A special talent

Glenn concentrating on his drawing

Pathlight School’s Glenn Phua spent close to 90 hours working on three line drawings of NUS’ campuses. The talented 18-year-old, who has made a mark with his detailed drawings, completed the distinctive artworks as part of a project between NUS and Pathlight School.

This year, NUS celebrates its 110th year of founding together with Singapore’s Golden Jubilee (SG50). In keeping with the anniversary theme of “Because We Care”, the University is looking to actively continue its long tradition of contributing, and making a difference, to society. One of the projects initiated by NUS’ Office of Corporate Relations (OCR) focuses on working with social enterprises such as Pathlight School on gifts development, and opportunities to showcase Pathlight student talent to the wider community.

Pathlight School is the first autism-focused school in Singapore that offers Singapore’s mainstream academic curriculum together with life-readiness skills. It caters to students with autism and related disorders, aged seven to 18 years old, who are cognitively able to access mainstream academic curriculum but require additional support such as smaller class sizes, special accommodations and teaching staff trained in autism.

Pathlight recommended that OCR work with Glenn on a series of line drawings that were ultimately used in the University’s online and printed 2014 year-end greeting cards. These art pieces were of University Town’s Education Resource Centre, Bukit Timah Campus and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore (Duke-NUS). He spent an average of 20 to 30 hours on each drawing.

“As parents, we’re very proud of Glenn’s drawings of NUS, and it is a double blessing that NUS’ 110th anniversary coincides with SG50,” said Glenn’s father, Mr Kelvin Phua. The walls of their apartment are proudly lined with drawings of

buildings and street scenes, brought to life by the young artist.

Glenn was diagnosed with autism at the age of four. However, his artistic streak began emerging at age seven, when he started drawing cartoon characters such as the Simpsons. He then progressed to more intricate designs including vessels and street scenes. Best known for his work on street scenes, Glenn’s distinctive style is captured in confident bold strokes in black marker, done without sketching first in pencil.

Mr Phua said he first noticed his son’s artistic skills when he won first prize at the 2010 UBS Formula 1 art competition at age 14. His pieces have been presented as gifts to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2011 and to Sri Lanka’s former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in 2012.

The Autism Resource Centre, parent charity of Pathlight School, will establish an art gallery with artists-in-residence at a community space located along Redhill Road. Slated to open in late 2015, Glenn will be one of the artists-in-residence. When asked about what he wants to be when he grows up, Glenn said: “I want to be a famous artist.” With a talent so special, it will only be a matter of time.

Glenn’s drawings which depict (from left) NUS’ Bukit Timah Campus, Duke-NUS and University Town

Block 71San Francisco

4Gold at ASEAN

University Games

6New bird named

after professor

12

JAN-FEB 2015

NEWSNUS

It’s about building up the community, it’s about building

up a future in which we really

share in each other’s situations.

- DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Amid much excitement, sound and colours, NUS launched its 110th anniversary celebrations themed “Because We Care” on 1 February at Taman Jurong Community Club. The momentous occasion was held in tandem with Singapore’s 50th year of independence.

The NUS110 opening event was graced by Guest-of-Honour Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam and special guest Ms Denise Phua, Mayor of the Central Singapore District and member of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board. More than 1,000 NUS staff, students and alumni, neighbourhood residents, grassroots leaders and members of the public participated in the festivities.

“NUS is honoured to celebrate our 110th year of founding together with Singapore’s Golden Jubilee. Over the past century, NUS remained steadfast in our

commitment to educate and nurture generations of talented individuals. Our alumni have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to Singapore and the world beyond,” said NUS Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong in an earlier statement.

The University traces its roots to a modest medical school founded in 1905 through the strong support of the local community.

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan noted that the launch in Taman Jurong was symbolic as medical students, through the NUS Medical Society, have been working with the Taman Jurong Citizens’

Consultative Committee (CCC) since 2008 to provide free regular health screening to residents in rental flats and following up on those with chronic diseases.

The Neighbourhood Health Service (NHS) initiative has since grown to become the largest student-run community service programme in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, involving some 300 medical students

as well as nursing and social work students, said Prof Tan.

“NUS110 is a very timely opportunity for us to reflect, share and celebrate service to the community and we

felt that it would be most meaningful for us to do this in the community, rather than on the NUS campus,” he noted.

To mark the milestone celebration, Prof Tan announced the new “NUS Community Advancement with Research and Education Synergies” (NUS CARES) initiative.

A community advancement programme, NUS CARES will pair partner organisations with NUS faculty, researchers and students to leverage on the University’s research and academic expertise to identify persistent problems and find solutions for the betterment of the community at large.

DPM Tharman remembered discussing the start of NHS with Dr Tan Chong Keat, who was a second-year medical student at the time. The Minister commended NUS on its efforts in applying its scholarship

NUS110 kick-off engages the community

Reflecting the University’s longstanding tradition of service to the community and society, NUS has launched its “NUS Community Advancement with Research and Education Synergies” (NUS CARES) initiative in conjunction with its 110th anniversary celebrations at the NUS110 opening event.

NUS CARES brings together partner organisations and NUS faculty, researchers and students who will provide their research and academic expertise to find creative and practical solutions for the communities at large. The new initiative will also evaluate the solutions and approaches that NUS has developed for the projects it is involved with, and publicise them.

Three projects will kick off the new initiative.

One involves a collaboration between NUS and the Central Singapore Community Development Council to help the elderly and needy with issues related to wheelchair use and maintenance.

Students from the NUS Faculty of Engineering’s Design-Centric Programme will look into concerns such as the high cost of maintaining and charging motorised wheelchairs, as well as the difficulties in using manual wheelchairs. They will also explore designing a low-maintenance wheelchair which is affordable, robust and user-friendly. Solutions developed will be tested at Kampong Glam.

The University and the National University Health System have also begun a project that investigates the underlying social and medical factors associated with repeat admissions at the National University Hospital.

The hypothesis is that many in this group face problems in the psychosocial, environmental, financial and behavioural domains, besides medical issues.

Researchers and students from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health will design the data collection tools, while students from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the Department of Social Work will form field teams to conduct community-based surveys. The team will determine the reasons for frequent admission, and devise intervention strategies to reduce hospital admissions.

