EVENTS & OTHER HAPPENINGS
Polytechnic, IB, and NUS High students explore design and engineering at Experience CDE 2025
“Listening to professors and students showed me the many design platforms available. At CDE, I can go beyond interior design, explore specialisations like product innovation, and even take on interdisciplinary projects. The doors are always open to discover new areas, and that makes me excited to deepen my journey here,” shared Cai Jielin, a Singapore Polytechnic Interior Design student, after attending Experience CDE 2025.
For many students, Experience CDE held on campus on 13 December offered an engaging glimpse into the dynamic and innovative nature of learning at CDE. Over 400 students from polytechnics, International Baccalaureate (IB) institutions, and NUS High stepped into the world of design and engineering at CDE.
Yadanar Thant, a Singapore Polytechnic Civil Engineering student, said, “It was cool seeing the range of projects. The coastal protection work using nature-based solutions stood out, and I was intrigued by how we could use conductivity to generate power and make the mini race car run. It was a fun way to see engineering concepts come to life!”
Events like Experience CDE are just the beginning. If you’re curious about the programmes, pathways, and opportunities we offer, check out our admissions microsite to learn more. Your next step could start here!
CEE 70 years: A homecoming celebration across generations
The NUS Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) 70th Anniversary Dinner was held on 28 November 2025 at the Fairmont Ballroom, Raffles City Convention Centre, marking the culmination of a year-long series of celebrations. The event brought together about 980 guests spanning seven decades of alumni, along with donors, industry partners, and past and present staff, in a joyful homecoming for the CEE community.
The depth of commitment within the community was evident throughout the evening. Many guests arrived directly from the airport with luggage in hand, reflecting the enduring bonds forged through CEE over the decades.
The dinner opened with a rousing drum performance by representatives from the department’s management team, academic, administrative and laboratory staff, alumni, as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students, setting an energetic tone to the night's proceedings. In his welcome address, Head of Department Professor Richard Liew underscored the central role of alumni in CEE’s journey and expressed appreciation to past and present professors and support staff for shaping the department’s identity.
Key highlights of the evening included the presentation of CEE 70th Anniversary Special Recognition Awards. The Special Recognition Awards for Staff honoured three pioneering members of the teaching fraternity — Honorary Fellow Dr Tam Chat Tim, Emeritus Professor Cheong Hin Fatt and Emeritus Professor Yong Kwet Yew — each of whom served the department for over 40 years and played pivotal roles in shaping its academic and professional foundations.
A Special Recognition Award (Alumni) was also presented to recognise alumni whose achievements and service have strengthened both the CEE community and society at large. In addition, the CEE 70th Donor Appreciation segment acknowledged the vital role of donors in nurturing future generations of engineers and enabling scholarships, research and transformative opportunities.
Guests were invited to reflect on the department’s journey through a curated “time tunnel” showcasing photographs from 1955 to 2025, complemented by a photo wall featuring more than 400 images and a photobooth with nostalgic backdrops, including the former engineering canteen and the Prince Edward campus.
The programme also featured a series of performances that highlighted the talents within the CEE family. These included a video performance of Tomorrow Will Be Better by Dr Pan Weiyi and his wife, Xu Chencheng; a Cantonese rendition of 朋友 by alumni Er Dr Victor Ong, Er Dr Ng Chew Chiat David and Er Tan Yoong Heng together with research staff Ms Low Kai En and Ms Poppy Leong; a piano and vocal performance of As Wished by Dr Pearl Li; and a surprise finale performance of Shanghai Bund by Professor Richard Liew.
Guests received a signature perfume thoughtfully curated by the organising committee and alumnus Mr Ong Kian Hwee (Class of 1996) from Givaudan, serving as a sensory keepsake of the occasion. Video montages tracing the department’s history from 1955 to 2025 were also screened, alongside a tribute to Emeritus Professor Lee Seng Lip, an inspirational and distinguished educator whose impact has shaped both the department and the nation. The evening further spotlighted students supported by bursaries, highlighting the tangible impact of philanthropy on student development.
The celebration concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony that brought together representatives from alumni cohorts spanning 1955 to 2025, alongside past and present Heads of Department, as the ballroom joined in singing Happy Birthday. The moment encapsulated the enduring unity and shared identity of the CEE community.
The celebratory evening served not only as a commemoration of CEE’s 70-year journey, but also as a reflection of the strong partnerships, shared purpose and collective commitment that continue to underpin the department’s role within CDE and beyond.
