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1 ISSUE

2 In This Issue 1 NTU President s Message 2 At A Glance 4 Cover Story Sustaining Future Societies 8 Insight Tissue-Inspired Engineering: Nature s Design Principles To Develop Bio-Inspired Technologies Big Data On A Small Island: Sparse Graphical Models For Highly Efficient Data Analysis Enemy At The Gate: Making Sense Of Pathogen-Host Interactions During Virus Maturation Bio-Inspired Materials Science: Translating Biological Design Into Eco-Friendly Materials Beyond The Invisible : The Emerging Technology Of Transformation Optics 18 In Focus Exploring The Future Of Urban Electromobility Using Augmented Reality For Anatomical Education Lien Aid And Lien Environmental Fellowships: NTU s Philanthropic Arms To Battle Poverty And Poor Health In Asia 24 Discoveries 28 Faces and Events Immunology And Infectious Diseases Pioneer: Professor Dermot Kelleher One Of TIME Magazine s Top 100 Most Influential People: Professor Stephan Schuster 32 Conversations Sustainability Pioneer: Professor Alexander Zehnder 3

3 NTU President s Message We Have Only One Planet Earth and it is facing increasing environmental and ecological challenges. Universities as leading institutions in the discovery and transfer of scientific knowledge have a special responsibility to address global sustainability issues. NTU, with one of the world s largest engineering colleges and to date S$1 billion (US$800 million) of competitive funding in sustainability research, is well poised to lead in many exciting research areas that will have the greatest impact on our planet. Sustainable Earth is one of the university s five interdisciplinary research thrusts, the other four being healthcare, new media, innovation and to be a knowledge hub of the East and West. But it is not just in research. Environmental stewardship and the culture of sustainability are also the guiding principles of NTU s campus and its development. New buildings and landscaping projects utilise, showcase and test-bed green technologies and enable on-going research. For example, a stream with an integrated bio-swale is being designed as part of a construction project for a new undergraduate residence hall. It will serve as an analytical tool and test-bed for research and education in water purification processes. In this issue of PUSHING FRONTIERS, we highlight projects across the broad scope of sustainability research at NTU, ranging from nature-inspired engineering and materials science to large data modelling of environmental issues and natural events and new insights in viral threats. Other reports focus on urban electromobility, new technologies in medical education and philanthropic endeavours to transfer knowledge and technologies in sustainability issues to disadvantaged communities in Asia. I hope that this glimpse into the broad spectrum of NTU's efforts and activities in sustainability will inspire new and fruitful collaborations with our friends and partners in academia and industry to support us in our combined drive towards a more sustainable planet. 1

4 At A Glance The Honour Roll Ambassador Barry Desker Ambassador Barry Desker, Dean of S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at NTU, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Warwick, UK, in recognition of his contributions to public life in Singapore, East Asia and globally, his scholarship and academic leadership as well as his support and commitment to collaborative projects with the University of Warwick. Assoc Prof Louis Phee and Asst Prof David Lou Assoc Prof Louis Phee from NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering received the Singapore President s Technology Award 2012 presented by President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam. Assoc Prof Louis Phee was awarded together with Prof Lawrence Ho from the National University Hospital for developing the world s first robotic flexible endoscopy system for minimally invasive surgeries. Asst Prof David Lou from the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering was one of three recipients of the Young Scientist Award. Visiting Prof Chad Mirkin Renowned nanoscience expert and Lee Kuan Yew Distinguished Visitor Prof Chad Mirkin was conferred an honorary NTU degree of Doctor of Engineering by the Chancellor of NTU, President of Singapore Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam. Prof Mirkin, who is Rathmann Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University, USA, and a member of United States President Barack Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, is listed by Thomson Reuters as the most cited chemist in the world. Emeritus Prof Lim Chong Yah Distinguished Singaporean economist Prof Lim Chong Yah, the Albert Winsemius Chair Professor of Economics and former Director of the Economic Growth Centre at NTU and Founding Chairman of the National Wages Council for 29 years, has been conferred the title of Emeritus Professor by NTU in recognition of his contributions to research, education and public service. Team Achievements Special Issue of Advanced Materials: Materials Research at Nanyang Technological University NTU's advanced materials research has been featured in Visiting Prof Michael Grätzel Prof Michael Grätzel, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Energy Research NTU (ERI@N) and advisor of NTU s Centre for Nanostructured Photosystems and the Solar Fuels Lab, has won the 2012 Albert Einstein World Award of Science for his invention and further development of Dye Solar Cell technology. a special edition of Advanced Materials, one of the highestranking journals for Materials Science and Engineering. The issue contains contributions on multidisciplinary research activities from the Schools of Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Physical and Mathematical Sciences as well as various collaborators. 2 PUSHING FRONTIERS

5 Large grants for researchers from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Asst Prof Lew Wen Siang from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences has been awarded funds of S$6.9 million (US$5.6 million) under the 9th National Research Foundation Competitive Research Programme for his research proposal Non-volatile magnetic logic and memory integrated circuit devices. A team of researchers from the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) and Art, Design and Media, led by Asst Prof Alexander Coupe, has been awarded an Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 grant of around S$530,000 (US$433,000) from the Ministry of Education. The grant will fund a documentation project involving four endangered languages from north east India, northern Thailand, southern peninsular Malaysia and eastern Indonesia. A computer simulation study on youth violence and delinquency in Singapore, led by Assoc Prof Rebecca Ang from the HSS, received an AcRF Tier 2 research grant of around S$360,000 (US$294,000). New Research Centres, Collaborations and Programmes Global neuroscience research will be boosted through a new global programme for neuroscience research jointly funded by NTU and the University of Warwick, UK. The first professors under the Warwick-NTU Neuroscience Research@Singapore programme, based at the Biopolis biomedicine hub, are Prof Ayumu Tashiro and Prof Albert Chen, who will advance research in the development and mapping of neural circuitry and the understanding and therapy of neural degenerative diseases. A joint PhD in neuroscience is also currently being developed. NTU s new Advanced Biofilm Imaging Facility will push knowledge of microbial biofilms and their impacts on natural and human environments and public health to a new level. Opened at the Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) Prof Yehuda Cohen, Deputy Director in partnership with Carl Zeiss, at SCELSE, explaining advanced research techniques using Zeiss the new facility will use Zeiss' microscopes. high-resolution, high-sensitivity laser scanning confocal systems and other imaging equipment customised for research to better understand bacterial interactions in different environments. Institute of Technology (AIT) and crystalsol GmbH, an Austrian company that specialises in renewable energy, aim to develop innovative and green buildings, printable and flexible solar cells and joint PhD programmes. Research on Dye Solar Cells will be expanded through a partnership with the Australian energy firm Dyesol. A new Research Collaboration Agreement between NTU, DHI and Suez Environnement, Europe's second largest water utility, will advance efforts to make used water treatment energy-neutral. Through the new Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), NTU will spearhead education, research and exhibition of Southeast Asian contemporary art in Singapore. Established by NTU's School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) and housed at Gillman Barracks, an iconic international destination for contemporary art in Singapore, the CCA will feature an Art Research Centre, an Artist in Residence Programme and an Exhibition Centre. NTU President Prof Bertil Andersson at the opening of the ADM Gallery at NTU's School of Art, Design and Media that will work closely with the new CCA. Several new international collaborations will further strengthen NTU's research in energy and water. Tie-ups with the Austrian 3

6 Cover Story Sustaining Future Societies With more than S$1 billion (US$800 million) in research funding for sustainability research, NTU is a world leader in this area, bringing together the interdisciplinary expertise and tools needed to address complex issues arising from rapid urbanisation, such as the sustainable use of resources and geological concerns. In the near future, more than two-thirds of the world population will live in cities. Future metropolises will face huge challenges to meet the basic needs of providing shelter, water and food, infrastructure and transportation as well as ensuring public health. Furthermore, cities will need to balance social and economic challenges with local, regional and global environmental issues. With more than five million people, Singapore, a thriving metropolis, aims for sustainable growth through synergistic developments in energy-efficient urban infrastructure and water, waste and land management. NTU in Singapore is already establishing itself as a global leader in sustainability research, building on its strengths in engineering, science and business. Under the umbrella of the Sustainable Earth Peak, one of the university s five strategic thrusts, there are research projects addressing key global issues clean water and public health, alternative energies, clean technologies, urban systems, geological concerns and disaster preparedness with an emphasis on sustainable metropolises. Clean Water For All An ample water supply is required for sustainable living. Water issues tackled at NTU include water resource management, purification, reclamation, and wastewater management. These efforts are spearheaded at NTU by the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI). NEWRI is an ecosystem of eight coordinated units, with some 400 researchers who advance investigative work in water treatment, purification and reclamation, urban and industrial wastewater, and wastes management, says Prof Ng Wun Jern, its executive director. Photo Credit: Andjohan 4 PUSHING FRONTIERS

7 Through multi- and transdisciplinary interactions, NEWRI provides a contiguous value chain that involves research, translation, development and application of innovative and practical environmental solutions relevant to industry and community. This ensures new technologies and concepts from the lab become fullscale industrial applications, Prof Ng adds. Over at the Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), an autonomous national Research Centre of Excellence at NTU, water-associated microbial biofilms present in natural and urban environments are the topic of research. SCELSE strives to understand, control and harness the manifold biological properties of microbial biofilms, says SCELSE Director Prof Staffan Kjelleberg. We aim to develop the means to destroy harmful biofilms such as those emerging in hospital environments or on membranes used in water treatment plants, as well as engineer beneficial biofilms for applications in bioremediation and wastewater treatment, Prof Kjelleberg adds. SCELSE's research provides novel information on microbial communities that can be applied to wastewater treatment. Its approach complements that of NEWRI's Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, which takes molecular and microbiological understanding through bioprocess development and onward to the level of large-scale industrial water, wastewater and wastes applications. Understanding the life cycle of microbial pathogens between the environment and human hosts is another area of focus. Drawing on expertise from the School of Biological Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and SCELSE, this research will help prepare for and prevent epidemics and pandemics caused by infectious diseases, a threat to global hubs such as Singapore. Energy Research And Clean Technologies Energy research in all its facets is advanced at the Energy Research NTU (ERI@N) and the engineering and science colleges. Energy efficiency solutions for residential and industrial sectors are one of our key areas of research, says Prof Subodh Mhaisalkar, Executive Director of ERI@N. We promote relevant energy solutions and policies for the future in a multidisciplinary environment in which scientists, engineers and social scientists interact. The translation of these research outcomes into industry applications is important, he adds. Partnerships with multinational as well as local industry leaders advance renewable energy research that focuses on wind, marine tidal streams and waves, as well as solar energy for multiple uses. At the Centre for Nanostructured Photosystems under ERI@N and the Schools of Materials Science and Engineering and Physical and Mathematical Sciences, researchers are hard at work developing highly-efficient, low-cost dye solar cell technology under the guidance of Prof Michael Grätzel, the inventor of dye-sensitised solar cells. This involves mimicking light energycapturing and energy production processes in plants to provide new, integrated solar photovoltaic and solar fuel solutions. Using artificial leaf technology pioneered by NTU President Prof Bertil Andersson, an internationally renowned biochemist, 5

