The AlumNUS Oct-Dec 2016 by NUS Alumni Office

ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE • O C T – D E C 2 0 1 6 / I S S U E 1 0 7

A Circle OF Giving THE NUS COMMUNITY IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS AT THE INAUGURAL NUS DAY OF SERVICE

A Circle OF Giving

FIRST WO RD

The AlumNUS clinched the Grand Award in the One-of-a-Kind Publications category for APEX 2016.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE • O C T – D E C 2 0 1 6 / I S S U E 1 0 7

CONTENTS OCT–DEC 2016

THE NUS COMMUNITY IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS AT THE INAUGURAL NUS DAY OF SERVICE

IN THE NEWS

A Tribute to Eminent Alumnus Mr S R Nathan — “The People’s President” The Best in Asia NUS Day of Service NUS Launches New School to Promote Lifelong Education NUS Kent Ridge Alumni Family Day 2016 Jazzing It Up @ Bukit Timah Campus

COVER STORY A Day of Action and Service 22 CHANGEMAKER 14

A Passion that Runs Deep

24 ONCE UPON A MEMORY

Hitting the Right Note

26 PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Keeper of Legacies

29 ALUMNI SCENE

THE NUS COMMUNITY IS, ON THE WHOLE, A GENEROUS LOT. WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH STUDENT CLUBS AND THEN, AFTER THEY GRADUATE, CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER ON THEIR OWN.

Life through a Lens

30 ALUMNI SCENE GIVING

The Hero of NUS Pioneers Honoured with Bursary Harnessing the Power of Class Giving

32 U@LIVE

Mr Jeremy Ee (Engineering ’05)

Mr Antonio Meloto

34 ALUMNI HAPPENINGS 46 PERSPECTIVE 48 LAST WORD

ADVISOR Mr Bernard Toh (Architecture ’84)

EDITOR

Karin Yeo (Arts and Social Sciences ’97)

CONTRIBUTOR Ling Ing Tan PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Noreen Kwan

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT

Mediacorp Pte Ltd

CONTACT US Office of Alumni Relations National University of Singapore 11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244 Tel: (65) 6516-5775 Fax: (65) 6777-2065 Email: oarconnect@nus.edu.sg Website: nus.edu.sg/alumnet Facebook: facebook.com/nusoar

The AlumNUS is published quarterly by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NUS Office of Alumni Relations or the National University of Singapore. For more information or to read The AlumNUS online, please visit nus.edu.sg/alumnet. Copyright 2016 by the National University of Singapore. All rights reserved. Printed in Singapore by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd.

DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,

n our ﬁnal issue of The AlumNUS magazine for 2016, we celebrate the NUS spirit of service to community and give thanks to our NUS family of volunteers. Our Cover Story, “A Day of Action and Service”, examines what it means to give of oneself and the purposefulness behind this giving.

As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” — a quote that rang true on Saturday, 3 September 2016, when the NUS family of alumni, faculty, staff and students came together to give of themselves to the community, at the University’s Inaugural Day of Service. Initiated by the NUS Alumni Advisory Board, our first NUS Day of Service was a resounding success as 1,400 volunteers gathered to devote their time and energy meaningfully through 21 different activities both locally and overseas, benefitting as many as 4,500 beneficiaries. From cooking up a storm and distributing food packs to cleaning up the coast and providing health checks, these 1,400 individuals made a difference that day, and not only in reaching out to the less fortunate. In coming together, they became socially and emotionally connected through the meaningful contributions they made, and more importantly, through a shared objective we hope to build upon in the years ahead.

I would like to thank our volunteers for their passion and commitment, and especially our alumni volunteers for giving back to the community through their alma mater. The NUS Day of Service is only one of many examples that showcases some of the best of alumni volunteerism. Throughout the year, our alumni have shown themselves to be ambassadors of the University, displaying that NUS spirit of excellence in their steadfast service to community. October’s 25th NUS Alumni and Friends Charity Golf is a ﬁne example of their constant desire to give back. In getting together for a game of golf to strengthen camaraderie and friendship, our alumni have once again outdone themselves by raising a total of S$510,000 (their target was S$250,000) for a future generation of NUS alumni in need of ﬁnancial aid for their studies.

IN COMING TOGETHER, ALUMNI, FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS BECAME SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED THROUGH THE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MADE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THROUGH A SHARED OBJECTIVE WE HOPE TO BUILD UPON IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

As NUS continues to rise in its academic standing and global reputation, it continues to build on this culture of service to community to demonstrate that it is a community that cares. As NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan so aptly pointed out in his Commencement Speech to our 2016 graduands, “we can learn valuable lessons about how… ...a commitment to contribute to society, can help each of us to excel despite the challenges that we may face”. In the same measure, in giving back to alma mater and community, our alumni not only create value for NUS; they will (hopefully) find personal and collective fulfilment in this service. As the year draws to a close, my colleagues and I wish you, your families and loved ones, a wonderful festive season filled with joy, laughter and peace. We thank you for all the support you have extended to us throughout this year, when you gave of your time, your talent and your gifts. We look forward to your continued steadfast support in 2017. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! MR BERNARD TOH Architecture ’84 DIRECTOR, NUS OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS OCT– DEC 2016

IN TH E NE WS

A TRIBUTE TO EMINENT ALUMNUS

MR S R NATHAN — “THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT”

MR S R NATHAN 1924 – 2016

The NUS community has benefitted tremendously from Mr Nathan’s visionary leadership as our Chancellor. Whenever he attended university functions, Mr Nathan had always made himself available to students and generously shared his perspectives and experiences with them. All of us at NUS mourn the passing of a distinguished alumnus and an inspirational leader. PROFESSOR TAN CHORH CHUAN (MEDICINE ‘83)

NUS PRESIDENT

he passing of NUS’ Eminent Alumnus Mr S R Nathan (Arts ’54), the sixth President of the Republic of Singapore and fifth Chancellor of NUS, is a great loss to the nation and the University. Mr Nathan, Singapore’s longest-serving President, passed away on 22 August at the age of 92. Mr Nathan had dedicated most of his life to public service and had made remarkable contributions to Singapore during his long and stellar career. “We are deeply saddened by the news of Mr Nathan’s passing. Mr Nathan was a great man with a strong sense of duty to others. He was a highly respected leader and had served Singapore and Singaporeans with distinction in his various roles in the public sectors, as Singapore’s longest-serving President as well as NUS Chancellor. NUS mourns the loss of an illustrious alumnus, and sends our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Nathan and the family,” said Chairman of the NUS Board of Trustees Mr Wong Ngit Liong (Engineering ’65). During his term as NUS Chancellor, Mr Nathan championed the University’s vision of becoming a global university and advocated strong support for its educational and research initiatives. In recognition of his exemplary contributions to Singapore and his leadership, guidance and support to NUS during his Chancellorship, the University conferred the Honorary Doctor of Letters on Mr Nathan in 2012. NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83), who had worked closely with Mr Nathan during his term as NUS Chancellor, said, “Mr Nathan’s distinguished achievements as a civil servant, ambassador and statesman is an inspiration to all of us. It was a great honour and privilege to have had the opportunity to interact with and learn from Mr Nathan on many occasions when he was

the Chancellor of NUS. The NUS community has benefitted tremendously from Mr Nathan’s visionary leadership as our Chancellor. Whenever he attended university functions, Mr Nathan had always made himself available to students and generously shared his perspectives and experiences with them. All of us at NUS mourn the passing of a distinguished alumnus and an inspirational leader.” Mr Nathan’s connection with the University began more than 60 years ago when he enrolled at the University of Malaya in 1952, and was among the pioneer batch of Social Studies students. For his exceptional contributions towards the development of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University, Singapore and beyond, Mr Nathan was awarded the inaugural NUS Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award (Lifetime Achievement) last year. For his excellent and sustained contributions and achievements in public and community service nationally and internationally, Mr Nathan was conferred the Eminent Alumni Award in 2007 by the University. The exemplary way that Mr Nathan had served his country and alma mater, will continue to be an inspiration for Singaporeans and the NUS community.

Mr Nathan (Arts ’54) receiving the Honorary Doctor of Letters from Singapore President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam (Science ’62) in 2012. OCT– DEC 2016

IN THE NEWS

T h e

Best Asia in

US continues to be the best in Asia and has been ranked 12 th in the world in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2016/2017, for the second consecutive year. NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83) said,“NUS has continued to focus on preparing future-ready graduates who can thrive and contribute in a much more volatile environment, as well as building new research peaks, increasing the translational impact of our research, and nurturing a vibrant university enterprise ecosystem. We are happy that these efforts have been recognised by our ranking among the world’s top universities, and as Asia’s best. We are also heartened that NUS is placed number one in Singapore for both academic as well as employer reputation. I am grateful to the talented members of the NUS community who work tirelessly in pursuit of excellence and the creation of distinctive value.” The University received perfect scores for both employer and academic reputation, and was placed ninth and 11th globally respectively. The University also improved in the volume of citations and the number of research papers published. Responses from 74,651 academics and 37,781 employers were sought during the compilation of this edition of the QS World University Rankings, which ranked more than 900 universities. The Rankings employ six performance indicators — academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, faculty student ratio, and proportions of international students and international faculty — to assess a university’s strengths in research, teaching, employability and internationalisation.

NUS Day of Service NUS has continued to focus on preparing futureready graduates who can thrive and contribute in a much more volatile environment, as well as building new research peaks, increasing the translational impact of our research, and nurturing a vibrant university enterprise ecosystem. PROFESSOR TAN CHORH CHUAN (MEDICINE ‘83)

NUS PRESIDENT

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan frying fish in the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen. NUS Deputy President (Administration), Mr Don Yeo (second from left) removing waste from the Tanah Merah coastline.

he inaugural NUS Day of Service held on 3 September was a day of significance for the University as the entire NUS community came together to give back to society. More than 1,400 alumni, faculty, staff and students volunteered for 21 community service projects across Singapore and overseas, and reached out to a total of about 4,500 beneficiaries. “This Day of Service is very symbolic, it’s a very strong manifestation of our commitment to community engagement and to be of service to society. I’m really delighted that so many students, alumni and staff have come together on this inaugural Day of Service. I also hope very much that at least some of them will continue to volunteer on a regular basis, then that would actually magnify and realise the value of having this Day of Service,” said NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83). Continued on page 6

OCT– DEC 2016

IN THE NEWS Volunteers at the Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick.

Grocery shopping with elder beneficiaries from the Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre.

Continued from page 5

The event is an initiative of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board to reinforce NUS’ strong tradition of service to country and society. “We are delighted to see so many from the NUS community coming forward and giving of themselves, and making that little difference,” commented Mr Jeremy Ee (Engineering ’05), Chairman of the NUS Day of Service Organising Committee and Member of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board. The first activity of the day kicked off at 6am at the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen, where Prof Tan prepared, cooked and delivered food along with 45 volunteers brought together by Tembusu College. Over at the Tanah Merah Ferry coastline, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup activity, NUS Deputy President (Administration), Mr Don Yeo, together with another group of 160 volunteers, rolled up their sleeves and literally got their hands dirtied as they collected, removed and recorded an impressive total of 923kg of rubbish from the coastline. “There are many activities going on in different parts of the island, and this is a good way to capture the diversity of the NUS community to help address different needs in the community. We can certainly build on this year’s inaugural

Door-to Door food distribution with Food from the Heart.

event, to see which other groups we have not addressed, so we can reach out to and help in the future,” shared Mr Yeo, when asked how he sees the NUS Day of Service evolving in the years ahead. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine student, Mr Gerald Low Zhi-Xiong volunteered with the Neighbourhood Health Service that annually provides free health screening for residents aged 40 and above and living in one- or two-room flats in Taman Jurong. “Since I started volunteering in Year 1, I feel that the neighbourhood has improved with regard to healthcare coverage and awareness of chronic disease and cancer screening. I sincerely hope that future batches of students will continue to serve the community in the years to come!” The success of the inaugural NUS Day of Service was the fruit of the collective effort of the entire NUS community. We look forward to more activities and more volunteers next year, to reach out to more beneficiaries.

Volunteers showing some tender loving care to the dogs at the Action for Singapore Dogs shelter.

WHAT THE NUS COMMUNITY IS SAYING It was heartening to see so many volunteers coming together as a community, for the community. These are baby steps in making a positive change to the people around us. Let us all do our part from hereon.

An outing with elderly beneficiaries from the Moral Welfare Home.

DR KUAN YEE HAN (ENGINEERING ’10) DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AFFAIRS TEMBUSU COLLEGE

Free health screening by Neighbourhood Health Service. Volunteers at the Salvation Army Peacehaven Nursing Home.

