Photo credits: National Research Foundation, Singapore
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS & STUDENT LIFE
Landscape Architecture team wins bronze at the SIP 9th Planning Awards
Landscape Architecture recent graduates Lina Altoaimi, Mariam Yusuf Rajkotwala, and Pan Yuwen (Class of 2025) earned a bronze award at the Singapore Institute of Planners’ 9th Planning Awards in the Outstanding Student Projects category. Their Design 8 studio project, titled “Land Sharing+: Prototyping Mixed-Use Landscapes in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong,” was completed as part of their Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture programmes.
Click here to learn more about how their Land Sharing+ master plan aims to manage urban growth and address housing needs without compromising the area’s existing natural habitats and wildlife.
Master of Arts in Urban Design Teams Swept Five Awards at the 9th SIP Planning Awards
Congratulations to teams from the Master of Arts in Urban Design (MAUD) for recently clinching honours at the 9th SIP Planning Awards. Held every two years by the Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP), the awards recognise urban planners and consultancy firms in Singapore and beyond for their excellence in urban planning.
“The record number of awards this year for MAUD students speaks to the calibre of their work and their engagement with critical challenges facing major cities in Asia, under the guidance of our committed faculty members,” said Professor Jeffrey Hou, Head of Architecture.
The awards showcase the strength of urban design education at CDE as the teams clinched five awards, including the Gold Medal, the Silver Medal, and three Special Mentions.
Gold Medal - “Living Play Factory”: Re-thinking the urban landscape of Suzhou Industrial Park
Team members: Kang Shiqiang, Lei Chuxi, Guo Yijing.
Silver Medal - “Aqua City”: Transforming Singapore’s East Coast into a harmonious and resilient urban environment
Team members: Chen Weihan, Chen Yifan, Ching Wai Lum, Li Yuanyu, Lin Deborah Ruge, Mohamad Aqil Ersa Putra, Sachade Devansi Ashish, Shen Zhuo, Wang Zhao, Weihan Chen, Wu Yuxin, Yang Siying, Yuan Wenqi, Zhao Zelong.
Special Mention - “Motherboard of Innovation”: Reimagining the Yongsan Innovation District, taking inspiration from the logic of a motherboard
Team members: Al-Nabhani Maan Qasim Mohammed, Ching Wai Lum, Yang Siying, Yin Jingwen.
Special Mention - “Unfolding Archive”: Transforming the Yongsan District in Korea through the “Urban Zipper” concept
Team members: Chen Fangyun, Chen Weihan, Jiang Yitian, Wu Yuxin, Yuan Wenqi.
Special Mention - “Innovation Ecosystem Hub”: Transforming the Long Island Innovation Ecosystem Hub
Team members: Al-Nabhani Maan Qasim Mohammed, Aqilah Binti Alwi, Dhande Bhagyesh, Duan Haoyu, Guo Yijing, Jiang Yitian, Luo Jian, Pan Xiaoxiao, Thoeurn Sreymean, Yin Jingwen, Zhang Xiaoke, Zeng Qining, Zheng Bozhi, Zhou Yiqi.
Click here to learn more about the calibre of their work and how they engage with critical challenges facing major cities in Asia, guided by our committed faculty members.
Master of Architecture student Foo Qi Fang wins second prize in TOTO Asia
Congratulations to Foo Qi Fang (Year 2, Master of Architecture) for clinching the second prize at “Rethinking Public Toilet: Singapore Park Connector Edition” presented by TOTO Asia. Qi Fang’s submission was shortlisted amongst the top five finalists from a field of 55 design entries. She was then invited to present her proposal to renowned architects Sou Fujimoto and Koji Yanai.
Her proposal is titled “Nest Room” and reimagines the park restroom as a place for parkgoers to freshen up, and is inspired by the woven nests of the weaver bird, with the design offering a sensorial, intimate experience of being within a structure shaped by natural elements.
Read more about her achievement here
Biomedical Engineering team shines with silver win at IFMBE competition
A team of Year 4 Biomedical Engineering students, Madhulika, Tarinnya, Ashley, Callysta, and Harshidha, won the Silver Award at the IFMBE Toh Siew Lok BME Student Design Competition during the IUPESM World Congress 2025 in Adelaide, Australia.
Jointly organised by the NUS MedTech Society, Biomedical Engineering Society (Singapore), and International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE), the competition commemorates the late Prof Toh Siew Lok, a pioneer in student innovation and biomedical design education. This year’s challenge focused on developing low-cost medical devices for resource-limited communities.
The team addressed a real-world problem identified by Sengkang General Hospital (SKH), the early detection of pressure ulcers in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy wearing casts. Collaborating with Sister Diana from SKH, they designed a concept to monitor and prevent pressure injuries in this underserved group.
The project began in the BN3101 Biomedical Engineering Design course, guided by Professor Ali Miserez, where students identify clinical needs and translate them into viable MedTech solutions. Madhulika further advanced the work during a research attachment at the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech), with support from Cheuk and faculty mentors. The team extends their gratitude to Professor Mark Chong, Professor Ali Miserez, and Dr Dean Ho, Director of iHealthtech, for their mentorship and support.
