ENSULIB recognised NUS Libraries as “a regional representative example of Singapore's long-term commitment to embedding environmental responsibility, social inclusion, cultural preservation and innovation into library strategy and practice”.

“Receiving this Special Recognition from IFLA ENSULIB is a meaningful affirmation of NUS Libraries' dedication to making sustainability a core part of everything we do — from the spaces we design to the programmes we run and the digital tools we develop,” said University Librarian, Associate Professor Natalie Pang.

“This recognition reflects the collective effort of our team and reinforces our belief that libraries have a vital role to play in shaping a more sustainable future.”

A holistic approach to sustainable libraries

NUS Libraries’ winning submission, Building Sustainable Libraries at NUS, outlines its systematic approach through its four Sustainability Pillars — Green Resources, Green Programming, Green Libraries, and Green Digital and Innovation — embedded across its operations, collections, programming and digital initiatives.

The approach, which is aligned with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrates how environmental and social responsibility can be woven into a library’s work, rather than treated as a separate initiative. Such was the case in the recently renovated Medicine + Science Library, which integrates sustainability and functionality in its design.

“We hope that our approach can inspire other libraries, particularly in the region, to explore how they too can integrate sustainability holistically into their work and contribute meaningfully to national and global sustainability goals,” said Vice University Librarian Dr Magdeline Ng.

Watch a video about NUS Libraries’ sustainability efforts here, and visit this page for more information about its sustainability initiatives.

Established in 1951, JOC is the flagship journal of the International Communication Association based in Washington D.C., and is widely regarded as an essential journal for communication specialists and policymakers alike. The journal publishes leading scholarship across all aspects of communication, spanning communication research, practice, policy and theory. Prof Zhang is among a select group of five scholars to lead the publication as incoming chief editors. Her four-year term begins with a transition period in September 2026, with full editorial responsibility commencing in January 2027.

Prof Zhang said, “I am deeply honoured to take on this role as incoming editor of the Journal of Communication, one of the most respected journals in our field. I look forward to working alongside my fellow co-editors to support and elevate outstanding communication scholarship from around the world, and I’m excited where this new chapter takes us.”

Beyond this appointment, Prof Zhang is NUS Provost’s Chair Professor and Director of the Civic Tech Lab at FASS. Her research focuses on civic engagement and Information and Communication Technologies, with a particular focus on Asia. She has led multi-nation projects on youth engagement and civic tech across the region, and is currently exploring how civic tech applications can facilitate citizen engagement on science topics such as artificial intelligence, Covid-19 vaccines, climate change and novel food.

The RSSS initiative is designed to attract top overseas-based Singaporean research leaders back to lead local autonomous universities and research institutes.

Prof Yang, a pioneer in biomedical optics and computational imaging, joined NUS CDE’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering in August 2026. After more than two decades at the California Institute of Technology, where he was the Thomas G. Myers Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering and Medical Engineering, he has returned to NUS to lead the new Computational Microscopy, AI and Wavefront Shaping Lab.

His work focuses on pushing the limits of how light and computation can reveal biological structures, from developing Fourier ptychographic microscopy to pioneering methods that focus light deeper into biological tissue. More recently, he has turned to AI to analyse biopsy slides from lung cancer patients to uncover patterns that could support earlier and more accurate disease prediction.

Prof Ong, widely recognised as one of the pioneers of foundation potentials, joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering under NUS CDE in January 2026. After nearly two decades in the United States, he has returned to NUS to establish the AI Foundry, a system that connects AI, scientific data and automated experiments to transform how new materials are discovered. He aims to shorten the materials discovery cycle by enabling models to propose promising candidates, guide experiments and learn from results in a continuous loop.

He leads the Materialyze.AI Lab at NUS, where his research sits at the intersection of materials science and information science. In addition to founding and leading the development of pymatgen, a popular open-source library for materials analysis, Prof Ong’s work also includes developing an AI model to screen millions of hypothetical crystal structures.

Both researchers share a common goal to combine deep scientific insight with AI and computation to create technologies and accelerate discovery with real-world impact. Their return also reflects Singapore’s growing strength as a hub for advanced research, talent and innovation.

Read more about Prof Yang and Prof Ong.

As the 2026 Nurkse Visiting Professor, Associate Professor Ng delivered a series of lectures in Estonia on Singapore's approaches to population ageing, behavioural insights and Smart Nation policy implementation. The appointment fosters international academic exchange and recognises his contributions to advancing research and policy discussions on public sector innovation and governance.

At LKYSPP, Associate Professor Ng's research examines ageing, behavioural science and public policy, drawing on AI and data analytics to better understand societal perceptions and inform evidence-based policymaking. His interdisciplinary work has earned international recognition and reflects NUS' strengths in research that addresses real-world challenges and shapes public policy.

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The SNAS Fellowship honours exemplary individuals for their exceptional and enduring contributions to science and education. As the nation's scientific leaders, SNAS Fellows are a distinguished group entrusted with guiding national policy and research direction, driving thought leadership, and championing science education for the public good. These outstanding scientists are also committed to upholding scientific ethics and advancing the research ecosystem in Singapore.

Prof Novoselov holds a Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professorship at NUS, where he is also Director of the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials and a faculty member of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering, NUS. An established physicist, specialising in condensed matter physics, mesoscopic physics and nanotechnology, Prof Novoselov has broad research interests from mesoscopic phenomena in ferromagnets and superconductors to electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) electron gas in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures and graphene. He also has a vast background in nanofabrication and nanotechnology. 

In 2010, Prof Novoselov (together with Prof Andre Geim) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research in graphene. His groundbreaking discovery of graphene introduced a material that is the most conductive, stretchable, and strongest known, and opened a new realm of multidisciplinary research.

Prof Novoselov was knighted as Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2010 and subsequently awarded knighthood of the British Empire in 2012. A highly decorated and cited researcher with over 600 peer-reviewed publications, he has also received numerous international accolades such as the Europhysics Prize, the Leverhulme Medal and the Dalton Medal among many others, and is a Fellow of The Royal Society. 

