Climate change and warming oceans are major threats to coral reefs and can cause widespread coral bleaching. As coral scientists and conservationists work against the clock to restore and preserve coral reefs, new research has revealed some corals have a secret to help them tolerate climate change.
Making a Mark for Women in Science (Part 2): Materials Scientist Wu Lishu
Making a mark for Women in Science (Part 2) – Meet NTU School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences PhD student Wu Lishu, who is a recipient of the 2020 Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WiEST) Conference Grant. Currently studying 2D materials, she sheds some light on her research, and her thoughts on women in science.
Making a Mark for Women in Science (Part 1): Structural Biologist Chinmayi Prasanna
Making a mark for Women in Science: In the spirit of International Women’s Day held recently in March, we meet some of the recipients of the 2020 Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WiEST) Conference Grant. First up is NTU School of Biological Sciences PhD student Chinmayi Prasanna. She shares with us how she got to where she is now, and her views on women in science.
Science Communication Writing Competition: in 2nd place, Wong Minn Lin (ASE)
In second place of the CoS Science Communication Writing Competition is Wong Minn Lin from the Asian School of the Environment! She wrote about “Lessons in climate change, learned from the past.” Congratulations, Minn Lin!
Science Communication Writing Competition: Merit Prize winner Devika Menon (SBS)
And the third winner of the Merit Prize in the CoS Science Communication Writing Competition, Devika Menon from the School of Biological Sciences! She wrote about “L-P Polymerase Inhibitors- The Possible Doom Of Pneumonia.” Congratulations, Devika!
Science Communication Writing Competition: Merit Prize winner Soon Kit Ying (ASE)
The inaugural CoS Science Communication Writing Competition was held from 11 Nov 2019 to 10 Jan 2020. We received many submissions, and a panel of judges consisting of faculty from CoS judged the entries and shortlisted the winners! First up, winner of the Merit Prize, Soon Kit Ying from the Asian School of the Environment! She wrote about “Reflecting on Our Sea Level – The Use of GNSS-Interferometric Reflectometry to Study Sea-level Trends.” Congratulations, Kit Ying!
Forest fragmentation hits wildlife hardest in the tropics
Human development, land conversion, fire and storms are causing the forests worldwide to become increasingly fragmented, to the degree that 70% of the Earth’s remaining forest is within 1 kilometre of a forest edge today. The world’s most intact forest landscapes are found in the tropics, but fragmentation of tropical forests is predicted to accelerate over the next decades.
New technology for identifying airborne chemicals instantly
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a device that can identify a wide range of airborne gases and chemicals instantly. The new prototype device is portable and suitable for rapid deployment by agencies to identify airborne hazards, such as from tiny gas molecules like sulphur dioxide.
NUS High school students do project on control of germination in tropical fruits with the Asian School of the Environment
The Science Mentorship Program allows groups of high school students to do small research projects at universities in Singapore. Harini Manivannan, Hong Ying Ying and Wai Yan Aung from NUS High School of Math and Science took the opportunity to do a study with the Asian School of the Environment.
Emerging opportunities in SERS: analyte manipulation and hybrid materials
Scientists in NTU have identified promising strategies to improve surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), namely via analyte manipulation and creating hybrid SERS platforms. Headed by Ling Xing Yi at NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, the group has shown that these two techniques are emerging strategies to address limitations found in traditional SERS platforms. These findings were reported in November 2018 in the journal Chemical Society Reviews.