Nus Ar 2006 PDF

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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
e n o Theme: One Choice, Infinite Opportunities

The educational experience at the NUS Faculty of
eciohc
Engineering is multi-faceted. From the moment students
choose to join the Faculty, they step into a world of
opportunities that will contribute to their personal growth in a
very special way. They glean from its globally-oriented and
e t i n i f n i
diverse programmes, and rich and vibrant student life, and
learn to thrive in a challenging and stimulating environment
that encourages innovation, excellence and enterprise.
seitinutroppo
They rise to their fullest potential and are given a head start
to pursue their dreams as engineer-leaders in the making.
When they graduate as an engineer from the Faculty, they
enter a world of even greater possibilities. A degree from the
Faculty is the launch pad for a great career. With our
mission to nurture engineer-leaders, every graduate is
well-equipped to embrace and negotiate the demands of an
increasingly knowledge- and innovation-driven society and
an industry that demands skills that go beyond mere
technical aptitude. Our engineers are groomed to rise and
succeed in the corporate world. Given our flexible
curriculum that nonetheless pivots on an engineering focus,
graduates can also embark on careers that go beyond the
traditional field of engineering and make their mark in
research, education, finance, information technology,
business and community service. Engineering at NUS is
just one choice among many, but it certainly is a promising
path that leads to an infinite set of opportunities.
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contents
overview
Dean’s Message 2
Dean’s Advisory Board 3
Faculty Board 4
opportunities for success 6
education
Creating Opportunities - 10
Undergraduate Education
New Programmes 12
Enriching Opportunities 14
Global Opportunities 22
Opportunities for Growth - 26
Graduate Education
Graduates with Our DNA 28
outreach
Cultivating Opportunities 32
research and enterprise

Opportunities in Research 34
Key Research Thrusts 36
Opportunities for Enterprise 42
Research Excellence 44
service
Opportunities to Serve 47
awards
Opportunities to Excel 50
new faculty members

Welcome Aboard 56
facts and figures 58
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Overview
DEAN’S ADVISORY BOARD
Adj Prof Boon Swan Foo

Managing Director, Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR);
Prof Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya Deputy Chairman, Science & Engineering Research
Head of Manufacturing Group, Council (SERC), A*STAR;
Warwick Manufacturing Group, Executive Chairman, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd,
University of Warwick, UK Singapore
Dean’sAdvisory Board
Prof Torbjørn Digernes
Prof Peter Brothers Rector, Norwegian University of
Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology, Trondheim,
University of Auckland, NZ Norway
Prof Don P Giddens

Dean, College of Engineering
Lawrence L Gellerstedt, Jr Chair in Bioengineering Prof Julia King
Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Vice-Chancellor,
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA Aston University, UK
Prof Venkatesh Narayanamurti

Prof Thomas L Magnanti John A and Elizabeth S Armstrong Professor of
Institute Professor Engineering and Applied Sciences
Dean, School of Engineering, Dean, Engineering and Applied Sciences,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Harvard University, USA
Mr Soo Kok Leng

Chairman of JTC Corporation;
Singapore Technologies Electronics Ltd;
Mr Inderjit Singh Mt Faber Leisure Group Pte Ltd;
Chief Executive Officer, Director of Cradance Services Pte Ltd;
Infiniti Solutions Pte Ltd; Wildlife Reserves Singapore Pte Ltd;
Executive Chairman, MediaCorp Pte Ltd;
Tri Star Electronics Pte Ltd; Tiger Airways Pte Ltd;
Member of Parliament, Singapore Sentosa Development Corporation
Prof Ian White

Er. Tan Seng Chuan van Eck Professor of Engineering
President, Chairman of the Council,
The Institution of Engineers, School of Technology,
Singapore University of Cambridge, UK
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Overview
FACULTY BOARD
Faculty Board
01 Prof Seeram RAMAKRISHNA 05 Prof KOH Chan Ghee
Dean Vice-Dean 02 05
(Research)
02 Prof CHOW Yean Khow 06 Prof CHOU Siaw Kiang 07

Vice-Dean Vice-Dean 06 04
(Academic Affairs & Graduate Studies) (External & Industry Relations)
08 01 03
03 Prof YEO Tat Soon 07 Assoc Prof ANG Kok Keng
Vice-Dean (Administration) Vice-Dean
Head, Division of Environmental Science & Engineering (Outreach)
04 Assoc Prof ASHRAF Kassim 08 Prof POO Aun Neow

Vice-Dean Director
(Undergraduate Programmes) Bachelor of Technology Programme
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2006
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09 Prof Raj RAJAGOPALAN 13 Prof LIM Seh Chun

10 14 Head Head
12 11 13 Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering
10 Prof CHAN Eng Soon 14 Prof CHOW Gan-Moog

Head Head
15 16
Department of Civil Engineering Department of Materials Science & Engineering
09
11 Prof YEO Swee Ping 15 Prof Colin SHEPPARD
Head Head
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Division of Bioengineering
12 Prof ANG Beng Wah 16 Prof J N REDDY

Head Head
Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering Engineering Science Programme

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Mr Kwa Chong Seng

Chairman and Managing Director
ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Mechanical Engineering Alumnus
“I believe that whatever you Ltd and Director of DBS Group Holdings He adds, “At ExxonMobil, more than 50% of
Ltd. He also serves on the Public Service our recruits are engineers, but many of
do and wherever you go, it’s
Commission and the Legal Service them move into other areas such as
important to enjoy your Commission. In fact, for his outstanding marketing, brand management and even
work. I started as a raw contributions and service to the country, he advertising. While we appreciate the
recruit many years ago, but I was awarded the Public Service Star in strengths that an engineering training
enjoyed what I did and kept 2005. The NUS also conferred him the carries, we treat this qualification as a base
Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in from which we develop our people. An
on learning and improving.
1994. engineering degree is the foundation on
Your engineering degree is which we build upon.”
really a stepping stone to Mr Kwa recollects, “When I was an
help you live life to your engineering student at the University of Especially for our engineering students, he
fullest and contribute to Singapore, there was no such thing as shares, “I believe that whatever you do and
personal computers or even electronic wherever you go, it’s important to enjoy your
society. There are infinite
calculators. We had to learn how to use and work. I started as a raw recruit many years
opportunities to grow!” 7
master slide rules and log tables - these ago, but I enjoyed what I did and kept on
When Mr Kwa Chong Seng graduated from were our tools for engineering and maths learning and improving. Your engineering
the University of Singapore in 1969 with a calculations. Today, with better technology, degree is really a stepping stone to help you
mechanical engineering degree, Singapore engineers have the resources to delve live life to your fullest and contribute to
was going through a phase of rapid much further and deeper into their various society. There are infinite opportunities to
industrialisation and engineers were in great disciplines. With advances in technology, grow!”
demand. Today, almost 40 years later, in an we are able to find more elegant and
environment that is driven by a simpler solutions to complex engineering
knowledge-based economy, engineers are problems. I also remember that life at
still highly sought-after. Mr Kwa firmly campus was quite mundane because there
believes that, “The world will always need were no women engineering students at all!
engineers; as they continue to develop and It’s so different from engineering education
harness technologies which touch our lives today, where many women engineers
every day, the role of engineers in our excel.”
society can only become more significant.”
While times have changed, some
Mr Kwa’s engineering degree paved the fundamentals remain the same. For one, an
way for a job at Esso Singapore, where he engineering education is always a firm
played an active part in its refinery foundation that one can always rely on for
operations. This first job marked the the rest of one’s life. Mr Kwa says,
beginning of an illustrious career which was “Engineering trains you to be analytical.
to span the next 37 years (nine of which With good analytical skills, you are able to
were spent abroad). Currently, ExxonMobil grasp a topic or situation better, and
is the single largest foreign investor in therefore, make better fact-based decisions.
Singapore. As the Lead Country Manager Engineers are also process-driven. Many
for ExxonMobil in Singapore, Mr Kwa heads large global companies today run on
an organisation which has about 2,000 processes. These systems
employees. He also oversees the ensure that a company
company’s Fuels Marketing in the Asia continues to operate and thrive
Pacific region, comprising Japan, Australia, even in unpredictable circum-
New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. stances. Engineers tend to
Outside ExxonMobil, he holds a series of organise their work around
key appointments. He is concurrently the processes and this is a distinct
Deputy Chairman of Temasek Holdings Pte advantage.”
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Opportunities
FOR SUCCESS
Mr Lim Soon Hock

Managing Director, PLAN-B ICAG Pte Ltd
Electrical Engineering Alumnus
“An engineer-leader is one Computer Asia Pacific. I was also a member Mr Lim also strongly believes that
of the company’s worldwide management engineering and leadership go hand in
who has the outlook of a
team, one of the few Singaporeans to have hand.
leader and the spirit of an attained that kind of elevated position at that
engineer.” time. Along the way, I honed in on various “There are many common traits between an
facets of general management from finance engineer and a leader. Both must be able to
As a science student from Raffles Institution to human resource management to think critically, analyse, understand a
in the 1960s, Mr Lim Soon Hock had good strategic planning, all of which were critical problem, define outcomes or goals, and
reasons to pursue engineering at the to effective corporate leadership. It was an then design practical solutions to problems,
University of Singapore. Besides having a easy transition, primarily because of the challenges or ideas. Just as an engineer is
profound interest in maths and science and training I received as an engineer. also an agent of change - be it a new
a strong desire to get a professional invention or a spectacular monument - so is
qualification, he saw that the engineering “Today I feel fulfilled with what I have done a leader, who is often required to make
course gave him “unrivalled versatility” and achieved, and the time has come for changes to a business strategy or an
which would lead to “infinite opportunities”. me to help others for the betterment of the organisation. An engineer-leader is one who
community. In addition to my corporate has the outlook of a leader and the spirit of
Mr Lim’s analysis could not have been more advisory practice, I sit on the boards of an engineer. He is someone who is able to
correct. Engineering has not only opened several public-listed companies, apply his training to a leadership role and
8 the doors for him to experience many government agencies and civic make it effective, and be an inspiration to
opportunities of success, but it has also organisations. I am applying my more than others, while demonstrating communication,
given him the chance to make an impact in 25 years of leadership experience as a inter-personal, decision-making and
society in various positions of leadership. board member, chief executive officer and leadership skills.”
technopreneur in diverse industries ranging
He shares his experience, “When I first from IT, telecommunications, air transport, He shares these words of wisdom for all
started work, I was a practising engineer. I education, defence and health industries to engineering students today, “Engineers are
then moved into sales and marketing the community, as Chairman of the National trained to innovate, invent and improve –
management in the hi-tech industry and Family Council, Chairman of the Centre for what I call the 3Is - for the betterment of
general management in Digital Equipment, Fathering and Chairman of the Committee society. I will encourage all students to use
culminating in the position of Vice President on Healthy Lifestyle, among others.” these 3Is to make a difference to how we
and Managing Director of Compaq live, work and play. Everything is possible if
He adds, “My training as an engineer we allow the fire of the engineering spirit
challenged my way of thinking and taught within each of us to remain lit, to guide us in
me not to succumb to intellectual laziness. I our multifarious pursuits and endeavours.
have learnt that with the right input, the
results are often predictable and unless we “No matter how difficult a challenge is, or
try, we will never know the outcome. This how daunting it seems, when you set your
has prepared me well to take on mind and heart to it, and stay focused,
assignments and challenges, which initially success is often within reach.
seemed daunting. When I was appointed
Head of Compaq Computer for Asia, I “Being successful is knowing that you have
thought I was set up for failure. Compaq conducted yourself professionally and with
was the under-dog and latecomer in Asia, integrity. It is the knowledge of having
way behind entrenched competition like created and seized the opportunities that
IBM, Apple and AST. The odds were have come your way. It is also about being
stacked against Compaq. In my seven grateful and recognising that we are
years with the company, I took Compaq sometimes lucky that things come together.
from under S$60 million to S$2 billion, and
to become the number one PC vendor in “Finally, it is all about being humble,
Asia Pacific in 1994, one year ahead of the realising that often, you would not have
corporate goal.” been successful without the involvement of
other people helping you reach your goal,
thereby making you the person you are
today.”

