Associate Professor Yuan Chao, Department of Architecture, was presented with the Timothy Oke Award 2025 at the 12th International Conference on Urban Climate (ICUC) for his leading research work across the boundaries of urban climate science, urban planning, and architecture.
Assoc Prof Yuan joined NUS in 2016, having been awarded the prestigious NUS Presidential Young Professorship (PYP). The NUS PYP supports talented young academics with excellent research track records in advancing their cutting-edge research.
His research interests centre on climate-sensitive urban planning and design aimed at creating sustainable and resilient cities. This includes areas such as the urban wind environment, urban heat risk evaluation, anthropogenic heat, passive cooling technologies, urban greenery, and traffic-related and transboundary air pollution.
In NUS Sustainable Futures, a whole-of-university initiative bringing together expertise from across the University’s research ecosystem to advance interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations in addressing climate change challenges, Assoc Prof Yuan Chao is a co-director leading the Integrative Urban Solutions focus area, taking a holistic approach towards building adaptive, inclusive and resilient cities.
The Timothy Oke Award is a prestigious annual recognition for original research in urban climatology, awarded to early- to mid-career scientists who have demonstrated significant impact, research leadership, and expanding influence in the field. Named in honour of Professor Timothy Oke—renowned for his pioneering work and support for young researchers—the award celebrates excellence and provides a strong endorsement of the recipient’s research trajectory and future potential.
The award is presented by the International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC), a global organisation that brings together researchers, practitioners, and experts interested in studying and addressing urban climate issues, promoting research and knowledge exchange on urban climate science, climate adaptation, and sustainability in urban areas.
