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It almost feels like yesterday when
we launched our 80th Anniversary
celebrations jointly with the Faculties
of Dentistry and Arts & Social Sciences,
at the newly opened Shaw Foundation
Alumni House. That Anniversary
Bash was immediately followed by
an exhibition and several lectures,
workshops and performances, all
held in conjunction with the NUS
Arts Festival. In a blink of an eye,
8 months have passed, and we have
accomplished what we set out to do
– celebrating our anniversary with a
continuous stream of signature and
bridging events that brought together
staff, students, alumni and in several
instances, the public. Through these,
we have raised the profile of the
Faculty as a forward looking institution
at the forefront of global scientific
teaching and discoveries, as well as
a fun place for work and studies.
I am pleased to note that starting
with this issue, Omniscience has gone
the e-way. Yes, you will receive future
issues of the Faculty’s newsletter via
email. Aside from environmental
considerations, we hope to bring
news from your alma mater when
they are still news. And of course, you
should be able to obtain articles from
past issues stored in our archives.
A special issue should be launched
with a special focus. And what more
appropriate content than to bring you
highlights of our anniversary events?
So within these pages, we report on
highlights of the events that brought
so many of us – past and present
– together to celebrate, reminisce
and reflect on the achievements and
successes of the Faculty.
We will have one more signature
event before our celebrations come
to a close – our Dinner with a
Difference to be held on 24 Oct.
As the name suggests, this is not
just a dinner. We hope to use the
dinner as a vehicle to boost our
two student funds – the Science
Student Overseas Exposure Fund
and the Science Student Fund. Make
a Difference and join us for dinner.
May you recall happy memories as you
browse through these pages.
Professor Andrew Wee
Dean, Faculty of Science
e-OmniSci
News from the Faculty of Science, National
University of Singapore
e-OmniScience is an electronic publication
produced four times a year by the Science
Dean’s Office about current programmes and
activities in the Faculty for alumni and friends.
Dean
Andrew Wee
Advisors
Chin Wee Shong | Sow Chorng Haur
Perry Hee | Lawrence Chia
Editor
Karen Ho Wong
Design
Kenneth Chin | James Wee
Administrators
Manjeet Kaur | Corrine Lim
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| MESSAGE FROM THEDEAN
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Important appointment for Statistician
May 09 – Louis CHEN, Professor in the Departments
of Mathematics and Statistics & Applied Probability,
and Director of the Institute of Mathematical
Sciences, was elected as Vice-President of the
International Statistical Institute (ISI) for the term
2009 – 2011. The ISI is composed of over 2,000
individual elected members and eight international
learned and professional statistical societies called
Sections. The Bernoulli Society for Mathematical
Statistics and Probability, of which Professor Chen
was President in 1997 – 1999, is one of the Sections.
Dedicated to Education
Jul 09 – Associate Professor in Biological Sciences,
LIM Tit Meng was awarded the Ministry of Education’s
Service to Education Award on 25 Jul for his many
years of dedication to teaching and mentoring young
minds. He has lead many Singapore teams to the
International Biology Olympiad through the years.
Faculty of Science Provost’s Chair and
Dean’s Chair Professorships
Jul 09 – NUS Faculty of Science is proud to announce
our inaugural Provost’s Chairs and Dean’s Chairs to
four faculty members. These Chairs are for a three
year term, and are bestowed in recognition of their
excellent academic contributions to the Faculty and
international recognition in their field of research.
Our Provost’s Chair recipients (for the term 1 Jul
10 to 30 Jun 13) are Physics Professor BG Englert
and Biological Sciences Professor DING Jeak Ling.
Our Dean’s Chair recipients (for the term 1 Jul 10
to 30 Jun 13) are Associate Professor in Chemistry
YAO Shao Qin and Associate Professor in Physics
Christian KURTSIEFER.