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Ms Aw Kah Peng
Director, Chemicals Cluster
Economic Development Board
Chemical Engineering Alumna
“Chemical Engineering was new knowledge. This is the best thing that I
gained in my training to become an
a tough and gruelling course,
engineer. With this ability, I am able to
but the experience really pursue anything that I set my mind to.”
disciplined and trained my
mind. It set an excellent She adds, “In fact, despite the difficulty of
foundation and prepared me the course, I have some fond memories.
Once my lab group (there were three of us)
well for my career.”
decided that we wanted a break from the
As a child, Ms Aw Kah Peng was always long lab sessions. So, we set up an
curious about how things worked and how experiment as instructed and sneaked out
things were created. Becoming an engineer for a movie. Unfortunately, we left a water
was a straightforward choice. She owes her tap on and our part of the lab got flooded!
decision to her father, who encouraged her Life as an engineering student at NUS can
to study engineering, despite the fact that it be exciting!”
9
was primarily a male-dominated field. Little
did she know that her choice to pursue a What about life in the corporate world? Ms
degree in Chemical Engineering locally at Aw believes one of the keys to succeed is to
NUS would lead to global opportunities in have passion and to care for those around
her career. Today, as Director of the you. She says, “You have to be interested in
Chemicals Cluster at the Singapore what you do and you must have fun doing it.
Economic Development Board (EDB), she I often tell my team that if they are not
is responsible for promoting and developing enjoying themselves at work, there is a
investments in Singapore’s growing oil and problem. We have either put them in the
chemicals industry. Ms Aw was previously wrong job or in the wrong organisation. It is
based in London as EDB’s Regional also important to be interested in those who
Director for Europe where she oversaw its work with you. As a team, you can achieve
operations in five countries. She has also a lot more and often, you need to be with
served as Regional Director for Central US, others to have fun.”
based in Chicago, where she was in charge
of 15 states. She is a Fellow of the Sloan And to encourage our female engineers,
School of Management and holds an MBA she shares, “There will always be gender
from the Massachusetts Institute of differences in the workplace, but they
Technology. will get in the way only if we let them.
Just be professional. Combine the
She recalls, “Chemical Engineering was a right attitude with passion for the
tough and gruelling course, but the job and care for others, and you will
experience really disciplined and trained my do well.”
mind. It set an excellent foundation and
prepared me well for my career. In my job, I
work with a wide range of people in the oil
and chemicals industry - this includes
everyone from the CEO of the company to
the finance manager, and to the technology
manager. Having an understanding of unit
operations or organic chemistry is useful as
it helps me to talk the language of the
industry. But what I value most is my
capacity to constantly learn and integrate
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Education
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
In response to the needs of

industry and in line with our
mission to nurture
Creating Opportunities engineer-leaders with a global

outlook, we constantly review our
Undergraduate
curriculum to keep ahead of global
industrial, economic, and social
trends. Our programmes ensure
that students develop a holistic
systems perspective and gain
Education
hands-on, real-world experience
through an integrated
design-centric curriculum. In order
to attract outstanding students, the
Faculty will also continue to
develop cutting-edge programmes
The quality of educational such as the multi-disciplinary
programmes and enriching Engineering Science Programme,
educational experience at as well as relevant double degree
10 and double major programmes.
the NUS Faculty of Such programmes will allow
Engineering is instrumental students to develop
in establishing us as a complementary areas of
globally-distinguished proficiency and have an edge in
engineering school. The the job market. The new double
major offerings planned for
Faculty equips and nurtures Academic Year 2007-2008 would
engineers who are able to allow students to finish two majors
lead and manage teams, in four years of full-time study.
apply knowledge creatively Most importantly, our students will
and practically, contribute be offered unparalleled
globally-oriented educational
effectively and significantly opportunities that not only enrich
to society, and play leading them personally, but also prepare
roles in industry. We strive them well for professional and
to ensure that our other challenges in life.
programmes are well-
recognised and sought-after
by students for the enriching
educational experience, and
by industry for the quality of
our graduates.

pg11-OK.ai 26/1/07 23:39:39
Joint Degree Programme with

University of Melbourne
The NUS-University of Melbourne Civil “The NUS Civil Engineering Joint Degree
Engineering Joint Degree Programme was Programme with the University of
introduced in February 2006. Three NUS Melbourne is a wonderful opportunity for
students from the first cohort share their me to experience what it's like to study in
thoughts of an overseas education: one of the best universities in Australia. I
look forward to experiencing a new culture
“I have always wanted to study overseas and meeting different kinds of people. I
but an overseas education seemed believe that a certification by two top
impractical, with the associated high costs universities will also put me in good stead
involved. Besides, I know that NUS offers when I enter the highly-competitive working
courses of world-class standards. When environment. But more importantly, I know I
the opportunity of the Joint Degree will gain tremendously as a person from
Programme came along, it promised an the experience of living and studying 11
education both locally and overseas. The abroad.”
Programme offered such an excellent Mr Ferry Khie
opportunity to not only study in two
world-class universities, but also interact
with people of a different culture. With the
degree, and the experience and knowledge
gained from NUS and University of
Melbourne, I believe I will be in good stead
to gain employment in the civil engineering
field.”
Mr Pui Kangrui
“My country Vietnam is developing very

rapidly and civil engineers will play a very
important role in the construction and
renovation of old infrastructure and
transportation. The Joint Degree
Programme can help me become a good
engineer, since it provides me with
knowledge and technologies from both the
NUS Faculty of Engineering – ranked 8th in
the world - and University of Melbourne,
which has one of the top Civil Engineering
departments in Australia. With such strong
qualifications, I hope to really be able to
contribute to the development of my From left to right (top row)
country.” Mr Pui Kangrui, Mr Tran Vu Quoc, Mr Nguyen Tan Thai Hung
Mr Nguyen Tan Thai Hung Bottom right

Mr Ferry Khie
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Education
NEW PROGRAMMES
In Graduate Education, the Department of

Civil Engineering launched the Master of
Science in Geotechnical Engineering. This
programme provides the comprehensive
in-depth specialist training necessary for
engineers to take on high-level geotechnical
engineering consultancy jobs using
advanced and up-to-date techniques.
New Programmes
The Faculty’s Master of Science in IP
Management is another comprehensive
inter-disciplinary postgraduate programme in
Intellectual Property Management which
bridges law, engineering and management.
This programme, the first of its kind in Asia,
will enable mid- to senior management
The NUS Faculty of In the past year, several new programmes professionals with a background in science,
Engineering offers students a were launched. These include the Double technology or engineering to specialise in
Honours Degree in Engineering and
12 diverse curriculum that lays Economics, and the Double Honours
the management of IP in technology-related
businesses.
a strong foundation for them Degree Programme in Engineering and
to succeed in their careers. In Business Administration. Students from Finally, the Master of Science (Systems
the new and global economy, these programmes will graduate Design & Management) Programme serves
besides possessing technical fully-equipped to be engineers and graduates who aspire to accelerate their
economists, or engineers and business
knowledge, these managers. The Engineering Science
careers by consolidating and validating their
project management experience through key
engineer-leaders will need to Programme (ESP) is another cutting-edge engineering systems concepts and
muster knowledge from programme that allows students to develop methodology.
various disciplines to help complementary areas of proficiencies in
them thrive in the global Engineering and Science. It matriculated its

inaugural batch of 46 students in August
marketplace. 2006. This programme will produce
graduates for markets that require
inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary
backgrounds to develop and design novel
engineering systems, including starting
technology-based new ventures, and
contribute to the world’s technological
growth and sustenance. The ESP is
headed by world-renowned scientist and
academic, Prof J N Reddy.
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education in chemical sciences and
The Council engineering to benefit society by advancing
for Chemical
research in chemistry, chemical
engineering, and related disciplines through
leadership collaboration across disciplines,
Research
institutions, and sector boundaries. CCR's
membership represents most of the US
chemical research enterprises, currently
comprising more than 200 companies,
universities, and government laboratories
The Council for Chemical Research (CCR)
with a combined research and development
is an organisation based in Washington,
budget of more than US$7 billion. The
DC, whose membership represents
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular
industry, academia, and government. CCR,
Engineering is the only non-US academic
formed in 1979, promotes co-operation in
institution with membership in CCR.
basic research and encourages high-quality
SMA Chemical and

The Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)
launched its new Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Engineering Programme
Pharmaceutical
(CPE) in July 2006. The programme is part
of SMA-2’s plans to train 260 Masters and
180 PhD degree holders in its five
Engineering Programme
programmes over 10 years. The CPE
degree programme offers a modern 13
curriculum in the fields of molecular
engineering and process science focused
“The SMA programme in on the pharmaceutical industry. It offers a
CPE provides graduate unique opportunity to obtain either dual
students the opportunity to Masters degrees, one from NUS and the
other from MIT; Master-PhD degree, the
pursue careers in first from MIT and the second from NUS or
pharmaceutical and fine NTU; or a direct PhD degree from NUS or
chemical technologies.” NTU. The MIT degree is awarded by the
Chemical Engineering Practice Programme
of the Chemical Engineering Department at
MIT.
The SMA programme in CPE provides

graduate students the opportunity to pursue
careers in pharmaceutical and fine chemical
technologies. Students will work with some
of the most technologically-advanced
companies in the world through specific
industry projects. Through a combination of
cutting-edge research and advanced
coursework in molecular engineering
sciences, graduates will be prepared to
accept high-level professional or research
Top right image, from left
positions in thriving industries, start-up
Ms Mok Li Xian, Grace
Ms Yee Caiyun companies, academic institutions, and
Ms Ng Win Win
Mr Ch’ng Kean Leong research centres.
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pg14-OK.ai 26/1/07 23:47:03
Education
ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES
The multi-faceted education at the

NUS Faculty of Engineering offers
enriching opportunities that
students will cherish for life. These
experiences broaden
perspectives, develop character
Enriching and give students the skills to

succeed wherever they go.
Opportunities
Through mentor-relationships with
teachers, real-world projects, and
leadership opportunities that make
a difference, the educational
experience at the Faculty marks
the beginning of our students’
journey to realise their highest
potential.
14
An Inspiring
Mentor experience. Through team-based project
“I want to impart life-long work and assignments, I endeavour to
skills such as reinforce their theoretical understanding of

the subject by getting them to ‘do it’ on real
multi-dimensional thinking, or virtual processes and get a better
independent study, and understanding of the concepts. As far as
computer-based possible, I like to avoid pen-and-paper rote
problem-solving strategies learning. The project work enables students
to my students.” to appreciate the dynamics of group work,

plan experiments, and deal with
Dr Lakshminarayanan Samavedham of the uncertainties, for example. The emphasis is
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular not only on technical details but also on soft
Engineering is a winner of the NUS skills which are necessary for success in
Outstanding Educator Award 2006. the workplace. I seek to provide strong
synergy between classroom learning and
He is known for his excellent teaching professional practice.”
techniques that inculcate an attitude of
life-long learning in his students. He shares: Dr Samavedham’s innovative and inspiring
teaching materials have been used at the
“I want to impart life-long skills such as University of Wisconsin, University of
multi-dimensional thinking, independent Alberta and the Indian Institute of
study, and computer-based problem-solving Technology, Bombay. His aspiration in
strategies to my students. Such skills will teaching and research is to create an
always be relevant irrespective of the environment that gets young minds to
career paths they may choose. My methods question, analyse, debate, decide and act.
include utilising tools and technology in
order to give students a ‘hands-on’

pg15-OK 27/1/07 15:05:08
“APL was very impressed

New Industry-Sponsored by the design ideas and
Design Programme knowledge of the ME

students. Some of these
ideas are very good and it is
worthwhile to explore them
further.”
Mr Christopher Lee
Director (Equipment Management), APL
The Department of Mechanical Engineering

(ME) launched a new Design Programme in
Academic Year 2005-2006. In this
programme, 90 third-year undergraduates 15
participated in design projects initiated by
an industry partner, APL (a subsidiary of
Neptune Orient Lines) to fulfil actual needs
faced in their operations. The projects were
funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore. This initiative enabled students
to tackle real-life design problems and gain
first-hand experience in dealing with design
and engineering constraints. A number of
solutions proposed by students will be
Top image considered by APL for further development
ME3 students interacting with or commercialisation. Mr Christopher Lee,
APL management on proposed
design solutions APL’s Director of Equipment Management,
shared, “APL was very impressed by the
Bottom image
ME3 students demonstrating a design ideas and knowledge of the ME
prototype of their tamper-proof students. Some of these ideas are very
container security mechanism
good and it is worthwhile to explore them
further.”
As a result of the success of this pioneering

initiative, more companies from the offshore
oil and gas industry, such as Keppel
Offshore and Marine, Schlumberger and
Salamander Energy, have joined the Design
Programme. These opportunities enable
ME students to formulate solutions to
real-life problems, thereby enriching their
learning experience.

pg16-OK.ai 26/1/07 23:51:42
Education
Left image, from left

16
Bachelor of
Prof Poo Aun Neow, Director of BTech Programme,
“I did some research on the course with Mr Toh Kah Poh
structure, duration and mode of learning of Bottom right image, from left
the many degree programmes available, Mr Ng Wei Kia and Mr Koh Niak Wu, a PhD student, discussing
Technology
including both overseas and local the finer points of a mobile robot
universities, and decided on the BTech

Programme at the NUS Faculty of
Programme
Engineering. The modular system allows us “Good course, well-executed,
to study at our own pace and the lecturers serving a real need, in
were always on hand to render help
short… excellent.”
whenever we needed it. After I graduated in
The Bachelor of Technology (BTech) 2004, I was promoted to the position of an
programme is a self-financed initiative of engineer with a higher salary.”
the NUS Faculty of Engineering to meet the “They (the students) felt the
aspirations and needs of polytechnic Mr Ng Wei Kia, 2004 BTech
(Electronics Engineering) graduate with
course had been very
graduates working in local industry to
1st Class honours worthwhile and were now
upgrade themselves to better meet the
challenges of a knowledge-based economy.
looking forward to moving to
It provides an affordable opportunity for
“I believe that having an education in a better paid jobs.”
reputable university like the NUS Faculty of
them, and those with equivalent academic
Engineering will heighten my career
preparations, to attain a high-quality
opportunities. My efforts paid off when,
engineering degree without having to leave
upon completion of my BTech degree, I was “…the graduates deserve
their families and their jobs.
promoted to an engineer in the Public greater respect for having
More than 2,000 have enrolled in the BTech
Utilities Board and awarded a scholarship to achieved the same academic
pursue a Masters degree in Environmental
programme since its inception in 1995 and level (as an engineering
Science and Engineering under the
over 1,000 have since graduated with their
Singapore-Stanford Partnership undergraduate), whilst
BTech degrees. The programme opens up
Programme.” holding down a full-time
exciting career paths and greater prospects
for all its graduates. In exit surveys
job.”
Mr Toh Kah Poh, 2005 BTech
conducted for BTech graduates, all the (Mechanical Engineering) graduate with
respondents indicated that the programme 1st Class honours Prof John Midwinter
has helped them significantly in their work. Former Vice-Provost at Imperial College
100% of the graduates were promoted to External Examiner
take on higher-level jobs.

pg17-OK 27/1/07 15:08:26
Journey
to Success
“The Department of “I am now working as a
production engineer with
Chemical & Biomolecular
GlaxoSmithKline Pte Ltd, the
Engineering helped create a pharmaceutical giant. At the NUS
time table specifically for Faculty of Engineering, I was given the
polytechnic graduates.” chance to take a pharmaceutical-related
module as an elective in my final year. This
“As a polytechnic graduate who entered module gave me a good overview and Mr Rusli (left) with
mentor, Dr Tong Yen Wah
the NUS Faculty of Engineering, I felt really understanding of the pharmaceutical
well taken care of. The Department of industry. In addition, the training and
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering knowledge I gained have given me the
helped create a time table specifically for skills and capacity to perform my work
polytechnic graduates and I enjoyed efficiently and effectively.”
modular exemptions which helped
tremendously. The Department also Mr Rusli
Alumnus
arranged a get-together session with
Department of Chemical
mentors in my first year. My mentor, Dr & Biomolecular Engineering
Tong Yen Wah, provided me with guidance 17
and support whenever I needed it. His
mentorship was instrumental in helping me
to accomplish the course.
“I experienced the joy of

