EVENTS & OTHER HAPPENINGS
The Nature of Things: Dialogues with the Living
Look through the window and explore the complicated relationship between nature and human habitats with us in ‘The Nature of Things’.
This exhibition shares a conversation with Nature designed by the students and young graduates of the Division of Industrial Design, College of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore. Living in « a City in a Garden », a bubble of modernity intertwined with tropical rainforests and known to be a unique urban biodiversity hotspot in the world, their creations question our relationship to the living.
Some singular visions with subtle, practical or discursive materialisations that share different facets of Nature – the one we know, the one that is useful to us or the one we prefer to ignore. These objects with universal resonance are dialoguing with the specimens of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, exchanging views between Design and Natural Science.
Visit The Nature of Things website for more information.
Details:
Exhibition Period: 27 September 2024 to 5 January 2025
Venue: NUS Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Operating Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (Last admission at 4.30 PM, Closed on Mondays)
Book your tickets to the Museum here (Free for NUS Staff and Students).
This is a Community Event of Singapore Design Week 2024.
NUS Homecoming 2024
“The campus has changed so much with more new buildings around,” said CDE alum Chiong Sia Soon (Class of 1990), who joined the NUS Homecoming on Saturday 21 September 2024. He came with fellow alum Chan Wei Siong, and both reminisced about the places on campus they used to hang out as students.
Best buddies and alums (Class of 2021) of CDE, Benedict Goh, Randy Ho, Phey Song Wei, and Chris Lye, catching up at Homecoming, recalled how they didn’t know one another before NUS. Seeing each other on campus again, they recalled taking the same modules, studying and even crying together after exams. The foursome became firm friends.
They and hundreds of others from diverse graduating batches at the Homecoming took the time to walk down memory lane while enjoying the many interesting activities.
One of the activities, the tour of the NUS Satellite Technology and Research (STAR) Centre hosted by CDE, was very well received.
MSc (Electrical Engineering) alum Jiang Nannan brought his 8-year-old son on the tour to show him how satellites are built. His boy was over the moon with what he learned at STAR!
Alum Lynn Lim (Class of 2004) shared: “I am so proud to learn that my alma mater is shaping the world of space technology with its cutting-edge satellite developments.”
Another standout technological showcase at Homecoming was the electric race car built by the NUS Formula SAE. Though not quite the kind of race cars found at the F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2024, participants were impressed when the student presenters shared that their electric race car competed at the USA Formula SAE Electric Car competition in June.
Yet another CDE showcase, which was by the NUS Calibur Robotics, had children of alums outsmarting each other while battling with the student-developed robots.
The NUS Homecoming 2024 organised by the Office of Alumni Relations truly lived up to its theme of reigniting bonds and discovering new horizons.
Visit by the Hwa Chong Institution Parents' Support Group
“I am impressed by the flexibility of the CDE’s curriculum,” stated a parent of a current student from Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), who was one of over 70 parents and students at the HCI Parent Support Group Learning Journey held on 21 September 2024.
Associate Professor James Kah, Vice Dean of Outreach and Special Projects, provided participants with an in-depth look at CDE’s interdisciplinary curriculum. Additionally, Associate Professor Alberto Corrias, Director of Design Scholars Programme and Director of Engineering Scholars Programme introduced the E-Scholars and D-Scholars Programmes for engineering and architecture & design students, respectively, emphasising the benefits and exciting opportunities. Current undergraduates also shared about their student life experiences. The event concluded with a guided campus tour, allowing participants to explore the learning facilities and resources available to CDE students.
One of the participants noted that seeing the student projects during the tour “Gives me a rough idea of what it looks like if students go into CDE,” and is excited that her child can learn in such environment.
Recognising the important role parents play in helping students make informed university choices, CDE Outreach will continue to engage parent support groups from local pre-tertiary schools through more networking and learning journey events.
NUS Cities Symposium 2024
“Planning a city is not something that our planners and policymakers can do alone... All of you are partners in this journey.”
At the second NUS Cities Symposium, held last week, Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, joined calls for greater collaboration in making cities more resilient and liveable.
Amid increasingly uncertain times, the all-day symposium brought together global experts to explore how cities can meet challenges like climate change, ageing populations, and urban sustainability.
From Singapore’s district cooling initiatives to innovative strategies for sustainable mobility and health-focused urban spaces, the event highlighted the need for collective action to ensure our cities are adaptable and prepared for the future.
Read more about the symposium here: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news-detail/nus-cities-symposium-explores-liveable-cities-in-uncertain-times/
Students explore study and internship opportunities in France!
Did you know there are over 3,500 public and private institutes of higher education in France? This includes more than 70 universities and 200 engineering schools! SONDRA, in collaboration with Campus France at the French Embassy, held the "Study and Internship Opportunities in France" at LT7A on 18 September 2024, aiming to introduce France as a leading destination for science and research.
Mr Felix Anthonysamy from Campus France kicked off the event with a presentation on the French higher education system. Students in attendance learned about the different French universities partnered with NUS and the scholarships available to them and gained fascinating insights into life as a student in France.
The students also heard from representatives from DSO National Labs, who presented about the undergraduate and graduate opportunities available at both SONDRA and DSO. This includes the DSO Internship to SONDRA, where participants will spend time conducting research at both DSO and SONDRA.