For his transformative and seminal discovery of graphene and exploration of other two-dimensional (2D) materials, Prof Novoselov has been elected as a SNAS Fellow. He joins the prestigious ranks of only 62 SNAS Fellows inducted since 2011.

Asst Prof He’s research applies climate science, data analytics and resilience frameworks to better understand and manage extreme weather events. By demonstrating how excess floodwater can be captured and stored for use during dry periods, his work is helping to shape practical solutions for more reliable water management.

“Winning the inaugural Global Climate Research Prize is beyond anything I could have imagined. I am deeply grateful to NUS, the College of Design and Engineering, and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for providing the exceptional research environment and unwavering support that made this possible,” said Asst Prof He.

The €200,000 (S$297,000) prize will be awarded to NUS to support the continued development and expansion of the winning research programme. Asst Prof He said the prize money will be directed towards both fundamental and applied research, with a focus on building climate-resilient and climate-smart solutions for water, food and energy security across Southeast Asia and beyond.

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The honorary doctorate is among the highest distinctions awarded by Lund University and is conferred on individuals who have made significant contributions to academia, the University or society.

A globally renowned scholar, Prof Yeoh has advanced understanding of how migration, gender, family dynamics and identity shape societies in Asia and beyond. Her research has generated critical insights into issues of belonging, care, citizenship and social reproduction, while influencing scholarship across multiple disciplines, including geography, sociology, urban studies and development studies.

Prof Yeoh’s longstanding collaborations with researchers at Lund have helped foster international partnerships and inspired new research directions in the study of migration and social change.

Prof Yeoh said, “I am honoured to receive this recognition from Lund University. This doctorate reflects not just my own work, but the collaborative efforts of many colleagues and research partners over the years. My longstanding relationship with researchers at Lund has been intellectually enriching, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to research endeavours about migration and social change that transcend borders.”

A member of the NUS academic community for more than three decades, Prof Yeoh has taught in the Department of Geography since 1991. She is also a member of the Migration and Mobilities Cluster at the Asia Research Institute, where her work has contributed to deeper understanding of migration, transnationalism, gender, family and social change in Asia.

Jointly sponsored by Elsevier and The Combustion Institute, the Hiroshi Tsuji Early Career Researcher Award honours outstanding researchers who have pushed the frontiers of a specific field of research in fundamental or applied combustion science. Annually, the award and prize of US$10,000 is presented to early career researchers who are within four to ten years of completing a doctoral degree or equivalent.

Assoc Prof Zhang’s research encompasses combustion, engine and fuels. Using a comprehensive approach that combines theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods, his work strives to advance the understanding of combustion physics, energy system safety and fuel performance.  Currently, he leads and is involved in major projects funded by Singapore’s Low-Carbon Energy Research Programme and the National Research Foundation Decarb Programme, and also serves on international combustion boards and editorial teams.

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Asst Prof Jin was awarded for her project, “AI-AR-Enabled Navigation Platform for Clinical Treatment”, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality to enhance precision in clinical procedures.

Asst Prof Wang received the award for his project on AI-driven electrochemical diagnosis for sustainable catalysis, where AI and electrochemical sensing are deployed to improve real-time understanding of catalytic reactions.

Asst Prof Li was recognised for her project, “MAPS – Modelling microplAstic Pollutant transport and fate in tropical coaStal environments”, which studies how microplastics move through tropical coastal systems and contribute to more resilient coastal and marine environments.

Named after Dr Robert Brown, the founding Chairman of MOE’s Academic Research Council, the award reflects the council’s ongoing efforts since 2006 to steer Singapore’s research direction and develop its Autonomous Universities into world-class research institutions.

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Asst Prof Biljecki has been honoured for his research spanning urban analytics, geospatial data science and digital twins, fields that are transforming the measurement, modelling and understanding of cities. His research creates new ways to sense, analyse and represent cities using large-scale urban data, with applications in urban planning, transport, climate and sustainability.

The presentation of the Award will be held at the Society’s Medals and Awards Ceremony in London in June.

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The team from NUS AI Centre for Educational Technologies (AICET) received the award on 21 May 2026 at the 11th Annual Singapore OpenGov CXO Leadership Forum. This award celebrates institutions that are leading digital transformation and setting new benchmarks in governance, digital maturity and service delivery, through innovative technology.

By introducing interactive, AI-driven experiences, ScholAIstic significantly enhances critical thinking, empathy, and practical skills development among students. It also provides educators with structured tracking and feedback mechanisms, allowing for effective monitoring of student progress and the delivery of outcome-based learning.

Successfully applied across diverse NUS disciplines, from social work to law and healthcare education, ScholAIstic demonstrates NUS’ commitment to fostering innovation and developing future-ready learners through scalable, experiential AI-driven learning.

Find out more about the ScholAIstic platform and the award here.

The IADR Innovation in Oral Care Award honours research with strong potential to improve oral health outcomes at the population level. Assoc Prof Rosa’s work addresses a key limitation in biomedical science, where materials are typically tested in simplified laboratory systems that do not accurately predict real-world performance.

Going forward, his team are combining developing hydrogel-based systems to create dynamic laboratory models that mimic human tissue and change over time. This approach allows treatments to be tested under more realistic conditions earlier in development, which could improve reliability, reduce trial-and-error experimentation, and lower reliance on animal testing across healthcare applications.

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WMO is a United Nations (UN) specialised agency that fosters international cooperation on the state of the Earth's atmosphere, weather, climate, and water resources to ensure the safety and welfare of humanity. As WMO recognises AI's potential to manage weather and climate challenges, JAG-AI was formed to provide recommendations for the responsible integration of AI into global meteorological and hydrological systems.

Asst Prof Mengaldo's interdisciplinary research combines mathematical engineering, computational science and AI to develop data-mining and high-fidelity simulation tools for predicting complex systems across fields like engineering, weather and climate, solid earth physics, healthcare, and finance.