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Honours and Leadership
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Public Administration Medal (Bronze)
Tan Choon Ee, Roger
Vice-Dean, Faculty of Science
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics
Efficiency Medal
Foo Eng Tin
Laboratory Technologist, Department of Physics
Long Service Medal
Berrick, A J,
Professor, Department of Mathematics
Long Service Medal
Leung Pui Fai, Fred
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics
Long Service Medal
Tay Tiong Seng
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics
Long Service Medal
Lua Hui Kheng
Laboratory Technologist, Department of
Biological Sciences
Long Service Medal
Ng Kok Chay
Operations Associate, Department of Biological Sciences
Congratulations to all!
We also congratulate the Dean on his National Day Award
The Commendation Medal (Military)
LTC (NS) Wee Thye Shen Andrew
Fire Support Coordinator, Singapore Infantry Brigade
National Day Awards
Aug 09 – We are please to announce the National Day Award 2009 recipients from the Faculty of Science:
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Honours and Leadership
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Department of Biological Sciences
XU Jian, Assistant Professor
Joined 2 Jan 09. Dr Xu received his PhD in 2005 from Universiteit Utrecht in The Netherlands. His research
interests include plant developmental cell biology using Arabidopsis, polar auxin transport and pattern
formation in plants.
Department of Chemistry
CHEN Wei, Assistant Professor (joint with Physics)
Joined 1 Jan 09. Dr Chen received his PhD in 2004 from NUS. His research interests include Molecular
and organic electronics, Organic photovoltaic, Molecular nanostructures, Molecule-substrate interfaces,
Graphene, Scanning Probe Microscopy, Synchrotron Radiation.
Department of Mathematics
SHEN Weixiao, Professor
Joined 17 Mar 09. Professor Shen received his PhD in 2001 from the University of Tokyo in Japan.
His research interests include Dynamical Systems.
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New Faculty
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Department of Pharmacy
KO Yu Nancy, Assistant Professor
Joined 1 Feb 09. Dr Ko received her PhD in 2007 from the University of Arizona, Tucson in USA.
Her research interests include Pharmacoeconomics, Drug utilization review, and Health services research.
KANG Li Feng
Joined 11 Feb 09. Dr Kang received his PhD in 2006 from NUS. His research interests include Formulation
Science and Biopharmaceutics, and Tissue Engineering.
HOW Priscilla, Assistant Professor
Joined 13 Apr 09. Dr How received her PharmD in 2004 from the University of Illinois, Chicago in USA,
and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS). Her research interests include Anemia and Mineral and
Bone Disorder in Chronic Kidney Disease, and Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice.
Department of Physics
LI Wenhui, Assistant Professor (joint with CQT)
Joined 20 Jan 09. Dr Li received her PhD in 2005 from the University of Virginia in USA. Her research interests
include Cold Rydberg gases, quantum degenerate gases, atom-atom interactions, and quantum information
processing with neutral atoms.
HESSMO Björn, Assistant Professor
Joined 1 Apr 09. Dr Hessmo received his PhD in 2000 from Uppsala University in Sweden. His research interests
include Experimental quantum optics and atomic physics, and Miniaturization of quantum optical experiments.
Department of Statistics & Applied Probability
CHEW David
Joined 23 Mar 09. Dr Chew received his PhD in 2007 from NUS.
His research interests include Computational Biology.
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New Faculty
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Commencement 2009
for Science students were held on 8 and
9 Jul. During the academic year, Faculty
of Science conferred degrees on 1,217
undergraduates, 173 master’s degrees
and 115 doctors of philosophy.
Over the last few years, we have invited
prominent alumni or distinguished
members of the business community and
industry to address students and impart
a few words of inspiration. Top students
have been invited to represent their class.
This year, two valedictorians were invited
for each ceremony.
