Honouring Mr Wong

Crowdfundedstudent designs P07 P10 P12

Misconceptions about antibiotics

Self-driving scooter

JAN-FEB 2017

02 03

SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT

Appreciation Dinner for Mr Wong Ngit Liong

Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, an NUS alumnus, was first appointed to the NUS Council on 20 August 2003, and later to the NUS Board following the University’s corporatisation in 2006.

During his time on the Board, Mr Hsieh was Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee as well as its Nominating Committee. Although he stepped down from the NUS Board in March 2012, Mr Hsieh maintained close ties with the University.

Mr Hsieh is a highly respected leader in the social sector, and business. He is Chairman of the National Gallery Singapore, the National Council of Social Service and Jurong Health Services. He is also Chairman of the UOB Group, a member of the GIC Board, Co-Founder and Adviser to PrimePartners Group, and Chairman of the Stewardship Asia Centre.

New Chairman Mr Hsieh Fu Hua

Mr Hsieh succeeded Mr Wong as NUS Chairman on 1 January 2017

Prof Tan (far right) presented Mr Wong with a painting he did of the Taroko Gorge in Taiwan as a token of gratitude, with NUS Chancellor Dr Tony Tan (2nd from right) and Mr Hsieh (far left)

“Looking back, the last 12 to 13 years of my life at NUS have been uniquely precious, richly blessed and wonderfully memorable.”

– Mr Wong Ngit Liong, former NUS Chairman

“When a University Chairman steps down, he leaves behind a legacy,” said Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS President.

This remark received resounding agreement from the 260 guests at the appreciation dinner for Mr Wong Ngit Liong, former NUS Chairman, as he had indeed left behind an enduring legacy after 12 years at the helm of NUS.

The dinner on 25 January paid tribute to Mr Wong’s dedicated service to the University. The occasion, graced by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Singapore President and NUS Chancellor, was also attended by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills); Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence; Mr Po’ad Mattar, NUS Pro-Chancellor; Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, NUS Chairman; senior management; trustees; faculty; staff; students; alumni and friends.

Mr Wong’s appointment as NUS Chairman came at a critical juncture when the University was corporatised and became an autonomous institution. From the outset, one of his aims was to raise NUS’ reputation and performance in education, research and enterprise. Mr Wong believes that the committed support and services of many people have led to the success of that mission, whom he took time to acknowledge.

“Everyone can contribute to the advancement of NUS, no matter how small you may think your contribution is,” he stressed.

Then Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan, who approached Mr Wong to take on the role in 2004, expressed his delight at how NUS has transformed and thrived under Mr Wong’s adept leadership. “From a strong teaching institution respected for training graduates for the Singapore economy, it is now one of the best research-intensive universities in the world, constantly innovating in its education, research and entrepreneurship, and equipping its graduates with knowledge, experiences and skills for a lifetime of careers,” he said.

Affirming that Mr Wong has left NUS in a stronger position than where it

was, Mr Ong detailed the University’s many advancements under Mr Wong’s leadership, particularly, the intangibles — the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. “It drives researchers to go beyond publication, and invest in practical projects that

can change lives. It motivates students to take a leap of faith to venture out of Singapore to work, or create enterprises and be their own bosses,” he said.

When they first met in 2004, Prof Tan found Mr Wong to be modest, quiet, patient and kind despite being a global business leader. He credits Mr Wong’s forward-looking and conscientious oversight as vital for the successful corporatisation. He also appreciates Mr Wong’s conviction in creating greater value and impact for society, charting new directions, upholding the spirit of service and community, as well as fostering bonds in the NUS community.

On behalf of the NUS community, Prof Tan extended a warm welcome to Mr Hsieh, expressing his confidence that Mr Hsieh will “no doubt build on Mr Wong’s legacy, and guide NUS to new peaks of excellence, achievement, impact and contribution”.

A tribute video from various Singapore leaders and members of the NUS community sharing their appreciation and well wishes was screened during the dinner. Mr Wong also received mementoes from both Mr Hsieh and Prof Tan.

Mr Wong interacting with students at the dinner

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If the Nobel Prize epitomizes the pinnacle of scientific breakthroughs, what better way to uncover the secret of a successful scientist than the first-hand revelations of three Nobel Laureates.

Professor Aaron Ciechanover, Sir Andre Geim and Sir Timothy Hunt shared their personal experience during a panel discussion on “What makes a scientist successful” at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine on 16 January.

Held in conjunction with Global Young Scientists Summit@one-north 2017, the event was moderated by Professor Barry Halliwell, Senior Advisor to NUS President and Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor.