Reaching Out
“The Asian tsunami in December 2004
inspired me to be part of Operation Orion,
helping the less-fortunate,
to the Less-
an annual overseas community service
and learnt to appreciate the project organised by the Civil Engineering
comfortable living (CE) Club at the NUS Faculty of
conditions I had in
Fortunate
Engineering. Operation Orion 2005
Singapore.” embarked on an expedition to Sri Lanka to
give aid to tsunami victims. During the trip,
I experienced the joy of helping the
less-fortunate, and learnt to appreciate the
comfortable living conditions I had in
Singapore. This trip motivated me to take
on the role of team-leader for Operation
Orion 2006. I had to really learn on-the-job
and through the unwavering support of the
Faculty and the Department of Civil
Engineering, I was able to achieve my
personal goals, and at the same time
experience a fulfilling and educational
journey. I want to specially thank Dr Chew
Soon Hoe, Staff Advisor of the CE Club, for
his guidance and encouragement, which
really helped Operation Orion to be a
success since its inception.”
Ms Liu Qiu Lin

Department of Civil Engineering

pg18-OK 27/1/07 15:11:25
Education
Engineering
Student-Leaders
Leadership is a buzz word at the NUS “I believe that education
Faculty of Engineering. With the mission to
should not be just about
nurture engineer-leaders, our students are
encouraged to develop skills and qualities
academics. It should be
that go beyond knowledge gained in the enhanced with co-curricular
classroom. At NUS, one will find activities that enable us to
18 engineering students holding leadership learn other skills. Getting the
positions in sports and other co-curricular
best at NUS is not just about
activities. Our students participate actively
and passionately in campus life. In fact, out
gaining knowledge in a field
of the six Halls of Residence at NUS, three of study, but also gaining
are led by engineering students. One of experience in other aspects
them shares his experience: like leadership,
management, social skills,
and of course, enjoying
sports, culture and
adventure. As the Junior
Common Room Committee
President of Temasek Hall, I
was exposed to the various
workings of the NUS student
system. Working with the
NUS administration was also
a good exposure for me. I
learnt a lot about people
management, planning
ahead and getting organised.
I now know what it is like to
lead and organise a team and
to take responsibility for
decisions made. These skills
will come in useful when I
graduate!”
Mr Ewen Teo
President of Temasek Hall
Academic Year 2005-2006

pg19-OK.ai 26/1/07 23:55:43
Student-Leader Today
Engineer-Leader
Tomorrow
Mr Chua Chun Kiat, from students benefiting from the changes my
team and I have made.
the Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering, What I really learnt most is the importance
was the President of the 28th of being able to adapt quickly to changing
Management Committee of situations. Some events did not turn out as 19
the NUS Students’ expected despite how well they were
planned. Now I know that the most
Engineering Club. He shares
important thing is to keep calm, analyse the
how his experience in this situation and ensure that no one is
Top image
Mr Chua Chun Kiat (left) and ex-NUS Student Union
position of leadership has adversely affected by this turn of events. I
President (a Civil Engineering alumnus), Mr Jeremy Ee
enriched his education and also learnt time management skills, having
prepared him to become an to juggle my studies and my responsibilities become a manager leading engineering
as President of the Club. teams. My dream is to be involved in a major
engineer-leader in the future.
world-renowned project one day.
Q: How do you think your experience has
Q: How has your role as President of the prepared you to face the workforce when Q: Do you believe that engineering is truly
NUS Students’ Engineering Club enhanced you graduate? one choice that leads to infinite opportunities?
your educational experience at NUS? As the President of the Engineering Club, I Certainly! Many engineers are sought-after by
As the President of the student population often had to give presentations on behalf of other industries such as banking and finance.
at the NUS Faculty of Engineering, I had the Club to a large group of students in a I believe that the NUS Faculty of Engineering
the chance to interact with senior university lecture theatre. I used to be very afraid of prepares us well for leadership positions in
and faculty administrators. Through these public speaking, but through this many fields. Our analytical skills and ability to
meetings, I saw how they made decisions experience, I overcame my fear. meet very tight deadlines are some of the
and understood the complexities involved in Furthermore, managing a team to meet highly sought-after skills required in today's
implementing various policies. Overall, I objectives, and learning the process of industries.
gained leadership skills that will last me a handling and solving problems are life skills
lifetime. that will certainly help me in the corporate
world.
Q: Why did you take up this position and
what did you learn most? Q: Why do you like engineering and what
When I first stepped into the Faculty and do you hope to do when you graduate?
took part in Orientation Week, I was very Engineers improve the quality of life for
impressed by the Club's effort and people. They constantly examine and
commitment to promote the welfare of explore how they can make life better for
students in the Faculty. This mission others. I did an internship at MICRON
inspired me so much that I stood for Semiconductor Asia and thoroughly enjoyed
elections and was selected to be in the it. I gained invaluable knowledge about the
Management Committee. Now, I experience engineering industry. When I graduate, I
a great sense of fulfilment whenever I see hope to start as an engineer and eventually

pg20-OK 27/1/07 14:43:10
Education
A Roaring
Success
Roaring to a stunning finish at the May 2006
Formula Society of Automotive Engineers
(FSAE) 140-team international competition,
our locally-designed, built and track-tested
NUS FSAE Race Car, named Centennial II,
emerged:
9th in Engineering Design

27th in Overall Performance
Only one out of more than 10 Asian cars
to enter the semi-finals
Only participating team from South-East
20 Asia
Ever since its inception in 2001, the NUS FSAE Race Car project
has been producing not only student-designed-and-built race cars
for participation in the annual FSAE competition in the US, but also
students who are competent in engineering design and hands-on
engineering. This annual competition is the toughest and
largest-scale international intervarsity competition of its kind.
Without the funds to engage foreign talent to teach them race car
technology, our students have to do a lot of self-study. What they
lack in local resources and facilities, they make up for with their
passion and perseverance.
Four generations of team members have graduated after building

and competing with their respective race cars. Now a new team has
designed and built a fifth car which will participate in the May 2007
FSAE competition.

pg21-OK 27/1/07 15:15:38
“Our students are endowed with a strong

foundation in the fundamentals of engineering,
which in turn equips them with the skills to
turn those principles into reality. Their ability
and achievements have now been recognised
internationally at this annual event.”
Prof Lim Seh Chun
Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Our Secret Weapon
21

pg22-OK 27/1/07 15:20:09
Education
Education
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES
Teacher Awards
The NUS Faculty of Engineering

believes in nurturing students who
are engineer-leaders with a global
outlook. To achieve this goal, it has
implemented programmes that will
increase the global exposure of all
its graduates. Through Student
Global Exchange Programmes, Summer

Programmes, Overseas Industrial
Opportunities
Attachment Programmes, NUS
Overseas Colleges, and special
attachment/exchange programmes
with renowned institutions and
corporations, students are given
the chance to broaden their
horizon and gain a global
perspective to education.
Currently, about 30% of the
students in the Faculty participate
22 in overseas programmes.

pg23-OK 27/1/07 15:25:09

pg24-OK.ai 27/1/07 0:02:28
Education
Education
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES
Teacher Awards
“I was also privileged to have the
A German opportunity to do an Overseas Industrial
Affair
Attachment (OIA). I did my OIA in Infineon
Munich, and it was truly a worthwhile
learning experience. I tasted what it was
like to work and live as a design engineer
for six months. It was truly an eye-opener
“I did my Student Exchange Programme
for me!
(SEP) in the Technical University of Munich
(TUM) in my third year in the Department of
“I have benefited tremendously from both
Electrical & Computer Engineering. It was
the SEP and OIA Programmes. They have
an enriching experience which helped me
truly enriched my experience as a student
to understand more about tertiary
at the NUS Faculty of Engineering.”
education in a top university in Europe. The
courses I took in TUM broadened my mind Mr Xu Xiao
and consolidated my fundamental electrical Department of Electrical &
Computer Engineering
engineering concepts. I also had the
opportunity to interact with students from all
over the world and learn from them. TUM
has many excellent professors who have a
wealth of experience in the industry. I really
gained from their practical knowledge.
“SEP is not just all about studies - in fact,

studies should not be the first priority. I took
the chance to immerse in a new culture
and interact with the locals. As a result, I
24 made many friends, not only from
Germany, but also from many other
countries.
A Dream Come True

in Japan
“My dream has always been to work in a atmosphere of the team allowed me to
foreign land and experience a different engage in debates on problems at hand
culture and lifestyle. This dream came true with team leaders and fellow teammates
when, through the NUS Faculty of who were highly-experienced engineers. I
Engineering, I secured a Software Engineer gained a lot of insight into the industry and
position at Nokia Japan in Tokyo, Japan for even got a sponsored ticket to attend the
my Vacation Internship Programme (July – Wireless Japan 2006 Exhibition at the
October 2006) and joined the Student Tokyo Big Site Convention Centre as part
Exchange Programme in Tohoku University of the internship.
Mr Lee Yongzhong
(extreme right) with in Sendai, Japan after that.
friends “This internship has shown me the kind of
“For my internship, I was placed in the work I want to do in future. It has
Audio/Video team of the Multimedia strengthened my resolve to become a
Computers Business Unit of Nokia Japan. competent engineer in this field. Being
The main task of the team was to improve located in my dream tour destination,
the performance and functionalities of the Japan, was merely the icing on the cake to
multimedia software capabilities in Nokia make the experience all the more
handsets. Despite my lack of experience, I enjoyable. This internship is truly one of the
was put to work from the very start of the best opportunities that I have ever had in
programme. My on-the-job training came in my life!”
the form of assignments which contributed
Mr Lee Yongzhong
to the overall progress of the team’s current Department of Electrical &
project. The open and non-hierarchical Computer Engineering
K DALIM MOD: SL 314

pg25-OK 27/1/07 15:40:47
Chance
“My education at the NUS Faculty of
Engineering provided me with the
of a Lifetime
problem-solving and analytical skills to sieve
out the good opportunities from the bad
ones and to analyse situations in a
systematic manner. My background in Civil
Engineering has also given me a good
Civil engineering student Mr Yeo Zhi Aik’s technical foundation to analyse investment
experience at the NUS Overseas College deals in the energy, property, logistics, and
(NOC) in Shanghai changed his life and infrastructure sectors. When I met up with
opened up opportunities for him to enter the the Chinese representatives of the
world of finance. As a fund manager with companies belonging to these sectors, I had
Inventis Investment Holdings, a a good grasp of their concerns. The
Shanghai-based investment firm where he technical knowledge I gained at the Faculty
did his internship, he was involved in became my 'everyday' tools which I used in
managing a private equity fund of US$800 business.
million. He had the chance to travel,
negotiate and network with Chinese “Furthermore, the NOC programme is
business leaders from different industries all structured in such a way that we get real-life
over China. This experience has given him working experience while taking courses to
a deeper understanding of the China market learn about entrepreneurship. The courses I
and its business environment. took at Fudan University in Shanghai have
given me a better appreciation and greater
insight into businesses in China. I also
found the interactions I had with my Chinese
25
Nurturing peers very enriching.”
Global Entrepreneurs
The Technopreneurship Incubation
Programme prepares our students to be
global entrepreneurs. Through biannual
overseas business trips, engineering
students get the opportunity to meet top
business leaders and entrepreneurs, and
learn the local business culture from them. A
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on
incubation exchange was signed between
the NUS Faculty of Engineering’s
Technopreneurship Incubation Centre and
the National Science Park of South China
University of Technology (SCUT) – the first
of its kind for the Faculty. With this MOU,
entrepreneurial students from both
universities can incubate their respective Group photograph of all participants at SCUT
start-ups in each other’s facilities, thus
reducing the cost of growing their
businesses overseas.

pg26-OK 27/1/07 11:58:43
Education
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
Opportunities for Growth

Graduate
The NUS Faculty of
Education
changes and yet specialised evident in the six-fold increase in
Engineering recognises that enough to support key niche PhD students from 186 a decade
areas. ago to about 1,130 in this
26 life-long learning is academic year. The University’s
instrumental in meeting the In the past year, the Faculty took reputation as a research hub also
challenges of a another leap forward in accounts for a significant number
knowledge-based global establishing joint doctoral degree of international students in our
marketplace. With NUS programmes with the Indian graduate population. International
Institute of Technology, Bombay students from the US, France,
ranked as one of the best (IITB) and Australian National China, India, New Zealand and the
universities in the world, University (ANU). In August 2006, ASEAN countries form almost half
students pursue their the Faculty also introduced two of the graduate enrolment at the
graduate studies alongside multi-disciplinary programmes, Faculty. In addition, the Faculty
the best. They learn from namely the Master of Science in offers several scholarship
Intellectual Property Management opportunities for students. These
some of the finest and Master of Science in Systems include the Lee Kong Chian
academics, with infinite Design & Management. A Graduate Scholarships, NUS
opportunities for personal specialised Master of Science in Research Scholarships and
growth and fulfilment. Geotechnical Engineering was A*STAR Research Scholarships.
also introduced.
The Faculty offers a wide range of Today, many of our graduates hold
choices benefiting students in a Our graduate programmes and leadership positions in key
rich and multi-faceted way. There students are highly sought-after by industries. This illustrates our
are numerous graduate industry in Singapore, the region ability to help students realise their
programmes ranging from and beyond. For Academic Year full potential by preparing them
traditional programmes to 2006-2007, there are more than well to embrace the global
multi-disciplinary programmes; to 2,500 graduate engineering economy of the future.
research- or coursework-based students of which almost 60% are
programmes. Alternatively, pursuing their research degrees.
students may also embark on joint Students enjoy an active and
programmes with top universities vibrant research community
overseas to broaden their actively engaged at the forefront of
educational experience, gain ideas. The doctoral programme is
exposure to a foreign culture, as the prime focus of our research
well as to network with their best degree programmes. Doctoral
students. At the Faculty, graduate students account for 77% of the
training education is broad enough total research students. The
to equip students for career blazing pursuit in research is
K DALIM MOD: SL 314

pg27-OK 27/1/07 12:06:52
“My participation in the

Joint PhD Programme with Joint PhD Programme
École Supérieure between the NUS Faculty of