8 Cover Story scientists at Asia s first Solar Fuels Lab are harnessing solar energy to produce hydrogen fuel to reduce our dependence on crude oil. At the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, researchers are also devising ways to produce hydrogen cheaply as part of research to develop efficient and inexpensive photocatalyst systems. Wind energy technologies take centre stage at a joint materials research centre with global wind energy giant Gamesa. Under the Joint Industry Programme in Offshore Renewables, ERI@N collaborates with world-leading companies and research partners to construct efficient and cost-effective offshore wind turbines and other sea-based power generation systems, advances that are especially valuable for land-scarce countries such as Singapore. Next-generation fuel cells, energy storage systems such as batteries and supercapacitors, and new technologies to reduce energy consumption in electronics are being developed at ERI@N and several of NTU's schools and centres. Green electronics such as microchips and power-saving chipsets have been built at VIRTUS, IC Design Centre of Excellence. A test-bed set up by NTU and Toshiba on NTU's campus is exploring ways to reduce the power consumption of data centres in tropical settings. Data centres, essential for our IT-intensive telecommunications, data transmission and financial sectors, represent one of the highest levels of energy utilisation in Singapore, Prof Mhaisalkar says. Our joint cooling solutions will significantly reduce the energy used in modern data centres. I believe that similar approaches and solutions will be adopted for use quite readily in our push to develop green and more energy-efficient buildings. In the area of urban electromobility, including advanced battery materials and technologies, and new types of electric vehicles and infrastructure concepts, NTU researchers are working with those from TUM CREATE, a collaboration between NTU and Germany's Technical University Munich (TUM) under the National Research Foundation s (NRF) Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme. Under another CREATE programme, NTU is working with the University of California, Berkeley, through the Singapore-Berkeley Initiative for Sustainable Energy to harvest solar energy for the generation of electricity and liquid fuels. Carbon emissions as a major driver of global climate change are addressed at the Cambridge Centre for Carbon Reduction in Chemical Technology, a CREATE partnership involving the University of Cambridge that aims to reduce the carbon footprint of Singapore's industrial-scale chemical, refining and power generation processes. The reduction of carbon emissions is also on the agenda of researchers at the School of Computer Engineering seeking to replace carbon-intensive activities with information technology for applications such as smart logistics, energy-aware buildings and more efficient energy grids. Through its Maritime Clean Energy Research Programme, ERI@N also promotes carbon-neutral and efficient energy solutions and clean fuels for ships and ports. Sustainable Urban Systems Resource recovery, remediation and reclamation of contaminated land are of great importance to crowded metropolises such as Singapore. With its communal and industry partners, NEWRI researchers have worked on technologies for the conversion of waste into new materials and the remediation and reclamation of land from landfills and other contaminated sites. Other initiatives address global warming and carbon reclamation through generating energy from urban biomass, communal and industrial sewage sludge, and agricultural residues. 6 PUSHING FRONTIERS

9 Innovations such as the No-Mix Vacuum Toilet, invented by researchers from NEWRI's Residues & Resource Reclamation Centre, not only save water but also allow resources to be recovered at lower costs. A two-chamber system in the new toilet bowl separates liquid and solid wastes. The liquid waste can be diverted to a processing facility to recover fertiliser components such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, while the solid waste can be converted into biogas in bioreactors. Remanufacturing is another way to save resources. The Advanced Remanufacturing & Technology Centre (ARTC), a joint effort of NTU with Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology & Research and major industry partners, is advancing production-ready technologies in repair and restoration, surface enhancement and product verification. At ARTC, we aim to develop technologies for remanufacturing that turn end-of-life products into as-good-asnew ones through sustainable processes. The goal is to develop technologies and processes that can be readily adopted by industry, says ARTC Collaboration Director Assoc Prof David Butler from NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. To enlarge the usable space in land-scarce Singapore, NTU's Nanyang Centre for Underground Space is exploring how underground space can be used for urban purposes such as car parks, offices or recreational facilities, and for industrial purposes such as oil and gas storage, warehouses and plants, in addition to military uses. Smart, Green Buildings Smart buildings are the way forward for sustainable energy consumption. Research on such intelligent, low-energy buildings is the concern of the Singapore-ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability, a collaboration with NTU that focuses on meeting the needs of future cities. Together with its partners, ERI@N is developing smart lighting grids that combine LED lights with wireless sensors to achieve energy savings of up to 45 per cent. These smart lighting grids are being test-bedded at Singapore's CleanTech Park adjacent to NTU, together with other green building technologies such as harvesting systems for solar energy and rainwater. All major construction across the university s campuses is guided by sustainability principles emphasising energy efficiency. Several buildings, including the iconic School of Art, Design and Media building, have already been recognised with top awards for the innovative use of sustainability features. Geological Concerns And Resilience Against Catastrophes Singapore's proximity to geologically dynamic regions in and around Southeast Asia makes it a natural hub for research on earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Furthermore, the low-lying city is vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as changes in sea level, temperature, precipitation or storm patterns. The Earth Observatory of Singapore, an autonomous national Research Centre of Excellence at NTU, plays a leading role in the region to advance knowledge on geohazards and climate change to make the world a safer and more sustainable place to live. Securing sustainable societies is also a core mission of the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), a top-ranked autonomous think tank within NTU that produces policy-relevant analyses in environmental security, natural disasters, climate change, energy and food, as well as health security such as pandemic preparedness. 7

10 Insight Tissue-Inspired Engineering By Cleo Choong, Timothy Tan and Andrew Tan Nature s Design Principles To Develop Bio-Inspired Technologies The phrases nature-inspired and biomimetic approach have often been used to describe research that is motivated by natural systems. Tissue-inspired engineering (TIE) draws its inspiration from the ways cells as the consummate engineers of the body s architecture and organisation integrate biochemical, physical and environmental cues to communicate between different tissues and organs. Distinct from classical tissue engineering that aims to restore, replace or improve biological functions using a combination of cells, scaffolds/biomaterials and biological signals, TIE is about understanding tissue function, structure and properties using engineering techniques and principles. Engineered biomimetic 3D environments at micro- and nano-levels allow the study of cell-cell and cell-material interactions and aid in the repopulation of specific cell types and thus in tissue healing processes. These engineered tissues are of direct clinical relevance in regenerative medicine, drug efficacy testing, understanding of disease progression and treatment of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and obesity as well as in patient-specific studies. TIE is highly multidisciplinary (Fig 1), requiring close collaborations between biologists, material scientists and nanotechnologists. While the biologists role is to understand cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions within a tissue and the intracellular molecular circuitries, the material scientists create the appropriate microenvironment for the cells enabling them to perform their engineering duties, and the nanotechnologists develop materials on a nanoscale level that are instructive (i.e. influence cell behaviour) and interactive (i.e. responsive to cellular cues). The projects are led jointly by Asst Prof Cleo Choong Swee Neo from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Asst Prof Timothy Tan Thatt Yang from the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and Asst Prof Andrew Tan Nguan Soon, recipient of NTU s Nanyang Award in Research Excellence 2011, from the School of Biological Sciences. Presentations on the projects won three awards at the 2nd International Symposium of Materials on Regenerative Medicine 2012 in Taipei, Taiwan. Parts of this research were published in Cell Death Differ (2011), 18: ; J Biol Chem (2010), 285(43): (highlighted in and Vascular Biology Publications Alert); and J Cell Biol (2009), 184: (highlighted in J Cell Biol s In Focus (2009), 184: 767, and on the cover page). Funding support came from the National Medical Research Council, the NTU-National Healthcare Group Innovation Seed and collaborations with Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble In collaboration with Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National University Hospital, KK Women s and Children s Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, National Skin Centre and National Cancer Centre Singapore, the team aims at developing TIE tools and solutions to face real-life clinical problems and to advance personalised healthcare. Next Generation Skin Substitutes: A Multi- Modal Solution For Diabetic Wound Healing Fig 1: A decoupage of TIE illustrating various engineering platforms and tools used to study the interactions Normal wound healing proceeds via a continuum of between cells and materials aimed at providing solutions for various biomedical problems such as wound events, including acute inflammation, proliferation and maturation phases, which are altered in the diabetic healing and vascularisation. state. Diabetic ulcers are characterised by an accumulation of devitalised tissue, increased/prolonged inflammation, poor angiogenesis and deficiencies in the extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Chronic diabetic wounds show elevated levels of proteolytic activities culminating in a corrupt ECM that cannot support healing. Thus, wound-healing strategies targeted at replacing the dysfunctional ECM would be highly beneficial. The TIE team designs ECM-based scaffolds that closely mimic the components of normal ECM and the anisotropic properties of skin. Antimicrobial and enhanced wound healing properties support the growth of the various cell types in the different tissue layers of the skin (Fig 2). Additional features such as ph sensitive materials that release drugs in response to ph changes in infected wounds allow for interactions with the microenvironment. 8 PUSHING FRONTIERS