Sir Timothy, credited with the discovery of cyclins which play a key role in regulating cell cycle transitions, highlighted “finding stuff out” as helpful in scientific achievement, adding that great scientists liked to be very clear about things. Sir Timothy, who was

awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001, also believes in luck, and being in the right place at the right time.

Even though Prof Ciechanover felt there is no real secret as many scientists do not manage to repeat their success, he pointed out a few possible contributing factors. He stressed the importance of being in a leading place of research and having good mentors.

Prof Ciechanover was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004 for discovering how cells use ubiquitin to destroy or reuse old proteins.

For Sir Andre, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for discovering graphene, he attributed scientific success to a lot of luck and hard work. The odds

could be improved by obtaining a goodeducation and being open-minded in subject choice. “You can still spread your bets by trying to move from subject to subject, trying to be more adventurous,” he said.

Following the discussion, the audience posed questions on how scientists could continue to remain curious, the process for finding a problem to solve and dealing with research frustrations.

Singapore has been grappling with a low fertility rate of 1.24 for years, way below the recommended replacement rate of 2.1 to maintain population levels.

To learn from the experience in East Asian and European societies to help reverse this downward trend, the Centre for Family and Population Research and the Global Asia Institute at NUS organised a lecture titled “Postindustrial fertility rates in East Asia and Europe: Lessons for Singapore” by Professor Mary C Brinton, leading Harvard scholar and Reischauer Institute Professor of Sociology.

Guest-of-Honour Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State for the

Prime Minister’s Office, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport, attended the event on 19 January with some 250 NUS faculty, staff, students and guests.

Prof Brinton’s research suggests that some social norms will need to change before the birth rates could be nudged upwards as long work hours, imbalanced gender roles and a rigid work culture are not conducive for families.

After the lecture, a lively dialogue between Prof Brinton and Mrs Teo, moderated by Professor Jean Yeung, Director of the Centre for Family and Population Research, prompted many questions from the audience.

NUHS in newintegrated health cluster

Secrets of a Successful Scientist

IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS

An engaging exchange between the panellists Mrs Teo (left), Prof Yeung and Prof Brinton (right)

Nobel Laureates (from left) Prof Ciechanover, Sir Andre and Sir Timothy sharing a light

moment during the panel discussion moderated by Prof Halliwell (far right)

The National University Health System (NUHS) is merging with Jurong Health Services (JurongHealth) as part of a reorganisation of the public healthcare system in Singapore announced by the Ministry of Health. Six existing regional healthcare systems will be reorganised into three integrated clusters, each with its own network of polyclinics, to better meet Singaporeans’ future healthcare needs.

NUHS currently comprises the National University Hospital, National University Cancer Institute, National University Heart Centre, National University Centre for Oral Health, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), NUS Dentistry and NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

With the reorganisation, NUHS will retain its name, and the new healthcare cluster will include its close partner JurongHealth, as well as a new entity, the National University Polyclinics (NUP). The NUP will have seven polyclinics by 2020, located in Bukit Batok, Clementi, Choa Chu Kang, Queenstown, Jurong, Pioneer and Bukit Panjang, with the last two being upcoming developments. The new NUHS cluster will serve residents in the western region.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS President, will remain as Chairman of NUHS. Professor John Eu-Li Wong, NUS Senior Vice President (Health Affairs) and Isabel Chan Professor of Medical Sciences, will be Group Chief Executive of the NUHS.

Associate Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, Dean of NUS Medicine, will remain as Deputy Group Chief Executive of NUHS, together with Mr Chua Song Khim and Adjunct Associate Professor Joe Sim. Mr Foo Hee Jug, the current CEO of JurongHealth, will be appointed Deputy Group Chief Executive of NUHS.

Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) will be continuing its close partnerships with the Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) cluster serving the eastern region of Singapore.

Drawing on their combined strengths and talents, the new integrated clusters are expected to deliver more comprehensive and patient-centred health promotion, disease prevention, curative and rehabilitative care for the community they serve. It will also allow better use of resources, as well as more career options and professional opportunities for those serving within the systems.

The NUS schools and Duke-NUS involved in the integrated healthcare will continue to engage beyond the communities in their home clusters and serve the wider Singapore society, and beyond.

The restructuring arises from Singapore’s increased healthcare needs and complexity due to an ageing population and chronic disease burden.

The reorganisation of the public healthcare system is expected to be completed by early 2018.

