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NTU

Published by htlee, 2016-04-27 04:43:16

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SCHOOL OF MATERIALSSCIENCE ANDENGINEERING (MSE) HEALTH Developing Biodegradable Stents Among the more than 200 technology- inspired projects in healthcare that NTU has engaged in is work on biodegradable stents developed by faculty at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the College of Engineering that unblock clogged vessels in the body. One of the stents, used for unclogging arteries in the leg, has resulted in an international start-up backed by more than US$12 million in investments. 51

SCHOOL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (MSE) ENERGY Solar Fuels Laboratory The Solar Fuels Laboratory was set up in February 2011 motivated by opportunities to tap on abundant solar energy to produce clean fuel and new technologies e.g. hydrogen and carbon-based fuels. The Lab collaborates with notable researchers from Imperial College and EPFL such as Prof James Barber and Prof James Durrant (Imperial College) and Prof Michael Graetzel (EPFL). The current key research focus areas are: 1. H2O oxidation and reduction. 2. CO2 reduction. 3. Overall H2O splitting in tandem cells. The goal is to develop cheap, yet efficient, material systems that can allow for the generation of solar fuels, either hydrogen production through water reduction or carbon-based fuels through carbon dioxide reduction. Novel hybrid systems, such as semiconductor-metal systems and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are also explored.52

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SHELTER SCHOOL OF CIVIL ANDManaging Land Reclamation ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING (CEE)Land Reclamation is one of the major construction activitiesin Singapore and thus one of the research interestsof the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.In conjunction with large land reclamation projects inSingapore and the region, extensive research has beencarried out on land reclamation materials and processes,site characterisation by in-situ and laboratory tests, groundimprovement methods, field monitoring, and performanceof constructed facilities on reclaimed land.Recent developments in this area of research include theuse of sewage sludge and other industrial waste for landreclamation, developments of innovative soil improvementtechniques, reliability analysis of settlement predictions,methods for assessment of degree of consolidation, coastaldike construction methods and disaster mitigation andrehabilitation techniques. 55

“The nations and people who master the new sciences of complexity will become the economic, cultural, and political superpowers of the 21st century.” – Heinz Pagels56

HOW TO BUILDAND ENCOURAGEINTERDISCIPLINARYCOLLABORATIONS TO SOLVESUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES?Interdisciplinary focus and collaboration is another key for NTUsustainability research.The future challenges of our societies are of such complexity that singledisciplines cannot solve them. These days, questions like transportation,land use, clean water, energy, security, housing and quality education fittogether and are more interdependent than ever before; which makesour timing critical, such that consideration of the full range of disciplinaryinputs needs to occur at the beginning of the thought, planning, funding,investment and constructing process, and not as afterthoughts or add-ons. 57

NRF CREATE (CAMPUS FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL ENTERPRISE) NTU is involved in the NRF CREATE initiative to attract several leading research universities from around the World to establish research teams in Singapore and conduct advanced research in partnership with NTU and other local institutions. A special One-North Campus is being provided, at which NTU will have a physical presence. This creates an opportunity for NTU to involve other leading universities in this scheme. SINGAPORE-PEKING UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTRE FOR A SUSTAINABLE LOW-CARBON FUTURE (SPURc) The SPURc research programme seeks to develop energy efficient and environmentally friendly carbon capture technologies which can be applied in the manufacturing and chemical industries. It will focus on carbon dioxide capture and conversion using sunlight as well as photochemical and photosynthetic processes. In particular, the PKU-NTU-NUS team will focus on carbon capture, conversion and utilisation in Singapore. SINGAPORE-BERKELEY RESEARCH INITIATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY (SinBeRISE) AND SINGAPORE-BERKELEY BUILDING EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TROPICS (BEST) The SinbeRISE project seeks to harvest solar energy for conversion into electricity as well as to liquid fuels. This research would help establish Singapore as a vibrant centre for leading edge solar energy research and a preferred location for global solar energy companies. Working with the University of California, Berkeley, NTU will be a part of the Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS) and will conduct research on Building Efficiency and Sustainability in the Tropics (BEST). This will have tremendous impact on energy efficiency for new buildings and the existing built environment. The stakeholders for this project include UC Berkeley, NTU (MSE, SCBE and SPMS) and NUS.58