Engineering and Supélec
was extremely rewarding.
d’Électricité (Supélec) The opportunity of working

in one of France’s top
Grandes Ecoles, together
The Joint PhD Programme between the “Such work has been largely confined to a with the exposure to the rich
NUS Faculty of Engineering’s Department straight vertical lightning channel and I
French culture, was simply
of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) attempted to study the significance of
and École Supérieure d’Électricité employing a tortuous channel instead.
invaluable.”
(Supélec), one of the prestigious Grandes
Ecoles of France, was launched in August “My collaboration with ONERA greatly
2004. This joint programme brings together facilitated the progress of my work. I had 27
two excellent study programmes that aim to access to a proprietary software and data
attract high-calibre students to engage in on an actual rocket launch pad which
research in the following five key areas of formed part of my study. Coupled with the
Control, Infocomm, Microwaves and RF, guidance and assistance of my
Microelectronics and Power Systems. co-supervisor and other staff members at
Students will also be prepared to take on Supélec, this stint benefited my research
leadership positions in research and tremendously.
development.
“Apart from work, this programme also
Currently, there are four ECE students in served as my gateway to Europe. I
the programme. interacted with people from all over Europe
within the close-knit campus environment
Mr Darwin Chia, one of the students, and also had the opportunity to visit a
reveals how he found the programme: number of countries. I am truly privileged to
have taken part in this programme!”
“My participation in the Joint PhD
Programme between the NUS Faculty of Mr Darwin Chia
Department of Electrical &
Engineering and Supélec was extremely
Computer Engineering
rewarding. The opportunity of working in
one of France’s top Grandes Ecoles,
together with the exposure to the rich
French culture, was simply invaluable.
“I was attached to the lab SONDRA

[Supélec, Office National d'Études et de
Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA), NUS,
Defence Science & Technology Agency
(DSTA) Research Alliance] and worked on
part of my PhD research project, which
involves the modelling of electromagnetic
fields from a tortuous lightning stroke path.
K DALIM MOD: SL 314

pg28-OK 27/1/07 14:48:42
Education
GRADUATES WITH OUR DNA
“The Faculty really instils a global outlook

among the students. In my first and fourth
year, I attended the International Students
Conference at the University of St Gallen in
Switzerland. This is an annual conference
that brings together students from around
the world with leaders from business,
industry and politics for a series of
Graduates with
workshops on themes centering on
leadership in a dynamic world. It was an
Our DNA
excellent opportunity to interact with
like-minded students from across the globe
and people who were passionate about
making a difference in society.
“During my third year at University, I did an
Opening Doors internship at Barclays Capital in Singapore.

I enjoyed the stint very much and this
to Different Paths
inspired me to seriously consider working in
28 the financial services industry. I was
confident that the numerical aptitude that I
picked up as an engineering student would
“One of the main reasons Mr Vinit Nagarajan, an NUS scholar, put me in good stead in the world of
graduated from the Department of Electrical
which influenced me to finance.
& Computer Engineering in 2005. He
choose engineering as my recently completed a Masters degree in “The paradigm of education at the NUS
field of study was its Finance at Cambridge University, where he Faculty of Engineering is truly that of giving
versatile nature. I realised was a recipient of the prestigious Gates students infinite opportunities. My
that the knowledge and Cambridge Scholarship. He shares how his experience at the Faculty opened the doors
experience as an undergraduate at the
skills that I would gain from for me to walk a different path. I firmly
NUS Faculty of Engineering led him to a believe that it’s entirely up to students to
studying engineering would different path: make use of this freedom and the
be easily transferable across opportunities available through NUS’ global
industries.” “One of the main reasons which influenced reach and strong reputation, to derive a
me to choose engineering as my field of meaningful and satisfying experience during
study was its versatile nature. I realised that their time at the University.”
the knowledge and skills that I would gain
from studying engineering would be easily
transferable across industries. I also
enjoyed problem-solving, which is
fundamental in any engineering course.
Coupled with the strong reputation of the
Faculty, engineering was an obvious
choice.
Mr Vinit Nagarajan (seated left) at the International Students Conference

at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland

pg29-OK 27/1/07 12:20:29
Engineered
to Perfection
"I am glad for the Mr Peter Ho was team-leader and part of
the pioneering team of the NUS Formula
opportunities in Engineering
Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE)
both as a course of study and from 2001-2003 at the Department of
a career." Mechanical Engineering. After graduating in
2003, he realised his dream to pursue
Mr Peter Ho
Alumnus professional motorsports by securing a job
Department of Mechanical Engineering at the British Touring Car Championship
with Team Petronas. After a year's stint in
the UK with the team, he returned to Asia
as Chief Engineer to their Asian Touring Car
Championship campaign. In 2006, Mr Ho
Top image set up HOPE Technik in Singapore together
Mr Peter Ho (extreme left) with peers in Team Petronas with Mr Michael Leong, team-leader of the
NUS FSAE from 2003-2004. The company
Bottom image
President S R Nathan viewing the first student-designed-and-built specialises in high-performance
NUS FSAE race car at the NUS Open House, March 2003 engineering ranging from medical tools to 29
pest management equipment, in addition to
prototype engines for the Singapore
military.
Cut from a
Different Cloth
“My experience at the NUS Faculty of “...the NUS FSAE race car project and its
Engineering launched my career at the
associated automotive/mechanical-related
Defence Science & Technology Agency
(DSTA). At DSTA, I am currently deployed
issues helped me to appreciate and
in the Land Platforms Division and deal with anticipate the practical problems faced in
the army's vehicles' evaluation, acquisition, the projects that I deal with now.”
development and modification issues on a
day-to-day basis. My experience with the experienced a rigorous multi-disciplinary
NUS FSAE race car project and its curriculum and beyond-the-classroom
associated automotive/mechanical-related learning opportunities. As a result, I have
issues helped me to appreciate and truly gained a broad-based university
anticipate the practical problems faced in education which has enabled me to develop
the projects that I deal with now. to the fullest.”
Mr Ng Kiang Loong
“The Faculty also fully supported and
Alumnus
encouraged my participation in the Department of
University Scholars Programme (USP), Mechanical Engineering
which is an undergraduate programme at
NUS designed to develop the intellectual,
leadership and personal potential of
promising students. Through the USP, I

pg30-OK 27/1/07 13:47:19
Education
GRADUATES WITH OUR DNA
Home-Grown
Talent
“Pursuing my sporting dreams
would not have been possible
without the support of my
professors and friends.”
Mr Lin Qinghui, from the first cohort of
The Best graduates from the Division of
of All Worlds
Bioengineering, shares how his experience
at the NUS Faculty of Engineering has
enriched him and enabled him to achieve
excellence both academically and in the
field of sports. Mr Lin is one of the key
Ms Mabelle Lin is one of the first graduates
fencers in Singapore’s Fencing Team. He
from the Bioengineering programme. She is
displayed his prowess and grit by winning
currently working as a Biotech Patent
two gold medals (for individual and team
Analyst with Shusaku Yamamoto in Osaka.
events) at the South-East Asian Fencing
She shares how her choice to pursue
Championship in May 2006, despite having
bioengineering at the NUS Faculty of
just recovered from a knee surgery in
Engineering has opened up infinite
February.
30 opportunities for her:
“I truly had an all-rounded education at

“Being trained as a bioengineer means that
NUS. Pursuing my sporting dreams would
I have the ability to integrate the essence of
not have been possible without the support
both biology and engineering. Throughout
the entire course, I was exposed to different “Being trained as a of my professors and friends. Their support
and belief in what I was doing made a
aspects of biotechnology such as tissue bioengineer means that I tremendous difference and enabled me to
engineering, biocomputation, and have the ability to integrate balance sports and schoolwork.
biomechanics. I believe possessing such a
the essence of both biology
wide breadth of knowledge has given me an
advantage - I am different from other
and engineering.” “Being part of the first batch of
bioengineering graduates has opened up
engineers who are trained in a single field.
great opportunities for me. I was nominated
Bioengineering has also opened up many
for a fellowship at the California Institute of
diverse job opportunities for me - I have the
Technology and participated in the
option of taking up bioengineering-related
CALTECH-NUS Summer Undergraduate
jobs - for example in research and
Research Fellowship Programme. This
development or in a medical-related field. I
overseas exposure enriched me very much.
can also take up jobs that are indirectly
Besides going overseas for research, I also
related to bioengineering such as teaching
had the chance to meet foreign dignitaries
and in the legal field, which is what I have
who visited NUS, as I was a student
chosen. My biotechnical knowledge enables
representative. All these experiences have
me to contribute effectively in all these
given me a broad perspective to life and
fields.”
education. In fact, shortly after I graduated,
I succeeded in getting a job as a policy
analyst at the Ministry of Finance. I believe
that my well-rounded education and
achievements as an athlete, student and
researcher helped me to clinch this job.”

pg31-OK 27/1/07 13:50:24
Mr Amlan Saha graduated from the “My wish came true when last summer, as
Department of Electrical Engineering in part of my internship at a Geneva-based
1998. He is currently a Master of Arts in consulting firm, I was an observer at a
Law and Diplomacy student at the number of sessions at the United Nations
renowned Fletcher School of Law and Secretariat. And then this summer, I was
Diplomacy in Massachusetts, USA. His attached to one of the largest security firms
focus of study is in public policy and in the world, working on projects for
international security and he is scheduled to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the new international
graduate in 2007. Prior to this, he obtained airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Such
his MBA from the HEC Grande Ecole in exposure has certainly helped me fulfil my
France. dream of making a difference in the world.
Amlan is an example of an engineering “I am very glad that I chose engineering as
Making a
student who pursues his passions and lives my first degree. Engineering provided me
his dreams. Before going to graduate with a strong foundation and training in
Difference
school, he did volunteer work in Romania, analytical and problem-solving skills. This
Egypt and Nepal, and backpacked over 30 will always be valuable in life. In fact, to
countries. solve the most vexing issues in today’s
in the World
world, one requires not just a soft heart, but
He shares, “Although my work and travels a hard mind as well. I believe that my
in these countries were extremely gratifying training as an engineer has given me the
and allowed me to experience first-hand ability to create and implement solutions
“Engineering provided me very different and diverse cultures, I that will make an impact in today’s world.
with a strong foundation and realised that if I wanted to get involved in Truly, my first choice has led to infinite
training in analytical and real problem-solving, I needed to be at the opportunities!”

policy-making level. This desire sent me
problem-solving skills. This packing to graduate school - I wanted to 31
will always be valuable in gain a deeper understanding of some of the
life.” issues affecting the world!
Making
“The Faculty gives a lot of support to
graduate students. For example, its
financial support allows every graduate
Dreams student to attend at least one international

conference. I still remember the first time I
a Reality
presented my work internationally in Tokyo
in 2001. It was a great chance for me to
view and experience how other international
researchers were doing and presenting
“I chose to pursue my PhD at the NUS their research. I also had the opportunity to
Faculty of Engineering because of its meet a world-class professor whose work
prestigious reputation and high ranking as has substantially inspired and influenced
one of the top universities in the world. my PhD research.
More importantly, NUS has strong Dr Steven Zhou with
Dr Alan Kay, father of modern
connections with other top universities, and “The Faculty also provides tremendous software development, at
Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA.
a very strong faculty team. entrepreneurship opportunity. We have so Dr Zhou is now sponsored by
many spin-off companies that the ECE Department to work
at the University of Southern
“I was also interested to work on the commercialise the research results from the California School of Cinema
and Television as a visiting
exciting research project on mixed reality labs. Instead of just dreaming, you can scholar.
with Assoc Prof Adrian David Cheok. This make your projects into a reality. In fact, I
was really the best decision because the am realising my dreams step-by-step. One
projects that I was working on have led to of them was to join the Faculty and that has
many publications, patents, and several come to pass!”
spin-off companies. The research area,
Interactive & Digital Media, has now
Dr Steven Zhou
become one of the key research areas in Department of Electrical & Computer
Singapore. Engineering

pg32-OK 27/1/07 12:26:35
Outreach
CULTIVATING OPPORTUNITIES
At the Quest held in November 2006,

engineering came alive for 105 students.
Over the course of two days, they learnt
about electrostatic and electromagnetic
effects, aerodynamics, supply chain
management, molecule properties and
bridge design. More than 60% of the
Cultivating participants said the Quest had increased

their interest in the field and a majority of
Opportunities
them would consider pursuing a course in
engineering.
The annual Faculty Open House is another

key event organised by the Outreach
Office. This two-day event gives potential
students a glimpse into the exciting world
Since its inauguration in of engineering at NUS through contests,
2005, the NUS Faculty of games, talks and exhibitions by the various
departments.
32 Engineering’s Outreach
Office has been actively A new event was introduced this year. The
promoting engineering MOE-NUS Amazing Lab Race, jointly
education to pre-university organised with the Ministry of Education,
students both on the local saw 54 students race around the Faculty,
attempting to finish all lab challenges in the
and international front.
shortest time possible. Working in teams of
five, the Lab Race offered the students a
In the past year, the Outreach Office has fun and educational opportunity to learn
initiated several programmes to nurture more about engineering.
pre-university students’ interest in
engineering. These programmes aim to The Outreach Office also runs several
give students an insight into the diverse research attachment programmes, such as
disciplines of engineering and the the Junior Talent Development Programme.
numerous opportunities available in a In this programme, students have the
career in engineering. opportunity to apply basic principles and
theories to engineering problems under the
Its flagship event, “Engineering Quest”, is a guidance of faculty members.
day camp where, through seminars,
demonstrations and hands-on experiments, Above all this, it regularly conducts talks
students learn how engineering principles and career fairs at secondary schools,
can be innovatively applied to solve real junior colleges and polytechnics, which
world problems. introduce younger students to engineering
and what the NUS Faculty of Engineering
offers.
On a national level, the Outreach Office is

working closely with various government
agencies, educational and professional
institutions to promote engineering
nationwide. Besides these local outreach
efforts, it also actively participates in
overseas fairs to help spread the Faculty’s
wings abroad.