Low Fertility Lessons for Singapore

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IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS

Student Designs Attract Crowdfunding

Voyage across The Equator

Nine NUS students kick-started their new year with an exciting adventure — sailing across the Equator on an 18-metre schooner.

Together with three NUS alumni, one faculty member and the ship’s captain and crew, the undergraduates set off from the island of Batam in Indonesia on 2 January for Pulau Lingga, another Indonesian island on the Equator.

During the week-long journey, they learned to sail, picked up lessons in maritime navigation and geography, and gained fresh perspective on the larger archipelago that Singapore belongs to.

The participants went through thrilling experiences, including dealing head-on with an unexpected Sumatran squall lasting half an hour.

Jonathan Yeo, Year 1 student from NUS Business and a former national sailor, shared how the team scrambled to remove awnings and shelters on the deck as the rain beat down. “The wind was blowing the ship at an angle, going at 40 knots, or 80km per hour. Thankfully we were already anchored for the night, and our very experienced captain took charge, using the ship’s engine to counter the force of the wind.”

Another highlight for the students was charting their own course through a channel previously thought to be too

shallow for a ship. As they approached Pulau Lingga, they took a shorter route across the narrow channel of uncertain depth under the captain’s guidance.

As the ship proceeded slowly, they charted the channel’s depth at one-minute intervals with a depth sounder running on sonar. The actual depth turned out to be up to 20m, more than enough for a ship to sail through. They christened the channel “Selat NUS” — selat being the Malay word for channel or strait.

The explorers have shared the data collected with the marina at Nongsa Point, Batam, which will be made available to others sailing in the area.

NUS Computing and Engineering Associate Professor Martin Henz conceptualised this unconventional learning trip. “We wanted not just a longer voyage, but one that encourages multidisciplinary learning and cross-fertilisation of ideas and perspectives between students,” said the avid sailor who had worked with students on various sailing-related projects.

For the navigators, it was a journey that took them out of their comfort zone and altered their perspectives. Darren Wee, Year 2 student from NUS Computing, valued the opportunity to be off the grid for a week and learned to relax, while Jonathan developed a deeper appreciation for nature, and a curiosity for the bigger picture.

A wallet that automatically sorts coins from notes; a pen with a magnetic propulsion mechanism; and an inflatable pillow that can be completely filled using just one puff of air.

Designed and developed by students from NUS School of Design and Environment’s Division of Industrial Design, these intriguing works launched at global crowdfunding platform Kickstarter last November have drawn attention and support in Singapore and around the world.

Seeking a solution to fumbling with change led to the development of the KIN wallet by Year 4 student Lim Li Xue, Year 3 student Cheryl Ho and Year 2 student Ng Ai Ling. The wallet has an interior mechanism specially sewn to allow notes and coins to be separated after being placed through the top compartment and shaken. The coins can then be accessed via a side compartment, with a clever design preventing their backflow.

Their campaign on Kickstarter closed a month later after amassing more than $280,000 from 4,746 backers. The team has set up KIN Studio to productise the wallet.

Strong attraction-repulsion forces of rare-earth magnetic metal neodymium are tapped to lock and unlock the pen nib of the Quotidian Pen, created by Year 3 students Chui Pak Ho and Wilmer Tay, and Year 2 student Yong Zi Fong. This minimalist pen reveals its nib, propelled out magnetically, when the cap is brought to the back of the pen body. The magnetic forces also allow users to enjoy more ways of interaction with the pen, be it spinning, flicking and fidgeting.

The team’s campaign on Kickstarter hit the $4,000 target within 20 minutes of launching. At its close a month later, some 640 backers have put in $71,000.

Aubergine Pillow enables a comfortable snooze during the day with just a breath of air. The innovative product by Hor Sue Xian (Year 4), John Teo (Year 3) and Jacelyn Lau (Year 2) exploits the Bernoulli Effect, a scientific principle. By blowing a short distance away from the spout of the pillow, the resultant lower pressure draws surrounding air into the spout and allows the pillow to be inflated with just one puff of air.

The aubergine-shaped headrest’s curves and dimple give stability to the user’s head, while supporting the neck. When deflated, the pillow shrinks to the size of a smartphone, allowing easy storage. The team’s campaign on Kickstarter raised some $23,000 from 370 backers in one month.

Each team is now working with manufacturers to produce and deliver their products to their backers.