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Presented to Assoc Prof Pillai at the 8th Venus International Healthcare Awards (VIHA) during the Annual Healthcare Summit 2025 in Chennai, India, this award celebrates healthcare minds around the world and recognises extraordinary professionals whose research, service, and leadership advance the practice of healthcare.

Assoc Prof Pillai was conferred the award for his leadership in simulation-based healthcare education and faculty simulation instructorship, Emergency Medicine, undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, and public service. His research focuses on online simulation methodology as an alternative to traditional on-site simulation, interprofessional healthcare patient safety education, and training of Residents in responding to clinical emergencies.

“I am honoured and humbled to receive this award – my sincere thanks goes to all the faculty and students who have been trained at the Centre for Healthcare Simulation, and who have motivated and challenged me to excel,” said Assoc Prof Pillai.

His contributions exemplify the award’s mission to honour individuals who demonstrate excellence through service, reflecting a deep commitment to education, innovation, and public good.

Prof Qiu, who is also the Director of the Optical Science and Engineering Center, is recognised for his pioneering works in interfacial optics of low-dimensional and van der Waals materials with photonic nanostructures, fusing multiscale symmetry, topology, and geometry from within natural crystals and meta-optics.

Established in 1982, the Fraunhofer Award recognises significant research accomplishments in the field of optical engineering and honours the contributions of Joseph Fraunhofer to the field. The prize was introduced in 1992 in memory of Robert M. Burley, the award’s first recipient, who exemplified many of the highest attributes of the optical engineer.

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Established in 2023, the award commemorates Leonard Mandel for his seminal contributions to the field of quantum optics and for advancing our understanding of the quantum aspects of light. Prof Lo received this award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the applications of quantum optics, quantum information science, including the invention of decoy-state quantum key distribution (QKD), measurement-device-independent QKD, and all-photonic quantum repeater.

A Provost’s Chair Professor in the Department of Physics and a Principal Investigator in CQT, Prof Lo specialises in quantum information science including quantum cryptography and quantum communication. Prof Lo’s research group was the first to experimentally demonstrate the decoy-state protocol and successfully hacked a commercial QKD system. For his work, he has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships from Optica, the American Physical Society (APS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

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IWBI is the global authority for advancing healthy buildings, organisations and communities by using the WELL Building Standard (WELL), a framework to create and certify spaces that advance human health and well-being. The IWBI Global Educator of the Year Award honours Prof Lam for his outstanding commitment to WELL education.

“I am utterly humbled and deeply honoured to receive the Global WELL Educator Award 2025. It has been an immensely fulfilling journey which started some four decades ago, working with PhD students on research and imparting newfound knowledge to generations of architecture and built environment students around the world,” said Prof Lam.

He added, “I enjoyed working with IWBI and the Well Living Lab colleagues and thank them for keenly supporting my educational endeavours. I am grateful to the National University of Singapore for the opportunity to continue to develop and deliver the “Well & Green Built Environment” curriculum as part of the MSc (Environmental Management) programme and as an Elective offering for the MSc (Sustainable Healthcare) Programme.”

A Provost’s Chair Professor and an internationally renowned architect, Prof Lam specialises in life cycle building information modelling and computational design support systems for total building performance analysis and building diagnostics. He teaches architectural design, net zero carbon developments, and “Well & Green” built environment. Beyond teaching, Prof Lam has consulted on several award-winning buildings in Singapore, China and the USA, and is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards such as the Alexander Schwarzkopf Prize for Technological Innovation.

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The highest award that is only given out once a year, the F. Paul Anderson Award honours an ASHRAE member for their notable achievements, outstanding work or service and exceptional leadership in any field of the Society.

Prof Sekhar is internationally recognised for his work on indoor air quality, thermal comfort, ventilation, and green building technology, among others.  A highly decorated Fellow of ASHRAE, Prof Sekhar has extensive consulting experience and has also won numerous awards for his contributions to research and the industry.

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Founded in 1964, the NAE is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership. It is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, an independent, nonprofit organisation chartered by the US Congress to provide objective analysis and advice to the nation on matters of science, technology, and health. This year, the NAE elected 130 new members and 28 new international members.

Prof Lim’s election to the NAE recognises his distinguished contributions to engineering, which have advanced the understanding of human disease biomechanics and enabled innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Members of the NAE are peer-selected for exceptional engineering achievements and leadership.

This latest honour follows Prof Lim’s election as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2024 and as an International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in 2025, making him the first Singaporean to be elected to both organisations, widely regarded as among the most prestigious scientific and engineering institutions globally.

Prof Lim said, “I am deeply grateful for this tremendous recognition from the NAE. It truly reflects the dedication and hard work of my lab members, collaborators, and colleagues, with whom I am proud to share this honour. I look forward to continuing our journey together in translating research from the laboratory into meaningful real-world impact.”

Prof Lim is the NUSS Chair Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering and Director of the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology at NUS. His research focuses on mechanobiology, microfluidics as well as wearable and AI-enabled systems for health monitoring and therapy. His work has led to influential advances in label-free cell capture and blood-based cancer screening, resulting in patented technologies, licensed innovations, spin-offs and a public-listed company that translate research outcomes into solutions adopted by healthcare and industry partners.

ASPA is a leading professional association for public service, established in 1939 and comprising scholars, government officials and practitioners committed to advancing public service excellence in the United States and around the world. The International Director is responsible for shaping policies, developing strategic directions and ensuring ASPA’s effective operations, particularly in relation to its global members and international interests.

Assoc Prof Wu’s research lies at the intersection of public administration, political economy and social policy, with a regional focus on Greater China and Asia; and his work examines public sector reform, central-local fiscal relations, corruption and governance and social protection. Through the role, he hopes to promote engagement with diverse governance perspectives, such as those from Asia, Africa and Latin America, to advance and transform the field of public administration.

