President Tharuman Shanmugaratnam,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.
We would like to extend a very warm welcome to you.
Since 2009, the Presidential Science and Technology Awards have been held annually to recognize and honor Singapore’s outstanding scientists and engineers.
This year, I am honored to have President Thurman join me for the first time.
Since independence, our leaders have placed great importance on the role of science and technology in our country’s growth and development. That these awards are presented by heads of state underscores their value to our country.
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
In many ways, Lee and his team were pioneers in harnessing the transformative power of science and technology to overcome the inherent constraints of being an island nation with little land and natural resources.
Mr Lee’s two enduring legacies, Singapore’s water story and its journey as a ‘garden city’ and, more recently, a ‘city in nature’, are made possible through a combination of science and technology and sound public policy. became.
Through science and technology, we have created a more stable and reliable water supply using desalination and reverse osmosis.
We have also adopted more sustainable environmental practices to keep the island clean, green and livable.
We recently saw how Singapore’s early investments in science and technology have strengthened in the fight against COVID-19 through diagnostic and therapeutic research and development.
Our ability to harness science and technology will continue to be critical to our efforts to build better lives for Singaporeans and contribute to the world.
Whether we are tackling challenges related to climate change, combating the next pandemic, or meeting the health needs of an aging population, a deep mastery of science and technology will be critical.
These are common challenges faced by countries around the world.
Indeed, Singapore recognizes that science is a global endeavor.
Let’s do our best to bring together the best minds and collaborate across borders –
In order to advance scientific research and create groundbreaking innovations, we must transcend national and disciplinary boundaries.
Talent is essential to our scientific endeavors.
Effective use of science and technology requires a two-pronged approach.
First, we encourage young people to study and embark on careers in STEM fields, and we do everything we can to develop our talents to the fullest.
Second, we will anchor world-class scientists and research institutions in Singapore, enrich our research ecosystem, and build a global network of like-minded professionals.
Firstly, we have invested and will continue to invest in developing our own scientific talent.
Our students are exposed to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in and out of school to develop an interest in science from an early age.
We are also stepping up our efforts to increase interest in STEM by sparking curiosity and fostering a spirit of inquiry among young people.
Most of our schools have applied learning programs (ALPs) that encourage students to apply scientific concepts learned in class to address real-world challenges.
New science center to open in coming years at Jurong Lake Gardens
We also strive to stimulate interest and curiosity in the wonders of science and technology in both young and non-young people.
The Science Center will establish an innovation incubator to develop future technopreneurs and develop an awareness of the relevance of science to the real world.
Approximately 1,600 Singaporeans are currently pursuing STEM-related PhD degrees at the Autonomous University.
This is evidence that STEM education in schools has had traction over the years.
We also send some of our students to the world’s best universities to pursue undergraduate and graduate programs.
Our research, innovation and corporate ecosystem is growing in strength, providing further development opportunities for our employees.
A*STAR’s universities, medical institutions, and 17 research institutes have all established strong and fruitful collaborations with industry and international partners.
Since 2007, the National Research Foundation has also developed the Campus for Research Excellence and Technology Enterprise (CREATE), which houses research centers in partnership with nine overseas universities.
These have helped us establish the pinnacle of excellence in a wide range of fields.
such as quantum technology, artificial intelligence, genomics, and other biomedical fields.
Beyond basic research, venture companies are using Singapore as a testbed for innovative solutions in a variety of sectors, with the aim of expanding within the region and beyond.
Through these initiatives, we are well on our way towards our goal of becoming a global and Asian nexus for technology, innovation and enterprise.
A key element in human resource development is having good role models.
Many years ago, Sir Isaac Newton wrote, “If I have seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.”
In fact, in many fields, role models serve to inspire future generations to pursue excellence, go further and scale higher than what they have achieved.
Particularly in science, role models can exemplify the value and impact of research excellence.
This can encourage young talent to step forward and invest their energy in coming up with even more innovative solutions to pressing problems.
All of tonight’s honorees are good role models.
They come from a variety of backgrounds, age groups, disciplines, and organizations. We hope these will be an inspiration to our young generation and budding scientific talents.
Young Scientist Award
First, we would like to recognize the three young scientists who received the Young Scientist Award. This award, given by the National Academy of Sciences of Singapore, recognizes promising scientists under the age of 35 who have shown great potential in their chosen field.