Every small act of giving back to society helps. Through NUS’ Day of Service, I feel that I’ve made a small difference to the community I live in.

Students and volunteers reconstituting used bar soaps from hotels for migrant workers.

MR KHADAR SHAREEF AKBAR (ENGINEERING ’16)

I wish to use my time more meaningfully and I love the great outdoors. MS JOLENE BAY (YEAR 1 STUDENT) NUS BUSINESS SCHOOL, ON WHY SHE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE COASTAL CLEANUP ACTIVITY.

Tree Planting and Beautification Programme in Bangladesh. 6

Volunteers removing rubbish along the Tanah Merah coastline.

Fun, Laughter & Silver! Volunteers at Ghim Moh’s Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre. OCT– DEC 2016

IN THE NEWS

ABOVE Lion dancers with Prof Wei Kwok Kee (Computer Science ’80), who held scrolls extolling the virtue of lifelong learning. From left: Prof Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85), Mr Wong Ngit Liong (Engineering ’65), Mr Ong Ye Kung, Prof Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83) and Prof Wei Kwok Kee (Computer Science ’80) launching the School of Continuing and Lifelong Education.

NUS LAUNCHES NEW SCHOOL TO PROMOTE LIFELONG EDUCATION

he NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE), a S$12 million initiative to promote and expand lifelong learning opportunities for working adults, was officially launched on 17 June by Guest-of-Honour Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Mr Ong Ye Kung. SCALE is the first lifelong learning unit to be formally launched, and representatives from government agencies and industry joined NUS Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong (Engineering ’65), NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83), and NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85) at this landmark event. Located at University Town, SCALE will work closely with government agencies, companies and industry to design professional courses that offer enriching lifelong learning experiences, in addition to drawing on the University’s pool of expertise, resources and networks. NUS President Prof Tan said, “NUS is excited to launch a new school dedicated to lifelong learning. This is an important new direction for NUS which will also actively support the national SkillsFuture movement. SCALE will offer differentiated opportunities for adult learners to acquire new knowledge and skills from NUS; help Singapore companies and industries stay competitive with industryrelevant professional development; and support national manpower needs.” “SCALE will leverage on NUS’ top quality broad-based education, state-of-the-art facilities and rich networks of industry partners and influential alumni in Singapore and beyond. We believe that the multidisciplinary, real-world, and best-in-class expertise that NUS is known for will enable 8

SCALE students to advance and contribute even more in their careers,” Prof Tan added. In conjunction with the launch, NUS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Trades Union Congress’ Employment and Employability Institute, to pave the way for adult learning courses. NUS will also work with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to play an upstream role in identifying skills and competency gaps in developing the Singapore workforce. SCALE’s founding Dean, Professor Wei Kwok Kee (Computer Science ’80), is a respected industry expert and consultant on e-commerce and social commerce, and the founding head of the Department of Information Systems at NUS before he joined the City University of Hong Kong. Prof Wei, a Singaporean, said he felt privileged to return to Singapore and NUS to contribute towards the University’s efforts in promoting lifelong learning among Singapore professionals. “I look forward to working with my NUS colleagues from various schools and faculties, as well as with our partners in the industry and government agencies, to enable all Singaporeans to maximise their potential and realise their career aspirations.” The programmes offered by SCALE are designed with NUS faculties and schools, in consultation with WDA, the Economic Development Board and employers, to align with market demand and industry needs. The School will offer undergraduate certificate and graduate diploma courses, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, as well as short courses and executive programmes. Courses will be taught by experienced instructors comprising NUS faculty members, SCALE teaching staff, national continuing education training providers and adult education providers.

NUS KENT RIDGE ALUMNI FAMILY DAY 2016 The much-anticipated annual Kent Ridge Alumni Family Day was held on 13 August at the NUS University Town (UTown). About 5,800 alumni, students and staff – together with their family members – came back to campus for an evening of fun, food and entertainment. Continued on page 10

OCT– DEC 2016

IN THE NEWS Continued from page 9

he event was graced by NUS Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong (Engineering ’65), together with NUS Board of Trustees members Professor Olaf Kübler and Ms Chong Siak Ching (Design and Environment ’81), NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83), as well as NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85). UTown was abuzz with activities such as the Student Life Fair, Alumni’s & Students’ Sports Challenge, bazaar booths, bubble soccer and more. Several alumni groups also held their homecomings on the same day at UTown, including University Scholars Programme, NUS Environmental Studies Alumni, NUS Students’ Union Alumni and NUS Alumni Photographic Society. Children were entertained and delighted by the wide range of activities available from a bouncy castle to animal rides and carnival games at the NUSS Kids’ booth. The mascots of NUS and NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU), LiNUS the lion and Sunny the Penguin respectively, were also a hit with both children and adults alike when they went around meeting and greeting the crowd. Canteen vendors who took part in the Canteen Food — Past & Present competition (organised by the NUS Office of Campus Amenities) whipped up popular dishes for sampling and judging. Celebrity Ms Violet Oon (Arts and Social Sciences ’71) was one of the judges for this competition. The grand prize went to the Yong Tau Foo stall at Techno Edge. As the day started to cool down, guests spread out their picnic mats on the green — to take a break from the action and excitement and to enjoy the performances on stage. They were treated to a variety of music entertainment by popular alumni band ShiLi & Adi, 5-piece band Laid Comers, and student band Yoke Ling & Niki. The Taekwondo demonstration led by multi-award winner and coach Mr Lai Han Seng (Computing ’01) impressed the audience, while Catwalk-On-The-Green by NUS student models curated by Mr Daniel Boey (Arts and Social Sciences ’89) wowed the crowd, especially fashion-conscious younger alumni. The finale of the event was a screening (the biggest outdoor movie screening on campus) of popular animated movie Kung Fu Panda 3.

OCT– DEC 2016

IN THE NEWS

Jazzing It Up

@ Bukit Timah Campus

The sing-along session led by NUS Alumni Sing-Along also saw guests happily singing classics and golden oldies along with the group. As always, alumni support for this annual Homecoming was overwhelming with many alumni coming back from overseas to attend the event. The ‘Farthest Travelled Alumni’ awards went to three alumni who came back from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. This year’s Homecoming also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1966 with a special cake-cutting ceremony and celebratory toast to the first cohort of students to graduate in post-independence Singapore. VIPs who attended the event included NUS Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong (Engineering ’65) and BOT Member Ms Chong Siak Ching (Design and Environment ’81), NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan (Medicine ’83), NUS Deputy President for Academic Affairs and Provost Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science ’85), and NUS Alumni Advisory Board Members Mr Peter Tay Yew Beng (Business ’75), Mr Edward D’Silva (Architecture ’75) and Mr Viswa Sadasivan (Arts and Social Sciences ’83).

he annual Bukit Timah Homecoming, organised by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), and cohosted by the Faculty of Law and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, was held this year on 2 July, at the Bukit Timah campus. More than 1,000 alumni and friends spent a wonderful evening catching up with one another over sumptuous food and great entertainment. With a ‘Jazz it Up’ theme this year, guests were entertained by Singapore’s very own jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro and his band, jazz artiste Melissa Tham, alumnus Ms Dawn Yip (Arts and Social Sciences ’86) and the Young @ Heart, a group which comprises Raffles Hall residents and resident fellows from the 1960s and 1970s.

OCT– DEC 2016

N U S DAY O F SERV IC E

n Saturday, 3 September 2016, Ms Monika Puhazhendhi (Computing ’14) woke up early and spent the morning picking up litter along the beach next to the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. It was her first volunteering experience for the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore, a mass beach clean-up held each year since 1992. “I was surprised at how much — and what kind of — rubbish we found. We picked up ceramic tiles and even a plastic chair! I do try to do my bit for the environment, so participating in this cleanup was one way of maintaining our Earth,” says the 23 year-old web developer. This activity, open to the NUS community of alumni, faculty, staff and students, was just one of many that took place throughout the day across Singapore. It constituted part of the first-ever NUS Day of Service — a concerted effort by the NUS community to give back to the community through action and service. Based on the positive response from those involved, hopes are high that NUS Day of Service will henceforth become a flagship fixture of the NUS calendar.

A Day of Action and Service

Mr Jeremy Ee

University-wide days of service are not new; many higher education institutions in the USA have such initiatives. It was in fact the Yale Day of Service — an annual affair where Yale alumni around the world volunteer for a day with their families and friends in their local communities — that inspired NUS to do likewise. The notion first took root in 2011, when a NUS delegation attended the World Alumni Leadership Conference in Beijing. Sponsored by the Yale Global Alumni Leadership Exchange programme, the conference allowed Yale alumni to share best practices in alumni relations with counterparts in other countries. Mr Jeremy Ee (Engineering ’05), an NUS Alumni Advisory Board member, was among those present. “We heard about their Yale Day of Service and thought it would be a good idea to do something similar,” says Mr Ee, 35, a civil servant. “The NUS community is, on the whole, a generous lot. We have students who actively engage in community service through student clubs and then, after they graduate, continue to volunteer on their own. Such an event would bring together all of their fragmented efforts and create opportunities for other alumni to contribute to society.” After a few years on the backburner, the proposal gained momentum last year as NUS celebrated its 110th anniversary with the motto, ‘Because We Care’. At the NUS Alumni Leaders Forum in September 2015, local and overseas-based alumni leaders as well as student leaders discussed the feasibility of holding a NUS Day of Service and brainstormed potential community-service projects. This would lay the

JEREMY EE ENGINEERING ’05

Photo of Mr Jeremy Ee by

BY WANDA TAN

THE NUS COMMUNITY IS, ON THE WHOLE, A GENEROUS LOT. WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH STUDENT CLUBS AND THEN, AFTER THEY GRADUATE, CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER ON THEIR OWN. SUCH AN EVENT WOULD BRING TOGETHER ALL OF THEIR FRAGMENTED EFFORTS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER ALUMNI TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.

UNDER ONE BANNER

Additional reporting by

Twenty-one community activities. One thousand four hundred volunteers from the NUS family. Welcome to the University’s inaugural Day of Service.

foundation for its implementation one year later. In June 2016, the NUS Day of Service Organising Committee chaired by Mr Ee was established. NUS alumni, faculty, staff and students were all evenly represented on the 12-member committee.

OCT– DEC 2016

N U S DAY O F SERV IC E

A LESSON ON BIODIVERSITY

The main role of the NUS Day of Service Organising Committee was to raise awareness about the event and attract volunteers. However, several members like Mr Ho Jun Yi (Law ’11) went one step further to organise their own community activities. Together with Mr Donald Koh (Design and Environment ’08) — like him, a former NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) President — Mr Ho championed ‘A Day at the Museum’. A lawyer by profession, Mr Ho volunteers as a gallery guide at NUS’ Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM). The facility is renowned for its broad collection of plant and animal specimens native to Southeast Asia, and was thus recommended by committee members as an ideal venue to showcase the campus to the public during the NUS Day of Service. Given Mr Ho’s familiarity with the Museum, the selfprofessed “nature lover and amateur wildlife spotter” was an obvious choice to front the project. He and Mr Koh assembled a diverse planning team that included Engineering student Ms Snigdha Singhania, as well as Arts and Social Sciences students Mr Kenneth Ng and Ms Lim Shiao Wei, all three of whom are incumbent NUSSU leaders. Together, they organised a community outreach event for disadvantaged persons across the age spectrum — from children and youth to senior citizens — to enjoy a free educational tour of LKCNHM. OAR and museum staff also assisted to make sure the event ran smoothly. “Our aim was not to increase awareness of the museum but rather to reach out to people who, due to their disadvantaged backgrounds, may not have had the opportunity to be exposed to it,” says

The planning team for ‘A Day at the Museum’, (from Left) Mr Ho Jun Yi, Mr Donald Koh, Ms Snigdha Singhania, Ms Lim Shiao Wei and Mr Kenneth Ng.

Mr Ho, 31. “Volunteers gained much from their interactions with beneficiaries and, hopefully, will extend their relationship with beneficiaries beyond the NUS Day of Service.” Some 153 beneficiaries and staff from four voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) — Thong Kheng Seniors Activity Centre, Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home, DaySpring Residential Treatment Centre and Autism Resource Centre — visited LKCNHM on the day itself. Led by

OUR AIM WAS NOT TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE MUSEUM BUT RATHER TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO, DUE TO THEIR DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS, MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EXPOSED TO IT. VOLUNTEERS GAINED MUCH FROM THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH BENEFICIARIES AND, HOPEFULLY, WILL EXTEND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH BENEFICIARIES BEYOND THE NUS DAY OF SERVICE. Mr Ho Jun Yi HO JUN YI LAW ’11

Photos of museum tour by

“The NUS Day of Service acts as a catalyst for new and ongoing community activities, both at home and abroad. It recognises those who are already active in volunteer projects and serves as a platform to get more people on board. It also functions as a springboard to promote and launch new activities.” To publicise the initiative, the NUS Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) created a website through which people could sign up as champions/organisers or participants of community activities. Members of the Organising Committee also sought volunteers from their respective circle of friends, be it NUS colleagues, students or graduates. All in all, 21 activities involving approximately 1,400 volunteers were held on the day itself. These fell into four broad categories: Knowledge, Environment, Health and Food. “We didn’t provide funding, but volunteer champions were granted full autonomy over what they wanted to do,” says Mr Ee. “Our only requirement was that their activities must benefit the community.”

