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In this Issue

Greetings from the Dean

CoE Wins Major Grants in NRF-MND Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC) Inaugural Call

Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar appointed Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor

MSE Colloquium@NTU on 29 September 2014

CoE Freshmen Welcome 2014

SCE Graduation Evening 2014

CoE at a Glance (July to September 2014) a) Faculty Achievements b) Visitors to CoE

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Greetings from the Dean There have been good tidings for us at CoE in the past months. In August, we were ranked 12th globally in engineering/technology and computer sciences by the Shanghai Jiaotong Academic Ranking of World Universities. Next, and in our best showing ever, we rose to 9th place in the world for Engineering - by five notches from 2013 in the Quacquarelli Symonds Global Academic Survey (QS). These rankings testify to your hard work and commitment to the College and its directions and programmes. Thank you for your effort. Notwithstanding this, the increase in our global standing has brought greater expectations to be placed on the College from parties within and outside of NTU. I am, however, certain together we can continue to strive towards greater achievements for ourselves, and the College. An example of a research programme which has caught the attention of the world is our satellite programme at the NTU Satellite Research Centre. On 30 June, we successfully launched our VELOX-I and VELOX-PIII satellites. Two months later, our colleagues successfully activated the world's first ZigBee-based inter-satellite communication system between two satellites. It marked a breakthrough in aerospace engineering. As for our connection to industry, two of our start-ups have recently made waves with their technological innovations. First, Nano Sun developed a first-of-its-kind multifunction water filtration membrane with self-cleaning capability and superior membrane performance, surmounting one of the most critical challenges in terms of durability and production. De.Mem, a start-up by one of our PhD graduates Dr Adrian Yeo, was chosen as the 2014 Southeast Asia Water Technology Entrepreneurial Company of the Year. On the education front, we continue to develop programmes relevant to industry demands and societal needs. For instance, cyber security has been identified as a key technology which will boost Singapore’s position as a leading IT hub. In this regard, SCE had stepped up to offer a specialisation programme in Information Security as part of its undergraduate curriculum in AY2014/15. This was given a special mention by Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim in his opening address at the Infocomm Security Seminar 2014. Notwithstanding the results and excitement already present in CoE, I ask that we continue to strive for greater progress as I see you paving the way for CoE and ourselves to becoming an internationally acclaimed engineering community.

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CoE Wins Major Grants in NRF-MND Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC) Inaugural Call The L2 NIC was the second NIC announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in November 2012 to address the issue of Singapore’s land resource. Out of 10 projects shortlisted by NRF-MND, the College received 5 in-principle approvals totalling S$19 million – four to CEE and one to EEE. The aim of L2 NIC is to invest in significant resources to build up new capabilities and know-how that will go beyond the current strategies in land planning, conservation and recycling. It also leverages on R&D to provide sustainable capacity for future generations. A total of S$135 million has been set aside for this NIC for the period FY2013-2018. The inaugural call for proposals was launched in December 2013, in the areas of space creation, land use optimisation, creation of highly liveable residential towns and supporting platforms in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) . With the apparent changing trends in research funding, it is important to continue assembling formidable R&D teams to benefit from future funding opportunities. We expect the next tranche of national R&D investment, following the current Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE2015) funding policy, to reflect expenditure in engineering research that makes a greater impact.

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Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar appointed Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor MSE’s Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar has been appointed as the Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor, with effect from 1 August 2014. The Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professorship in the field of Engineering was established by NTU and Tan Chin Tuan Foundation. This prestigious endowed professorship is awarded to an academic at NTU who has made noteworthy contributions in research and education in any branch of engineering. We speak with Prof Subodh Mhaisalkar on his experiences and thoughts on ERI@N and energy.

1. Could you share with us your contribution to energy research in NTU and Singapore? The inception of the Institute started in Sept 2008 with a discussion I had with Prof Chan Siew Hwa (MAE), the then-Provost Prof Bertil Andersson, Prof KY Lam, and Dr Tony Mayer. The purpose was to start a pan-university “Energy Initiative” to bring together all energy research activities under one umbrella and promote multidisciplinary collaboration between the Colleges.