Jing Yen, a Year 2 Computer Engineering undergraduate, had this to say about the event: “I came into this info session with an open mind, and it exceeded my expectations as I learned about the opportunities for technology and research in France through the programmes available via SONDRA and Campus France.”
The event rounded off with the announcement of the SONDRA Challenge. Interested teams will be tasked with utilising Edge-AI and Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) to answer the question: “How do we make better sense of information and activity in urban environments?” Up to $26k worth of prizes will be up for grabs, including a one-week sponsored trip to the SONDRA workshop in France!
CDE Career Fair 2024
"We appreciate CDE students who exhibit a strong problem-solving mindset, adaptability in a technology-driven environment, and a deep passion for innovation," stated representatives from Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS) who were one of over 80 organisations at the CDE Career Fair held on 10-11 September 2024.
The EA Atrium was packed with excited students and their potential employers alike. CDE students were out in full force, interacting with over 80 employers and organisations and putting their best foot forward to leave an impression on the recruiters.
Organisations eager to connect with CDE students ranged from prominent engineering and tech companies such as Woh Hup and Airbus to major local companies, including Singtel and DBS Bank. Even start-ups, such as Armastec (helmed by a CDE alum), were present to connect with students looking for internship opportunities.
Bing Jun, a Year 4 Industrial Design undergraduate, shared, "The Career Fair has given me more confidence for job security and opened my horizons for job choices after graduation."
Read more about the CDE Career Fair 2024 here: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news-detail/cde-career-fair-2024-sees-students-interact-with-more-than-80-potential-employers-over-two-days
"Dare to be Different" Career Workshop
“Don’t be afraid to be authentic and be yourself”.
Such were the wise words from Mr Jarran Ng (Project & Facilities Management, ‘23) regarding his experience of being interviewed for Singtel’s Management Associate (MA) Programme. Mr Ng, now an Account Manager at Singtel, was joined by fellow alums Mr Benjamin Chee (Industrial Systems and Engineering Management, ’20) and Ms Anthea Foong (Biomedical Engineering, ’21) for a panel discussion to provide insights and tips for CDE students looking to forge a path in their career.
Titled “Dare to be Different”, the panel discussion was part of a series of workshops organised by the Centre for Future-Ready Graduates (CFG) and the CDE Office of Student Life (OSL) in the lead-up to the CDE Career Fair happening 10-11 September 2024.
The panel discussion offered students a way to get candid opinions regarding taking their first steps after graduation and how best to navigate the start of their careers. Mr Ng championed MA programmes for graduates unsure of their career paths. Taking part in the Singtel MA programme allowed him to experience various roles in different departments while mapping the career path he wanted.
Yuan Qin was among the many eager participants who attended the workshop. The Year 3 Biomedical Engineering undergraduate found the tip on mentorship useful and appreciated that the speakers were open to connecting with them.
CDE Graduate Programme Admissions 2024
"To grow is to discover," said Vice Dean of CDE's Graduate Programme Associate Professor Chai Kah Hin, when welcoming the August 2024 batch of graduate students at the CDE postgraduate orientation. Assoc Prof Chai congratulated the students in his opening speech on being accepted into Asia's top university. This meant access to vast resources as they embarked on their journey of discovery and building a better future.
He emphasised that while CDE supports its graduate students academically, it also empowers them to take ownership of their time. He advised them to seek help when needed.
Beyond academic achievements, students should also focus on personal development.
CDE Student Support Managers Shanmuga Priya and Jerrell Kwan echoed the message of self-care in their presentation, encouraging students to leverage CDE's facilities and activities. Students can relax at the PitStop, bond with peers at the Community Garden, and attend various events held throughout the academic year.
Both Chan Choy Wah and Loo Chu Hof from the Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) highlighted that students are supported with career accelerator and booster workshops and career fairs, for career advancement.
Two new graduate students shared their delight in making it to NUS.
Niloufar Javanbakht, a PhD student in Civil Engineering, is eager to explore innovative approaches through impactful research guided by distinguished professors. She also hopes to participate in artistic events organised by NUS.
Zhu Li Hao, a Master of Science (Robotics) student, chose NUS for its dynamic culture and environment. He is excited about integrating AI-powered tools like ChatGPT to enhance robotics.
To learn more about our graduate programmes, visit https://cde.nus.edu.sg/graduate/
Revisit Our Exhibition Virtually: Designing Value-Sensitive, Adaptable, and Sustainable Schools
Missed our exhibition on Designing Value-Sensitive, Adaptable, and Sustainable Schools held last May? You can now explore our 3D Virtual Tour, where you can navigate and interact with the exhibits at your convenience. This project is a collaborative effort between the Department of Architecture, NUS College of Design and Engineering and the Learning Environments Office of the Infrastructure and Facility Services Division, MOE.
The exhibition showcases the innovative works of students from three Master of Architecture design studios:
- Nature Nurture™, A Biophilic Approach for Sustainable Schools Associate Professor Okuda Shinya
- Spatialising Values: A Value-Sensitive Approach to School Design Associate Professor (Ar.) Thomas Kong
- Moulding Curiosity: Emerging Learning Environments Adjunct Assistant Professor (Ar.) Tiah Nan Chyuan
Click here for the event page and virtual tour.
HIGHLIGHTS
UPCOMING AND ONGOING EVENTS!