The Quotidian Pen is made from premium aircraft-grade aluminium or brass

Coins in the KIN wallet can be easily accessed via a side pocket after being sorted

The Aubergine Pillow can be inflated with a single puff of air

The 400km voyage started from Batam, with stops on the islands of Benan, Sebangka, Lingga and Gojong, before anchoring at Pulau Telang

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With political upheavals in the US and Europe casting a shadow of uncertainty over Asia recently, it was fitting that The Honourable Kirk Wagar, then US Ambassador to Singapore, delivered a talk titled “Perspectives on the Pacific Century”, the first NUS U@live forum of 2017 hosted by Mr Viswa Sadasivan.

Addressing a packed audience of 350 staff, students, alumni and invited guests at NUS on 3 January, the straight-talking former Ambassador shared his insightful perspectives on the implications of recent events on politics, trade and security in Southeast Asia.

The biggest question on everyone’s minds that evening was probably how much the incoming President Mr Donald Trump would affect US-Singapore relations — to which Mr Wagar’s response was an emphatic “not much”.

“I believe we are currently sitting in the most dynamic country in the most dynamic region in the world,” he said of Singapore. He added that the US always had a strong presence in the country, and this will not stop. He also pointed out that the city state has provided the US a platform into Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia for decades.

Allaying concerns that the change in presidency would thwart advancements made under the Obama administration, Mr Wagar remained optimistic that “facts win over ideology” and reassured that there are checks and balances in place.

During the question-and-answer session moderated by Chair of the U@live Organising Committee Mr Sadasivan, Mr Wagar was quizzed about what surprised him the most since coming to Southeast Asia.

The fervent cheerleader for ASEAN and diplomatic relations noted that he was struck by how average citizens were not more enthusiastic about the enormous strengths of the region. He felt that many did not realise that ASEAN’s large workforce and strong economy is the answer to much of the economic growth that will happen in the area.

The engaging forum ended with Mr Wagar recounting his three most memorable moments since being sworn in as US Ambassador to Singapore in 2013 — his nerve-wracking meeting with Mr Lee Kuan Yew, former Singapore Prime Minister, in 2013; witnessing an entire nation united in mourning when Mr Lee passed on in 2015; and current Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong’s official state visit to the US last year, the first by a Singaporean Prime Minister in 31 years.

Organised by NUS Alumni Relations, the quarterly U@live series aims to raise thought leadership by engaging eminent NUS alumni and revolutionary leaders in robust discussion on pertinent topics.

After spending more than 12 years at the helm of NUS, Mr Wong Ngit Liong looks forward to taking on even greater challenges on an international scale.

“There is still a lot to do. I will continue to help Singapore,” said Mr Wong, who stepped down as Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees at the end of 2016.

“There is much to do for those of us in industry. We need to help to strengthen Singapore’s place in the global ecosystem, to ensure that Singapore’s business sector remains robust, relevant and connected to the rest of the world,” he added.

Mr Wong, who is Chairman and CEO of Venture Corporation, shared his thoughts on his tenure as NUS Chairman at an interview with NUS News.

“When I was first asked to be Chairman of NUS, I asked, ‘Why me?’ The thought of serving at NUS never crossed my mind! But I loved education and I enjoyed my time as a student. Helping out in the area of education would be at the top of the list if I was to be of

service to Singapore,” he said of his initial hesitation at the first meeting in 2004 with Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, then Deputy Prime Minister overseeing higher education, and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, then Minister for Education.

Mr Wong had always enjoyed his time in school when growing up in Johor, Malaysia. A top student in the state with several scholarships, he graduated with First Class (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Malaya. He later obtained a Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley on a Fulbright scholarship. He went on to complete an MBA with distinction at McGill University under a Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship.

He spent the first five years of his 12-year career with the Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) in Silicon Valley, earning the trust and confidence of Mr Bill Hewlett. The HP co-founder asked Mr Wong to set up the HP office in Penang, Malaysia, and later, the HP office in Singapore. He became a Singapore citizen in 1978.

Mr Wong Ngit Liong: Putting Singapore First

US Role in the Pacific Century

PERSPECTIVES PERSPECTIVES

Mr Wong became Managing Director of Technocom-Multitech group in 1986 and started Venture Group in 1989. From its origins as a start-up in manufacturing, Venture Corporation is today a leading global provider of technology products, services and solutions. Well regarded for his business acumen and leadership, Mr Wong was invited in 2001 to be part of the Economic Review Committee, tasked with reviewing policies and proposing strategies to promote the growth and development of Singapore.

“I felt that I had contributed and helped to make a difference to the development of Singapore’s business sector. I was open to helping the country in any other way,” he said.