TECHNION-ISRAEL INSTITUTE OFTECHNOLOGY (TECHNION)The Technion programme on RegenerativeMedicine Initiative in Cardiac Restoration Therapy,is a research collaboration amongst Technion, NUSand NTU. Focusing on biomaterials, the researchcombines core discoveries in cell source andgrowth conditions, scaffold design, engineeringbioreactor design, and in vivo integration intothree therapeutic strategies for cardiac restorationfollowing myocardial infarction. BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY (BGU) OF THE NEGEV AND HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM (HUJ) NTU will collaborate with two top Israeli universities, the Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ), in nanomaterials research to find solutions that increase energy efficiency and reduce water wastage for current technologies. THE SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY (SMART) CENTRE The SMART Centre has three interdisciplinary research groups to date: BioSystems and Micromechanics (BioSym), Centre for Environmental Sensing And Modeling (CENSAM) and Infection Diseases (ID). NTU has been working with these groups on joint collaborations, and is strongly linked up with CENSAM on various projects including Mose – Basic Hydrolic Modeling and Transport (CEE), Continuous Monitoring of Water Distribution Systems (SCE), Flexible Pressure Sensors Array and Airflow Sensors (MAE), and Surface and Sub-Sea Sensor Data Fusion for Coastal Environment Mapping and Monitoring (EEE). 59

“Education and only education enables the individual to better understand the issue and the upcoming challenge. Without education, this is not possible. At the base of sustainability, we need education.” – Prof Alexander J. B. Zehnder, Member, Board of Trustees, Nanyang Technological University S3 – 8 January 2014 PLAY VIDEO60

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PIONEERING SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION TRAINING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW Universities shape the students and leaders of tomorrow, and sustainability needs to be integrated into the high-level skill sets on which economies rely. Education at all levels contributes to an informed and responsible populace, able to consider sustainability goals in their daily lives and support government sustainability initiatives. NTU’s Sustainable Earth Peak and continuing sustainability initiatives represent important efforts in developing and leveraging the university’s diverse strengths: particularly its main task in educating students and Singapore’s teachers; its longstanding expertise in engineering and business; and its growing multidisciplinary capacity in areas such as healthcare, science, economics, and the humanities. Besides supporting many new areas that will drive Singapore’s economy, NTU’s sustainability efforts will shape and support future leaders who will help to address some of the major challenges facing Singapore and the entire world.62

“ Education is critical for promotingsustainable development and improving the capacity of people to address environment and development issues.” – United Nations, 1992 63

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT OUR DISCIPLINES Hailing from 80 countries, and residing within the full range of disciplines and professional schools, NTU’s 4,300-strong faculty and research staff bring dynamic international and local perspectives to sustainability research and teaching, as well as many years of industry experience. School Of Mechanical And MAE Aerospace Engineering School Of Chemical And SCBE Biomedical Engineering School Of Civil And CEE Environmental Engineering School Of Electrical And EEE Electronic Engineering Lee Kong Chian School Of School Of Medicine Biological SBS LKCMedicine Sciences GC0001 – INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES AND SOLUTIONS Nanyang Business School NBS National Institute Of Para Limes Education (NIE) Conferences64

College Of Engineering (COE) Lee Kong Chian School Of Medicine (LKCMedicine) College Of Science (COS) S. Rajaratnam School Of International Studies (RSIS) College Of Humanities, Arts And Social Sciences (HASS) Nanyang Business School (NBS) SCE MSE School Of Material Science And EngineeringSchool Of Computer School Of Physical And Engineering Mathematical Science SPMS ADM Asian School Of The Environment School Of Art, Design ASE Interdisciplinary And Media Graduate School (IGS) S. Rajaratnam School Of Focuses on the key researchSchool Of Humanities International Studies areas within NTU’s Peaks of And Social Sciences Excellence in Sustainable RSIS HSS WKW Earth, New Media and Future Healthcare. Wee Kim Wee School Of Communication And InformationNTU-SGX Sustainability Institute of Advanced Studies Lecture Series (IAS) Public Lectures 65

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (NIE) STARTING WITH TEACHERS The presence of the National Institute of Education (NIE) at NTU, the national teacher training institute in Singapore, gives the university a truly unique position in the world for sustainability research and practice. The Singapore education system has been referred to as being one of the most successful educational systems in the world. This is in part due to the sound educational policies and research in the shaping of curriculum and management practices of schools. But, more importantly, it is owing to the passion and perseverance of more than 33,000 committed and dedicated teachers in force.66