pg33-OK 27/1/07 15:43:30
NUS-Yishun Junior College

Research Projects Win Awards in
Elementz Research Conference
& Exhibition 2006
The efforts of the NUS Faculty of
Engineering’s Outreach Office in raising
awareness for the Faculty proved
successful at the North Zone 7th Elementz
Research Conference & Exhibition 2006
held on 5 April 2006.
Gold Award:
This annual event organised by North Zone Deployable and Foldable Space
schools and junior colleges aims to promote Frame Structure
a passion for science in students. This year,
there was a total of 22 submissions, Mentor: 33
including that of three junior colleges. Assoc Prof Richard Liew Jat Yuen,
Yishun Junior College (YJC) submitted Department of Civil Engineering
three NUS-YJC collaborated research
project groups under the Faculty’s Junior
Talent Development Programme scheme.
Through the dedicated mentorship of our
professors, all participating groups walked
home with top awards.
Bronze Award:
Earthquake Effect
Mentor:
Assoc Prof Lee Fook Hou,
Bronze Award:
Very Large Floating Structure
Mentor:
Prof Wang Chien Ming,
Engineering Science Programme

pg34-OK 27/1/07 16:57:35
Research and Enterprise

OPPORTUNITIES IN RESEARCH
output in top-tier journal papers,

international presentations,
editorial memberships, awards and
patents; global research
collaborations with leading
institutions like Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT); as
well as intellectual property
Opportunities creation and commercialisation.
in Research
The Faculty has also done well in
terms of journal papers published
and citations received
internationally. Based on the
widely-used ISI Essential Science
Indicators (January 2007), the
One of the key missions of Faculty is ranked 10th in the
the NUS Faculty of number of papers and 20th in
34 Engineering is to provide citations in the world.
technological leadership
Another key emphasis is to further
through high-impact enhance our strong relationships
research. We are one of the with government agencies and
largest and most industry for the purposes of
highly-regarded research research collaboration, technology
transfer and securing competitive
intensive engineering
funds. We will continue to actively
schools in the world. Our promote industry participation in
goal is to achieve global our multi-disciplinary research
excellence and national activities, engage in consultancy
impact in both fundamental services to industry, and establish
new partnerships so that we can
and applied research.
reach a place of global excellence,
relevance and recognition.
In line with national priorities and
key global political, social,
The Faculty received a total
economic and environmental
research funding of approximately
trends, the Faculty has focused on
S$52,803,699 in Fiscal Year 2006
several strategic research thrusts,
(as at 30 November 2006), out of
including Environmental and
which S$34,679,077 was from
Water Technologies,
research grants and research
Nanotechnology, Interactive and
budget, and S$18,124,622 from
Digital Media, Biomedical
research scholarships. As the
Materials and Systems, Logistics,
government plans to double public
and Offshore Engineering.
research funding in the next five
years, unprecedented opportunities
In our drive to be at the frontier of
for inter-disciplinary and
research innovation and be
multi-disciplinary research will
highly-regarded by peers
propel our research achievements
internationally, we will continue to
to even greater heights.
strive for excellence in research
through publishing high-impact
papers, encouraging research

pg35-OK 27/1/07 12:36:52
"Today GE Water & Process

GE-NUS Partnership Technologies joins forces
for Global Water with one of the most

reputable universities in the
world - the National
Research Centre University of Singapore."

Mr Jeff Garwood
President & CEO
The NUS Faculty of Engineering will host NUS and Singapore, while leveraging on GE Water & Process Technologies
GE’s first world-scale Water & Process the University’s comprehensive research
Technologies Global R&D Centre in infrastructure in engineering, science and
Singapore. On 21 September 2006, Prof medicine. The new Centre will promote the
Shih Choon Fong, NUS President, and Mr growth of an environment and water
Jeff Garwood, President and CEO of GE technology ecosystem spanning the entire
Water & Process Technologies, signed a value chain.
Memorandum of Understanding to establish
the R&D Centre. The occasion was Both NUS and GE have a long history of
witnessed by Mr Teo Ming Kian, the then proven research capabilities and technology
Chairman of the Economic Development development. NUS’ research strengths in
35
Board. membranes, biological processes,
nanomaterials, catalysis and sensors
Targeted for start-up in 2007, the Centre will related to water security will complement
conduct research aimed at alleviating GE’s technical expertise and industry
pressing water issues related to the quality, experience in water and process
availability and affordability of safe and technologies. The partnership with GE is
usable water supplies. Specific areas of part of its commitment to realising
research include water treatment and Singapore’s aspiration of becoming a
systems integration, fundamental chemical “Global Hydrohub”.
and membrane applications and
ion-exchange technology. Comprising five Centres of Excellence, the
R&D Centre is expected to employ 100
This strategic partnership adds a new top-tier researchers who will build up a full
dimension to integrating basic and applied range of research and development
research with commercial application for capabilities and transform innovative
concepts into products and solutions that
will address real world demands.

pg36r1_OK 25/1/07 14:31:29
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 OK HAC/N MY 2 SL While every effort has been taken to carry out instruction to customers satisfaction
K DALIM MOD: SL 314

pg37-OK 27/1/07 12:42:36
Environmental and
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim,
Minister for the
Water Technologies
Environment and
Water Resources,
shared his views on
how engineers have
contributed to the
The scale and complexity of environmental national economy. Amid rising opportunities
development of
problems have grown substantially in the in China, India and other nations, Singapore
Singapore at the
past few decades, and will continue to do so has established the National Research
40th Annual Dinner and Dance of the
in the near future. This is a result of rapid Foundation (NRF) and plans to invest S$5
Institution of Engineers, Singapore on
industrialisation and urbanisation on a billion into strategic research and
27 October 2006.
global scale, where many of the development (R&D) efforts, including EWT.
environmental issues go beyond single The goal is to double the current number of
“Ultimately, engineering is about the
disciplinary education and research jobs in this sector by 2015. The
application of scientific principles to
frameworks. Consequently, there is a critical Memorandum of Understanding between
practical ends, so as to improve our
need for an inter-disciplinary and more GE Water & Process Technologies of the
lives and living standards. As the
holistic approach to environmental United States and NUS to set up a
minister who oversees our environment
education and research. world-class R&D Centre in water is another
and water resources and an engineer
key milestone. GE will invest S$130 million
by training, I am proud to note how,
In order to meet the needs of the profession over the next 10 years in the Centre, which
over the years, engineering solutions
and the demands of the industry, the will be housed at the NUS Faculty of
have contributed towards building a
Division of Environmental Science & Engineering.
nation, specifically in tackling long-term
Engineering (ESE) was established in the
issues of a robust water supply and
NUS Faculty of Engineering in April 2005. Our faculty members were particularly busy
environmental sustainability.
The Division offers both undergraduate and during 2006, establishing collaborations 37
postgraduate educational programmes, with with government authorities and industry
“Engineers bring with them expertise in
a strong focus on research. The innovative partners to jointly apply for NRF funding, as
a wide range of areas. These include
new BEng and postgraduate (MEng and administered by the newly-established
traditional disciplines such as civil and
PhD) curriculum in ESE prepares future Environment and Water Industry
mechanical engineering, as well as
environmental professionals by immersing Development Council. With an initial focus
newer ones like bioengineering.
them in a holistic teaching and research on water-related R&D activities, later NRF
Traditional or new, all engineering
framework in order to address and solve funding will cover other research areas
disciplines are vital to Singapore’s
multi-faceted environmental challenges. including alternative energy, waste
development as a nation. As we move
management and air pollution control. As
towards a more knowledge-based
The formation of the Division was timely, as the world acknowledges the growing threats
economy, engineers too will move
the government has identified to the global environment, the NUS Faculty
beyond being technically equipped,
Environmental and Water Technologies of Engineering is strategically placed to
towards obtaining an even wider range
(EWT) as a core growth area for the make a strong contribution to emerging
of expertise, such as in research and
technologies for a sustainable future. Dr F.
development, consulting, regulatory
Michael Saunders, a world-renowned
knowledge, and so on.
Professor, joined the Faculty as Head of the
Division of ESE in January 2007.
“The engineering mind is not one that
will rest on its laurels. I am therefore
confident that current and future
generations of engineers in Singapore,
just like the previous generation, will
continue to work together to anticipate
and address issues that impact upon
our well-being. I am confident our
engineers will help Singapore rise to
greater heights in our quality of life – in
both developmental and environmental
terms.”

pg38-OK 27/1/07 12:59:28

KEY RESEARCH THRUSTS
3
Interactive and
Digital Media
NUS has established its first overseas NUS graduate students will have
Interactive & Digital Media research lab in opportunities to work on R&D projects with
the USA. The ground-breaking NUS world-renowned entertainment companies
Hollywood Lab in Los Angeles, California such as Disney, NBC Universal, Sesame
aims to foster international research and Workshop and the American Film Institute.
development (R&D) collaboration and The projects may include computer games,
technology commercialisation for interactive 3D animation, home entertainment, digital
and digital media. In addition to serving as a cinema, interactive TV, and theme park
38 research outpost for NUS, the Lab will bring rides. The students will also have a chance
together the best minds and talent from to work with computer pioneer Dr Alan Kay
Singapore and the US, and combine on his visionary research projects.
resources from academia and industry to
create synergy. The NUS Hollywood Lab is an initiative by
Dr Newton Lee, an international guru in
The Lab, which shares a new facility with interactive and digital media research with
the University of Southern California School over 20 years of international R&D
of Cinema and Television, will work closely experience; Assoc Prof Adrian David Cheok
with major Hollywood movie studios, of the Department of Electrical & Computer
universities and entertainment companies in Engineering, who is also Director of the
North America. Besides international R&D NUS Mixed Reality Lab; and Prof Hang
collaborations and business ventures Chang Chieh, Director of the Centre for
between Singapore and the US, it will also Management of Science & Technology.
focus on student exchange and visiting
professorship programmes.
Top image
Dr Newton Lee
Middle image
Prof Hang Chang Chieh
Bottom right image, from left

Dr Stephen Wittkopf, Dr Newton Lee,
Prof Chua Tat Seng,
Assoc Prof Adrian David Cheok,
Prof Wong Lim Soon and Prof Lawrence Wong

pg39r1-OK 27/1/07 17:01:05
Nanotechnology
In the past year, one of the key research In February 2006, NUSNNI co-organised a
highlights at the NUS Nanoscience and symposium on Advanced Functional
Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI) was Materials with IIT Bombay. In August and
the Defence Science & Technology Agency September 2006, we collaborated with
-funded electrospun polymer nanofibre eminent scientists from Cambridge, Ecole
filters project. This work involves the use of Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and
nanofibrous materials in the protection University of Maryland to propose the
against chemical warfare agents. The setting up of a research centre of
research has been published in the excellence in Nanostructured Materials,
Nanotechnology Journal (Vol 17, 2006) and Devices and Systems.
has been submitted for Singapore and US
patent applications.
NUSNNI has also established partnerships

that enable us to tap into the expertise of
high-calibre academics from top universities
and research institutes worldwide. We are
currently collaborating in research with Prof
Subra Suresh (MIT), Prof Richard Friend
(Cambridge) and Prof G Milon (Institut
Pasteur), among others. These researchers
are widely-cited in the literature in their
respective fields.
Locally, NUSNNI members have also 39

achieved excellence in their fields. Prof
Chua Soo Jin, Assoc Prof Wu Yihong and
Assoc Prof Adekunle Olusola Adeyeye won
the top three prizes in the MRS-S National
Conference in Advanced Materials 2006.
From left (clockwise)

Prof Richard Friend, Assoc Prof Wu Yihong,
Prof Chua Soo Jin, Assoc Prof Adekunle Olusola Adeyeye,
Prof G Milon and Prof Subra Suresh
SNDL Attracts
International Electron Devices Meeting and
Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
Substantial
Symposium, and in premier journal IEEE
EDL. Six SNDL students received
prestigious awards such as the “IEEE EDS
Funding
Student Fellowship” and “Best Paper”
awards. SNDL faculty members delivered
over 20 invited talks at international
conferences. Their research tackles the
Faculty members and students of the hottest topics in complementary metal oxide
Silicon Nano Device Laboratory (SNDL) semiconductor (CMOS) technology,
have made far-reaching contributions to including advanced gate stack, high-speed
semiconductor device technology for the channel engineering, non-volatile
future. Over the past four years, their memories, and nanowire devices, all of
contributions have been highly-recognised which have a high impact on both academic
all over the world through a high number of society and industries. Such research
papers at premier conferences such as the directions and their visibility in
achievements have enabled SNDL to
attract substantial research funding of
S$28.6 million since 2000 from both the
government and industries.