With support from EDB, NRF, BCA, EMA, NEA, MPA and others, we formally opened the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) in June 2010. ERI@N has now been built to comprise over 175 researchers from multifarious backgrounds who work in multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and social scientists. Four interdisciplinary research groups were established: Advanced Materials & Reliability, Simulation & Modeling, Electrical Power & Control Systems, and Multi-Energy Grids to develop core competences. Two flagship projects, namely EcoCampus and Renewable Energy Integration Demonstrator Singapore (REIDS), have also been established to achieve significant energy efficiency and maximise renewables. ERI@N now serves as the “Single Point of Contact” for “NTU Energy” and co-ordinates all energy-related partnerships across NTU which include NRF CREATE programmes, Rolls-Royce Corporate Lab, DNV GL CTC, Lloyds Register, Bosch R&D etc. 2. What are ERI@N’s objectives and how do you aim to achieve them? In line with domestic priorities and economic opportunities presented in the Clean Tech sector, ERI@N’s mission is to be a leading research institute for innovative solutions with global impact. A key focus of ERI@N is enabling knowledge creation and technology transfer between research institutions and industries by creating a collaborative environment for the delivery of energy solutions for national sustainability goals.

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To reduce the carbon footprint, Singapore is engaging in an ambitious transition based on an increasing share of renewables along with deployment of a broad palette of technologies to enable rational energy end-use. We have established comprehensive effort on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Integration in a “Living Lab” environment. These efforts include a particular focus on solutions for Megacities in a Tropical Environment. The research programmes in Sustainable Buildings & Grids, Wind/Marine Renewables, Energy Storage, Fuel Cells, Solar Cells, Green Shipping & Green Ports, and Electromobility, have been initiated to create relevant core competencies. 3. What do you think are the directions of energy-related research in the future? Over the next half-century, rising population and living standards will demand the development of sustainable and efficient low-carbon energy solutions to retain eco balance. In response to these challenges, developed countries are seeking a more sustainable mix of renewables in the energy supply to maintain the present quality of life. On the other hand, the developing regions require a significantly increased access to electricity. Both these needs demand new approaches to distributed generation, penetration of renewables, and renewable energy integration by way of micro-grids. It has been estimated that 20%-30% of annual energy in businesses is wasted due to equipment inefficiency. About 60% of Singapore’s electricity usage is for air conditioning and about 20% is for lighting. Technologies that will help with efficient air-conditioning & dehumidification, good use of data analytics to identify energy efficient solutions, green data centres, façade technologies for heat rejection from buildings, wireless sensor networks and internet of things (IOT), and smart energy management systems are some of the key efforts that will need to be undertaken. 4. How could the knowledge and skills developed by ERI@N be spun-off into education and awareness of students? The ongoing projects in Energy Efficiency on NTU Campus, EcoCampus, and the Semakau Island project have already engaged students in hands-on experiential learning effort. Both undergraduate and graduate students are also benefiting from partnerships with Rolls-Royce, BMW, Johnson Matthey, Vestas, Volvo to name a few, which allow them to work with researchers in Singapore and overseas in a seamless manner. The years ahead present unparalleled research and employment opportunities in the sustainable energy sector. ERI@N projects will enable the students to develop unique know-how and skills to the Clean Tech industries in Singapore and beyond.

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MSE Colloquium@NTU on 29 September 2014 More than 200 MSE students and staff converged at Lecture Theatre 6 for the inaugural MSE Colloquium@NTU series on 29 September 2014.