The third project brings together students from the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme and the NUS Medical Society (MedSoc) to conduct a social return-on-investment analysis of the health screening programme on the elderly and disadvantaged, performed by MedSoc students, under the Neighbourhood Health Service.

NUS CARES looks out for the community

(From left) Mdm Raja Iariah Binte Azi, a beneficiary of the NHS, receiving a visit from DPM Tharman and representatives of NUS and Taman Jurong CCC

to benefit the community and hoped it would inspire others to do the same.

After the launch ceremony, DPM Tharman, who is also Advisor to the Jurong GRC Grassroots Organisations, joined NHS medical students on their follow-up visits with two residents at nearby blocks of flats.

Guests at the opening event toured the “Because We Care” student showcase featuring community initiatives, and listened to talks on diabetes and health screening. Children participated in “Little Scientists” and “Little Architects” workshops by NUS start-up Explorer Junior, and had their faces painted.

Students from the NUS Community Service Club also packed and delivered door-to-door provisions donated by Lam Soon Pte Ltd, and items contributed by NUS, to 500 households in Taman Jurong.

Mr Wong (right) and Pathlight School student Glenn Phua (centre) with DPM Tharman, who received Glenn’s drawing of NUS University Town

(From left) Mr Lee Boon Huat, Chairman, Taman Jurong Active Ageing Committee; Professor John Eu-Li Wong, Chief Executive, National University Health System; Mr Goh Peng Tong, BBM, Chairman, Taman Jurong CCC; Mr Wong; DPM Tharman; Ms Phua; Prof Tan; Ms Edna Goh, PBM, Chairman, Taman Jurong Zone B Residents’ Committee; and Lim Kok Seng, President, NUS Students’ Union, launching NUS’ 110th Anniversary Celebrations with a cake-cutting ceremony

– Deputy Prime Minister Tharman

We haven’t become what we are today by building individual futures for ourselves. It’s always been about building a future for ourselves and our community.

32

NUS NEWS

Solar-powered yacht sails in Singapore water

The entrepreneurial community of Blk71 in Singapore now has a counterpart halfway across the globe.

Block 71 San Francisco, a co-working space to forge ties between start-up ecosystems in Singapore and the US, has been set up by Infocomm Investments Pte Ltd (IIPL), NUS Enterprise and SingTel Innov8. Singapore tech firms looking to explore US opportunities can tap this facility to better understand the market, set up business and widen their network in the tech community.

Block 71 San Francisco will also enable US-based entrepreneurs, companies and

investors to learn about Singapore and Southeast Asian (SEA) markets. Accessible to firms supported by IIPL, NUS Enterprise and SingTel Innov8, it offers space, brainstorming rooms and a meeting place.

NUS Enterprise will manage the co-working space, while the three partners will hold regular events for Singapore and US-based tech companies, professionals, students and investors. IIPL and SingTel Innov8 have offices within the facility to support Singapore-based tech start-ups.

This new facility in San Francisco builds upon the success of Blk71 in Singapore, which has

evolved from an old industrial estate into a flourishing hub for high-growth, innovation-driven technology start-ups in the region. NUS Enterprise, SingTel Innov8 and the Singapore Media Development Authority were instrumental in this transformation by establishing a strategic incubation programme. IIPL is an active investor and strong advocate of the Blk71 community.

Block 71 San Francisco is sited within the South of Market area, a thriving up-and-coming venue for the tech start-up community, said Dr Lily Chan, CEO of NUS Enterprise. It houses major software and tech firms as well as a healthy investor and accelerator community. She is confident that the joint venture will extend Singapore’s entrepreneurship community into the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr Alex Lin, Head of IIPL said: “The set-up of Block 71 San Francisco strengthens our role as an ecosystem builder to help local innovation-driven tech start-ups scale fast and tackle important global challenges.” He noted the timeliness of the partnership as Singapore is placing increasing emphasis on growing a culture and mindset of experimentation.

SingTel Innov8 CEO Mr Edgar Hardless also pointed out the steady rise in US-based companies and venture funds looking to access the SEA market, even while SEA-based start-ups and venture funds are looking towards Silicon Valley.

Block 71 San Francisco will provide resources for Singapore start-ups planning to do business in the US

Block 71 San Francisco links S’pore-US start-ups

The converted yacht is able to achieve four hours of full-speed operation or 10 hours of cruising

NUS’ unsung heroes, including security guards, cleaners, bus drivers and librarians, were treated to a Thanks!NUS Appreciation Picnic organised by the NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) on 16 January.

After enjoying a generous buffet spread at the Central Library Forum, the guests were given goodie bags of useful items and regaled with Cantopop and evergreen favourites performed by students.

The occasion launched NUSSU’s three-month Thanks!NUS Campaign, which features specially designed thank-you cards that students can give away as tokens of appreciation; a social media

campaign; and a Community Wall that profiles prominent NUSSU volunteers and highlights volunteers’ messages.

NUSSU President Lim Kok Seng said: “This event is to kick-start the whole Thanks!NUS campaign. It sends the message that we have to care for the community, beginning with ourselves.”

One of the Picnic guests, Ms Chong Loy Yin, said she appreciated NUSSU’s efforts. “The students think about our contribution. I thank them for their acknowledgement,” said the NUS librarian who has worked at the Chinese Library for more than 40 years.

At the official opening of JTC LaunchPad @ one-north on 23 January, Guest-of-Honour Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong toured the dynamic start-up cluster located at Ayer Rajah Crescent. He stopped by Plug-In@Blk71, a leading incubation facility established and managed by NUS Enterprise since 2011. The old industrial building has undergone an impressive transformation to become a bustling hub for high-growth, innovation-driven technology start-ups in Southeast Asia.

NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor

Tan Eng Chye, together with NUS Enterprise’s CEO Dr Lily Chan, accompanied PM Lee during his visit to various NUS start-ups. ViSenze and Trakomatic, two fast-rising companies, fascinated visitors with demonstrations of their new products and services.