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The IET Fellowship is the highest level of professional recognition conferred by IET to acknowledge exceptional individuals who have demonstrated leadership, influence, as well as sustained significant achievements in engineering, technology, or related disciplines.

Prof Ang’s research interests focus on the development of advanced nano-electronics and photonics device technology to revolutionise future computing, communication and sensing systems. Concurrently, Prof Ang also serves as the Director of Microelectronics Technologies and Devices at NUS and Chief Technology Officer of the National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre (NSTIC).

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As Canada’s largest nanotechnology institute that is committed to the United Nation (UN)’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the WIN annually confers the WIN Rising Star Award in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology to outstanding international researchers whose work aligns with WIN’s Research Thematic Areas and the UN SDGs.

An NUS Presidential Young Professor, Asst Prof Lum’s research focuses on electrochemical CO₂ conversion, electroorganic chemistry and hydrogen production and storage – technologies that contributes towards a more environmentally-friendly world.

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The network provides funding and international collaboration opportunities to accelerate discovery. Asst Prof Luo investigates bacterial cell wall remodelling with implications for antibiotic resistance, and Asst Prof Chia studies immune responses in cancer to aid immunotherapy development.

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TWAS is a merit-based science academy where new members are elected by existing members – internationally renowned scientists who are recognised by their counterparts.

This prestigious fellowship acknowledges Prof Balasubramanian’s pivotal work in the field of atmospheric chemistry, particularly for his trailblazing contributions in aerosol research. Beyond research, he has guided air‑quality policy and conducted impactful public outreach and sustainability education, distinguishing him as a leading academic.

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This award-winning curriculum fundamentally redefines early medical education by integrating a system-based approach with purposeful blended delivery and AI-enabled learning support. It moves beyond traditional discipline-specific teaching, fostering interdisciplinary reasoning through clinical scenarios and active, team-based learning in a flipped-classroom model. The inclusion of an AI-powered question-and-answer platform further enhances personalised student support. This thoughtful combination of pedagogy, technology, and clinical relevance underscores NUS Medicine's commitment to preparing future doctors for the dynamic demands of healthcare.

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Ms Syafiqah was recognised for her advocacy of Malay traditional music, introducing it to new audiences through her compositions that blend it with Western and contemporary practices, and her co-founding of the Open Score Project, a cross-cultural ensemble that celebrates Singapore’s rich cultural diversity through the composition and performance of music fusing traditional ethnic instruments from different cultures.

Her compositions reflect a distinctive voice shaped by a dual grounding in Western classical training and traditional Malay music practice, exploring diverse themes and encouraging intra- and intercultural dialogue, NAC said.

NAC also highlighted her work in music education and developing notation for traditional Malay music to preserve heritage and deepen understanding of Malay music, noting that her efforts enable the arts to flourish by developing emerging areas and inspiring the next generation of artists.

At YST, Ms Syafiqah coordinates the World Music Ensemble, a course that introduces students to traditional music from different cultures, and teaches the Malay kompang as part of this course. In addition, she instructs the Malay Fusion Ensemble at School of the Arts and conducts angklung music in schools.

Sharing that she is deeply honoured to receive the award, Ms Syafiqah said: “Learning and engaging with the traditional arts of a culture different from one’s own can help to broaden one’s humanity and perspective of the world.”

“With this honour, I hope to make a greater impact in Singapore's arts landscape by creating more significant musical works, strengthening the ecosystem of traditional Malay music through formalised education, and contributing to the creation and research of intercultural music that is both genuine and cohesive.”

Endorsed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), the award recognises the outstanding academic achievements of promising, early-career scientists and engineers from ASEAN countries, and encourages them to continue contributing in the area of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Asst Prof Lew was lauded for developing tiny plant sensors and nanoparticle delivery systems that monitor plant health and boost climate resilience. As an NUS Presidential Young Professor, he leads multidisciplinary research across nanotechnology, plant biology, chemistry, and engineering to advance the understanding of plant physiology and revolutionise agriculture.

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The PAE honours individuals, organisations and education institutions that have made significant contributions towards environmental sustainability and resilience. It aims to inspire greater collective action towards tackling environmental and sustainability challenges.

On his win, Assoc Prof Tay said, “I’m honoured and I share the award with those who have supported my work. At NUS, I’m thankful for academic colleagues who appreciate that our knowledge can be shared and used.”

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AGU honours individuals and teams for their outstanding contributions to research, education, science communication and outreach. These recipients have transformed our understanding of the world, improved daily lives and communities, and helped drive solutions towards a more sustainable future.

AGU Fellow

Prof Balasubramanian has been elected a Fellow of AGU, one of the Union’s most prestigious honours, in recognition of his distinguished and sustained contributions to the field of air quality.

The Fellows programme recognises individuals who have demonstrated scientific excellence in the Earth and space sciences through notable achievements in research, such as making a breakthrough or discovery, driving innovation in their field, or achieving sustained scientific impact.

Natural Hazards Early Career Award

Asst Prof He, whose research addresses one of humanity’s most pressing challenges in the face of climate change by studying and managing the increasing risks from droughts and floods, and their cascading impacts on global water, food, and energy security, has been conferred the Natural Hazards Early Career Award.

This award is presented annually to recognise significant contributions to natural hazards science by an early career scientist within 10 years of earning PhD.

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Emeritus Professor James Goh (left) received the IFMBE Honorary Life Member Award, in recognition of his distinguished leadership and long-standing contributions to the global biomedical engineering community.

Professor Lim Chwee Teck was presented with the IFMBE Otto Schmitt Award in recognition of his pioneering work in mechanobiology, microfluidics, and wearable technologies, as well as his leadership, innovation, and impact in advancing the field. Prof Lim is also NUSS Chair Professor, Director of the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech), and Principal Investigator at Mechanobiology Institute.

Professor Li Jun received the IFMBE Vladimir K. Zworykin Award for his outstanding research on supramolecular self-assembled nanomaterials and hydrogels, which have advanced the fields of nanomedicine and sustainable agriculture.

