RESEARCH Report 09

96Research @ NTU

Momentous Events Headlining 2009 1

Provost’s Foreword 6

NTU’s World-Class Research: Talents, Centres, Institutes & Research Quality System 7

Research Highlights 35

Research Collaborations 45

Research Achievements 53

Innovations, Inventions and Spin-off Companies 59

Conferences, Forums, Symposia and Workshops 65

National Institute of Education 69

S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies 73

Research Data and Statistics 79

Research Contacts 87

Editorial Committee 91

Table of

Contents

1 Research @ NTU

Mo

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2009

2Research @ NTU

MOMENTOUS EVENTS HEADLINING 2009

S$10 million grant for healthcare research to combat ageing

Associate Professor Ravi Kambadur from the School of Biological Sciences will use the National Research Foundation (NRF) grant to conduct research that can alleviate sarcopenia, an old age condition causing progressive and involuntary loss of muscle mass.

(Pg 36)

The first Asian Kauffman Campus emerges at NTU

NTU President, Dr Su Guaning and CEO of Ewing Kauffman Foundation, Dr Carl Schramm signed the Memorandum of Understanding, sealing NTU’s posi-tion as a vibrant entrepreneurship hub.

(Pg 51)

A Research Centre of Excellence devoted to Earth Sciences

NTU’s Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), helmed by the world’s foremost expert in earthquake geology Prof Kerry Sieh, was officially opened on 19 February 2009 by Dr Francis Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

(Pg 10)

January

FebruarySustainability Success: NTU and Rice University, USA creates the first-ever environmentally-friendly superchip

The research collaboration between NTU and Rice University has culminated in the creation of a green superchip that can reduce energy consumption and improve the performance of various technological products.

(Pg 40)

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NTU to Host the Second World Conference on Research Integrity (2WCRI)

3 Research @ NTU

April

Energy-efficient compressor wins award at World’s Best Technologies Showcase in Texas, USA

The revolving vane compressor is the brainchild of two researchers from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering that has the capacity to significantly reduce energy loss which translates to billions of dollars in global energy savings.

(Pg 41)

Imperial College London’s first-ever joint PhD Programs

Dr Su Guaning, NTU’s President and Sir Roy Anderson, Imperial College London’s Rector signed a Memorandum of Understanding to offer joint PhD programs in Engineering and Science, marking the first time Imperial College is partnering another university to offer such programs.

(Pg 22)

NTU helms the newly established Global Alliances of Technological Universities

NTU and six other top technological universities from around the world, namely Caltech, ETH Zurich, Georgia Tech, Imperial College London, IIT Bombay and SJTU, have come together to form the Global Alliance of Technological Universities (GlobalTech Alliance), an important platform to engage the world in tackling challenging technology issues.

(Pg 46)

March

MayNTU pioneers world’s first Solution X-Ray Scattering Experiment

NTU’s School of Biological Sciences (SBS) initiated the world’s first remotely controlled Solution X-Ray Scattering Experiment which was conducted at the German Electron Synchrotron, Germany.

(Pg 39)

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4Research @ NTU

June

August

July

World’s largest carbon fiber producer establishes water technology laboratory at NTU

NTU and Toray Industries Incorporated, a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan and the world’s largest producer of carbon fiber, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the opening of the Toray Water Technology Laboratory at NTU’s Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI). The Laboratory focuses on research in membrane-based water treatment technologies.

(Pg 50)

Grand opening of NTU’s newest school

NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) officially opens with grandeur and vibrancy graced by Professor Lee Soo Ying, founding Dean of NTU’s College of Science; Professor Ling San, Chair of SPMS; Dr Su Guaning, President of NTU; Professor Bertil Andersson, Provost of NTU, and Dr Ng Eng Hen, Singapore’s Minister of Education and Second Minister of Defense.

NTU clinches three CRP Awards

Three proposals from NTU led by Associate Professor Jaume Torres, Associate Professor Christos Panagopoulos and Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, have garnered research funds worth S$30 million from the National Research Foundation (NRF) under its Competitive Research Program (CRP). The amount was half of the total sum disbursed in the scheme’s fourth call for proposals.

(Pg 37)

Cutting-edge energy research to materialize through new Rolls-Royce-NTU partnership

NTU and Rolls-Royce signed a five-year agreement to conduct research in the areas of process technology, computational engineering and power electronics, a testament of industry partners’ confidence in NTU’s renowned research expertise.

(Pg 49)

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5 Research @ NTU

September

November

Young researcher garners prestigious award from the Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS)

Dr Yu Ting, Assistant Professor from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) received the Young Scientist Award from the Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS) for his research on metal oxide nanostructures and grapheme, which are used for developing nanodevices and harvesting energy.

(Pg 54)

October

December

NTU forms tripartite alliance with two European giants in research

NTU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Thales to form the CNRS International-NTU-Thales Research Alliance (CINTRA). The CINTRA Laboratory, located at NTU’s Research Techno Plaza, aims to develop innovations in nanotechnologies for computing, sensing, and communication applications.

(Pg 46)

VIRTUS-ly leading the way in world-class Integrated Circuit (IC) design

A S$50 million research centre for IC design was launched by Mr Damian Chan, Director of Electronics at the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore and Professor Kam Chan Hin, Chair of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The centre aims to develop cutting-edge IC design technologies for applications in the fields of medicine, clean energy and consumer electronics.

(Pg 52)

Europe’s largest computer graphics institution and NTU establish Fraunhofer IDM centre @ NTU, promoting applied research and commercialization opportunities in the field of IDM

Fraunhofer IDM centre @ NTU was set up through the collaboration between NTU and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe’s largest institution for applied research in computer graphics. The agreement was signed by NTU Provost, Professor Bertil Andersson, and Professor Dieter W Fellner, Director of Fraunhofer’s Institute for Computer Graphics Research (Faunhofer IGD) on 25 November 2009.

(Pg 48)

6Research @ NTU

NTU has unprecedented research investments and interests in cutting-edge scientific research and technological innovations across multiple disciplines. It has distinctive international R&D competencies in sustainability and continues to refine its research focus to galvanize expert resources within the University, aligned with the national strategic thrusts.

At NTU, there is a focus on developing peaks of excellence that are integrated, multidisciplinary and inclusive. In 2009, looking towards 2015, NTU identified five thematic peaks of excellence, namely Sustainable Earth, Future Healthcare, New Media, the New Silk Road, and Innovation Asia. These peaks of excellence leverage on the myriad of interdisciplinary interfaces and inherent expertise that thrive within NTU, forming the basis for NTU’s future education and research priorities.

2009 has seen the University making huge strides in its commitment towards research excellence. We have become increasingly successful in gaining external peer-reviewed competitive funding. In FY09, NTU was awarded $318.8M of external competitive research awards, which is ~5 times the external research award in FY05. NTU has won 2 out of 5 research grants through its Reseach Centres of Excellence (RCE), the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) and the Singapore Centre on Environment Life Science and Engineering (SCELSE), worth S$150 million and S$120 million respectively over 10 years. NTU has won the lion’s share (13 of 25 awards at $10M per award over 5 years) of the NRF Competitive Research Programme (CRP)

and we also did particularly well in water and environment technologies research, winning 2 of 3 EWI’s second Challenge Call for Request-for-Proposals (RFP) in the area of rapid microbial detection and 3 of 5 inaugural Environmental Technology and Research Programme (ETRP) grants awarded by NEA and EWI Development Council)

The Research Centres of Excellence demonstrate NTU’s continued effort to spearhead groundbreaking research. To this end, world-class researchers have been invited to join the University in its endeavours. NTU is proud to have on board a group of outstanding researchers: the world-famous seismologist, Professor Kerry Sieh, who helms the EOS and two eminent figures in the field of environmental life sciences, Professor Staffan Kjelleberg and Professor Yehuda Cohen, who will lead research activities at SCELSE.

NTU is also actively fostering applied research through partnerships with major corporations and industry leaders by proactively engaging multinational companies in collaborative initiatives. So far, leading international players who are partners with NTU include the French National Center of Scientific Research, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Rolls-Royce, Robert Bosch, EADS, and Siemens. These industrial collaborations represent one of the key components of a world-class technological university. They are also a strong testament of NTU’s research relevance to the real world, benefitting society and economy. In recent years, NTU has also been actively recruiting high caliber scientists and academics

from around the world to develop quality research. Through the National Research Foundation Fellowship scheme, NTU has successfully attracted 15 of 28 outstanding young researchers who were awarded the prestigious Singapore NRF Fellowship. NTU’s own premier young faculty recruitment programme, the Nanyang Assistant Professorship (NAP), received over 1,400 applications worldwide and 16 of these applicants received the NAP research grant award. These two schemes are the latest initiatives set up to attract top researchers from across the globe to play leading roles in the University’s new wave of multi-disciplinary research.

As we aspire towards joining the ranks of top global universities, we are also continuing with efforts to raise research integrity. We have established the NTU Research Integrity Policy and Procedures in early 2008 and an institutional review board for all research activities involving human research participants and human biological materials in May 2009. Also in the works is a collaboration with National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to host the Second World Conference on Research Integrity (2nd WCRI) in Singapore from 21 to 24 July 2010.

There is much more exciting research news at NTU. I invite you to explore the NTU Research Report 2009 to find out more about NTU’s rich and vibrant research environment in our pursuit to become a great global university founded on science and technology.

Message from the Provost

Professor Bertil Andersson Provost, NTU

7 Research @ NTU

NTU’S WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH: Talents, Centres, Institutes & Research Quality Systems

8Research @ NTU

Recognizing science and technology research as a major driver of innovation in support of Singapore’s transformation to a knowledge-intensive economy, NTU has taken significant steps to position itself as Singapore’s premier science and technological university and to compete at the global level in research and innovation. One of the key implementations includes the introduction of a highly competitive and rigorous scheme to attract high-caliber senior and junior faculty to intensify quality research at the university.

NTU also has distinctive international R&D competencies and continues to refine its

research focus to galvanize expert resources within the university, aligned with the national strategic thrusts. To this end, the university-wide interdisciplinary focus on developing peaks of excellence has culminated in the establishment of several trailblazing research institutes, leading the way in advancing cutting-edge innovations to tackle the global challenges of today and the future.

With a renewed emphasis on innovation, close collaborations with leading international technology-based companies and local industry to spearhead

more industry-relevant research are also in place.

The university is also playing host to the Second World Conference on Research Integrity (2WCRI) together with other leading institutions in Singapore. This is another resounding testament of NTU’s solid commitment towards research excellence.

NTU’s research endeavors have certainly paid off, achieving one success after another in winning more competitive research grants. Indeed, NTU is moving steadily towards becoming a great global university in the near future.

NTU’S WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH: Talents, Centres, Institutes & Research Quality Systems

Moving Ahead as a World-Class University

9 Research @ NTU

In recent years, strategic plans and initiatives put in place have catapulted NTU to world-class university status with jumps in research funding secured as a significant testament. The annualized total external research grants awarded to NTU researchers rose from S$128.8 million in Financial Year (FY) 2008 to S$179.1 million in FY2009, presenting a 39% increase.

NTU’s success stems from research grants funded by various external sources in particular the National Research Foundation (NRF), Ministry of Defense (MINDEF), Ministry of Education (MOE), Agency for Science, Technology

NTU has successfully launched several new research platforms, paving the way for further research and developments in the areas that leverage on the myriad of interdisciplinary interfaces and inherent expertise

and Research (A*STAR), Economic Development Board (EDB), Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) and others.

NTU has also successfully secured the highest number of National Research Foundation Competitive Research Program (NRF’s CRP) grants since 2007, winning 13 out of 25 CRP grants awarded nationally by NRF.

Another success to be proud of includes the lion’s share of research funds received from EWI, where researchers from NTU secured 3 out of 4 grants to focus on water research in 2009.

that thrive within NTU, forming the basis for NTU’s future education and research priorities.

Several research institutes have been set up to boost sustainability research, which has secured a

In interactive digital media research, NTU won 3 out of 6 grants under the CRP’s fourth call for grants.

Although the university is still at the initial stage of embarking on technology commercialization, the number of awards clinched since the launch of the NRF Proof-of-Concept (POC) scheme in 2008 has been encouraging. The scheme, aimed at research that is at the final phase of development before moving towards technology commercialization, has awarded a total of 10 research grants to NTU.

combined amount of more than S$750 million in external research grants.

Quantum Leap in External Competitive Research Grants

Pioneering New Research Platforms

10Research @ NTU

The EOS, which was awarded S$150 million by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2008, is NTU’s first Research Centre of Excellence for earth sciences, focusing on tectonics and volcanology. The EOS is set to establish “a sustainable man/nature paradigm” through an in-depth exploration of earth processes that manifest as natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.

Helmed by renowned seismologist, Professor Kerry Sieh, EOS has been successful in forming a dream team of researchers comprising other influential figures in earth sciences such as Professor Paul Tapponnier, from the University of Paris, and Professor Chris Newhall, formerly of the US Geological Survey.

EOS’ Team: (Top) Prof Kerry Sieh, esteemed expert in earthquake geology, (from left) Prof Paul Tapponier, leading tectonicist, and Prof Chris Newhall, well-known authority on Southeast Asian volcanology.

With top-notch academics on board, the centre is carrying out extensive tectonics research within the active faults of Southeast Asia which includes refining tsunami forecasts for Western Sumatra and the South China Sea. The centre’s other research endeavors include creating a comprehensive database of earthquake faults in Southeast Asia and evaluating volcanic potential in the

region. Additionally, an earth and environmental sciences education program, a new area in NTU’s academic portfolio, is expected to launch at the EOS in 2010. The EOS is the flagship of NTU’s interdisciplinary focus, solidifying the university’s position as a premier research-intensive university.

Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS)

▲

11 Research @ NTU

Tectonic Group

The group is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Sumatran GPS Array (SuGAr) which was created by Professor Kerry Sieh, Director of EOS, and his research team while he was still at Caltech. Since the SuGAr now resides with the EOS, the group will work on improving the existing system so that it will be better equipped to measure deformations preceding, during and after the culminating great earthquake that has been forecasted to occur within the next few decades.

It also aims to carry out tectonic research in the regions of Myanmar and Bangladesh and extending farther north and west to the great Himalayan megathrust underlying Nepal and India.

Volcano Group

Professor Christopher Newhall has assembled most of the two technical teams that will create two hallmarks of EOS’ initial volcanic research: Laboratory Volcanoes and WoVoDat.

▲ Studies on faults and tectonic behaviour

Additionally, the group is attempting to understand the history of ancient tsunamis and storm surges by using coastal sediments and landforms. Nanyang Assistant Professor Adam Switzer aims to scour the coast of southeastern China for evidence of great tsunamis over thousands of years ago. His focus on sediments may also help to determine the frequency of exceptionally large typhoons on the Southeast Chinese coast.

Another noteworthy project under the Tectonics Group is the production of a modern map which presents the active faults of Southeast Asia. The early stage of production involves compiling reliable published information. In the next stage, various types of optical and radar imagery will be employed to compile the first uniform, reliable map of potentially earthquake-generating faults across the entire region.

The Laboratory Volcanoes team has begun to purchase the geodetic and seismic equipment that will be installed on EOS’ two laboratory volcanoes, Mayon (in the Philippines) and Gede-Salak (in the south of Jakarta, Indonesia). Mayon, which is almost always puffing mildly, is an example of a volcano that is “open”. In other words, its conduit is not clogged and gasses are able to escape more or less unimpeded. This open plumbing dominates within volcanoes that are not in the process of building up to a great, explosive eruption. Gede and Salak, in contrast, are volcanoes with plugged conduits and may be building up pressures toward a major eruption. By monitoring two end members of explosive volcanism, the volcanologists expect to

make significant inroads into the inner workings of the entire range of volcanic activity in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, by monitoring these two volcanoes, scientists in Singapore will gain access to data gathered from other important volcanoes in the Philippines and Indonesia.

The EOS has also made good progress in developing an epidemiological database of the world’s volcanoes called the World Volcanic Database (WoVoDat). This database is a portal for understanding the ranges and combinations of activity that precede the entire spectrum of volcanic behavior. It is also a valuable tool for predicting future behavior of restless volcanoes.

Research at EOS is divided into three groups: Tectonic, Volcano and Climate.

▲ Mayon Laboratory Volcano in the Philippines.

12Research @ NTU

Climate Group

Climate research in the Southeast Asian region is an important research niche that has received little attention from other climate researchers. In this regard, the EOS is likely to channel its resources to conducting climate research in this region by focusing on three specific areas: paleoclimatology, modern climate-related measurements, and the modeling that will be needed to understand both modern and ancient data.

The group is in the midst of actively seeking a leader to helm the fort and has recruited several young, talented researchers to launch exciting research in this area.

Presently, the group is involved in a project aiming at understanding regional weather through the modeling of a recent Japanese data set. The principal investigator of the project is Assistant Professor Koh Tieh Yong, an atmospheric physicist attached to NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

SCELSE, which was awarded S$120million by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2010, is a catalytic platform for synergizing research in environmental science and life sciences with a focus on environmental microbiology research to develop practical solutions that can lead to the creation of a new research discipline in biofilms. Through SCELSE, NTU also sees an opportunity to intensify research

in biofilms in relation to its application in water remediation and water fouling which are significant areas in today’s technological landscape. On board to lead the centre is Professor Staffan Kjelleberg, founder of the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation at the University of New South Wales, Australia. Professor Yehuda Cohen, from Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel is the centre’s Deputy Director. Other high profile figures that have joined SCELSE include

Dr Craig Vanter, an influential figure in human genome, and Professor Alexander Zehnder, one of the world’s foremost environmental scientists in water research. With this constellation of leading experts committed to establishing a world-class research centre on environmental sciences at NTU, the SCELSE will address significant issues pertaining to Singapore’s development.

Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences and Engineering (SCELSE)

▼ Plate coral in offshore Sumatra used to study historical earthquake.

13 Research @ NTU

i) Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C)

Operating on the motto, “Waste is not waste but misplaced resources”, R3C was launched in Oct 2009. It focuses on developing technologies for waste minimization, conversion of residues into resources, contaminated environment remediation, and other related fields. Under the leadership of Professors Rainer Stegmann and Wang Jing Yuan, the centre has to date forged strategic collaborations with key local players, including the Ministry of Environment and Water

Resources, National Environment Agency, and the Public Utilities Board, as well as prominent industry partners such as SembEnviro, Sulo, and Keppel-Seghers. Its overseas partners are highly regarded for their residues and resource reclamation research, such as the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, Germany; the University of New South Wales, Australia; Tongji University, China; National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and the University of California, Berkeley, USA.

In alignment with its motto, R3C’s key research projects include:

• Community as a renewable resource recovery centre: The aim of this project is to separate and convert waste resource from the community into energy sources and useful materials.

• Wastewater treatment plant as an urban eco-power station: This project aims to develop energy self-sufficiency in urban wastewater treatment plants.

• Rapid land reclamation of closed urban dumping grounds: This project will develop technologies for rapid land reclamation of closed dumping grounds.

The Four Centres of Competences

An ecosystem sustaining a diverse range of revolutionary environmental and water technology is what the NEWRI is all about. Launched in 2008, the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI) represents NTU’s efforts over the last two decades to be a committed and active participant in Singapore’s Environmental and Water Technology (EWT) research and development landscape. Armed with strong capabilities in environmental and water technologies, NTU strives to expand its expertise in these areas to society and industry through

a synergistic R&D platform. Through NEWRI, the university also aims to provide EWT leadership and groom talent, supporting Singapore’s pursuit of achieving sustainable urban centre status.

The NEWRI ecosystem offers a contiguous value chain presenting a multidisciplinary system of research, translation, development, and application that enables close collaborations between academia and industry. NEWRI’s key research domains in environmental science and engineering are represented by the core interests and

activities of its members which will from 2010 include four centres of competence supported by EWI/EDB, one research group, a NTU subsidiary company, a philantrophic initiative and a Master’s program in environmental science and engineering.

The focus and activities of the members established in NEWRI demonstrate its versatile expertise in tackling an expansive range of issues related to environmental science and engineering.

NEWRI Ecosystem For Innovative Environmental Solutions

14Research @ NTU

▲ Project to prepare urban wastewater treatment plants to be energy self-sufficient

▲ Project to separate and convert waste resource from community into energy and useful materials

15 Research @ NTU

▲ Project to develop technologies for rapid land reclamation of closed dumping grounds

ii) Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (SMTC)

The SMTC was set up in 2008 with support from EWI and EDB to spearhead Singapore’s research and development efforts in membrane science and applied membrane technology, areas that are critical towards developing Singapore’s self-sufficiency in water supply. Led by membrane expert Professor Tony Fane, SMTC has collaborated actively with the EWT industry, receiving research funding of over S$7 million. Most notably, the centre has collaborated with Siemens on a membrane distillation project. In addition, it has also carried out investigations on aquaporin-based biomimetic membranes, forward osmosis, and doped membranes.

The focus of the SMTC is to develop membrane technology for water and environmental applications. Six thematic areas have been identified along this line:

• Water Production: Research activities in this area involve designing and developing the most effective water treatment membrane technology, and exploring membrane fouling in reverse osmosis desalination

• Wastewater Reclamation: This is a crucial area for augmenting scarce water supplies in Singapore and includes research activities focusing on fouling control, transmission of trace organics, and the development of removal methods for trace organics.

• Wastewater Membrane Bioreactor (MBR): An area currently experiencing dramatic growth, it presents research challenges in novel membrane materials, modules and fouling control, biomass, and novel MBRs.

• Energy Issues in Membrane Processes: This area investigates process optimization and

selection of the most appropriate technology for the operation of membrane separations.

• Special Needs and Appropriate Technology: This area looks into designing and developing reliable and cost-efficient applications for small scale water and wastewater treatment that can be easily monitored using in-situ sensors to expand applications around the world.

• Sensors and Monitors: The development and application of non-invasive observations and online monitoring techniques for improving performance is the research focus of this area.

 

Membrane Spinning Machine

Rapid Land Reclamation of Closed Dumping Grounds

16Research @ NTU

 ▲ Aquaporin Based Biomimetic Membranes for Water Reuse and Desalination

▲ Integration of Forward Osmosis Membranes and Optimised Bioprocess

   

17 Research @ NTU

iii) DHI-NTU Water and Environment Research Centre Established in 2007, the DHI-NTU Centre represents the close collaboration between Denmark’s leading environmental research organization, DHI and NTU with support from Singapore’s Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) and Economic Development Board (EDB). Its key research areas include industrial water management, urban planning and water management, solid waste management, and environmental impact assessment. Helmed by co-directors Professor Tan Soon Keat and Dr Ole Larsen, the centre seeks to develop new products that will benefit the Environmental and Water Technology (EWT)

Industry and is currently involved in some S$4.1 million worth of collaborations with industry partners.

Research projects in 2009 focused on water quality management, carbon and energy-related issues, and environmentally-friendly technology which aimed at:

• Improving marine quality in the coastal areas of Singapore

• Enhancing energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants where a worldwide survey was conducted to solicit information and source for innovative energy saving and energy generating technologies in wastewater treatment

• Developing new environmentally-friendly technologies that are cost-efficient and low maintenance to improve water quality.

▲ Dr Ole Larsen (second from left), Co-Director of the DHI-NTU Centre, explains its research projects. With him is Danish PM Rasmussen (second from right); NTU President Dr Su Guaning (right); and Her Excellency Vibeke Rovsing Lauritzen, Danish Ambassador to Singapore (left).

(Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

 

iv) Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Group (AEBG)

[AEBG has successfully won funding to become a Centre of Competence, and will be officially launched in May 2010]

The application of Aerobic Granulation Technology is a significant research area in AEBG which includes the successful development of an innovative technology that is capable of simultaneously removing chemicals and nutrients from wastewater.

18Research @ NTU

Providing support in environmental chemistry and materials research, ECMG focuses on the following areas:

• Developing novel, functional materials for environmental applications

Established in 2004 as an NTU subsidiary company, iESE aims to lead in the business of environmental technology innovation and commercialization through promising technology developments undertaken by NEWRI’s members and business collaborations with industry partners. iESE’s business and value-add activities include technology test-bedding, commercialization, application development, environmental specialist consultancy, process

• Designing analytical methods for detecting and quantifying emerging contaminants in urban water and reclaimed water

• Integrating systems for water treatment and used water

modeling and simulation, and feasibility studies. The company strives to generate maximum economic value through its business activities, some of which include:

• Setting up a pilot plant for recycling used lubricating oil, a project which clinched the 2009 Minister Innovation Award. Culminating from the project, a joint-venture company, NewOil Pte Ltd was formed.

reclamation, minimizing chemical usage and energy consumption.

• Developing the Integrity Sensor for membrane processes. Working with SMTC, a spin-off company, MINT is commercializing the technology.

• Actively seeking industry partners to pilot and commercialize a new innovation, the Membrane Distillation Bioreactor Technology (MDBR).

The NEWRI Research Group: Environmental Chemistry and Materials Group (ECMG)

NTU Subsidiary Company: iESE

▲ Hybrid Membrane Photoreactor System

19 Research @ NTU

The NEWRI Research Group: Environmental Chemistry and Materials Group (ECMG)

A pioneering initiative consisting of the unique collaboration between the philanthropic Lien Foundation and NTU, LIFE is being reconfigured as Environmental Endeavor II in 2010 with research and implementational focus on water and sanitation in Asia.

The research endeavors of LIFE in 2009 in collaboration with the Harvey Mudd College, USA have

greatly benefitted many rural areas in different parts of Asia. Some of their altruistic initiatives include:

• Removing arsenic from water in accordance with World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards and developing methods to test the arsenic content of drinking water in Cambodia.

• Developing a wastewater treatment system that is affordable, low maintenance, and easy to operate for rural communities located within the drainage basin of the Yangtze River, China.

The Philanthropic LIEN Institute for the Environment (LIFE)

   

20Research @ NTU

Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N)Inaugurated in June 2010, the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N) was set up with the intention of building on NTU’s research strengths, synergizing various research groups, and mobilizing resources in energy-related research. ERI@N’s mission is to build and develop core capabilities in clean and sustainable energy technologies and provide technical leadership to industry through collaborative R&D efforts. With this in mind, NTU has cemented important tie-ups with several leading industry players such as Rolls-Royce Singapore, Robert Bosch GmbH (Bosch), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK), and Vestas Technology R&D Singapore (Vestas) in addition to collaborating with renowned universities such as the University of Cambridge, University of California Berkeley, École Polytechnique

Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland, Imperial College London, Austrian Institute of Technology, Technischen Universität München (TUM) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). ERI@N also demonstrates NTU’s interdisciplinary emphasis by providing a unique platform for various schools to interact and explore the areas of sustainable energy, energy efficiency and infrastructure, and socio-economic aspects of energy research.

Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), other agencies and the industry with funding of S$193millian, ERI@N’s applied and translational research activities are implemented by 112 PhD and

Masters students, and 65 research fellows and associates.

ERI@N’s nucleus to harvest new energies for the future comprises four centres namely, Centre for Sustainable Energy Research (CSER), Centre for Maritime Energy Research (CMER), Solar Energy and Solar Fuels Centre (SEFC), and Center for Electromobility (CEM). These centres are equipped with major facilities for carrying out energy-related research, including three clean rooms for microfabrication and full facilities for solar cells, charge storage, fuel cells fabrication and characterization, and advanced materials synthesis and characterization.

▲ Official Opening of ERI@N with Guest-of-Honour, Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry & Education Mr. S. Iswaran and Provost Bertil Andersson

21 Research @ NTU

Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSER)

Centre for Maritime Energy Research (CMER)

This centre was established in October 2009 with resources amounting to S$60 million. It seeks to be a main driver of knowledge creation and technology transfer in sustainable energy technologies. Its core research areas include the following:

• Wind and Marine Renewable Energy, investigating turbines, generators, distributed grids, and hybrid systems

Launched in February 2010, the Centre for Maritime Energy Research is a joint establishment between NTU and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

• Energy Storage, investigating low power mobile electronics, electric vehicles, storage for renewable energies, and large energy charge storage systems

• Green and Smart Building, with key areas in management systems, simulation of the built environment, and HVAC efficiencies

• Fuel Cells, focusing on materials research, catalysis and fuel cell systems

(MPA). CMER will undertake research and development activities pertaining to the application of clean energy technology. Leveraging on

With active participation from 40 NTU professors and strategic tie-ups with leading industry partners such as Robert Bosch GmbH (organic photovoltaics), Rolls-Royce Singapore (fuel cells and clean energy), Det Norske Veritas (clean energy technology), and Vestas Technology R&D Singapore (wind renewable energy), the centre is set to train over 100 research scientists and engineers.

other research capabilities within ERI@N, the centre seeks to develop effective and environmentally-friendly solutions in the maritime domain.

Solar Energy and Solar Fuels Centre (SEFC)The establishment of SEFC in January 2010 will provide a common platform for research in solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, photocatalysis, and photoelectrochemical conversions. The centre includes a solar fuel lab headed by Visiting Professor James Barber from Imperial College London, researching on photocatalysis for hydrogen generation and photoelectrochemical conversion for the formation of fuels such as ethanol and methanol from carbon dioxide.

A significant ongoing project at the centre involves the use of nanowires and nanonets to fabricate high efficiency solar

cells and batteries and also on novel energy harvesting concepts for solar cells and photocatalysis; these projects are supported under the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) Competitive Research Program. Other solar cell projects in the centre have received funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Clean Energy Research Programs (CERP).

ERI@N’s fourth Centre for Electromobility with Technischen Universität München (TUM), Germany’s leading university was launched in October 2010. This Centre will lead research

in electric vehicles solutions for large tropical cities such as Singapore and around the world. Electromobility research will encompass developing novel high performance batteries, embedded systems, power train, controls, power electronics, as well as issues pertaining to infrastructure and driver considerations. Besides bringing together professors, research scientists and engineers from Singapore and Germany in multidisciplinary research; this program also brings together eight local and overseas companies to ensure that the technologies developed in this project will be exploited in Singapore and beyond.

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Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management (ICRM)

Biomedical Structural Biology Laboratory

The ICRM was launched in January 2010. It is an amalgamation of research expertise in engineering, earth sciences, business and risk assessment contributing towards an open worldwide standard for calculating and communicating risks associated

with earthquakes, typhoons, and floods as well as possible amplification of such risks through climate change.

NTU’s Structural Genomics Group, led by Professor Pär Nordlund who is one of Europe’s foremost structural biologists, has established the Biomedical Structural Biology Laboratory, which is affiliated with NTU’s School of Biological Sciences (SBS). The laboratory is located at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology at the Biopolis, One-North. It comprises three research groups, led by Professor Pär Nordlund, Associate Professor Julien Lescar, and Associate

Professor Said Eshaghi, as well as the Protein Production Platform headed by Assistant Professor Tobias Cornvik. At present, there are around 30 researchers and graduate students working at the laboratory, which includes state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate high throughput protein production, biophysical and biochemical characterization, as well as crystallization.

Professor Pär Nordlund: one of Europe’s leading experts in the field of structural genomics

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Nanyang Institute of Technology in Healthcare and Medicine (NITHM)NTU is set to launch NITHM in 2010 to consolidate biomedical and bioengineering research and development activities. A significant initiative along this line is the joint-PhD agreement between NTU and Imperial College London. Additionally, NITHM will also coordinate collaborative endeavors between NTU and other internationally recognized universities such as the University of California, San Diego, the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and Karolinska Institutet to pave the way for more biomedical and bioengineering research.

NTU is also committed to providing a strong base for research and development, and education in relation to the needs of future healthcare in Singapore. Various biomedical and bioengineering-related research and development activities will also be consolidated under NTU’s Nanyang Institute of Technology in Healthcare and Medicine (NITHM), launching in 2010. Other strategic initiatives include partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to form the structural genomics group located in the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) at the Biopolis, One North, as well as a sealed agreement with the University of Warwick, UK to set up a neuroscience research program.

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Institute for Media Innovation (IMI): PIONEERING MEDIA INNOVATIONS IN SINGAPOREThe Institute for Media Innovation (IMI) is an incubator of multidisciplinary, cutting edge, media-related research ideas. It strives to build a strong reputation as a leading, global Interactive Digital Media (IDM) hub. In response to Singapore’s national priority to develop IDM as a strategic R&D area, IMI aspires to facilitate and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration in media research at NTU. At the same time, it also seeks to provide a one-stop interface to the outside community by forging partnerships with the Singapore government, industry players, and other

international entities. Another important role of IMI is to enrich the educational experience of students by exposing them to the multifaceted field of IDM.

The institute was founded by Professor Martin Reiser in 2008 and is presently helmed by Professor Nadia Thalmann who is a pioneer in IDM research, particularly in the area of virtual humanity. The institute has developed an interactive research and education platform encompassing a broad range of interactive digital media activities. For instance, NTU’s School of Computer Engineering

is researching on animation innovations that are highly acclaimed by the animation industry in Japan. Additionally, NTU is in active discussion with the Communication University of China to secure NTU’s involvement in the development of a national animation base in the Tianjin Eco-City. Other partnerships with world-renowned institutions and universities such as the Domus Academy, Italy, Fraunhofer, Germany and the University of North Carolina, USA are also in place to strengthen NTU’s research thrust in the new media.

Dynamic duo to steer NTU’s IDM research: (left) Prof Nadia Thalmann, Director of Institute for Media Innovation, who pioneered the field of virtual humans and the founder of MIRALab, one of the most prestigious interdisciplinary research institutes in Geneva, (right) Prof Vibeke Sorensen, Founding Chair of the Division of Animation and Digital Arts at University of Southern California who has been recruited to chair NTU’s School of Art, Design and Media.

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Key Research Projects at IMI

In 2009, IMI has supported a number of multidisciplinary research proposals, each receiving between S$10,000 to S$100,000 in research funding. Apart from funding multidisciplinary projects in IDM, the institute also facilitates sourcing of external funding and commercialization opportunities by working closely with appropriate agencies and industry partners.

The following are some of IMI’s key research projects:

The Application of Computational Aesthetics in the Acquisition and Treatment of Digital Images

Principal Investigators: Associate Professor Ramakrishna Kakarala, School of Computer Engineering and Assistant Professor Martin Constable, School of Art, Design and Media

This project examines the ways that aesthetics, in the capturing and rendering of digital images, can be enhanced with computational techniques. Arrangements of attributes (colors, texture) and features (lines, curves, faces) can be digitally expressed and mashed, morphed, cross-bred, and edited using computer vision techniques to radically change the look and feel of the picture taken and enable consumer cameras to give feedback on composition.

▲ The CMU face detection method is used on the same photo as a tool in the work done by master photographers; boxes show face orientation.

Hue transfer using the HSV Method

▼ The proposed tangible multi-touch interactive system allows the association of tangible physical objects with their virtual counterparts. The child’s interaction with this multi-modal learning environment is enhanced by an intuitive user interface that does away with the traditional mouse and keyboard limitations.

A Tangible Multi-Touch Learning Environment for Children with Special Needs

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Goh Wooi Boon, School of Computer Engineering

The aim of this project is to develop a tangible multi-touch, gesture-based, interactive computer interface that will reduce the learning challenges of children with cognitive and/or physical disabilities. This educational tool will then be customized to allow the researchers to conduct preliminary studies of pedagogical approaches that are well-suited for this novel interactive learning system.