Picture gallery and full transcripts of the
speeches can be found at:
VALEDICTORIAN:
Cedric TAI Kai Wei
BSc(Hons) 2009
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8 July at 3:00pm
SPEAKER:
Ms SAW Phaik Hwa, BSc 1977, BSc(Hons) 1978
President and CEO, SMRT Corporation Ltd
VALEDICTORIAN:
KEE Choon Wee, BSc(Hons) 2009
VALEDICTORIAN:
Paulina Elena SALIM, BSc(Hons) 2009
8 July at 8:00pm
SPEAKER:
Dr Steve LAI, Chief Executive Officer,
PSB Academy Pte Ltd
VALEDICTORIAN:
Lena LUI Wai Yi, PhD 2009
VALEDICTORIAN:
Cedric TAI Kai Wei, BSc(Hons) 2009
9 July at 10:00am
SPEAKER:
Professor Leo TAN Wee Hin, BSc 1968,
BSc(Hons) 1969, PhD 1974
Director (Special Projects), NUS Faculty of Science
VALEDICTORIAN:
Dilys GOH Pei Qi, BSc(Hons)(Pharmacy) 2009
9 July at 3:00pm
Shared with NUS Graduate School Integrative
Sciences & Engineering (NGS)
SPEAKER:
Dr HANG Kim Hoo, BSc 1982, BSc(Hons) 1983,
MSc 1999, PhD 2008
Principal, NUS High School of Mathematics
and Science
VALEDICTORIAN:
Dr Lina LIM Shushan (NGS)
Commencement 2009
Commencement Speakers and Valedictorians for the four ceremonies were:
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From the Class of
Keep in touch
with the Faculty of Science.
Tell us what you have been
doing since graduation.
Write to the editor,
kar[email protected].sg.
www.science.nus.edu.sg/alumni/
alumninews.html
1990
FOO Hee Jug, BSc(Hons) in
Mathematics, has been appointed
chief executive officer of the
new Jurong General Hospital, to
be completed in 2014. Hee Jug,
who began his hospital career as
operations executive at Changi
General Hospital in 1993, leaves
Singapore General Hospital as chief
operations officer and group chief
procurement officer of the SingHealth
Group. He holds an MBA and a MPH
from the Anderson School, University
of California, Los Angeles, USA. He is
also a recipient of the Outstanding
Science Alumni Award in 2007.
2002
Sirichai CHONGCHITNAN, BSc(Hons)
in Pure and Applied Mathematics,
is now a Darby Fellow in Applied
Mathematics, Lincoln College,
and a Postdoctoral Researcher in
Astrophysics at University of Oxford.
2003
CHEUNG Yin Bun, MSc in Statistics,
has returned to Singapore to be
principal biostatistician at the
Singapore Clinical Research Institute,
and to take up a full professorship
at the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical
School. Previously he was a senior
lecturer, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine. Yin Bun holds a
PhD from the University of London, UK.
TAN Meng Chwan, MSc, PhD 2007
in Physics, was an NUS Overseas
Postdoctorial Fellowship with Anton
Kapustin in California Institute
of Technology (Caltech). He has
returned to take up the position of
Assistant Professor in the Department
of Physics.
2004
KUAN Pei-Fen, BSc(Hons) in
Statistics, Saw Swee Hock Medal
winner, has obtained a PhD from
University of Wisconsin-Madison. She
is now a research assistant professor
at University of North Carolina-Chapel
Hill.
2006
KONG Efang PhD in Statistics is now a
lecturer at the University of Kent in the
Institute of Mathematics, Statistics
and Actuarial Sciences.
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In Memoriam
We mourn the passing of Emeritus
Professor KIANG Ai Kim
, DipSc 1938,
on 18 Jul 09. He was an eminent
scientist, dear friend and colleague,
and beloved professor of Chemistry.
During his years at, first Raffles College,
University of Malaya, University of
Singapore and then National University
of Singapore, E/Prof Kiang held many
positions, including Head of Chemistry,
Dean of Science, Master of Raffles Hall,
and member of both the University
Senate and Council. E/Prof Kiang was a
recipient of the Faculty’s Distinguished
Science Alumni Award in 2004.