Assistant Professor Andy Tay was honoured with the IFMBE–IAMBE Early Career Award, which recognises promising young researchers within seven years of completing their PhD. Asst Prof Tay is also a Principal Investigator at iHealthtech.

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The Advanced Science Young Innovator Award honours outstanding, interdisciplinary scientific work across a broad spectrum of fields in the fundamental understanding and applied development of materials science and chemistry, physics and engineering, life and health sciences, earth and environmental sciences, as well as social sciences and humanities. Award recipients also demonstrate exceptional promise as developing research leaders.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this award and to represent NUS on the global stage. This recognition inspires us to push forward in the quest for future materials to address pressing challenges in quantum technologies and sustainable solutions for a smarter, more sustainable future,” said Assoc Prof Lu.

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The Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering recognises the most accomplished engineers, inventors, and technologists from the United Kingdom and around the world who have made exceptional contributions to engineering. This year, 74 new Fellows were elected by their peers, including nine International and five Honorary Fellows who have demonstrated outstanding impact in their fields.

This latest honour follows Prof Lim’s election to the Royal Society in 2024, highlighting his rare distinction as the first and only Singaporean to be recognised by both of the world’s most prestigious science and engineering academies – a testament to the interdisciplinary impact of his trailblazing work.

Prof Lim, who is also with the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, was elected to the Academy in recognition of his pioneering research in biomedical engineering, and his significant contributions to the development of microfluidic and wearable technologies for disease diagnosis and therapy. A globally renowned biomedical engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur, he has translated academic innovations into impactful healthcare solutions through six start-ups, including one that was publicly listed. Among his transformative technologies is a cancer-detecting biochip designed to capture circulating tumour cells from blood, offering a less invasive approach to cancer diagnostics.

In addition to his research and innovation, Prof Lim is deeply dedicated to mentoring the next generation of researchers, actively shaping the future of biomedical engineering and healthcare innovation.

“I’m extremely honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and incredibly proud to be the only Singaporean elected to both the Royal Academy and also the Royal Society,” said Prof Lim. “This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and creativity of my amazing team of past and present lab members, as well as the many outstanding collaborators whom I have the privilege to work with. I am also grateful to the Academy for this profound honour, and will remain committed to using engineering to create real-world impact.”

Prof Lim’s election to both academies reflects the rising global stature of Singaporean science and engineering, and highlights how interdisciplinary innovation is shaping the future of healthcare.

Please refer to the Royal Academy's announcement here, and Prof Lim’s Royal Academy Fellow profile page here.

In acknowledgment of this achievement, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) invited NUS Libraries to present its pioneering project at the 89th World Library and Information Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, themed “Uniting Knowledge, Building the Future”, in August this year.

TF-NUS Heritage Champions, a collaboration between Temasek Foundation, the National Heritage Board, and NUS Libraries, is a youth ambassador programme that empowers tertiary students to preserve Singapore's cultural heritage through digital innovation. The initiative provides comprehensive training in heritage documentation and digital preservation, culminating in an ideathon where participants propose community-based projects. Selected projects receive resources and mentorship support, enabling students to implement their ideas using cutting-edge technologies like immersive reality and generative artificial intelligence.

"Receiving the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award is an affirmation of  NUS Libraries’ commitment to advancing library marketing excellence through creativity and innovation," commented University Librarian, Associate Professor Natalie Pang. "It also validates our approach to fostering meaningful collaborations between educational institutions and stakeholders in the public, private and people sectors, creating impactful learning experiences in the cultural heritage domain for students across Singapore's higher education landscape.”

Sharing her motivations for initiating this project, Assoc Prof Pang said, "Growing up in a small island nation like Singapore means that life here has always been marked by rapid growth. That growth and modernisation may come with gaps when it comes to preserving and understanding our rich history and heritage.”

“Because of this, I've always wanted to create a platform where young minds can come together and connect with heritage through collections and the application of digital tools in innovative ways,” she added. “And that really is the driving reason behind the creation of the TF-NUS Heritage Champions programme."

Under Ms Tan’s visionary leadership, NUS has reimagined its digital landscape — from developing AI-Know, a university-wide platform that democratises AI access, to implementing green IT infrastructure that advances both operational efficiency and sustainability. AI-Know has introduced tools such as AI-Minute for automated meeting summaries and AI-Create for building no-code digital agents, saving the University more than 265,000 man-hours in 2024 and set to generate millions in cost savings and cost avoidance.

She has also championed sustainability through the Green Data Centre Network Upgrade Project, which reduced power consumption by 45 per cent and rack space by 49 per cent, resulting in significant energy and cost savings while advancing NUS’ Green Plan 2030 commitments.

Collaboration is a hallmark of Ms Tan’s leadership. She has pioneered a co-creation model with more than 120 departments, working closely with colleagues to identify pain points and design fit-for-purpose AI solutions. Examples include the laboratory inspection tool with the Office of Risk Management and Compliance, and chatbots with the Offices of Finance and Human Resources. These partnerships ensure business relevance, foster shared ownership, and accelerate adoption. She also spearheaded My Virtual Lab, NUS’ first 3D immersive virtual laboratory, which redefines STEM education by enabling interactive, risk-free training and collaborative simulations.

Looking ahead, NUS is scaling up research capabilities through expanded high-performance computing facilities, currently ranked among the world’s top 110 supercomputers. At the same time, initiatives such as NUSHub and the NextGeneSIS programme are enhancing student engagement and optimising the learner experience across both degree and lifelong learning pathways.

These initiatives are guided by the IT Strategic Plan blueprint envisioned and driven by Ms Tan in 2023. Anchored by four strategic goals — Digitally Empowered Business, Cyber Fortress, Flexible Infrastructure, and Future-Ready IT Workforce — the roadmap ensures technology initiatives are closely aligned with NUS’ mission and vision, supporting both operational excellence and future growth.