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VisuaPedia – A Collaborative Learning StudioPrincipal Investigator: Professor Seah Hock Soon, School of Computer Engineering

Other Strategic Initiatives at IMI

VisuaPedia will provide a platform for encouraging youth to tap on IDM to build their world perspectives and global networking with other youth. The idea behind VisuaPedia is much like Wikipedia’s, but whereas Wikipedia provides knowledge through text, VisuaPedia provides knowledge through images. VisuaPedia will evolve existing Computer Assisted 2D Cell Animation (CACAni) software to encourage creative production by enlisting a series of uploaded and web-generated drawings to bring imaginary worlds to animated life.

IMI is building on technical groups that specialize in a wide spectrum of research areas, including but not limited to computational photography, digital heritage, digital film, multiplayer online video games, and animation. One of the groups, the Special Digital Group on Interactive Digital Enterprise or SIGIDE is an interdisciplinary group funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to investigate business models, market strategies, and scenario planning tools that would support any interactive digital enterprise. It serves as an “intellectual venture capitalist” to IDM start-ups in Singapore.

Recruitment of Outstanding International FacultyThe establishment of a world-class university can only be realized through the existence of a wide talent pool of top-notch researchers leading the way in carrying out cutting-edge research that benefits society and economy.

Working Groups Gearing Up for More Multidisciplinary Research

The prototype collaborative multi-touch learning environment

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Partnerships to Meet Industry Needs

The institute also supports two training institutes, TQ Global Institute and the Institute of Digital Game Technology (IDGT) by providing research facilities, connections to academia, and other valuable resources. TQ Global Institute is a game company specializing in developing next generation games for console and PC platforms while IDGT is a professional training institute for game developers and artists in Asia. It aims to bridge the gap between formal education and the immediate requirements of the game industry.

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Key Recruitment of Renowned Scientists and Senior Faculty

NTU’s Key Recruitment in Biochemistry, Biosensors and Biophysics

NTU’s Key Recruitment in Humanities, Business and Social Sciences

World Class ChemistsWorld Leaders in Sustainable Electronics and Energy

NTU is proud to have on board a powerhouse of distinguished individuals who possess the talents and excellent track records to be the key drivers in influencing change to secure NTU’s successful future.

Professor James Barber FRS, world renowned expert on artificial photosynthesis from Imperial College London, UK

Professor Chiu Chi-Yue from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Professor Kang Jun-Koo was formerly Federal Credit Union Endowed Chair in Financial Institutions and Investments at Michigan State University, USA

Professor Alan Chan from the National University of Singapore is the Dean of College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences

Professor Hong Ying-Yi from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Professor Rudolph A. Marcus from California Institute of Technology, USA, a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry (1992)

Professor Francois Mathey from the University of California Riverside, USA

Professor Koichi Narasaka from the University of Tokyo, Japan

Professor Krishna Palemfrom Rice University, USA

Professor Gehan Amaratunga from the University of Cambridge, UK

Professor Bo Gunnar LiedBerg, foremost authority on biofilms and biosensors from Linköping University, Sweden

Professor Maria-Elisabeth Michel-Beyerle, world leader in the field of biophysics from Technische Universität München, Germany

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World Leaders in Sustainable Electronics and Energy

A Class of Distinction: NTU’s Brightest Young Talents

Launched in 2007, the globally competitive NRF Research Fellowship scheme was designed to attract outstanding young scientists from across the globe to conduct cutting-edge research in Singapore. It is comparable to the European Young Investigator Awards scheme in intent and prestige and offers a high-profile incentive to the successful candidates. Since its inception, NTU has welcomed more NRF fellows than any other institutions in Singapore. They were selected

from a wide pool of exceptional graduates from top international universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Caltech and Tokyo University.

In 2008 and 2009, 11 of the 18 fellowship recipients chose to establish their academic careers in NTU. The third NRF fellowship call saw the selection of 11 outstanding young scientists from 21 finalists to start their research career at NTU. Eventually, four awardees chose NTU as their host

institution to begin their fellowship stint. To date, this brings the total number of NRF research fellows at NTU to 15 out of 28 awardees. The NRF fellows were drawn to NTU by its high caliber faculty, commitment and investment in research infrastructure, as well as its open and flexible academic approach. Through the scheme, each NRF fellow will receive a start-up grant of up to US$2 million over 5 years and are poised to become leading researchers in their fields.

Associate Professor Christos Panagopoulos

Associate Professor Panagopoulos was from the Cavendish Lab, University of Cambridge, UK. Driven primarily by innovations in materials science and engineering, he is contributing to the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences in the area of condensed matter systems with spontaneous tendencies toward complex electronic pattern formation.

Assistant Professor Hong Soon Hyeok

Assistant Professor Hong studied under Professor Robert Grubbs in Caltech who was awarded the 2005 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. Dr Hong is now with the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Dr Hong’s laboratory will focus on developing efficient and green catalysts, as well as the synthesis of fine chemicals from renewable sources and its application to materials and biological chemistry.

Assistant Professor Eugene Makayev

Assistant Professor Makayev was from Harvard Medical School, Boston. Currently with the School of Biological Sciences, his research interest focuses on understanding the significance of post-transcriptional RNA-based processes for cell differentiation, particularly in neuronal differentiation. He is keen to develop a strong research program aimed at gene expression regulation in the nervous system.

Assistant Professor Zhou Jianrong

Assistant Professor Zhou was from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, his research focuses on devising efficient and practical ways to access important chiral building blocks from cheap, readily available feedstock chemicals. Dr Zhou’s research group will engage in the design and synthesis of transition metal and organic catalysts, method development, and mechanistic investigations.

NTU has been very successful in attracting the world’s best young researchers through the National Research Foundation (NRF)’s Fellowship program, and its own Nanyang Assistant Professorship (NAP) program.

National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Fellows

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Assistant Professor Frédérique Oggier

Assistant Professor Oggier received her PhD from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Switzerland, and is now with the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Armed with a research agenda in coding and security, she is continuing her research in applying algebraic techniques to resolve problems in wireless communication at NTU.

Assistant Professor Robin Chi

Assistant Professor Chi graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison, USA and was previously a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California Berkeley, USA. He set up his laboratory at the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences in July 2009. His team focuses on the development of new and useful chemical strategies that can be applied in the fields of organic synthesis and medicines.

Assistant Professor Naohiko Yoshikai

Assistant Professor Yoshikai is currently with the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences working on designing and developing more efficient catalysts. He was previously a faculty member of the University of Tokyo, Japan before joining NTU. His research achievements in organometallic catalysis have earned him several awards, including the Takasago International Corporation Award from the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry of Japan and the Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists.

“I had a choice between top 10 schools in the UK, Europe and USA until I realized the potential at NTU.”Christos Panagopoulos, Nanyang Associate Professor and NRF FellowFormerly Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University European Young Investigator (EURYI) Award recipient

“There is a lot of encouragement for scientific excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship at NTU. This creates a good ecosystem which allows for us to work together.”Hilmi Volkan Demir, Nanyang Associate Professor and NRF FellowFormerly Stanford University USA and Bilkent University, TurkeyEuropean Young Investigator (EURYI) Award recipient

Assistant Professor Chen Xiaodong

Assistant Professor Chen was a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University, USA. Currently with the School of Materials Science and Engineering, his research will create a platform for understanding and manipulating small scale interfacial biological processes, as well as regulating cellular functions. He has received more than 10 awards and fellowships, including the best PhD dissertation award from the University of Muenster, Germany and the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding PhD Student Abroad from the People’s Republic of China.

Associate Professor Hilmi Volkan Demir Associate Professor Demir who is now faculty member of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, is establishing a solid-state lighting laboratory that is working towards developing cost-saving, green solutions to generate and harvest light. Before joining NTU, Dr Demir was a recipient of many prestigious awards such as the European Science Foundation Young Investigator Award and the Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship. Dr Demir completed his PhD at Stanford University, USA.

Assistant Professor Edith Elkind

Assistant Professor Elkind who received her PhD from Princeton University, USA brings her expertise in algorithmic game theory and computational social choice to the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Her research interest lies specifically in exploring ways to motivate self-interested agents, such as buyers and sellers, in the electronic market, so that they can work together more efficiently.

Assistant Professor Xiong Qihua Assistant Professor Xiong was from Harvard University, USA. He is currently based in the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences to investigate fundamental properties of novel nanomaterials and their advanced conceptual applications.

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Nanyang Assistant Professors

Following the NRF Research Fellowship scheme, NTU also has its own premier scheme, the elite Nanyang Assistant Professorship (NAP), to attract exceptional young academics throughout the world to work at NTU, further strengthening NTU’s commitment to research excellence. Launched in 2007, the scheme attracted nearly 400 applicants in 2007 and 586 applicants in 2008 with NTU awarding a total of 18 NAPs in these two years. Not only do the NAP recipients receive start-up grants of up to S$1 million, they also have the chance to

help lead NTU’s next wave of multidisciplinary research. The scheme is opened on an annual basis and each year, up to 10 appointments will be made. For its third NAP call, NTU received more than 500 applications. and awarded Six NAPs. Currently, there are 15 Nanyang Assistant Professors working at NTU.

Assistant Professor Ajai Vyas

Assistant Professor Vyas was from Stanford University, USA. At the School of Biological Sciences, his lab works at the interface of neurobiology (approach and avoidance behaviors) and parasitology (behavioral manipulation of host by parasites).

Assistant Professor Fan Hongjin

Assistant Professor Fan was from University of Cambridge, UK, and is currently with the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. His research interests are inorganic nanowires, nanotubes and their ordered arrays; atomic layer deposition for surface engineering and nanofabrication; semiconductor-metal hybrid nanomaterials and effect of surface plasmons on their optical properties; energy generation and conversion based on 3-D hierarchal nanostructures; and physics behind thermoelectric.

Assistant Professor Tan Chuan Seng

Assistant Professor Tan was from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. He is now attached to the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His research interests include wafer 3-D/vertical integration of ICs and group-IV hetero-epitaxy and devices.

Assistant Professor Tao Dacheng Assistant Professor Tao was from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Currently based in the School of Computer Engineering, he is investigating the application of statistics and mathematics for data analysis problems in data mining, computer vision, machine learning, multimedia, and visual surveillance.

Assistant Professor Rainer Dumke Assistant Professor Dumke was from the Max Planck Research Group, Germany. He is with the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, investigating the utilization of wave properties of atomic matter in fundamental physics and applied physics.

30Research @ NTU

Assistant Professor Yu Hongyu

Assistant Professor Yu was from IMEC, Belgium, and is currently based in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His research expertise includes process technologies, novel device design, and new materials exploration for semiconductor (especially Si-based) devices. His current major research interest is in sustainable Si-based nanoscale electronic devices.

Assistant Professor Martin Pumera

Assistant Professor Pumera received his PhD from Charles University, Czech Republic. Before joining the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, he was holding a tenured position at the National Institute for Materials Science, Japan. His research interests are in electrochemistry and electrophoresis.

Assistant Professor Cesare Soci

Assistant Professor Soci was formerly a researcher at the University of California, San Diego, USA, where he made a significant discovery about nanowires being excellent photodetectors. He is now with the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, working on establishing a viable research program founded on the engineering of nanostructured materials.

Assistant Professor Wang Qijie

Assistant Professor Wang was a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University prior to joining NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He has made significant contributions in developing the high performance of mid-infrared and terahertz quantum cascade semiconductor lasers. His research interests include nanostructured semiconductor and metal materials.

Assistant Professor Chen Ning

Assistant Professor Chen was from University of Washington, USA. Currently attached to the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), he is interested in the developments of algorithmic game theory and hopes to establish a research group in this area at NTU.

Assistant Professor Yuan Junsong

Assistant Professor Yuan received his PhD from Northwestern University, USA. He was previously attached to the Communication and Collaboration Systems Group at Microsoft before joining NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His research interests include computer vision, image and video data mining and content analysis, and machine learning.

Assistant Professor Duan Hongwei

Assistant Professor Duan was previously based at Atlanta’s Emory-Georgia Tech Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence before joining NTU’s School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. His primary research interest lies in the application of advanced nanotechnology, specifically the unique properties of nanostructures for use in early detection, diagnosis, and targeted therapy of major human diseases.

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Expanding International and Local Networks to Boost Research

World-Class Standards for a World-Class University

The university has been proactively engaging distinguished international universities, multinational companies and well-known local agencies in research initiatives, inclining towards technological innovations and applications that address real life problems and industry needs. NTU has formed an alliance with six internationally-recognized universities to contribute to science and

NTU continues to emphasize the highest standard of research integrity among its faculty and students apart from increasing research output. As a result, a number of initiatives are underway to accomplish this aim.

technology research that can provide change for a better future. In addition, the university is exploring new research opportunities in emerging fields such as interactive digital media, water technology and green energy through significant partnerships with formidable figures in their respective fields such as Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Rolls-

NTU Research Council (NTURC)

Since 2008, the university has put in place an external peer review panel, the NTURC with two important emphases:

• To recruit potential candidates for the elite Nanyang Assistant Professorship

• To ensure the quality of the Ministry of Education’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 research proposals.

Royce, Nitto-Denko and Toray Industries. Leading local players have also shown increased confidence in NTU’s research expertise and capabilities. For instance, Sembcorp, Jurong Town Corporation, Economic Development Board, and Land Transport Authority to name a few, have forged links with the university to contribute in shaping and refining Singapore’s future socio-economic growth.

The NTURC is the final authority in short-listing and recommending research proposals to the Provost. The council is chaired by Professor Bengt Nordén from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, who was also Chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee for Chemistry in 2001 - 2004.

Professor Bengt Nordén

Review of Inter-School Research Centres

NTU has initiated a review of all inter-school research centres across the university. The review which took place last year was recently completed, involving renowned scientists and external academics to ensure a high standard of evaluation. For the purpose of the review, the research centres were grouped into five clusters, Civil and Mechanical Engineering; Computer and Software-related Engineering; Electrical and Materials Engineering; Life Sciences and Bio-related Engineering; and Management and Social Sciences.

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32Research @ NTU

New Institutional Review Board (IRB)

NTU has set up the IRB to inculcate responsible research conduct involving or linked to human subjects, including human tissues. It is chaired by Professor Lee Sing Kong, Director of the National Institute of Education, who also holds the appointment of Chairperson for the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee. The Deputy Chairperson is Professor Jan Carlstedt-Duke, Director of NTU’s Medical School Project.

Other members of the board include:

• Associate Professor Annabel S.H. Chen, a clinical neuropsychologist from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research interests include using fMRI-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to study higher cognition in the cerebellum and developing clinical applications and normative tasks for fMRI.

• Adjunct Associate Professor Chin Jing Jih, Senior Consultant at the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He also serves as committee member in the National Healthcare Group’s research ethics committee and the National Medical Ethics Committee.

• Professor Chiu Chi-Yue from the Nanyang Business School, who is an elected fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. His contributions to the field of social psychology have earned him several awards such as the Misumi Award (2007) and the Otto Kleinman Prize (2001).

• Associate Professor Chong Wan Har who is attached to the Pscyhological Studies Academic Group at the National Institute of Education (NIE). Dr Chong is currently the Deputy Chair of NIE’s Human Research Ethics Committee.

• Professor Eddie Kuo who is Professorial Fellow and Founding Dean of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information. He was previously the Chair of NTU’s Bioethics Review Committee and currently sits on Singapore’s Bioethics Advisory Committee.

• Mr Edward Alec D’Silva, Senior Advisor of SAA Architects Pte Ltd. He is also a member of the Public Service Commission and a council member of the National Institute of Education.

• Associate Professor Ravi Kambadur who is a molecular biologist from the School of Biological Sciences with more than 25 years of research experience in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Dr Kambadur has worked with human subjects

and has also acted as a member of a regulatory affair committee, dealing with biosafety and human ethics.

• Professor Ron Matthews from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, who has previously sat on university ethics committees to review ethics approval for social science research involving human subjects.

• Associate Professor William Chen from the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering who is actively involved in interdisciplinary research. In his previous appointment at the Singapore General Hospital, he was also a member of the hospital’s research committee.

▼ From left: Professors Lee Sing Kong and Jan Carlstedt-Duke

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Annabel Chen Chin Jing Jih

Chong Wan Har

Edward Alec D’Silva Ron Matthews Ravi Kambadur William Chen

Chiu Chi-Yue

Eddie Kuo

34Research @ NTU

NTU to Host the Second World Conference on Research Integrity (2WCRI)

The following overseas institutions will also be rendering their support to the conference:

To deserve public trust and support, researchers must set and maintain high standards of integrity in all aspects of their work. While major breaches of research integrity are not common, problems do occur from time to time throughout the vast global research enterprise. The World Conference on Research Integrity represents a coming together of researchers from all over the world to promote research integrity on a global scale.

• European Science Foundation• US Office of Research Integrity• Committee on Publication Ethics• US National Science Foundation• European Molecular Biology Organization

The conference will see 60 high-level international speakers from over 25 countries in attendance.

Researchers and associates from these institutions will be participating in the conference: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, International Council for Science, European Forum for Good Clinical Practice,

NTU is leading a group comprising the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), to host the Second World Conference on Research Integrity (https://www.wcri2010.org/) in Singapore in July 2010. The 2nd WCRI will be co-chaired by Mr Tony Mayer, Senior Science Officer and Europe Representative, NTU/ESF and Professor Nick Steneck, Director,

China Association for Science and Technology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Research Councils UK, Centre for Good Research Practice, (Korea), National Research Foundation, (South Africa), Australasian Research Management Society, National Science Council, (Taiwan), King Abdullah University of Science & Technology and Thomson Reuters.

The conference provides opportunities for participants to work together on developing an all-encompassing Singapore

Research Ethics and Integrity Program, University of Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. The conference is supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The Singapore Tourism Board has also provided a supporting grant for the event.