ViSenze, an NUS spin-off firm, creates visual search and image recognition technologies which are being employed by global companies such as Japanese online retail giant Rakuten. Trakomatic, set up by NUS computer engineering

graduates Mr Allen Lin and Mr Prashanth Ravichandran, offers specialised tracking and analytic solutions for the retail industry.

PM Lee posted on his Facebook after the visit: “I had fun trying out prototypes and products at several start-ups and incubators.”

Campus picnic fetes everyday heroes PM Lee checks out Blk71

Campus staff clapping along to a song performed by students

Singapore’s first solar-powered yacht coursed smoothly through the waters off Changi Beach on a sunny November day, carrying excited NUS students and academics who had outfitted the “carbon-neutral” cruiser.

A labour of Team FrogWorks – a collaboration between the NUS University Scholars Programme (USP) and the Faculty of Engineering – the FW2 does not consume any fossil fuel while in operation. The motorised sailing vessel has been installed with three solar panels, an electric

outboard motor and a lead-acid battery to provide clean energy. It successfully demonstrated the concept that yachting can be done without carbon emissions during operations on its maiden run last year.

The project team behind the boat is led by Associate Professor Martin Henz from the Department of Computer Science and USP, and Dr Joerg Weigl from the Faculty of Engineering. The participating students pitched in what they have learnt, to overcome challenges such as

designing a sturdy truss to support the solar panels, hybrid solar/wind-powered propulsion, and weather-proof electronic circuitry.

Teething problems arising from the first trial run have been identified and fixed. The craft has since circumnavigated several of Singapore’s offshore islands, and visited Batam and Bintan in Indonesia to stress-test the installed system.

Recent technological advances have made it possible to rely on the sun as the sole source of energy for motorised yachts, explained

Assoc Prof Henz. He expressed confidence in the FW2’s ability to deliver energy savings and aims to completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels, even on long-distance voyages. Actual savings of gasoline would depend on the wind conditions, he said.

Dr Weigl concurred: “The current configuration provides energy for four

hours of full-speed operation or 10 hours of cruising. With sunlight, the boat is able to achieve six hours of full-speed operation or cruise mode for an entire day.” Other configurations such as lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries may offer scope for more undergraduate projects in the future.

First-year Materials Science and Engineering student Zhang Siyao signed up for the project because of her keen interest in solar energy. “The most significant gain I have obtained through participating in the project is the exposure to an actual engineering process,” she said.

The solar panels on board

Mr Oliver Tan (centre), CEO of ViSenze, explaining to PM Lee (right) the firm’s visual search and image recognition technologies for e-commerce Photo: JTC

54

NUS NEWS

NUS students did Singapore proud by bringing home three of its four gold medals from the 17th ASEAN University Games (AUG) in Palembang, Indonesia last December.

Second-year NUS Business School student Lee Tze Yuan impressed judges with his fluid moves for the Chinese martial art of wushu

to clinch the Republic’s first gold medal. Following this success, two more gold awards were secured by fencers from the University – 2014 medical graduate Tan Yuan Zi for foil, and second-year medical undergraduate Celine Chong Rui Yun for épée.

Besides the golds, teamNUS athletes captured three silver and five bronze medals for events ranging from archery, basketball, chess and table tennis to Taekwondo.

Held from 10 to 21 December 2014, the biennial AUG saw university athletes from 10 countries in ASEAN and Timor Leste compete in 18 sporting events. NUS athletes have consistently contributed to Team Singapore’s success at the Games. Making up between 40 and 45 per cent of the Singapore contingent, NUS student athletes have helped place the Republic on the medal tally table by winning the coveted top prizes.

Singapore has been an active participant at the Games since AUG’s debut in 1981, and

hosted the event in 1986 and 1994. The country will be organising the 18th AUG in 2016, where NUS will play a steering role.

At the closing ceremony on 21 December, Dr Tan Eng Liang, Vice President of the Singapore National Olympics Council and Chairman of the AUG 2016 Organising Committee, accepted the ASEAN University Sports Council (AUSC) flag from Professor Anuar Hassan, the current AUSC Chairman. Performers from the NUS Cultural Activities Club presented a dance for the spectacular occasion.

ACCOLADES

Professor Wang Gungwu, University Professor and Chairman of the East Asian Institute at NUS, has been presented with the Economic and Social Science Prize of the 2nd Asia Cosmopolitan Awards. The award acknowledges his academic achievements and educational activities focusing on Asia that recognise the value of intercultural exchanges.

The biennial Asia Cosmopolitan Awards is jointly organised by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Nara Prefecture in Japan. It honours individuals or organisations that have contributed significantly to the development of a peaceful and stable East Asian community through cultural and economic integration by narrowing developmental gaps, as well as establishing sustainable social growth.

A well-known historian with research interests spanning Chinese history, the

overseas Chinese, nationalism and migrations, Prof Wang noted in his acceptance speech that Asia has seen the development of a new understanding of national identity even as the countries pushed to modernise its economies. He also praised ASEAN, which had overcome numerous obstacles to build a commitment to cooperation and connectivity in a diverse region featuring different traditions.

Prof Wang was one of the two awardees for the Economic and Social Science Prize, the other being Professor Peter David Drysdale, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the Australian National University.

India’s former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was honoured with the most prestigious Grand Prize for his contribution in transforming India’s economy and its integration with the broader East Asian economy.

Prominent NUS scholarreceives Asia Cosmopolitan Award

NUS strikes gold at ASEAN University Games 2014

Prof Wang (left) receiving the Economic and Social Science Prize at the 2nd Asia Cosmopolitan Awards in Nara, Japan

Tze Yuan’s impressive wushu display won the first gold for Singapore at the Games

Yusof Ishak Professorship gets head start

NUS MBA ranked 31st in world

The Yusof Ishak Professorship in Social Sciences, established at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences after its announcement by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally 2014, has received a generous $500,000 donation from Temasek Holdings.

Paying tribute to Singapore’s first President, Encik Yusof Bin Ishak, the Professorship enables the appointment of leading social science academics in the teaching and research of multiethnicity and multiculturalism. The selected candidates will assume stewardship for enhancing cutting-edge research in one or more of the following fields of study: race, ethnicity and community studies and multiculturalism; communication and civic engagement; and studies of religion and religious diversity.