Volunteers giving a guided tour to various beneficiary groups

A TREASURE TROVE OF KNOWLEDGE

Apart from ‘A Day at the Museum’, some of the other Knowledge-themed activities that occurred on the NUS Day of Service were:

museum guides and accompanied by 45 student and alumni volunteers, they were grouped into three separate visitation sessions and toured the various exhibits. Besides doing something meaningful for the community, the project was a positive demonstration of the joint efforts of NUS alumni, faculty, staff and students. “Although we had never worked together before, every member of the team complemented each other well,” says Mr Ho. “It was inspiring to see fellow NUS compatriots driven by a common University identity and working [in unison] for a good cause.”

SAVING THE OCEAN

Ms Jolyn Lau, a staff representative on the NUS Day of Service Organising Committee, was similarly motivated to spearhead another project: the International Coastal

Quanzhou Traditional Village Conservation Ex-students from the NUS Overseas Alumni Chapter in Xiamen, China, visited a local primary school and toured heritage villages in Quanzhou city. They also donated books and three water purifiers to the school.

SG51 Arts and Crafts Session Raffles Hall residents organised a lunchtime SG51 celebration featuring arts-and-crafts activities with residents of Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick.

OCT– DEC 2016

N U S DAY O F SERV IC E Volunteers picking up rubbish along the beach at the Tanah Merah coastal cleanup.

EARTHLY CONCERNS

Ms Lau is pleased with the support she received from the NUS family. “I was touched by the fact that so many people willingly signed up for the activity. Even in our office, those who couldn’t volunteer their time donated money to pay for materials like gloves and trash bags.”

In addition to the ICCS and ‘Bin Right!’, one other Environment-themed activity was in the NUS Day of Service lineup: Soap For Hope Students from NUS’ College of Alice & Peter Tan led this project in which participants made new bars of soap out of recycled soap bars from hotels. These were distributed to local migrant workers.

Photo by

RECYCLING THE RIGHT WAY

Cleanup Singapore (ICCS). Established in 1992, the ICCS is part of a global movement under which people all over the world remove rubbish from shorelines, waterways and beaches. This not only maintains the scenery but also protects marine wildlife; if plastic bags, fishing nets and other debris were to enter the water, aquatic animals could die from mistakenly eating or getting entangled in them. “I had never volunteered for the ICCS before, so I was excited to be involved for the first time,” says Ms Lau, Senior Associate Director (Project Management) at the NUS Office of Human Resources (OHR). “The NUS Day of Service is a reminder that while we are busy with our working lives, we still need to show our support to the community and take care of the environment.” It didn’t take long for her and her five colleagues organising the cleanup to appreciate the scale and enormity of what they were pulling off. “There were a lot of logistics to consider, from scheduling preliminary site recces to ensuring participants’ safety. We had to walk through the event programme beforehand, assess the likelihood of accidents happening and put in place control measures to prevent them.” The activity was open to the NUS community, and about 150 volunteers took part in the cleanup, including 76 students from the NUS College of Alice & Peter Tan, which had held its own volunteer recruitment drive. The volunteers fanned out across the 800-metre Tanah Merah beach and worked in groups of four to pick up litter and record the rubbish collected. They then brought the rubbish to a central collection point to calculate the total weight and collated the data. A total of 923kg of rubbish was collected that day.

A COSMOPOLITAN COMMUNITY The ICCS attracted Singaporean volunteers as well as a sizeable number of foreign NUS graduates who now work here.

I’m excited to participate in the ICCS for the first time and reconnect with friends. Our efforts will help to preserve marine diversity and beautiful coastlines for posterity. MS DALE CHRISLENE MATHEWS (COMPUTING ’14) INDIAN NATIONAL AND SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Having been a NUS scholarship holder, I will never forget the kind opportunity to receive a worldclass education here. This is one way I can give back, not only to NUS but also to my second home of Singapore.” MR MCRHON BANDERLIPE (PUBLIC POLICY ’13) PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AND ASSISTANT MANAGER (EXECUTIVE EDUCATION), NUS LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY

Two alumni groups that banded together on a new project were the NUS Environmental Studies Alumni (NUSESA) and the MSc (Environmental Management) (MEM) Alumni. Called ‘Bin Right!’, their activity focussed on educating the public about proper recycling practices. “Some 40 to 50 percent of recyclables that end up in recycling bins get landfilled because people — either deliberately or unwittingly — throw food waste into the bins, contaminating the recyclables and rendering them unrecyclable,” laments NUSESA President Mr Nicholas Ang (Science & Arts and Social Sciences ‘15). MEM Alumni President Mr Bu Fan (Design and Environment ’07), Sustainability Manager at IKEA Alexandra, first heard about the NUS Day of Service while attending last year’s NUS Alumni Leaders Forum. He was immediately sold on the idea. “Serving the community is aligned with my alumni group’s objective to build a more environmentally-sustainable society,” says the 48 year-old. “[The event] could create a bigger impact as the whole NUS community acts on the same day.” Upon finding out that the NUS Day of Service was happening, he conceived the initiative and asked Mr Ang whether his alumni group would be interested to join the undertaking. The pair had only briefly met prior to that, but Mr Bu was confident their shared passion for the environment would enable effective collaboration. The two quickly got down to work, forming a small team made up of members from both alumni groups. Together, they formulated a day-long public awareness campaign on responsible recycling at City Square Mall. Twenty volunteers from the NUS community registered for the activity, during which they approached shoppers to inform them about which materials can and cannot be recycled, and about the repercussions of improper waste disposal. Posters and iPads were used to convey their message. The NUS Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES) also lent a hand in organising the event. For example, OES staff designed special T-shirts for volunteers and assisted in the graphic design of communication materials. Both Mr Ang and Mr Bu applaud the NUS Day of Service for allowing alumni to reunite and do good; in their case, to improve the recycling rate and reduce contamination. “The experience of being an alumnus is quite new to me and I find it refreshing to return to the NUS community in a different capacity,” says Mr Ang, 26, an aspiring web developer. “I would say ‘yes’ to participating in future editions [of the event]!”

BU FAN DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENT ’07

SERVING THE COMMUNITY IS ALIGNED WITH MY ALUMNI GROUP’S OBJECTIVE TO BUILD A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLYSUSTAINABLE SOCIETY. Mr Bu Fan

THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING AN ALUMNUS IS QUITE NEW TO ME AND I FIND IT REFRESHING TO RETURN TO THE NUS COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. Mr Nicholas Ang

NICHOLAS ANG ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ’15

OCT– DEC 2016

N U S DAY O F SERV IC E Free health screening by Neighbourhood Health Service.

FILLING THE HEALTHCARE GAP NHS was not the only Health-themed activity that took place on the NUS Day of Service: Fun, Laughter and Silver! Staff from NUS Libraries kept the elderly from the Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre @ Ghim Moh active through games, activities, lunch and a lucky draw.

SUPPORT FOR SENIORS

Among the ongoing community-service projects was the ‘Neighbourhood Health Service’ (NHS), which started in 2008. Jointly run by Medicine and Nursing students from NUS’ Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine as well as Social Work students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, it provides free, communitybased health care to elderly Singaporeans from the lower socio-economic strata. “NHS targets low-income and elderly residents, many of whom have fallen through the cracks of our healthcare system and have undiagnosed chronic diseases,” says Mr Woo Bo Jun, 21, a second-year Medicine student and current NHS Co-Chairperson. Through door-to-door health screenings, participants identify those with chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, and initiate early intervention. They also conduct quarterly follow-up visits in partnership with grassroots and social welfare organisations, taking a holistic approach by addressing residents’ medical, financial and social needs. By sheer coincidence, this year’s instalment of NHS was slated to kick off on the same day as the NUS Day of Service. It was hence an easy decision to incorporate NHS into the latter initiative. “The NUS Day of Service is a good reminder to NUS students, staff and alumni about our responsibility to the wider community,” says Mr Lawrence Wong, 20, a classmate of Mr Woo and fellow NHS Co-Chairperson. “It serves as a useful platform to share meaningful projects started by the NUS community and can inspire others to improve the community around them, thus expanding its impact beyond a one-day event.” More than 300 Medicine, Nursing and Social Work students volunteered for the NHS ’16 launch event in Taman Jurong on 3 September. LAWRENCE Besides door-to-door basic health WONG screenings, a centralised screening area

2ND YEAR MEDICINE STUDENT

was also set up nearby for mobile residents. A total of 341 residents were screened. Participants worked closely with Taman Jurong grassroots organisations, external health screening providers and voluntary welfare organisations to coordinate the event. A variety of tests were carried out, including those for blood pressure and body mass index, as well as eye and dental screening. Referrals for other tests such as mammograms were made, while residents could go to separate stations to consult doctors or receive medical and non-medical advice.

With NHS ’16 screening 700 residents over two weekends, Mr Woo calls it “a privilege” to give back to society as part of the NUS community. Adds Mr Wong: “It is heartening to know that we are not the only ones who believe in improving the lives of others, and that the NUS community is willing to support causes like ours. The NUS Day of Service is a well-thought-out initiative, and we hope NHS will continue to be a part of it.”

NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan with student volunteers in the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen.

A PERMANENT FIXTURE

“Given that the event was a trial run of sorts and we only gave ourselves a few months to put it together, we had only envisioned a handful of activities,” says Mr Ee. By all accounts, then, the response from the NUS community far surpassed organisers’ expectations. Already, plans are underway to call for volunteers as early as April next year. Efforts to target the global NUS community will also be stepped up. This year saw a total of five participating groups outside of Singapore, in Xiamen, Auckland, Bangladesh, India and Japan. “My hope is that the NUS Day of Service will be held annually,” says Mr Ee. “Over time, projects born out of this event can grow to become regular, selfsustaining programmes, contributing to society on a large scale.”

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY NUS Day of Service activities at a glance:

A Day at the Museum (NUS Students’ Union Alumni) Action for Singapore Dogs – Shelter Visit (NUS Students’ Union) Bin Right! (M.Sc Environmental Management Alumni & NUS Environmental Studies Alumni) Charity Tennis Tournament & Dinner (LKY School Japan Alumni Chapter) Door to Door Food Distribution with Food from the Heart (Office of Alumni Relations) Fun, Laughter and Silver! (NUS Libraries) International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (Office of Human Resources and College of Alice & Peter Tan) Lunch with children at Bal Sahyog Children’s Home (LKY School India Alumni Chapter) Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration (Eusoff Hall)

NHS TARGETS LOW-INCOME AND ELDERLY RESIDENTS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND HAVE UNDIAGNOSED CHRONIC DISEASES.

Neighbourhood Health Service (Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) NUS Auckland Overseas Chapter Auction Dinner (Auckland Overseas Chapter) Grocery shopping with elderly beneficiaries from the Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre.

Mr Woo Bo Jun

NUSS Grocery Shopping with the Elderly (National University of Singapore Society) Quanzhou Traditional Village Conservation (NUS Xiamen Overseas Chapter) RVRC Community Day (Ridge View Residential College) Science Show-and-Tell at Science Centre Singapore (Faculty of Science) Serving with Love (NUS Food Science & Technology Programme Alumni) SG51 Arts and Crafts Session (Raffles Hall)

WOO BO JUN

Soap For Hope (College of Alice & Peter Tan)

2ND YEAR MEDICINE STUDENT

Tart Making Day (NUS Volunteer Network Alumni and NUS Volunteer Action Committee) Tree Planting and Beautification Programme (LKY School Bangladesh Alumni Chapter) An outing with elderly beneficiaries from the Moral Welfare Home.

Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen (Tembusu College)

OCT– DEC 2016

CHA N GEMA K ER

A Passion that Runs Deep

I DERIVE JOY FROM PLAYING A DIRECT ROLE IN SPEARHEADING CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT IN SINGAPORE’S WATERS AND IN SAFEGUARDING OUR MARINE BIODIVERSITY. Dr Karenne Tun

Director of the Coastal and Marine Branch of the National Parks Board’s National Biodiversity Centre, Dr Karenne Tun (Science ’94) on safeguarding life in the sea for the generations to come.

came across this 30cm-high whitish, thick flesh that looks like a shallow plate on a stem. I didn’t know what it was, and I had never seen it before. I took a sample of it and called NUS’ Tropical Marine Science Institute researcher Lim Swee Cheng and he confirmed the very next day that it was the Neptune’s cup sponge that he had been searching for. We’ve been monitoring the species closely and have since discovered four more Neptune’s cup sponges in Singapore’s waters, the only place in the world where we know where they are found. Isn’t that astonishing?

BY FAIROZA MANSOR

I was initially more interested in the terrestrial — I like forests. So for my Honours year research project, I wanted to focus on forest biodiversity. However, I was a tad late in approaching the professor who specialises in the topic and the research subject was snapped up. So I chose the next best thing [to me] — a project on coral reefs. I started, loved it, and as they say, the rest is history. I decided from that one year of research — with Professor (now Adjunct Research Professor) Chou Loke Ming as my mentor — that marine life and corals are what I’d want to work on after graduation. How did an NUS education prepare you for your job?

Back in my day, the curriculum wasn’t modular – I did a whole course in Zoology and spent my entire university life studying about animals and plants, which I found to be aweinspiring. My coursemates and I had countless field trips and interactions with the environment as part of the syllabus and that truly developed our love for biodiversity and nature. What I learnt in university and postuniversity can be directly applied to the work that I do now. 22

And how would you describe the work that you do?

I am tasked to manage Singapore’s coastal and marine resources effectively. I derive joy from playing a direct role in spearheading conservation management in Singapore’s waters and in safeguarding our marine biodiversity. The team’s bottomline is: We don’t want to lose what we have in our coastal and marine environment and are going to do our best to preserve the biodiversity that we have — not just for ourselves, but also for the generations to come. What do you find most rewarding or exciting about your job?

There’s never a dull day. I’ve dived in so many places around the world since 1990 — when I first received my diving certificate — but I still look forward to coming back and diving in our waters. Singapore’s marine biodiversity is so diverse. I’ve gone into the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park more than 50 times since we started

What’s the biggest challenge that you’re facing currently?

One of the five Neptune’s cup sponges in Singapore’s waters

to develop it, and the experience is still thrilling for me today. I can never predict what I’m going to see. You mean like the Neptune’s cup sponge, which was assumed to be extinct since it was last recorded in 1822?

Yes! That was incredible. I was diving in the waters off St John's Island in 2011, doing a routine survey, and

Main Photo Courtesy of NParks; Profile Photo of Dr Karenne Tun by Aik Chen

Did you always want to be a coral reef biologist?

Getting the public to know, understand and appreciate Singapore’s marine environment. There’s a quote from Dame Jane Goodall that I cannot agree more with: “Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.” That’s why it is so important for NParks to develop the Sister’s Islands Marine Park as a way to showcase Singapore’s biodiversity. And to me, our biodiversity is becoming even more prolific today. Ten years ago, we couldn’t have claimed to have otters in our waterways, or crocodiles in Sungei Buloh. What would you advise those who wish to contribute to marine conservation or protection?

Visit the Sister’s Islands Marine Park — go on the dive trails or sign up for the intertidal guided walks — and discover Singapore’s marine biodiversity. Take part in activities, such as the International Coastal Cleanup, that aim to reduce phenomena that negatively impact the environment. It is through

engaging in such activities that you will fully appreciate how rubbish can become an issue, and you yourself will then think twice about littering. And lastly, modify your habits and lifestyle by not purchasing products with microbeads (solid plastic particles of less than 5mm in dimension that are often found in cosmetic products) or reducing the use of plastics, which tend to end up in the guts of many ocean species. Do you have a favourite marine species? Why?

It will always be corals for me. (Laughs) Are they rocks? Animals? Plants? Minerals? Corals are, in fact, all of the above. What’s amazing to me is that they are colonies made up of tiny, even microscopic, individual corals. Without simple, nondescript corals you will not have coral reefs on the sea floor, and without coral reefs, you will lose the ecosystem and the biodiversity. And if you restore a reef to life, other marine species will naturally come back.

UNDER THE SEA SINGAPORE’S FIRST MARINE PARK IN NUMBERS:

The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park boasts a rich biodiversity of

250

MORE THAN

species of hard corals,

100 species of reef fish,

ABOUT

200

species of sponges and

species of seagrass.

What’s your long-term goal or dream?

When you look at people who work on the environment and biodiversity such as British anthropologist Dame Jane Goodall, American marine biologist Dr Sylvia Earle and renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, you will realise that they are all pushing 80 years of age and beyond but are still actively doing what they do. They can’t stop. The work that they do is no longer a job, or something to retire from. It’s not a profession, it’s a passion. I hope that when I’m older, I will still have the energy to continue enhancing coral reef areas around the world, and pushing the blue agenda.

The park spans an area of

HECTARES — the size of fifty football fields. Visitors can explore the park via dive trails of varying depths.

APPROXIMATELY in length, the shallow trail takes divers around a loop to a maximum depth of METRES

100

The deep trail reaches a maximum depth of

METRES

OCT– DEC 2016 23

Kent Ridge Rockers

O N C E U P O N A M E M O RY

Hitting

the

HALL OF FAME

YAP SHI LI

It’s a bold claim but as far as Ms Yap and Mr Widya Adi are concerned, Kent Ridge (KR) Hall is the most ‘happening’ hall on campus. “We had so much fun as residents, and formed such tight bonds with our hallmates, many of whom we are still friends with,” says Ms Yap, who while a resident, was part of a band known as the KR Rockers as its lead singer. “Every year, we’d play at the TGIO (Thank God It’s Over) concert to celebrate the end of the Interhall Games.” Mr Widya Adi was also in his own musical group, the KR Acappella, as its main music arranger.

ENGINEERING ’09

Right

Notes

Ms Yap Shi Li and Mr Widya Adi Rachmadian (Engineering ’09) were faculty friends, hall pals, and CCA chums before becoming professional partners as music duo ShiLi & Adi.

KR Acapella

“The three tiers of the Engineering faculty’s canteen have long been referred to ‘heaven’, ‘earth’ and ‘hell’ respectively,” says Mr Widya Adi. “It’s a way of telling friends where we were seated so they could find us easily!” The Indonesian panggang (grilled) food stall is the canteen’s star attraction even with students from other faculties. They both vouch that “the dishes were amazing!”

JA ZZING IT UP

Being members of the NUS Jazz Band had prepared ShiLi & Adi well for their performing career. “We were privileged to be mentored by the late Cultural Medallion winner Mr Iskandar Mirza Ismail and renowned vocal coach John Lee,” quips Ms Yap. “They not only inspired me but also taught me everything I need to know about connecting with the audience and maintaining a strong stage presence,” Mr Widya Adi adds. Formed in 1994, the NUS Jazz Band experiments with a spectrum of genres besides jazz, including blues, swing, bebop and soul, and has held a series of sold-out performances as part of the NUS Arts Festival.

MUSIC MIGHT NOT BE AN EXPECTED CAREER PATH when one majored in

KEY MILESTONES OF THE NUS CENTRE FOR THE ARTS (CFA), THAT COMPRISES THE NUS MUSEUM AND NUS BABA HOUSE, THE UCC, AND A TALENT DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMING UNIT THAT OVERSEES 22 STUDENT ARTS EXCELLENCE GROUPS IN MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE AND FILM:

1993

THE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS IS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTORSHIP OF EMERITUS PROFESSOR EDWIN THUMBOO.

HEAVEN, EARTH AND HELL

BY FAIROZA MANSOR

Industrial & Systems Engineering, but Ms Yap Shi Li and Mr Widya Adi Rachmadian cannot imagine themselves pursuing any other profession. Friends throughout their university life, the 31 year-olds studied the same course, stayed in the same hall (Kent Ridge Hall) and were in the same CCA (NUS Jazz Band). In their final year, Ms Yap had an opportunity to take on a long-term residency at a local pub. She asked Mr Widya Adi if he was keen to join her, and just like that, ShiLi & Adi was born. “Everything that happened while we were NUS students and the choices we made then, have laid the foundations for what we do today,” says Ms Yap. The band’s schedule is packed with pub performances, corporate events and wedding banquets, and undercuts the general perception that musicians struggle financially. “It’s important to dispel this notion that those who pursue a career in music have a problem surviving in this world. This, in fact, pays more than my day job!” exclaims Mr Widya Adi, who works in the banking industry. “And the best part is – we’re thoroughly enjoying every moment of it!”

ART ATTACK

STARS IN THE MAKING

ENGINEERING ’09

WIDYA ADI RACHMADIAN

Main Photos By Wilson Pang; Other Photos Courtesy of ShiLi & Adi.

“We had a lot of practice performing at the NUS Centre For the Arts’s University Cultural Centre (UCC) both as part of our hall bands and the NUS Jazz Band,” says Ms Yap, who credits her stage confidence to the many performances at the 450-seater theatre. It was therefore quite an experience for the duo to return to the venue for their first solo show on 13 January this year. Mr Widya Adi says, “It was mind-blowing, and brought back a lot of great memories. It felt like we had come full-circle.” ShiLi & Adi performing their first solo concert

2002 NUS MUSEUM OPENS AT THE UCC, COMPRISING THE COLLECTIONS FROM THE LEE KONG CHIAN MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA ART MUSEUM AND WORKS DONATED BY SINGAPOREAN ARTIST NG ENG TENG. 2004 THE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS IS RENAMED NUS CENTRE FOR THE ARTS (CFA).

NUS MUSEUMS IS RENAMED NUS MUSEUM AND BECOMES AN INSTITUTION OF CFA. THE INAUGURAL NUS ARTS FESTIVAL IS ORGANISED BY CFA.

2006

2008 NUS BABA HOUSE OPENS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF NUS MUSEUM, AND WITH IT, THE STRAITS CHINESE COLLECTION. NUS MUSEUM WINS THE INAUGURAL UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS (UMAC) AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE MUSEOLOGICAL PRACTICE.

2016 OCT– DEC 2016 25

PU R S U IT O F E XC E L L E NC E

THESE LEGACIES ARE EVERYWHERE, EVEN WITHIN LIVING MEMORY — IF ONLY WE CARE TO LOOK.

Keeper of

Assistant Professor Imran Tajudeen

LEGACIES Photo by Wilson Pang

Assistant Professor Imran Tajudeen’s (Architecture ’04) life’s work is turning him into a leading architectural and urban historian.

President’s Graduate Fellowship for PhD candidates.

BY THERESA TAN

AS A YEAR THREE undergraduate at the Department of Architecture, something caught Assistant Professor Imran bin Tajudeen’s eye when he was poring over old maps of Singapore. As he relates, he spotted “a finegrained urban mosaic distribution of communities and building owners” when he looked at a number of sources such as archival drawings and historical maps. These bear the names of those who had been involved — clients and architects, as well as the location of the projects. Fine-grained classification refers to classification among categories that are both visually and semantically very similar. Asst Prof Imran also made another discovery around the same time while doing a simple neighbourhood study for Studio, a design module undertaken by Year 3 Architecture students. He found there had been an important historical district in Singapore around the 1830s which lamentably, “had been demolished in its entirety in the mid-1960s”. This find of Asst Prof Imran has become the cornerstone of his work — the studying and challenging 26

of existing narratives of place history across the globe, notably in port towns in Singapore and the region, including Nusantara (a contemporary Indonesian term for the Indonesian archipelago). RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY In 2005, in his first year as a PhD candidate, Asst Prof Imran’s article “Singapore’s ‘Hybrid Vernacular’ Malay Houses 1870-1940: A Building Tradition’s Response to Modernity” appeared in the conference book, Re-thinking and Re-constructing Modern Asian Architecture, for the 5th International Conference of the modern Asian Architecture Network (mAAN). That same year, he also had an article in the Journal of Southeast Asian Architecture Vol 8, titled “Reading the Traditional City in Maritime Southeast Asia: The Port Town of Gelam-RochorKallang, 1810-1842”. Both articles were precursors to his present research work as an architectural and urban historian, and to his advocacy work. He won the Jeffrey Cook Award (student category) in 2006, presented by the International Association for the Study of

Traditional Environments (IASTE) at University of California, Berkeley. This annual award is presented to the best paper by a student based on the subject of traditional dwellings and settlements in a manner that challenges traditional scholarship on the subject, and engages spatial analysis from an interdisciplinary perspective. Asst Prof Imran’s paper, titled “State Constructs of Ethnicity in the Reinvention of Malay-Indonesian Heritage in Singapore” told of how Singapore expunged historical areas for urban development between the 1960s and the 1980s, and how in the 1980s and 1990s, portions of Kampung Gelam (or as we know it, Kampung Glam) and Geylang Serai were repackaged into stereotypical ethnic districts for cultural tourism, “ignoring the heterogeneous reality of the urban landscape”. It was also in 2006 that he won the