Mr Wong continued to share his experience and insights through board memberships at the Economic Development Board, Trade Development Board (the predecessor of IE Singapore), Singapore Exchange and DBS Bank.Mr Wong addressing the Board of Trustees at NUS Mr Wagar

Mr Wong dotting the lion’s eye during the launch of NUS110 at Taman Jurong Community Club in 2015

“While NUS has done well, there is room for us to be even better.”

– Mr Wong Ngit Liong, former NUS Chairman

He was also involved in the establishment of the Nanyang Technological Institute, set up in 1981 to address the shortage of engineers in Singapore. It was this positive experience and a deep desire to contribute that ultimately led Mr Wong to agree to be Chairman of NUS.

“Minister Tharman wanted me to bring a corporate approach to running the University. He was very approachable and shared useful insights,” he said.

Every strong economy, added Mr Wong, needs a strong and powerful university. This flagship university would create a vital knowledge base for business and attract foreign investments and talent.

The immediate priority of the Board of Trustees and management from 2005 to 2006 was to transform NUS from “good to great”, he said. “We felt that to be ‘great’, NUS had to be global.”

In the 12 years under Mr Wong’s leadership, the University’s efforts to ramp up research, entrepreneurship, as well as participation in global and regional networks, have earned the respect of the higher education community around the world. NUS is today seen as a leading university, highly regarded globally for educational innovation, research excellence and entrepreneurship education.

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Singapore youths have been found to deliberately take more paracetamol than recommended, according to an NUS study. A research team led by Associate Professor Grant Sklar from NUS Pharmacy discovered that paracetamol overdose — both intentional and unintentional — among adults in Singapore occurred predominantly in young people.

Analysis of the medical records of 177 adult patients hospitalised at National University Hospital with diagnosis of paracetamol overdose over a three-year period found almost 77 per cent were intentional ingestion. Females made up 70 per cent of the cases, while more

than half of all patients were young people aged 18 to 25 years.

Many patients who took more than the labelled dose wrongly thought it would better help relieve their ailments. Some were not aware that their ingested doses might be toxic and potentially lethal.

The review published in Singapore Medical Journal suggested that existing preventive measures to increase public awareness may not be sufficient as a paracetamol overdose can potentially lead to liver damage, liver failure and even death.

Although antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, almost 8 in 10 patients in Singapore who consulted doctors for upper respiratory tract infections did not know this. Two-thirds of the 914 adult patients surveyed by NUS presumed that the drugs could more quickly cure their cough, sore throat and runny nose, symptoms usually caused by viruses.

Furthermore, a third of the respondents expected to be given antibiotics for such malaise and half of these would ask for the medicine or go to another general practitioner if not prescribed.

The study conducted by students from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine last year, under the supervision of public health experts, was part of their Year 4 Community Health Projects. Patients consulting doctors at NUS University Health Centre

and 23 private clinics were interviewed. Data revealed that 12 per cent of respondents kept antibiotic stocks at home, 14 per cent took leftover antibiotics and 7 per cent shared their antibiotics with family members.

These misconceptions are troubling as antibiotic resistance represents one of the biggest global health threats. Wrong use of antibiotics can result in longer or less effective treatment, allergic reactions and serious side effects.

Lead investigator Dr Mark Chen, an assistant professor with the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at NUS, stressed that using antibiotics unnecessarily contributes to the spread of bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, limiting the number of options to treat these infections.

A gene discovered by NUS scientists is being used as a biomarker for the early detection and prognosis of breast cancer. The patent has been licensed to Singapore biomedical diagnostic company Restalyst Pte Ltd, which expects to commercialise it into a test kit this year.

The WBP2 gene, discovered in 2011 by Assistant Professor Lim Yoon Pin of NUS Biochemistry and his team, has been identified to cause the rapid proliferation of breast cancer cells.

Published in the journal Cancer Research last November, the current study found that the level of the oncogene was raised in up to 90 per cent of patients with breast cancer. Precancerous tissue also showed elevated level of the gene.

The WBP2 analysis, performed during biopsy or surgery, shows molecular transformation in cells before they become cancerous, thus helping to detect cancer earlier.

The study also reveals that patients with high levels of WBP2 tend to have more aggressive cancer and a higher rate of recurrence.

Misconceptions aboutAntibiotics

Young Adults Intentionally Overdose on Paracetamol

Oncogene Kit Detects Early Breast Cancer

The NUS survey found that Singapore patients have misconceptions about antibiotics

The study led by Assoc Prof Sklar found that intentional ingestion accounted for almost 77 per cent of the overdose cases

RESEARCH & INNOVATION RESEARCH & INNOVATION

A prototype kit for detecting WBP2 oncogene in clinical specimens

It’s official: touch is a significant factor in determining how sociable children grow up to be.