TurtleBot3 YOLO workshop: Where AI, robotics & real-world engineering meet
Earlier this month, 60 pre-university students from 15 educational institutions participated in the TurtleBot3 YOLO (You Only Look Once) Workshop, a two-day immersive experience hosted by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). During the workshop, students explored the exciting intersection of AI, robotics, and engineering.
Across lectures and hands-on lab sessions, participants learned to:
- Train a YOLOv11 (AI model) object detection model to recognise objects such as traffic signs and QR codes
- Work with key sensors, including LIDAR and IMU
- Code Python scripts for robotic navigation using the TurtleBot3 platform
Students also had the opportunity to engage with Rishab Patwari (Computer Engineering, Class of 2023) and founder of Hivebotics, who shared insights on innovation, entrepreneurship, and applying engineering knowledge to real-world challenges.
A highlight of the workshop was the TurtleBot maze race, where students tested the robots in a competitive setting, with top teams earning prizes for outstanding navigation and strategy.
To round off the experience, participants visited ECE’s Innovation Hub and STAR Lab, where they explored state-of-the-art research spaces that support cutting-edge work in robotics, AI, and intelligent systems. Proud to see these aspiring engineers dive deep into both theory and hands-on practice, a powerful first step toward shaping the future of technology!
NUS ECE Peer Tutoring Scheme Appreciation Ceremony for AY25/26 Semester 1
On 12 November 2025, the NUS Chapter of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) held an Appreciation Ceremony to recognise the invaluable contributions of the peer tutors of the AY2025/26 Semester 1 NUS ECE Peer Tutoring Scheme.
The event provided an opportunity for peer tutees to express their gratitude by sharing heartfelt, personalised notes with their tutors, acknowledging the help they received in their respective courses. Peer tutors were presented with a certificate and a token of appreciation. The ceremony was followed by a relaxed networking session with food, allowing everyone to unwind before the finals season.
Attendees shared that the event offered them a break from their studies, giving them a chance to relax and enjoy great food before the finals season.
NUS IEEE-HKN Founder’s Day celebration and AY25/26 Sem 1 second internal bonding event
The NUS Chapter of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) celebrated the IEEE-HKN Founders’ Day with a memorable final bonding session of the semester.
The event started off with updates from the EXCO, followed by a sharing segment on the history of IEEE-HKN. Afterwards, a fun and educational Kahoot quiz tested members on questions about IEEE-HKN’s history, its chapters around the world, as well as trivia related to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. After the short quiz, members enjoyed dinner and some played card games, while some took the opportunity to connect.
Printed circuit board design with Altium workshop
The NUS Chapter of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) held the fourth instalment of its Talent Relay initiative with an introduction to Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design with Altium workshop. This initiative continues to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, while offering IEEE-HKN members opportunities to develop communication and teaching skills.
The workshop was attended by 42 students from CDE. Participants were guided through the usage of Altium to make a simple LED board, and learnt about best practices in schematic creation, routing, and fabrication of PCBs.
The Electrical and Computer Engineering department would also like to thank the Innovation & Design Programme (iDP) for their partnership and support of our initiative. Keep an eye out for more workshops from the Talent Relay Initiative in the future!
From complexity to domesticity: Key insights from DOA Graduate Research Symposium 2025
The Department of Architecture hosted the DOA Graduate Research Symposium 2025, a full-day, student-led event that brought together PhD candidates, faculty, and researchers to exchange ideas in architecture, urban studies, and related fields. Rather than showcasing finished work, the symposium highlighted works-in-progress and open questions, giving early-stage doctoral researchers a platform to refine arguments, test methods, and connect with peers working on related topics.
Prof Lam Khee Poh delivered the opening keynote, “RE-Search in an Age of Complexity,” reflecting on how built environment research can address overlapping environmental, social, and technological crises by operating across scales and sectors while centring human well-being and sustainability.
Read more here.
Recognising excellence in data literacy at DBE
Timothy Wong Wai Quen, Lab Technician at the Department of Built Environment, has been awarded the Top Performing Learner Award for his Data Literacy Programme (DLP) Intermediate course in his batch. He received the award from NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye during the recent Learning Symposium 2025 award ceremony.
The University has set its sights on arming and upskilling its administrative employees on data literacy and analytics, with the Data Literacy Programme (DLP) conducted over the past year. DLP presents an invaluable opportunity for learners to collaborate with their colleagues across the University to embark on work-related projects, harnessing data to generate meaningful results.
CDE staff wellness programme: Acute management of sports injury lunch talk
On 4 December, over 60 CDE staff members attended a wellness talk focused on the acute management of sports injuries. The session, conducted by physiotherapist Mr Chris Wong, highlighted common sports injuries, their symptoms, and effective treatment strategies.