11 Dynamic Scaffolds: Injectable Porous Scaffolds For Post-Implantation Bone Regeneration Bony defects requiring bone replacements pose major challenges to reconstructive surgeons. An alternative to bone autografts and allografts are synthetic materials such as metals and ceramics that provide strong mechanical support. However, metal implants poorly integrate with neighbouring tissues and can fail due to infection or fatigue loading. Hence, tremendous efforts have been devoted to the development of tissuecompatible and biodegradable scaffolds. To successfully regenerate tissue, scaffold degradation rates that depend on scaffold composition and prevailing physical, chemical and biological conditions should match tissue growth rates. However, tissue growth rates can vary significantly among tissue types and individuals due to differences in age, diet and lifestyle-related factors. The TIE team is designing porous scaffold systems that enable post-implantation alteration of the pore structure in vivo through minimally invasive means (e.g. via injection) or external stimulation (e.g. light-triggered mechanisms), resulting in structures with larger pores and higher porosity that enhance new tissue and vasculature formation (Fig 3). TIE developed strategies that allow adjustments of the post-implantation scaffold structure to the tissue s growth rate or the patient s recovery rate open up huge potentials in personalised tissue engineering. Fig 2: Improved stratification of epidermis in 3D organotypic skin culture (OTC) maintained in serum-free defined medium. Immunofluorescence staining of involucrin (green), a protein marker for terminal differentiation of epidermis, of a 2-week old OTC. Human skin biopsy was used for comparison. Dotted white lines show the epidermal-dermal junction. Bone Regeneration Through 3D Architecture-Directed Stem Cell Differentiation And Electrical Stimulation Directed differentiation of stem cells into ECM has traditionally employed cocktails of ECM proteins. However, due to the short half-life of the proteins, either multiple injections or a controlled release system are required to achieve full stem cell differentiation. On the other hand, electrical stimulation of cells has been shown to increase cell proliferation, induce angiogenic and osteogenic factors and improve tissue healing. To integrate electrical properties, the TIE team is coupling electrically conductive materials such as graphene-polymer composites with biochemical and mechano-biological approaches in injectable bioactive 3D constructs that aid in bone stem cell differentiation and regeneration. Fig 3: Bone regeneration. A 3D hydrogel, encompassing mesoporous particles loaded with cell differentiation-stimulating ECM proteins, can be injected into implanted scaffolds at bone defect sites. Green Processing And Waste-To-Resource Strategies Resource resilient materials such as biological waste products and environment-friendly processing methods are used to create scaffolds for tissue regeneration and other useful materials for various biomedical applications. Cells and ECM material are isolated from clinical waste in form of both lipoaspirate and fat grafts (Fig 4). Collagen gained from fish-scales, a waste product from the fish processing industry, is used to fabricate collagen-based wound dressings. Abundantly available natural materials such as ovalbumin (gained from chicken eggs) and alginate (from seaweed) are used to create injectable microcarriers and as encapsulation material. The material properties of these biocompatible matrices can be further tuned to improve entry of nutrients and oxygen and disposal of toxic metabolites and carbon dioxide, and to enhance shielding against the patients immune defence systems. Fig 4: Waste-to-resource strategies: Isolation of stem cells and ECM from clinical waste materials such as fat graft and lipoaspirate. 9

12 Insight Big Data On A Small Island By Justin Dauwels Sparse Graphical Models For Highly Efficient Data Analysis Fig 1. Predicted congestion between the districts of Outram and Changi in Singapore. Nowadays, huge volumes of data are being generated every split second: bank transactions, Tweets, web browsing histories, GPS logs, environmental recordings, surveillance camera footage, invasive and noninvasive physiological recordings, etc. With this abundance of data, a new challenge arises: How to extract relevant information and make inferences from terabytes of data in a short amount of time? Inference in graphical models that provide a statistical framework to encapsulate our knowledge of a system is a fruitful approach to handling large volumes of noisy and incomplete data. With carefully chosen assumptions (e.g., independence of selected random variables), graphical models can be used to derive highly efficient data analysis techniques. Our research group has developed novel types of graphical models, with applications to modelling of urban traffic networks, clinical neuroscience, environmental monitoring and beyond, covering themes across NTU's five Peaks of Excellence. Prediction Of Urban Traffic Speed Asst Prof Justin Dauwels from NTU's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is also affiliated with NTU's VALENS Centre of Excellence for Bio-Instrumentation, Devices and Signal Processing, INFINITUS, Infocomm Centre of Excellence, and EXQUISITUS, Centre for E-City. The described research projects were presented (in corresponding order) at the Proc. IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference, Hilton, Anchorage, AK, USA, Sept 16-19, 2012; Proc. Fusion th International Conference on Information Fusion, July 09 12, 2012, Singapore, receiving a Best Paper Award; Proc. IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP 2011), May, 2011, Prague, Czech Republic, pp ; and the 4th International Workshop on Spoken Dialog System IWSDS 2012, November 28-30, 2012, Paris, France. As cities grow, so do the problems they face, and Singapore is no exception. As in most large cities, traffic jams are quite common in Singapore, especially at rush hour. By appropriately guiding drivers, traffic jams may potentially be avoided or at least limited. The research team has developed novel and robust algorithms to predict urban traffic speed in real-time, up to one hour in advance (see Fig 1). Its predictions are 95% accurate for highways, and 85% to 90% for small roads. Currently the team is designing route guidance schemes that utilise the predictions to optimise routes in real-time. Modelling Of Extreme Events Extreme events such as heat waves, windstorms, floods, hurricanes (see Fig 2), and earthquakes often have a devastating impact on society. Statistical models may help to assess the likelihood of such extreme events and the dependency of extreme events across space, and may be useful to quantify the risks associated with certain infrastructures and facilities exposed to extreme conditions. The research team has invented a new class of spatial extreme models, in collaboration with Shell Technology Centre Thornton (UK). The idea is to describe the extreme phenomena at each individual location by extreme-value marginal distributions, and to capture the spatial structure of extreme events through sparse and structured graphical models, which tie the marginal distributions together. These models can be applied to large data sets, e.g., temperature distribution of an entire continent, in order to compute the probability of extreme events at a given location, and are useful to design infrastructures such as oilrigs or nuclear power plants. Automated Localisation Of Seizure Focal Points From Electroencephalography (EEG) For approximately 30% of epilepsy patients, seizures are poorly controlled with medications alone. Those patients may be successfully treated by surgically removing the brain area(s) where the seizures originate; 10 PUSHING FRONTIERS

13 Fig 2. Measured maximum wave height during a storm in the Gulf of Mexico. it is obviously crucial to accurately localise the seizure onset zone. To this end, one must often resort to semi-chronic invasive recordings of cortical activity, since non-invasive methods are frequently not conclusive. Currently neurologists rely heavily on seizures to determine the seizure focus. Since most patients have seizures infrequently, the invasive recordings must usually continue for days or weeks, until enough seizures are obtained; this procedure is costly, uncomfortable, and not without risk of side effects. The objective is to be able to determine the seizure focus from short invasive recordings in the operating room, made before resection of the seizure focus, and to drastically shorten the hospitalisation of epilepsy patients, from several weeks to a few days. Fig 3. Top: Location of the surface electrodes; actual and predicted seizure foci are marked in blue and red respectively (overlapping). Bottom: Relative power (dimensionless) of the EEG at each electrode in the frequency band 1 5Hz, where an increase of relative power can be noticed at the electrodes inside the seizure foci. In collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (USA), the research team has applied signal processing techniques to invasive semi-chronic recordings between seizures, in order to extract signatures of the seizure focus, such as high-frequency oscillations and spikes. Specifically designed statistical decision algorithms (see Fig 3) leverage those different signatures to determine the seizure focus in an automated fashion. In future work, these algorithms will be applied to short invasive recordings made in the operating room. Real-Time Sociofeedback People have distinct individual characteristics, such as personality, status, intelligence, maturity, and language. All these aspects in different combinations result in individual speaking mannerisms. In collaboration with Prof Nadia Magnenat-Thalmann and Prof Daniel Thalmann from NTU s Institute for Media Innovation, Prof Martin Constable from the School of Arts, Design and Media, and Dr Shoko Dauwels from the Nanyang Business School, the research team has invented systems that can provide real-time and retrospective feedback about social behaviour in conversations, helping speakers to adjust their talking mannerisms to each other. The algorithms analyse audio- and video signals in real-time, and compute a variety of statistics, which can be visualised in a Graphical User Interface for real-time monitoring of conversations. The system has been integrated in the voice-over-internet software application Skype, providing real-time sociofeedback during online discussions. For retrospective feedback, the team has designed game-like animations that visualise the highlights of a conversation in an automated fashion (see Fig 4). This approach can visualise the many complex threads of information in a manner that is relatively intuitive for participants to review and comprehend. These sociofeedback systems may help to boost the effectiveness of job interviews, group discussions, coaching, teaching, or public speaking. Fig 4. Retrospective feedback about a conversation in the form of animations. In this example, flames indicate excessive interruptions. 11

14 Insight Enemy At The Gate By Richard Sugrue Making Sense Of Pathogen-Host Interactions During Virus Maturation Assoc Prof Richard Sugrue is the Head of the Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology Division at NTU's School of Biological Sciences. The described projects are collaborations with Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), DSO National Laboratories, KK Children's and Women's Hospital (KKH), and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Interdisciplinary Research Group (SMART-IRG) on Infectious Diseases. Funding support came from the National Medical Research Council, Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), NTU and the National Research Foundation. Every year a large proportion of the world s population succumbs to virus infections of the respiratory tract. The outcomes of these infections are largely determined by molecular interactions between the virus and host that manifest in a range of phenomena, from virus transmission to virus pathogenicity. My research team focuses on the molecular interactions between virus and host cell during the process of virus maturation. In the past, this important stage of virus replication has been the target of several successful antivirus strategies such as retrovirus protease inhibitors and influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitors. Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Significant Health Concerns Locally And Globally Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for globally approximately 64 million infections and 160,000 deaths each year and the predominant cause of lower respiratory tract (LRT) virus infection in young children. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a virus closely related to RSV and only discovered in 2002, typically infects older children, leading to generally less severe disease symptoms. In Singapore, RSV and HMPV infections pose important health concerns. A study, led by our team in collaboration with Singapore's KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and DSO National Laboratories, estimated that both RSV and HMPV infections together account for approximately 17 % of children hospitalised at KKH with virus related respiratory tract infections. Other high-risk groups for severe RSV and HMPV infections include the elderly and adults with impaired immune systems. The lack of effective vaccines and the limited availability of cost-effective therapeutics aggravate this clinical scenario. RSV Infection, Particle Formation And Transmission To Other Cells During RSV infection, two distinct virus structures inclusion bodies and virus filaments (Fig 1) are formed. Inclusion bodies, made up of aggregates of proteins, are associated with virus gene replication and transcription and thus reproduction of virus particle components. Virus filaments, forming on the surface of infected cells, are the sites where mature virus particles are assembled and subsequently transmitted to other cells. Our current studies on HMPV maturation indicate that the mechanisms of virus particle maturation are similar to those of RSV and thus conserved in these viruses. Fig 1. The association of virus filaments and inclusion bodies in RSV infected cells. A 3D projection of an image obtained by confocal microscopy showing an inclusion body (IB) and associated virus filaments (VF). The main focus of our studies is towards a better understanding of virus filaments formation and RSV particle assembly. Several host cell proteins that are usually associated with cell membranes or scaffolding, e.g. caveolin-1 and actin (Fig 2), were detected in the envelopes of purified RSV particles. Further research showed that virus assembly takes place at complex cell membrane structures composed of specialised lipid membrane structures (lipid-raft microdomains) that are stabilised by actin. In addition, activation of several small GTPases, enzymes that play a role in regulating actin structure, is also required for RSV filament formation. Current work is in progress to characterise the interactions between the virus and cell proteins and to elucidate the cell signal networks that lead to virus assembly and facilitate intercellular transmission of RSV particles. Infected Macrophages Do Not Produce Virus Particles But Induce Inflammation Lung macrophages are proposed to play an important role in the early clinical response to RSV infection. In contrast to cell types that are permissive to RSV infection, RSV infection of macrophages results in a phenomenon known as 'abortive infection'. Although virus infection of macrophages leads to the expression of several virus proteins and formation of inclusion bodies (Fig 4), infectious virus particles are 12 PUSHING FRONTIERS