Students and staff at the MSE Colloquium@NTU as Prof Freddy Boey presents

Professor Freddy Boey, Provost, NTU, was the invited speaker for the inaugural event and gave a very engaging and informative talk titled “The Golden Age of Materials Science Innovation – Some Lessons on Innovation and Start Up Companies”. His presence was significant for this landmark event as MSE embarks on a journey to inculcate a culture of inquisitive learning and research through seminars. MSE has been top-ranked in NTU for consecutive years for their research prowess and innovative culture, and the School hopes to scale greater heights by providing a more vibrant environment for research and innovation. With the launch of the MSE Colloquium@NTU series, MSE students and staff will have the opportunity to attend presentations and forums on a monthly basis, conducted by invited distinguished scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and publishing editors. Speakers lined up for the coming months include Professor Paul Weiss from UCLA, Professor Andrew Wee from NUS and Professor Junqiao Wu from UC-Berkeley.

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CoE Freshmen Welcome 2014 With the beginning of the new Academic Year, CoE ushered in a brand new cohort of freshmen. This year, CoE was the most sought after engineering college. Compared with 2011, we saw a 101% increase in top A Level students choosing our programmes, despite increased competition in the Singapore engineering education landscape.

Provost Prof Freddy Boey and Prof Ng Wun Jern, Dean of CoE, welcoming the future engineers

A student leader from NTUSU leading the freshmen in a recital of NTU Honour Pledge;

An auditorium packed with expectant students

Spurred by the recommendations of the Undergraduate Orientation Coordinating Committee chaired by Associate Provost (Student Life), CoE Schools incorporated a Freshmen Buddy Scheme this year where each freshman is connected with senior student buddy from the same School. This provides a personal connection to the School, a friendly contact who understands the freshmen experience and can guide freshmen through their orientation. Together with the Freshmen Buddy Scheme, the School Orientations provide the opportunity to socialise with other students, navigate campus grounds, and learn about administrative and student support services.

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Game On, SCBE! In Game On, SCBE!, freshmen learned to navigate around NTU and SCBE, familiarised themselves with the campus, had fun, and bonded over a series of game stations around campus.

SCBE freshmen having fun while getting familiar with the campus

Teambuilding at CEE CEE’s 2-day orientation programme included school tours, collection of matriculation cards and culminated in a teambuilding competition complete with attractive prizes! With over 50 volunteering seniors, freshmen were able to enjoy small-group interactions and fostered new friendships.

CEE students gathered for group sharing session before embarking on campus exploration

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Networking at SCE On the first day of SCE’s 2-day orientation, freshmen got to know each other over fun and games. The Computer Engineering Club shared about student activities and life on campus. Freshmen were also introduced to the School’s academic and support systems as well as other important university resources such as student wellness and career planning. On Day 2, SCE Chair Prof Thambipillai Srikanthan and his Associate Chairs shared the SCE education experience, after which freshmen received their welcome packs, marking their induction into the SCE family.

SCE freshmen forging ties and transcending into the new phase of their education,

steadfast for the challenges ahead.

Getting to know EEE EEE’s radical 3-day programme was chock-a-block full of activities for freshmen, with interesting elements such as seniors’ sharing, project demonstrations, photo-taking booths and even a roller-coaster challenge! In addition to an amazing race around the campus, freshmen also got better acquainted with EEE facilities such as the laboratories and the iHub.

EEE freshmen, buddies and professors in a brilliant display of colours

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MSE’s Mini-FOC MSE’s 2-day mini-FOC (or Freshmen Orientation Camp) provided freshmen the opportunity to get to know their peers and seniors. Through an amazing race around NTU led by senior buddies, freshmen completed tasks and games that required them to work together as a team. The finale of the mini-FOC was a BBQ dinner held at the MSE Garden where freshmen, senior buddies and professors bonded over good food.

MSE freshmen bonding over games and group sessions

MAE’s Freshmen Welcome Day With the strong support of over 100 volunteer senior buddies, group leaders and game masters, MAE freshmen were inaugurated into the MAE family through an exciting Grandmaster-themed orientation programme. Freshmen got to know one another over team-bonding activities, which took them all over the campus to familiarise themselves with the important places amidst talks that provided insight into their curriculum and administrative matters such as course registration. The adrenaline-charged day wrapped up with a spectacular finale in the evening when each freshman presented their mascot in a bid for the Super Grandmaster title!