LOCAL HERO “My larger research work is focussed on two key areas,” Asst Prof Imran explains. “First, I study architecture’s entanglement with categories used in art historiography that were first formulated by colonial era scholars, on Indic and Islamic architecture in Southeast Asia. “Second, my research covers Asst Prof Imran colonial and nationalist frames with the on the narratives constructed for, Municipality Lion found on Crawford and interventions wrought upon, Bridge at Rochor pre-colonial urban ruins, the urban River. “This bridge vernacular, and the politics of urban lies within identity representation,” he adds. the demolished He has written many papers and historical district given many presentations on this of Kampung Rochor/Bugis area, including being invited to give a Town. Rochor River lecture critiquing Singapore: A 700was straightened year History textbook. This lecture out in the 1820s, was published as a chapter, “From long before the Riau to Singapore, 1700s-1870s: Singapore River Trade ports and urban histories” in a embankments were stabilised,” publication for the project, Singapore he says. Dreaming by Asian Urban Lab. Asst Prof Imran has also become something of a local hero in the last few years. In 2015 the Singapore Advocacy Awards named him the Most Promising New Civil Society Advocate of the Year, hailing him “an exciting new voice in imagining

Singapore’s cultural and social heritage beyond defined racial lines”. In 2012, he became a vocal proponent for the conservation of the old Malay cemetery at Jalan Kubor — also called “Tombs of Malayan Princes” by British map-maker JB Tassin in his 1836 map, The Town and Environs of Singapore — notably through public lectures, as well as a website he started called Singapura Stories. The cemetery is part of the now-demolished old royal port town Kampung Rochor, developed when Tengku Long of Riau was installed

as Sultan Hussein of Johor and Singapore in the 1800s. “I first started taking photographs of what I thought were the most significant examples of funerary art and architecture in Jalan Kubor in 2004, as part of my honours dissertation,” Asst Prof Imran says. “But it was only in 2012 that I began highlighting that the cemetery was an integral part of Kampung Gelam town’s history… like the demolished shophouses and streets of Kampong Rochor, it had been excluded from conservation status.” By 2013, interest in the site had gathered momentum, and in May 2013, he partnered with Mr Yazid Ninsalam — then a PhD candidate at the Department of Architecture — to conduct two trial surveys of the site. With rising public interest, the National Heritage Board called for bids for a documentation project involving Jalan Kubor cemetery in November 2013. Asst Prof Imran quickly assembled a team to enter a bid. He explains that the site is internationally significant for a number of reasons, not least that it contains an immense variety of funerary art styles and scripts, some of which are extremely rare.

Mausoleum sheltering the grave of Haji Ambo Dalek Daeng Passandrek, the Bugis merchant who strengthened part of the Rochor River embankments in 1906. OCT– DEC 2016 27

AAS-ICAS Joint Conference in Honolulu

The ICAS Book Prize. now in its fourth edition, saw a steep rise in the number of books submitted. We received no less than 200 books from 45 publishers in the field of Asian studies. The IBP 2011 Reading Committee consisted of Anand Yang (Chair) and Manuela Ciotti, Derek Heng, Alex McKay and Khun Eng Kuah-Pearce. The prizes were presented at the Award ceremony in the Hawai’i Convention Center in Honolulu on 1 April 2011, where also the prizes of the AAS were awarded.

ALUMNI SCENE

CAREER

PU R S U IT O F E XC E L L E NC E

HIGHLIGHTS

to be interpreted and reinterpreted in China for both local (NUS and global audiences and Huang’s study of the various “The gravestones in Jalan Kubor significance of the site and the need manifestations and meanings, translations and performaces, are inscribed with Bugis, Javanese, to protect it,” says Asst Prof Imran. uradyn e. BulaG will be the standard text in the field for years to come. We are 2008 pleased to award the IBP Colleagues’ Choice Award for a study Gujarati, Chinese and a number of The status of the site remains unclear,Collaborative Nationalism. “Recuperating Ruins, Re-inscribing Citadels and State whichMosques draws on a wide range of sources, and is a significant FriendshipRoyal on China’s unidentified scripts, besides Jawi, however, as the recommendations The Politics of Identity: in ‘Re-heritagization’ Projectscontribution in Melaka, to literary studies, cultural history, and studies Arabic, and Roman script. It is appeared too late for consideration Mongolian Frontier Palembang, and Makassar” was of 12 projects ofone globalisation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, multicultural,” he says. in the Master Plan issued by the selected at the prestigious ICOMOS International 2010 The cemetery is also a rare Urban Redevelopment Authority in Forum for Young Researchers and Professionals n der Veldeexample and martina van den Haak in Cultural Heritage, Quebec City, Canada. of an intact assemblage of June 2014. history of Inner Asia has been shaped by the tripartite IBP 2011 Best Ph.D.s 19th century graves connected directly But Asst Prof The Imran has hopes interaction of China, Tibet, and Mongolia, and in the light of 2009-2011 to a port town’s community that was for it. “It is already integrated into modern Chinese state policies towards its “minority groups” ONFERENCE KICKED OFF with a reception on the lawn of the Hilton This year we received nearly 40 theses which represented An NUS Research Fellow, Asst Prof Imran was designed as part of a traditional royal the historical narrative and tours for Collaborative Nationalism is concerned with ‘reconsidering Fellow the an Village Beach Resort & Spa on 30 March, attended by more than a strong increase over previous years. The IBP Best Ph.D. 2011 also a Post-Doctoral with The Aga Khan port-town layout. Kampong Glam urban heritage and question of the political in ethnopolitics’. China’s of all particpants and exhibitors. The Lieutenant Governor of Hawai’i and Reading Committee consisted of 2009 winners Birgit Abels Program for nationalising Islamic Architecture, Massachusetts site also includes a numberCenter, AAS the Malay Heritage Centre, and at itsa collaborative nationalism, project is aimed this work and aand entatives of the The University of Hawai’i, the East-West and ICAS Iza Hussin. Institute ofand Technology, Post-Doctoral of graves of significant persons in ongoing role in this respect awaits Fellowship with the IIAS (International Institute is essentially an examination of the politics of friendship. elcoming speeches after which the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble performed. Singapore history.ofSome of these for Asian Studies) Postdoctoral Fellowship in officially hetopoints Central this areout. the competing visions of Chinggis Khan, a atmoshpere took possession all present and this atmoshere also recognition,” Leiden,and theappropriated Netherlands. not yet will whosethis achievements have been contested d during theindividuals whole of theare four-day jointsufficiently conference at the Hawai’i“Ultimately I hope IBP 2011 Best Ph.D. in the Social Sciences

IBP 2011 Social Sciences winner

ALUMNI PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY)

LIFE

THROUGH A LENS Members of this alumni group may come from different faculties s but a passion for photography brings them together.

known due toout thetolimitations in Asia our scholars point towards a different wayinterests of to serve the of different regions and ethnic groups. ntion Center, which turned be the biggest meeting 2011 even impassioned Bulag examines th an attendante of more than 5000 delegates. Imran BIn Tajudeen prevailing knowledge of Singapore conceiving our built heritage — these one issues in a stimulating, Won ICAS (International exploration of the levels of friendship andthe association between Constituting and Reconstructing history. “Jalan Kubor thus emerges as that allows space for the celebration of Asian groups, centralising MongoliaConvention in Inner Asian history early as yetato assess the impact ofsource,” the conference We will doofthat at the Vernacular Heritage of Maritime unique historical Asst Prof different ethnicethnic identities while Scholars) Book Prize for and advancing the concept of “collaborative nationalism” stage when Imran we havesays. received the participants simultaneously and exhibitors. Emporia in Nusantara: Historic Adaptation Thefeedback area is from also valuable thinking beyond Best PhD (Social Sciences). as a device through contributionas wea will provide citations very of theold ICAS Bookfalse Prizenotions winners, of mono-racial and Contemporary Accentuations green site the as itfullcontains blocs which to understand the actualities of inter-ethnic relationships. We are pleased to award the ICAS ng the awards ceremony we only read out summaries of them. But first we National University of Singapore Thesis, and large trees, including possibly the to also recall cross-cultural historical Book Prize 2011 to Uradyn Bulag for2015 his highly original work, ote the citation of the AAS for Exceptional Service in Asian Studies which was 2009 largest ficus tree in Singapore. connections and shared places,” Invitedsources, to give awhich publicwill lecture at New York well grounded in both Asian and European y the AAS to Wim Stokhof, founding director of the International Institute His research team won the bid, he says. Institute of Fine Arts on “New inspire students and specialists alikeUniversity’s to rethink approaches n Studies and co-founder of the International Convention of Asia Scholars. Constituting and Reconstructing the Vernacular Heritage and spent a year documenting the “These legacies are everywhere, Approaches to Islamic Architecture in to the region and to the analysis of national identities. of Maritime Emporia in Nusantara is a rich and nuanced study picture tells a thousand words, and no Southeast Asia”. graves. The team’s report submitted even within living memory — if only of urban architectural forms in the ports of Austronesian alumni group knows this better than the we care to look.” listening to in May 2014 “stressed the historical Southeast Asia. In particular, the port cities of Nusantara have NUS Alumni Photographic Society ches at the been shaped by both the regional diaspora and intra-regional IBP 2011 Humanities winner (NUSAPS) Alumni Group. Since its e reception trading and shipping networks, making them a uniquely formation in 2003, the group has actively organised dynamic – and challenging – environment for study. Tajudeen’s STeIn TønneSSon courses to hone the photography skills of its 60 reading offers a number of useful interpretive interventions Vietnam 1946: How the War Began ance by the members. These, according to NUSAPS Alumni into the scholarship on native architecture, not only reading University of California Press, ndo Taiko ‘artefacts as texts’, but ‘texts on artefacts’, incorporating 2009 Group President Ms Hanny Kusu (Engineering ’13), e during the the dimension of time both in terms of the ‘predicament e reception cover a wide range of genres, including ﬁlm, street of ruination’ and in terms of the writing and transformation and travel (photography). “During the recent NUS of history in heritage and preservation projects. Tajudeen’s Alumni Day, we even had a sharing session about aerial work offers a new reading of the Asian urban built environment It is immediately apparent that Vietnam 1946: How the War photography led by a fellow member,” she says. The as a vernacular practice, continually being interpreted and Began is an important book. Tønnesson argues that this was not also embarks on photography outings around reconstructed by local, state and regional actors, andgroup therefore merely an ideological conflict, as has hitherto been regarded Singapore. Snapshots taken during these sessions are sociation for asian Studies Citation for constantly in need of a creative and responsive scholarly and understood, but one that was first and foremost the ional Service in asian Studies approach. For theoretical originality, contributions of then data displayed at exhibitions organised by the Society. result of geo-political blunders and misreading by all parties S wishes to acknowledge the distinguished contributions of Dr. Willem from the field and the potential for advancing Asian studies involved during the immediate aftermath of the Second World Through such activities, the group hopes to support its us Stokhof to contemporary Asian Studies. Educated as a linguist at the scholarship, we are very pleased to award Imran bin Tajudeen War. Significantly, he argues that the conflict could have been members’ passion for capturing life through a lens. ity of Amsterdam, Dr. Stokhof has trained a generation of students for the ICAS Best Thesis Prize in the Social Sciences. prevented, and concludes by examining how each of the key Although these events have been well-received, h in the languages and cultures of Indonesia. Dr. Stokhof has also pioneered figures involved might have acted to prevent war. One of the Ms Kusu says that funding them can be challenging. tionalized forums for Asian Studies and scholarly cooperation. He served great strengths of Vietnam 1946 is that it is the product of several etary to the Committee for Advanced Asia Studies of the European Science decades of research and reflection. It carries the authority of an IBP 2011 Best Ph.D. in the Humanities tion. He was founder-secretary of the European Alliance for Asian Studies author who has closely studied both the available sources and e initiator of the Annual Asia-Europe Workshop Series in Singapore. He was the individuals involved in the decision-making processes. We Carmen Pérez González nding director of the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) in Leiden are pleased to award the IBP 2011 Humanities to Stein Tønnesson A Comparative Visual Analysis of msterdam. Under Stokhof’s tireless direction, the IIAS heightened cooperation for his compelling narrative that ultimately recognises the limits Nineteenth-Century Iranian Portrait n Asia- and Western-based scholars, and promoted new, collaborative of historical enquiry, for important records remain unavailable. Photography and Persian Painting of research. Perhaps more relevant to our current gathering (the AAS-ICAS Leiden University thesis, nference, ed.), Stokhof was the co-founder of the International Convention 2009 Scholars (ICAS), a conference forum that has also strenghtened ties IBP 2011 Colleagues’ Choice winner n scholars in Asia and the West. A Comparative Visual Analysis of Nineteenth-Century Iranian Portrait Photography and Persian Painting presents a meticulous More than 5000 votes were cast by Asia scholars in this Joining or forming Attending f has also fostered international co-operation in Islamic Studies. He was theOAR- third edition of the Colleagues’ Choice and well thought-out analysis of Iranian nineteenth-century award. The winner nus.edu.sg/alumnet facebook.com/nusoar ng director of the International in the Modern visual representations of identity and their aesthetics. an Alumni Institute Group for the Study of Islamorganised events received 2000 votes. It clearly shows that social networks ISIM) in Leiden. He directed the Indonesian-Netherlands Co-operation in In doing so, González builds on a large and hitherto underare becoming increasingly important in the life of academics. Studies, training more than thirty Ph.D.s from Indonesia. He also chaired the studied, if not undiscovered, body of photographs that were They increase their visibility not only in the field but also in esian Linguistic Development Project (ILDEP), and directed the INPA training taken through the lenses of both Iranian and non-Iranian society at large. m for upgrading Indonesia’s governors and bupatis in co-operation with the photographers. By cross-examining nineteenth-century Iranian ies of Interior Affairs of Indonesia and the Netherlands. portrait photography and the rich Iranian portrait painting alexander HuanG tradition, she is able to pinpoint the subtleties that underlie Chinese Shakespeares: gnition of his visionary contributions, unparalleled in their influence, the the visual negotiation of a distinctly Iranian identity that is Two Centuries of Cultural Exchange tion for Asian Studies honors and thanks Dr. Stokhof. alert, in a critical way, to European influence. What makes her Columbia University Press,