15 Fig 2. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showing the association of F-actin and Caveolin-1 with virus structures in RSV-infected cells. (A) Left: cellular protein F-actin stained in blue; middle: viral N protein stained in red; right: merging of both images: overlap of the staining of cellular F-actin and viral N protein (purple) indicates that both types of proteins are found within the virus filament (VF). (B) The cellular membrane protein Caveolin-1 (red) and the viral F protein (green) are both located within the virus filament (VF) in the merged image. not produced. However, infection with RSV induces strong and sustained activation of cytokines, a category of signalling molecules, which promote systemic inflammation. The research team aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that impair virus particle formation in these cells and to decipher the processes that lead to inflammation. Since RSV is harmful to cells of the immune system, a greater understanding of these processes will advance the development of therapeutics to mitigate the strong inflammation that is associated with severe RSV infections. Avian And Human Influenza Virus According to estimates of the World Health Organization ( seasonal influenza accounts for approximately 0.2 billion infections and 500,000 deaths each year. Although seasonal influenza virus infects primarily humans and is typically transmitted from person to person via aerosols, influenza viruses can also be transmitted as zoonotic infections from avian species or swine. The research team aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that allow avian viruses to become adapted to mammalian hosts. Adaptation has been the driver in all past influenza pandemics, and will most likely be the major factor in future influenza pandemics. Fig 3. RSV-infected lung macrophages were stained for RSV (green) and a cell protein (red) and visualised by fluorescence scanning confocal microscopy at magnification x100. The white arrow highlights the presence of virus inclusion bodies. The team uses model viruses of human and avian origin such as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses of H5N2 and H9N2 subtype, isolated from live broiler ducks that were detected by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore when imported into Singapore, and ph1n1 viruses that were isolated from patients in Singapore during the influenza pandemic in These viruses have been completely characterised at the genetic level and their biological properties were established in several cell types. Infection of human airway cells with the LPAI virus isolates (H5N2 and H9N2) leads to inflammatory responses not seen with viruses adapted to laboratories such as the H1N1/WSN and H1N1/PR8 isolates that are commonly used to examine influenza virus replication. In addition, the LPAI viruses were not able to reproduce, assemble and transmit virus particles. Further examination of the biological properties of LPAI viruses and human influenza virus isolates will provide a clearer understanding of species adaptation. Fig 4. Virus assembly in H9N2 virus-infected cell cultures is impaired. Cell cultures infected with either H1N1/WSN lab-adapted viruses or H9N2 virus isolates were stained for viral N protein and viewed using a fluorescence microscope. The nuclei are highlighted (white arrows). Staining of most cells infected with lab-adapted virus H1N1/WSN show generalised cell staining indicating virus assembly has taken place. In contrast, cells infected with the H9N2 virus show only brightly stained nuclei, indicating that the virus N protein is not transported from the cell nucleus to the sites of virus assembly at the cell surface. Insets show the staining pattern at higher magnification. 13

16 Insight Bio-Inspired Materials Science By Paul A. Guerette, Ondrej Zvarec, Vitali Lipik and Ali Miserez Asst Prof Ali Miserez is a Nanyang Assistant Professor at the Schools of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and Biological Sciences (SBS) and Head of the Biological and Biomimetic Materials Laboratory (BBML). Dr Paul A. Guerette and Dr Vitali Lipik are Senior Research Fellows and Dr Ondrej Zvarec is a Research Fellow, all at MSE. Translating Biological Design Into Eco-Friendly Materials Bio-inspired engineering has attracted considerable research interest in the past decade, though nature as a source of inspiration for scientists is not new. For instance, in the mid 20th century, zoologists exhibited a keen interest in understanding topics such as insect flight physiology that eventually led to identification and in-lab replication of the key material (called resilin) for insect flight. In the past two decades, materials scientists and chemists have extensively studied a wide range of biological materials, from soft to hard tissues, and this growing interest has led to remarkable progress in linking the intriguing properties of biological materials to their structure and chemistry. In addition, tremendous advances in molecular and genetic engineering technologies and instrumentation now allow affordable high-throughput genetic sequencing of a vast and diverse array of biological systems and materials. The research team at NTU's Biological and Biomimetic Materials Laboratory (BBML) aims at elucidating the molecular, structural and functional relationships of unique natural materials in a synergistic approach that combines techniques such as protein and genetic sequencing, structure-property relationships at the nano-scale, recombinant protein expression and self-assembly, as well as chemical functionalisation and polymer synthesis (Fig 1). Many of our model systems are marine organisms from Singapore's intertidal zone, which contains hundreds of intriguing species. Conveniently accessible, these organisms include mussels, marine snails, cephalopods and stomatopods (Fig 2). Core research focuses on understanding how robust multi-functional materials are being fabricated under benign environmental conditions, i.e. without the need for high temperatures, high pressures or harsh chemicals. The biological tissues of the study organisms produced from natural chemicals in the Fig 1. Four types of model systems are studied at BBML: (1) wear-resistant tissues and materials that do not contain a hard mineral phase; (2) water-resistant natural glues secreted by mussels and other marine molluscs; (3) bioelastomeric materials made of intermediate-filament (IF) protein types; (4) ultra-high damage resistant biomineralised structures. Structure/ properties from the macro- down to the molecular scale Toolkit And Expertise Biochemistry/ sequencing of biological materials and extra-cellular tissues Translation into biomimetic synthesis and application of bio-inspired materials Model Systems 1. Structural unmineralised hard tissues 2. Water-resistant adhesives and glues 3. Bioelastomers and IF-based materials 4. Biomineralised structures with ultra-high damage resistance These biological materials are studied by combining expertise in Materials Science (materials structureproperties relationships) and Life Sciences (biochemistry / sequencing of protein-based materials). Translation into synthesis of biomimetic materials is carried out by genetic engineering as well as polymer chemistry approaches. aqueous milieus of tropical oceans under conditions of low temperatures and pressures and thus without much energetic input can provide invaluable lessons in sustainability and green chemistry. Ultimately, the aim of the BBML researchers is to mimic such chemistry, following two approaches: One approach attempts to completely reproduce model materials using genetic engineering strategies. The second approach aims at replicating the key physico-chemical interactions discovered in model systems using polymer chemistry and functionalisation approaches. Molecular Biomimetics: From Genotype To Phenotype A complete approach to biomimetics requires detailed knowledge of primary protein sequence design and processing conditions. One of the cornerstones of the BBML involves the identification and sequencing of genes that encode key structural proteins of high-performance biomaterials. Examples include (1) squid sucker teeth, which are robust materials found in the tentacles of squid that perform grappling functions (Fig 2A, Fig 3); (2) squid beaks, which exhibit extreme hardness and impressive wear resistance 14 PUSHING FRONTIERS

17 (see Fig 3); (3) marine snail egg cases, which feature elastomeric materials with unique shock absorbing properties (Fig 2B); and (4) mussel byssal materials, which are made of self-healing fibers and water-resistant adhesives. In collaboration with scientists from the Molecular Engineering Lab at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the research team uses state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing technology combined with proteomics tools to reveal the primary sequences, designs and processing mechanisms of these diverse materials. With the genes and protein sequences in hand, novel proteins can be designed and engineered in high amounts using recombinant protein expression tools. These recombinant proteins are then purified, assembled and/or processed further into high-performance fibres, films, adhesives and bulk materials that mimic the structural as well as biophysical and mechanical properties of these remarkable native materials (Fig 3). Materials Synthesis: Utilising Key Physical-Chemical Principles In parallel to genetic and protein-engineering strategies, the team is employing powerful reductionist approaches in the biomimicry of model systems. Based on a fundamental understanding of the key biological and chemical processes and principles that are responsible for the unique characteristics of natural materials, chemists at the BBML are replicating these principles by tailoring the physico-chemical behaviour of natural polymers through highly controlled chemical modification processes. Fig 2. Model systems. (A) Sucker ring teeth are fully proteinaceous yet robust materials that line the tentacles of squid, and are self-assembled only through weak interactions between the constitutive proteins. (B) The ability of marine snails' elastomeric egg case membranes to absorb mechanical shock is unmatched in synthetic elastomers. (C) Stomatopods have evolved remarkable dactyl clubs, which they use to shatter the shells of molluscs with impact forces up to 500 N (500 kg m/s 2 ). (D) Sandcastle worms construct a tubular protective casing using water-resistant glue. This highly versatile polypeptidic glue can stick together diverse solid materials (here glass beads and egg shell fragments). BBML scientists are synthesising polypeptides that closely resemble the native glue to produce adhesives for biomedical applications. Advanced Bioinspired Materials Biological Approach Synthetic Approach Squid Sucker Teeth Next-Gen Sequencing Recombinant Culture Biomimetic Material Squid Beak Chemical Synthesis Chemical Crosslinking Biomimetic Material Fig 3. Advanced bioinspired materials. In the "Biological approach" genes encoding proteins of model systems provide templates for novel protein designs. Recombinant proteins are assembled into high-performance fibres, films, adhesives and bulk materials. In the "Synthetic approach" polymer scaffolds are chemically modified to incorporate additional functionality and chemically cross-linked with peptides or inorganic particles to mimic chemical interactions observed in model materials in order to yield designed biomimetic materials (e.g. biocompatible hydrogel films or adhesives). The major goal is to combine biomimetic principles gathered from various model systems into one material. As an example, squids employ controlled dehydration in order to gradually strengthen the tissue of their beak from soft to hard by diffusing hydrophobic proteins and chemicals into a hydrophilic polysaccharide network. This controlled desolvation can be utilised to create strong hydrogel materials that are chemically resistant, biocompatible, and orders of magnitude stiffer than currently available hydrogels. In parallel, mimetic peptidic domains are synthesised based on sequences discovered in the generated genetic databases and incorporated into chemically modified polymer matrices. This approach aims at the complete mimicry of the structural phenomena observed in the model systems. In the near future, this multifaceted approach will enable the engineering of materials that are truly self-healing and multi-functional for possible applications in regenerative medicine. 15