A GLIMPSE AT NIE’S SUSTAINABILITY COURSESAAG23E CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGEThis course will examine atmospheric processes that are involvedin anomalous and adverse weather conditions, climate zones ofthe tropics and trans-boundary atmospheric issues and globalclimate change. The focus of the course will include discussionon impacts and management responses to climate changes.AAG23K URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGEUrban concepts are introduced and defined on the basis ofthree selected elements of contemporary urban geography:spatial, social and economic. These fundamental charactersare translated into three respective key areas and exploredin greater details: city as environment (physical and land usechange, settlement, transport); city as people (urbanisation,suburbanisation, poverty and segregation); and city as economy(industrial, post-industrial, world city developments). Worldwiderelevant urban issues including those from Singapore are usedas teaching and class reflection materials.AAG23M POPULATION AND SUSTAINABILITYPopulation trends in the world today provide a confusing andcontradictory mix of policy issues that are at the centre of thediscussion in this course. While affluent countries in Asia andthe West face declining fertility rate and ageing populations withresulting policy packages that are pro-natalist, there are societieswhich have been focused on addressing rapid population growthrates. In an age of global or international migration flows, it is notsurprising to believe demographers’ views that if the challengeto sustainability concerns in the last millennium has beenpopulation growth, then the issue today is the spatial distributionof such population. This course considers global sustainabilityconcerns and changing population trends like the demographictransition in advanced industrialised societies. 67

GC0001: INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES AND SOLUTIONS INSPIRING SUSTAINABILITY FROM THE START Starting in 2012, NTU’s Sustainable Earth Peak coordinated the creation of an online course: Introduction to Sustainability, Multidisciplinary Approaches and Solutions. The course went live in 2014/15, has now run for two years, and is mandatory for all entering first year students (nearly 6000 every year), to be completed during their first year of studies. This six-week and six-module course is unique in the world for a university of NTU’s size and standing, and will give students the chance from the beginning of their educational experience to understand the challenges and opportunities of sustainability.68

CURRENT COURSE MODULES:Module 1 Sustainability and Earth, Environmental and Ecological Systems (Earth Observatory of Singapore – EOS)Module 2 Sustainable Energy (Energy Research Institute @ NTU – ERI@N)Module 3 Prosperity and Economic Growth within Ecological Boundaries (Economics - HSS)Module 4 Sustainable Water Management, Urban Infrastructure, Built Environment (Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute – NEWRI)Module 5 Sustainable Business, and the Role of Finance and Incentives (Nanyang Business School - NBS)Module 6 The Political Economy of Sustainability (S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies - RSIS)THE FUTURE IS ONLINEWith strong support from NTU’s faculty for theonline introductory sustainability course, NTUis now moving forward to improve the coursemodules and expand the entire project to aMassive Open Online Course (MOOC) format.Included in MOOC planning is opening thecourse to NTU graduate students, opening it forglobal participation, and offering it in Singaporeand beyond for professional education credits. 69

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Engineering is the historical strength of the engineering colleges around the world, NTU’s CoE University, which was founded in 1981 with the equips students with a well-rounded education three traditional Engineering Schools. that goes beyond traditional academic boundaries. A leading engineering college in Singapore and the NTU College of Engineering (CoE) was established region, NTU CoE comprises six internationally- in 2001 to integrate the engineering disciplines renowned engineering schools, each with its own and promote interaction amongst the Engineering specialisation. Schools in the University. This was an impetus to nucleate a culture of excellence in academic, The relentless efforts and pursuits in innovation research and administrative activities. It is one of and technology creation have also contributed to the world’s largest engineering colleges, and is one the stellar performance of the College in the area of Singapore’s premier engineering educators. of research output which is globally recognised and consistently ranked among the top universities Through industry-relevant programmes, world- in the world. class research facilities, strong links with industry giants and collaborations with renowned70

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SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING (SCBE) To meet the increasing global demand for engineers who are trained in engineering and life sciences, the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering grooms a new generation of engineers who are able to integrate both with ease. The buildings incorporate cutting-edge infrastructure and state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities in materials characterisation, separation process and tissue engineering. Its team of faculty members is actively engaged in breakthrough research that places the researchers at the forefront of their respective fields. LEADING THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY FOR SUSTAINABILITY The chemical industry is important to the economy of Singapore. However, it is a sector that significantly contributes to high energy consumption and carbon emission. Therefore, to achieve long-term sustainability, it is of pivotal importance to further improve the efficiencies of current manufacturing processes and to develop new technologies to better utilise energy and cut down carbon footprint. SCBE will continue to engage in research activities that have great potential to provide innovative solutions to the chemical industry to achieve sustainability. Publications: – “Reuse & Recycling of Fluorocompounds” (Liu Bin, NRF CREATE) – “Physical and Chemical Recovery of Rare Earth and Heavy Metals from Incinerator Bottom Ash” (Raymond Lau, NEA) – “Large-scale chromatography with green solvents: Fundamentals and novel-processes” (Timothy Tan, GSK) – “Sustainable Manufacturing of Stable Amorphous Drug Nanoplex as a New Nanomedicine Formulation Strategy” (Kunn, GSK)72