The Kiang Ai Kim Scholarship Fund was
setup to commemorate E/Prof Kiang’s 85th
birthday. To find out more, please visit:
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Freshman Orientation Projects 2009
Brenda Chai
2009 Freshmen Orientation Projects
(FOP) was led by Jasmine Tay, comprised five
projects, namely Science Camp (SCAMP),
Science Orientation Week (SOW), Flag, Rag
and Dinner & Dance. This year’s theme was
a continuation of the past four years’ – ‘US!
Never-ending passion, concerted efforts’. We
chose to continue this theme as we wanted to
establish a sense of identity between the seniors
and freshmen to link the FOPs annually. ‘US’ or
‘United Science’, created platforms to unite
the entire faculty through activities. ‘Never-
ending passion, concerted efforts’, highlights the
importance of having passion in the projects and
combining everybody’s effort for a successful
orientation. The five FOPs worked together
to help raise awareness of the Faculty’s 80th
Anniversary celebrations.
SCAMP, led by project director Joyce Tay, was
held between 22 and 26 Jun 09; SOW, held
between 29 Jul and 8 Aug 09, was directed by
Lee Yuan Chun. Participants from SCAMP and SOW
were actively recruited for Rag and Flag. They were
involved in float-building, dancing and flagging.
Rag, held on 8 Aug, was spearheaded Wang Wei
Yang
and, this year, we presented our very own story
of “Jill and the Beanstalk”, a story of a little girl, Jill,
who sets off on an uncertain journey to discover a
wondrous land of exploding colours. Like Jill, Science
Rag set foot on a similar journey, threading onto new
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grounds as we learned new skills and techniques,
and finally producing a fine piece of work we could
proudly call our own. The process of creating the float
was made as environmentally friendly as possible.
For example, The Faculty’s 80th Anniversary disposable
plastic mineral water bottles issued to campers in
SCAMP and SOW were distributed in a bid to let our
freshmen know about the faculty’s anniversary while
they quenched their thirst. Rag then recycled these
bottles as parts of the Science Rag float.
Flag, on 4 Aug, was led by
project director Lee Pei Ying.
This year’s theme was “Hands-
on Love, Touching Lives”. By
encouraging everyone to get
actively involved in helping
the less fortunate, we aimed to
make a difference in their lives.
This year, SOW freshmen and
seniors alike were out in full
force on NUS Flag Day. Science managed to clinch
the Gold Award again, a validation of all the support
and effort put in by freshmen, seniors, alumni and
staff alike!
The aim of
D & D was to acknowledge everyone
– the freshmen, the seniors in the camps, the
committees behind FOP, our sponsors, the Dean’s
Office, and not forgetting those behind the scenes.
Everyone made a difference by helping in each FOP
event, no matter how large or small their contribution.
“Le Gala Mascarada – The Façade of Dreams”, was
headed by Jane Chan.
All in all, the 5 FOPs worked hard to share with
freshmen the Faculty’s 80th Anniversary celebrations
while we welcomed them to the Science family and
exposed them to the Science spirit.
Freshman Orientation Projects 2009
(Cont’d)
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On 27 Feb 09, the Faculty of Science joined the
Faculties of Arts & Social Sciences and Dentistry to
celebrate 80 years of educating young men and
women in Singapore. The 80th Anniversary Bash was
held at the new Shaw Foundation Alumni House.
Students, faculty, staff and alumni came to witness the
unveiling of sculptures carved by members of the NUS
community, under the guidance of renowned sculptor
CHONG Fah Cheong, an alumnus of the Faculty of Arts
& Social Sciences. These sculptures are located at the
Alumni Terrace. They symbolise a confluence of global
partnerships and vibrant networking.
On the same evening, the Faculty of
Science continued our celebrations
at the University Cultural Centre
with the launch of our ‘Discoveries
in Science’ exhibition to showcase
the diversity of research within the
Faculty. In addition to the exhibition, and in partnership
with Centre For the Arts, the anniversary launch events
included lectures, movies, dance performances and
workshops that joined science with the arts. The theme
for NUS Arts Festival 2009 was Art + Environment.