18 Insight "Beyond The Invisible" By Baile Zhang, Hongyi Xu, and Handong Sun The Emerging Technology of Transformation Optics Historically, most optical/electromagnetic devices were developed based on the following materialoriented procedure Material > Function in which the specific properties of a material need to be studied thoroughly before any desired function utilising this material can be thought of. For example, a magnifying lens was possible only after the refraction properties of glass had been thoroughly studied in history. Transformation optics, a recently emerging field in optical and material sciences, describes materials as effectively warping the optical space in a way analogous to how gravity warps space and time as described in the general theory of relativity. This geometrical description bridges the barrier between material and function in principles of optical device design and generates an inverse design procedure as follows: Material < Function Fig 1. A pink paper roll becomes transparent and invisible in an area that is covered by a calcite crystal 'cloak'. Asst Prof Baile Zhang, Asst Prof Handong Sun and graduate student Hongyi Xu are from NTU's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies. The authors are thankful for the support and discussions with Prof George Barbastathis (Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and the Singapore- MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre). Asst Prof Baile Zhang was named in 2012 by MIT's Technology Review as one of the world's top 35 innovators under the age of 35 for his work on the invisible cloak. More details can be found in the following publications: Physical Review Letters (2011) 106, ; Light: Science & Applications (2012) 1, e32; DOI: /lsa ; and Scientific Reports (2012) 2, 784. Once the desired optical function has been described geometrically, the required warping of space for that function is realised by changing the properties of the materials. Inverse design becomes extremely exciting when it is combined with artificially nano-built versatile materials, or meta-materials, whose optical properties can in principle be engineered almost at will. This revolutionary combination opens the door to many unprecedented optical functions, including 'invisibility cloaking', a concept that has been capturing people's imagination in science fiction stories but has not previously been thought possible. Challenge And Opportunity Despite the great potential of applying the inverse design procedure to meta-materials, there is still a long way to go before every design can be translated into practical use, especially if working with wavelengths in the visible and infrared spectrum. Thus, the immaturity of nano-built meta-materials has put the inverse design procedure in an awkward predicament: direct application of the inverse design typically results in material specifications that require heroic nanofabrication efforts and are difficult to reproduce to that extent needed to establish a true technological revolution with global impact. So, does that mean the technology of transformation optics including 'invisibility cloaking' is merely a castle in the air at this stage? In fact, our research team, in collaboration with Prof George Barbastathis from the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has found a way to solve this predicament. The team developed a novel methodology, utilising technical advantages from both the novel inverse design and the traditional forward 16 PUSHING FRONTIERS

19 design, to overcome the boundary between meta-materials and natural materials. The new method can be illustrated as a design procedure loop: Material < - > Function Creating The 'Invisibility Cloak' The creation of a macroscopic 'invisibility cloak' provided the first direct test for the novel methodology. By using natural optical materials, which were not conceivable under the inverse design procedure, the research team succeeded in yielding the desired transformation optics functions. The conceptual 'invisibility cloak' device can render an object invisible by guiding light rays around an object in the same way as water streams around a stone in a brook. Whereas previously designed 'invisibility cloaks' only work at the micro-scale, the research team successfully constructed an 'invisibility cloak' in visible light using a special construct made of natural calcite crystals (Fig 1). The operating principle of 'cloaking' an object is explained in Fig 2. An observer can see all the light emitted from a light source and reasonably concludes that the space in between is free of objects. If an obstacle blocks the light path it is detectable through the diversion of the light rays resulting in a shadow. However, if a 'cloak' can guide the light rays around the obstacle and return them to their original trajectory, the obstacle is 'invisible' to the observer. Key to implementing the new principle at macroscopic scales and in manifold applications is the wide availability of calcite crystals that are used to form the 'invisibility cloak'. Keeping Surface Plasmons In Line Beyond cloaking, the novel technology can be applied to many problems with profound impact. For example, how to maintain Moore s Law (a computing term that states that the processing power for computers will double every two years) is a big challenge faced by the global semiconductor industry. Plasmonic circuits that allow data transmission through metallic elements with resonance offer the potential to combine the superior technical properties of photonics (e.g. high speed) with electronics (e.g. sub-wavelength size) at the nano-scale and thus provide a promising solution to maintain Moore s Law. However, while electrons flowing in copper wires are almost unaffected by the environment outside the wires, the routing and manipulation of surface plasmons (the coherent electron oscillations that exist at the interface between metal and dielectric) is fundamentally flawed by their loss due to scattering when they encounter obstacles or changes to their path such as sharp bending corners (cf. Fig 3a and b). Thus it is very desirable to make routing and manipulation 'invisible' to surface plasmons. Recent research of our team showed that the problem of surface plasmon loss through scattering could be overcome. Creation of a curved electromagnetic space out of layered dielectric materials, which possess similar properties as calcite, allows the guiding of surface plasmons around corners as if they are still propagating on flat surfaces (Fig 3c). Fig 2. Operating principle of the 'invisibility cloak'. (a) An unobstructed light path between a light source and an observer. (b) An obstacle blocks the light path and casts an observable shadow, revealing the existence of the obstacle. (c) The 'cloak' can guide light around the obstacle and back to its original path without imposing any phase delay. From the viewing point of the observer the obstacle is invisible. Fig 3. Propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (a) on a flat metal/dielectric interface; (b) around a corner of 90 degrees, resulting in strong scattering; and (c) around a corner of 90 degrees that is covered by a curved electromagnetic space constructed with layered glass/air media (denoted with letter C), which suppresses scattering. Transformation optics provides a new concept in the design of various types of optical materials. Integration of this new concept into a broader regime of optics on macro- as well as nano-scales could considerably advance a current cutting-edge scientific frontier towards practical industrial applications. The captivating idea of inversing the design flow from function to material has inspired the imagination in the past few years. However, integration of the direction from material to function into the creation of new designs is of equal importance at this stage. As commented in an introductory article in Science (2010, vol. 330, pg. 1622), the idea of transformation optics is so beautiful that it would seem a profligate waste of inspiration if it didn t lead to something useful. 17

20 In Focus Electromobility in megacities goes beyond the electric car and scales from molecules to the megacity itself. TUM CREATE s research covers topics from new battery materials to urban transportation infrastructure. Prof Subodh Mhaisalkar, Executive Director of ERI@N and Co-Scientific Director of TUM CREATE. Fig 1. Electric taxi design study. By Nicola Wittekindt Exploring The Future Of Urban Electromobility The rapid increase in global road traffic that entails extensive emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon-dioxide urgently demands new solutions in low or zero-emission transportation systems and vehicles. TUM CREATE, a major research project driven by the Energy Research NTU (ERI@N) and Germany's Technical University Munich (TUM) and sponsored under the Singapore National Research Foundation's CREATE (Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise) programme, has taken on the challenge to establish a new paradigm in electromobility for urban environments. TUM CREATE is spearheading the development of unique solutions for tropical megacities that will place Singapore in a pole position for test-bedding, creation and export of novel key technologies in electric vehicles and transportation systems. A comprehensive concept for electric vehicle transportation in tropical metropolises needs to integrate tailored solutions from many diverse disciplines, ranging from materials research to vehicle construction and infrastructure, while taking into account the specific climatic requirements of tropical cities. Led by renowned scientists from NTU and TUM, interdisciplinary teams of chemists, physicists, computer scientists and mechanical, electric and civil engineers are exploring new materials and advanced battery technologies as well as new concepts in vehicle design and construction, computer systems for simulation and modelling, vehicle control and communication, and energy- and vehicle-related infrastructure. Strong links to key local and international industry players such as Bosch and Singapore Power will help advance solutions in energy management or urban infrastructure, for instance, solar-powered parking lots or high-speed and wireless battery charging technologies. Many of the developed solutions will be integrated and showcased in TUM CREATE's pilot project, an electric-powered taxi. Since taxis cover a lot of mileage and run all day, a change made to the taxi population will bring the greatest impact on Singapore s future era of electromobility. Purpose-built for the tropical megacity, the electric taxi will offer comfortable access and ample space for passengers and their luggage, and provide a pleasant workplace for the driver. Rolling Test Stands With Unique Character Our vision is to design a car with a specific form that reflects its designated use as a taxi. Thus it will gain a unique character similar to the London taxi making it immediately recognisable, says Prof Ulrich Stimming, Professor of Technical Physics at TUM, Visiting Professor at NTU and Scientific Advisor and Principal Investigator at TUM CREATE. A particular challenge of the tropical conditions that are typical for Singapore is the need for constant operation of air-conditioning systems. To satisfy the energy demands of simultaneous driving and air-conditioning operations, Prof Stimming's team is developing a small fuel cell operating on bioethanol that will serve as an auxiliary power source for the air-conditioning system. In addition, new materials, designs and technologies such as absorption dehumidification to separate air dehumidification and actual cooling processes aim to reduce cooling demands to levels below 1 kilowatt. Furthermore, future prototypes may feature photovoltaic cells embedded in the vehicle's roof or other surfaces to supply electricity for air-conditioning systems. 18 PUSHING FRONTIERS

21 The first electric taxi prototypes, anticipated for 2014, will serve as rolling test stands to advance technological developments. The long-term objective is to develop a marketable solution for electricpowered taxis as part of an integrative concept for electromobility in megacities. Drawing The Driving Force From The Sun Exemplifying NTU's efforts in clean energy car technologies is also a series of solar cars that have been designed and built by an interdisciplinary team of students from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and several other engineering schools at NTU. Under the supervision of Assoc Prof Ng Heong Wah, four solar cars (Nanyang Ventures I, II, III and V) successfully participated in international solar car race challenges such as the Shell Eco Marathon Europe (2009) and Asia (2010, winning the Solar Grand Prize, and 2011), and the World Solar Challenge in 2009 and The design and construction of the solar cars encompassed solar cell engineering, CAD vehicle design, lightweight carbon composite fabrication, vehicle electronics and battery packaging, making the cars so effective that Nanyang Venture III was able to travel for 522 km on just 1 kwh, while Nanyang Venture V can reach a top speed of 70 km/hour powered by sunlight alone. Electric Vehicles For All Facets Of Urban Street Life Students from the MAE in collaboration with ERI@N under the supervision of Assoc Prof Ng Heong Wah are designing a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) for the transportation of up to four passengers in urban environments. The BEV aims at a driving range of up to 80 kilometres on a single charge and serves as a test-bed for future alternative energy sources such as hydrogen fuel-cells and new battery technologies. Future travellers will be able to traverse a city quickly, safely and comfortably with the Multi-Purpose Scooter (MPS), a TUM CREATE project being carried out at NTU's Innovation@MAE Lab. Fig 2. Solar car Nanyang Venture V successfully travelled 2283 km in the 2011 World Solar Challenge, Australia. The project aims to create a mobility solution to combat increasingly congested roads in megacities, like those in Southeast Asia, says Stephan Schickram. The German PhD candidate from TUM CREATE is the project s lead and was pivotal in starting the project in August The two-wheeled compact transportation system, with a width of only 0.7 m specifically designed to navigate congested urban streets, will be able to transport a passenger comfortably seated and secured in an enclosed crash-protected compartment. This removable cabin can be switched to other purpose-built modules to suit different needs from transporting light cargo to setting up a mobile kitchen. It can start off as a premium product to transport business people through the congestions in the city, complete with weather protection and even air-conditioning, Schickram says. Then, we can explore other modules for different purposes. Powered by lithium ion batteries and with a targeted top speed of 45 km/hour and a range of approximately 80 km, the economical and environmentally-friendly MPS can be charged at any wall power socket en route. As an alternative to the fuel-powered auto rickshaws or Tuk-Tuks of many Asian cities, the compact electric two-wheeler can serve as taxi, goods transporter or as mobile stand for street vendors and hawkers. Fig 3. Left: Wooden mock-up of the BEV to test driver-vehicle interaction (ergonomics, human interface) and vehicle components before construction of the actual 'frame on wheel' vehicle. Right: Model of the plug-in BEV. 19