SCHOOL OF MATERIALS SCIENCEAND ENGINEERING (MSE)Since the inauguration of the Materials EngineeringDepartment in the then School of Applied Science in 1991,the increasing demand for Materials Engineers promptedthe formation of the School of Materials Science andEngineering (MSE) in 2000. The school grew rapidlyto become one of the biggest materials engineeringinstitutions in Singapore and beyond with a provenexpertise in biomedical devices and nanotechnology. URBAN SOLUTIONS Concentrating populations in cities brings substantial economic benefits, but also creates challenges to manage water, energy, transport, waste and space efficiently, while maintaining an acceptable quality of life. New clean energy materials will prove key to finding solutions to these challenges, and MSE is well positioned to build on its core competencies to develop significant research programs in these areas. For example: - Chromic glass window technologies darken when activated and absorb sunlight. One solution is to deploy electrochromic thin films that reduce heating. - Transportation systems will be increasingly electrified to reduce pollution, yet there remains much to be done for electric vehicles to be widely accepted, especially the development of battery materials and supercapacitors with improved storage and rapid charging capacity. - Fuel cell technologies are of growing importance, requiring further development of electrolyte and interconnect materials. 73

SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING (MAE) With a faculty strength of over 150 professors, the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is one of the largest mechanical engineering schools in the world. The School embarks on initiatives that promote sustainability technologies such as the establishment of SIMTech-NTU joint research labs for remanufacturing and the development of solar cars. The SIMTech-NTU joint research labs aim to come up with innovative manufacturing and industrial processes that are sustainable, efficient and cost-effective. 3D PRINTING – NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY Apart from building functional metal parts and objects for industry applications, the NTU Additive Manufacturing Centre (NAMC) aims to move towards future 3D printing applications which will include organ printing, food printing, biomedical implants and hybrid manufacturing for producing parts with specific complex configurations. To boost productivity in the construction sector, the centre is studying how to create printers that can print mega-sized construction materials such as prefabricated concrete blocks and beams.74

SCHOOL OF CIVILAND ENVIRONMENTALENGINEERING (CEE)The calibre of its civil and environment engineeringfaculty is reflected in the fact that many of the School’sprofessors are appointed to the board of prestigiousengineering journals worldwide. The environmentalengineering curriculum imparts knowledge, skills andcapabilities in building and maintaining sustainableliving environments. The School’s success in this hasseen environmental science and engineering emergingas one of the core areas of excellence of the university.Indeed, the School’s stellar achievements in research anddevelopment have contributed to Singapore’s emergenceas a key environmental engineering hub in Asia. UNDERSTANDING THE PRESENCE OF POLLUTANTS IN STORMWATER The Integrated Urban Storm Water Management group is focusing mainly on urban storm water management under humid and tropical climate conditions, and includes the study of: (i) Field monitoring and analysis of flow and water quality (ii) Dynamic rainfall - runoff and quality modelling for urbanised catchments (iii) Reservoir hydrodynamic and water quality modelling (iv) Fluvial hydraulics and sediment transport (v) Impact of long term climatic changes such as global warming on water resources. The research particularly focuses on assessing the occurrence and fate of both microbial and chemical contaminants in water, ranging from trace level organic pollutants in reclaimed water, to algal toxins and viral pathogens in surface waters. 75