Statement on Research Integrity which will help to establish uniform agreement on the fundamental principles that should inform all research. This initiative will be launched come April 2010 as an interactive website where participants can engage in drafting and refining the statement that will hopefully become a basic standard for research integrity that can be employed throughout the global research world.

Dr. Nick STENECK (USA)Director, Research Ethics and Integrity Program, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health ResearchProfessor Emeritus of History, University of Michigan, USACo-Chair

Mr. Tony MAYERSenior Science officer and Europe Representative, NTU/ESF Co- Chair

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NTU to Host the Second World Conference on Research Integrity (2WCRI)

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36Research @ NTU

The year 2009 saw NTU winning more competitive research grants, underscoring its prominent position as a research intensive university in Singapore with recognized Strength in niche research areas like sustainability, water and environmental life science and engineering, clean energy, healthcare, neuroscience, bio-engineering, structural biology, research relevant to Asian culture and economics, cultural intelligence, and interactive digital media.

Associate Professor Ravi Kambadur from the School of Biological Sciences has received a research grant of up to S$10 million from the inaugural scenario-based Competitive Research Program (CRP) under the National Research Foundation (NRF) for his winning research proposal, “An Integrated Approach to Overcome Sarcopenia and Frailty in Aging Humans”. He will lead a team of scientist to develop biomarkers for overcoming overcoming

sarcopenia, an old age condition resulting in involuntary loss of muscie mass.

Three proposals have won up to S$30 million in research grants from the NRF following its fourth call for proposals under the CRP funding scheme. These proposals were shortlisted from over 70 proposals submitted nationwide. They are:

• “Membrane Protein Sciences: Tools for Rational Discovery of Novel Therapeutics and Diagnostics Targeting Integral Membrane Proteins”, led by Associate Professor Jaume Torres from the School of Biological Sciences.

• “Interface Science and Technology (IS-Tech)”, led by Associate Professor Christos Panagopoulos from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. The project proposes to investigate novel materials with functionalities beyond the

current state of technology, opening up explorations in interface properties that are driven by electron interactions in reduced dimensions.

• “Nanonets: New Materials, Devices for Integrated Energy Harnessing and Storage”, led by Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar from the School of Materials Science and Engineering. This project will focus on novel nanomaterials that can introduce new functionalities to applications in green energy systems in order to address global climate concerns and the critical need for alternative energy solutions.

NTU SCORES BIG IN MAJOR NATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS

▼The next generation of solar cell and battery may be printed on a plastic substrate, made of a network of high density nanowire materials (i.e. nanonets), developed by Professor Mhaisalkar and his team.

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Since the inaugural CRP grant call launched in April 2007, NTU has successfully clinched 13 out of 25 CRP awards. This achievement represents the highest number of CRP grants secured by any university in Singapore.

To further research in Interactive Digital Media (IDM), NTU has also received more than S$5 million in research grants from the NRF under its third call for proposals for the Research and Development program on IDM. Four out of five approved projects are from NTU. They are:

• “Using Embedded Technology Support (i-Cube) for Children’s Concept Development Through Play”, led by Associate Professor Goh Wooi Boon from the School of Computer Engineering. The project concerns the development of electronic play blocks called i-Cubes which are embedded with smart sensors, audio-visual outputs, and wireless communication capabilities to a host computer. The system records the physical interaction between a child and the blocks which enables researchers to develop assessment tools and therapies that can aid children’s development.

• “Intelligent Agent-Augmented Multi-User Virtual Environments: Research into Designs for Learning Environments of the Future”, led by Assistant Professor Miao Chun Yan from the School of Computer Engineering. This project involves the integration of a new class of intelligent agents with the 3D Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE) to create a more realistic learning experience for learners. The project also hopes to bridge the gap between learning content, learners, and simulated virtual worlds.

• “Enhancing Education in Environmental Awareness: A Game-based Approach to Ambient Learning”, led by Assistant Professor Chen Hsueh-Hua Vivian from the School of Communication and Information. This project focuses on developing mobile and web-based educational games for children to learn about weather patterns and environmental changes.

• “Youth Tell: Bridging Formal and Informal Learning through Digital Storytelling with Singapore Youth”, led by Assistant Professor Katherine

Anderson from the National Institute of Education. This project aims to provide support to a community of digital storytellers especially in places where access to traditional storytelling tools is limited.

To date, NTU has received more than S$17 million which represents two-thirds of the total research grants awarded by the NRF for IDM projects.

Additionally, NTU is also proud to receive research funding from the NRF following its second call for proposals under the Proof of Concept scheme. Six winning proposals from NTU receiving up to S$250,000 each from the scheme include:

• “Seamless Wireless Sensing”, led by Dr Lim Hock Beng, Programme Director of NTU Intelligent System Centre, who aims to develop a sensor network virtualization framework that will enable seamless interoperatibility and scalability of heterogeneous sensor node platforms.

From Left: Associate Professor Jaume Torres, Associate Professor Christos Panagopoulos and Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar (@NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

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38Research @ NTU

• “Development and Demonstration of Silicon Carbide-based Power Electric Convertor for Motor-Generator Control in Hybrid Electric Vehicles”, led by Associate Professor Tseng King Jet, Head of the Division of Power Engineering in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Director of Centre for Smart Energy Systems. The project, in collaboration with ST Kinetics, aims to develop a type of power converter based on the latest silicon-carbide technology for use in hybrid electric vehicles.

• “Photonic Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) Tunable Laser”, led by Professor Liu Ai Qun from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering which aims to employ a MEMS optical digital laser to achieve wavelength tuning, doing away with mechanical micro

actuators. This next generation MEMS tunable laser will potentially have wide ranging applications in the biomedical and telecommunications industries.

• A project that focuses on developing a new Electro-Generated Chemi-Luminescene (EGCL) technology with high efficiency and self-regeneration capability, led by Associate Professor Sun Xiaowei from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. EGCL has great potential in a wide range of applications such as smart phones, electronic wallets, and indoor and outdoor lighting.

• A grid array antenna design project addressing the challenge of reducing the cost of wireless applications by packaging highly integrated 60-GHz radios with new grid array antennas, led by Associate Professor Zhang Yue Ping from

the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The project demonstrates new ways of integrating the technology into radio devices such as realizing wireless transmission of high definition video streams from a Blu-Ray player to a display device.

• A project that concerns anti-reflective coating, led by PhD student Eunice Goh Shing Mei from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering which aims to develop a low cost, high performance anti-reflectance coating that will overcome the problem of multiple coating in existing anti-reflectance coating such as Silicon Dioxide and Silicon Nitride. The result is a single layer coating process that can be applied to optical or optoelectronic devices and lenses such as reading glasses.

Two project teams from NTU also won research grants amounting to S$4 million from the Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) under its second Challenge Call for Request-for-Proposals (RFP) in the area of rapid microbial detection.

One of the projects led by Associate Professor Thomas Gong involves developing a portable microbial detection laboratory complete with an integrated bio-detection card. The innovative filtration method, no bigger than the size of a laptop, is capable of reducing time and manpower.

On the other hand, Professor Liu Ai Qun’s team has proposed a biophotonic chip device that uses laser technology to effectively monitor and detect a single parasitic cell in drinking water of up to 10 litres without any preparation or setup.

▼Integrated bio-detection card

NTU wins 2 of 3 EWI Second Challenge Call for RFP on breakthrough technologies for rapid microbial detection. Left: Assoc Prof Thomas GongRight: Prof Liu Ai Qun

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39 Research @ NTU

A team of scientists led by Head of the Genomics and Genetics Division, Associate Professor Peter Dröge, has discovered a gene known as HMGA2 which can repair Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) damage during chemotherapy. This is the first study of its kind that links the DNA repair activity of HMGA2 to chemoresistance of cancer cells, and it has the potential to enhance cancer diagnosis and therapy.

On the other hand, Associate Professor Zbynek Bozdeck and his research team have uncovered a compound that can be a potential weapon against malaria. Laboratory tests have shown that the compound, originally developed to kill cancer cells, disrupts the genetic “program” of the most common parasite causing malaria worldwide. It was also uncovered by the team that the parasite triggers the production of antibodies in the human immune system to retaliate against it, paving the way for the development of the first malaria vaccine.

Another success for SBS comes from its partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Germany to conduct a remotely-controlled Solution X-Ray Scattering Experiment. On 26 May 2009, the experiment initiated by Associate Professor Gerhard Grüber from SBS was conducted in real time at the German Electron Synchrotron in Hamburg. This is an unconventional approach for conducting experiments in the future. With the use of the synchrotron, researchers can conduct their research without needing to be physically present at the research facility, saving time and costs.

CHARTING NEW FRONTIERS IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERINGExciting Discoveries in Biological and Life Sciences

▼Radiation-damaged cells with and without HMGA2 ▼X-ray scattering experiment

40Research @ NTU

Revolutionary Inventions for a Better Tomorrow Green Super Chip

A team of scientists from NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Rice University, USA under the leadership of Professor Krishna Palem, Director of NTU’s Institute for Sustainable Nanoelectronics, has successfully created a microchip that is not only highly

efficient but also environmentally-friendly. The green super chip consumes 30 times less energy and runs seven times faster than conventional chips. With this new technology, dubbed PCMOS (Probabilistic Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), mobile phones that require less

regular recharging and surgical-implanted devices that can last several lifetimes may become a reality in the near future. The super chip has been endorsed by Intel Corporation and will make its first appearance in the commercial market in four years’ time.

BIG THINGS come in small ICs: World’s 1st Truly Random Number Generator

1. Noise is inherent in CMOS devices ==> poses challenges to reliable computing

2. Contemporary CMOS design treats noise as a nuisance ==> suppresses noise

3. Probabilistic CMOS (PCMOS) design treats noise as a gem ==> makes use of noise

41 Research @ NTU

Revolving Vane Compressor

Another major breakthrough was achieved by the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with the invention of the Revolving Vane Compressor. Developed by Associate Professor Ooi Kim Tiow and Research Associate Teh Yong Liang, the compressor has broad applications for heating and cooling systems. Most notably, it can reduce energy loss by 80% compared to existing compressors in the market. The novel invention was exhibited at the prestigious World’s Best Technologies Showcase in Texas, USA and won the silver award.

Associate Professor Ooi Kim Tiow (right) and Research Associate Teh Yong Liang, with a model of the RV compressor (Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

Eco-Friendly Nanyang Venture I

NTU’s student team with the Nanyang Venture I

(Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

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Led by Associate Professor Ng Heong Wah with the support of Associate Professors David Butler and Don Mahinda Vilathgamuwa, a team of 25 students from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the School of

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering designed and built a solar-powered car named Nanyang Venture I. It made an impressive maiden appearance at the 2009 Shell Eco-Marathon held in Germany garnering fourth

place in the Prototype (Solar) Category and second place in the Safety Category. During the competition, the environmentally-friendly car was able to clock 108 km per kilowatt for its best run.

42Research @ NTU

The deployment of rescue teams to disaster-struck areas becomes challenging when terrestrial communication breaks down. A team led by Assistant Professor Lee Yee Hui from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering aims to provide solutions to this problem by using high speed satellite communication links. The team is collaborating with the Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology to predict and improve the robustness of high speed satellite communication links. Apart from improving connectivity in remote areas, this technology may also benefit distance learning and telemedicine in the future. Dr Lee has received about S$600,000 in funding for this four-year research project from Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) to improve the system.

Computer Assisted Cel Animation (CACAni)

High Speed Satellite Internet Connection

CACAni to change the way animation is produced

▲ Fastest internet connection (155Mbps) in Singapore through this Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)

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Professor Seah Hock Soon and his team of researchers from the School of Computer Engineering spent four years developing the CACAni, an assisted celluloid animation software that produces

animation within minutes instead of days. The CACAni has many attractive features which include retaining the thickness of individual strokes for drawing an animation for replication

purposes. In addition, the entire sequence of producing an animation can be compressed and stored in a small digital file. The software is almost ready for commercial application.

43 Research @ NTU

Assistant Professor Lucy Davis from NTU’s School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) had the seemingly impossible task of putting trees back together again. Her work, Part I: Natural History, commissioned for the Post-Museum, Singapore in May 2009 involved prints of discarded wooden objects she collected during a series of night walks around Little India. Collaboration with the Singapore/UK startup, Double Helix Tracking Technologies (DHTT) enabled Assistant Professor Davis to ascertain the origins of these objects. She then made prints of these objects, which included a stool, a washing board and a rolling pin, tore the prints into fragments and began the challenging task of “reconstructing” the trees.

Making Waves with the Art of Reconstructing Trees

Bangku Terentang Kempas Tree Terentang Tree

44Research @ NTU

The success of these works, attracting considerable local and international attention from the press has led to Assistant Professor Davis being awarded a Tier 1 ACRF grant for her next assignment “The Secret Life of Forest Products”. The research is an art and science collaboration with co-principal investigators, Shankar Iyerh from DHTT and Assistant Professor Shannon Lee Castleman, from ADM, involving DNA-testing a teak bed found in Singapore, travelling to the site from which this bed “migrated” to the island and visualizing this travel journey through woodprint collage, animation and photography.

MAGIC Image MAGIC In Alfred Russell Wallace’s Chair

Handship Boat Teak Bed Together Again Teak Bed Tree Ranjangjati

In “Part II Magic” which was commissioned for The Substation Art Centre, Singapore in November 2009, Assistant Professor Davis focused on one wooden object – a teak bed found in Singapore. This time, woodprints from this one bed formed the basis of magic-realist stories she created. These inspiring stories depicted the relations between humans and the Southeast Asian forests and included historical figures such as First Singapore Colonial Resident, William Farquhar and natural historian, Alfred Russell Wallace. The stories were also recounted in low-tech animations.

45 Research @ NTU

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46Research @ NTU

NTU and six other top technological universities from around the world have come together to form the Global Alliance of Technological Universities (GlobalTech Alliance). The universities include:

• California Institute of Technology, USA

• Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland

• Imperial College London, UK• Indian Institute of Technology,

India• Shanghai Jiao Tong University,

China

The alliance was officially launched on 7 April 2009 at NTU. NTU President, Dr Su Guaning was

elected Chair of the alliance, with NTU serving as the secretariat until April 2011. In conjunction with the launch, an inaugural forum, participated by senior representatives of the alliance was held to discuss the role of technological universities in the 21st century.

The GlobalTech Alliance aims to address global societal issues through concerted, joint developments of technological solutions based on high quality research in science and technology. These issues include biomedicine and health care; sustainability and global environmental change; energy, water and food supplies; national security, and changing demographics and population.

The alliance is also an important platform for the seven leading engineering-based universities towards building a strong global intellectual community. This involves expanding their relations, and encouraging student exchange and research collaborations.

Dr Su will visit each partner university to discuss and initiate the GlobalTech activities. A dedicated website (www.globaltechalliance.org) will serve as a platform to provide updates on the alliance’s initiatives and activities.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR NEW INITIATIVES

A common voice: Representing the seven founding universities of the Alliance are (from left) Dr Stephen L Mayo, Vice Provost, Research, Caltech; Professor Gerhard Schmitt, Senior Vice President, International Institutional Affairs, ETH Zurich; Professor Steven W McLaughlin, Vice Provost, International Initiatives, Georgia Tech; NTU President Dr Su Guaning; Sir Roy M Anderson, Rector, Imperial College London; Professor RK Shevgaonkar, Deputy Director, Finance & External Affairs, IIT Bombay; and Dr Yin Jie, Vice President, SJTU.

(Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

NTU’s unwavering commitment towards research excellence is signaled by its strong connections with global and local leaders in research.

NTU Heads the Pact to Form GlobalTech Alliance

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47 Research @ NTU

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR NEW INITIATIVES

NTU has formed a tripartite alliance with Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the largest governmental research organization in France, and Thales, the French electronics giant and a world leader in aerospace, space, defense, security, and transportation industries to further research in nanotechnologies. The alliance, known as CNRS International-NTU-Thales Research Alliance (CINTRA), was officially established with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on 7 October 2009 in Paris, France, witnessed by Singapore’s Minister of Education and Second Minister of Defense, Dr Ng Eng Hen, and France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, Mrs Valérie Pécresse. The signatories to the agreement are NTU President, Dr Su Guaning, Director General of CNRS, Mr Arnold Migus, and Chief Technical

Officer of Thales, Dr Marko Erman.

Through the alliance, the CINTRA Laboratory was set up in December 2009 with the aim of developing innovations in nanotechnologies for computing, sensing, and communication applications in order to meet future commercial, defense and security needs. It also provides opportunities for tackling critical issues faced by existing technologies in microelectronic and photonic industries. Some creative ideas include the development of enabling technologies such as an imaging chip to process and display real time multidimensional information, or a super high-speed performance signal processing chip with low power consumption.

The CINTRA Laboratory, located at NTU’s Research Techno Plaza,

is managed by a scientific committee with representatives from the three partners. Professor Dominique Baillargeat of CNRS has been appointed as Director of the laboratory, with Professor Tjin Swee Chuan of NTU and Dr Myriam Kaba of Thales as Deputy Directors. In the next two years, the laboratory is expected to house 50 Singaporean and French researchers, and will also open up opportunities for postgraduate students and research staff to participate in exchange programs.

NTU Spearheads State-of-the-Art Nanotechnologies with French Giants

▼Signing of CINTRA MOU by Dr Su Guaning (from left), Mr Arnold Migus and Dr Marko Erman, witnessed by Dr Ng Eng Hen (from left) and Mrs Valérie Pécresse.

(Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

48Research @ NTU

Germany’s Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is Europe’s largest institution for applied research in computer graphics with 60 research institutes and an annual research budget of 1.5 billion Euros. It is collaborating with NTU to set up its first Interactive Digital Media (IDM) research institute in Asia.

The institute, known as Fraunhofer IDM centre @ NTU will focus on promoting applied research and commercialization opportunities in the field of IDM. It will work on research areas related to current requirements of the commercial market such as computer

graphics, computer vision, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

Through the collaboration, NTU will also work directly with Fraunhofer’s Institute for Computer Graphics Research (Faunhofer IGD), Europe’s renowned industrial computer graphics and visual computing institute, to focus on emerging technologies and explore mutual interests in science and technology research orientated towards social well-being, economic growth, and quality of life. The institute will also work with industry partners who are part of the Board of Fraunhofer, such as Lufthansa, Siemens, and Daimler.

The institute is expected to begin operations in NTU in the first half of 2010 starting with 20 scientists and researchers, and expanding to some 50 international researchers within the next two to three years. The agreement to set up Fraunhofer IDM Centre @ NTU was signed by NTU Provost, Professor Bertil Andersson, and Professor Dieter W Fellner, Director of Fraunhofer IGD on 25 November 2009. The significant event was witnessed by His Excellency, Jörg Ranau, German Ambassador to Singapore, and NTU President, Dr Su Guaning.

NTU Scores a First with Largest European Research Institute in Computer Graphics

▲ From left, Dr Su Guaning, Professor Bertil Andersson, Professor Dieter W.Fellner and Mr. Jörg Ranau

(Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

49 Research @ NTU

NTU Scores a First with Largest European Research Institute in Computer Graphics

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NTU and British engineering firm, Rolls-Royce have signed a five-year agreement in August 2009 to carry out research collaborations in the areas of process technology, computational engineering, and power electronics. NTU Provost, Professor Bertil Andersson said that the collaboration underscores industry partners’ recognition of NTU’s renowned research expertise. On the other hand, Rolls-Royce’s Director of Research and Technology, Mr Richard Parker revealed that the partnership with NTU is not only for research and development, but also to develop a pool of researchers. It is very likely that the students involved in the joint research projects may subsequently be employed by Rolls-Royce.

NTU and the University of Warwick, UK, have joined forces to establish a collaborative program for neuroscience research. The program will see NTU and the University of Warwick benefitting from joint ventures, access to mutual resources, and links to other neuroscience programs based at Singapore’s Biopolis in order to accelerate and develop neuroscience research at both universities.

The agreement was signed on 2 October 2009 by NTU Provost, Professor Bertil Andersson, and Registrar of the University of Warwick, Mr Jon Baldwin. The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

Leading British Engineering Firm Joins Forces with NTU

Biopolis’ Newest Addition to Enhance Neuroscience Research

Researchers from Rolls Royce and NTU are already working on projects in the areas of process technology, computational engineering and power electronics. (Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

▼NTU Provost, Professor Bertil Andersson (right), and Registrar of the University of Warwick, Mr Jon Baldwin (left). (Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

NTU and Sweden’s Linkoping University, together with the Austria Research Centre will jointly set up a centre devoted to biosensing technology. Known as the Centre for Biomimetic Sensor Science, it aims to develop systems that mimic cells to aid the diagnosis of diseases and track toxic emissions.

The 200 square meter facility which comprises one laboratory will be located at NTU and is expected to start operations by 2010.

New Research Centre Dedicated to Biosensing Technology

50Research @ NTU

NTU and Nitto Denko, a leading player in developing and producing a wide range of electronic and healthcare products, have signed a research agreement to collaborate on developing organic electronic sensors. The agreement was sealed together with two other agreements between Nitto Denko and A*STAR’s Data Storage Institute, and Institute of Materials Research and

Engineering during the opening of Nitto Denko Asia Technical (NAT) Centre, an organic electronic device research centre at the Fusionopolis.

Collaborative research between these partners will be carried out at the NAT Centre and is expected to lead to smaller and more affordable sensor devices for healthcare, electronic, and environmental applications.

The research collaboration with Nitto Denko is a strategic move to strengthen the electronics industry in Singapore. Organic electronics has been identified by Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) as a new growth area for the electronics industry, which accounted for 30% of the country’s manufacturing output and 7% of GDP in 2007.

Strategic Organic Electronics Research Partnership to Boost Singapore’s Electronics Industry

Official Opening of Nitto Denko Asia Technical Centre

On 24 June 2009, NTU became Toray Industries’ first research partner in Singapore with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Toray Water Technology Laboratory (TWTL) at NEWRI. Toray, a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan will kick-start collaborative efforts with NEWRI by focusing on developing innovative water treatment technologies in the area of membrane fouling mechanism. The Laboratory will begin research activities from September 2009 with five staff, expanding to thirty or more over the next five years.

World’s Largest Producer of Carbon Fiber, Toray Sets up R&D Centre at NTU

MOU signing between NTU and Toray Industries.

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51 Research @ NTU

NTU, in collaboration with the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC), is developing an industrial park that will become the first green technology hub in Singapore. Dubbed the JTC CleanTech Park, it will be located immediately adjacent to NTU accommodating corporate research laboratories and light manufacturing facilities.

As the first anchor tenant of the park, NTU plans to relocate some of its translational facilities, innovation centres and incubators there, effectively establishing the park as an extension of the NTU campus. The proposed

1st Asian Kauffman Entrepreneurship campusNanyang Technological University (NTU) is setting up Asia’s first Kauffman Campus in a tie up with Ewing Marion Kaufmann Foundation. The partnership between NTU and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation was cemented in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on December 18th 2008, marking a big step for the university as a leading institution in entrepreneurship.

The scope of this MOU involves

relocation of NTU’s two major research institutes, the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N) to the park will enable NTU to work seamlessly with key industry players located there. At the same time, the park also provides attachment opportunities for students to gain invaluable experience in green technologies. Furthermore, the park’s tenants’ close proximity with NTU will help to promote cross-fertilization of innovative ideas to facilitate the development of green technology solutions.

developing a one-stop centre for entrepreneurship support on the NTU campus. The collaboration also provides a framework for both institutes to advance entrepreneurship in Asia. Student exchanges, educational programmes in entrepreneurship at NTU, and educational and research initiatives at NTU will be provided as part of this partnership. In addition, a one-stop centre for entrepreneurship support such as student exchanges and educational programs in entrepreneurship will be established on campus.

Singapore’s First-Ever Green Tech Hub

1st Asian Kauffman Entrepreneurship campus

▲ Artist impression of JTC CleanTech Park

In August 2009, NTU signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to collaborate on transport-related projects under LTA’s Singapore

Urban Transport Solution (STARS) program launched in November 2008.

As part of the MOC, NTU and Singapore Bus Services (SBS)

Transit, a major public transport operator in Singapore, are developing Singapore’s first fuel cell bus which will run on electricity converted from hydrogen and oxygen. Expected to be ready by March 2010, the bus will be used during the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to shuttle athletes from the Games Village to their respective competition locations.

Partnership with LTA to Provide Five-STAR Transportation

▼ GreenLite, the first fuel cell bus in Singapore

▼ NTU President, Dr Su Guaning (left) and Dr Carl Schramm, President of Kauffman Foundation.

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52Research @ NTU

NTU and Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) have joined forces to fund a S$50 million Integrated Circuit (IC) research centre named VIRTUS (Latin for “excellence”). The centre aims to establish itself as a world-class IC design house, developing key technologies for designing ultra-low power green microchips and circuits for applications in medical technology, clean technology, and consumer electronics.

VIRTUS will collaborate with world-renowned universities,

NTU’s NEWRI and Sembcorp Industries signed an agreement on 23 June 2009 to jointly explore the application of a new system for treating complex industrial wastewater. This is a follow-up from an umbrella Master Research Collaboration Agreement forged between Sembcorp and NEWRI in 2008. Over the next three years, both parties will work together to develop a novel treatment technology that is capable of removing stubborn organic matter from wastewater. The project will be jointly supervised by water experts from Sembcorp and researchers from NEWRI. Sembcorp will invest an estimated S$1million in the project.

top research institutions, and leading companies to pursue research excellence in IC design and technology. Among its key partners is Agilent Technologies, the world’s technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. Apart from its primary focus on research and development, VIRTUS is also committed to training more than 100 postgraduate students and researchers in the next five years, aligning with the new growth areas identified by EDB

which include green electronics, bioelectronics, plastic electronics and security.

Located at NTU, VIRTUS is expected to start operations in the first quarter of 2010. It is targeting to house at least 20 top notch scientists and researchers within the next five years. At present, the centre is headed by Professor Yeo Kiat Seng, VIRTUS’ Interim Director who is also Head of the Division of Circuits and Systems at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

NTU Strives for Excellence in Integrated Circuit (IC) Design

NTU and Sembcorp to Work Together on Waste Water Treatment

Launching of VIRTUS, a new S$50 million Integrated Circuit (IC) design centre on 15 December at the International Symposium on Integrated Circuits 2009. From right: Professor Kam Chan Hin, Chair of NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), and Mr Damian Chan, Director (Electronics), EDB

(Source: @NTU, produced by the Corporate Communications Office)

▲ NTU and Sembcorp form joint testbed for novel wastewater treatment technology

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53 Research @ NTU

Research Achievements

54Research @ NTU

NTU FACULTY RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Aspiring Towards a Greener World

Pioneering the Field of Embedded Computing

Assistant Professor Yu Ting from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences received the Young Scientist Award presented by the Singapore National Academy of Science and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) for his groundbreaking research on metal oxide nanostructures and graphenes. The award is presented to researchers aged 35 and below, who have displayed great potential in their areas of expertise through their active engagement in research and development work.

Dr Yu’s dedication to research excellence has gained international recognition. He has published more than 85 papers in top international journals and has been cited more than 820 times. In addition, he has contributed to two book chapters and has been awarded one patent. His studies have also received attention from the Condensed Matter Physics Group at the University of Manchester which is widely regarded as the leader in the graphene research community.

Driven by a desire to see the world relying more on green energy, Dr Yu hopes his research efforts will result in the harvesting of green energy such as developing ultracapacitors, super lithium-ion batteries, and wide range solar cells.

Professor Krishna Palem, NTU’s Director of Institute for Sustainable Nanoelectronics, was honored with the distinguished W Wallace McDowell Award for his pioneering contributions to the growing field of embedded computing. The award is regarded as the IEEE Computer Society’s highest technical award as well as one of the most prestigious individual honors in the computing field.

Dr Palem is the Ken and Audrey Kennedy Professor of Computing at Rice University and is also founding Director of the Center for Research in Embedded Systems and Technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. He is actively engaged in the international research community through keynote lectures, conferences and journal publications in the area of embedded and hybrid systems. Among other significant contributions, Dr Palem has held visiting and fellowship positions at other international universities such as Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and the National University of Singapore, Singapore.

   

Assistant Professor Yu Ting

▲ Professor Krishna Palem

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(Right): Graphene sheets produced by mechanical exfoliation and CVD (left) and local strain distribution visualized by Raman mapping

55 Research @ NTU

Achieving Success through High-Risk Innovation

Building Friendships through Research

Computing His Way to Research Success

NTU Research Fellow, Dr Adrian Yeo is the recipient of the inaugural Don Quixote Fund Award 2009 for developing the novel membrane instrumentation and optimization technology. The award, set up by Dr Andrew Benedek, last year’s Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize winner, offers a start-up venture capital of US$100,000 to enable graduate students and early career scientists to develop high-risk innovative technology ideas that can potentially create a dramatic impact on the future water sector.

The award will help Dr Yeo’s company, Membrane Instruments and Technology Pte. Ltd. (MINT), a spin-off from NTU, to improve the design and operation of membrane processes. Using the award as seed money, MINT will begin commercializing Dr Yeo’s invention, the Membrane Integrity Sensor, a device that provides real time information on the state of membranes used in the water purification process.

Nanyang Professor Francois Raymond Mathey from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences received the Friendship Award, the highest accolade given by the government of the People’s Republic of China to foreign experts, for promoting scientific research and nurturing talent at the Zhengzhou University.

Professor Mathey is a leading chemist, internationally renowned for his research on phosphorous chemistry and transition metal chemistry. His contributions to Zhengzhou University included setting up the University’s International Phosphorous Laboratory (IPL) and initiating collaboration between the IPL and the National Centre for Scientific Research at Rennes University, France. The partnership will involve research on new phosphorous compounds for future developments in plastic electronics such as flat screens and mobile phones.

Associate Professor Tai Xue-Cheng from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences is the recipient of the Eighth Feng Kang Prize in Scientific Computing presented by the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Scientific/Engineering Computing at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. Established in memory of the late Professor Feng Kang, the biennial award honors Chinese scientists from all over the world for their significant contributions in scientific computing.

Dr Tai is one of only three scientists in the world to have received the prestigious award this year. He is internationally recognized for his work in numerical analysis and computational mathematics. He is also involved in research on image processing where he has developed mathematical models for restoring degraded images. His mathematical models are also highly relevant in medical image processing and other medical and industrial image reconstructions.

▲ Dr Adrian Yeo, a Research Fellow at SMTC wins inaugural Don Quixote Fund Award 2009

 

 

Associate ProfessorTai Xue-Cheng

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56Research @ NTU

Creating Environmental Impact with Membrane Technology

LED-ing the Way in Electronic Research

Associate Professor Darren Sun Delai from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering received the Nanyang Award for Research and Innovation 2009 for his research achievements in the area of water filtration. His development of new generation TiO2 membranes has led to the production of high quality drinking water that is cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly capable of concurrently generating electricity and purifying water and also minimizing the production of waste during the purification process. This is a major milestone for membrane technology and many venture capitalists have shown interest in commercializing his innovation.

A prominent researcher in his own right, Dr Sun has been awarded research grants

Associate Professor Sun Xiaowei from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering received the Nanyang Awards for Research and Innovation 2009 for his significant contributions to research on electronic materials and devices such as Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLED). He invented an ultrathin tetrahedral amorphous carbon-modified OLED with a significantly increased lifespan which has been patented in the United States, Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China. His invention is also currently being used by Honeywell.

amounting to S$17.6 million since 2006 and has three patents. He is also the recipient of several prestigious awards including the International Water Association (IWA) Innovation Award, the Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES) Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award, and the Enterprise Challenge Award. Dr Sun also actively contributes his research expertise to other professional activities. He is Chair of the IWA, Associate Editor for Water Science and Technology journal, Associate Editor for Advances in Environmental Research and Development journal, and Technical Advisor for major national water reclamation projects in Singapore.

He is a renowned researcher who has published over 270 scientific papers, garnering an impressive 2,666 citations. Since 2000, Dr Sun has also won several competitive research grants totaling S$3.5 million. He is in the editorial board of the International Journal of Nanotechnology and was also appointed Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK) in 2009. Dr Sun’s research team is a world leader in one-dimensional ZnO nanowire research and is also actively involved in organic electroluminescence research.

▲ Assoc Professor Darren Sun (right) received his Nanyang Award certificate and trophy from Professor Michael Khor (left) and NTU’s President Dr. Su Guaning (centre)

▼ Assoc Professor Sun XiaoWei (right) received his Nanyang Award certificate and trophy from Professor Michael Khor (left) and NTU’s President Dr. Su Guaning (centre)

57 Research @ NTU

Another feather in the cap for NTU as dons clinched distinguished fellowships

• Associate Professor Lam Yeng Ming from the School of Materials Science and Engineering received the inaugural L’Oréal Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowship. She has been awarded S$20,000 to pursue independent research in peptide molecules. The fellowship was jointly set up by L’Oreal Singapore, the Singapore National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to celebrate women in scientific research.

• Professor Wen Changyun and Associate Professor Zhang Yue Ping from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering have been selected as Fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). The fellowship, which is highly regarded by the international engineering community, honors exceptional individuals who have made great strides in any IEEE fields. Dr Wen was selected for his significant contributions to adaptive control, switching and impulsive systems while Dr Zhang was honored for his excellent work in integrated antennas and subsurface radio.

• Adjunct Professor Phua Kok Khoo, the founding Director

of NTU’s Institute of Advanced Studies and Chairman and founder of World Scientific has been appointed Fellow of the American Physical Society in recognition of his unceasing efforts to strengthen scientific research across Asia, promote international physics education and scholarly exchanges, and enrich science and education through World Scientific, a company he founded. Dr Phua, a theoretical high energy physicist, is the only person from Singapore to be elected to the prestigious fellowship, joining the ranks of an elite group of 3,500 fellows worldwide appointed since 1995.

Professor Wen Changyun

Assoc Professor Lam Yeng Ming

Profeesor Phua Kok Khoo

   

 

Assoc Professor Zhang Yue Ping

58Research @ NTU

Winning Combinations at NTU

• Associate Professors Bertil Schmidt and Douglas Maskell together with PhD candidate Liu Yongchao, from the School of Computer Engineering clinched the Best Paper Award at the 20th IEEE International Conference on Application-Specific Systems, Architectures and Processors held in Boston, USA for their submission titled, “MSA-CUDA: Multiple Sequence Alignment on Graphics Processing Units with CUDA”.

• Associate Professor Ian McLoughlin, Research Associate Farzenah Ahmadi, and PhD candidate Hamid Reza Sharifzadeh, from the School of Computer Engineering earned the “Best Paper” title at the 2009 International Conference of System Biology and Bioengineering held in London, UK for their submission titled, “Speech Reconstruction in Post-Laryngectomised Patients by Formant Manipulation and Pitch Profile Generation”.

• Professor Xie Lihua and Research Fellow Tao Li from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering received the Best Paper Award at the 7th Asia Control Conference held in Hong Kong for their submission titled, “Distributed Consensus of Multi-Agent Systems with Finite-Level Quantization”.

• Associate Professor Chang Weining and NTU graduate Lena Lim, from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences received the Award of Excellence for their paper titled, “Role Allocentrism on Male Adolescent Violence in a Collective Society, Singapore” from the American Psychological Association, the most prestigious professional association of psychology in the world.

▲ (from left): Professor Zhang Jifeng, Dr Tao Li, Professor Xie Lihua and Professor Li Qiu, General Chair of the 7th Asia control conference, at the award presentation ceremony

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Innovations, Inventions and Spin-off Companies

60Research @ NTU

Year   Technology  Disclosures  

Patents  Filed   Patents  Granted  

1995   11   11   5  

1996   21   13   3  1997   18   11   9  

1998   15   15   8  1999   32   22   2  

2000   79   36   7  2001   59   47   8  

2002   56   57   11  2003   56   50   14  

2004   74   67   16  2005   91   72   19  

2006   68   86   27  2007   82   61   23  

2008   81   111   21  2009   95   119   36  

 

Moire Interferometric Strain Sensor

Inventors: Anand Krishna ASUNDI, Anish PRIYADARSHI, Subodh Gautam MHAISALKARSchool: School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)Patent No.: US 7,477,362A moire interferometric sensor for detecting strain on a specimen, whereby the specimen has a diffraction grating. The strain sensor has an array of microlenses for receiving reflected beams of incident beams upon the specimen, and also has a detector array at a focal plane of the array of microlenses.

Ultrasonic Mechanical Emulsifier

Inventors: MA Jan, BOEY Yin Chiang, *LIM Tock HanSchool: School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)Patent No.: SG 141019A tubular piezoelectric transducer that has external electrodes for inducing movement in the tube, and at least two spokes attached to it for movement. There is a hub attached to the spokes, which are located on the longitudinal axis of the hub. The hub is for receiving the probe for movement of the probe with the hub.

*External Inventor

Laser Arrangement and a Method for Generating Power Pulses

Inventors: TANG Dingyuan; ZHAO LumingSchool: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent No.: US 7,496,117A laser arrangement with a gain fiber to provide nonlinear amplification and wherein the gain

fiber has a dispersion adaptation fiber and an output coupler. The dispersion adaptation fiber is connected to the gain fiber to form a laser cavity. The dispersion adaptation fiber has a length in relation to a length of the gain fiber such that the laser cavity has a net group velocity dispersion which is positive or below a predetermined threshold, and the dispersion adaptation fiber also includes a compression fiber providing nonlinear compression. The compression fiber is connected to the gain fiber and to the output coupler. The output coupler is positioned at a predetermined distance away from the gain fiber such that a generated pulse has a pulse width in the laser cavity, the pulse width being narrower than a predefined pulse width value. A method for generating power pulses is also disclosed. The method includes generating a large energy gain-guided soliton by using nonlinear amplification in a positive group velocity dispersion fiber, and propagating the gain-guided soliton through a negative group velocity dispersion fiber for nonlinear compression in a laser cavity round-trip.

Methods and Apparatus for Mircofluidic Mixing

Inventors: LAM Yee Cheong; GAN Hiong Yap; NGUYEN Nam-Trung; YANG Chun, Charles; TAM Kam ChiuSchool: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)Patent No.: SG 139195A microfluidic mixing apparatus that has a fluid inlet that is operatively connected to a fluid channel. Another fluid inlet is provided for a second fluid operatively connected to another fluid channel. Both fluid channels intersect such that both fluids are mixed. Both fluid channels each have an outlet end remote from that of its fluid inlet, and has a contraction intermediate to the intersection.

List of Patents Granted for New Technologies in 2009

WORLD-CLASS LEADER IN INNOVATIONS AND INVENTIONS

Over the years in NTU, there has been an increase in the number of technology disclosures submitted, the number of patents filed, as well as the number of patents granted. The year 2009 saw a marked increase in these numbers with 95 technology disclosures submitted, 119 patents filed, and 36 patents granted.

61 Research @ NTU

A Water Quality Testing System

Inventors: CAI Wen Jian; XIE Li Hua; SOH Yeng Chai; FENG Shaohua; SHAO Jianliang; *FANG Yue; *LIM Beng Tiong School: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent No.: SG 119581A testing system for continuous sampling and testing of effluent at a water treatment plant. The system has a sampling system to collect samples of the effluent, a monitoring system connected to the sampling system, for measuring environmental parameters of the sample. The monitoring system has an analysis chamber for measuring environmental parameters, such as pH, oxidation reduction potential value for state of reduction oxidation, conductivity value for total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, turbidity value for suspended solid and temperature. The monitoring system also has another analysis chamber for measuring the concentration of anions in the samples using ion selective electrodes. There is also a further analysis chamber for measuring the concentration of heavy metals in the samples using anode stripping voltammetry. The testing system has a control system to control the collection of samples by the sampling system, to control washing and rinsing of the analysis chambers, and to record the measurements obtained by the monitoring system.

*External Inventor

Memory Structure

Inventors: CHEN Tu Pei; NG Chi YungSchool: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent No.: US 7,525,147A memory structure which has a semiconductor substrate, an insulator layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and a gate layer formed on the insulator layer. The insulator layer includes a nanocrystal implanted region proximate to the gate layer and another nanocrystal implanted region proximate to the semiconductor substrate, such that one of the nanocrystal implanted region has an average nanocrystal concentration which is higher than that of the other nanocrystal implanted region.

Addressable Chem/Bio Chip Array

Inventor: LI ChangmingSchool: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent Nos.: SG 125609, SG 151333, SG 151335 and SG 151334Addressable bio/chem chips which include isolated test cells, and each addressable by electrodes for measuring electrical characteristics of probe/test molecule interactions. The electrodes may be

located within a channel to allow for four terminal measurements, or the electrodes may be arranged in rows and columns and interconnected with electrolyte pads used as test sites. The electrodes may also be arranged in cells, with each cell including a counter electrode surrounded encircled by working electrodes. Portions of the planar surface of the chip not covered by electrolyte pads can be hydrophobic. Pads associated with the electrodes can be formed of insoluble material for binding to samples of interest.

Electro-Active Valveless Pump

Inventors: MA Jan; BOEY Yin Chiang, FreddySchool: School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)Patent No.: SG 141020An electro-active, valveless pump that has a pumping chamber with at least one chamber wall, wherein there is at least one opening in the chamber wall. An electro-active actuator is located over each of the openings for inducing fluid flow.

Antennas

Inventor: ZHANG Yue PingSchool: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent No.: SG 143376 An antenna on a substrate, wherein the antenna is symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis of symmetry. The antenna has a first and second portion that is substantially rectangular, with the first portion and the second portion being spaced from each other and being operatively connected by an intermediate portion.

Organic Memory Device and Method of its Manufacture

Inventors: LEONG Wei Lin; LEE Pooi See; LAM Yeng Ming; SONG Lixin; Ebinazar Benjamin NAMDAS; Subodh G. MHAISALKARSchool: School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)Patent No.: SG 147930An organic memory device that has an active layer, at least one charge storage layer of a film of an organic dielectric material, and nanostructures and/or nano-particles of a charge-storing material on or in the film of dielectric material. Each of the nanostructures and/or nano-particles is separated from the other nanostructures and/or nano-particles by the organic dielectric material of the organic dielectric film. A method of manufacturing the organic memory device is also disclosed.

62Research @ NTU

Method and Apparatus for Controlling Fluid Flow in a Micro Channel

Inventors: WONG Teck Neng; NGUYEN Nam Trung; YANG Chun, Charles; CHAI Chee Kiong, John; OOI Kim Tiow; WANG Cheng; GAO Yan DongSchool: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)Patent No.: US 7,534,097A method and apparatus for controlling multi-fluid flow in a micro channel. The apparatus has a first inlet for a first fluid; a second inlet for a second fluid; a first outlet; and a second outlet. The micro channel is operatively and fluidically connected to the inlets and outlets. The micro channel is for receiving the first fluid and the second fluid under pressure-driven flow; there being an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid when in the micro channel. The apparatus also includes a pair of electrodes for having a first electric field applied thereto for a controlling the fluid flow velocity of the first fluid along the micro channel.

Methods for Transmitting and Receiving Data and Communication Devices

Inventors: LEE Bu Sung; LIM Teck Meng; YEO Chai Kiat; LE Quang VinhSchool: School of Computer Engineering (SCE)Patent No.: SG 144405A method for transmitting data from a first communication device to a second communication device. The method generates a message, wherein the message involves data to be sent to the communication device, a source address and a destination address.

Method and Apparatus for an Algorithm Development Environment for Solving a Class of Real-Life Combinatorial Optimisation Problems

Inventors: LIM Meng Hiot; XU Yi LiangSchool: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent No.: SG 142685 An algorithm development environment for solving a class of combinatorial optimisation problems. To address the need for rapid generation of algorithms that are efficient in solving a given class of real-life problems, a hierarchical tree structure for managing a procedure modules library is presented. Based on the preferred management and object-oriented design concept, users configure and generate a genetic algorithm via an intuitive graphical

user interface. The goal-seeking approach of customisation of the generated GA can be easily carried out for solving various optimisation problems. This way, the efficiency of algorithm development is enhanced significantly.

Electrode Composite Material

Inventors: CHAN Siew Hwa; HAN MingSchool: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)Patent No.: SG 150736 A self-humidifying electrically conducting composite material for the manufacture of a fuel cell.

Cyclisation Process of Forming a Multiple Ring Compound

Inventors: LOH Teck Peng; ZHAO YujunSchool: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS)Patent No.: SG 145045A cyclisation process of forming a multiple ring compound from an isoprenoid compound. The cyclisation process involves reacting the isoprenoid compound with an acetal initiator under conditions sufficient to form the multiple ring compound. The isoprenoid compound is contacted with an initiator and optionally with a catalyst. Cyclisation occurs by reaction of the initiator with the isoprenoid compound. Cyclic acetal compounds wherein the acetal forms part of 6-membered unsaturated ring are also defined.

Triple Well Transmit-Receive Switch Transistor

Inventors: LI Qiang; ZHANG Yue PingSchool: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent No.: SG 150728A transistor arrangement having a triple well structure, which includes a substrate of a first conductivity type, a first well region of a second conductivity type formed within the substrate and a second well region of the first conductivity type being separated from the substrate by the first well region. The transistor arrangement further includes a first transistor formed on or in the second well region, the first transistor including a body terminal being connected to the second well region and a second well region switch being connected to the body terminal of the first transistor.

63 Research @ NTU

Gap Clearing Mechanism for Wheelchair

Inventors: HENG Kok Hui; John GerardSchool: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)Patent No.: SG 137774A gap-clearing mechanism for attachment to a wheelchair. The gap-clearing mechanism has a lower member for attachment to the wheelchair, and an upper member spaced from and parallel to the lower member and being moveable relative thereto. The upper member has at least one support column securely attached thereto and depending therefrom. The support column is slideably mounted relative to the lower member. There is a wheel assembly at a lower end of the at least one support column. The wheel assembly is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. A wheelchair can be fitted with two such gap-clearing mechanisms.

A Low Noise Amplifier Circuit with Noise Cancellation

Inventors: LI Qiang; ZHANG Yue PingSchool: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Patent No.: SG 151361 A low noise amplifier circuit including a front end voltage sensing and matching amplification circuit, a gain circuit and a combining circuit. The front end voltage sensing and matching amplification circuit includes an input and two outputs and provides a matched signal at each output. The gain circuit includes two inputs, each input being respectively coupled to at least one of the two outputs of the front end voltage sensing and matching amplification circuit. The gain circuit further includes two outputs and an output signal is provided at each output of the gain circuit. The combining circuit joins the two output signals of the gain circuit. The combining circuit includes two inputs, each input is respectively coupled to at least one of the two outputs of the gain circuit. The combining circuit further includes an output providing a combined signal.

Online Contaminant Detection and Removal System

Inventors: GIN Yew-Hoong, Karina; Trevor Roger GARRETTSchool: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)Patent No.: SG 150736A continuous flow device for detecting and/or removal of contaminants from a liquid stream. The device has a cartridge with an inlet and outlet for the liquid stream, a radiation incident and emerging wall portion and optically transparent support material packed in the cartridge, such that a liquid stream can pass between voids or spaces formed within the optically transparent material, as well as a radiation source and detector. The support material can be made up of molecules for capturing at least one contaminant on the surface of the support material and each of the capture molecules has at least one reporter group which emits a signal upon binding of the contaminant.

A Communications System

Inventors: GAGNON Douglas Paul; TAN Tiong Hok School/Centre: Centre for Educational Development Patent No.: SG 130042A communications system for creating and disseminating multimedia content via a network. The system has a website having an editor interface, a viewer interface, an index and a storage location, wherein the editor interface updates the index when new multimedia content is recorded, and the viewer interface accesses the index to play the recorded multimedia content.

64Research @ NTU

Since 1995, NTU has, through licensing of research-based technologies, enabled the formation of a number of new spin-off companies. There are currently 11 active spin-off businesses, which have attracted over S$10 million of funding from investors. The types of technologies licensed to the spin-off companies cover a wide range of fields, from biomedical, environmental, to the new media.Over the last 2 years, NTU Ventures, a commercial entity of NTU that supports and nurtures start-ups from various industries, has also successfully vetted and funded more than 30 student start-ups. These start-ups range from game changing web-based and social media solutions, innovative new products to a new breed of in-building biomechanical filters. Five of these start-ups with a total funding of S$250,000 recently secured a total of S$2 Million in a second round funding.

The following is an introduction to some of NTU’s spin-off and start-up companies.

Spin-Off Companies

Pipeline Micro Asia Pipeline Micro Asia (PMA) has received early stage S$2 million investment from Pipeline Micro USA. PMA will design and develop micro-pumps that can provide unique two-phase thermal cooling solutions for the global consumer electronics market, including lap tops, notebooks, LED lighting and displays, photovoltaic systems, and similar semiconductor devices. The unique small size and high efficiency of the micropump enable a thermal cooling system small enough to fit into these smaller devices at an acceptable cost. PMA has already won a SPRING Singapore Proof of Value Grant worth S$500,000. PMA also holds strong IPs in micro-pumps for clean energy, microfluidic and biomedical devices.

NewEarth Pte Ltd NewEarth provides innovative solutions in the treatment and reutilization of hazardous and non-hazardous industrial wastes. The company started as an environmental initiative, with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and NTU, to look into treating and reutilizing contaminated dredged marine clay. Over the years, the company has tested wastes from various industries, including petroleum/petrochemical, maritime, pharmaceutical, chemical, manufacturing, and semiconductor, providing one-stop solutions to clients for their waste disposal, treatment, and

reutilization needs. Through its proprietary waste recycling technologies such as the Crystallization Technology, it treats and transforms these industrial wastes into environmentally-friendly, value-added products such as bricks, pavers, and aggregates.

Membrane Instruments and Technology Pte Ltd Membrane Instruments and Technology Pte Ltd (MINT) develops specialized sensors, mathematical models, and automated controls for membrane-based water and wastewater treatment plants. MINT is currently working towards commercializing its novel invention, the Membrane Integrity Sensor, which is a sensitive device that provides real time information on the condition of membranes used in water purification processes. The device has successfully undergone pilot plant testing and the next step is for it to be installed in large scale water treatment plants. MINT aims to become a global leader in membrane instrumentation and optimization technology.

Start-Up Companies

Grok MediaGrokking.it is the platform that focuses on advertising and gaming for both the web and mobile medium. It runs on web and mobile gaming platform and encourages users to participate in viewing, ranking, and distributing news or product information.

SmoovSmoov.me is an open web standard, phone-independent mobile platform that aims to provide solutions for rapid mobile development, deployment, and monetization. It realizes the possibility of mobile phones with different operating systems sharing applications and data.

JamiQJamiQ is a multilingual, social media monitoring and measuring solution that provides the widest coverage of the social media in Asia. JamiQ has developed advanced data mining methods and natural language processing technology to produce real-time buzz trending and sentiment detection, giving companies real-time insights into the market’s sentiments.

  Started   Active    Spin-­‐off  companies   39   11  Start-­‐up  companies   36   29  

 

  Started   Active    Spin-­‐off  companies   39   11  Start-­‐up  companies   36   29  

 

Spin-off and Start-up Companies from 1995-2009

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Conferences, Forums, Symposia and Workshops

66Research @ NTU

NTU hosted Singapore’s first interdisciplinary conference on complexity theory from 12 to 13 February 2009. Jointly organized with Santa Fe Institute (SFI) in the United States and Institute Para Lime in Europe, institutes centered on multidisciplinary scientific research, the conference celebrates the achievements of John Holland, the father of Genetic Algorithms and an influential figure in complexity theory, on the occasion of

The School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) Conference 2009 was held from 20 to 22 July 2009 in conjunction with the official opening of the SPMS building in NTU. The three-day event attracted some 500 distinguished scientists from all over the

his 80th birthday. The two-day conference saw a total of seven discussion sessions, with renowned speakers from Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, and the Netherlands coming together to discuss the contributions of John Holland in complexity theory. The topics include computer security and human immune systems, current revolution in economics, climate change and harvesting, and the evolution of infectious

world to share their expertise, and provided a platform for scientists from Singapore and overseas to exchange ideas and explore collaborative research opportunities. Three Nobel Laureates, Professor Richard Ernst (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich), Professor

diseases. Eminent academics and scientists in complexity theory who presented at the conference included Professor John Holland (University of Michigan faculty member and SFI Adjunct Professor), Professor Murray Gell-Mann (Nobel Laureate and SFI Distinguished Professor), Dr Walter Fontana (Harvard University Medical School faculty member and SFI Adjunct Professor), and Dr Derek Smith (University of Cambridge faculty member).

Rudolph A. Marcus (California Institute of Technology), and Sir Anthony J. Leggett (University of Illinois at Urbana) shared their work and challenges ahead with the audience.

VIBRANT WORLD-CLASS CONFERENCES AT NTU TO ENGAGE TOP INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND ECONOMICSNTU’s quest for research vibrancy has translated into a series of significant research exchanges in the form of conferences, forums, symposia, and workshops. The most notable ones in 2009 are as follows:

Adaptation, Order and Emergence:A Tribute to John Holland

 

Distinguished Scientists Unite at NTU Conference

▲ Professor Richard Ernst,Nobel Laureate inChemistry (1991)

▲ Professor Rudolph Marcus,Nobel laureatein Chemistry (1992)

▲ Professor Anthony Leggett, Nobel Laureate inPhysics (2003)

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VIBRANT WORLD-CLASS CONFERENCES AT NTU TO ENGAGE TOP INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND ECONOMICS

His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, The Duke of York

NTU’s Division of Economics and the Centre for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) co-organized the Third Singapore Economic Review Conference with the Singapore Economic

The NTU Mayors’ Class Forum, “China in the Post-Financial Crisis Era” was held on 14 December 2009 at Singapore’s Suntec Convention Centre. The forum was organized by the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration, which was set up recently by NTU

Two hundred representatives from academia and the industry attended the inaugural UK-Singapore Water Futures Forum held in early October 2009 to share the latest water technologies and explore new collaborative opportunities in the strategic area of water security. The increasing cooperation between the UK and Singapore underscores the growing challenge in water and wastewater management facing national governments today. Gracing the event was His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, The

Review, a leading economics journal devoted to all aspects of economics with special emphasis on the economic challenges in Asian countries. The conference, held from 6 to 8 August 2009,

to advance executive education for Chinese officials and public administrators, and spearhead research on China’s public administration and economic management. Forum panelist, Dr Liu Yunhua from the centre and keynote speaker, Professor

Duke of York, who was visiting Singapore in his capacity as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. The forum was jointly organized by NTU’s Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI), UK Trade and

was attended by some 300 economists and academics and covered the entire spectrum of economics from theoretical research to practical policy work.

Zheng Yongnian from the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, shared their views on the challenges facing China’s state-owned and private enterprises after the 2008 financial crisis.

Investment, and the UK-Singapore Partners in Science. It was also supported by Singapore’s British High Commission, British Water, The Royal Society of Chemistry, and Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB).

Tackling the Challenges of Asian Economies

A Mayors’ Class Forum for the New Silk Road

UK-Singapore Strategic Collaboration on Water Security

▲

68Research @ NTU

▲Senior NTU Management with Linköping University Delegates

NTU and Hwa Chong Institution jointly organized the inaugural International Science Youth Forum from 19 to 23 January 2009. Three Nobel Laureates, Sir Anthony Leggett (2003 Physics),

Following the signing of a collaborative agreement in 2008, a joint-workshop by NTU and Linköping University was organized from 9 to 11 September 2009 to facilitate faculty exchanges in the areas of materials science and computer science. The workshop, held

Professor Douglas D. Osheroff (1996 Physics), and Professor Kurt Wuthrich (2002 Chemistry) were invited to deliver keynote addresses and engage 82 outstanding science students from

at NTU’s Nanyang Executive Centre attracted close to 300 academics, research staff, and graduate students. The three-day workshop ended on an exciting note, with the announcement of the proposed $10 million Centre for Biomimetic Sensor Science at NTU in partnership with Linköping

across Asia in dialogues. The aim of the forum was to inspire Asia’s brightest young minds to cultivate “out-of-the-box” thinking in the pursuit of scientific knowledge and excellence.

University and Austrian Institute of Technology, and seed funding commitment from NTU and Linkoping University to support academic visits, conferences, and research explorations in integrated circuits, vehicular systems, unmanned aerial vehicle, embedded systems, and dedicated processors.

Nobel Laureates Engage Young Scientists

Merging Great Minds in Science and Engineering

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70Research @ NTU

Research Output

To date, NIE’s faculty research output includes 285 international refereed journal papers, 108 books, and 226 chapters.

Some exceptional contributions are the NIE Research Brief Series and the iFlashbook. The NIE Research Brief Series which was launched in 2009 is part of ongoing efforts to communicate findings from NIE’s research to various audiences such as policy makers, school leaders and education practitioners in Singapore. Each brief provides a summary of research projects, key findings and implications, and relevant resources for

further information. On the other hand, the bilingual version of the iFlashbook is a collaborative effort between the Chinese division of the Asian Languages and Cultures Academic Group, Creative Knowledge Pte Ltd, and Panpac Education Pte Ltd. It is an online interactive platform based on the bilingual Chinese textbook currently adopted in Singapore primary schools. It allows learners from an English Language background to use their first language capabilities to study Chinese more effectively. Furthermore, it is a valuable resource for teachers who wish to adopt the bilingual approach in

their classrooms. The iFlashbook demonstrates NIE’s continual efforts to harness technology in education to better engage learners.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION

NIE’s Contributions to the Singapore and Global Education Scene

Research at NIE is largely supported by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and has thus far received over S$17 million worth of research grants to initiate research and development in improving and understanding classroom practices in Singapore schools. For the year 2009, a total of 228 research projects were administered at NIE.

71 Research @ NTU

The work of the Motivational in Educational Research Lab (MERL) at NIE is to promote research pertaining to motivational issues in education in the region. Additionally, it aims to examine ways to translate theory into classroom practice. MERL is officially the satellite lab of the Human Motivation Lab in the University of Rochester, USA. Two of Rochester’s top researchers in motivation, Professors Edward Deci and Richard Ryan are MERL’s consultants. The lab is founded by Associate Professor John Wang, who is an influential figure in the areas of achievement goal theory and self-determination theory.

Another significant research

During the year, NIE also hosted a number of international conferences and seminars, some of which are highlighted below:

Second International Conference on Character Development

Held on 17 and 18 March 2009 at NIE, this conference sought to explore and showcase how experiential education and service learning can bring about character development. The conference featured five keynote speakers and 100 paper sessions in the area of building youth capacities for real-world impact.

Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference 2009

project at NIE focuses on productive failure, where Assistant Professor Manu Kapur seeks to design conditions for learners to persist in solving complex problems without the provision of initial instructional structures. Work has already been carried out with over 2000 students in the local schools. The research aims to show that persistence in the problem solving process is essential for learning provided an appropriate form of instructional structure follows. Research on productive failure is increasingly gaining international attention with work being done in India, Europe, and Australia.

NIE has also embarked on research in inclusive education,

NIE hosted the third Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference from 1 to 3 June 2009. The conference was attended by over 1,100 participants from 25 countries, including a contingent of more than 800 educators from Singapore. With the theme, “Designing New Learning Contexts for a Globalizing World”, participants were challenged to rethink traditional wisdom and practices in education, in light of complex and evolving educational ecologies.

International Science Education Conference 2009

Jointly organized by NIE and MOE and supported by the Singapore National Commission (SNC) for United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the conference held from 24 to 26 November 2009, brought together over 780 participants, including around 180 overseas delegates from 30 countries. The conference aimed to enhance common understanding of Science education and promote

a relatively uncharted field of research in Singapore. The research project led by Assistant Professor Yeo Lay See in collaboration with colleagues from the Psychological Studies Academic Group, Associate Professors Maureen Neihart, Chong Wan Har, and Vivien Huan, seeks to examine teachers’ perceptions towards inclusive education in Singapore primary schools. The research will shed light on the extent to which schools are currently equipped to serve children with mild special needs in the regular classroom. In addition, it will also inform future training and continuing professional development of teachers and allied educators.

research collaboration among policy makers, academics, and educators to improve the teaching and learning of Science.

Successful Partnerships with Overseas Counterparts

The Centre for International Comparative Studies (CICS) was established in 2009 as a joint effort between NIE and the Lynch School of Education, Boston College, USA. The centre spearheads comparative research in mathematics, science, and reading literacy, and seeks to support the capacity-building of researchers in Singapore.

Partnerships for academic exchanges have also materialized with the University of Chile and the Korean Educational Development Institute through the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding. These partnerships provide a strategic platform to enhance research and development in education through research collaborations, joint publications, faculty and student exchanges, sharing of academic and research resources, and joint workshops and seminars.

Research Projects

Conferences and Seminars at NIE

72Research @ NTU

NIE faculty members have been recognized for their exceptional contributions in education research through the following awards:

• Outstanding Paper Award, 13th Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education

• Gold Medal, Annual National Innovation and Quality Circles Convention

• Innergy School Award Commendation from the Ministry of Education

Assistant Professor Wong Lung Hsiang and his team from the Learning Sciences Laboratory received the three awards for their project on an innovative Wiki-based collaborative writing process for the Chinese Language. Known as V.S.P.O.W (Vocabulary, Sentence-Making, Paragraphing, Outlining, and Essay Writing), the writing process breaks essay writing into separate micro-skills for primary school pupils to master and

motivates them to carry out peer coaching in a blended learning environment.

• Outstanding Presentation Award, Teacher Agency for Professional Development in Science, 3rd International Conference on Science Education for the Next Society

Ms Wong Hwei Ming, Research Associate at the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice won the award for her paper, “Didn’t Get Expected Answer, Rectify It: The Case of Using Inductive Science Activity to Teach Science Content”. Professor John Gilbert, Chief Editor of the International Journal of Science Education, a prestigious top-tiered journal, invited her to submit the full paper for publication in the journal.

• Fulbright Visiting Researcher Award

Assistant Professor Lee Yew Jin from the Natural Sciences and Science Education academic

group, was attached to a high school in New York City under the prestigious Fulbright Visiting Research Award. He studied the latest pedagogies in urban science education and gained first-hand experience of the multiple challenges that urban youth encountered daily in the USA.

• Best Paper Award, American-Canadian Conference for Academic Discipline at Ryerson University

Mr Md Pitchay Gani bin Mohd Abdul Aziz, a lecturer from the Special Training Program won the award for his paper, “From National Language to a Potentially Threatened Language: A Case of Indigenous Language of Singapore”, which is part of his PhD research that investigates the vitality of the Malay Language in Singapore and the pedagogical perspective in engaging new trends in mother tongue education.

Outstanding Researchers at NIE

73 Research @ NTU

S. RAJARATNAM SCHOOLOF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

74Research @ NTU

RSIS is an institution of considerable repute in policy-oriented research on global and security issues affecting Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific regions. Research at RSIS falls under four main categories, namely Asia-Pacific Security, Conflict and Non-Traditional Security, International Political Economy, and Country and Area Studies.

S. RAJARATNAM SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (RSIS)

In Focus: Global and Security Issues at the Heart of Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific SecurityAsia-Pacific Security research at RSIS focuses on a wide range of areas related to multilaterism, regionalism, military issues, and maritime security.

Notable research output from RSIS in multilaterism and regionalism has culminated in edited volumes on regionalism in Asia, Asian security, and emerging strategic trends in Southeast Asia, a monograph on functional regionalism and East Asian security, and a roundtable report on Asian security.

In the area of military issues, the research agenda has been expanded to include defense diplomacy, international law pertaining to armed conflict, defense economics and industrialization, low intensity conflicts, “operations other than war”, and military sociology.

Under the Asia-Pacific Security category, RSIS also conducts research pertaining to maritime security with a particular focus on piracy, armed robbery, maritime terrorism and sea lanes security.

Briefings on maritime security are regularly held by faculty members involved in this area to foster close relations with various overseas counterparts such as the New Zealand External Assessment Bureau, the Vietnamese People’s Army, the Australian Centre for Defense and Strategic Studies, and the National Maritime Foundation of New Delhi, to name but a few.

75 Research @ NTU

Conflict and Non-Traditional Security

The research clusters under the Conflict and Non-Traditional Security category are concerned with critical issues that threaten national and global security such as terrorism, cross border conflicts, pandemics, and climate change.

The International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, one of the largest counter-terrorism research, education, and training centres in the world, belongs to this category. Through the years, it has contributed significantly to the counter-terrorism agenda through organizing international workshops and conferences, as well as hosting government officials and eminent scholars from around the world. Most notably, in 2009, the centre launched an interactive website, p4peace.com aimed at building a professional network among

counter-terrorism academics and practitioners. In addition, it has also forged a strategic partnership with Globalincidents.com, a website that covers terrorist and related thread incidents on a global scale with a client base of over 600 primarily American military and law enforcement bodies.

Significant headway in dealing with international trade and negotiation issues has been achieved through the establishment of the Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade and Negotiations which is dedicated to improving the process of international negotiations, with a particular focus on increasing capabilities and access for developing states. At present, the centre is focusing its research on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) talks and the

nexus between climate change and international trade.

Other areas of interest under this category include contemporary Islam, and civil and internal conflict. Research projects focusing on contemporary Islam have culminated in several significant publications such as Associate Professor Joseph Liow’s recent monograph, “Islam, Education, and Reform in Southern Thailand: Tradition and Transformation” and his new book entitled, “Piety and Politics: Islamism in Contemporary Malaysia”. As for research in civil and internal conflict, southern Thailand has become a subject of research interest where extensive fieldwork and interviews with insurgents from both the old and new generations are being carried out at RSIS.

International Political EconomyThis research category includes issues that cut across politics and economy, providing a unique regional perspective on issues such as trade, finance, economic development and foreign direct investment. To promote research rigor in this area, faculty members have engaged in extensive networking

with institutions around the world which includes a collaborative research project involving scholars from leading institutions such as the University of Warwick, Boston University, the Central European University, the Freie University of Berlin, the University of Gothenburg, the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and the United

Nations University – Comparative Regional Integration Studies. The proposal focuses on the two-way interaction between global economic developments and politics of national and regional governance.

76Research @ NTU

Country and Area Studies

▼ China Programme Conference ▼ Indonesia Programme Riau Roundtable

In this category, research is concentrated on China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Asia, and the United States of America.

The China Program focuses on three research areas namely, China’s strategic role in East Asia, China-ASEAN regional and sub-regional cooperation, and China-ASEAN defense and security relations. To extend research in these areas, RSIS has undertaken major initiatives to foster close relations with China. These include collaborating with major Chinese think tanks and prestigious Chinese universities as well as hosting research scholars from China. Ongoing research under the Indonesian Program focuses on government administration, political Islam, security, and society-related developments in Indonesia. Research in this program has culminated in

several completed and ongoing book publications such as Dr Luthfi Assyaukanie’s “Islam and the Secular State in Indonesia” and a collection of essays focusing on Riau after decentralization, edited by Dr Sebastian and Dr Nankyung Choi.

The Malaysia Program was initiated in 2009 to develop an in-depth understanding of trends in the country that may impact social and political configurations. The team has published three Malaysia Update reports that include an in-depth interview with Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Menteri Besar of Kelantan and PAS Spiritual Leader, an analysis of the state of play in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, and a study of Indonesia-Malaysia relations in the light of recent bilateral disputes. The focus of research in the South Asia Program encompasses India and its position in Asia’s security

architecture, the development of India’s naval forces, India-Pakistan relations, terrorism in South Asia, and weapons of mass destruction in the region. A significant contribution from the program in 2009 is a collaborative study entitled, “The 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attacks: Strategic Fallout” which resulted in a monograph jointly authored by Professor Timothy Hoyt, Naval War College, USA; Professor Rifaat Hussain, Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan; and Ms Sujoyini Mandal and Dr Basrur, both from RSIS.

The research agenda of the United States Program focuses on foreign, military, and broad security policies of the US relevant to East Asia. In 2009, research was undertaken on Singapore-US relations and the US policies’ impact on Asia in relation to the Obama administration’s foreign policy and the US defense policy.

77 Research @ NTU

Major Research Initiatives RSIS Receives Largest Grant from MacArthur Foundation

Joint-Workshops with University of Warwick on Security Issues

Sentosa Roundtable on Asian Security

From 2 to 4 November 2009, RSIS and the University of Warwick jointly organized a number of workshops that brought together their capabilities and strengths in the areas of non-traditional security, counter-terrorism, and international political economy.

In March 2009, RSIS concluded a longstanding project at the Sentosa Roundtable on Asian Security. Funded by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan, the Roundtable was a US$300,000 project spanning three years (2006 – 2009) and focusing on evolving approaches in regional security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

RSIS is undertaking a major role in a research initiative supported by the US-based John D. and T. MacArthur Foundation. Launched in January 2009, the Asia Security Initiative project, totaling more than US$68 million (over seven years), involves 27 research institutions from around

the world committed to building their capacity for security policy research and developing policy recommendations on critical security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific nations. Among all the participating institutions, RSIS has received the largest grant, amounting to US$2.5 million for

a period of three years. Under the initiative, RSIS will oversee all research within the Internal Challenges cluster, one of three research clusters in the project as well as conduct research on regional security architecture in Asia.

78Research @ NTU

High-Profile Conferences and Seminars

In 2009, RSIS organized a number of conferences and seminars that helped to raise its profile as a leading research institute in security affairs.

Most notably, The MacArthur Foundation chose RSIS as the institution to host the global launch of the Asia Security Initiative. The event, the MacArthur Foundation Asia

Security Initiative Inaugural Grantees’ Meeting was held from 27 to 29 May 2009.

RSIS also hosted two world leaders through its Distinguished World Leaders Lecture Series. In November 2009, His Excellency, Dr Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan delivered his lecture entitled, “Japan’s New Commitment to Asia – Toward

the Realization of an East Asian Community”. His Excellency Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste made his presence at RSIS in December 2009 delivering his lecture, “The Obama Promise: Opportunities and Challenges in Asia”.

MacArthur ASI inaugural Grantees meeting

▼

79 Research @ NTU

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80Research @ NTU

NTU Ranking In the 2009 Times Higher Education-Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, NTU moves up four notches from 77th to 73rd position. In the category of “Arts and Humanities”, NTU’s four-year-old Arts and Humanities programme ranking jumped 67 places to 126th globally; this marked improvement over a year reflects the university’s broadening niches and strengths. In the category of Engineering and Information Technology, NTU is ranked 33rd globally. Using measures to capture teaching, research, employability and international appeal, the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings give an overview of the top institutions in global higher education.

NTU’s Nanyang Business School (NBS) has moved up significantly in the closely-watched annual global MBA rankings by the prestigious The Economist magazine. NBS’ full-time Masters in Business Administration (MBA) programme, the NANYANG MBA, is now ranked 71st in the world, having shot up 10 places compared to its 81st position in the previous year. This is the highest position achieved by the NBS’ full-time MBA in the London-based magazine’s annual poll, maintaining its world’s top 100 MBA listing consistently since 2004. Under the “diversity of recruiters” criterion, it came in fifth globally - indicating the wide spectrum of industries in which

graduates can develop their careers. NBS has also stepped up its recruitment of more leading faculty members and now ranks 32nd globally for faculty quality. NBS was also ranked 24th globally in the Financial Times’ ranking earlier this year, the highest achieved by a Singapore institution so far.

Times  Higher  Education-­‐Quacquarelli  Symonds  (QS)  World  University  Rankings  

• NTU  ranked  73  globally  • NTU   ranked   33   in   Engineering   and  

Information  Technology  

• NTU  ranked  126  in  Arts  &  Humanities  

The  Economist  2009  Full-­‐time  MBA  Ranking    

• Nanyang  Business  School  ranked  71  

Financial  Times’  MBA  Ranking  • Nanyang   Business   School   ranked   24  

globally  • Nanyang   Business   School   ranked   4th   in  

Asia-­‐Pacific  region    

81 Research @ NTU

Research FundingExternal Competitive FundingThe sharp increase of more than three-fold in the level of competitive grants awarded over the financial years 2005 – 2009, is represented in the charts below. This increase includes the award of S$150million in FY07 and S$120 million in FY09 to the Research Centre of Excellence (RCEs) called Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) and Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) respectively.

Distribution of research funds (based on source) for the past two financial years can be seen as follows, showing 8 main clusters of funding sources in 2009, with MINDEF, A*STAR, NRF and MoE AcRF Tier 2 dominating.

 Research  Funding    

External  Competitive  Funding  

The  sharp  increase  of  more  than  three-­‐fold  in  the  level  of  competitive  grants  awarded  over  the  financial  years  2005  –  2009,  is  represented  in  the  charts  below.  This  increase  excludes  the  award  of  S$150million  in  FY07  and  S$120  million  in  FY09  to  the  Research  Centre  of  Excellence  (RCEs)  called  Earth  Observatory  of   Singapore   (EOS)   and   Singapore   Centre   on   Environmental   Life   Sciences   Engineering   (SCELSE)  respectively.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution  of  research  funds  (based  on  source)  for  the  past  two  financial  years  can  be  seen  as  follows,  showing  8  main   clusters   of   funding   sources   in   2009,  with  MINDEF,  A*Star,  NRF   and  MoE  AcRF   Tier   2  dominating.  

 

   

                                     

82Research @ NTU

Output MeasuresOutput  Measures  

 

Number  of  Patents  Filed  &  Granted  (1995  –  2009)  

 

Number  of  Spin-­‐Off  Companies  (1995  –2009)  

 

Output  Measures  

 

Number  of  Patents  Filed  &  Granted  (1995  –  2009)  

 

Number  of  Spin-­‐Off  Companies  (1995  –2009)  

 

6 119

Research  Faculty  and  Staff  Strength  

Faculty  and  Research  Staff  as  at  31  Dec  2009  

School   Faculty   Visiting  Faculty  

Adjunct  Faculty  

Research  Staff  

Total  

College  of  Engineering   CoE   1   0   2   0   3  

School  of  Civil  and  Environmental  Engineering   CEE   60   7   8   78   153  

School  of  Electrical  &  Electronic  Engineering   EEE   174   12   37   254   477  

School  of  Mechanical  &  Aerospace  Engineering   MAE   131   7   14   123   275  

School  of  Materials  Science  &  Engineering   MSE   36   8   9   135   188  

School  of  Chemical  and  Biomedical  Engineering   SCBE   44   3   3   75   125  

School  of  Computer  Engineering   SCE   91   6   16   175   288  

School  of  Biological  Sciences   SBS   48   15   23   149   235  

School  of  Physical  &  Mathematical  Sciences   SPMS   87   10   17   130   244  

School  of  Humanities  and  Social  Sciences   HSS   141   9   16   8   174  

School  of  Art,  Design  and  Media   ADM   40   5   0   5   50  

Wee  Kim  Wee  School  of  Communication  and  Information  

WKWSCI   43   4   3   10   60  

College  of  Business  (Nanyang  Business  School)   CoB  (NBS)   153   8   17   10   188  

Grand  Total   1049   94   165   1152   2460  

*Please  note  that  the  faculty  figure  excludes  the  Assistant  Prof  (In-­‐Principle)  for  SPMS  

 

 

 

83 Research @ NTU

Research Faculty and Staff StrengthResearch  Faculty  and  Staff  Strength  

Faculty  and  Research  Staff  as  at  31  Dec  2009  

School   Faculty   Visiting  Faculty  

Adjunct  Faculty  

Research  Staff  

Total  

College  of  Engineering   CoE   1   0   2   0   3  

School  of  Civil  and  Environmental  Engineering   CEE   60   7   8   78   153  

School  of  Electrical  &  Electronic  Engineering   EEE   174   12   37   254   477  

School  of  Mechanical  &  Aerospace  Engineering   MAE   131   7   14   123   275  

School  of  Materials  Science  &  Engineering   MSE   36   8   9   135   188  

School  of  Chemical  and  Biomedical  Engineering   SCBE   44   3   3   75   125  

School  of  Computer  Engineering   SCE   91   6   16   175   288  

School  of  Biological  Sciences   SBS   48   15   23   149   235  

School  of  Physical  &  Mathematical  Sciences   SPMS   87   10   17   130   244  

School  of  Humanities  and  Social  Sciences   HSS   141   9   16   8   174  

School  of  Art,  Design  and  Media   ADM   40   5   0   5   50  

Wee  Kim  Wee  School  of  Communication  and  Information  

WKWSCI   43   4   3   10   60  

College  of  Business  (Nanyang  Business  School)   CoB  (NBS)   153   8   17   10   188  

Grand  Total   1049   94   165   1152   2460  

*Please  note  that  the  faculty  figure  excludes  the  Assistant  Prof  (In-­‐Principle)  for  SPMS  

 

 

 

84Research @ NTU

Research Graduate Students: Intake, Enrolment and Graduate Trend (AY1992 to AY2009)

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

 

NIE  (National  Institute  of  Education)    

Research  Faculty  and  Staff  as  at  31  December  2009  

 Research  Students:  Enrolment  AY2009  by  Nationality  

 PhD   Master   EDD*   Total  Nationality  

F   P   Total   F   P   Total   F   P   Total   F   P   Total  

Singapore  Citizens   28   115   143   13   37   50   0   11   11   41   163   204  

Singapore  PRs   10   20   30   1   7   8   0   0   0   11   27   38  

Foreign  Students   35   4   39   4   2   6   0   2   2   39   8   47  

Total   73   139   212   18   46   64   0   13   13   91   198   289  

*  F  -­‐  Full-­‐time,  P  -­‐  part-­‐time    *  Dual  Award  Doctor  in  Education  

 

   

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

Academic  Year   Intake   Enrolment   Graduate  

1992   93   162   34  

1993   192   204   35  

1994   268   338   50  

1995   230   524   93  

1996   335   593   154  

1997   532   695   180  

1998   701   1041   168  

1999   433   1472   337  

2000   368   1405   366  

2001   700   1329   450  

2002   682   1615   295  

2003   435   1705   205  

2004   264   1793   327  

2005   463   1809   329  

2006   631   2060   372  

2007   719   2262   368  

2008   722   2518   346  

2009   656   2742   318  

 

85 Research @ NTU

NIE (National Institute of Education)NIE  (National  Institute  of  Education)  

 

Research  Faculty  and  Staff  as  at  31  December  2009  

 Research  Students:  Enrolment  AY2009  by  Nationality  

 PhD   Master   EDD*   Total  Nationality  

F   P   Total   F   P   Total   F   P   Total   F   P   Total  

Singapore  Citizens   28   115   143   13   37   50   0   11   11   41   163   204  

Singapore  PRs   10   20   30   1   7   8   0   0   0   11   27   38  

Foreign  Students   35   4   39   4   2   6   0   2   2   39   8   47  

Total   73   139   212   18   46   64   0   13   13   91   198   289  

*  F  -­‐  Full-­‐time,  P  -­‐  part-­‐time    *  Dual  Award  Doctor  in  Education  

 

   

86Research @ NTU

Publications and CitationsMOST CITED INSTITUTION IN ENGINEERING – INSTITUTIONAL RANKING Publications  and  Citations  

MOST  CITED  INSTITUTION  IN  ENGINEERING  –  INSTITUTIONAL  RANKING    (SOURCE:  ESI,  15  March  2010  -­‐  Essential  Science  IndicatorsSM  has  been  updated  as  of  1  March  2010  to  cover  an  11-­‐year  period,  1  January  1999  to  31  December  2009)  

NO   Institution   Papers   Citations  Citations  Per  

Paper  

1   UNIV  ILLINOIS     5,848   45,743   7.82  

2   UNIV  CALIF  BERKELEY     4,539   44,578   9.82  

3   MIT     4,612   43,852   9.51  

4   STANFORD  UNIV     3,549   38,405   10.82  

5   UNIV  MICHIGAN     4,570   31,820   6.96  

6   CHINESE  ACAD  SCI     7,150   31,279   4.37  

7   GEORGIA  INST  TECHNOL     4,833   31,258   6.47  

8   NANYANG  TECHNOL  UNIV     5,948   29,731   5.00  

9   NATL  UNIV  SINGAPORE     5,052   28,992   5.74  

10   INDIAN  INST  TECHNOL     7,181   26,848   3.74  

11   UNIV  LONDON  IMPERIAL  COLL  SCI  TECHNOL  &  MED    

3,590   26,474   7.37  

12   UNIV  CALIF  LOS  ANGELES     2,576   25,816   10.02  

13   NASA     4,088   25,750   6.30  

14   PURDUE  UNIV     3,791   24,768   6.53  

15   CNRS     3,846   24,484   6.37  

16   PENN  STATE  UNIV     3,640   23,436   6.44  

17   UNIV  TOKYO     4,781   22,017   4.61  

18   TEXAS  A&M  UNIV     4,151   21,601   5.20  

19   UNIV  CALIF  SAN  DIEGO     2,644   21,524   8.14  

20   UNIV  WISCONSIN     3,150   21,292   6.76  

87 Research @ NTU

Publications  and  Citations  

MOST  CITED  INSTITUTION  IN  ENGINEERING  –  INSTITUTIONAL  RANKING    (SOURCE:  ESI,  15  March  2010  -­‐  Essential  Science  IndicatorsSM  has  been  updated  as  of  1  March  2010  to  cover  an  11-­‐year  period,  1  January  1999  to  31  December  2009)  

NO   Institution   Papers   Citations  Citations  Per  

Paper  

1   UNIV  ILLINOIS     5,848   45,743   7.82  

2   UNIV  CALIF  BERKELEY     4,539   44,578   9.82  

3   MIT     4,612   43,852   9.51  

4   STANFORD  UNIV     3,549   38,405   10.82  

5   UNIV  MICHIGAN     4,570   31,820   6.96  

6   CHINESE  ACAD  SCI     7,150   31,279   4.37  

7   GEORGIA  INST  TECHNOL     4,833   31,258   6.47  

8   NANYANG  TECHNOL  UNIV     5,948   29,731   5.00  

9   NATL  UNIV  SINGAPORE     5,052   28,992   5.74  

10   INDIAN  INST  TECHNOL     7,181   26,848   3.74  

11   UNIV  LONDON  IMPERIAL  COLL  SCI  TECHNOL  &  MED    

3,590   26,474   7.37  

12   UNIV  CALIF  LOS  ANGELES     2,576   25,816   10.02  

13   NASA     4,088   25,750   6.30  

14   PURDUE  UNIV     3,791   24,768   6.53  

15   CNRS     3,846   24,484   6.37  

16   PENN  STATE  UNIV     3,640   23,436   6.44  

17   UNIV  TOKYO     4,781   22,017   4.61  

18   TEXAS  A&M  UNIV     4,151   21,601   5.20  

19   UNIV  CALIF  SAN  DIEGO     2,644   21,524   8.14  

20   UNIV  WISCONSIN     3,150   21,292   6.76  

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Research Contacts

President’s Office

Prof Bertil Andersson, ProvostAdministration Building, Level 6, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 65148332E-mail: Provost@ntu.edu.sg Prof Michael Khor, Associate Provost (Research)Administration Building, Level 3, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 65921816E-mail: AssocProvost-R@ntu.edu.sg

Research Support Office76 Nanyang Drive, N2.1-B4-01Singapore 637331Tel: (65) 67905637 Fax: (65) 67932019E-mail: D-RSO@ntu.edu.sgWebsite: http//research.ntu.edu.sg

Colleges, Autonomous Institutes and Research Institutes

College of Engineering Prof Pan Tso-Chien, Dean

Schools under College of Engineering:

• Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (SCBE)Prof Ching Chi Bun, Chair

Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringBlock N1.2 B3-13, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459Tel: (65) 67904062 Fax: (65) 67911761Website: http://www.scbe.ntu.edu.sg/cbe

BioengineeringBlock N1.3, B5-01, 70 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637457 Tel: (65) 6790 6086 Fax: (65) 6791 1761Website: http://www.scbe.ntu.edu.sg/bie

• Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)Block N1, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 6790 5265 Fax: 6791 0676Website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/ceeAssoc Prof Edmond Lo, Chair

• Computer Engineering (SCE)Block N4, Nanyang Avenue 639798Tel: (65) 6790 5786 Fax: 6792 6559Website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sceProf Thambipillai Srikanthan, Chair

89 Research @ NTU

• Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)Block S1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 67911744 Fax: (65) 6793 3318Website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/eeeProf Kam Chan Him, Chair

• Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)Block N4.1, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 6790 4142 Fax: (65) 6790 9081Website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/mse Prof Freddy Boey Yin Chiang, Chair

• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)Block N3, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 6790 5487 Fax: (65) 6792 4062Website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/maeProf Ling Shih Fu, Chair

College of Science Prof Mark Featherstone, Interim Dean

Schools under College of Science:

• Biological Sciences (SBS)60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551Tel: (65) 6316 2800 Fax: (65) 6791 3856Website: http://www.sbs.ntu.edu.sgProf Alex Law, Acting Chair

• Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS)21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371 Tel: (65) 6513 8459 Fax: (65) 6515 9663 Website: http://www.spms.ntu.edu.sg/Prof Ling San, Chair

College of Business/ Nanyang Business School (NBS)Prof Gillian Yeo Hian Heng, Interim Dean

Block S3, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 6790 6033 Fax: (65) 6515 9663Website: http://www.nbs.ntu.edu.sg/

College of Humanities, Arts, & Social SciencesProf Alan K. L. Chan, Dean

Schools under College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences:

• Art, Design, and Media (ADM) 81 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637458 Tel: (65) 6790 4828 Fax: (65) 6795 3140Website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/adm Prof Sorensen Dorrit Vibeke, Chair

90Research @ NTU

• Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)14 Nanyang Drive Singapore 637332Tel: (65) 6513 8145 Fax: (65) 6794 6303Website: http://www.hss.ntu.edu.sg/Prof Euston Quah, Acting Chair

• Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (SCI)31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718Tel: (65) 6790 4577 Fax: (65) 6791 5214Website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sciAssoc Prof Benjamin Hill Detenber, Chair

Autonomous Institutes

• Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS)Block N2-01a-15, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 6592-7542 Fax: (65) 6790-1585Website: http://www.earthobservatory.sg/Prof Kerry Sieh, Director

• National Institute of Education (NIE)1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616Tel: (65) 6790 3869 Fax: (65) 6896 9446Website: http://www.nie.edu.sg/Prof Paul Teng, Dean, Graduate Programmes and Research Office

• S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)Block S4, Level B4, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 6790 6982 Fax: (65) 6793 2991Website: http://www.rsis.edu.sg/Mr Barry Desker, Dean

Research Institutes• Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N)

Research TechnoPlaza, 5th Storey, 50 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637553Website: http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/erian/index.htmProf Subodh Mhaisalkar and Prof Chan Siew Hwa, co-Directors

• Institute for Media Innovation (IMI)Research Techno Plaza, XFrontiers Block, Level 3, 50 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637553Singapore 637553Tel: +65 63167054 Fax: +65 63162994Website: http://imi.ntu.edu.sg/Pages/Home.aspxProf Nadia Thalmann, Director

• Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI)50, Nanyang Avenue, Block N1-B3b-29, Singapore 639798Tel: (65) 6790 6813 Fax: (65) 6791 0756Website: http://newri.ntu.edu.sgProf Ng Wun Jern, Executive Director

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Edito

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Editorial Committee2009 Research Report Editorial Committee

President’s Office Michael Khor Jeffrey Nadison

National Institute of Education Augustine Tan

S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies Sng Seow Lian

Earth Observatory of Singapore Kerry Sieh Sharmini Blok

New Environmental & Water Research Institute Ng Wun Jern Eileen Lui

Energy Research Institute @ NTU Subodh Mhaisalkar Yvonne Loh

Institute for Media Innovation Nadia Thalmann Pamela A Sumayao

Language and Communication Centre Aileen Ng Cheng Cheng (Copy Writer)

Research Support Office Yennie Kadarusman Loh Yin Huei Charis Chua Jia Xiu

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Contents

98Research @ NTU

Nanyang Technological University

Research Support Office76 Nanyang Drive, N2. 1-B4-01 Singapore 637331 Tel: +65 6790 5637 Fax: +65 6793 2019

Web: http://research.ntu.edu.sg Reg. No. 200604393R

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