EVENTS & OTHER HAPPENINGS
ExCEllence 2026: Showcasing innovation and talent
Showing the ingenuity and real-world impact of student-driven engineering, ExCEllence (ECE Project Showcase) recognises excellence in student innovation and achievement.
Course project highlights include:
Live Video from Stratospheric Weather Balloon — A weather balloon payload that transmitted live video and real-time tracking data, reaching about 31km and becoming the first such payload in the region to transmit video from the stratosphere using the Amateur Radio band.
Design of Off-Grid Solar Panel Array with Suntracking for Jakarta — A proposed off-grid floating solar PV system with sun tracking for coastal North Jakarta — addressing land scarcity and improving yield, with simulations showing 14% more annual output versus fixed panels.
ExCellence also featured the Espressif Competition, where teams demonstrated innovative applications built with Espressif technologies. Congratulations to the winners:
1st Place: Biofeedback and Freezing of Gait Detection for Parkinson's Disease
A wearable system that detects “Freezing of Gait” in people with Parkinson’s disease, using ankle-mounted motion sensors and smart shoes that provide real-time cues (sound, vibrations, and a projected laser line) to restore normal gait.
2nd Place: Human Detection in Indoor Spaces Using Nano Heat Sensors
A nano-drone for disaster scenarios that navigates tight spaces and detects survivors using a compact heat sensor and on-board processing that also runs lightweight wall-following and obstacle-avoidance algorithms.
3rd Place: Smart Traffic Cone System
Remotely deployable “smart” traffic cones that enhance road worker safety, with sensors that detect obstacles, monitor conditions (e.g. heat), and send alerts. The system tracks cone positions using anchors and Ultra-Wideband tags, with a stable three-wheel design.
Read more here.
Rethinking engineering for a changing climate at Environmental and Sustainability Engineering Symposium 2026
Real-world problems, student-led solutions.
At the Environmental and Sustainability Engineering Symposium 2026, organised by the Centre for Water Research (CWR) and the NUS Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), students presented projects that tackled real-world environmental challenges while engaging directly with industry partners and experts. The Symposium covered topics including air quality, water systems, carbon utilisation, and advanced treatment technologies.
Assistant Professor Iris Yu from CEE said, “More than a showcase, the Symposium served as a collaborative platform where students and industry leaders converged to exchange ideas, build synergies, and co‑create practical solutions—an essential experience for nurturing engineers capable of driving impact in a rapidly evolving sustainability landscape.”
Joyan Khoo (Year 4, Environmental Engineering, Second Major in Business Management) developed a machine learning model to estimate air quality across Singapore, helping identify areas at risk even without sensor coverage. “The focus was on how the results could be useful in everyday life,” he shared.
Oh Jia Zhi (Year 4, Environmental Engineering, Minor in Geosciences) used satellite data to monitor coastal water quality and detect pollution and algal blooms earlier. “Working with Professor Gin Yew-Hong helped me refine my approach and analysis,” she said.
Nigel Teh (Year 4, Environmental Engineering, Second Major in Sustainable Urban Development) worked on electrochemical methods for treating pharmaceutical wastewater. “Through trial and error, I eventually understood how the system works and supports our research,” he shared. Nigel was also a recipient of the Best Poster Award.
A shoutout to all students who presented their work and engaged with peers, industry partners and experts! And our deepest appreciation to Ms Isabella Huang Loh PBM, Chairman of the Singapore Environment Council, for gracing the event.
Read more here.
Systems Design Project Showcase: Driving semiconductor innovation
When industry builds on academic research to fuel innovation, collaboration is vital. At the Systems Design Project (SDP) Showcase, organised by the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management, this is seen in over 20 student-led projects developed with industry partners.
Edmund Soh, Director of F10 PROBE, accepted an industry appreciation plaque on behalf of Micron Technology, marking a decade of partnership and commitment to nurturing future engineering talent.
This year, three groups worked with Micron to improve workflows, traceability, and predictive analytics.
Group 1: Line Stop Management System
Team: Jethro Heng Jing Han, Andrea Ang, Denzel Lim Shin Jie, Ow Yong Yek Ethan, Selina Sumyee Leung, Tan Kai Jin
Group 1 tackled bottlenecks in Micron’s operations, where tracking production interruptions (“line stop” events) was manual and fragmented. Guided by Micron supervisor Kegan Ang and NUS supervisor Assoc Prof Xiaobo Li, the team created a scalable management system.
Their solution uses a low-code platform with automated processing and live dashboards, giving instant visibility into production impact and eliminating three hours of manual reporting per week.
Group 2: Improving Reclaim Wafer Traceability for Vendor Performance Optimisation
Team: Ratik Bhatnagar, Kaushik Raman, Mukund Kaverirangan, Jerrick Goh Shang Yun, Wu Yixuan, Wang Xudong.
Group 2 focused on Test Wafers used to calibrate manufacturing processes. To improve the wafers’ reuse, the team built a vendor performance framework that culminates in a Vendor Recommendations Table. They also redesigned the warehouse workflow and improved labelling for wafer traceability.
Group 2’s system is projected to increase wafer reclaim yield by 9%, which NUS supervisor Asst Prof Wang Chi Cheung and industry supervisor Farah Ramjoo Baug credited to the team’s “strong ownership and willingness to learn”.
Group 3: Auditing and Forecasting of Wafers
Team: Nur Aliyyah Ayub Mansul, Yang Xueqi, Mio Zheng An, Ho Yuheng Tristan, Lee Hong Ee Gabriel
To improve capacity planning accuracy, Group 3 developed an auditing and predictive system for wafer usage. They addressed tracking gaps by building an automated data pipeline and dashboard that compares planned versus actual performance.