SCHOOL OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING (SCE) The School of Computer Engineering is TOWARDS GREEN DATA CENTRES renowned for the quality of its students AS AN INTERRUPTIBLE LOAD and its innovative, vanguard research. FOR GRID STABILISATION IN The high standard of research output SINGAPORE by the School is seen in the great number of research awards garnered Prof Wen Yonggang of the School and patents registered. The School of of Computer Engineering and team Computer Engineering applies computer collaborated with Toshiba Asia Pacific and information technology to reduce Pte Ltd, SP Powergrid Ltd, MIT and carbon emissions by replacing carbon- University of Southern California intensive activities with virtual tools. The to develop solutions to enable a Climate Group predicts that by 2020, the data centre to serve as a novel internet’s footprint will have tripled to “interruptible” load (i.e. power load 1.43bn tonnes of carbon emitted per year. that can be scaled down temporally) However, information technology - such to stabilise Singapore’s power grid as smart logistics, energy-aware buildings as it integrates more distributed and more efficient energy grids - could generation and renewables (e.g., PV). reduce emissions by 15% overall. The holistic monitoring and optimisation framework reduces the overall power consumption of a data centre, and enables time- shifting of workloads in the data centre in response to power fluctuations arising from the integration of distributed generation (DG) and renewable sources to Singapore’s power grid. As one data centre is equivalent to around 10,000 households in electricity demand, by commanding a few data centres to shift their work load temporally instead of coordinating millions of households for demand shaping, this helps to alleviate further stress on the power grid. This research will have huge impact on the energy management in Singapore, for which solar energy would contribute more than 10% of the total electricity demand. The Embedded Software as Sensors (ESaS) framework spearheads research in advanced power analytics, facilitating to establish Singapore as a technology leader in data centre research globally.76

SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING (EEE) The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) has more than 160 full-time faculty members of broad and varied backgrounds with strong research and professional expertise. The School’s main research thrust in sustainability is in improving the technologies and standards of intelligent electrical power distribution for eventual deployment throughout Singapore. This includes advanced smart energy meters, building power management systems and home automation networks which are being test-bedded in the NTU Yunnan Campus. Besides reducing energy losses, the intelligent power distribution allows easy connectivity to renewable energy sources and energy storage systems.VIRTUS – INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DESIGNRESEARCH CENTRE OF EXCELLENCEVIRTUS (Latin for “excellence”), a S$50 millionjointly funded integrated circuit design researchcentre, was set up by NTU and Singapore’sEconomic Development Board (EDB) to developkey technologies for green electronics.It aims to be a global IC design power hubrenowned for its cutting-edge technologies forintegrated circuits and systems for applications inmedical technology, clean technology and consumerelectronics. 77

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE “Science is the cornerstone of modern technological innovations and medical advances. The College of Science of NTU is firmly committed to its dual mission of excellence in education and research in the sciences, to contribute to the progress of mankind and Singapore through new discoveries and cutting-edge inventions, and to educate young minds for the world of tomorrow. The energy and passion of the students, staff and faculty members make the College a wonderfully vibrant and stimulating community where knowledge is constantly created, imparted and exchanged. The College of Science is a key player in the Sustainable Earth Peak and ongoing sustainability initiatives, which opens up opportunities for stimulating inter-disciplinary interaction for students, faculty and staff.” – Prof Ling San, Dean, College of Science, August 201178

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ASIAN SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT (ASE) Since 2014, and for the first time, NTU and Singapore offer an undergraduate programme in environmental Earth systems science as part of NTU’s new Asian School of the Environment (ASE). The new interdisciplinary programme will be the flagship undergraduate programme, which will leverage on the strengths of the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) and the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS). The programme is designed to integrate the fields of Earth science, environmental life science, ecology, humanities and the social sciences, and engineering in the quantitative study of the environmental Earth systems. The focus of the major will be the interdisciplinary study of the Earth, with an emphasis on the complex interactions between the atmosphere, waters, solid Earth and biological spheres. MINOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY The Minor in Environmental Sustainability is designed to offer students from all major programmes at NTU a background in the important environmental issues that will shape our future. The Minor in Environmental Sustainability will allow citizens, business leaders, scientists, government officials, and creative thinkers to find creative, interdisciplinary, and sustainable solutions to balance the needs of humans with our impact on the natural environment. Through the minor, courses will focus on a number of topics related to environmental sustainability, including the relationship between humans and the natural world, the availability and management of natural resources, the basics of how the main parts of the Earth system interact, the elements that influence Earth’s climate system, and how individuals, communities, and governments can engage with these issues to create more sustainable societies.80

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSC)IN ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SYSTEMSThe undergraduate major programme waslaunched in AY2014/2015. The Asian School of theEnvironment offers a modern undergraduate majorthat is designed to prepare students for a varietyof career paths. Regardless of specialisation,students in the programme will gain a strongbackground in supporting mathematics andscience subjects, modern computing techniques,and the fundamentals of Earth systems science. Inaddition, the programme emphasises leadership,group work, and innovative problem-solving skillsthat are required to be successful in today’sworkforce.Specialisations:– Geosciences– Ecology & Ecosystems– Society and the Earth System Photo By David Doubilet 81