Reflecting on the award, Ms Tan said: “I am deeply honoured by this recognition, which is a testament to the collective spirit of NUS. It reflects our shared commitment to building a ‘Borderless University, Powered by Infinite Technology,’ where innovation is open and accessible to all. My guiding principle has always been to empower others – fostering an environment where staff and students feel encouraged to experiment, learn, and thrive.

Looking ahead, I remain committed to advancing our digital transformation, ensuring that technology not only keeps pace with the evolving needs of our university but truly enriches the everyday experiences of our community.”

The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) announced 12 Fellows this year comprising accomplished early-career scientists selected for their exceptional scientific contributions and potential in their respective fields.

The AYSF annually selects early-career researchers in the fundamental science disciplines of life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and computer science. Each Fellow receives USD100,000 over two years to support their research, along with benefits from participating in the AYSF annual conference, academic activities, and access to a network of young scientists across Asia and globally. 

Assoc Prof Koh said, “It’s an honour to be named an AYS Fellow and represent NUS on the international stage. I believe this Fellowship will boost our efforts to develop transformative skeletal editing reactions that have the capacity to change the landscape of organic synthesis.”

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The Kyoto Rising-Star Lectureship Award was first established in 2020 by the MSD Life Science Foundation and later expanded to become an international accolade in 2023.

Assoc Prof Koh has gained international acclaim for his research in sustainable catalysis and radical chemistry that addresses critical challenges in chemical synthesis through base metal catalysis and radical cross-coupling chemistry.

Assoc Prof Koh said, “It’s an incredible honour to win this award and represent Singapore and NUS in the international arena. It really motivates us to continue our work to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in chemical synthesis.”

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The Award, which honours individuals for their contributions to technical and scientific advancements, education, and research collaboration in the field of Antennas – either within Europe or in connection with European initiatives – was presented at EuCAP 2025, the 19^th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation.

Prof Chen currently serves as the Director of the Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Centre (ARTIC) based in CDE. ARTIC’s research spans a wide range of cutting-edge areas, including Adaptive and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, and Next-generation Imaging and Optoelectronics Technology.

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The RGS-IBG noted that the award is in recognition of his body of publications, which has “forged a whole new branch of geographical science” and has established geography “as a key discipline for the study of money and finance”. They cited his recently published book The Atlas of Finance – the first-ever book-sized collection of maps and visuals dedicated to financial geography – as “a definitive contribution to our understanding of the geographical structure of the global financial system.” Past recipients of the award include the notable Dr Roger Tomlinson, a distinguished geographer and creator of the world’s first Geographic Information System.

Founded in 1830 and based in London, the RGS-IBG is a renowned institution dedicated to advancing geographical science through supporting and promoting geography and its practitioners through research, education and public engagement. With 16,000 members currently, the organisation is the largest and most active scholarly geographical society.

Prof Wójcik was presented the award by the Society’s President, Professor Dame Jane Francis, at a ceremony in London on 2 June. On receiving the award, he shared, “I feel honoured and humbled. I hope that this occasion serves as encouragement to others who study finance and space, within and beyond financial geography.”

A financial and economic geographer, Prof Wójcik’s research combines insights from geography, economics, political economy, sociology and anthropology. He has published 8 books and over 120 articles and book chapters in leading journals and edited volumes. Before coming to NUS, he served as a Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Oxford's School of Geography and the Environment until 2023. He is also the founder and inaugural chair of the Global Network on Financial Geography (FinGeo), a research network that fosters collaboration among scholars interested in the spatial aspects of finance, and the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Finance & Space journal.

Click here to learn more about Prof Wójcik in a RGS-IBG interview.

The George Mercer Award was established in 1948 and is awarded annually for an outstanding ecological research paper published within the past two years by a younger researcher, with the lead author of the paper being 40 years of age or younger at the time of publication.

The researchers’ paper was recognised for advancing the understanding of the effects of immigration on species coexistence in intertidal communities. The authors planned a field experiment with a novel design for manipulating immigration rates. Dr Loke executed the experiment on seawalls in Sentosa, Singapore. The authors then combined these results with models to test a classic hypothesis about community assembly versus a novel hypothesis recently developed in Assoc Prof Chisholm's lab.

Consistent with the novel hypothesis, the authors showed that the number of niches in a habitat sets a low floor rather than a high ceiling on the number of coexisting species — and that there appears to be no ceiling at all if new species arrive rapidly enough. The results support the view that most species coexist transiently, not stably, and that coexistence is maintained by ongoing immigration.

The integration of field experiments with clear hypotheses and mathematical modelling provides novel insights that advance the understanding of the forces structuring ecological communities. The researchers also combined theory and empirical evidence in a creative and exceptionally well-written way.

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A distinguished physician and scientist, Prof Patani has over a decade of research experience in neurodegeneration, particularly in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models. His work has significantly advanced understanding of ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism and cellular autonomy in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof Patani has received multiple prestigious awards for his research, including the Lister Research Prize, the Brain Sciences Young Investigator Award, International 3Rs Prize, Paulo Gontijo Prize in Medicine, Graham Bull Prize, and Goulstonian Lectureship from the Royal College of Physicians.

At NUS, Prof Patani will be Professor of Neuroscience in the Departments of Medicine and Anatomy. He will also take on the role of Director of the Neurobiology Programme at the Life Sciences Institute.

In addition to his research and clinical roles, Prof Patani contributes to the scientific community through service on several influential panels, including the MRC Neuroscience and Mental Health Board, MRC Training and Careers Strategy Board, and the MND Association Funding Panel.

Founded in 1930, the IAS is one of the world’s leading centres for theoretical research and intellectual exploration. Renowned for providing an environment of deep intellectual engagement and academic freedom, its membership is awarded to individuals whose research is expected to produce significant and original contributions.

Members of the IAS span the academic spectrum, from early-career researchers of exceptional promise to distinguished senior scholars, and come to the Institute for residencies ranging from one term to several years. Past Members include luminaries such as Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist or ‘father of the atomic bomb’ J. Robert Oppenheimer, and renowned anthropologist Clifford Geertz.