Encik Yusof also served from 1965 to 1970 as the Chancellor

of the University of Singapore, the predecessor institution of NUS. During his term, he urged the University community to focus on nation-building, in addition to becoming a centre for scholarship.

Fund-raising for the Professorship is undertaken by SG50Kita, an independent committee driving the Malay/Muslim community’s

efforts in celebrating Singapore’s 50th anniversary this year. The use of “kita”, a Malay word for “us”, represents the committee’s determination in getting the Malay/Muslim community to stand together with the other communities in Singapore to contribute to the nation.

SG50Kita views Encik Yusof as an illustrious embodiment of

the spirit of service and unity. As Singapore’s President, he guided the country through the tumultuous early years, and concentrated on fostering harmonious relations among the different races.

Temasek Holdings is the first major benefactor of the fund. Mr Gary Ang, the group’s Managing Director, Strategic and Public Affairs, said: “We are happy to support SG50Kita’s ongoing efforts to raise funds for NUS’ Yusof Ishak Professorship. Our sponsorship is part of a series of contributions we’ve made to honour Singapore’s pioneer generation; and includes the various endowments that we have funded and named after other founding fathers such as S Rajaratnam, David Marshall and Hon Sui Sen.”

SG50Kita is working towards a total endowed fund of $6 million by year-end, inclusive of a 1.5 times matching government grant.

The NUS Business School’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) has advanced one spot to 31st in the Financial Times’ (FT ) Global MBA Ranking 2015. The results strengthen the programme’s position as the highest-ranked MBA degree offered by a Singaporean university.

“The NUS MBA’s consistent performance in the FT’s global ranking is welcome news as we celebrate the School’s 50th anniversary this year. Going forward, and in line with our vision to be the leading business school in Asia, we will strive to scale greater heights,” said Associate Professor Susanna Leong, Vice Dean (Graduate Studies), NUS Business School.

FT gathered data for the ranking by conducting surveys with alumni who graduated three years ago, as well as with business schools around the world. It found that NUS MBA alumni enjoyed a 127 per cent jump in their

annual average salaries post-MBA, the highest increase among MBA alumni of business schools in Singapore.

In addition, about 98 per cent of NUS MBA graduates found jobs within three months of completing their programme, reflecting the strong

global and local demand for graduates of the degree.

The latest performance followed FT’s October 2014’s global Executive MBA rankings which placed the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA at 4th in the world, and the School’s Asia-Pacific Executive MBA at 18th.

Encik Yusof Bin Ishak (far left), President of Singapore and Chancellor of the University of Singapore, accompanied by Professor Lim Tay Boh (2nd from left), Vice Chancellor, meeting students on campus in 1965

Alumni of NUS’ MBA programme saw a 127 per cent jump in their annual average salaries

Celine (left) and Yuan Zi with their gold medals for fencing

76

NUS NEWS

The world today needs stronger global governance more than ever because it has shrunk.

Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, gave the analogy of the human population of seven billion living in 193 “cabins” or countries on the same boat. As such, “we should be strengthening the overall management of the boat, and the overall institution of global governance.”

Prof Mahbubani, a participant at the 45th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting themed “The New Global Context”, was giving his views as a panellist of the Forum Debate on “A Multipolar World?”, with the motion that a decline in US leadership will lead to a weaker governance.

The session, moderated by Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, University of

Oxford, included Professor Joseph Nye Jr, University Distinguished Service Professor of Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University; Mr John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada; and

Mr Volkan Bozkir, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator of Turkey.

While the US remains a key player on the global stage, its leadership role is changing. Prof Mahbubani felt that the world needs more US engagement than leadership,

and multilateralism works more effectively than unilateralism. With the regional ecosystem developing in East Asia, he viewed ASEAN as playing a central role in bringing

the great powers in the region – China, India, Japan and Russia – to the table.

The former Singapore Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) believes that “it’s good to get the largest number of actors possible in a messy multilateral solution because…

when the countries are at the table, they make a difference.”

Prof Mahbubani pointed out that 12 per cent of the world’s population lives in the West, but it dominates in global bodies such as the UN Security Council and the International Monetary Fund. “If you want to have strong institutions of world governance, you’ve got to ensure that the voice of the 88 per cent is heard loudly and clearly,” he said. “This western domination of global institutions has to give way to greater sharing of power, and that will lead to stronger global institutions,” he concluded.

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan also attended the WEF at Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from 21 to 24 January 2015.

Prof Tan, who has been participating at the annual meeting since 2008, is currently the Chairman of the WEF Global University Leaders Forum (GULF). In that capacity, he chaired the Governors’ Session for the GULF Community. He also moderated the session on “Reshaping Education”, which examined the changes needed to enhance the quality, relevance and accessibility of education worldwide.

PERSPECTIVES

Globalisation impacts human well-being and healthGlobal governance moves towards multilateral power

Science bridges humanity’s differences

Globalisation is like the Roman god Janus who has two faces – one smiling and one grimacing – due to its negative and positive impact.

Mr Pascal Lamy, President Emeritus, Notre Europe, Jacques Delors Institute, France and Former Director-General of the World Trade Organization, made this observation during his keynote address titled “Globalisation and Human Well-being” at the inaugural Raffles Dialogue.

Organised by NUS and the National University Health System, the event saw opinion leaders examine risks faced by humanity as a result of the globalisation of economies, geopolitical tensions, environmental degradation, disease spread and poverty.

Globalisation has helped lift a sizable proportion of the world’s population out of poverty, improved health and prolonged life. However, it has also given rise to great inequalities, said Mr Lamy.

The main risk to health in globalisation has switched from

communicable diseases to non-communicable ones associated with longevity, nutrition, lifestyle and richer consumption habits attributable to rising income.

Despite the rapid expansion of knowledge, the effectiveness of addressing public health issues is still greatly dictated by politics, he pointed out. A balance has to be struck between contradicting needs: on the one side, innovation and investment for new treatments, with protection of

intellectual property rights; and on the other, availability of affordable medicines to the masses, especially in low-income geographies.