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SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL ANDMATHEMATICAL SCIENCE (SPMS)“The School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences (SPMS)at NTU is unique in that it is a truly interdisciplinary school.Most members of its remarkable faculty cross two or moredomains. For example, chemists creating new materials,mathematicians making impact in computer science, andphysicists working in financial engineering.SPMS faculty is devoted to advancing scientific knowledgethrough research and education. It is beginning to build areputation on its research achievements and is leveragingon that base to continue to address scientific problems ofmajor societal concerns, such as those exemplified by theSustainable Earth Peak.”– Prof Yeow Meng Chee,Chair, School of Physical and Mathematical Science (2011) 83

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (SBS) “At the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at Nanyang Technological University cutting-edge research provides an exciting environment for students to gain a deep understanding of biology and find their place in a research environment, which seeks to grapple with some of the great challenges facing Singapore and the world today. Rapid developments in the field of Biology play a key role in finding solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s issues: From the effects of our ageing society, the emergence of infectious diseases like SARS, cancer and other metabolic diseases, to food security and environmental conservation.” – Prof Peter Preiser, Chair, School of Biological Sciences SCHOOL OF COMMUNITY-BASED MALARIA ELIMINATION PROGRAM HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL Peter Preiser, Prof SBS, and Margaret Triyana, Asst Prof Economics, are leading this project for an innovative idea for the mass screening SCIENCES and treatment (MSAT) of malaria using a novel portable micro (HSS) magnetic resonance relaxometry (MR2) device that enables ultra- SEED low-cost rapid malaria diagnosis. Malaria elimination is particularly MONEY relevant not only to NTU’s Sustainable Earth Peak of excellence, but GRANT also to global sustainability. The global burden of malaria remains high, with over 600,000 deaths per year, mostly young children. The commercially available methods are expensive, which makes mass screening too costly from a public health perspective. Current means of prevention include insecticide-treated nets, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women and infants, indoor residual spraying, and vaccine. Current prevention methods have been difficult to implement on a large scale to ensure sustainability and there are concerns on the potential adverse effects from exposure to insecticides and resistance from over-use of antimalarial drugs. These limitations have made malaria elimination challenging. The proposed method will overcome these challenges and make mass screening a feasible and more sustainable public health strategy.84

SEED POLYMICROBIAL BIOFILM DYNAMICS AT THE INTERFACE MONEY OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT SINGAPORE Kimberly Kline, Nanyang Asst Prof SBS and Principle Investigator CENTRE FOR Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences EngineeringENVIRONMENTAL (SCELSE), and Swaine Chen, Asst Prof NUS Department of LIFE SCIENCES Medicine and Senior Research Scientist Genome Institute of ENGINEERING Singapore, are leading this project to examine differences between (SCELSE) single and mixed species communities of E. faecalis and E. coli. The motivation of this work is because sustainability is a global issue which requires effort to tackle environmental and economic issues of increasing urbanisation. It is becoming increasingly evident that bacterial biofilms are central to the development of sustainable interactions between humans and their environment, and are fundamental to a number of the mega-issues of NTU’s Sustainable Earth Peak, foremost of which are water and health. Biofilms are necessary and beneficial for such processes as waste-water treatment and bio-fuel production, and key for development of a biologically stable and sustainable metropolis. However, undesired biofilms can clog water pipes, foul drinking and recreational water supplies, and cause biofilm-mediated disease in humans exposed to these bacterial contaminants. This study allowed us to gain knowledge of E. coli and E. faecalis single and polymicrobial biofilm development. Understanding how bacterial pathogens persist in the environment and in hosts will inform the development of interventions to disrupt harmful biofilms. 85

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COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES“HASS, as the College is called in short, is dedicated to cultivating thehighest standards of education and research, including creative work. Itoffers an environment of intellectual openness, vigour and integrity thatis conducive to the growth of ideas and learning. It seeks to inculcatein our students sound habits and discipline of mind, a high degree ofethical self-awareness, and a spirit of enterprise, innovation, and life-long learning.The College provides a curriculum of both breadth and depth, placesstrong emphasis on analytic and communicative competence as a desiredlearning outcome, and is committed to promoting internationalisationand cross-cultural understanding, in the belief that the academicmodel adopted will best prepare students to successfully negotiate thecomplexities of a globalised world environment in the 21st century.”– Prof Alan K.L.ChanDean, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 87