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80th Anniversary Bash and NUS Arts Festival 2009
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1 April
Professor Serge Haroche
“Power and the strangeness of the
quantum”
23 April
Professor Jeremy Bloxham
Dean of Science, Faculty Arts &
Sciences
Harvard University
“Solar System Planetary Magnetic
Fields”
3 June
Professor Andre Geim
Langworthy Research Professor
Chair of Condense Matter Physics
Director of Manchester Centre for
Mesoscience and Nanotechnology
University of Manchester
“Graphene: Magic of Flat Carbon”
2 July
Professor Sir Richard Friend,
FRS, FREng
Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor,
National University of Singapore
Cavendish Professor, University of
Cambridge
“Plastic electronics for large area
display and solar cells – challenges
and prospects”
__________________________________________
The Faculty is also proud to co-host
Lee Kuan Yew Distinguished Visitor
and former UK Astronomer Royal
Lord Martin Rees during his visit to
Singapore 24-29 Aug 09. During his
visit to NUS, Lord Rees presented
a lecture “Our Universe, and the
Role of Life in It” to more than 400
faculty, students and members of
the public.
For this anniversary year, the Faculty of Science specially invited
four eminent scientists to introduce their science to the public.
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Anniversary Lectures
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On the evening of 16 May,
more than 200 students and
staff of the Faculty of Science
attended Out of the Blue. It
was the first post-exam event
specially organised as an 80th
Anniversary treat for graduating
students, and hosted by the
Dean’s Office. Several alumni
joined in as well. They had a
rousing time as everyone enjoyed
the live performances by students
and professionals, participating in
games and networking.
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Out Of The Blue - A Party For Graduating Students
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The competition was in two categories.
“Art in Science” is described as
moments when Science meets Art.
Images should show the wonders of
science and the beauty of scientific
phenomena. They can be natural or
created in research activities to show
the connection that is Art in Science.
“Life in Science” depicts the
lives of people in science – in
labs, in classrooms, on field trips,
in student clubs enjoying camps,
orientation activities and events.
They show the human side of
stories in Science.
A total of 49 staff and students sent
in entries for Art in Science and 28 sent
in their pictures for Life in Science.
Members of the Faculty – students
and staff – were encouraged to
rate their favourite pictures by
giving each 1 to 5 stars. Voting
ended on 30 Sep.
Good pictures will be displayed
around the Faculty; - the best
pictures receiving up to $2,000
worth of prizes. Judges were
drawn from the media, academia
and students. Winning pictures will
be printed on the Faculty’s 2010
calendar.
___________________________
All pictures may be viewed by clicking on a
link from the website.
One of the 80th anniversary
celebration events was a
photography competition
that was open to students and
staff. The competition started
accepting submissions at the
beginning of August and, by
the end of the month, had
received 165 entries.
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80th Anniversary Photography Competition
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Mark our 80
th
Anniversary by MAKING A DIFFERENCE
– a difference in the lives of our needy and deserving students.
Today, with such uncertainties and complexities, our students
need to be well-prepared and equipped for their future. Helping
these students by ensuring that they are not disadvantaged
because of financial circumstances is important to establish a
holistic education that is not compromised.
Thus, we wish to boost our two student funds – Science Student
Fund (SSF) and Science Student Overseas Exposure Fund (SSOEF) –
with our 80
th
anniversary efforts and gifts.
For more information, please visit:
www.science.nus.edu.sg/aboutfos/giving
Here is how you can Make A Dierence!
Make a gift of $200.00 (or more) and join us for Dinner with a
Dierence.
Please direct enquiries to Manjeet 6516 7641 or Karen 6516 8198
or email giving@science.nus.edu.sg.
| 80TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Dinner With A Difference
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80th
Anniversary
Dinner With A
Difference!
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| 80TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
80th Anniversary Events
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