Mr Lamy is convinced that localising global issues can be the way to improving health. Public authorities, civil societies and businesses have to work together to make drugs more accessible. This calls for local or regional governance and policies, harmonising of standards, marketing

authorisations for medicines, and affordable drug pricing.

“What matters in the future is to find the right way to reinvent our current systems,” Mr Lamy stressed.

He noted that the West sees a distinction between mind and body. Thus the Western health system focuses on “fixing” the body with medicines, as opposed to the more holistic views of some Asian and African cultures.

Mr Lamy believes that the best approach to the health problem is prevention, and sometimes social sciences can better address the issue than the knowledge of hard sciences.

The Raffles Dialogue, held at Raffles Hotel from 2 to 3 February, builds on Singapore’s success in hosting the World Health Summit’s premiere meeting in Asia in 2013. It commemorates the 110th anniversary of NUS’ Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and the 10th anniversary of the Mexico Ministerial Summit on Health Research.

Nobel Prize Laureate for Physics Professor Brian Schmidt said humanity needs to look past its differences and redistribute resources so that it can overcome global challenges such as climate change.

The public keynote speech “Science: Humanity’s Universal Bridge”, which he delivered at NUS on 21 January, was one of the events in the 5th ASEAN “Bridges – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace” series.

He posited that if people could get their basic needs met, humanity would be able to focus on solving its long-term problems. An equitable distribution of resources

would level the playing field and this would turn the tide on the current unsustainable growth in the world’s population, and reduce the drivers of conflict.

“Science can only be a bridge because it provides a means of prosperity, but only if humanity is willing to share the technology and affluence that each person wants for their own,” said Prof Schmidt.

The acclaimed scientist, who is a faculty member at the Australian National University’s Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, illustrated in his talk how science was a model, as well as a means of conquering

humanity’s problems. He cited the impact of humans on nature; age-related illnesses due to longer life expectancies; and the far-reaching provision of education, employment, stability and safety.

“The goal of science is to learn, and to learn as quickly as possible. You get credit by sharing your knowledge in science. It is a great culture to help break down the barriers between our cultures,” he noted.

The astrophysicist explained that the progress of modern science could be attributed to scientists who have built on each other’s work. Such scientific collaboration has benefitted

mankind and represents a model that should be replicated in other endeavours, he said.

The lecture was jointly hosted by NUS and Yale-NUS College, and facilitated by the Austria-based International Peace Foundation, which organises the “Bridges” series of events.

– Prof Mahbubani,Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Messy multilateral solutions are better than unilateral solutions.

Prof Mahbubani giving his thoughts in the debate on global governance

Photo: World Economic Forum

Mr Lamy (left) sharing his insights in a session moderated by Prof Mari Pangestu, Professor of International Economics, University of Indonesia

Prof Schmidt spoke on how science can

overcome differencesProf Tan has been participating at the WEF meeting since 2008

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NUS NEWS

The verdant Mandai precinct in Singapore, home to the popular Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari, will be getting a makeover to make it even more alluring to visitors.

As part of the government’s vision for a massive nature-themed attraction in the area, the considerable enhancement will provide green public spaces for recreation and education.

Announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last September, the project will be spearheaded by Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings (Temasek) and the Singapore Tourism Board. The development will cover about 120ha, integrating the current cluster of wildlife attractions and possibly the to-be-relocated Jurong Bird Park. It is scheduled for completion around 2020.

Temasek will partner with NUS across several fronts as part of the company’s long-term plans to create a major attraction featuring strong research and educational facilities. The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at NUS will be helping with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), together with

national agencies such as the National Parks Board and Public Utilities Board. By leveraging the biodiversity expertise of the Museum, the EIA will ensure that the development plans are environmentally sensitive and preserve the overall natural environment as far as possible.

The Museum will also be working closely with experts from other NUS faculties and research institutes to help ensure the sustainability of the mega-project. Sustainable solutions in water and energy use, green designs, recycling, as well as environmental mitigation and protection are being explored. The intention is also to enhance the nearby nature reserves, in line with global best practices and the national green agenda.

Head of the Museum Professor Peter Ng, who leads the NUS advisory panel, praised the endeavour to have a green sustainable project that can further education and research in biodiversity and conservation, as well as add value to the nature reserves. “Many ideas have been floated but Temasek has assured us that this is still a ‘work in progress’ and they welcome our inputs to make this a one-of-a-kind facility,” he said.

Mega-attraction to rejuvenate Mandai

An artist’s impression of the new nature-themed attraction in Mandai Photo: Temasek Holdings

six major prize winners. The collection, which consists of more than 500 exquisite violins, violas and cellos, is owned by entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr Rin Kei Mei and his wife. In conjunction with the competition, selected instruments from the Rin Collection were displayed at YSTCM.

Taiwanese violinist Tseng Yu-Chien clinched the First Prize with his consistent performance throughout the competition and his soulful rendition of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 during the Grand Final. He received $67,000 (US$50,000); a recording produced and distributed globally by Naxos, a leading classical music recording label; international performance opportunities with some of the world’s great orchestras; and a three-year instrument loan from the Rin Collection.

Professor Bernard Lanskey, Director of YSTCM, paid tribute to the strong support provided by Mr Rin who championed this event’s premiere in Singapore. The philanthropist has also committed to five editions of the competition, with the next one scheduled for 2018.

Conservatory hosts international violin competitionThe inaugural Singapore International Violin Competition (SIVC) hosted by NUS Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YSTCM) from 10 to 21 January saw 35 young violinists vying for the top prize.

The finalists were chosen from a blind listening test of close to 150 applications from 27 countries. Singapore was represented by YSTCM alumnus Loh Jun Hong, Phang Lijia and See Ian Ike, while three current YSTCM students – Korniev Oleksandr, Shi Xiaoxuan and Wong Yat Sze – were also among the contestants.

The landmark cultural initiative for the country and region served as a platform to uncover talented musicians under the age of 30. Associate Professor Qian Zhou, founding Head of Strings at YSTCM, chaired the jury of illustrious musicians. She declared that the consistently high standards displayed would establish the SIVC’s reputation and attract top global talents.

