FACULTY AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Associate Professor Chian Siau Chen appointed as President of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society
Associate Professor Chian Siau Chen has been elected as President of the South East Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS), following his successful tenure as President of the Geotechnical Society of Singapore (GeoSS). In this new role, Associate Professor Chian will lead regional initiatives to advance geotechnical engineering research, collaboration, and professional development across Southeast Asia, further strengthening ties among geotechnical communities in the region.
Global recognition for CEE Research Fellow in wastewater innovation
Dr Xia Zhengang, Research Fellow at the Centre for Water Research (CWR) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), under the supervision of Professor Hu Jiangyong, has been awarded the prestigious Water Travel Award. Selected as one of only three recipients worldwide, Dr Xia is also the sole awardee from Asia this year.
This recognition highlights the significance of his research on novel bioprocesses for wastewater treatment, underscoring its impact and innovation in advancing sustainable water solutions.
Established in 2018, the Water Travel Award is presented annually to three early-career researchers. It aims to support and encourage junior scientists to present their latest research at international academic conferences across the broad field of water, including water science, technology, management, and governance.
Professor Rajasekhar Balasubramanian appointed as 2026 AAEES International Honorary Member
Professor Rajasekhar Balasubramanian has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 International Honorary Member from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.
The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists is a not-for-profit organisation serving the Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science professions by providing Board Certification to those who qualify through experience and testing. The individual honoured has attained eminence or made significant single or sustained contributions to the advancement of environmental and/or human health protection, or has rendered outstanding long-term service in this field, internationally or nationally.
Associate Professor Sanjib Kumar Panda honoured for contributions to standardisation
Asst Prof Gianmarco Mengaldo appointed to AI advisory group at World Meteorological Organization
AI is set to transform how we understand and respond to weather and climate risks.
At the forefront of this shift, Asst Prof Gianmarco Mengaldo (Mechanical Engineering) has been appointed to the Joint Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence (JAG-AI) at the World Meteorological Organization, a by-invitation group of experts from around the world. The appointment recognises his expertise at the intersection of AI, weather and climate science, and strengthens Singapore’s contribution to international efforts in this space.
The group will guide how AI is integrated into global meteorological and hydrological systems, including improving forecasting capabilities and strengthening early warning systems. The WMO has identified AI as having the potential to significantly advance how weather and climate risks are understood and managed, while underscoring the need for scientific rigour and responsible use.
Asst Prof Mengaldo’s research focuses on the use of AI and high-performance computing to improve weather and climate modelling, particularly for extreme events and risk prediction.
Commenting on his appointment, he said: “This is a valuable opportunity to further strengthen Singapore’s engagement in AI for weather and climate at the international level.”
Headquartered in Geneva, the WMO is the United Nations’ specialised agency for weather, climate and water, coordinating global efforts to improve forecasting and early warning systems.