22 In Focus Fig 1. Capturing data from a real-world object. By Dinesh Kumar Using Augmented Reality For Anatomical Education Anatomy is an important area for medicine and a vital part of a basic medical education. For new medical schools such as the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) at NTU, ensuring that students develop a strong knowledge base in anatomy is essential. One of the main challenges in anatomical education for medical students is the difficulty to investigate in depth the layered structures of the human body. In addition, two-dimensional (2D) illustrations such as those found in textbooks do not offer the possibility to view anatomical structures from different angles. Rapid developments in the field of medical imaging in recent years now present new opportunities for students to visualise and explore the structure of the human body. In particular, the use of augmented reality (AR) technology will drastically improve the ways students are taught anatomy. The use of technology for teaching and learning is a unique and distinguishing characteristic of the medical curriculum of the LKCMedicine. NTU's new medical school that will welcome its first cohort of students in summer 2013 has aligned its mode of teaching medicine to the ways the tech-savvy students of this millennium take in information. Thus, at LKCMedicine, the majority of learning materials such as the contents of lectures will be available electronically. All students will be issued ipads containing their timetable, assessments and an extensive e-learning portfolio. The goal of the technology-based teaching mode of LKCMedicine is to encourage students to take ownership of their learning. As most of the curriculum contents will be uploaded onto their ipads, students will be able to view the material anytime and anywhere. For example, students will be able to view videos of practical procedures on their way to the hospital wards where they will subsequently witness those procedures done in a real-life clinical setting. This will enable medical students to refer to learning contents wherever they are and hence optimise their use of time. The School, in collaboration with Fraunhofer Interactive Digital Media@NTU (Fraunhofer IDM@NTU), a research centre for visual computing, has developed an interactive learning application that enables students to manipulate three-dimensional (3D) representations of the human anatomy on the ipad. The new application overlays the real world such as anatomical models with pertinent additional information in the form of text, images, videos and animations that helps to strongly enhance the learning experience (Fig 1, 2). Fig 2. Labelling of anatomical details overlaying a real-world picture on an ipad. 20 PUSHING FRONTIERS

23 This method of anatomy study using AR technology provides a holistic approach towards learning by integrating new and interactive digital media with more traditional learning tools such as textbooks and anatomical models, thus enriching the students' experience. Fraunhofer IDM@NTU Director, Prof Wolfgang Mueller-Wittig, says, Using this augmented method, students are immersed in a highly interactive and proactive learning environment. And when students are engaged, they are stimulated to learn more. This is one of the many prototypes at Fraunhofer IDM@NTU aimed at creating innovative learning environments using AR technology. In addition, and in contrast to traditional 2D learning materials, the new application will allow students to view the human anatomy at any magnification and depth. By enabling the user to magnify, drag and rotate specific organs or body parts he or she wants to learn more about, this new technology greatly improves learning about human anatomy. Installed on students' ipads, the AR application lets them grab contents by pointing to real-world objects, for instance posters, that have been pre-designed to correspond with the ipads (Fig 3, 4). The interaction will trigger the appearance of learning materials such as slides and videos on the ipads. Fig 4. Asst Prof Dinesh Kumar demonstrating the augmented reality tool to a prospective student. posters detailing anatomy structures will be strategically placed in the hospital teaching spaces and students will be able to download learning materials by pointing to specific segments of the poster. Anatomical education requires students to capture a large amount of information in order to understand the workings of organ systems. The ability to download all relevant information from real-world objects such as posters provided in the teaching spaces will facilitate effective learning and substantially reduce the need for students to extensively research other resources for anatomical information. However, it is important to note that this application has so far been developed as a supplementary learning tool. The application will not be a substitute for practical sessions as those give students the opportunity to view various human anatomy structures in real life and first-hand. Much of the practical sessions will also take place in conjunction with radiologists and surgeons at the school and in the context of team-based learning events. Nevertheless, digital tools have become essential learning and teaching tools in medical education today as the volume and complexity of medical information have increased in recent years. Thus, it is important to deliver contents in fresh, fascinating and effective ways so that students are able to absorb, retain and apply that information with ease. Fig 3. Interaction with a poster triggers the appearance of explanatory slides and videos. The education of tomorrow has to suit students preferred learning methods to pique and maintain their interest. In line with this, the teaching of anatomy at LKCMedicine is geared towards raising future generations of highly qualified doctors. The implementation of technology-enhanced learning not only allows for individually enriched customised learning through the adoption of state-of-the-art AR applications, but also extends the pedagogical experience beyond the classroom. Students will be able to use this application in a variety of formal and informal learning environments such as within the medical school, the polyclinics and hospital teaching spaces. For example, Asst Prof Dinesh Kumar is Lead for Anatomy Teaching and Head of Examinations (Phase 1) at the LKCMedicine. Fraunhofer IDM@NTU, a joint research centre between NTU and Europe's largest institution for applied research, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, advances solutions for Interactive Digital Media (IDM) and visual computing in science and engineering. 21

24 In Focus Fig 1. Young Intha on Inle Lake. Decline in the traditional and unique mode of Intha fishing, in which Intha men use only one leg to row the boat, is partly due to lake pollution. By Nicola Wittekindt Lien Aid And Lien Environmental Fellowships NTU s Philanthropic Arms To Battle Poverty And Poor Health In Asia Around four million people half of them in Asia die every year from diseases associated with contaminated drinking water and inadequate sanitation. Clean water is not only essential for public health but also for economic and societal development. Lien Foundation-NTU Environmental Endeavour (EE2), a partnership between NTU and the Singapore-based philanthropic Lien Foundation, has taken up the battle against poverty and economic stagnation caused by the lack of safe drinking water. As a member of NTU's Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) ecosystem, EE2 draws from NTU's and NEWRI's expertise in engineering, water technologies and business. EE2 follows a three-pronged approach to meeting challenges in clean water and sanitation: The Lien Environmental Fellowship (LEF), the Lien Student Programme that engages students through participation in EE2 projects, and the Lien Alliance for International Development (Lien AID) that implements projects benefiting disadvantaged communities. Funding And Support For Innovative On-Site Solutions The LEF programme provides funding to academics in Asia to foster and implement innovative ideas and education in water and sanitation issues. Fig 2. Floating wetlands on Kandy Lake. LEF Fellows are mentored through leading scientists at NEWRI on conceptualisation, testing and implementation of on-site solutions that benefit their home communities. Since the beginning of the programme in 2010, seven LEF projects in six countries Myanmar, Indonesia, Laos, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal received funding under EE2. Research efforts focus on constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and waste management in urban and rural areas. Preserving A World Heritage Lake For Future Generations The first project, awarded by LEF to Dr Shameen Jinadasa from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, tackles water pollution in Kandy Lake and Mid Canal in Sri Lanka. The lake and canal next to the city of Kandy, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are heavily polluted due to increasing urbanisation and inadequate waste management. In an initial step, a pilot-scale floating wetland with water treatment properties was installed in the lake (Fig 2). Several Environmental Engineering students participants of NTU's Lien Student Programme supported the project by assessing water quality, conducting surveys, and developing a school environmental education programme. Sustaining The Intha Community At Inle Lake, Myanmar In the face of tourism growth at Inle Lake, an ASEAN heritage site, Dr Khin Lay Swe from the Yezin Agricultural University (YAU) mooted the idea to develop clean water and sanitation systems at Myanmar s second largest lake (Fig 1). 22 PUSHING FRONTIERS

25 Students from NTU and YAU assessed water quality and educated the lake dwellers on the need for clean water. On-going plans to support sustainable uses of the lake include encouraging organic farming at the floating market gardens and advising appropriate management of waste dyes in the weaving factories. Lien AID s project aims at providing treated drinking water to residents of floating communities. The construction of floating water treatment and bottling plants the first with a 8,000 litre per day capacity was completed in Chnok Trou Commune is complemented by training of local entrepreneurs in business, management and marketing to implement commune-led plant operation. UV radiation of the raw water renders treated drinking water that is bottled and sold at prices that are affordable to the families and at the same time sustain plant maintenance costs (Fig 3). Operation and maintenance guidelines as well as on-going monitoring by Lien AID ensure sustainability of the enterprise that today encompasses three water treatment plants and is currently scaled up to finally reach 23 communities. At Lien AID, achieving sustainability is our topmost priority. Our Tonlé Sap Project is an excellent example of our commitment to sustainable development and poverty alleviation through the implementation of technologies and entrepreneurship, explains Lien AID s CEO Koh Lian Hock. Fig 3. Bottling radiation-treated drinking water on Tonlé Sap Lake. Lien AID: Implementing Technologies And Community Self-Management Strategies Since 2006, Lien AID has been developing innovative and sustainable water and sanitation solutions based on appropriate technologies, on-the-ground support and knowledge transfer. Its approach consists of assessing the local communities' needs and exploring ways in which simple technologies can be integrated affordably and effectively to local conditions to ensure sustainable and rapidly scalable programmes. All projects have a strong element of community involvement to nurture a sense of project ownership and ensure local continuation. Lien AID's projects currently focus on drought mitigation, water quality, the healthcare sector and marketing approaches in Cambodia, Vietnam and China. Water For Floating Communities Tonlé Sap in Kampong Chnang Province, Cambodia, is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997 for its rich biodiversity. As part of a large lake-river system, the lake is drained by the Tonlé Sap River during the dry season and refilled during monsoon season with nutrient-rich waters from the Mekong that provide for rich fish breeding grounds and extend the lake's area by more than five-fold. An estimated one million people live in floating villages on the lake. Direct defecation into the water (human and animal discharge), sewage and emissions from motorised boats lead to heavy pollution of the lake. Nonetheless, families continue to drink directly from the lake, resulting in a high prevalence of water-related diseases such as diarrhoea. Fig 4. Left: Vietnamese woman with skin discolouration due to use of arsenic contaminated water. Right: Household water filters for arsenic removal. Tackling Arsenic Contamination Of Groundwater And Drinking Water Ingestion of the odour- and tasteless water contaminant arsenic over a period of time can cause arsenicosis, a medical condition with symptoms such as skin thickening and discolouration, partial paralysis, blindness or cancers of several organs (World Health Organisation, 2011). In Nam Dinh Province, Vietnam, Lien AID developed low-cost household water filters and piloted three models of arsenic-removal units in 64 households to improve the quality of drinking water (Fig 4). To ensure sustainability, Lien AID also developed and disseminated educational materials on arsenic removal options and the impact of arsenic on human health. A widespread problem, some rural schools across Cambodia and Vietnam continue to use arsenic-contaminated tube-wells. In consultation with Assoc Prof Lim Teik Thye from NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lien AID is currently looking into improving these schools access to drinking water, either through arsenic removal or through harnessing alternative water sources. 23

