NUS Public Lecture by Professor Gertjan Medema, 2024 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Laureate on 21 June 2024

NUS Public Lecture by Prof Gertjan Medema.

(Left to Right): Prof Karina Gin, Prof Gertjan Medema and Assoc Prof Sanjay Swarup

(From left to right): Prof Karina Gin, Assoc Prof Sanjay Swarup, Prof Gertjan Medema, Prof Tan Eng Chye and Prof Hu Jiangyong

NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI) had the honour of hosting the NUS Public lecture by Professor Gertjan Medema, the 2024 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Laureate, on June 21, 2024. The lecture, titled "Wastewater Surveillance for Public Health", took place at the UHall Auditorium, National University of Singapore.

The event began with a warm Welcome Remark by NERI Director, Associate Professor Sanjay Swarup. Professor Medema's lecture delved into the practical applications of wastewater surveillance as a tool for public health monitoring. He shared innovative research directions and discussed how wastewater can provide valuable information that can be used as an early warning system to safeguard against the spread of diseases, for collaboration with both local and international stakeholders communities.

One notable application of the tool is in the NUS campus-wide COVID-19 wastewater surveillance monitoring efforts. Coordinated through NERI, Professor Karina Gin and her research team conducted round-the-clock sampling and lab testing during the peak of the pandemic period. The monitoring efforts led to early detection of COVID-19 among the students in the residence halls, curbing the spread of COVID-19 among the residents.

Professor Medema's engaging presentation style captivated the audience throughout the lecture. His lecture was informative and provided the audience with good insights of how wastewater surveillance can serve as an early warning system to curb public health threats.

The Q&A session, chaired by Professor Karina Gin, facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas, providing valuable insights into the practical implications of Professor Medema's work.

After the Q&A session, Professor Sanjay, on behalf of NUS, presented a token of appreciation to Prof Medema for his visit to NUS.

The event concluded with a networking session over light refreshment where the participants had the opportunity to interact with Professor Medema.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Professor Medema for his lecture and also PUB, the Singapore's National Water Agency, for the opportunity to host the lecture on NUS campus.

Last but not least, we would like to thank all who have contributed in making this event a success.