A study by NUS psychologists has revealed that physical contact is a significant factor in the social development of four- to six-year-olds. NUS Psychology Associate Professor Annett Schirmer guided a team to investigate the relationship between touch and social development in young children, the first such research to be published in Cerebral Cortex and Cognitive Development.

In the study which involved 39 mother-child pairs, the number of times a mother reached out to touch her child at play was counted. The children were then given two tasks to complete.

The researchers found that children who received more touches from their mothers were significantly more likely to preferentially orientate towards images of faces as opposed to houses — social and non-social

stimuli, respectively — in a social orienting test, compared to those who received less touches. These children were also more accurate in recognising the emotions in pictures shown during a second test.

“This index gave us an idea of how sensitive they are to social information in the environment and it suggests that there is a positive relationship between how much kids are touched and how sensitive they are to the social environment,” said Assoc Prof Schirmer.

Touching Determines Social Development

Researchers from Singapore have found that pregnant women who sleep less than six hours per night are at higher risk of having gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Published in the journal SLEEP, this is the first study to examine the relationship between sleep duration and GDM in a multiethnic Asian population.

Associate Professor Joshua Gooley from Duke-NUS Medical School and Dr Cai Shirong from NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine analysed the sleep habits and glucose levels of 686 pregnant women participating in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study. GUSTO seeks to determine effects of maternal health and lifestyle on growth outcomes of their children.

The team found that among women who reported sleeping less than six hours a night, 27.3 per cent had GDM, compared to 16.8 per cent among those who reported sleeping seven to eight hours a night.

Assoc Prof Gooley said that the research raises the possibility that good sleep habits could reduce the likelihood of developing hyperglycaemia and GDM.

Short Sleep Linked to Gestational Diabetes

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Thanks to a successful restoration programme, corals now thrive on the seawalls of Lazarus Island, off the southern coast of Singapore.

Researchers from the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) at NUS and NUS Biological Sciences, together with dedicated volunteers, transplanted six hard coral species onto artificial seawalls on the island in 2014. The more than 200 fragments came from corals at Sultan Shoal, another small island off Singapore. These pieces were secured on nursery tables for nine months at Lazarus Island, then transferred to granite seawalls.

The transplanted corals have high survival rates of almost 90 per cent. Two species exhibited complete survival, while three species had survival rates of between 91 and 97 per cent. The feasibility of the exercise means it can help create a sustainable marine environment in urbanised coastal areas.

The research was published in Ecological Engineering last November.Dr Toh Tai Chong, TMSI Research Fellow, pointed out that this effort shows coral transplantation can be done in the subtidal regions of the seawall.

“In situations where there has to be urban development, we can try to mitigate the damage by relocating some of the corals to create new communities in man-made areas,” he added.

NUS has secured the fourth place in this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) Most International University Ranking, the only university in Singapore to make the prestigious list.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS President said, “As the majority of our students are Singaporeans, they benefit greatly from the unique diversity of learning opportunities that NUS can provide as one of the most international universities in the world.”

About eight in 10 NUS undergraduates have study abroad experience, including participating in student

exchange programmes in more than 300 partner universities in over 40 countries. The unique NUS Overseas Colleges programme allows students to intern in entrepreneurial hubs around the world such as Silicon Valley, Beijing and Stockholm.

In addition, NUS collaborates with top overseas universities in offering more than 70 degree programmes. Students thus enjoy both Asian and global educational experiences that broaden their outlook and increase their networks, with access to some of the best academic programmes.

A diverse community of staff and students from some 100 nations adds different academic expertise and social perspectives for greater vibrancy. NUS has also developed a global network of research partnerships to increase the impact of its work.

The THE ranking considers four components: number of journal publications with at least one international co‐author; international reputation; and proportion of international students and international staff.

First-year students from NUS Law clinched the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Japan Chapter Award in the Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition last December.

Daniel Ling, Tan Fong Han, Darren Sim, Violet Huang Qianwei and Sophia Yew received the Award for the top arbitration team. They also won the Best Teamwork Award.

In the negotiation competition, the NUS undergraduates were only behind a more senior team comprising third-and fourth-year students from the Australian National University and the University of Sydney.

NUS Law Associate Professor Lim Lei Theng, Associate Professor Ruby Lee, lecturer Ms Sonita Jeyapathy and several moots alumni supported the NUS students in their preparation for the competition.