Class Reunion Reminisce. Reconnect. Reunite.

Do you reminisce about your university days? Would you like to reconnect with your classmates? Reunite with them in one of the following ways:

Planning for a class reunion?

Call us at 6516 5775 or email oarconnect@nus.edu.sg. We would like to hear from you.

An NUSAPS outing to

Pulau Ubin “Being an alumni organisation, we are non-proﬁt,” INSET Living Amidst explains the 27-year-old technology consultant. Colours of Nature by Hanny Kusu (Engineering ’13) “Fortunately, the NUS Office of Alumni Relations supported us by providing rental subsidies and cash support.” The group also works closely with The Photographic Society of NUS (NUSPS), which is an interest group for current students. Besides strengthening bonds between current and former students, such partnerships are also a chance for alumni to help NUSPS members become effective leaders. “We teach them how to conduct presentations to important partners and also conduct an induction programme for NUSPS’ management Crouching Photograph er, Hidden Insect by Nels committee,” says Ms Kusu. on Tan (Arts & Social Science s ’00)

Join Us! NUSAPS members at a basic Photoshop course, where they learnt how to edit and enhance images

BITTEN BY THE SHUTTERBUG?

Email alumni@nusps.org.sg FOR DETAILS OF THE GROUP’S ACTIVITIES. OCT– DEC 2016 29

ALUMNI SCENE GIVING

We were a small class but we managed to pull it off and establish a named bursary. I hope we can inspire future generations to do the same.

THE HERO OF NUS PIONEERS HONOURED WITH BURSARY

hen NUS celebrated National Day last year, the University paid special tribute to NUS Everyday Icons – present and former staff members who have loyally served the University over the years. Retired canteen operator Mr Wong Niap Leng, affectionately known as Ah Leng to several generations of students from the University’s Outram campus, was one of the staff members to receive the honours. Mr Wong was a hero to the pioneers in the NUS medical fraternity because of his legendary generosity towards cash-strapped students who could not pay for their meals, or even their school fees. His story is so inspiring that alumni have come together to honour Ah Leng by giving to the Wong Niap Leng Medical Bursary. “I have heard of so many heartwarming stories about Mr Wong Niap Leng and his willingness to help medical students in need of financial assistance. Just as NUS Medicine celebrates its 110th anniversary, it was timely to honour him as an outstanding individual who has contributed to the School’s history and development with a named bursary. I am glad to be able to do my part in helping to set up the Wong Niap Leng Medical Bursary. This bursary will provide much needed financial assistance to these needy medical students, just like how Ah Leng did in the past,” shares Professor PC Wong, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, who championed the fundraising for the Bursary. Ah Leng’s canteen was a popular hangout for medical, dentistry and pharmaceutical undergraduates. Associate Professor A Ilancheran, a medical alumnus, was a frequent visitor. “I have seen him help many of the medical students who would eat in his canteen on ‘loan’. He kept their accounts in his very famous ‘555’ small notebooks and the students would pay back when they could. It was his empathy and trust of the students that has remained in my memory all these years,” he recollects. When asked why he saw a need to help the students Mr Wong had said, “I see the students every day and they are like family. I empathised with the students who had to cope with the hard work and hardship in pursuing their studies. They asked and

HARNESSING THE POWER OF CLASS GIVING

I see the students every day and they are like family. I empathised with the students who had to cope with the hard work and hardship in pursuing their studies. MR WONG NIAP LENG

I could not refuse. For residents of the Federated Malay States Hostel and later King Edward VII Hall, it was like a home away from home.” Over the years, many have shown their appreciation of Mr Wong, who receives numerous invitations to medical class anniversary dinners, which he occasionally attends. A notebook that was used to keep track of credit owed to him by medical students is on display at the Singapore General Hospital Museum.

Mr Wong Niap Leng with Prof PC Wong.

THE DEAN OF THE NUS’ YONG LOO LIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, Professor Yeoh Khay Guan (Medicine ’87), is a firm believer in the power and enduring impact of class giving. “Throughout our history, NUS Medicine has been a medical school started and supported by the local community. Our students come from all levels of society to pursue medical education. While many are financially supported by their parents and families, there are about 200 students every year who need financial assistance. Unfortunately, we do not have enough bursaries to help every one of them,” he explains. Thus, Prof Yeoh initiated the establishment of the MBBS Class of 1987 Bursary and championed the cause among his classmates. “We want to do this because we want to make sure that no deserving student is deprived of a medical education because of financial constraints. The Bursary not only helps bright young men and women to achieve their dreams of becoming doctors but also serves as an enduring, meaningful legacy for those who come after us. It is a collective gift that espouses what we believe in and preserves the memory of our time and friendship as the Class of 1987,” he affirms. Besides helping future generations, giving as a class is a statement of the values the classmates uphold. It also affirms their strong belief in their alma mater. At a well-attended 20th anniversary dinner of the NUS Medicine Class of 1995, alumni enjoyed catching up on the good old days. At the same time, fundraising efforts for an endowed bursary began in earnest, thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of Associate Professor Gerald Koh (Medicine ’95) and other classmates.

DR LYE TONG FONG

“As beneficiaries of heavily subsidised fees ourselves when we were medical students, my class wanted to help ensure that our best, brightest and most deserving students could access a quality medical education regardless of financial background. So on this special occasion, we decided to leave a meaningful legacy in the form of an endowment fund, the NUS Medicine Class of 1995 Bursary, which will help worthy but needy medical students become doctors,” says Prof Koh, who is currently teaching at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Policy. Class alumnus Dr Lye Tong Fong (Medicine ’95), who is firmly committed to the fundraising, is proud of his class and appreciates the champions who made the Fund possible. “We have probably reached the age when it is time to contribute back to society in whichever way we can. At this stage of life, most of us are in the prime of our careers. Giving back is a small part we can do for society. I also had a great time getting together with my classmates and talking about the good old days,” shares Dr Lye, the Founder and Medical Director of Central 24 HR Clinic group. “We were a small class but we managed to pull it off and establish a named bursary. I hope we can inspire future generations to do the same. It would be The NUS Medicine Class of 1995 great if beneficiaries become commemorated their 20th anniversary donors one day,” he adds. in 2015 by setting up a class bursary.

For information on making a gift to NUS, contact us at 1800-DEVELOP (1800-338-3567) or email askdvo@nus.edu.sg. OCT– DEC 2016

U@LIVE

Betting on Humanity MR ANTONIO MELOTO

FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, GAWAD KALINGA COMMUNIT Y D E V E LO P M E N T F O U N D AT I O N

Living in a poverty-free world is not just a pipe dream for Mr Antonio Meloto.

LIFTING T HO UGHT LEADERS HIP As of January 2016, U@live, our guest speaker series, showcases global thought leaders. Hosted by Alumni Advisory Board member and veteran TV presenter Mr Viswa Sadasivan (Arts and Social Sciences ’83) at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House, the 1.5 hour session is also streamed live on the U@live website. To register for future U@live events, visit nus.edu.sg/ualive.

ERADICATING POVERTY FOR FIVE MILLION Filipino families by 2024 sounds like a quixotic pursuit, one that only the most starry-eyed or naïve optimist would attempt. But Mr Antonio Meloto, who prefers the term “radical optimist”, is a firm believer in the limitless potential of the human spirit. “Ordinary people have the power to make the world better,” he averred. “I have no claim to great authority or vast wealth, but through my passion to create a kinder society, I have developed a global movement that encourages more inclusive wealth creation.” His words were a wake-up call for the U@live audience, including moderator Mr Viswa Sadasivan, reminding them that “every day is a chance to do good”.

“HEAVEN ON EARTH”

Born to a lower middle-class family in Bacolod City, Philippines, Mr Meloto knows from firsthand experience what it is like to grow up poor. Education was what opened the door to opportunity for him. He did well in high school, earning a scholarship to repeat his senior year in the United States. He then returned to the Philippines and received another scholarship to study at the elite Ateneo de Manila University, where he would graduate in 1971 with an Economics degree. Post-graduation, Mr Meloto’s career progressed from purchasing manager of a multinational

corporation to proud owner of his own paper company. Along the way, he got married and started a family. He seemingly had it all; still, something was missing in his life. In 1985, his faith renewed, Mr Meloto joined Catholic lay missionary organisation Couples for Christ (CFC) and left the business world in 1991 to become a full-time mission worker. It was while serving as an active CFC leader that he felt a strong calling to help the poor in his native country. “I had created a bubble for myself, when all around me was endemic and deepening poverty,” he said. “I was blessed to have had a good education, and realised I could use that — as well as my corporate experience in purchasing, branding and marketing — to address [the problem].” Why preach about heaven, he told himself, when he could contribute to build “heaven on earth”? In 1995, he initiated a programme to reform juvenile delinquents in Bagong Silang, one of Metro Manila’s largest urban slums rife with violent criminals and drug dealers. Progress was slow and, at times, heartbreaking; a number of youths were killed by rival gangs while trying to turn their lives around. Nevertheless, Mr Meloto pressed on and the programme eventually grew and morphed into Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation in 2003.

LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND

Translated as “give care” in Filipino, Gawad Kalinga (GK) aims to eliminate poverty by establishing integrated, holistic and sustainable communities in slum areas. Sponsors — mainly big corporations and Filipino expatriates — fund GK ‘villages’ on idle land donated by landowners. Volunteers work side-by-side with beneficiaries to build homes for the latter, who in turn become benefactors and erect homes for other families. Supporting infrastructure such as schools are also built, while volunteers empower residents to be productive leaders of the community. About 2,500 GK communities have been created to date, not only across the Philippines but also in nearby developing countries like Indonesia. Buoyed by this success, the movement entered its second phase in 2011 with the launch of GK Enchanted Farm — hopefully the first of many — in Bulacan Province, Philippines. “We are now going beyond transforming squalid urban slums into safe, wealthcreating communities, and developing rural communities

so they won’t need to migrate to urban areas,” explained Mr Meloto. The GK Enchanted Farm revolves around a farm–village– university concept. It houses a variety of agriculture-based social enterprises that employ residents who live on the premises. At its School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development, underserved students within the province are awarded scholarships to pursue a Social Entrepreneurs in Agribusiness certificate, while being mentored by local and foreign volunteers. Graduates can then go on to set up their own agricultural social enterprises, converting unused land into “communities of abundance” and lifting rural

families out of poverty. When queried by a member of the audience on the secret to making beneficiaries feel empowered, Mr Meloto replied it requires being honest with oneself. “We are all poor in one way or another, be it in money or in spirit… We have more to learn from the people we want to teach.” Another participant asked how he maintains his ‘glass half-full’ outlook on life. “Poverty, to me, is when we lose faith in ourselves. I am inspired every day by the generosity of volunteers, and by the hospitality beneficiaries show towards them,” he said. “We can end poverty — and restore the dignity of the poor — not through charity, but by sharing prosperity.”