pg40-OK 27/1/07 13:04:37

KEY RESEARCH THRUSTS
CORE - National
Node for
Offshore R&D
The Centre for Offshore Research &
Engineering (CORE) has been identified as
a national focal point for offshore research
40 and development (R&D) by the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR), Economic Development Board Engineering, Genesis Oil & Gas, Keppel
and Maritime and Port Authority of Offshore & Marine, and SBM.
Singapore (MPA). CORE is finalising
arrangements with A*STAR and MPA for a On 16 November 2006, CORE hosted the
S$10 million seed funding for R&D Keppel Technology Advisory Panel (KTAP)
programmes which will garner the expertise members at NUS’ University Hall. The KTAP
from NUS, tertiary institutions and A*STAR meeting, including laboratory tours, yielded
research institutes to enhance excellent technical exchanges, and CORE
From left (clockwise)
competitiveness of the industry in will continue to work closely with Keppel to Site visit to MMHE yard in Malaysia for
identify new collaborative R&D projects. Kikeh Spar Platform Fabrication
Singapore. The R&D will be carried out
through thematic and multi-disciplinary Assoc Prof Choo Yoo Sang receiving the
Stanley Gray Medal 2005 from IMarEST
programmes within the context of identified The 4th Keppel Offshore & Marine Lecture President Maurice Storey
systems, in particular, structural systems, was delivered by Prof Torgeir Moan, Keppel Participants of the Deepwater Development
subsea systems, and seabed/substrata Professor at the Department of Civil Workshop
surveying systems. Engineering, on the same day. The Lecture,

which focused on floating production
The Department of Civil Engineering systems for oil and gas in harsh
worked closely with CORE to launch the environments, was attended by more than
Master of Science Specialisation in Offshore 350 people.
Engineering in August 2006 with good
response and support from the industry. On 10 March 2006, the Director (Research)
Two international experts, Prof Andrew of CORE, Assoc Prof Choo Yoo Sang, was
Palmer and Dr John Halkyard, conducted awarded the Stanley Gray Medal from the
two of the new courses in Offshore President of The Institute of Marine
Pipelines and Floating Structures, with site Engineering Science & Technology in
visits to broaden students’ exposure. London for the best paper presented to the
Institute’s East Asia Division in 2005.
CORE also organised professional short
courses delivered by international experts.
The successful Deepwater Development
Workshop in October brought in speakers
from Technip, Shell, Houston Offshore

pg41-OK 27/1/07 15:49:33
Logistics and By Courtesy of the PSA Corporation Limited
Supply Chain Management 41
The Economic Development Board has managerial decision-making. Some specific

identified Logistics and Supply Chain research areas include maritime and air
Management as one of the key areas that logistics, service-based supply chain
will contribute to Singapore’s growth as a systems, healthcare supply chain, supply
vibrant global hub of knowledge-driven chain modelling on inventory and
industries. transportation systems, military logistics,
warehousing systems, factory physics
As an industry, Logistics accounts for more including wafer fabrication scheduling, as
than 8% of Singapore’s GDP, and as an well as scheduling and routing problems.
enabler, it provides a competitive edge to Several research areas involve close
industry as a result of its excellent collaborative work with industry and
infrastructure and connectivity. In view of its research institutes, namely the Maritime
increasing importance, the Department of and Port Authority of Singapore, PSA Corp,
Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE) Neptune Orient Lines, IBM, INTEL, National
identified Logistics and Supply Chain Healthcare Group, TECH Semiconductor,
Management as one of its research The Logistics Institute - Asia Pacific and
focuses. Its research competency lies in SimTech. The establishment of the
methodological and application issues IBM-NUS On Demand Supply Chain
relating to the management of Solutions Laboratory in 2005 at the ISE
cross-functional activities that support the Department further enhances the strong
flow of materials and products to ties between the Department and industry
customers. The research addresses issues in carrying out cutting-edge research. In
of robustness and optimisation of resource addition to research, the Department has
utilisation within the entire supply value also been producing quality graduates who
chain. Quantitative tools and innovative join the fast-growing logistics industry each
solutions based on operations research year.
methods are developed to assist in

pg42-OK 27/1/07 13:09:06

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTERPRISE
The spirit of enterprise is prevalent

at the NUS Faculty of Engineering.
The constant search for
opportunities to translate
knowledge and research into
industrial and commercial
application is part of our vision to
Opportunities be the technological leader in an

ever-changing world.
for Enterprise
Entrepreneur implant that helps to fuse the upper and
lower vertebral body. With this product,
at 22
surgeons will just need one attempt to place
42 a spinal implant compared to the current
need to use several instruments. As a
result, spinal surgery will become a simpler
and less traumatic procedure.
Mr Jeffrey Tiong had the opportunity to join
the NUS Overseas College (NOC)
Mr Tiong’s business plan for OrthoLab also
programme as an undergraduate student
won a place in the grand finals of the
in the Division of Bioengineering. While at
Wharton Business Plan competition. His
the NOC in Bio Valley, USA, he co-founded
team from NOC emerged as one of the
OrthoLab Technologies Inc, a spin-off from
eight teams in the finals out of a total of 120
his internship company, VascuLab
competing teams.
Technologies. OrthoLab Technologies
develops medical devices that aid spinal
surgery. Its first product, the OrthoLab STR
Interbody Fusion System, is a spinal
tenCube
tenCube's anchor product, WaveSecure,
has been rated by Frost & Sullivan, a
WaveSecure
leading market research and growth
consultancy, as one of the “Top 10
Wireless Innovations in Asia Pacific”.
WaveSecure is the world’s most
comprehensive mobile phone security
Mr Darius Cheung, a graduate of the solution providing features such as Lock,
Department of Electrical & Computer Track, Backup & Wipeout to manage
Engineering, founded tenCube, an mobile device and data. WaveSecure is
innovative mobile security company, with currently on trial with the Singapore Police
three fellow NUS alumni in 2005. Since then, Force, and is funded by The Enterprise
the company has grown from strength to Challenge grant. Recently, tenCube was
strength. Apart from being recognised as the also rated as one of the Hottest 100
Grand Champion of Startup@Singapore, Startups in Asia by Red Herring. From left
Mr Michael Ma (Guest of Honour) and the tenCube team:
Mr Darius Cheung, Ms Sherene Sera Jose, Mr Rishi Kumar,
Mr Indradeep Biswas, Ms Varun Chatterjee and
Mr Shivram Gopinath

pg43-OK 27/1/07 13:12:49
Mr Vu Khac Kien set up VRich Technology

as a student at the Department of Civil VRich
Technology
Engineering, with a vision to create
something useful for society. His company
makes rapidly-built shelters which can be
erected up to 10 times faster than equivalent
conventional shelters, while maintaining
competitive structural effectiveness. As a
result of the special speed of deployment
and compact folded form (which is
convenient for transportation), these
deployable shelter products can be used
for military or humanitarian purposes,
exhibitions, and even serve as temporary
meeting or recreational rooms.
Mr Vu shares how the Department helped

him to achieve his dream: to NUS facilities which could help to nurture From left
the business in the early stage. The Mr Iskanda Idris (School of Design and Environment
student), Dr Krishnapillai Anandasivam,
“As a student at the Department of Civil business office lease at NUS-Engineering Assoc Prof Richard Liew Jat Yuen,
and Mr Vu Khac Kien
Engineering, I realised that engineering Incubation Centre was instrumental in the
should have practical use. With this belief in success of this start-up. Its location was preparation for my PhD proposal and
mind, I chose research topics relating to very convenient as all the team members presentations at conferences certainly
product and technology development which were from the Faculty of Engineering and honed such skills. In fact, we managed to
were very application-oriented. It occurred the School of Design and Environment. It enter the final round of the competitive Asia
to me that to make this technology truly also provided basic office facilities and Pacific Rim University business plan
effective, I needed to put the products into equipment which we needed. challenge in July 2006 due to such
the hands of users. I discussed such advantages.”
possibilities with my two supervisors, “Running a venture is a very interesting 43
Assoc Prof Richard Liew Jat Yuen and experience. You need a combination of
Dr Krishnapillai Anandasivam. To my skills, out of which I believe planning and
surprise, they were not only willing to persuasion are key. I gained these two skills
support the start-up, but also introduced me as I pursued graduate studies. The
“University education helped to open my
Celebrating mind, and the systematic and logical

training of the mind is definitely essential to
Success
help us succeed in anything that we do. We
were able to find time outside of school to
start and work on our company. The fact
that NUS allowed us to do our internship in
Mr Eugene Low, an alumnus of the our own company really helped the growth
Department of Electrical & Computer and success of Hardware Zone. I believe
Engineering, has a great reason to that the top five qualities of an entrepreneur
celebrate. His company, Hardware Zone, are PASSION, PATIENCE, HARDWORK,
which he set up with a group of fellow CREATIVITY and TEAMWORK. As an
students, including Mr Jackie Lee, in 2000 entrepreneur, it is often a long and hard
was sold for S$7.1 million to Singapore road to take; without PASSION and
Press Holdings in October 2006. This is one PATIENCE, it is impossible to endure the
Back row from left of Singapore’s largest deals involving a long hours. HARDWORK goes without
Mr Joe Ang, Mr Scott Poh and Mr Jereme Wong dot.com setup. Hardware Zone started out saying - this is definitely not a 9-5 job and
Front row from left as an IT content provider, providing not for the faint-hearted. CREATIVITY ranks
Mr Jimmy Tang, Mr Jackie Lee and Mr Eugene Low high because this road requires one to
IT-related content via the Internet. As the
company grew, it morphed into a media and adapt quickly to market forces and one
publishing company, capitalising on the needs to keep abreast with new ideas to
content it generated and the community that keep up with current trends. And lastly, I
grew with the site. Mr Low shares how his believe that without TEAMWORK,
experience at the NUS Faculty of Hardware Zone wouldn't have been
Engineering opened opportunities for him to possible.”
start up this company and become a true
entrepreneur:

pg44-OK 27/1/07 13:16:30

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Emerging
Technology
Nanobiomechanics, the fusion of
nanotechnology, cell and molecular biology
and mechanics, has been identified by the
Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Excellence
(MIT) Technology Review magazine as
among the top 10 emerging technologies
that would soon make a significant impact
on human lives. The March/April 2006 issue
of the magazine highlights that
nanobiomechanics is making “increasing
contributions” to the understanding and
treatment of diseases and would have a
44 A World First in “significant impact” on medicine.
Nanoscale Transistor
Technology
Electronic products such as computers, The team also found new ways to boost the
mobile phones, MP3 players, thumb drives speed of computers or reduce the power
and digital cameras all employ transistors. consumption of mobile electronics. This
Dr Yeo’s team has successfully made effort is a significant contribution to global
transistors as small as 25 nanometres research efforts by the semiconductor
(Singapore’s smallest). This is also about industry to explore new ways of improving
4,000 times smaller than the diameter of the the performance of integrated circuit chips
human hair and about four times smaller or electronics.
than an influenza virus. These tiny
transistors are expected to be deployed in The team collaborated with the Institute of
electronic products in future. Microelectronics, and their research
achievements were reported in two papers
Dr Yeo’s team integrated a new material presented at the prominent Symposium on
NUS researchers at the Department of containing silicon and carbon which Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
Electrical & Computer Engineering have introduces strain for engineering the Technology in June 2006 in Honolulu,
made a major breakthrough in the spacing between silicon atoms inside the Hawaii, USA. They also unveiled new
realisation of nanoscale transistors. Dr Yeo transistors. By carefully altering the developments at the prestigious
Yee Chia and his team of researchers have inter-atomic spacing in silicon, the team of International Electron Device Meeting in
become the first in the world to incorporate researchers changed the conduction December 2006 in San Francisco, USA.
strained-silicon using silicon-carbon properties of silicon, which leads to a
materials for boosting the performance of significant improvement in the speed of
sub-30 nanometre transistors. electronics.

pg45-OK 29/1/07 19:33:55
A Highly-Cited
Non-Review Paper
Assoc Prof Lim Chwee Teck of the Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an important electronic
Department of Mechanical Engineering and and photonic material promising many new
Division of Bioengineering, and Dr Kevin technologies such as UV laser for digital
Tan Shyong Wei from the NUS Department recording and solar cells for light energy
of Microbiology, together with their harvest. Over the past several years,
counterparts at MIT and Institut Pasteur intense research has been devoted to ZnO
(France), have demonstrated how in searching for newer synthetic methods
nanobiomechanics can be used to and controlling product size and uniformity.
investigate the pathogenesis of a human Prof Zeng Hua Chun of the Department of
disease – malaria in this instance. They Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and
have produced significant findings on the his MEng graduate student, Mr Liu Bin,
changes red blood cells undergo as the have developed a novel chemical approach
malaria parasite matures within its hosts, which successfully produces large-scale
including the role specific proteins play in uniform ZnO nanorods for the first time.
conferring rigidity to the infected cell Their paper Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO
membrane. Their work has resulted in nanorods in the diameter regime of 50 nm
international recognition. The team clinched has been highly cited since its publication in
both the Ribbon Award (an outstanding 2003 in Journal of the American Chemical
paper award) and the Graduate Student Society.
From left
Award (Gold) by the Materials Research 45
Mr Liu Bin and Prof Zeng Hua Chun
Society in the US during the Fall Meeting in
2004 and 2005, respectively.
World’s Smallest
High-Aspect-Ratio Hole
Feature sizes in micron range produced by machine. This process not only avoids
machining processes are important for transfer and clamping error or damage, but
automotive, aerospace and biomedical also produces very tiny electrodes and
applications. The major challenge is the associated micro-features on delicate and
machining setup, which requires proper complicated workpieces. The micro-EDM
control and handling of the micro-tools and process is a relatively low-cost, non-contact
appropriate fixturing of the workpiece. This and high-precision machining process that
is especially so for features of less than 20 enables very fine holes to be drilled into any From left
µm and accuracy of within 1µm. conductive or semi-conductive materials, Dr Lim Han Seok, Mr Takeshi Masaki,
Prof Mustafizur Rahman,
regardless of hardness. Mr Abu Bakar Md Ali Asad and
Assoc Prof Wong Yoke San
At the Micro Fabrication Laboratory at the
NUS Faculty of Engineering, Prof Using superior processing techniques and
Mustafizur Rahman, Assoc Prof Wong Yoke precise control performance of the
San, Mr Takeshi Masaki, Dr Lim Han Seok Mikrotools DT-110 machine, the team
and Mr Abu Bakar Md Ali Asad have created the world’s smallest hole by a
developed a process based on micro-EDM specially-developed hybrid process based
(micro electrical discharge machining), on micro-EDM. The hole is 6.5µm in
which enables the setup requirements of diameter through a 50µm stainless steel
workpiece and tools to machine the plate (producing a high aspect ratio of 7.7).
micro-features to be performed only once
using the multi-process Mikrotools DT-110

pg46-OK 27/1/07 15:57:32

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Smart
Under the supervision of Assoc Prof Marcelo
H Ang Jr and Dr Lim Ser Yong,
Robots
Dr Xia Qing Hua and his team from the
Department of Mechanical Engineering have
created a prototype robot which can clean
ventilation ducts three to four times more
efficiently than existing ones in the market.
These robots will be able to tackle the tedious
and hazardous job of cleaning industrial
air-conditioning ducts and enable companies
to save cost, time and manpower.
Dr Xia and his team invented an "Omni Arm",

a multi-purpose arm which can do the
cleaning job, as well as help the robot climb
steps - a movement which is required in the
cleaning process. They are also developing
modular robots to suit different-sized ducts.
Their robot is designed with advanced
46 “master-slave” technology, which allows for
two-way communication, with feedback from
the robot to the controller. With this
communication in place, monitoring the
robot's progress is minimal - as the robot
updates the controller on its progress and
movements.
Dr Xia's team was a finalist at the Association

of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Doctoral
Student Enterprise Business Plan
Competition held in conjunction with the 7th
APRU Doctoral Student Conference held at
NUS. Dr Xia, together with his partner Mr
Hardy Lin, formed a company called
Robotronics Land Pte Ltd in 2006. So far,
business has been encouraging and Dr Xia
and his team members are busy seeing
clients in the region.
Right image
From left: Mr Hardy Lin,
Assoc Prof Marcelo H Ang Jr
and Dr Xia Qing Hua

pg47-OK 27/1/07 13:23:55
Service
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
At the NUS Faculty of Engineering,

faculty members and students
embrace every opportunity to
serve. Our engineer-leaders lend
their expertise and make an impact
in society. Through their
accomplishments, they contribute
to the welfare of Singapore, the
Opportunities region and the world.
to Serve
Member of Chairman Emeritus
American of APRU and 47
Academy of Chair of Governing