A soft robotic glove that assists stroke survivors with safe hand rehabilitation at home has grabbed the attention of judges at the BES-SEC Design Award Competition. It won the top prize at the event organised by the Biomedical Engineering Society (Singapore) (BES) and the Society of Engineers for the Community (SEC) last December.

The NUS team — PhD candidate Yap Hong Kai from NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, NUS Biomedical Engineering undergraduate Wu Po Cheng and team advisor Assistant Professor Raye Yeow — received the Gold Award for creating EsoGloveX.

Made entirely of readily-available fabric-based components, EsoGloveX does not require complicated mechanical set-ups. The low-cost device helps

prevent or treat post-stroke hand contractures and improves hand mobility. In contrast, current hand rehabilitation devices are expensive, rigid and bulky, restricting natural body movements when used.

The researchers have filed a patent for their invention. Roceso Technologies Pte Ltd, an NUS spin-off company, will commercialise the EsoGlove series.

World’s 4th Most International University

Law Students Top Arbitrators

EsoGlove Clinches Biomedical Award

RESEARCH & INNOVATION ACCOLADES

A self-driving scooter may soon be plying the roads of Singapore, helping to steer the nation’s vision of a car-lite society and efficient door-to-door transportation.

Designed by NUS and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, the e-scooter is the latest in the team’s collaborative research on autonomous vehicles. Aimed at pedestrian environments, it can navigate narrower pathways not ideal for larger vehicles.

Associate Professor Marcelo Ang from NUS Mechanical Engineering, co-investigator of the project, said the concept of mobility is not only on the

roads but also from point A to point B, such as in big complexes.

The scooter weighs around 50kg and has a top speed of 6km per hour. Built-in sensors provide the vehicle’s location and detect obstacles, slowing down or stopping in response. Constructed with off-the-shelf components and lower-cost sensors than most autonomous vehicles, the scooter can be economically viable. High levels of self-driving capability were achieved through software.

Target users are people who “cannot, should not, or prefer not to drive”, including the elderly, disabled or the very young, said Assoc Prof Ang.

Coral Rejuvenation

Self-driving Scooter

Coral fragments are secured at nursery tables for some nine months before transplantation

From left: Darren, Violet, Daniel, Sophia (seated) and Fong Han with their awards

Asst Prof Yeow (left) and Hong Kai with their award-winning EsoGloveX

The scooter built by a team co-led by Assoc Prof Ang can work well in poor lighting conditions

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OTHER NEWS THE POWER OF POTENTIAL

In honour of the late Mr Wong Ah Long, former NUS Board Trustee and distinguished alumnus, a group of NUS alumni, faculty and staff, together with his family and friends, successfully raised more than $669,000 to help needy students.

Bursaries for up to 26 students each year will be set up, perpetuating Mr Wong’s belief in education and helping financially needy students.

After his graduation in 1969, Mr Wong continued to remain active in the University. He held numerous advisory roles across NUS and served on the Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2008.

In recognition of his service, he was conferred the NUS Distinguished Alumni Service Award and the Distinguished Science Alumni award in 2005, and the Eminent Alumni Award from NUS Business in 2003.

Team Project Cheway, comprising students from the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Students’ Society in NUS Engineering, topped Maybank’s eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN programme.

They clinched the Power Up Award 2016 and $15,000 in funding for their impactful and sustainable social initiatives in the Philippines.

The team helped build a system to harvest rainwater for household use, as well as a biosand filter to recycle bathroom and kitchen waste water for residential use. They also planted mangrove trees to prevent floods.

The programme aims to encourage youths to use social innovation to reduce poverty and empower ASEAN communities.

Wong Ah Long Bursary

Youth Power for Change

Mr Yeo (far right) and the family of Mr Wong presenting the cheque to Prof Tan (second from left) and Ms Jenny Lee (far left), NUS Vice President (Endowment and Institutional Development)

Project Cheway team members planting mangrove seedlings on a levelled trash landfill

When a leading global university, an e-commerce giant and a major operator of contactless stored value cards come together, big things will happen — big data analytics to be exact.

In January, NUS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alibaba Cloud — the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group — and EZ-Link, Singapore’s largest issuer of Contactless e-Purse Application compliant cards, to collaborate and boost Singapore’s smart computing capabilities.

Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), Mr Ethan Yu, Vice President of Alibaba Group and General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Global, and Mr Nicholas Lee, CEO of EZ-Link Pte Ltd inked the agreement.

Big data analytics examines large data sets to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends, customer preferences and other useful information. The three partners aim to harness big data and translate them into solutions for both businesses and consumers.