26 Discoveries Pilot Study Mitigates Concerns About Quantum Dots Used In Tumour Targeting Cutting out the right amount of tissue when removing a tumour poses major challenges to surgeons and can decide the fates and remaining lifespans of cancer patients. Previous studies in culture cells and rodents have shown the high potential of quantum dots, one type of semiconductor nanocrystals, in the targeting, imaging and identification of tumour tissues. However, concerns about potential toxicity of the heavy metal constituents of quantum dots have prevented their use in medical imaging and diagnostics so far. A new study, led by Asst Prof Yong Ken-Tye from NTU's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in collaboration with researchers from the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, and ChangChun University of Science and Technology, Jilin, PR China, and the University of Buffalo, NY, USA, now may aid to mitigate these concerns. The pilot study showed that rhesus macaques, injected once with phospholipid micelle-encapsulated cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, and zinc sulfide quantum dots did not exhibit any evidence of toxicity as evaluated in multiple organ systems over a period of 90 days. However, since elevated levels of cadmium and selenium were still found in organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys after the testing period, the authors suggest further long-term studies to determine ultimate toxicity risks. Yet, the study strongly raises hopes that in future quantum dots can be widely used in tumour targeting and bioimaging and in other biomedical and clinical fields. The article "A pilot study in non-human primates shows no adverse response to intravenous injection of quantum dots" was published online in Nature Nanotechnology, DOI: /NNANO Heterostructures: A New Class Of Materials For Computer Memory A decade-long race for new atomically engineered materials for electronics and computer devices that allow for much higher computational speeds and memory capacities in combination with lower energy consumption appears to be won. The breakthrough study, led by Assoc Prof Christos Panagopoulos from NTU's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences in collaboration with researchers from universities in Greece, USA and Korea, describes the emergence of properties such as ferroelectricity and magnetoelectricity in thin film heterostructures comprised of stacks of antiferromagnetic and nonferroelectric insulator components. The ability to induce tunable polarised regions in asymmetric layered structures orienting in positions corresponding to zero or one when applying an electric or magnetic field opens up countless possibilities to use these heterostructures for fast computation and non-volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) applications. The study "Tunable ferroelectricity in artificial tri-layer superlattices comprised of non-ferroic components" was published in Nature Communications. 3:1064 (2012); DOI: /ncomms2061. More information can be found on the website 24 PUSHING FRONTIERS

27 Historic Climatic Events Drove Evolution Of Polar Bears Picture credit: Terry Debruyne, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Public domain image. Polar bears evolved as a distinct species up to five million years ago, about four and a half million years earlier than previously estimated, suggests an international study co-led by Prof Stephan Schuster, a professor at Penn State University (PSU) and a research scientist at NTU, Prof Charlotte Lindqvist of the University at Buffalo and Prof Webb Miller of PSU. The research study that compared whole genomes of twenty-seven contemporary polar, brown and black bears, in addition to a 130,000- to 110,000-year old polar bear specimen, revealed that the size of the polar bear population fluctuated with climate change over the last one million years, demonstrating a strong decline in population size and genetic diversity during the last 500,000 years. The genetic data showed evidence that polar and brown bears intermittently interbred, most likely during periods of warming. Inferring from the past to recent global warming, the scientists predict future mixing and interbreeding of the two species due to forced changes in the range and lifestyle of polar bears. The study "Polar and brown bear genomes reveal ancient admixture and demographic footprints of past climate change" was published in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2012); DOI: /pnas A One-Step, Environmentally-Friendly Method For The Synthesis Of High-Quality Ultrathin Metal Sulphide Nanocrystals Ultrathin nanomaterials such as graphene and ultrathin metal sulphide nanocrystals have many attractive properties due to their exceptionally small sizes of only one or two crystal units (less than 5 nm) in at least one dimension and the resultant quantum size effects. Promising applications of ultrathin nanostructures include sensors, catalyst supports, environmental remediation, and lithium-ion batteries. Assoc Prof Zhang Hua and his team from NTU's School of Materials Science and Engineering report a simple and general method for the large-scale synthesis of uniform ultrathin metal sulphide nanocrystals. The method encompasses a simple one-step process that is environmentally-friendly, uses inexpensive reagents and allows synthesis of different kinds of high-quality ultrathin metal sulphide nanocrystals with various compositions and phases at large scale and with high yields. The proof-of-concept study demonstrates fabrication of electrodes for lithium-ion batteries that exhibit large capacities and good cycling stability. The study "A general method for the large-scale synthesis of uniform ultrathin metal sulphide nanocrystals" was published in Nature Communications (2012) 3:1177, DOI: /ncomms2181. Assoc Prof Zhang Hua received one of the two inaugural Small Young Innovator Awards 2012 for important contributions to novel low-dimensional nanomaterials. The Small Young Innovator Awards are conferred on outstanding scientists or engineers in nanoscience and nanotechnology below the age of 45 by Wiley-VCH, the publisher of the nanotechnology journal Small. Assoc Prof Zhang is also the recipient of NTU's 2011 Nanyang Award for "Research Excellence in Materials Technology". 25

28 Discoveries Social Cloud TV, A New Multi-Screen Mobile And Social TV Experience A new human-computer interaction technology enables seamless migration of online videos, movies or TV programmes across multiple screens, from TV to laptop, smartphone or tablet. Moreover, the innovation by Asst Prof Wen Yonggang and his team from the Centre for Multimedia and Network Technology (CeMNet) at NTU's School of Computer Engineering is a cloud-based social TV platform that allows the sharing of current media contents between users and, simultaneously, social interactions regarding these contents. Thus, using social network platforms, videos or shows can be watched together with friends or family who are someplace else and discussed via video chat, voice or text messages. Key technologies include a Cloud-Assist Social TV Framework, Cloud-based Media Transcoding, Content Delivery as a Service, and Session Migration. Assoc Prof Miao Chun Yan from NTU's School of Computer Engineering, who is conducting research on infusing intelligent agents into interactive new media, says "With the development of increasingly powerful cloud computing based content delivery platforms, TV is moving inevitably from traditional media to Internet-based media. Social cloud TV will one day be a part of our life." The research has gained widespread interest in the digital media industry. A start-up company will help to further develop and commercialise the innovative multi-screen mobile social TV experience that is expected to be on the market by the end of Memshield: An Innovative Low-Cost Water Monitoring System NTU's spin-off company MINT (Membrane Instruments and Technology) is commercialising a system that will help water treatment plants save up to two-thirds of their water monitoring operation costs. The new 3-in-1 system, developed by Dr Adrian Yeo, a Research Fellow at the Singapore Membrane Technology Centre under NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and founder and CEO of MINT, is able to (1) monitor water quality and identify the presence of bacteria or other contaminants, (2) detect the presence of broken membrane filters, and (3) pinpoint a broken filter with an accuracy of 1 in 100,000 filters. All three crucial processes, required for compliance of water treatment plants using membrane technology with international standards, are integrated into one system in a single device called Memshield. 26 PUSHING FRONTIERS

29 A New Way Of Delivering Anti-Scarring Treatment For Post-Surgical Glaucoma Patients The success of glaucoma surgery is often jeopardised by post-operative scarring, a risk affecting up to one in three operated Asian patients. Scarring is treated via injection of the drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) into the eye, a procedure that is repeated several times during the weeks of wound healing as the drug is only effective for a few hours after injection. In a joint effort, Prof Subbu Venkatraman, Chair of NTU's School of Materials Science and Engineering, and Assoc Prof Tina Wong, adjunct professor at NTU and Head of the Ocular Therapeutics and Drug Delivery Research Group at the Singapore Eye Research Institute, developed a system in which 5-FU is nano-encapsulated in a gel composed of hyaluronic acid, enabling gradual drug release over several days after injection. Patients treated with the new gel required fewer drug injections and showed improved post-operative outcomes with reduced risks of ocular infection and sight-threatening complications. Ongoing research aims to prolong and define drug release so that ultimately a single injection at the time of glaucoma surgery will suffice to suppress scarring. The study "Randomised controlled trial of a sustained delivery formulation of 5-Fluorouracil for the treatment of failing blebs" was published in Ophthalmology, 119(2), (2012). Bio-Inspired Artificial Fish-Like MEMS Sensors Inspired by the sensory organs in the lateral line of the Mexican Blind Cave Fish Astyanax mexicanus fasciatus, Assoc Prof Miao Jianmin and his team from NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have invented sensory devices able to sense changes in air or water flow that can locate and identify nearby objects through 3D imaging and mapping of surroundings. Novel biomimetic materials with mechanical properties close to those of fish cupula were employed to fabricate biomimetic fish-like cupulas on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) haircell sensors using a combination of electrospinning and hydrogel drop-casting processes. Sensors with hydrogel encapsulated nanofibrils showed enhanced performance compared to naked haircell sensors. Arrays of MEMS strain gauge sensors using LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) as diaphragm will be employed for underwater sensing, together with another type of MEMS sensors piezoelectric water pressure sensors that are able to perform passive fish-like underwater sensing without the need for electrical power. In collaboration with Prof Michael Triantafyllou from the Centre for Environmental Sensing and Modeling (CENSAM) under the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), a research centre funded by the National Research Foundation, the highly sensitive sensors will be adopted for use in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to replace the current spectrum of expensive, energy-intensive or invasive sensory equipment such as underwater cameras, acoustic navigation and sonars. AUVs equipped with the new sensors and additional chemical or biological sensors can be used for environmental sensing to monitor water quality and detect environmental pollution, or for defence purposes such as the detection of submarines as the new sensors are not invasive and thus are not traceable themselves. The research will be presented at the 26th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, 2013, in Taipei, Taiwan. 27

