Food of the Future

Finding sustainable solutions to alleviate potential disruptions to food supply involves rethinking the way urban farming is carried out — and that is exactly what a team at NUS has been doing.

By 2030, 20 per cent or more of Singapore’s population will be aged 65 or above. Professor Elaine Ho Lynn-Ee (Arts and Social Sciences ’02) surveys this seismic demographic shift to see what the future might hold for elderly and their caregivers.

Dr Tan Wee Kee (Science ’99) from NUS Environmental Research Institute shares the details behind a patented innovation that can change how — and where — plants can be grown. 

By studying the history of Singapore’s flora, fauna and landscape, we stand to learn a lot about ourselves as a people. Environmental historian Associate Professor Timothy P. Barnard has unearthed some surprising insights on our collective history through his research.

While dousing oneself with an ice bucket may show solidarity with sufferers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), what is really needed is a breakthrough to combat such neurodegenerative diseases. A project on ALS involving the use of vitamin B may deliver a simple therapeutic option.

Is the ‘pump’ that powers our bodies capable of repairing itself? Current research offers some promising evidence that the lifespan of our hearts can be extended.

Assistant Professor Benjamin C. K. Tee from the NUS Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, regularly makes the news with his innovations — which range from self-healing electronic skin to a foam that emulates the human sense of touch.

Some of the most exciting developments in information technology are taking place in the smallest devices. NUS School of Computing explores this realm under the leadership of Professor Tulika Mitra.