Arts & Sciences Board of AWI
Prof Shih Choon Fong, NUS President, was
At the Association of Pacific Rim
elected as a Foreign Honorary Member of
Universities (APRU) 10th Annual Presidents
the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Meeting, Prof Shih Choon Fong, NUS
(AAAS) as a recognition of his pioneering
President, was appointed as Chairman
work in nonlinear fracture mechanics and
Emeritus after completing two terms as
computational methods for fracture
APRU Chair. APRU is a consortium of 37
analyses. Prof Shih is the only Foreign
leading research universities along the
Honorary Member in the category of
Pacific Rim. Besides serving as Chairman
Engineering Sciences and Technologies to
be elected this year. The AAAS describes Emeritus, Prof Shih was also appointed as
Chair of the Governing Board of the APRU
the election as “a highly-competitive
World Institute (AWI). AWI is an institute of
selection process that recognises
advanced studies that aims to gather
individuals who have made pre-eminent
outstanding researchers from around the
contributions (such as intellectual
world to engage in multi-disciplinary
achievement, leadership and creativity) to
research in globally-significant issues.
all fields/disciplines and professions and
society at large”. The selection of Foreign
Honorary Members honours distinguished
experts and intellectuals from outside the
US. Prof Shih joins the ranks of some 4,000
American Fellows and 600 Foreign
Honorary Members (including more than
170 Nobel Laureates and 50 Pulitzer Prize
winners), which include leading scientists,
scholars, artistes, business people, public
leaders and statesmen in the world.

pg48-OK 27/1/07 13:26:59
Service
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Founding Fellows
of ASEAN Academy of
Engineering
& Technology
Top image
Prof Hang Chang Chieh
Left image
Prof Poo Aun Neow
Prof Hang Chang Chieh, Director of Centre

for Management of Science & Technology,
and Prof Poo Aun Neow, Director of
Bachelor of Technology Programme, were
elected to be Founding Fellows of the
ASEAN Academy of Engineering &
Technology (AAET). The conferment
Chair of ceremony was held in November 2006 in

conjunction with an AAET energy
SQC-PEO
conference. There are currently six
engineers from Singapore within the
exclusive 50 Founding Fellows of AAET.
48
Committee
Prof Ang Beng Wah, Head of the
Department of Industrial & Systems
Engineering, was invited by SPRING
Singapore (Standards, Productivity and
Innovation Board) to chair the Singapore
Quality Class for Private Education
Organisations (SQC-PEO) Committee for
two years from July 2006. The SQC-PEO
scheme aims to assure that private
education organisations have the
capabilities to provide quality education.
The SQC-PEO Committee, comprising six
representatives from local and foreign
academia, employers and SPRING
Singapore, was appointed by SPRING
Singapore to provide domain knowledge in
Member of
Assoc Prof Ong Soh Khim of the
various aspects of quality assurance in
Department of Mechanical Engineering was
education.
elected as a corresponding member of the
CIRP International Academy for Production

Engineering, CIRP - College International
pour la Recherche en Productique. This
international academy is one of the most
exclusive associations for manufacturing
researchers in the world. Prof Ong is the
first woman in Asia Pacific to be elected a
member. CIRP has about 500 members
from 40 different countries. All members
have been co-opted into the Academy after
making significant contributions to
production engineering research.

pg49-OK 27/1/07 13:31:00
Chair of AUN/SEED-Net
Prof Seeram Ramakrishna, Dean of the
NUS Faculty of Engineering, chaired the
11th Steering Committee

AUN/SEED-Net (ASEAN University
Network/Southeast Asia Engineering
Education Development Network) 11th
Meeting
Steering Committee Meeting and Year 2006
Annual Meeting held on 30 June 2006 at
Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok,
Thailand. He also chaired the
AUN/SEED-Net 12th Steering Committee
Meeting at NUS on 19 January 2007.
The AUN/SEED-Net consists of 19 leading

institutions in ASEAN and 11 supporting
universities from Japan. It aims to promote
human resources development in
engineering for sustainable industrial
development in ASEAN with support from
the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
49
ASEAN Outstanding
Prof Seeram Ramakrishna, Dean of the
NUS Faculty of Engineering, received both
the ASEAN Outstanding Engineering
Achievement Award and the IES (The
Institution of Engineers, Singapore) Engineering
Achievement Award and
Prestigious Engineering Achievement
Award 2006.
The ASEAN Outstanding Engineering

Achievement Award recognises outstanding IES Prestigious Engineering
Achievement Award 2006
engineering achievements in ASEAN
countries, while the IES Prestigious
Engineering Achievement Award
acknowledges great engineering
accomplishments in Singapore. Both
awards recognise achievements which
demonstrate outstanding engineering skills
that have made a significant contribution to
engineering progress and the quality of life
in ASEAN and in Singapore. They specially
consider the contribution to the well-being of
people and communities; resourcefulness in
planning and in the solution of design
problems, pioneering in the use of materials
and methods, innovations in planning,
design and construction, and unusual
aspects and aesthetic values.

pg50-OK 27/1/07 16:14:52
Awards
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL
International Member of US
Water National
Association Academy
Young of Engineering
Professionals
Opportunities Award
to Excel
Excellence is our mantra at the
NUS Faculty of Engineering. Our
faculty members and students are
given opportunities to break new
ground and reach new heights in
engineering education and
research. We celebrate some of
Dr Ng How Yong from the Division of Prof Miranda Yap Gek Sim of the
our significant achievements
Environmental Science & Engineering has Department of Chemical & Biomolecular
in the past year.
won the prestigious International Water Engineering and Executive Director of
Association (IWA) Young Professionals A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute
50 Award. He was selected from a large pool was elected to the US National Academy of
of candidates from around the world. The Engineering as a Foreign Associate. The
award recognises individuals who make election to the National Academy of
outstanding achievements in water science Engineering is one of the highest
and technology and who will play influential professional distinctions accorded to an
roles in the future. engineer. Prof Yap was recognised for “her
outstanding achievements in education,
Dr Ng’s research involves membrane research and management in the field of
processes for water and wastewater mammalian cell culture”. Her election as a
treatment. His work has resulted in the Foreign Associate is the highest honour
publication of more than 10 papers in accorded by the Academy for distinguished
international top-tiered journals and over 30 contributions to engineering research,
peer-reviewed international conference education and management by a non-US
presentations. He also works closely with citizen.
the Public Utilities Board on treatment
processes improvement programmes and
industry partners on water and wastewater
treatment.
Internationally, Dr Ng contributes to the

scientific community as an Associate Editor
of the American Society of Civil Engineers’
Practice Periodical of Hazardous,Toxic, and
Radioactive Waste Management, and the
Secretary of the management committee of
the IWA Specialist Group on Membrane
Technology.

pg51-OK 27/1/07 13:57:51
Best Paper in 2006 IEEE First Prize in

Failure Antennas and Philips Young
Analysis at Propagation Innovators
IPFA 2005 Society Challenge
Graduate 2005/2006
Fellowship
Mr Luo Tao, a PhD student from the PhD student Mr Qiu Chengwei, from the Electrical Engineering graduate Mr Tan Ting
Department of Electrical & Computer Department of Electrical & Computer Feng (left) and Computer Engineering
Engineering, won the “Best Paper in Engineering, who is also on the NUS graduate Mr Seah Yew Keng won the first
Failure Analysis” at the International Faculty of Engineering Joint PhD prize of S$10,000 in the Philips Young
Symposium on the Physical and Failure Programme with Supélec, was awarded the Innovators Challenge 2005/2006. Using 51
Analysis of Integrated Circuits 2005, held “2006 IEEE Antennas and Propagation “Near Field Communication” (NFC)
in July 2006. His paper entitled Society Graduate Fellowship” (US$2,500). technology developed by Philips, they
Transmission EELS (Electron Energy Loss This is the second award he received after created an intelligent system which allows
Spectroscopy) Attachment for SEM he was given the “SUMMA Graduate diabetic patients to effortlessly check their
(Scanning Electron Microscope) was Fellowship Award in Advanced own blood sugar level and keep track of
co-authored with Assoc Prof Anjam Electromagnetics” for 2005. The SUMMA their medication and food intake to manage
Khursheed. The paper presented a new Graduate Fellowship is an annual monetary the illness themselves. With this system,
method of aberration correction for award given to only one graduate student the patient, after measuring his glucose
miniaturised spectrometres. from a worldwide selection. It is sponsored level, can place the glucose meter close to
by SUMMA Foundation via IEEE Antennas his handheld computer to transfer
and Propagation Society and recognises information into it. The Philips Young
the recipient’s exceptional creativity and Innovators Challenge is sponsored by
excellence in the research of Philips Electronics Singapore as part of its
Electromagnetic (EM) theory and its effort to encourage collaboration between
applications. Mr Qiu beat many other students and private companies to further
submissions from all over the world and develop NFC technology.
was selected as the winner in 2005. His
research interests include EM theory,
advanced EM materials, and wave
scattering in complex media.

pg52-OK 27/1/07 14:03:23
Awards
Singapore Fellow of Optics and

Youth ASHRAE Photonics
Award Award Division Prize
Dr Yeo Yee Chia (third from left) of the Prof Chou Siaw Kiang, Vice-Dean for Prof Colin Sheppard, Head of the Division of
Department of Electrical & Computer External & Industry Relations at the NUS Bioengineering, was awarded the Optics
Engineering was conferred the 2006 Faculty of Engineering, was elevated to the and Photonics Division Prize of the UK
Singapore Youth Award in the category of grade of Fellow at the American Society of Institute of Physics (IoP) for 2006. This
52 Science and Technology for his scientific Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning biennial prize is in recognition of exceptional
excellence and dedication to inspire and Engineers (ASHRAE) 2006 Winter Meeting. contributions to the field of optics and/or
empower youths. The Singapore Youth This honour is given to less than 1% of the photonics. The Optics and Photonics
Award is the highest accolade given to 55,000 membership of ASHRAE worldwide. Division comprises the Optical Group (the
people under 35 in Singapore. Dr Yeo has largest group in IoP with 900 members); the
made significant contributions in the field of The citation on the plaque reads, “Dr S K Quantum Electronics and Photonics Group;
nanoelectronics, with more than 80 Chou has attained the unusual distinction in the Quantum Information, Quantum Optics
inventions, over 120 publications, and has the arts and sciences of heating, and Quantum Control Group; and the
given many invited talks in international refrigerating, air-conditioning or ventilation, Computational Physics Group.
conferences. and has made substantial contributions to
these arts and sciences.” The prize, consisting of a glass trophy, a
certificate and a cheque for £500, was
awarded at Photon06, the biennial
conference of the Optics and Photonics
Division, at which Prof Sheppard also gave
a plenary presentation, entitled The Optics
of Microscopy. The Photon series of
conferences has established itself as the
leading conference in optics held in the UK
and has a wide and increasing international
attendance.
Prof Sheppard has received over 2,500

citations for his publications and is ranked
11th out of 75,000 authors for the number of
papers published during the 1990s in the
field of Optics and Photonics. He has also
made very important contributions to
enabling the more widespread use of
microscopy through his leading role in
developing the first commercial confocal
microscope - a device later marketed by
Biorad. Total sales of confocal microscopes
have subsequently exceeded US$1 billion.

pg53-OK 27/1/07 16:17:49
Outstanding MICCAI 2005 IPCC Second

Young Award-Winning Prize
Persons of Paper
Singapore
Award
Assoc Prof Ong Soh Khim from the Assoc Prof Ashraf Kassim of the Dr Ashwin M Khambadkone (right), of the
Department of Mechanical Engineering was Department of Electrical & Computer Department of Electrical & Computer
awarded the honoree award for the Engineering, and his PhD student, Mr Yan Engineering, and his student, Mr Amit K
Outstanding Young Persons of Singapore Pingkun, developed novel methods based Gupta, won the second IPCC (Industrial
2006 for her achievements in Scientific on modelling fluid flow via capillary action to Power Converters Committee) prize for the 53
and/or Technological Development. As an accurately segment vasculature from year 2005. The paper is titled A Simple
honoree, Prof Ong stood a chance to be three-dimensional magnetic resonance Space Vector PWM Scheme to Operate a
nominated for the Outstanding Young angiography images of the human brain. Three-level NPC Inverter at High
Persons of the World Awards, held in Seoul, This work received an award when it was Modulation Index Including
South Korea, in November 2006. The presented at the 8th International Over-modulation Region with Neutral Point
Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) of Conference on Medical Image Computing & Balancing. The award was given at the
Singapore award is organised by the Orchid Computer Assisted Intervention from 26-29 IEEE Industry Application annual meeting in
Jayceettes of Singapore, a lady-member October 2005 in Palm Springs, California, October 2006.
organisation affiliated with the Junior USA.
Chamber International Singapore. The
TOYP award is given to “an outstanding
young person who not only possesses
enthusiasm, positive thinking and physical
fitness, but also the virtue of national
consciousness and achievements that have
contributed significantly to the development
of the community”.