NUS and Alibaba Cloud will cooperate in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing and interactive digital media. They are currently working with EZ-Link to analyse EZ-Link card usage patterns to improve customer experience and have real-time insights.

Cloud Computingwith Alibaba

NUS students can now evaluate their skillsets and gauge their readiness for the future with a new index developed by the Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) at NUS. The CFG Future-ready Index (CFG-FRI) was launched at the annual NUS Career Fair on 7 February.

In his opening address, Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost said, “The Index enables us to clearly define the metrics that matter to the industry and track the progress of our students. It also serves as a benchmark for any organisation looking to assess and enhance the soft-skill competencies of their employees.”

By conducting focus group sessions and surveys involving more than 300 leading multinational and local employers across a spectrum of sectors, CFG has identified nine key mindsets and competencies that are valued by employers. These are Adaptability, Curiosity, EmotionalSensing, Empathy, Entrepreneurial Thinking, Insight, Pursuing Convictions, Resilience and Vision.

The CFG team has developed a proprietary psychometric tool named

CFG-FRI Tool based on these skills. It comprises a list of 52 questions and was tested on 4,250 NUS undergraduates from various years of study to assess their future-readiness. They were also asked what they looked for in a career and employer.

Key findings were captured in the inaugural NUS Future-ready Report.

Students with overseas experience scored higher in seven domains: Adaptability, Curiosity, Entrepreneurial Thinking, Insight, Pursuing Convictions, Resilience and Vision. Senior NUS students achieved higher scores in three domains most valued by employers — Adaptability, Entrepreneurial Thinking and Pursuing Convictions.

This suggested that the University’s education has helped students develop an entrepreneurial outlook and become more adaptable and dynamic. Gender differences were noted, with female students achieving higher scores for Empathy and Emotional Sensing.

The two-day NUS Career Fair 2017 attracted participation from more than 260 employers offering over 4,600 job opportunities in a range of industries.

New Index Tracks Future-readiness

Mr Eugene Wong (’92 Business) and Madam Emily Chin (’92 Business)

The couple made a joint decision to set up the Emily Chin & Eugene Wong Scholarship at NUS Business School, the place where they first met. Acknowledging that a scholarship is a valued form of recognition of one’s hard work, and a great motivating factor, they hope to offer help and encouragement to business students today.

Business Couple Invest in Tomorrow’s Leaders

“We are investing in young people who are academically strong and who will yield not just good results, but also make meaningful contributions to society.”

Madam Chin (left), Mr Wong and their children

Editorial Team: Ng Tse Wei, Tan Lay Leng, Rachel Lim, Sharon Roberts, Cassandra Yue, Amanda Yee:: Office of Corporate Relations, National University of Singapore:: University Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing, UHL #05-03, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077:: +65 6516 1517 (Tel) :: +65 6775 7630 (Fax) :: news@nus.edu.sg (Email) :: news.nus.edu.sg/inprint:: Company Registration No: 200604346E

Students were spoilt for choice at the NUS Career Fair

STEER-ing into Central AmericaTwenty-nine NUS undergraduates went to Central America from 4 to 22 December last year on the first Study Trips for Engagement and EnRichment (STEER) Programme in Costa Rica and Panama.

They came back with greater awareness and appreciation of the history, peoples, cultures, biodiversity and business opportunities of the region. The trip was facilitated by wildlife biologist Dr Joanna Coleman from NUS Bachelor of Environmental Studies Programme.

The group met with various Ministers and officials of Costa Rica to gain a better understanding of the development and challenges faced by the country. The students then went on an educational tour of the Tapantí National Park, which boasts a rich biodiversity of birds, insects and plants.

A visit to the University of Costa Rica included informative lectures on Latin American studies as well as

the business and cultural climate in Central America.

The highlight of the programme was a trip to Ostional for the rare opportunity to witness the night nesting of an Olive Ridley sea turtle, one of millions which hatch along the 7km stretch of beach each year.

In Panama, the participants explored landmarks including the Panama Canal and the Biodiversity Museum. A walking tour enabled them to admire the different architectural styles in the colonial city area in close proximity.

For Year 2 NUS Business student Leon Lim, the broad exposure helped him understand more about various overlapping issues in Central America. He advised future participants, “Don’t be deterred by distance, preconceived notions or your personal fear of the unknown. Be open to new experiences as it’ll often turn out to be quite different from what you expect, in a very good way.” Buttercup, the Sloth Sanctuary’s mascot and first rescued sloth

Checking the eggs of Olive Ridley sea turtles