This prestigious appointment places Assoc Prof Neyazi among a select group of approximately 200 scholars chosen annually from a competitive pool of applicants worldwide. He will begin his fellowship in IAS’ School of Social Science from September this year.

Assoc Prof Neyazi said, “I’m honoured to be selected as a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study. The IAS has long been a place where scholars are given the time and space to think deeply and engage critically with big ideas. I look forward to joining this extraordinary intellectual community and to advancing my research in such a uniquely stimulating environment.”

While in residence, he will be working on his book that focuses on the politics of internet shutdowns. As part of this project, he will be researching the evolving relationship between technology, governance, and power, with a particular focus on how digital infrastructure and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence shape political and social dynamics across different political regimes.

More broadly, Assoc Prof Neyazi’s research focuses on the relationship between media use and political behaviour, analysing campaign strategies, internet control, and misinformation. He pays particular attention to developments in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, examining how the evolving information environment shapes online behaviours and influences the future of democratic politics.

Developed in-house by the Enterprise Services Team at NUS IT in collaboration with departments across the University, AI-Know is a university-wide initiative aimed at empowering, enabling, and educating the NUS community on Generative AI (GenAI). Designed as a one-stop super-app for AI-driven tools and training, AI-Know has already impacted nearly 1,000 staff members across more than 120 departments, driving unprecedented levels of digital transformation and innovation.

At the heart of AI-Know is a centralised suite of AI productivity tools, namely, AI-Chat, AI-Draw, AI-Minute, and AI-Guide These tools are revolutionising traditional workflows by automating manual tasks, enhancing decision-making, and boosting efficiency across administrative and academic domains. For instance, the AI-Minute tool alone has saved an estimated 9,480 man-hours annually by automating the generation of meeting minutes.

“AI-Know isn’t just a project—it’s a movement,” said Mr Irving Neil Kwok, Head of Enterprise Services, NUS IT. “It exemplifies how a university can lead digital transformation from within. This award reflects our team’s commitment to making AI accessible, impactful, and sustainable for everyone at NUS. We’re proud that AI-Know has empowered our staff to build and use AI solutions tailored to their needs—and we’re just getting started.”

One of AI-Know’s standout features is its emphasis on citizen development, enabling staff to independently create AI solutions via the AI-Create platform. This bottom-up innovation has led to successful deployments such as the automation of hostel appeals processing by the Office of Student Affairs which helps reduce processing time and human errors; and the aptitude-based admissions process for the Office of Admissions speeding up decision-making while ensuring no promising candidate is overlooked.

Beyond its operational impact, AI-Know also prioritises AI literacy through tiered Digital Enablement training sessions, offering foundational to advanced skills in using GenAI for work. To date, over 1,000 NUS staff have undergone AI training sessions, fostering a future-ready culture of innovation across campus.

AI-Know’s scalability and agility are also key to its success. The platform supports rapid prototyping, iterative enhancements based on user feedback, and seamless integration of the latest AI models from OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. This ensures that the NUS community always has access to cutting-edge capabilities.

Looking ahead, the team is working to extend the reach of AI-Know to the 50,000-strong student community. One initiative on the horizon is a new AI-powered career guidance chatbot, co-developed with the Centre for Future Graduates, to deliver personalised support and boost career readiness.

With its comprehensive, collaborative, and future-facing approach, AI-Know is not only setting the gold standard for AI integration within higher education but also serving as a blueprint for digital transformation in institutions worldwide.

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Published in February 2023 by University of Washington Press, Dr Zakaria’s book explores how religious beliefs and practices have influenced the way people in the region interact with their environment, specifically with respect to the natural world. She traces the conversion of the Batak people in upland Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula to Islam and Christianity during the 19th century, and finds that the process helped shape social structures that voided the natural world of enchantment, ushered in a cash economy, and placed the power to remake local landscapes into the hands of elites.

Dr Zakaria shared how she felt honoured to receive the distinction in the company of many wonderful scholars whose field-shaping books in Southeast Asian studies have been recognised through this award.

She added, “More importantly, I hope that my book will spark new conversations about environmental history and ethics as well as the role of religious communities in co-creating a sustainable world. Area studies, with its phenomenological approaches to understanding the region's communities, continues to offer grounded views to the pressing issues of our time and I hope that more students will be interested to explore the region on their own terms."

Dr Zakaria holds a joint appointment in the Departments of Southeast Asian Studies and Malay Studies at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Her research interests focus on religion and ecology, environmental justice and indigenous movements in Southeast Asia. She is currently working on a research project on the role of religion and science in disaster responses, focusing on volcanic eruptions, and she also co-coordinates a digital humanities project comparing Malay and Chinese heritage medicine. 

Prof Venkitaraman’s research has elucidated the tumour suppressive functions of the hereditary breast cancer gene, BRCA2, in genome maintenance. His work has been instrumental in uncovering the mechanisms responsible for carcinogenesis in BRCA2 mutation carriers, and advancing technologies to accelerate drug discovery, thereby establishing a foundation for the development of novel cancer therapies.

“I am deeply honoured to be elected to the AACR Academy, the world’s oldest and largest cancer research organisation. It is a great privilege to join such a distinguished group of global colleagues who have made transformative contributions for the lasting benefit of patients,” said Prof Venkitaraman.

He added, “This recognition is not mine alone—it also felicitates the achievements of a far-flung family of staff, students, fellows, and collaborators in my team whose contributions and camaraderie have made my work possible. It also underscores the excellence of research conducted at CSI Singapore, made possible through the generous support of our funders and donors. I am proud to be part of the remarkable scientific community at NUS and A*STAR in Singapore, and remain committed to advancing discoveries that improve patient outcomes worldwide.”

The AACR Academy honours outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions in driving innovation and progress in the fight against cancer. Fellows of the AACR Academy serve as a global brain trust of leading experts in cancer science and medicine, working to advance the AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, collaboration, communication, advocacy, and funding for cancer research.