Dr. Tan Yong Zi, Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, has been recognized for his contributions to cryo-electron microscopy. The technology developed by Dr. Tan has improved the ability to determine the structure of membrane proteins with near-atomic resolution. The insights gained from these can help scientists better understand biological processes, diseases, and drug resistance, as well as develop new treatments.
Dr. Chang Guoqing, Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University, has been recognized for his contributions to the field of topological quantum materials. By using new computational techniques, Dr. Chan was able to discover new quantum materials and predict unusual and unexpected properties. This could lay the groundwork for improved applications in other areas, such as more efficient solar panels, which will accelerate global efforts to expand the deployment of renewable energy.
Dr Soujanya Polya, Assistant Professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, is recognized for her work in the fields of natural language processing and artificial intelligence. Dr. Soujanya is making progress in developing his AI system to understand human emotions and intentions by combining text, audio, and video data with new deep learning models.
This could lead to richer and more beneficial interactions between humans and AI platforms, leading to incremental benefits in education, healthcare, and workplace productivity.
Presidential Science and Technology Award
Second, the Presidential Science Award recognizes scientists who have made significant contributions with a transformative impact on one or more fields of science and technology.
This year’s Presidential Science Award goes to Dr. Qiu Cheng-Wei, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of topological thermal diffusion and radiation.
Dr. Qiu’s work in applying quantum mechanics to the study of heat transfer and diffusion has led to a paradigm shift in the field of quantum heat diffusion, particularly in the way we think about heat confinement and transfer.
This allowed him to create a new material with far better thermal conductivity than the best found in nature.
Quantum mechanics may sound abstract, but it actually powers much of our modern technology, including the semiconductor transistors in phones, computers, and consumer electronics, and even the satellites that enable global connectivity.
Dr. Qiu’s research opens up the possibility of cooler, faster computer chips and even cooler buildings coated with materials designed to dissipate heat using principles of quantum mechanics.
Third, and finally, the Presidential Medal for Science and Technology is Singapore’s highest scientific honor and is awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves by promoting Singapore’s development through science and technology.
This year’s medal was awarded to Kwek Gim Pyu for his outstanding contribution in shaping Singapore’s research ecosystem and developing local science and technology regional capacity that moves the needle deeply.
Mr Gim Pyu is well known for his long and distinguished career in the defense sector, having led the DSO National Laboratory from 2004 to 2016 and then serving as Singapore’s Chief Defense Scientist from 2016 to 2021.
Equally important, Gim Pyu has long been a passionate advocate of cross-disciplinary scientific partnerships.
By encouraging us to leverage technological advances in one area to accelerate breakthroughs in others, Gim Pew has helped strengthen our entire R&D ecosystem.
In particular, Mr Gim Pyu has been instrumental in managing Singapore’s efforts at the frontiers of two exciting and important areas: space science and quantum technology.
Ghim Pyu’s emphasis on partnerships led DSO National Laboratories to collaborate with Nanyang Technological University to develop Singapore’s first experimental satellite, X-Sat, and with ST Engineering to develop Singapore’s first commercial Earth observation satellite. I built it.
As Vice-Chairman of the Space Technology and Industry Authority, Mr Ghim Pyu helped Singapore become the first country in Southeast Asia to independently design and manufacture operational-grade satellites.
In addition, as Chairman of the NUS-based Quantum Technology Center, Mr. Ghim Pyu will steer the Center to become a national platform with partners such as ST Engineering, A*STAR and other government agencies, and will We have built strong capabilities in computing and communications and quantum device manufacturing. .
Mr Gim Pyu also continues to contribute to the advancement of Singapore’s quantum research excellence by co-chairing the National Quantum Strategy Steering Committee.
Once again, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of today’s award recipients for their extraordinary achievements.
I am particularly pleased that all of you are making contributions at the intersection of different scientific disciplines. This shows the importance of interdisciplinary research. This means that insights and breakthroughs achieved in one area can inform and influence outcomes in other areas.
Tonight’s award recognizes your achievements to date, and we hope that it will encourage you to aim for even greater heights in the future.
I encourage you to continue to mentor and develop young talent within and across your institutions, and to continue to encourage your fellow scientists and researchers to follow in your footsteps.
By harnessing our collective knowledge and creative energy, we can build a better future for Singapore and the world.
thank you.