SCHOOL OF ART, DESIGN AND MEDIA (ADM) “Art, Design and Media are ways that we explore, contemplate, and improve the world around us. The School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) is considered to be a living laboratory, a model of the global community where respect for life and diversity is fundamental, and each student is an ambassador. As our planet and its ecosystems are increasingly fragile, our collective responsibility as stewards of its resources means that students are also asked to consider issues of sustainability in all that they do.” – Prof Vibeke Sorensen Chair, School of Art, Design and Media ENERGY THE DANDELION: A SELF-SUSTAINING LIGHT SCULPTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE The ‘Dandelion’, a self-sustaining light sculpture is a result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the School of Art, Design and @ NTU Media (ADM) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, (ERI@N) the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and the NTU Museum. NTU The first Dandelion was launched on 19th March 2015 and is now located MUSEUM outside the School of Art, Design and Media at NTU, Singapore. The installation, standing at just over 5 metres, lights up automatically via sensors during the night hours and is powered only by solar energy. The sculpture is conceived to mimic the real dandelion structure. It is composed of self-lighting seeds (59 in nos.) and stem (1 in no.). Every single seed is a sealed and self-sustaining power generating unit. For collecting energy, every seed holds solar panels (12 in nos.). LEDs (4 in nos.) positioned at the top of each seed can light up throughout the entire night and the lithium ion battery allows them to withstand up to 3 days of cloudy weather. Light sensors turn on and off the lights, and a small piezoelectric sensor on each seed can flicker the lights intermittently when it detects a wind blowing. Above all, The Dandelion represents an important initial stage of possibilities for NTU to produce visually appealing energy-generating art pieces to create an inspiring learning, working and living environment at NTU Campus, and lead the way for astonishing blends of energy and art in the world.88

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WEE KIM WEE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (WKWSCI) The Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information is reputed as one of Asia’s best in communication education and research. The school has produced media professionals who have significantly contributed to the media scene locally and overseas. The School’s established ties with the local industry, and strong international links with elite communication and information partners ensure a curriculum that is highly relevant and richly rewarding. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AMONG MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS; COMMUNICATION AS THE BASIS OF SOCIAL CAPITAL, COLLECTIVE ACTION AND POLICY SUPPORT Principal Investigator: Assoc Prof Shirley Ho Soo Yee Amount awarded: $50,000 Grant Type: Research Cluster Duration: 12 September 2012 – 30 March 2016 Singapore has limited land and natural resources. Consequently, efforts to grow Singapore’s economy must balance a strong need for environmental sustainability. Myriad stakeholders participate in and benefit from this process, including the government, non- governmental organisations and advocacy groups, businesses, industry and the Singapore public. Social capital that these stakeholders develop collectively is a critical factor in achieving effective and equitable sustainability practices. Communication among stakeholders is at the root of social capital. The issue of environmental sustainability has long been a pressing matter in Singapore; however, the social sciences have only recently begun to examine how the Singapore public and other stakeholders engage in sustainable practices. Thus this research cluster will conduct highly original, innovative and important research that can promote communication among different stakeholder groups and ultimately help guide policy responsiveness related to environmental sustainability.90

RECONSIDERING SUSTAINABILITY:INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES FROMASIA - 2015Author: Prof Liu Hong and Asst Prof Els VanDongen from the History ProgrammePublication: Nature and Culture(volume 10, issue 1)The main themes in the articles of this special issuerevolve around the three pillars of sustainability(economic, social, and ecological) and includeurbanisation, disaster vulnerability, resourceconsumption, and land use.The articles engage with the relation betweennature and society in the form of how bothspecific Asian nation-states and cities deal withsustainability challenges, but also in the form ofhow the question of sustainability relates to Asiaas a region, thereby including both developing anddeveloped countries.SCHOOL OF HUMANITIESAND SOCIAL SCIENCES (HSS)The School of Humanities and Social Sciences(HSS) at NTU is actively involved in a wide variety ofmulti-disciplinary environmental and sustainabilityresearch projects. The School is committed toplaying an important part in NTU’s SustainableEarth Peak initiative, in areas such as energyeconomics, environmental policy, and includingexpertise and analysis related to questions ofincentives, governance, and a whole host ofbehavioural, linguistic, and cultural considerations. martinho Smart / Shutterstock.com 91

NANYANG BUSINESS SCHOOL Consistently counted among the world’s top-tier business schools, Nanyang Business School (NBS) is one of the most established and comprehensive providers of business and management education in the Asia Pacific. For over 50 years, it has nurtured leaders from around the world, employing innovative pedagogy that melds rigorous academic theory with real-world business practice. Being fully integrated into NTU, it is able to draw on the strengths of one of Asia’s most comprehensive research-intensive universities to provide enriching opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Nanyang Business School nurtures leaders who understand and balance the interests of people, businesses and the environment – to secure a sustainable future for our world.92