A distinctive feature of the triennial SIVC was its three-year loan of a violin from the outstanding Rin Collection to all

YSTCM alumnus Jun Hong (left), accompanied by fellow alumna Abigail Sin on the piano, performing at the competition

Universities around the world can now take a leaf out of a practical guide in their drive to go green.

The Green Guide for Universities was created by NUS and nine other universities under the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), in collaboration with Scandinavian think tank Sustainia.

The sustainability resource features a portfolio of easy-to-access tools and guidance for building maintenance, green purchasing, transportation, as well as employee and student involvement across campus and between departments.

It presents 23 case studies of successful environmental, financial, and social interventions and best sustainability practices already implemented at NUS, The Australian National University, ETH Zurich, Peking University, The University of Tokyo, University of California at Berkeley, University of Cambridge, University of Copenhagen, University of Oxford and Yale University.

For instance, it illustrates the successful plastic bag tax initiated by the Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE) at NUS.

Implemented after a student survey showed that 87 per cent supported a reduction in plastic bag usage, the initiative imposes a 10-cent tax per plastic bag at canteens and several retail outlets across campus. To encourage students and staff to use their own lunch boxes and water bottles, monetary rebates are given, thereby changing the community’s attitudes and habits in relation to consumption.

SAVE President Aisha Redzuwan explained that the tax collected is channelled to the NUS Sustainability Fund for student-initiated environmental projects such as the building of community gardens and composting of food waste.

The Guide also praises efforts taken by the Office of Environmental Sustainability at NUS to spread sustainability messages via its website and social media platforms.

Sustainability guide offers universities green tips

– Aisha, SAVE President

The 10-cent tax might be insignificant in amount, but serves as a powerful reminder of the environmental responsibility consumers have in reducing plastic consumption.

Download the Green Guide for Universities at www.iaruni.org/sustainability/green-guide

1110

NUS NEWS

RESEARCH

A newly discovered bird, first observed some 17 years ago on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, has been named after an NUS academic.

Christened Muscicapa sodhii (M. sodhii) in honour of the late NUS conservation biologist Professor Navjot Sodhi, the flycatcher’s Latin name pays tribute to the significant contributions of the avid ornithologist.

Prof Sodhi was instrumental in elucidating the effects of habitat disturbance on biodiversity, especially birds, across Southeast Asia. His research served as the basis for understanding the ecology of Southeast Asian forests and offered indispensable information for conservation planners. Prof Sodhi passed away in 2011, leaving behind an illustrious scientific career.

M. sodhii, also known as the Sulawesi Streaked Flycatcher, features a distinctively mottled throat, as well as shorter wings, a more-strongly hooked bill and shorter tail when compared against similar flycatchers. Its genetic make-up and song further distinguish it from other flycatchers.

The creature was first spotted in 1997 by a group of tourists bird-watching at the Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi. However, other than photographs and observations, it was not collected nor scientifically named.

The researchers conducted field trips to track down the elusive bird within and around the National Park in 2011 and 2012. They were finally rewarded

with sightings and specimens, the latter provided by a local bird hunter. Based on morphology, genetics and vocals, they determined that it is a new species.

Assistant Professor Frank Rheindt from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences is one of the authors of the research paper published in PLOS ONE detailing the characteristics of M. sodhii. Through his phylogenetic analysis of the specimen using DNA sequencing, Asst Prof Rheindt played a critical role in the confirmation of the bird being a new species of flycatcher.

“Many different species of Muscicapa flycatchers look very similar to one another, so in order to make sure we’re not describing something that’s already known, we had to compare the DNA of this new species against the DNA of all other flycatcher species of the same genus which we could get hold of,” he said.

Besides the flycatcher, several animals, including a snail, a fish as well as a new genus and species of crab, carry Prof Sodhi’s name. Co-author of the paper, Dr J Berton Harris from Princeton University, said of his former mentor: “The naming of so many species in honour of Sodhi shows how important he was to his students and collaborators. He probably would have been particularly pleased with our bird description, though, because he was an ornithologist, and so few bird species remain to be described.”

New flycatcher takes on name of NUS professor

The late Prof Sodhi

Before slathering lotion on your body, it may well be worth your while to check out the ingredients in that cosmetic item.

Certain creams and gels are potentially harmful depending on the concentration of some substances and the amount of time they are left on the skin, found NUS researchers.

Six pharmacists at the University recently published a book titled Handbook of Cosmeceutical Excipients and Their Safeties that examines excipients – inactive substances such as fillers and preservatives that deliver a drug or an active ingredient – in cosmeceuticals, which are cosmetics with medicinal or drug-like effects.

The information compiled from existing research features a database of 520 compounds contained in skincare products that are available in Singapore.

Of these, only a small number have been investigated for their safety profiles on skin applications.

The team led by NUS Department of Pharmacy Lecturer Dr Kang Lifeng includes his former students Mr Kwan Yu-Heng, Ms Tung Yee Kei, Dr Kochhar Jaspreet Singh, Ms Li Hairui and Dr Poh Ai-Ling.

The investigators found that 87 of the listed compounds are potentially carcinogenic, such as alpha hydroxy acid, butylated hydroxyanisole, chlorhexidine digluconate, glycolic acid and isopropylparaben. Furthermore, substances that may irritate the skin were identified, with the top five being fragrances: amyl cinnamal, citral, eugenol, farnesol and geraniol.

The Singapore Health Sciences Authority regulates cosmeceutical products through the Health Products Act and the Health

Products Regulations. Currently, it does not require companies to seek premarket approval before they import or launch products in the country.

“Regulations for skincare products in general are currently rather limited…as a result, there is an urgent need to have more knowledge of skincare products

and to impart this knowledge to consumers,” said Dr Kang.

The scientists plan to build up a repository of the 520 compounds commonly found in skincare products. They also intend to carry out more tests using human skin samples in laboratories to ascertain ingredients that are unsafe for application on the skin.

roles in the marine ecology. A significant source of food due to their sizable soft tissue masses, the creatures also discharge photosynthetic algae, gametes and faeces which are eaten by opportunistic feeders. They shelter reef fish and living organisms, as well as sustain marine

habitats by filtering out excessive nutrients which could cause algal blooms and harm sea life. Even after death, their massive shells continue to build up reefs.

