Singaporean Postgrads Snag US$100,000 In Sustainability Prizes

Ten young researchers have been awarded the 2015 WFF PhD prize for their work on environment and sustainability issues.

AsianScientist (Jul. 15, 2015) – Ten postgraduate students from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have been recognized for their research with the World Future Foundation (WFF) PhD Prize in Environmental and Sustainability Research.

The awards, worth US$10,000 each, were presented by chairman of the WFF, Dr. Feng Lun, at a ceremony held on July 9, 2015. The presentation ceremony was witnessed by Professor Yue Chee Yoon, NTU Associate Provost (Graduate Education), Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, NUS Vice Provost (Graduate Education), and about 100 students, professors and guests.

Introduced in 2010, the WFF PhD Prize recognizes excellence in doctoral-level (PhD) environmental and sustainability research in Singapore. It is also the highest cash award among student prizes at Singapore’s universities.

This year’s PhD Prize winners researched into new technologies in diverse areas including renewable energy, membrane technologies, biodiversity, payoffs from sustainability, the potential effect of nanomaterials on human health, and Singapore’s coastal development strategies in response to the possible impact of sea level rise and storm surge floods. They were assessed on several criteria, such as the novelty, societal relevance and commercial potential of their research, and their passion for environmental sustainability.

“Talent is key to the success of science and R&D activities, and the WFF PhD prize continues to strengthen this by fostering a culture of research excellence,” said Yue. “This year, we are deeply encouraged by the large number of research innovations submitted for the award which reflect NTU’s leading position in sustainability research.”

“NUS places a strong emphasis on raising the translation impact of our research,” Kankanhalli added. “We are proud that the award recipients have demonstrated creativity, rigor and depth in developing high-quality solutions to address real-world sustainability issues. We are deeply appreciative of the recognition and motivation that the WFF PhD Prize provides these talented young researchers with.”

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Source: Nanyang Technological University.
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