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EDUCATING BUSINESS LEADERS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD True to its commitment to sustainability the school has developed education programmes based on sustainability challenges throughout student curriculums. “We challenge our students to pioneer new paths of success wherever they are, providing technology-enabled learning. Exposing them to real-world scenarios and immersing them in various cultures, we nurture astute, agile and resolute global leaders who are ready to step forward in a dynamic and diverse world.” DR. K. RAVI KUMAR SHAW CHAIR PROFESSOR AND DEAN NANYANG BUSINESS SCHOOL94

UNDERGRADUATESUSTAINABILITY COURSES– AB0402: Sustainability, Innovation and Operations– AB0603: Business Gone Green– AB0501: Green Marketing– AB0001: Sustainability: Issues, Reporting and Finance– AB0301: Live, Work & Play in a Sustainable WorldPHD SUSTAINABILITY COURSESTwo courses include CSR and sustainability issues:– MG9103: Advanced Topics in Strategic Management– MG9104: Theoretical Foundations of Strategic ManagementPapers and research issues related to sustainabilitycovered in some sessions under:– OM9202: Special Topics in Operations Management– OM9201: Contemporary Issues in Operations ManagementMBA SUSTAINABILITY COURSESThe three following core MBA courses incorporate sustainability elements insome of their sessions:– B6020: Accounting– B6026: Marketing– B6027: OperationsIn addition there are two electives on Sustainability:– B6602: Corporate Sustainability: Strategies, Innovations and Methodologies– B8057: Green Trading and Emission Trading 95

S. RAJARATNAM SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) is an academic institution and policy-oriented think tank within NTU that is dedicated to analysing the multifaceted characteristics of contemporary international affairs. The RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies pursues this objective by, among other things, exploring the importance of environmental trends and policies to the progress of countries and communities throughout the Asia Pacific region. The Centre regularly carries out detailed field work projects to this end, consults regularly with government and non-governmental stakeholders and has extensive publication and outreach agendas.96

LINKING FOOD SECURITY, CLIMATE ADAPTATION ANDCARBON MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY FROM INDONESIAYulius P. K. Suny and Jonatan A. Lassa.” Working Paper 11, Instituteof Resource Governance and Social Change (IRGSC)The increase of anthropogenic CO2 concentration in theatmosphere has unequivocally altered the global climate. Foodproduction and consumption elements of food security directlyemit CO2. Reduction of carbon has been the global climatemitigation imperative. While at the same time negative impacts ofclimate change on food production will likely continue. It will be aserious challenge for the 9 billion people in 2050.To ensure that climate adaptation, food security and climatemitigation objectives are mutually achieved, local level interventionis necessary. This paper shows local level action and effortsfor achieving food security through mutual adoption of climateadaptation (e.g. drought and soil erosion management throughland and water conservation measures) and carbon mitigation. Theresearch questions how food security, adaptation (through drought,water and soil erosion management) and carbon managementobjectives are achieved at local level. Constraints and opportunitiesare discussed from a local context in Indonesia. 97

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LEE KONG CHIANSCHOOL OF MEDICINEThe Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, a partnership between NanyangTechnological University (NTU Singapore) and Imperial College London(Imperial), is training a generation of doctors who will put patients at thecentre of their exemplary medical care. The School’s primary clinicalpartner is the National Healthcare Group, a leader in public healthcarerecognised for the quality of its medical expertise, facilities andteaching. The school, named after local businessman and philanthropistTan Sri Dato’ Lee Kong Chian, aims to be a model for innovative medicaleducation and a centre for transformative research.Graduates of the five-year undergraduate medical degree programmethat started in 2013 will have a strong understanding of the scientific basisof medicine, along with interdisciplinary subjects including engineering,technology, business and the humanities. Its first doctors will graduatein 2018 with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS),awarded jointly by NTU Singapore and Imperial. 99

INTERDISCIPLINARY GRADUATE SCHOOL Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is pioneering a new push in PhD education that will tear down old barriers and drive research into areas that need a multi-disciplinary approach. Dedicated to multi-disciplinary research and postgraduate training, the Interdisciplinary Graduate School, the first of its kind in Asia, was opened on 25 June 2012. “The establishment of the Interdisciplinary Graduate School is an exciting development for both NTU and Singapore. Today, fresh thinking is urgently needed to mitigate many global challenges, not least in environmental sustainability, the creation of viable alternative energy solutions, future healthcare, new media and many other wide- ranging and complex issues.” – Prof Bertil Andersson President, Nanyang Technological University100


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