,825

10 CALTECH 18,069

11 Purdue Univ 18,014

12 (20)* Natl Univ Singapore 17,775

13 Univ Tokyo 17,711

14 Univ London Imperial Coll 17,385

Sci Technol & Med

15 Russian Acad Sci 16,657

* Ranking based on last year’s results

NUMBER OF CITATIONS
(in 5-year intervals)
2003-2007
2002-2006

6000
2001-2005

5000
2000-2004

4000
1999-2003
Times cited

1998-2002
1997-2001

3000
70

2000
AR 2007 FACTS & FIGURES

1000

Citing Years
PROJECT DIRECTOR
Assoc Prof Ang Kok Keng

PROJECT MANAGER
Maureen Kwee

EDITORIAL &
PRODUCTION TEAM
Maureen Kwee
Deborah Chew
Devi Asokan
Espallela Wasion
Tris Huang
Molly Tan
 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
ANNUAL REPORT 2007

Engineering E
xc
el
l

en
ce
Gl
oba
l Susta
inability
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/2007
Company Registration No: 200604346E