PhD candidate Niladri presents innovative circular carbon solution at Falling Walls Lab Singapore 2025
How can we turn carbon emissions into value?
For Niladri Saha Saccha, a Year 1 PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, the answer lies in rethinking how we transform captured CO₂ into something useful.
At the Falling Walls Lab Singapore 2025, Niladri presented his idea “Breaking the Wall of Unsustainable Carbon Conversion”, a sunlight-powered system that turns CO₂ into valuable chemicals like formic acid and fuel precursors. Inspired by how plants capture light, his approach uses advanced materials to drive clean, efficient conversion without external electricity.
Developed as a personal research endeavour, Niladri drew inspiration from Prof Ho Ghim Wei’s work in photocatalysis and sustainable systems. “Working solo meant navigating uncertainty and scope creep, but documenting my design choices and staying focused on first-principles validation helped me move forward,” he shared.
With guidance from Prof Ho and support from CDE’s innovation ecosystem, he continues to refine the concept, exploring new materials, engineering approaches, and entrepreneurial pathways in sustainable smart systems.
As he prepares to represent Singapore at the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025 in Berlin, Niladri remains grounded and curious, eager to learn from global peers and advance his vision for circular carbon solutions.
Year 3 Electrical Engineering student turns theory into practice at quantum start-up
For Choi Sangwoo (Year 3, Electrical Engineering), his internship at Atomionics, a quantum sensing start-up, was where theory met practice.
As a Signals and Systems Intern, Sangwoo worked on the analysis and development of data acquisition systems, modelling frequency responses, refining measurements, and optimising performance pipelines. It was a chance to see classroom concepts from EE2023 Signals and Systems come alive in real-world systems.
“Of course, the raw academic content laid an important bedrock,” Sangwoo shares. “But what really helped me excel was learning to analyse signals from first principles, break down noise, and validate with experiments. Those skills gave me a clear, methodical mindset for solving tough engineering problems.”
Assoc Prof Idris Lim Li Hong, who taught him in EE2023 Signals and Systems, said, “Sangwoo’s work at Atomionics shows how theory in Signals and Systems can translate into advanced problem-solving in data acquisition and circuit design. He has inspired juniors to appreciate how concepts learnt in classes underpin real-world applications.”
Originally from South Korea, Sangwoo has also lived in Guatemala, Texas, Vietnam, and now Singapore. Experiencing education in different countries inspired him to give back, mentoring through TeachSG and co-leading the NUSC Connect Tuition project. “Mentoring has taught me as much as the students I work with,” he says.
Drawn to engineering, Sangwoo enjoys observing systems, asking how they work, and piecing together answers through study and practice. Now, as he continues research in the Netherlands before National Service in South Korea, Sang Woo reflects on what drives him: curiosity for systems, adaptability in new environments, and the excitement of turning signals into solutions.
Year 2 Computer Engineering student part of team winning Hult Prize for STEAM robotics kit
At just 22, Chong Kai Jie (first from left), a Year 2 Computer Engineering student, is the co-founder and Head of Product Design at Stick’Em. The team developed an affordable robotics kit made with chopsticks to teach children STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) skills. Their project recently won the Hult Prize, often called the “Nobel Prize for students,” and secured US$1 million in funding. Held annually since 2010, the Hult Prize brings together student entrepreneurs to create businesses that tackle social and environmental challenges.
With Hult Prize support, the team plans to scale production, expand internationally, and advance their mission of making quality STEAM education accessible to children worldwide.
The Stick’Em journey began in 2020, when Kai Jie, then in Junior College, teamed up with Adam Huh Dam (Singapore University of Technology and Design), Chong Ing Kai (Singapore Polytechnic), and Tew Jing An (NUS School of Computing) to promote problem-solving and creative thinking through hands-on learning. Aida Sevilla (Singapore Polytechnic) was also part of the team from 2020 to 2023.
At CDE, Kai Jie built on his interest in design and engineering through courses in design thinking and iDP modules, gaining new perspectives on 3D modelling, product design, and engineering processes. These lessons continue to shape his work at Stick’Em, where he guides the team in refining kits to be engaging, accessible, and affordable.
CDE students arrive with talent and drive, and our role is to support them in turning that potential into impact. As Kai Jie reflects: "What I've learned in my course and iDP mods such as CDE2310 has given me a deeper understanding of 3D printers, engineering processes, and best practices. Courses like DTK1234 Design Thinking were actually useful in evaluating my own design process."
NUS Formula SAE celebrates milestone year and sponsors’ support
This year has been a milestone for NUS FormulaSAE. Competing at the Formula SAE Electric Competition in Michigan, the team clinched 7th place globally, their highest ever placing! Since pivoting to electric vehicles in 2021, the students have shown remarkable resilience and innovation, proving how far dedication and teamwork can go!
To celebrate these achievements and thank its partners, Team FSAE recently hosted its Annual Sponsor Appreciation Event, with Professor Teo Kie Leong, Dean of CDE, as Guest of Honour. It was a chance to showcase the team’s electric race car, share their journey, and honour the industry partners whose support has been pivotal in their success.