pg54-OK 27/1/07 16:23:35
Awards
Commendation DTP Award Ludwig Mond

Medal Prize
Ms Maureen Kwee, Senior Manager, The Centre for Protective Technology (CPT) The Ludwig Mond Prize 2005 was awarded
Dean’s Office, was awarded the Pingat won a Defence Technology Team Prize in to Prof Ng Kim Choon and Postdoctoral
Kepujian (The Commendation Medal) by the R&D category as a partner in the Fellow Dr Wang Xiaolin from the
the President of the Republic of Singapore Defence Science & Technology Agency's Department of Mechanical Engineering, for
54 as part of the National Day Honours 2006. protective technology team. The Defence their paper entitled Thermodynamic
The Commendation Medal is given to Technology Prize is awarded by the Ministry Methods for Performance Analysis of
individuals who have “distinguished of Defence for excellence in technological Chillers. The award, given by the Process
themselves through commendable contribution to national security and Industries Division of the Institution of
performance and conduct, or significant defence. CPT was given the prize primarily Mechanical Engineers (UK), was
efficiency, competence and devotion to for its sustained contribution to the announced on 17 July 2006.
duty”. development and characterisation of
protective materials and systems.
Over the years, CPT has generated a

substantial body of work on steel-concrete
composites, as well as fibre-reinforced
polymers enhancement of masonry and
brick structures. The work has resulted in
highly ductile engineered cementitious
composites, fragmentation and
penetration-resistant concrete and
light-weight infused ceramic armour.

pg55-OK 27/1/07 13:34:16
Best Paper SPRING Special Merit

Award at IEEE Singapore Award
International Awards
Conference
Mr Zhang Zhishou, a part-time PhD student Prof Liew Ah Choy (left) from the Prof Arun Sadashiv Mujumdar of the
under the supervision of Prof Lawrence Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Science Programme was
Wong Wai Choong from the Department of Engineering received the Distinguished honoured with a Special Merit Award at the
Electrical & Computer Engineering, clinched Award and Assoc Prof Reginald Tan Beng 15th International Drying Symposium
the “Best Paper Award” at the IEEE Hee from the Department of Chemical & (IDS2006), held in Budapest in August 55
International Conference on Multimedia & Biomolecular Engineering received the 2006. He received the award in recognition
Expo, held in July 2006 in Toronto, Canada. Merit Award at the World Standards Day of his “distinguished contributions to basic
His paper titled A Content-Aware Stream Awards Presentation 2005 organised by and applied research in thermal drying
Authentication Scheme Optimised for SPRING Singapore (Standards, processes and his exceptional dedicated
Distortion and Overhead was selected from Productivity and Innovation Board). These service to the worldwide community of
a pool of over 500 papers. The other awards recognise individuals who have researchers in both academia and industry”.
authors include Dr Qibin Sun (I2R), Prof made significant contributions to the The IDS series of conferences attracts over
Lawrence Wong Wai Choong (ECE), Dr national standardisation programme 300 participants biennially from over 50
John Apostolopoulos (HP Labs, USA) and managed by SPRING Singapore. They countries. Prof Mujumdar is credited with
Dr Susie Wee (HP Labs, USA). have invested time and services for the the establishment of thermal drying of solids
development and promotion of Singapore as a multi-disciplinary area of research over
Standards to help local companies and the past three decades.
industries become more competitive.

pg56-OK 27/1/07 16:28:15
New
FACULTY MEMBERS
Welcome Aboard
Karl Erik BIRGERSSON
PhD (Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden)
Assistant Professor, Engineering Science Programme/Department of Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering
Research areas: Fuel cells, smart materials, drying
Adrian David CHEOK

PhD (University of Adelaide, Australia)
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Research areas: Interactive media, entertainment computing, digital arts
CHENG Jingsheng
PhD (Lanzhou University, China)
Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Research areas: Nanostructured materials, magnetic recording media
56 Aaron DANNER
PhD (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA)
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Research areas: Optoelectronics, nanoscale photonic devices, photonic crystals
Rudiyanto GUNAWAN
PhD (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA)
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Research areas: Systems biology, process control
HO Ghim Wei
PhD (University of Cambridge, UK)
Assistant Professor, Engineering Science Programme/Department of Electrical & Computer
Engineering
Research areas: Nanoscience, nanotechnology
Saif A KHAN
PhD (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Research areas: Microfluidics, microreactors, photonic nanomaterials
LE Minh Thinh
PhD (University of Ottawa and Carleton University, Canada)
Research areas: Biomedical imaging, embedded/pervasive computing systems

pg57-OK 27/1/07 16:33:18
LI Zhi
PhD (University of Vienna, Austria)
Associate Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Research areas: Biocatalysis, biomaterials, green chemistry
LIANG Gengchiau
PhD (Purdue University, USA)
Research areas: Nanoelectronics, molecular electronics, nanophotonics, device physics of
nanotransistors
LIN Hai
PhD (University of Notre Dame, USA)
Research areas: Hybrid embedded systems, systems biology
Alexander NAREYEK
PhD (Technical University of Berlin, Germany)
Research areas: Artificial intelligence, electronic gaming
57
OUYANG Jianyong
PhD (Institute of Molecular Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan)
Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Research areas: Flexible electronics (materials and devices)
PANG Sze Dai

PhD (Northwestern University, USA)
Assistant Professor, Engineering Science Programme/Department of Civil Engineering
Research areas: Size effect, fracture mechanics
(Head of Engineering Science Programme, NUS) J N REDDY

PhD (University of Alabama in Huntsville, USA)
Professor, Engineering Science Programme/Department of Mechanical Engineering
Research areas: Applied mechanics and computational engineering science
TAO Meixia
PhD (Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong SAR)
Research areas: Wireless communication systems
YAO Libin
PhD (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium)
Research areas: Analog integrated circuit design

pg58r3-OK.ai 27/1/07 14:14:53
Facts and Figures

2006
World's Top 25 in Technology

Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) STAFF PROFILE
(as at 30 November 2006)
Rank Institution Country
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA

2 University of California, Berkeley USA
3 Indian Institute of Technology India
4 Imperial College London UK
5 Stanford University USA
6 Cambridge University UK
7 Tokyo University Japan *Full-Time faculty members
8 (9)* National University of Singapore Singapore Professors 66
9 California Institute of Technology USA Associate Professors 133

Assistant Professors 84
10 Carnegie Mellon University USA
Senior Lecturers 5
11 Oxford University UK
TOTAL 288
12 ETH Zurich Switzerland
13 Delft University of Technology Netherlands
14 Tsing Hua University China Non-academic staff, 330 Other teaching staff, 52
15 Nanyang Technological University Singapore Administrative staff, 57 Full-time faculty members, 288
16 Melbourne University Australia
Research staff, 280 Adjunct staff, 79
17 Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Hong Kong
18 Tokyo University of Technology Japan * All full-time faculty members are PhD degree holders
19 New South Wales University Australia
20 Beijing University China
21
22
Kyoto University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Japan
USA
Space sq m
23 Harvard University USA Net Floor Area (NFA) 79,736

24 Australian National University Australia Neutral Area 42,316
25 Sydney University Australia
Gross Floor Area (GFA) 122,052
*Ranking based on last year's results
58
OPERATING BUDGET - FY2006
Teaching-related Operating Budget Research Grants*
Expenditure on Manpower & Other Operating Budget - S$84.0 million
(including external grants)
and Research Budget,
Renovation Budget - S$0.25 million S$34.68 million (24.1%)
Furniture and Equipment Budget - S$4.5 million
Total: S$88.75 million (61.7%) Research Scholarships
(including external scholarships),
* Period reported: 1 April to 30 November 2006 S$20.40 million (14.2%)
Tuition and fees payable by students account for a projected
Total Operating Budget:
S$41 million of funds received from the Ministry of Education for 2006 S$143.83 million
MILESTONES
56
68
69
72
79
80
90
95
98
00
02
04
05
06
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
Department of Postgraduate Division of Engineering

Chemical Engineering School Bioengineering Science
(ChE) transferred of Engineering Programme
from the (ESP)
Faculty of Science
ChEE renamed Engineering
Department of Systems
Department of National Bachelor of Technology
Chemical & Initiative
Industrial & Systems University Programme (BTech)
Biomolecular (ESI)
Engineering (ISE) of Singapore
Engineering
(ChBE)
Faculty of Engineering was constituted ChE renamed
under the University of Singapore with Department of Centre for
three departments - Civil, Electrical Chemical Management of
and Mechanical & Environmental Science &
Engineering Technology
(ChEE) (CMOST)
Department of
First batch of Singapore Polytechnic graduates Materials Science
received the BEng degree from the & Engineering (MSE)
University of Singapore
EE renamed Department of Division of

Electrical & Computer Environmental
Professional engineering education Engineering (ECE), MPE Science &
commenced in University of Malaya (UM) renamed Department of Engineering
at Bukit Timah Campus Mechanical Engineering (ME) (ESE)
K DALIM MOD: SL 314

pg59-OK 27/1/07 16:42:35
EDUCATION
Student Population (as at 30 August 2006) Selectivity ratio* for:
Graduate Diploma, 27 Undergraduate programmes 34%
Graduate students Postgraduate programmes 33%
(Coursework),1,063
* Selectivity ratio = number of offers ÷ number of applicants
Graduate students
(Research), 1,457
Undergraduates
(Part-time BTech), 879
Graduate Education
Undergraduates
(Full-time), 5,824 Graduate Student Population by Coursework
Class of 2006 (as at 30 August 2006)
Programmes Male Female Total
Doctoral, 119
Masters, 570 Grad.Dip.Aviation Mgt. 13 5 18
Graduate Diploma, 13 Grad.Dip.Maritime & Port Mgt. 8 1 9
BTech, 150 Subtotal (Grad.Dip.) 21 6 27
MSc (Chem.Eng.) 21 23 44
BEng, 1,252
MSc (Civil Eng.) 66 33 99
MSc (Elect.Eng.) 148 64 212
MSc (Env.Eng.) 29 16 45
Total Student Population 9,250 MSc (Geotec) 5 2 7
Undergraduate students (including Part-time BTech) 6,703 MSc (Ind. & Sys. Eng.) 150 59 209
Graduate students 2,547 MSc (IP Mgt) 12 5 17
MSc (Mat'l Sc. & Eng.) 40 20 60
Undergraduate Education MSc (Mech.Eng.)
MSc (Mechatronics)
78
42
10
14
88
56
All undergraduate programmes, other than new programmes such MSc (MOT) 72 19 91 59
as Bioengineering, Engineering Science and Materials Science & MSc (SDM) 10 1 11
Engineering Programmes, are accredited by relevant UK MSc (SHE) 38 21 59
MSC (Transp.Sys.& Mgt.) 13 7 20
professional accreditation bodies at the UK Master of Engineering
MTD (Embedded Systems) 18 4 22
level under SARTOR (Standards & Routes to Registration) and
MTD (Mechatronics) 9 1 10
recognised internationally.
MTD (Rapid Product Development) 7 3 10
NUS-UIUC MSc (Chem.Eng.) 1 2 3
Undergraduate Student Population (as at 30 August 2006) Subtotal (MSc) 759 304 1,063
Engineering Programmes Male Female Total Total 780 310 1,090
Full-time Programmes 4,219 1,605 5,824

Graduate Student Population by Research
(as at 30 August 2006)
Part-time Programmes 649 230 879
Programmes Male Female Total
Total 4,868 1,835 6,703
Undergraduate Student Population (as at 30 August 2006) MEng 252 79 331
by Year and by Programme NUS-Supélec Joint PhD 3 0 3
NUS-TU/e Joint PhD 15 5 20
Full-time Programmes 1st Yr 2nd Yr 3rd Yr 4th Yr
NUS-UIUC Joint PhD 5 3 8
PhD 801 294 1,095
Engineering 191 0 0 0
Total 1,076 381 1,457
Bioengineering 80 64 71 38
Chemical Engrg 285 287 262 250 Graduate Population
Civil Engrg 78 107 121 153 (as at 30 August 2006)
Computer Engrg 79 99 106 82
Programmes (all) Male Female Total
Electrical Engrg 294 498 392 448
Engrg Science Programme 46 0 0 0
By Coursework 780 310 1,090
Environmental Engrg 43 28 39 38
By Research 1,076 381 1,457
Industrial & Systems Engrg 72 73 63 43
Materials Science & Engrg 47 32 0 0 Total 1,856 691 2,547
Mechanical Engrg 244 384 366 321
PhD students/total research student ratio - 0.7:1
Total 1,459 1,572 1,420 1,373 17% of our engineering undergraduate students go into our doctoral programme
Part-time BTech Programmes
Chemical Engrg 83 45 80 11
Electronics Engrg 156 81 81 95
Mechanical Engrg 83 54 63 47
Total 322 180 224 153

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PROJECT DIRECTOR
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PROJECT MANAGER Maureen Kwee
EDITORIAL & Maureen Kwee Seah Poh Fatt

PRODUCTION TEAM Deborah Chew Yanti Mohamed
Espallela Wasion


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cover1_r2_f-OK.

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

e n o Theme: One Choice, Infinite Opportunities

10Microus C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

opportunities for success 6

research and enterprise

new faculty members

facts and figures 58

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

Adj Prof Boon Swan Foo

Prof Don P Giddens

Prof Venkatesh Narayanamurti

Mr Soo Kok Leng

Prof Ian White

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

02 Prof CHOW Yean Khow 06 Prof CHOU Siaw Kiang 07

04 Assoc Prof ASHRAF Kassim 08 Prof POO Aun Neow

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2006

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

09 Prof Raj RAJAGOPALAN 13 Prof LIM Seh Chun

10 Prof CHAN Eng Soon 14 Prof CHOW Gan-Moog

12 Prof ANG Beng Wah 16 Prof J N REDDY

10Microus C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

10Microus C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

Mr Kwa Chong Seng

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

Mr Lim Soon Hock

10Microus C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

In response to the needs of

Creating Opportunities engineer-leaders with a global

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2006

10Microus C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

Joint Degree Programme with

“My country Vietnam is developing very

Mr Nguyen Tan Thai Hung Bottom right

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

In Graduate Education, the Department of

them thrive in the global Engineering and Science. It matriculated its

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2006

C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

education in chemical sciences and

The Council engineering to benefit society by advancing

SMA Chemical and

The SMA programme in CPE provides

K DALIM MOD: SL 314

The multi-faceted education at the

Enriching and give students the skills to

skills such as reinforce their theoretical understanding of

to my students.” to appreciate the dynamics of group work,

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2006

10Microus C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

“APL was very impressed

Design Programme knowledge of the ME

The Department of Mechanical Engineering

As a result of the success of this pioneering

C K DALIM MOD: SL 314

Left image, from left

universities, and decided on the BTech

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2006

10Microus C K DALIM MOD: SL 314