MAE students all ready for school

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SCE Graduation Evening 2014 Graduates from the School of Computer (SCE)’s class of 2014 had their graduation dinner at the beautiful Hotel Fort Canning on 2 Aug. They were warmly welcomed into the alumni family by Associate Chair (Student), Professor Quek Hiok Chai. The Associate Chair (Academic), Professor Yeo Chai Kiat and SCE Associate Chair (Faculty), Professor Goh Wooi Boon also attended. The programme included song performances by SCE undergraduates, quizzes about professors, and the exciting Best Dressed Male and Female contests. The exuberant graduates dined on delectable international cuisine as they mingled with attending professors and esteemed guests from the Alumni Affairs Office and Singapore Computer Society. Some graduates walked away with attractive lucky draw prizes.

SCE graduates enjoying a well-deserved evening of celebrations

Faculty and staff having a great time at the event

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CoE at a Glance (July to September 2014) (a) Faculty Achievements Our heartiest congratulations to the following faculty members on their achievements:

Recipient School Award

Professor Liu Yu

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

Prof Liu Yu received the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) at the National Day Awards 2014.

Dr Xu Dong and former SCE student Chen Lin

School of Computer Engineering (SCE)

2014 IEEE Transactions on Multimedia Best Paper Award The paper entitled “Tag-based Image Retrieval Improved by Augmented Features and Group-based Refinement” from former SCE student Chen Lin and his Ph.D. supervisor Dr. Xu Dong (and two other collaborators won the IEEE Transactions on Multimedia (T-MM) Prize Paper Award in 2014.

Professor Gan Woon Seng

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)

Professor Gan Woon Seng and his team won the project under Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC) for the project titled "Abating traffic noise through a holistic approach of noise monitoring, analytics and control (MAC)".

NEA-funded project led by Professor Gan Woon Seng has won the Academic Category of the National Instruments 2014 Engineering Impact Awards - ASEAN Regional Contest for project "Noisy Vehicle Surveillance Camera (NoivelCam) System: An innovative solution to urban traffic noise problem".

Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar and Professor Lee Pooi See

School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar and Professor Lee Pooi See were awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) and the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) respectively at the National Day Awards 2014.

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(b) Visitors to CoE

School Visitors Date of Visit

Dean’s Office, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), School of Computer Engineering (SCE), School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), and School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

Maranatha Christian University, Bandung, Indonesia Hanny Juliany Dani, Vice Rector of Student Affairs and Collaboration Ir. Aan Darmawan, Dean of Faculty of Engineering Olga Pattipawaej, Vice Dean of Faculty of Engineering Dr. Ir. Daniel Setiadikurnia, Head of Electrical Engineering Department Muliady, Faculty Member of Electrical Engineering Department Dr. Anang Kristianto, Head of Civil Engineering Department Semuil Tjiharjadi, Head of Computer Engineering Department Marvin Chandra Wijaya, Secretary of Computer Engineering Department

14 July 2014

Dean’s Office, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), and NEWRI

Singapore Polytechnic Mr Lim Peng Hun, Deputy Principal (Technology & Industry) Mr Hee Joh Liang, Deputy Principal (Development) Mr Henry Tan, Senior Director (Architecture, Design & Environment Cluster) and (Corporate Planning & Communications Cluster) Mr Daniel Tan, Director, School of Architecture & the Built Environment Mr Loh Yew Chiong, Director, School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Dr Ng Eng Hong, Director, School of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering (MAE) Dr Chong Chee Wei, Director-Designate, School of MAE Mr Lance Lim, Chief Technology Officer, Dept of Technology, Innovation & Enterprise Miss Chao Yunn Chyi, Director, Dept of Mathematics and Science Mr Sudhir Jhajharia, Deputy Director, Engineering Cluster

4 August 2014

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School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

Chulalongkorn university A total of 9 professors and 20 PhD students from Chulalongkorn University attended a 2-day workshop to explore regional funding schemes for mobility and cooperation.

11 to 12 September 2014