LIFELONG LESSONS
Today FoS is a behemoth that is continually-evolving and achieving, both locally and worldwide. As the Provost points out, “Our Science Faculty is very reputable internationally. If you ask people in other countries about NUS Science Faculty, they would be able to highlight some of our very top people. Our Centre for Quantum Technologies, Mechanobiology Institute, Graphene Research Centre – these produce some of the research that is already well-known in the world.” Indeed, these Centres have attracted top minds in the various
SUPT JASON LOKE (SCIENCE ’97)
fields to the University, putting Singapore on the world map, says Professor Andrew Wee, former Dean of FoS and current Vice President (University and Global Relations) for NUS. The Graphene Research Centre (GRC) was set up in 2000 and is helmed by renowned physicist Professor Antonio Castro Neto; it was awarded a $50 million grant from the National Research Foundation. In fact, the development of 2D material is progressing so rapidly – with the discovery of a whole host of materials that have properties mirroring graphene’s – that in July 2015, a new Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, also to be directed by Prof Castro Neto, was announced. Professors from both FoS and the Faculty of Engineering will be leading different areas of research, including Professor Loh Kian Ping, the Head of the Department of Chemistry and Professor Lim Chwee Teck from the Department of Bioengineering. Prof Wee also names Professor Paul Matsudaira, the Head of Biological Sciences, whose research in Mechanobiology, primarily in the area of
“ONE OF THE CORE STRENGTHS OF THE FACULTY IS ITS CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE, THE ACADEMIC STAFF AIMS VERY HIGH.” PROF ANDREW WEE THYE SHEN
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ALUMNUS
cell migration on 2D and 3D surfaces, is globally recognised. Two of FoS’ scientists – out of eight scientists from NUS – were listed in the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014 list by Thomson Reuters. They are Professor Huang Dejian from the Department of Chemistry and the late Professor Sodhi Navjot from the Department of Biological Sciences. This was a list of the global scientists with the most number of “hot” ideas that were quoted in research. Distinguished Professor Louis Chen is one of FoS’ most lauded Professors of Mathematics. His research interests include the eponymous Stein-Chen Method of Poisson approximation, which deals with the probability of rare events. This method is widely applied in many areas including molecular biology and computer science. A Fellow of the Singapore National Academy of Science, Prof Chen has had a distinguished career marked by a host of awards and titles. He was the first Asian to be elected President of the Bernoulli Society for Mathematical Statistics and Probability, a position he served from 1997 to 1999. He was the first East Asian President of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics from 2004 to 2005. He also served as Vice-President of the International PHOTO OF PROF SHEN ZUOWEI: WILSON PANG
QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE
“AS SCIENTISTS, WE ARE ALWAYS PREPARED TO VENTURE INTO UNCHARTERED WATERS. IT IS THIS PART OF THE TRAINING THAT HELPS ME IN MY CURRENT WORK.”
PHOTO OF PROF ANDREW WEE: TAN KAY HIAN
how things turn out. Although I enjoyed all my previous postings, forensics brought me closer to my first love: the wonderful world of science and its application in criminal investigation,” he explains. “The training provided by FoS focussed not only on scientific methodology but also logical thinking, and inductive and deductive reasoning – all of which are important in scientific research and policing, including crime scene investigation.” Using science to solve crime is a popular formula for television shows and movies – Sherlock and CSI are proof – but the reality is that cases are sometimes extremely challenging. “My friend once said to me that as humans, we are always fearful of the unknown. My response to him was as scientists, we are always prepared to venture into unchartered waters. It is this part of the training that helps me in my current work.”
Statistical Institute from 2009 to 2011. A Fellow of the World Academy of Science, Prof Chen was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2002 and conferred the title of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French government in 2005 for his services to education. Another renowned mathematician, the Dean of FoS, Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor Shen Zuowei is a world leader in the field of Applied Mathematics. “I believe that theoretical research should be driven and motivated by applications and applied research should be guided by theory; I enjoy doing research in this manner,” says the Suzhouborn scientist. “I am interested in developing mathematical theories and numerical methods to solve real-life problems.” Prof Shen has developed a theory for redundant systems, especially wavelet frame and Gabor frame, and used it to develop methods in image processing and analysis which have wide applications, such as in biomedical and CT imaging. “I am glad that my work has been recognised internationally at the highest levels,” says Prof Shen, who was invited to speak at the prestigious International Congress of Mathematicians in 2010. He will also speak at the 8th International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics to be held in 2015. FoS as a whole has played a significant role in driving NUS’ international ranking – the University is ranked 22nd in the world in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2014/2015, and number one in Asia in the QS University Rankings Asia 2014. As for FoS’ departments, the department of Pharmacy ranks 12th worldwide, Statistics & Operational Research is seventh, and Mathematics, 13th. “One of the core strengths of the Faculty is its culture of excellence,” says Prof Wee, 53. “The academic staff aims very high.” He also points out that FoS and NUS have grown in tandem since the early 2000s. “NUS was on the upswing, and structures were put in place, so we saw a rise in rankings across the university and also in the Faculty.” One such structure was the handing over of
administrative duties to professional staff. “The Vice-Deans and Deans used to do a lot of the non-academic work,” he explains. “Hence when the Office of Administration took over human resource, finance, corporate communications, we didn’t have to neglect our academic work.” Both the Provost and Prof Wee himself are fine examples of excellence: Prof Tan was recently awarded a Public Administration Medal (Gold) and Prof Wee, a Public Administration Medal (Silver) at the National Day Awards in August 2014.
GAMECHANGER
Prof Shen Zuowei
Professor Leo Tan Wee Hin (Science ’74) has a long string of awards to his name, including the President’s Award for the Environment in 2012 for his work as Chairman of NParks, and the Ord Nationale du Merite in 2002 from the President of France for his contributions in enhancing cooperation between Singapore and France in the field of Science. But when asked which of his many awards he values the most, the 69 year-old replies that it is the Faculty of Science Distinguished Science Alumni award. Prof Tan is indeed something of a ‘superman’ not just in the Science fraternity but in the realm of public service, being the recipient of a Public Service Medal and a Public Service Star. A leading figure in environmental progress in Singapore, he worked to get Labrador Park gazetted as a Nature Reserve, promoted and conserved the intertidal shores of Pulau Semakau, and is credited with Gardens By The Bay. Prof Tan is a product of FoS who has gone on to impact society in myriad ways, and he contributes to the University by nurturing more scientists like himself. One example is Professor Peter Ng, the Head of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History
“I AM INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING MATHEMATICAL THEORIES AND NUMERICAL METHODS TO SOLVE REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS.” PROF SHEN ZUOWEI
Museum, with whom he worked for nearly a decade to make the museum happen (see Once Upon A Memory, pg 22). In 1974, Prof Tan was the first student in FoS to obtain his PhD in Zoology (Marine Biology) – something many tried to dissuade him from doing. “I was offered a place in Canada – I wanted to do tropical marine biology,” he says. “The Science Faculty was not in a position to offer a PhD. It didn’t have a reputation, although it was a very good undergrad university.” Despite peers telling him he would be ridiculed, Prof Leo insisted on remaining in FoS, working with a supervisor from the Fisheries Department “We didn’t have the OCT–DEC 2014
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