They were supported by NUS supervisor Asst Prof Hanzhang Qin and Micron supervisor Her Phay Lim, who shared that the team "delivered innovative solutions that strengthened future productivity.”
A Future-Ready Partnership
As Micron expands its Singapore footprint, with a new advanced wafer fabrication facility set for 2028, these projects offer a glimpse into the automated future of semiconductor manufacturing. Through the SDP, the ISEM department bridges theory and practice, ensuring graduates are leading the industry’s transformation.
From lab to market: Deep tech in action at Start-up Fest 2026
Climate change, energy shortages and healthcare disparities — these are just some of the global challenges that deep tech startups seek to overcome with their transformative innovations. Students looking to push the boundaries of what’s technologically possible while making a difference are unsurprisingly drawn to the deep tech startup space.
But what does it take to take tech from lab to reality? And how can we ensure these technologies serve real-world needs? At Start-up Fest 2026, 300 students explored these questions by listening to industry speakers and start-up founders. Organised by the NUS Students' Design and Engineering Club and the NUS Innovation and Design Programme Student Club (iDPSC), Start-up Fest featured expert talks alongside 14 booths, 12 of which were startups spanning fields from AI to space tech.
The range of product demos and tech showcases truly brought "real tech in action” to life. “I loved how interactive the booths were; you could really see, touch, and understand the technology firsthand,” shared Sekar Shree Charan (Year 3, Industrial & Systems Engineering). These interactions gave students the opportunity to explore roles with startups that were actively hiring.
For some alumni-founded startups, this event marked a full-circle moment. One such startup was NuSpace Pte Ltd, founded by CDE alumnus Zhen Ning Ng (Engineering Science Programme, Class of 2015) as part of the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP). Through IoT nanosatellites, NuSpace enables remote locations across Southeast Asia to overcome connectivity challenges cost-effectively.
Another rising star — both in the startup scene and at the fest — is Ecovolt. Founded by current NUS student Raphael Chew (Business Administration) from NUS Business School, together with recent graduates Joseph Ho (Electrical Engineering, Second Major in Innovation & Design), Eugene Chia (Computer Science), and Glenn Quah (Information Systems) from NUS Computing, Ecovolt tackles invisible energy waste. Its AI-native platform helps buildings monitor, manage and reduce energy use in real time, supporting their net-zero goals.
At the Founders’ Panel, both NuSpace founder Zhen Ning Ng and Ecovolt co-founder Raphael Chew shared about their startup journeys — what it takes to build, scale, and sustain these initiatives. For many seeking internships and job opportunities within the startup sphere, these firsthand accounts from alumni and startup founders provided invaluable insight.
“Start-up Fest made the startup space feel accessible, exciting, and something I could see myself being part of,” shared Jessen Wiryawan (Year 4, Industrial & Systems Engineering).
“I walked away understanding not just what startups do, but also why their research actually matters,” added Ming Cheng (Year 2, Mechanical Engineering).
Energy is National Defence: Seminar by Prof Liu Pao Chuen
The Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management hosted Professor Lui Pao Chuen on 14 April, where he shared his perspectives on energy security and defence strategies for Singapore. Prof Lui served in the Ministry of Defence for 41 years in various key roles, including 22 years as Chief Defence Scientist before his retirement in 2008. He continues to contribute his expertise across numerous committees in universities, government agencies and corporations.
Prof Lui presented a comprehensive overview of Singapore’s approach to energy security, focusing on three key areas: defence, energy sources and climate change adaptation. His sharing offered attendees valuable insights into practical strategies to enhance resilience and ensure a reliable, sustainable energy supply for Singapore.
Connecting future makers through hands-on learning at CDE
Staff and prospective students from ITE Central visited CDE to learn how students use fabrication, prototyping, and manufacturing facilities to bring their ideas to life, with the Central Workshop team sharing insights from real project requests.
ISE Family Day 2026
Students, staff and alumni from Industrial Systems Engineering & Management (ISEM) came together for a Family Day gathering, providing an opportunity for the community to reconnect, build new connections and strengthen ties over a shared meal, alongside pop quizzes that tested participants’ knowledge of ISEM.
Past and present Heads of Department also shared their ISEM journeys, reflecting on the department’s history and milestones before outlining future directions, offering a glimpse of what lies ahead.
CDE gives back through Food From The Heart Door-to-Door initiative
CDE staff supported the Food From The Heart Door-to-Door initiative, delivering essential food packs to those in need and contributing to community outreach efforts.
CDE Staff Gain Insights on Retirement Planning with CPF
More than 150 CDE staff attended a session by the Central Provident Fund Board on retirement planning. The session covered key CPF schemes and strategies to maximise retirement savings, helping staff better plan for their future.
HIGHLIGHTS
UPCOMING AND ONGOING EVENTS!
Master of Arts in Urban Design, Master of Urban Planning, and Master of Science Integrated Sustainable Design Joint Gradshow 2026
Join us for the Opening Night of Joint NUS MAUD (Master of Arts in Urban Design), MUP (Master of urban Planning) and MSc ISD (Master of Science, Integrated Sustainable Design) Gradshow 2026. The exhibition will bring together the amazing work of students from the three master programmes showcasing urban proposals across different scales, complexities, approaches and geographies. Opening Night: Friday, 8 May 2026 6-8:30 PM SDE1, Level 1 & MEZZANINE, EXHIBITION HALL, 4 ARCHITECTURE DRIVE, SINGAPORE 117566 Let’s celebrate our students’ journeys at NUS together!
Landscape Architecture Gradshow 2026
The NUS Landscape Architecture Gradshow 2026 brings together the work of students from the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) and Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) programm, showcasing the range of approaches and ideas developed by our graduating cohort. We invite you to join us for the opening night as we celebrate our students’ journeys at NUS and mark their transition into shaping the landscape architecture field of the future.