BY WANDA TAN Mr Antonio Meloto spoke on 15 August 2016.

We can end poverty — and restore the dignity of the poor — not through charity, but by sharing prosperity. MR ANTONIO MELOTO

OCT– DEC 2016 33

ALU MN I H A P P E NI NGS E V E NT S

TEMASEK HALL CHARITY GOLF 2016

COMMUNICATIONS AND NEW MEDIA ALUMNI DINNER 2016 The second annual Communications and New Media (CNM) Alumni Dinner was held on 12 August at the NUSS Suntec City Guild House. More than 100 alumni, staff and faculty came together to re-connect and re-live old memories. The evening started with Head of Department, Professor Mohan Dutta, addressing the gathering, followed by the CNM Awards. The CNM Awards recognise outstanding contributions by alumni, faculty and staff to society, industry and CNM. This year, the Outstanding Alumnus Award was given to Ms Audrey Tan (Arts and Social Sciences ’10) — Co-Founder of Angels of Impact, a platform led by social entrepreneurs to fund, support and provide marketplace access to women, as well as Playmoolah, an award-winning social enterprise which educates children, parents and young adults on building a positive relationship with money.

The Climate Change Road from Paris Climate change is an unprecedented challenge facing humanity with impact such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, disturbed agricultural patterns and more. Recognising the political and technical intricacies of climate change, the NUS Master of Science (Environmental Management) Alumni organised a seminar on climate change governance at international and national levels, on 7 May. Mr Sandeep Chamling Rai (Design and Environment ’13), Senior Advisor, Global Adaptation Policy for WWF International; Ms Nor Lastrina Hamid, Co-Founder of Singapore Youth for Climate Action; and Mr Kavickumar Muruganathan (Engineering ’13), Sustainability Manager with Asia Pulp & Paper (Singapore), shared their experiences and expertise from the policy, advocacy and commerce perspectives. The road from Paris may be a long one, but with joint efforts by all, the impact of climate change can be mitigated effectively. BY MALLIKA NAGURAN (Design and Environment ’13)

The Temasek Hall Charity Golf 2016 was held on 24 June at Jurong Country Club, to raise funds towards the establishment of the Temasek Hall Bursary Endowed Fund to provide financial assistance to full-time undergraduates who require financial aid to stay in Temasek Hall (TH). The organising committee comprised Hall Master Associate Professor Victor Tan (Science ’87), Advisor Mr Seah Cheng San (Engineering ’82) and TH alumni Lee Yeow Chor (Engineering ’93), Leong Mei Yin (Business ’92), Dennis Lee (Arts and Social Sciences ’11) and Jamson Chia (Engineering ’03), who had spent six months to plan and organise the event. The event was graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan (Law ’95), Member of Parliament, West

Coast GRC and Assistant Secretary-General, NTUC who is also a TH alumnus. 144 golfers including alumni and TH residents took to the green after a buffet lunch. After the game, the golfers and donors were invited to a pre-dinner cocktail and a sumptuous dinner. The highlights of the evening included a cheque presentation of S$196,560 to Assoc Prof Victor Tan and the presentation of tokens of appreciation to the platinum donors, NUS Society and Quantedge, who had donated S$25,000 each. The event ended on a high note when additional donations of more than S$4,000 were received during the dinner, bringing the total amount raised to more than S$200,000.

LEFT Guest-of-Honour Mr Patrick Tay (second from left) witnessing the cheque presentation to TH Master Assoc Prof Victor Tan (extreme left) by TH Alumni. RIGHT Guest-of-Honour Mr Patrick Tay and golfers from the VIP Flight.

NUS Environmental Studies Alumni

INAUGURAL BES HOMECOMING AND WELCOME PARTY FOR CLASS OF 2016 The NUS Environmental Studies Alumni (NUSESA) successfully organised the inaugural homecoming for alumni of the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) programme on 13 August, supported by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations (OAR). Not only were alumni able to catch up with one another on their lives after university, they also had the chance to interact with BES lecturers. Professor Leo Tan (Science ’69), Associate Professor Victor R Savage (Arts and Social Sciences ’72), Professor Matthias Roth, Dr Joanna Coleman and Dr Joseph Chun (Law ’91). Mr Nicholas Ang (Environmental Studies ’15), President of NUSESA, formally launched the alumni group during the event

and gave a brief introduction of the executive committee members. The event was also an opportune time to congratulate the Class of 2016 who graduated with their BES degree in July 2016, and to formally welcome them to NUSESA. Alumni also heard from their lecturers: Prof Savage, representing OAR, urged everyone to meet regularly to keep up the energy of the alumni group; and Prof Tan informed alumni that they are the best ambassadors of the programme and key to spreading the word on BES’ unique programme to members of the public.

Organising committee of the event.

OCT– DEC 2016 35

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS EVENTS

NUSS DAY UNION PAYING IT FORWARD, GIVING BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY Over the years, volunteers of NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) have been at the forefront of its mission to deepen student engagement and champion student welfare. Bonded by this common mission, NUSSU and NUSSU Alumni organised a NUSSU Homecoming and Fundraising Dinner on 30 July at the Kent Ridge Guild House. Themed ‘Esperanza’ - the Spanish term for “hope” - the Homecoming and Fundraising Dinner reconnected generations of Union volunteers as they re-lived their memories of yesteryears while giving back to a worthy cause. Among the distinguished guests in attendance was former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Tan Soo Khoon (Business ’71), who served in the then University of Singapore Students’ Union. During the dinner, guests were entertained with musical and magic performances. Highlights included piano and song performances by long-time union volunteers Ms Kellie Chong and Ms Angelique Chang, an erhu-piano fusion instrumental duet by former NUSSU President Mr Ho Junyi (Law ’11) and his wife. Former NUSSU Presidents 36

Mr Lim Kok Seng (Business ’15) and Mr Donald Koh (Design and Environment ’08), and current President Mr Loo Weng Heng also serenaded the audience with their vocal prowess. “It is heartening to see our current and past NUSSU volunteers coming together to create a positive ripple effect towards an impactful cause,” said Mr Loo. The dinner was attended by 240 union alumni, volunteers and friends who contributed generously to the newly set up NUSSU and NUSSU Alumni Bursary Endowed Fund. In total, S$151,000 was raised for the endowed fund, exceeding the target of S$150,000. The endowed fund will provide financial assistance to needy NUS undergraduates with NUSSU and NUSSU Alumni Bursaries of up to S$2,250 each, to be disbursed by the NUS Office of Financial Aid. Mr Soh Yi Da (Arts and Social Sciences ’14), President of the NUSSU Alumni said, “We are very grateful to the generations of

We have shown that with a connected and engaged alumni, we can do so much more together as One NUS!

Fun, food and family were the key highlights of NUSS Day, held on 20 August. The event started off with a day carnival where visitors were entertained by live band performances, enjoyed poolside activities as well as pony rides and prawning with family members and loved ones. Amid the fun and activities, visitors were also treated to a scrumptious array of local and international cuisines, from satay to paella. The festivities continued into the evening with Mr Jonathan Atherton entertaining the crowd with his high-energy jokes. The Mysterious Band also kept the party mood going as the crowd enjoyed the rest of the evening with free flow of wine, spirits, beer and food.

MR SOH YI DA (ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ’14)

PRESIDENT, NUSSU ALUMNI

Union volunteers, alumni and friends who have come together to pay it forward and give back to our University. With everyone’s collective efforts and generous support we have successfully exceeded our fundraising target. We have shown that with a connected and engaged alumni, we can do so much more together as One NUS!” OCT– DEC 2016 37

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS EVENTS

SSHSPH AlumNite 2016: It’s A Small World! The Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health Class of 2016 with School faculty.

ABOVE Dean, Prof Chia Kee Seng (Medicine ’81) and Assoc Prof Wong Mee Lian (Medicine ’04) with award recipients from the Master of Public Health Class of 2016: (From left) Ms Fiona Chuah, Dr Akila Andiappan, Dr Mimaika Luluina Ginting and Mr Lim Soon Kok. RIGHT Dr Namrata Hange (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health ’16) was voted Best Dressed Individual of the evening.

On 8 July, the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health held its SSHSPH AlumNite 2016 at the National University Health System Tower Block Staff Lounge. It was an evening of good food, drinks and happy reunions all round as faculty, graduands and alumni across several batches and their families gathered together to catch up and celebrate their shared journeys in public health. With the evening’s theme of ‘It’s A Small World!’, guests were invited to dress up in their country’s national costume or a national costume of of their choice in celebration of the School’s cultural

diversity. Graduands, faculty and alumni cast their votes for the best dressed individual of the evening, which went to Dr Namrata Hange (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health ’16). Dean Professor Chia Kee Seng (Medicine ’81) addressed the room and introduced Professor David Koh (Medicine ’85), who shared “the importance of a purpose-driven life” in making an impact on the health of the communities. Prof Koh also shared with the graduands his personal and unexpected journey in public health and reminded them to enjoy their journeys in the years ahead, wherever it may take them. To cap off the joyous evening, the recipients of the Dean’s List, Richard Gillis Prize, Occupational and Environmental Health Society Medal, Tye Cho Yook Medal and Dean’s Medal received their awards for their outstanding achievements.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY’S 50TH REUNION The Department of Sociology celebrated 50 years of anthropology and sociology in NUS on 12 March at the Kent Ridge Guild House. Named ‘Soci50 Reunion — Commemorate, Connect’, the evening was attended by more than 220 former and current faculty members, staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students, and the NUS Sociology Society. The festivities started with a welcome speech by Professor Vineeta Sinha (Arts and Social Sciences ’85), the current Head of Department, followed by games and quizzes. There was also a display of photo montages of the department, faculty and students at its former location on the Bukit Timah campus, and the subsequent years at the Kent Ridge campus. Members of the first graduating cohort, who set up the NUS Sociology Alumni Bursary Fund (initiated by the Pioneer Class of ’69) for financiallyneedy Year 3 and 4 Sociology majors, also joined in the celebration.

Department signboard from the Bukit Timah campus

Soci50 Reunion at Kent Ridge Guild House

The first graduating cohort, Class of 69, with Prof Sinha

Let's

Chill Out! Admission is FREE

Venue: Shaw Foundation Alumni House Auditorium Time: 7.30pm Register at: alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/MMnov16

24 november

(PG-13)

For enquiries, please contact Mr Delon Lim at delon.lim@nus.edu.sg or 6516 5769.

OCT– DEC 2016 39

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS EVENTS

DENTISTRY CLASS OF 1972 CELEBRATES ITS 44TH ANNIVERSARY

Seven Easy Ways to be an active AlumNUS!

The Dentistry Class of 1972 celebrated its 44th anniversary and held its fifth reunion in Ipoh from 7 to 10 June. The group of classmates — with their spouses and families — travelled from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, and had a great time feasting on local delights and catching up with one another over meals and karaoke. Previous reunions were held in Singapore, Penang, Kuching and Sydney. The next reunion in 2017 will be held in Johor Bahru. BY LOH HONG SAI (Dentistry ’72)

A L U M N U S

As an NUS alumnus, there is more than one way to stay connected to your alma mater. Here are 7 ways to get you started! TTEND AN OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS (OAR) EVENT. OAR organises a variety of events to cater to different segments of alumni. Chill out over drinks at the coolest bars. Join us at our enriching lifestyle workshops, catch monthly blockbusters or attend U@live sessions. EAD OR JOIN AN ALUMNI GROUP. NUS has 66 Alumni Groups (representing faculties, schools, halls of residences and interest groups) and 18 Overseas Chapters. Join a group and discover ways to stay in touch, network and build closer ties with fellow alumni and the University. SE YOUR ALUMNUS CARD. The AlumNUS Card identies you as part of the prestigious NUS alumni family and entitles you to exclusive deals with participating merchants. You also gain complimentary access to NUS libraries and facilities at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. Check out these exclusive offers and benets at alumnet.nus.edu.sg/alumnuscard. AKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE SHAW FOUNDATION ALUMNI HOUSE! Your Home on Campus - Shaw Foundation Alumni House! An alumni centre equipped with state of the art facilities including a 298-seat auditorium, seminar rooms, restaurants and an Alumni Service Centre to serve your needs. An ideal meeting place for alumni events, seminars, reunions and gatherings. URTURE THE GIVING SPIRIT IN YOU. Step up to the role of class ambassador to build class connections or come home to volunteer as an alumni mentor. There are many ways in which you can give back to your alma mater as an alumnus of NUS. Find out how at nus.edu.sg/alumnet. PDATE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS WITH US! Stay connected with NUS by updating your contact information with us at alumnet.nus.edu.sg/updatemyparticulars. As an alumnus of NUS, you will get to enjoy many social benets and professional services offered by OAR. Get updates on all OAR events, many of which are complimentary to NUS alumni. TAY CONNECTED THROUGH OUR NUMEROUS COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS! Read The AlumNUS magazine, our alumni’s denitive source to staying connected with NUS and our alumni community. To ensure you receive your copy of our quarterly-published magazine, update your mailing address with us at alumnet.nus.edu.sg/updatemyparticulars. You can also read it online at alumnet.nus.edu.eg/ alumnusmagazine. Check out AlumNET, your one-stop alumni web resource! To learn more, visit nus.edu.sg/alumnet. The AlumNET mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android is available in Google Play and the App Store. Download our app to view upcoming alumni events and connect with OAR! Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/nusoar Enjoy your NUS Lifelong Email Account. Your student email account (userid@u.nus.edu) will be lifelong upon your graduation. You will continue to enjoy the 50GB mailbox space, the sending of attachments up to 25MB and the reliability and convenience of your student email for life.