“Your support highlights the shared values we uphold, striving for excellence, innovating to make an impact, and nurturing talents to create a better future,” said Prof Teo.
A special thank you to the diamond-tier sponsors, DHL Express Singapore; Mr Tian Ching Long; Altium®, for their invaluable support. DHL Express Singapore enabled the smooth transport of the team’s race car and equipment from Singapore to the US, showing how logistics can help young engineers realise their ambitions. Special thanks also go to Mr Tian Ching Long, for his generous sponsorship that has supported the team’s progress, and to Altium® for their continued contribution to advanced printed circuit board design through their industry-grade software.
We are also deeply grateful to our other partners: Siemens; ST Engineering; Admiralty International Pte Ltd; RVI Inspection and Equipment Pte Ltd; Wurth Electronics Singapore; Interhorizon Corporation Pte Ltd; HOPE Technik; NSK Global (www.nsk.com); Infineon Technologies; Prof Lim Seh Chun; Le Champ (South East Asia) Pte Ltd; Li Wei; Littelfuse; 3Dconnexion; Foo Wei Young; Motul Asia Pacific; Binder; RapidDirect Co., Ltd; Bossard Group; Hirose Electric Singapore Pte Ltd; KiSSsoft AG; Bender; wenext; Calspan, your partnership plays a key role in driving innovation, nurturing student talent, and helping Team FSAE reach new heights!
Here’s to the road ahead — faster, greener, and even more electrifying!
Team Bumblebee celebrates supporters at Sponsors’ Appreciation Night 2025
What a stellar year it has been for Team Bumblebee. The team made a successful return to this year’s RoboSub competition, having skipped last year’s edition to focus on the RobotX competition. With a record number of teams participating this year, Team Bumblebee’s two autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) propelled them to first place.
Team Bumblebee held their Sponsors’ Appreciation Night on 17 October 2025 to celebrate this year’s achievements and to thank their partners and collaborators. The Guest-of-Honour for the evening was Mr Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Manpower. Mr Huang has been an ardent supporter of Team Bumblebee over the years.
Also at the event was Prof Martin Buist, Deputy Dean (Education) at CDE, who thanked the team’s supporters and sponsors, stating that “The team would not have been able to do all this without the generous support of our sponsors. From MINDEF’s Future Systems and Technology Directorate, DSO National Labs, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, Altium, ST Engineering, DHL, MacArtney Underwater Technology, Fugro Subsea Technologies, Würth Elektronik, SBG Systems, and all the other companies present here today. We thank you very much for your support and hope the team has made you proud. We hope you will continue to support the team as they challenge themselves to top their already very high standards year after year.”
As the team looks to the future, Bumblebee Team Lead Leong Deng Jun shared the plans for 2026 and gave a sneak peek at the new AUV 5.0, ASV 5.0, and Jellyfish 3.0. “Next year will be an exciting time for the team, as we look forward to tackling new challenges in a revamped RobotX competition. We also hope to finally deploy our in-house custom acoustic modem that will enable inter-vehicle communication between our AUVs next year,” said Deng Jun.
Special thanks to Bumblebee’s Platinum Sponsors, Future Systems and Technology Directorate (FSTD), ST Engineering, DSO National Laboratories, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club and DHL Express Singapore for their continued support.
Here’s to clear waters and continued success for Team Bumblebee!
CDE students collaborate with Stanford University through Global Design Innovation Programme
CDE has embarked on an exciting new collaboration with Stanford University through the Stanford Global Engineering Design Innovation (GEDI) programme, an initiative fostering global design collaboration between students from both universities, empowering them to become future-ready innovators and entrepreneurs.
Currently in its first semester, the programme has our Year 4 undergraduates embarking on their projects with international industry partners under CDE4301 Innovation & Design Capstone, offered by the Engineering Design and Innovation Centre (EDIC). They will begin collaborating with Stanford Master’s students during the Winter break, continuing into the next semester and culminating in the EXPE Showcase at Stanford. Promising projects may also be developed into start-ups with support from NUS Enterprise.
- Two projects are currently underway:
Technologies for seamless interpersonal interaction in the metaverse (Meta). Exploring ways to enhance virtual communication through user research and prototyping. - Reimagining a premium automated hotel check-in experience (Venture Corporation). Identifying key user pain points and co-developing innovative engineering design solutions.
“This collaboration offers our students a unique opportunity to work alongside Stanford Master’s students in interdisciplinary teams, guided jointly by faculty from both institutions. It combines CDE’s strength in project-based learning with Stanford’s decades of leadership in engineering design methodology,” said Dr Yen Shih-Cheng, Director of EDIC.
“With the team coming from different engineering disciplines, we’ve learned a lot from each other while breaking down the problem statement and working through the research stages. One of our main challenges has been narrowing the scope of such a broad problem statement. There are many ways technology could improve the check-in experience, and it has taken several iterations of discussion, theory application, and user interviews to identify the areas with the most impact,” shared Nor Muhammad Ilham Bin Ridzuan (Industrial & Systems Engineering)