In another recent study published in Marine Biology, Department of Biological Sciences Assistant Professor Peter Todd and his former Honours student Ms Pamela Soo documented that giant clams crawl towards each other to clump together. The behaviour may lower individual risk of predation, increase the probability of successful reproduction and reduce the effect of wave energy on single animals. This knowledge will help restocking strategy in mariculture.

Currently, the number of giant clams in Singapore waters cannot support reproduction due to their low numbers. Only three species – Tridacna

squamosa, Tridacna crocea and Tridacna maxima – out of the five indigenous to Singapore have been seen locally.

At NUS’ giant clam hatchery on St John’s Island, Dr Neo and team are cultivating three cohorts of T. squamosa and 50 sub-adult Tridacna gigas individuals, which will be used to restock local reefs.

An illustration of M. sodhii

Image: Yong Ding Li

– Dr Harris, Princeton University

Dr Kang (far left) holding the book that compiles the research on cosmeceuticals, with (from right) Dr Kochhar, Ms Tung, Mr Kwan and Dr Poh

Research on giant clams by Dr Neo (left) and Asst Prof Todd will help in conserving the endangered animals

Harmful cosmeceutical ingredients under the spotlight

up on colourful lifeGiant clam opens

Photo: The Straits Times ©Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

There is more to the giant clam than being a pretty iridescent shellfish that pleases the eye. The endangered animal contributes to the reef ecosystem as a form of food, shelter, building material and nature’s filtration system, found NUS biologists. Their research on the bivalve’s ecological significance will provide conservationists with a stronger case for its preservation.

NUS’ Tropical Marine Science Institute Research Fellow Dr Neo Mei Lin and her co-authors arrived at this conclusion after trawling through more than 400 journal articles and conducting studies to quantify the creature’s contribution to the ecosystem.

Published in the January 2015 issue of Biological Conservation, the report detailed the giant clams’ many important

The naming of so many species in honour of Sodhi shows how important he was to his students and collaborators.

Sulawesi

Tridacna squamosa, a giant clam native to Singapore

1312

NUS NEWS

RESEARCH

As of 1 January 2015, Professor Thomas Coffman has taken on the role of Dean-designate of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore (Duke-NUS). Prof Coffman, who has served as Executive Vice Dean of Duke-NUS since 1 January 2014, will succeed outgoing Dean Professor Ranga Krishnan whose seven-year term officially ends on 30 June 2015.

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan cited Prof Coffman’s ability to lead Duke-NUS into its next phase of growth and development as a key pillar in Singapore’s academic medicine.“Prof Coffman has been working

closely with Dean Ranga Krishnan and the Duke-NUS leadership team on many of the key initiatives developed by the School this year. As a distinguished clinician-scientist and academic leader, I am confident that Prof Coffman will build further on the outstanding achievements made by Dean Krishnan, and bring Duke-NUS to the next level of global excellence,” he said.

Prof Coffman directs the Duke-NUS Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Signature Research Program, which he founded and established. The accomplished nephrologist has

won international accolades for his work and contributions to cardiovascular medicine and kidney disease. Globally acknowledged as a leader in the field of nephrology, he served as President of the American Society of Nephrology in 2008 to 2009.

Prof Coffman aims to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessors and work with partners at SingHealth. He hopes that “Duke-NUS will continue to be a pre-eminent leader in the region for the training of clinicians, clinician-scientists and researchers, and the conduct of translational, clinical and basic research.”

Thomas Coffman to lead Duke-NUS

Prof Coffman

Editorial Team: Tan Lay Leng, Loo Po Li, Cassandra Yue, Siti NurfatiahOffice 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 6386 (Fax) :: news@nus.edu.sg (E) :: news.nus.edu.sg/inprint (W) :: Company Registration No: 200604346E

Gift sparks students’ interest in sports, arts and cultureProminent businessman Dr Stephen Riady believes in developing students to their fullest potential. With this in mind, a first-of-its-kind initiative at NUS was kick-started in 2013 to strongly encourage students to pursue their interests and passions outside the classroom.

The University Support for Pursuit of Arts, Culture and Sports (U-SPARKS) dispenses funding grants to assist students initiate and organise meaningful sports, arts and cultural activities.

The generous gift from the Stephen Riady Group of Foundations helps needy students and also encourages them to pursue their interest in the areas of sports, arts and culture.

Professor Bernard Tan, Vice-Provost (Undergraduate Education) said: “The gift has come at a time when it is more crucial than ever for our graduates to be future-ready in this ever-changing world. They have to be well-rounded and able

to think out-of-the-box. Setting up U-SPARKS was a good way of making funds accessible to students who have great ideas which can be translated into meaningful projects and activities with potentially good outcomes.”

U-SPARKS has supported 15 projects in NUS with more than 3,800 people participating in events organised by 150 students. These ranged from a ballroom dancing competition that attracted participants from 22 countries, to a Museum Week where visitors engaged in artistic activities such as lithography.

During his Student Exchange Programme in Belgium, NUS Business School fourth-year student Jonathan Ng was able to join the qualifying rounds of the Garmin Barcelona Triathlon in Spain, thanks to the grant. He

successfully qualified for the biennial World University Triathlon Championships 2014 in Brazil, and competed against the best university triathletes from across the globe.

“I was lucky to have U-SPARKS support me in my sporting endeavours. The initiative will stimulate students’ minds to step forward with radical ideas that could help themselves, the University, or the community at large,” shared Jonathan.

Interested applicants have to submit a detailed project proposal through the NUS Office of Student Affairs, with each successful application receiving up to $10,000.

For information on making a gift to NUS, contact us at 1800-DEVELOP (1800-338-3567) or email askdvo@nus.edu.sg. If you have a story to share, please contact us at whatsyourstory@nus.edu.sg.

The ability of cells to stick together plays a crucial role in essential biological processes in the body, such as embryonic development and maintenance of healthy tissue. Flaws in this adherence ability of cells have manifested in many diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease. For example, ineffective cell adhesion allows tumour cells to detach and invade other tissues, causing the spread of cancer.