30 Faces Immunology And Infectious Diseases Pioneer Professor Dermot Kelleher 28 PUSHING FRONTIERS PUSHING FRONTIERS Juggling many hats in his eminent career is Prof Dermot Kelleher, a global expert in immunology and infectious diseases with over 30 years of research, teaching and medical leadership experience. He is the Principal of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, and the new Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, founded in 2010 by NTU and Imperial College London to train doctors to meet Singapore's future healthcare needs. As the new Dean of NTU s pioneering medical school, Prof Kelleher will build on the foundations laid by the Founding Dean, Prof Stephen Smith. The school will enrol its first students in 2013 and Prof Kelleher is all ready to lead the next phase of its development. He says: The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine has ambitious goals to redefine both medical education and research. Hundreds of people at Imperial, NTU and in partner healthcare organisations have already contributed to its development, creating a curriculum and infrastructure that will offer students an exceptional medical education. It will be a privilege to work with this dedicated team to set the direction for the School s research strategy and prepare to begin training a generation of outstanding doctors to serve Singapore. The accomplished Irish professor has over 250 publications and 14 patents to his name, and is the founding member and director of spin-out biomedical solution companies such

31 EVENTS as Opsona Therapeutics and Cellix. He was the Chairman of the Eurolife Consortium of European Medical Schools and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Royal College of Physicians (London) and the American Gastroenterology Association. An esteemed medical pioneer, Prof Kelleher has studied the immune response to leading causes of infectious diseases. His work is often translated into new diagnostics and treatments for patients. He is a key person behind a pioneering method that draws on nanotechnology to barcode antibody molecules a significant invention that could be used to diagnose health disorders like blood cancers. As one of Ireland's foremost medical leaders, Prof Kelleher helped to start the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre in Now known as Molecular Medicine Ireland, the non-profit company spurs healthcare improvements through the development of diagnostics and therapies. Prof Kelleher graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1978 and completed specialist training in gastroenterology. He later received a Fogarty Scholarship for a research fellowship at University of California, San Diego. He returned to Trinity and was appointed Head of its School of Medicine and Vice-Provost for Medical Affairs in Under his tenure, the medical school saw several innovative reforms, including the establishment of a new fiveyear programme leading to bachelor s degrees in medicine, surgery and obstetrics. 5th International Science Youth Forum (ISYF) 2013@ Singapore with Nobel Laureates: Breaking Through Organised by Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) at NTU and Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore January 2013 Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore Website: Global Young Scientists Summit@one-north (GYSS@ one-north) 2013: Advancing Science, Creating Technologies For a Better World Organised by the National Research Foundation (NRF), Singapore January 2013 One-north, University Town, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Website: School on Modern Topics in Condensed Matter Physics Organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies at NTU, the Graphene Research Centre at NUS, and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy 28 January 8 February 2013 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore 2nd Complexity Conference: A Crude Look at the Whole Organised by NTU's Complexity Programme 4 6 March 2013 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore International Workshop on Determination of the Fundamental Parameters of QCD Organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, NTU March 2013 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore Prof Kelleher was awarded the 2011 Conway Medal by the Academy of Medicine in Ireland. His research has been featured in highly-rated publications and academic journals such as Nature Immunology, Nature Methods and Nature Genetics. 29

32 Faces One Of TIME Magazine s Top 100 Most Influential People Professor Stephan Schuster Bringing the woolly mammoth back to life and seeing it roam the earth again may sound too Jurassic Park to be true. But for many scientists, it s not a matter of if, but when. The first step has already been taken. Geneticist Prof Stephan Schuster earned international repute when he co-led the Mammoth Genome Project team at Pennsylvania State University, successfully piecing together 85 per cent of the mammoth s DNA sequence in 2008 using clumps of hair from the remains of several of the giant critters. It is more than just about resurrecting Ice Age creatures. Having learnt that the mammoths became less genetically diverse before eventually dying off, Prof Schuster said this meant endangered species today could be helped by using gene testing to identify good matches for breeding in order to preserve the species genetic diversity. Prof Schuster s achievement in deciphering the DNA of the mammoths was recognised as one of the Top 10 Scientific Discoveries of 2008 by TIME magazine. It also earned him a place in TIME s list of the 100 Most Influential People in PUSHING FRONTIERS PUSHING FRONTIERS

33 EVENTS Prof Schuster, who pioneered the application of next-generation sequencing to a wide spectrum of topics in biology including microbial genomics, evolutionary genomics, and metagenomics, joined the Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) in NTU is leading the development of the SCELSE, a key national research endeavour that aims to harness micro-organisms to solve various water and environmental issues. The centre, identified as Singapore s fifth Research Centre of Excellence by the National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Education, has won S$120 million in government grants. The Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State University is one of the three cluster leaders at SCELSE, where he is leveraging the expertise and resources at the Schuster Lab to unearth new findings in the areas of genomics, bioinformatics, and advanced sequencing technologies. Prof Schuster feels it is possible to open a window to the past by studying animals that are long gone at the same level of genetic detail as when examining living species today. The lessons being learnt from studying extinct species can help us to understand the processes that are driving endangered species towards possible extinction. 1st IAS-CERN Workshop on Particle Physics and Cosmology - Status, Implications and Technology Organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, NTU, and CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), Switzerland March 2013 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore Data Visualisation and Data Analytics for Decision Making (Martime Industry) Co-organised by Fraunhofer IDM@NTU, Maritime NTU and Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) 2 May 2013 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference: Thinking: Time for a Rethink? Co-organised by the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, and the Learning Sciences Lab at the National Institute of Education (NIE), NTU 3 5 June 2013 National Institute of Eduction, NTU, Singapore Conference in Honour of Rudy Marcus 90th Birthday Organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, NTU July 2013 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore Conference in Honour of Freeman Dyson's 90th Birthday Organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, NTU August 2013 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore The 8th Joint Meeting of Chinese Physicists Worldwide (OCPA8) Organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, NTU June 2014 Nanyang Executive Centre, NTU, Singapore 31

34 Conversations Sustainability Pioneer Professor Alexander Zehnder Prof Alexander Zehnder chairs NTU's Sustainable Earth Peak of Excellence and is the Director of the Sustainable Earth Office, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of NTU's Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Visiting Professor at NTU's School of Biological Sciences and a member of NTU's Board of Trustees. He is also the Scientific Director of Water Resources at Alberta Innovates Energy and Environment Solutions in Edmonton, Canada, and President and Founder of Triple Z Ltd, a consulting company in water and telecommunication. What are the common misperceptions about sustainability? One misperception is that sustainability concerns only nature. Nature has gone through many catastrophes in history and always recovered. Sustainability is actually for us humans to safeguard our survival. Another misperception is that sustainability means cutting back on what is dear to us to protect the earth's resources. This is actually the green concept. In reality, sustainability is about keeping our way of life but using our resources more respectfully and efficiently through innovation, creativity and imagination. You are one of the founding fathers of the concept of the "2000 Watt Society". What is this concept about? The "2000 Watt Society" concept was developed as a quantitative yardstick for achieving a more sustainable society. The idea behind the "2000 Watt Society" is to organise our communities in such a way that every person on the planet can use an energy equivalent of 2000 watts, which corresponds to an annual consumption of 17,520 kwh or 1,700 litres of gasoline. The "2000 Watt Society" concept has already been adopted by many institutions and communities worldwide as a planning tool. Where are the main challenges for sustainable societies? The first big challenge is the efficient and sustainable handling of resources like water and energy. Solutions for satisfying basic needs in energy, water, food, shelter, and other areas will come through technology, and NTU is the place to develop such technologies. The second big challenge is security how to build future societies that interact peacefully and share a common development. NTU is very well situated, with its research centres and the National Institute of Education, to develop concepts and solutions for sharing resources 32 PUSHING FRONTIERS

35 efficiently and peacefully, and to bring this philosophy into the education of our children. Why do you think NTU should focus research efforts on sustainable metropolises? Singapore is a metropolis and NTU as its technological university is a natural place to develop sustainable solutions for it. Cities are the engines of the future. Technologically, economically and in the ways societies are developing, cities are the places that generate progress. Cities do function relatively similarly around the world. Solutions developed here will largely also work elsewhere. With NTU's major research institutes in sustainability and its strength in engineering, the university can bring substantial contributions to the development of sustainable metropolises. What specific aspects of sustainability research do you think NTU should focus on? NTU is already excellent in developing new water technologies. In energy research, it is also a global player. These are two very strong pillars. Civil engineers can contribute dramatically to resource effectiveness. Humanities and social sciences can help to design sustainable and secure societies. Solving all critical issues around mobility is a truly inter- and transdisciplinary challenge. These issues cannot be easily resolved with advances in technology alone. The human passion for mobility is deeply rooted in all of us and drastically influences our lifestyles. Easing the resource stress induced by our need to get around freely and easily calls for innovative concepts, different approaches in designing metropolises, and new ways to manage complex city systems. What is NTU's role in the context of Singapore's ambitions in sustainable development and growth? NTU can be an important engine to push Singapore's economic growth in sustainability through developments in marketable solutions. Another important role could emerge through sustainability ideas developed by NTU's social scientists and its Nanyang Business School. Learning from successful entrepreneurial universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Stanford University, NTU can become Asia s leading entrepreneurial university. Last but not least, NTU's campus development programme enables it to showcase and test-bed sustainable solutions and this is very educational for its students. NTU President Prof Bertil Andersson at the signing of the International Sustainable Campus Network charter, with NTU Provost Prof Freddy Boey and Prof Alexander Zehnder in attendance. What is the Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering s contribution to NTU s sustainability efforts? SCELSE at NTU works on microbial biofilms that often colonise the interfaces between nature and technical devices, such as prosthetics, ship hulls and water treatment plants. A main role of SCELSE is to understand how sometimes detrimental interactions occurring at these interfaces can be turned to benefits. SCELSE aims to understand how these complex communities of millions of individual organisms function and interact. Learning from these highly adaptive ecosystems that have evolved over hundreds of millions of years could give valuable clues on how future cities can become more productive and better places to live. What motivates you in your career and how did you become a global expert on sustainability issues? I am a microbiologist trained as a chemist and have been working in water- and energy-related issues for 40 years. About 30 years ago, it became evident that all concerns regarding water, air, energy, food and other areas are not separate issues but strongly interlinked. The concept of sustainability, first used by forestry for more than 150 years, was extended by the Brundtland Commission in 1987 to all other resources and their interdependencies. Sustainability became a unifying concept. My initial work on sustainability was obviously in the water and energy sectors and later the food sector. Since the necessary changes were difficult to implement without capital, I also concentrated on the financial sector. This work eventually contributed to the development of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. With the tremendous knowledge and expertise across the campus, I am convinced that the combined effort of the NTU community can make this university a sustainability leader and a major driver of Singapore s growth as a technology and sustainability hub. 33