Fellows of the AACR Academy are nominated and elected through a meticulous peer-reviewed process that rigorously evaluates each candidate’s scientific achievements and contributions to the global cancer research community. Scientists whose work have made a deep and lasting impact on cancer research and related fields are considered for election and induction into the AACR Academy.

“The 2025 class of Fellows of the AACR Academy perfectly exemplifies the pinnacle of scientific innovation and excellence, with their collective scientific contributions fundamentally advancing our understanding of cancer biology and treatment. We are thrilled to welcome them to our distinguished group of Fellows of the AACR Academy, now numbering 375, and look forward to celebrating their groundbreaking achievements at our upcoming Annual Meeting in April 2025,” said AACR Chief Executive Officer Dr Margaret Foti.

The award, which honours top Chief Information Officers (CIOs) across Southeast Asia, is presented to those who have demonstrated exceptional foresight, strategic thinking, and the ability to integrate technology seamlessly into their organisations. Ms Tan was selected for her significant role in advancing NUS’ digital landscape, creating a robust ecosystem that fosters collaboration, learning, and research.

A standout initiative launched under her leadership in 2024 is AI-Know, NUS’ proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) platform. This comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools is designed to empower NUS staff to build digital competencies alongside Digital Enablement training that enhances AI literacy across the university. With features tailored to support the academic and administrative needs of university users, AI-Know aims to transform workplace culture by fostering a mindset of self-service, innovation, and agility, while embracing the full potential of AI.

Emphasising the importance of cultivating a culture of agility and innovation to navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape, Ms Tan said, “Our transformative approach to advancing the campus digital landscape stems from our belief in enabling and empowering all staff to embrace AI. That is why, from the onset, NUS Information Technology (NUS IT) decided to build an AI platform instead of a function-specific AI solution. Through AI-Know, we enable staff from all departments to build their own AI solutions within defined safe guardrails.”

Since its launch, AI-Know has empowered nearly 1,000 staff and engaged over 120 departments across campus. Departments have leveraged the platform’s AI-Create feature to develop their own generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), integrating their data repositories and tailoring specific instructions. For example, NUS Office of Human Resources has developed a GPT to assist candidates during the hiring process, while ‘GPT Tutor’ provided personalised support to learners.

Beyond AI-Know, Ms Tan’s strategic emphasis on cloud computing, AI, and data fabric has solidified NUS’s position as a beacon of innovation within the educational sector, inspiring institutions across the region to follow suit.

The 2024 cohort of ACM Fellows comprises 55 distinguished inductees from leading universities, institutions, and tech companies around the world. One of the highest accolades in the computing field, the ACM Fellows programme recognises the top one per cent of ACM members for their exceptional contributions to advancing computing and information technology, and/or outstanding service to ACM and the larger computing community. Fellows are nominated by their peers, with nominations reviewed by a distinguished selection committee.

Prof Kankanhalli, who is also the Director of NUS AI Institute and Deputy Executive Chairman of AI Singapore, was recognised for his significant contributions to multimedia content processing and multimedia security. An authority on multimodal computing, computer vision as well as trustworthy AI, Prof Kankanhalli’s research contributions are in   using multimodal semantics forimage and video understanding, as well as making multimodal models robust and safe.

Prof Kankanhalli shared, “It is a special honour to be included in such distinguished company. It is also a recognition of the outstanding students, postdocs, colleagues and collaborators with whom I was able to pursue very exciting and meaningful research. NUS and NUS Computing have supported the exploration of bold ideas, and I look forward to doing even more impactful work!”

Prof Roychoudhury, who also serves as Co-Director (Singapore) of DesCartes, was honoured for his transformative contributions to software testing and analysis, including automated programme repair and fuzz testing. His research has played a pivotal role in enhancing the reliability of software systems, addressing critical challenges in cybersecurity and system resilience.

“I am honoured to be selected as an ACM fellow for my contributions to trustworthy software systems. As I narrated in a recent interview to ACM, I feel that imagination remains the key to research—it drives the formulation of new research directions and new research problems. The qualitative outlook towards computing research, which can shape future technology that is actually being used by society, is thus at least as important as the quantitative outlook towards research (which simply measures research and often gets over-emphasised). Today the technologies for software security or automatic programming that we have built at NUS are used by practitioners on a daily basis, while still continuing to inspire new lines of thought among researchers to this day,” said Prof Roychoudhury.

NUS congratulates Prof Kankanhalli and Prof Roychoudhury on receiving this prestigious accolade and we celebrate their remarkable contributions to shaping the future of computing. Their achievements underscores NUS’ commitment to driving cutting-edge research, fostering innovation, and advancing global excellence in the field of computing.

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This prestigious list reflects the best in scholarly titles, both print and digital, that were reviewed the year before by ALA’s publishing unit, Choice, and brings with it the extraordinary recognition of the academic library community. ALA noted that the list is quite selective, containing approximately ten per cent of some 5,000 works reviewed annually by Choice.

Published on 9 March 2023 by Cambridge University Press, the volume is a pioneering exploration of how different Asian cultures understand and value sensory experiences – such as sight, sound, touch, taste, smell and beyond – and reveal the ways in which these are deeply tied to cultural meanings and social practices. For instance, it looks at sensory rituals, the role of sensory experiences in religious practices, and how sensory engagement can shape identity and social interaction.

Assoc Prof Low, Head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, focuses his research on sensory studies, migration and transnationalism, food and foodways, and social memory and heritage. His current research projects include human-non-human relations and sensory encounters in the city, as well as sensory craft in relation to ceramic artists and learners in Singapore. 

On the accolade, Assoc Prof Low said, “I am humbled and privileged to receive this acknowledgement from the ALA. More importantly, it is gratifying to see that sensory scholarship continues to gain important traction and academic visibility, with a focus on Asian contexts and cultures”.