However, research and understanding on cell-cell adhesion mechanism has been lacking.

Thus, a recent discovery by the Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore (MBI) at NUS on how such an important complex is regulated will provide key fundamental knowledge on disease-related defects.

The breakthrough work headed by Principal Investigator Assistant Professor Ronen Zaidel-Bar, also an Assistant Professor at the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering, described in detail the network of proteins involved in cell-cell adhesions called the cadherin interactome.

Reported in Science Signaling on 2 December 2014, the paper explained how cadherin binds to catenin and actin – proteins that form the core of the cell-cell adhesion – and the regulation of the cadherin-catenin-actin complex.

The MBI researchers cleverly combined experimental and computational techniques to unveil the complex network of proteins

that interact with epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin). E-cadherin provides a link between the interior and exterior of a cell, as well as binds to other E-cadherins from neighbouring cells in a mechanism that can be described as a “cellular handshake”.

The team discovered 561 proteins associated with E-cadherin, of which 419 are completely novel. Any breakdown in the series of events involving these proteins could result in impaired cell adhesion and disease.

The groundbreaking findings will allow defects associated with diseases to be identified, and potential new targets investigated for possible treatment.

Spintronics, a cutting-edge technology leveraging the intrinsic spin of electrons and the associated magnetic moment, can potentially lead to more energy-efficient, larger-capacity and faster devices. Research on this topic will be boosted with the establishment of the Singapore Spintronics Consortium (SG-SPIN).

Founded by NUS, Nanyang Technological University

(NTU), Applied Materials Inc, Delta Electronics and GLOBALFOUNDRIES, SG-SPIN facilitates collaborative partnerships between the universities and industry to explore electron spin-based technologies for sensor, memory and logic applications.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 5 December 2014 to strengthen the research collaboration between the five

organisations. The consortium spearheaded by the NUS Industry Liaison Office is led by Professor Wu Yihong from the NUS Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore and NTU’s NTUitive.

Dr Lily Chan, CEO of NUS Enterprise said: “The industry stands to benefit significantly from

participating in SG-SPIN, as it gains access to in-depth research findings as well as new opportunities for licensing spintronics-related intellectual property. From a national point of view, Singapore will benefit from these research collaborations in spintronics, due to the training of manpower and seeding of the next phase of semi-conductor development jobs here.”

Singapore has been building up its spintronics capabilities since the late 1990s. Existing expertise in data storage and the concentration of companies in the electronics sector help to promote an ideal environment for spintronics research. The NRF has invested approximately $39 million to support five Competitive Research Programmes in this field, four of which are sited in NUS.

“NRF Singapore has helped, over the years, to catalyse research capabilities in spintronics in the universities and we are starting to have a good number of experts working in the area. It is now an opportune time to establish SG-SPIN as a platform to encourage greater interaction among academia and industry to realise innovation,” said Professor Low Teck Seng, CEO of NRF.

Signatories of the agreement (from left): Mr Russell Tham, President, Applied Materials South East Asia; Mr Rajesh Nair, Vice President, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore; Prof Barry Halliwell, Deputy President (Research & Technology), NUS; Dr Lim Jui, CEO NTUitive of NTU; and Mr Patrick Chang, Director, Delta Electronics International (Singapore)

Cell adhesion breakthrough elucidates disease process

Consortium to advance spin-based technology

Jonathan

1514

NUS NEWS

A special talent

Glenn concentrating on his drawing

Pathlight School’s Glenn Phua spent close to 90 hours working on three line drawings of NUS’ campuses. The talented 18-year-old, who has made a mark with his detailed drawings, completed the distinctive artworks as part of a project between NUS and Pathlight School.

This year, NUS celebrates its 110th year of founding together with Singapore’s Golden Jubilee (SG50). In keeping with the anniversary theme of “Because We Care”, the University is looking to actively continue its long tradition of contributing, and making a difference, to society. One of the projects initiated by NUS’ Office of Corporate Relations (OCR) focuses on working with social enterprises such as Pathlight School on gifts development, and opportunities to showcase Pathlight student talent to the wider community.

Pathlight School is the first autism-focused school in Singapore that offers Singapore’s mainstream academic curriculum together with life-readiness skills. It caters to students with autism and related disorders, aged seven to 18 years old, who are cognitively able to access mainstream academic curriculum but require additional support such as smaller class sizes, special accommodations and teaching staff trained in autism.

Pathlight recommended that OCR work with Glenn on a series of line drawings that were ultimately used in the University’s online and printed 2014 year-end greeting cards. These art pieces were of University Town’s Education Resource Centre, Bukit Timah Campus and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore (Duke-NUS). He spent an average of 20 to 30 hours on each drawing.

“As parents, we’re very proud of Glenn’s drawings of NUS, and it is a double blessing that NUS’ 110th anniversary coincides with SG50,” said Glenn’s father, Mr Kelvin Phua. The walls of their apartment are proudly lined with drawings of

buildings and street scenes, brought to life by the young artist.

Glenn was diagnosed with autism at the age of four. However, his artistic streak began emerging at age seven, when he started drawing cartoon characters such as the Simpsons. He then progressed to more intricate designs including vessels and street scenes. Best known for his work on street scenes, Glenn’s distinctive style is captured in confident bold strokes in black marker, done without sketching first in pencil.

Mr Phua said he first noticed his son’s artistic skills when he won first prize at the 2010 UBS Formula 1 art competition at age 14. His pieces have been presented as gifts to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2011 and to Sri Lanka’s former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in 2012.

The Autism Resource Centre, parent charity of Pathlight School, will establish an art gallery with artists-in-residence at a community space located along Redhill Road. Slated to open in late 2015, Glenn will be one of the artists-in-residence. When asked about what he wants to be when he grows up, Glenn said: “I want to be a famous artist.” With a talent so special, it will only be a matter of time.

Glenn’s drawings which depict (from left) NUS’ Bukit Timah Campus, Duke-NUS and University Town

Block 71San Francisco

4Gold at ASEAN

University Games

6New bird named

after professor

12

JAN-FEB 2015

NEWSNUS

It’s about building up the community, it’s about building

up a future in which we really

share in each other’s situations.

- DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam