Plenary Lecture 1: Advancing health through technological innovation and artificial intelligence

In this talk, we will delve into the transformative potential of technological innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) in revolutionising healthcare. With the advent of smart wearables, point-of-care diagnostics, health data analytics and AI algorithms, we are witnessing a paradigm shift in how we monitor, diagnose, and treat health conditions.

We will cover several innovative health technologies that we have developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration among engineers, scientists, clinicians, industrial partners and entrepreneurs here at NUS. As we enter into the era of precision medicine, our smart health technologies and AI will contribute towards the future of health diagnostics and monitoring, that will not only be about early diagnosis but also precise therapy.

Professor Lim Chwee Teck, a leading figure in biomedical engineering, holds the esteemed NUS Society Chair Professorship at NUS. He directs the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology and founded the Singapore Health Technologies Consortium. His research centres on human disease mechanobiology and innovative biomedical technologies for diagnosis and therapy.

Prof Lim has a prolific publication history, with over 470 articles in esteemed journals like Nature and Science. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered over 450 lectures globally. In addition, he is a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded six startups. He has received numerous accolades, including fellowships in prestigious organisations and over 120 research awards.

Plenary Lecture 2: Modern challenges in materials science and technology 

In this talk, Prof Castro-Neto will talk about what he believes to be the greatest challenges in materials science and technology and make wild, but educated, guesses on how to approach them. 

Professor Antonio Castro-Neto is a Distinguished NUS Professor in the Departments of Material Science Engineering and Physics, as well as Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. College. He became a leading figure in graphene research during his tenure at Boston University. In 2010, he founded the Graphene Research Centre at NUS, later renamed the Centre for Advanced 2D Materials. He also co-directs the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials at NUS.

Prof Castro-Neto is renowned for his extensive contributions to the field, evidenced by his numerous awards and recognitions. He received his undergraduate degree at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in 1990 and his PhD in Physics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994.

Plenary Lecture 3: Realising the potential of nature-based solutions for biodiversity and carbon conservation

Nature-based solutions have the potential to address climate change and biodiversity challenges. However, successful outcomes may require careful consideration of implementation approaches, stakeholder interests and local contexts.

In this talk, Prof Koh will discuss the promises of nature-based climate solutions, while acknowledging their inherent limitations in practice. He will also share how socially-engaged research may better inform and support decision-making for
biodiversity and carbon conservation.

Professor Koh Lian Pin is NUS’ Associate VP and Chief Sustainability Scientist, leading sustainability research and fostering collaborations across sectors to address climate change and biodiversity loss. He holds multiple roles within NUS, including Professor of Conservation and Director of NUS’ Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions. With over 20 years of experience, he is a highly cited conservation scientist, contributing to policy-relevant science and advocating for environmental protection on global platforms like United Nations conferences and TED talks. Prof Koh holds a BSc and MSc in Biological Sciences from NUS and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.

Plenary Lecture 4: Making the world a greener and more sustainable place: green chemistry and green energy

Currently, more than 80% of the world’s energy needs are met by burning fossil fuels. Supplies of these fuels are intrinsically limited and will eventually run out. Combustion of fossil fuels also generates carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. One solution for reducing atmospheric CO2 levels is carbon capture and sequestration.  Another alternative is to electrochemically reduce the emitted CO2 into carboxylic acids, hydrocarbons or alcohols, which are valuable chemical feedstocks and fuels. Water can also be reduced to hydrogen gas, which can be used as a carbon-free fuel. If the energy used for these processes is generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind, we can envisage a chemical production cycle that is closed-loop with net zero carbon emission.

In this talk, we will discuss how we could produce electricity, chemicals and fuels in clean and sustainable ways, with the hope that our world will become cleaner. We will examine water electrolysis, a seemingly simple process that was first performed in 1789, and reveal the mechanisms by which water is split into hydrogen and oxygen gas. We will also discuss how CO2, a very inert molecule, could be activated and converted to useful chemicals such as ethylene and to aviation fuels. Different types of catalysts and their functionalities will be shown.

Associate Professor Jason Yeo received his BSc (Hons) and MSc in Chemistry from NUS, and his PhD from ETH Zurich. He conducted postdoctoral research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His work focuses on developing efficient and robust materials to catalyse energy conversion reactions to achieve sustainable and environmentally friendly energy. Assoc Prof Yeo has received multiple university- and faculty-level teaching excellence awards. He is Deputy Head (Education) at NUS’ Department of Chemistry.

Plenary Lecture 5: Privacy for the paranoid: The ultimate limits of secrecy

Among those who make a living from the science of secrecy, worry and paranoia are just signs of professionalism. Can we protect our secrets against those who wield superior technological powers? Can we trust those who provide us with tools for protection? Can we even trust ourselves, our own freedom of choice? Recent developments in quantum cryptography show that some of these questions can be addressed and discussed in precise and operational terms, suggesting that privacy is indeed possible under surprisingly weak assumptions. Prof Artur will provide an overview of how quantum entanglement, after playing a significant role in the development of the foundations of quantum mechanics, became a new physical resource for all those who seek the ultimate limits of secrecy.

Professor Ekert is Professor of Quantum Physics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford and Distinguished Fellow at NUS’ Centre for Quantum Technologies. He is one of the co-inventors of quantum cryptography and his current research extends over most aspects of information processing in quantum-mechanical systems.

He has worked with, and advised several companies and government agencies. He is a recipient of several awards, including the 1995 Maxwell Medal and Prize by the Institute of Physics and the 2007 Royal Society Hughes Medal. In 2016, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. 

Symposium closing

Presentation of Best Poster and Oral Awards

Lunch Reception

Check-Out Accomodation