Former NEA chairman among eight lauded at annual President’s Science and Technology Awards ceremony

Eight individuals were honored at the annual President's Science and Technology Awards ceremony for their contributions to shaping Singapore's science and technology ecosystem. Engineer Lee Chuan Seng, former chairman of the National Environment Agency, received the top award, the President's Science and Technology Medal. Lee advocated for the integrated planning of land, energy, water, and infrastructure needs, as exemplified by the Tuas Nexus facility.

This plant, expected to be operational by 2027, combines a water reclamation plant with a waste management facility, leading to increased biogas production and electricity generation.

Another recipient was Wu Jishan, provost’s chair professor at the National University of Singapore's chemistry department. He was awarded the President's Science Medal for his research in molecular carbon science, which challenged long-held assumptions about the stability of unpaired electron molecules. His work has implications for the design and control of electronic devices.

A team led by the National Metrology Centre of A*STAR and the Maritime and Port Authority won the President's Technology Award for their development of mass flow metering technology. This innovation has replaced outdated methods for measuring marine fuel at ship-to-ship transfer, reducing fuel-related legal disputes and fostering international adoption of similar frameworks.

The team consisted of principal metrologist Wu Jian, senior principal scientist Yu Shengkai, research engineer Tan Ren Kai, and MPA chief digital officer Thomas Ting.

Youth awards were presented to Liu Boxiang for his work on precision medicine tailored for Asian populations, and Hou Yi for his research on next-generation solar technology using perovskite materials.