nus.edu.sg/alumnet

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS EVENTS

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS TRIBUTE

Remembering a

Visionary & Mentor

The late Mr Wong Ah Long (BSc ’69, MBA ’72) was a guiding force to young entrepreneurs. BY THERESA TAN

CIVIL ENGNEERING CLASS OF 1976 40TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION The 40th anniversary reunion of the Civil Engineering Class of 1976 was held from 29 to 31 July at the One World Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. 49 classmates and their spouses attended the reunion, and everyone was recharged and energised by the many activities and good fellowship. The group had a great time shopping, playing tennis and golf, sight-seeing and indulging in local favourites. The trip also included an outing to Pahang and visits to Jimmy’s Durian Orchard and the Chamang Waterfalls. The reunion ended with a dinner at the Grand Imperial Restaurant, where everyone was in high spirits. BY WOH SOW CHOON (Engineering,’76) AND GONG NGIE DEE (Engineering ’76)

VA N C O U V E R

VANCOUVER OVERSEAS CHAPTER – SINGAPORE NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATION On August 28, the NUS Vancouver Overseas Chapter held a Singapore National Day Celebration dinner in downtown Vancouver, supported by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations. The celebration was well attended by alumni and their spouses from all walks of life, including professors, bankers, engineers, administrators, financial advisors, scientists as well as some retirees. It was heartening to see alumni networking and mingling in a city so far away from Singapore. During the welcome address, Chapter Chairperson Dr Jon Quah (Computing ’97) highlighted the importance of togetherness and networking in a foreign land.

n 17 August 2016, the National University of Singapore (NUS) lost an illustrious alumnus, supporter and friend with the passing of Mr Wong Ah Long. Mr Wong was a respected figure in the corporate world, as well as at his alma mater, which he served after graduating with an Honours degree in Applied Chemistry in 1969, followed by a Masters degree in Business Administration in 1972. Mr Wong’s career spanned industries that included property, construction, property funds, retail and exhibitions. He led the management of a township in Surabaya, Indonesia, before becoming General Manager for Singapore Technologies’ construction arm and DBS Land. In 1996, Mr Wong joined Suntec City Development Pte Ltd as CEO and transformed Singapore’s largest private development into a premier business and retail space through innovative marketing strategies. As Chairman of Pacific Star China Investment and Development (2005-07), Mr Wong directed the large-scale real estate investments of the group. He was also CEO of Utraco Green Tech, and an independent director of Kingsmen Creatives. Mr Wong gave generously of his time in societies and committees including the Singapore Chapter of FIABCI, the Hong Kong-Singapore Business Association, the Garden City Fund management committee and the National Council Against Drug Abuse.

A FATHER FIGURE

Mr Wong was an active alumnus who supported his alma mater in multiple capacities, as member of the NUS Board of Trustees from

2000 to 2008, Deputy Chairman of the NUS Council, Advisory Board member of the NUS Business School and Vice-President of the NUS Business School Alumni Association. For his contributions, Mr Wong was awarded the Eminent Alumni Award from the NUS Business School in 2003, the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2005, as well as the Distinguished Science Alumni Award in the same year. Mr Wong’s passing at the age of 72 had a deep impact on Mr Lee Junior (Business ’00, EMBA ’15), 41, General Partner of Expara Ventures Pte Ltd, a regional venture capitalist fund in Singapore. He tells The AlumNUS that Mr Wong was “like a father” to him. They first met when Mr Lee, then a young graduate, joined the NUS Business School Alumni Association’s (NUSBSA) Board of Directors and served alongside Mr Wong. When his start-up did not take off due to the bursting of the dot-com bubble, Mr Lee emailed the NUSBSA Board saying that he was looking for a job. “Mr Wong sent me an email that said ‘Young man, come and see me’,” he says. Then-CEO of Suntec City Developments, Mr Wong took Mr Lee under his wing, getting him to start and spearhead the Innovative Technology Initiative Team, which opened up a world of networks for the young man. After three years of working under Mr Wong, a lifelong friendship developed between the two men. “Through his invaluable words and actions, Mr Wong taught me the importance of paying it forward and inculcated in me the spirit of doing good and always helping those in need. He played a monumental role in grooming and moulding me into who I am today,” shares Mr Lee.

HE INVESTED IN PEOPLE

Mr Wong’s wake was attended by luminaries in the business community and fellow distinguished alumni, as well as other young entrepreneurs whose lives he had touched. One of them is Mr Prashant Pundrik, director of Athena Cleantech Pte Ltd. The two met at a 2010 NUSBSA dinner. Mr Wong offered him free office space for his new start-up. “He was true to his promise of helping me with whatever he had,” Mr Prashant recalls. “He offered me a cubicle in his office at no cost, which I occupied for nearly three years. He introduced me to his acquaintances, some of whom materialised into initial sales for my start-up.” Again, it was Mr Wong’s friendship that left the greatest impact. “He mentored me, and assured me that he would never allow me to fail. This was such a confidence-booster that I never looked back after that.” Mr Lee says that he and other NUSBSA members will be setting up a bursary in Mr Wong’s name — something Mr Wong had done countless times over to support needy undergraduates. “He left us too early. I’ll miss him till the moment I draw my last breath,” says Mr Lee. OCT– DEC 2016 43

PERSPECTI VE

INTERVIEWS ASHUTOSH RAVIKRISHNAN

To be of

Service In our fast-paced and hectic society, it’s inspiring to see students step forward to volunteer their time and energy. I think this is because they’ve found a way to align their interests and passions with a need in the community — for example, the eco-conscious among us give back by cleaning up beaches and parks. This is key to making volunteerism a way of life, rather than a one-off activity.” ANG SOO KUANG, 31, Financial Consultant (Business ’10)

How do we nurture a culture of giving back? And what’s a better ‘gift’: money or time? Young alumni share their thoughts.

I saw the uglier side of society when as a young volunteer, I took special-needs children out on an excursion to a prawn farm. The experience showed me that some people view the special-needs community unkindly. This spurred me to give back to this group. Eye-opening and enriching experiences such as these will groom in youths a sense of duty to society, which is necessary to build a caring and more inclusive society. ”

“Giving back is about contributing

positively to society and making it a better place for all. Schemes like the Community Involvement Programme in schools enable students to explore volunteering from a young age and to find out more about society’s needs. By encouraging kids to get in touch with their altruistic side, we can build a reliable pool of volunteers. ” TERESA QUEK, 30, Sports Manager (Science ’09)

KENNETH LIM, 28, Product Manager (Engineering ’13)

TAN KENG WEE, 28, Dental Surgeon (Dentistry ’13)

“Helping anyone who can’t help

“I serve as the music director of

Gendang Akustika, a Malay music ensemble that is part of the Bishan North CC Malay Activities Executive Committee. We perform for residents at community events that promote family bonding and racial harmony. Some might say that such contributions are not significant, but I believe that music has the power to bring people together. I’m happy to be able to use my passion to give back to the community.” SYAFIQAH ‘ADHA SALLEHIN, 26, Music Teacher (Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music ’13)

As a dentist, I believe that everyone should have access to basic dental and medical care. This is why I use my professional skills to benefit those who might otherwise not be able to receive dental treatment. Volunteers should evaluate the actual value of their contribution. For example, it would be unwise to volunteer my time if a monetary donation was needed more. As we head towards SG100, I hope that young people learn that it is a privilege to be in a position to give. One should not take this for granted; a little contribution can really go a long way in someone else’s life.”

UNDERGRADS MAKE A DIFFERENCE Established in 1990, the NUS Volunteer Action Committee (NVAC) is a student-led organisation that aims to promote active volunteerism among undergraduates. It also assists other voluntary welfare organisations by sharing calls for volunteers on its popular Facebook page. NVAC currently has more than 350 regular volunteers. In 2011, it received the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations ASEAN Award, which recognises and supports the contributions of youth groups in the region.

For more information on NVAC and its activities, visit facebook.com/nus.nvac/

themselves is something I strive to do, as well as for animals who are often forgotten. I previously volunteered at Save Our Street Dogs, an organisation dedicated to assisting stray dogs, where besides tending to their needs, I also helped out in the adoption process. Seeing them find loving homes made the tough work worth it. ”

—

LOSHINI PRABHAI, 26, Curatorial Officer (Arts and Social Sciences ’13) OCT– DEC 2016 47

all Amped

L AST W O R D

ome opt for extreme sports, others explore untrodden wilderness – Prema Alexander gets her adrenalin rush from being a DJ. She picked up the skill in her third year at NUS when with a bunch of friends, she joined SynQ, an on-campus club dedicated to honing and promoting DJ-ing skills and culture. “We even made a second home at a bench outside Lecture Theatre 4, where we would practise, often late into the night,” recounts Prema who majored in English Language and Linguistics. “Mixing music was an exciting new skill [to learn] and the company was great.” The 26 year-old, who works in the advertising industry, now plays about once a month at parties that includes ATTAGIRL!, Subvert Sessions and Good Times – familiar events for those in the scene. Must-haves in Prema’s setlist when she is at the sound desk? Music genres from hip hop to drum and bass.

BY FAIROZA MANSOR

“

PREMA ALEXANDER (ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES í13) GETS A RUSH FROM MIXING MUSIC IN FRONT OF A CROWD.

The (mis)perception that women go on-stage solely to be looked at, and not to be appreciated for their skills, or that they struggle with technology, is amplified in DJ-ing – because you’re in front of a crowd, further suggesting that you are [on the podium] to be looked at. I do see this perception changing so that’s encouraging. There is increasing effort from female DJs and collectives that focus on making great music and playing amazing sets, and letting the music speak for them.”

“Making the beats of one song match another to make them blend well is so important.” DJ SPEAK:

Match B E AT

.Dates to Remember ALUMNI EVENTS

OC T OB E R A N D N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 6

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

5 OCT (WED) U@LIVE FEATURING DR UNNI KARUNAKARA

17 NOV (THU) THIRSTY THURSDAYS (MEGA)

7.30pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/ UALIVEoct16 Enquiries: Mr Samuel Tan at samuel.tan@nus.edu.sg

10-12 OCT (MON-WED) CHINA FILM FESTIVAL 8.00pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/ cnff2016 Enquiries: Mr Delon Lim at delon.lim@nus.edu.sg

6.30pm, Shanghai Dolly Register at alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/ TTnov16 Enquiries: Ms Cassandra Lua at cassandraluaqy@nus.edu.sg

24 NOV (THU) MOVIES ON THE HOUSE X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (PG-13) 7.30pm, Shaw Foundation Alumni House Register at alumnet.nus.edu.sg/event/ MMnov16 Enquiries: Mr Delon Lim at delon.lim@nus.edu.sg

“DJ-ING MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I AM

surfing high waves, [but the feeling is] laced with anxiety. I get anxious sometimes that my music will not resonate with the crowd.”

NUS PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION ACT (PDPA) DJ PREMA ALEXANDER

As of 2 January 2014, in line with Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, you may indicate your preference for receiving marketing messages from NUS on your Singapore telephone number via the various methods. If you wish to make changes to your preference, you can update at https://myaces.nus.edu.sg/DNC/index.do.

As of 2 July 2014, in view of Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), the NUS Office of Alumni Relations would like to inform you that NUS will continue to engage you as an alumnus through the following ways: • Providing you information about the University and alumni-related initiatives and activities. • Sending you invitations to NUS and alumni-related events. • Requesting you to update alumni information. • Sending you invitations to participate in alumni surveys. • Sending you alumni-related communication collaterals. If you wish to withdraw your consent to be contacted, please visit https://myaces.nus.edu.sg/PSR/index.do.

All information is correct at time of print and is subject to change without prior notice.