{"id":1659,"date":"2026-06-22T05:44:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:44:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdev-pixel-sustain-nus.pantheonsite.io\/sustainabilityreport\/?page_id=1659"},"modified":"2026-08-13T07:39:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T07:39:44","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sustainability.nus.edu.sg\/report\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Breaking Silos, Delivering Impact<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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As the world continues to suffer from the effects of climate change, from record-high temperatures to extreme weather events, it has become even clearer that the solutions needed will not come from a single discipline, sector, or geography.<\/p>

With this in mind, NUS restructured how it drives research with the newly launched university-wide initiative, NUS Sustainable Futures.<\/a><\/p>

This interdisciplinary initiative centres on three sustainability missions designed to build vibrant research communities involving academia, industry, government, and society:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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NUS Energy Solutions Hub<\/h3>

Focuses on\nimproving energy\nsustainability and\nresilience<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Initiatives for Climate, Oceans and Nature<\/h3>

Focuses on\ntechnological\ninnovations and\nnature-based\nsolutions that address\nclimate change,\nbiodiversity loss\nand environmental\ndegradation<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Integrative Urban Solutions<\/h3>

Focuses on a\nmultidisciplinary\napproach to\nenhance urban\nresilience and\nsustainability<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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This is complemented by active participation in national and regional research initiatives. In 2025, NUS joined the Climate and Weather Research Alliance Singapore, a national partnership that advances tropical weather and climate science. This has enabled projects that seek to improve weather observations, develop next-generation climate models, and enhance prediction accuracy using high-resolution modelling and artificial intelligence.<\/p>

On the food security front, the university co-leads several programmes which received additional funding from the Singapore Food Agency in 2025. They include the:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAquaPolis R&D Programme, which aims to improve the nutritional value of locally produced seafood while lowering production costs;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeed Innovation Hub, which advances crop breeding by developing seeds with desired traits such as faster growth and higher nutritional value; and<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCentre for Precision Fermentation and Sustainability, which focuses on developing efficient and sustainable production of healthy lipids and functional proteins.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Today, nearly one in three NUS faculty members conducts sustainability-related research. The university will build on this momentum to translate research into meaningful, real-world impact.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Highlights in Numbers<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Research and Academic Publications\n(CY2025)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    (or 2,673) of research and academic papers published are sustainability-related<\/div>\t\t\t
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    of sustainability-related papers are published in the top 10% of academic journals<\/div>\t\t\t
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    of sustainability-related publications involve collaboration with other institutes<\/div>\t\t\t
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    of sustainability-related publications involve corporate collaboration<\/div>\t\t\t
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    collaborating countries\/regions for NUS\u2019 sustainability-related publications<\/div>\t\t\t
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    Field-Weighted Citation Impact for sustainability-related publications*<\/div>\t\t\t
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    * Measures how well-cited a publication is compared to similar publications<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    of sustainability-related publications rank among the top 10% most cited worldwide<\/div>\t\t\t
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    Research Collaborations\n(CY2025)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    collaborations with external partners on sustainability-related research projects, of which<\/div>\t\t\t
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    are with research institutes and institutes of higher learning<\/div>\t\t\t
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    are with companies and industry associations<\/div>\t\t\t
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    are with government agencies<\/div>\t\t\t
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    Grants (FY2025)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    in competitive funding for sustainability research<\/div>\t\t\t
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    Tackling Hard-To-Abate Emissions Through Energy Innovation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    STDCT 2.0 will allow data centre operators to test and optimise low-carbon solutions such as liquid-cooling infrastructure, which includes the use of seawater. (Source: This image was generated using AI-Know, powered by Google\u2019s Imagen 4 model.)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    NUS is also driving innovations for sustainable industry and transportation, particularly in the maritime sector. At the NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations (CHI), Associate Professor Yang Wenming is leading research to develop a novel ammonia-based maritime engine prototype. It features an advanced in-cylinder reforming gas recirculation technology that enables high-efficiency combustion with near-zero greenhouse gas emissions.\u00a0<\/p>

    Beyond low-carbon combustion, maritime carbon capture and conversion are emerging as promising routes to decarbonise shipping. Professor Yan Ning and his team are exploring novel catalysts for converting captured carbon dioxide into methanol, closing the carbon loop and supporting a circular carbon economy. Additionally, CHI is collaborating with industry partners to explore ammonia cracking, power decarbonisation, and sustainable fuel pathways.\u00a0<\/p>

    The work at NESH also includes sustainable and resilient multi-energy districts, sustainable redevelopment for urban resilience, as well as data-driven energy strategy and policy. Collectively, they enable NUS to develop impactful energy solutions that are efficient, adaptable, and scalable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Associate Professor Yang Wenming (extreme right) and his team with a demonstration model of the in-cylinder reforming gas recirculation technology designed to achieve near-zero greenhouse gas emissions in ammonia-fuelled marine engines.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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