Thought Leadership

Some of the world’s leaders, and leading thinkers from NUS and overseas, regularly gather and add to the rich diversity of thoughts and ideas on our campuses, in Singapore and across the globe.
Here’s what they had to share.

Science ahead of its time: Secret of 157-year old Darwin manuscript

Science ahead of its time: Secret of 157-year old Darwin manuscript

Speaker: John van Wyhe 24 Nov 2022

The Darwin Online project at NUS published an exceptional manuscript handwritten by Charles Darwin in 1865. To understand this unique document, historian of science Dr John van Wyhe from the NUS Department of Biological Sciences, and founder and Director of Darwin Online, sheds light on the origins of the 157-year-old manuscript, and why Darwin chose to handwrite the selected passage from Origin of Species.

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Kopi, kaya and a longer life: Hawker centres hold the key

Kopi, kaya and a longer life: Hawker centres hold the key

Speaker: Speaker: Dr Daniel Mahadzir | 27 November 2025

IPS study: Unity, belonging and pride at the heart of national identity

IPS study: Unity, belonging and pride at the heart of national identity

Speaker: Speaker: Dr Mathew Mathews | 27 November 2025

Singapore's silent crisis: Is grandpa eating well and enough?

Singapore's silent crisis: Is grandpa eating well and enough?

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Teo Yik Ying | 19 November 2025

The antibiotics crisis isn’t the fault of science – it’s market failure

The antibiotics crisis isn’t the fault of science – it’s market failure

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Hsu Li Yang | 18 November 2025

How Singapore should tackle food resilience after dropping '30 by 30' goal

How Singapore should tackle food resilience after dropping '30 by 30' goal

Speaker: Speaker: Mr Bjorn Low | 14 November 2025

Why are Singapore-made shows unappealing to many Singaporeans?

Why are Singapore-made shows unappealing to many Singaporeans?

Speaker: Speaker: Mr Ben Chester Cheong | 8 November 2025

Singapore's multibillion-dollar events industry has a hidden cost

Singapore's multibillion-dollar events industry has a hidden cost

Speaker: Speaker: Assoc Prof Zhang Weina and Mr Yannis Yuan | 6 November 2025

Singlish is so much more than ‘broken English’

Singlish is so much more than ‘broken English’

Speaker: Speaker: Dr Daniel Chan | 6 November 2025

Cashless but confusing: Can Singapore fix its digital payments system?

Cashless but confusing: Can Singapore fix its digital payments system?

Speaker: Speaker: Asst Prof Daniel Rabetti | 3 November 2025

Chatbots could be first responder for mental health issues, but with limits

Chatbots could be first responder for mental health issues, but with limits

Speaker: Speaker: Asst Prof Nur Hani Zainal | 28 October 2025