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.

What a 121km trek across the Gobi Desert taught us about transformation

What a 121km trek across the Gobi Desert taught us about transformation

Speaker: Prof Tan Eng Chye 6 Dec 2024

Transformation is a passage for the bold and willing – it can be nudged in the right direction but the motivation must come from within. NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye who was part of the NUS team that participated in the 19th Gobi Desert Challenge recounted his rewarding experience and the new lessons learnt. Prof Tan also spoke about the university’s role as an institute of higher learning to fuel the motivation for self-transformation.

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The old model is broken. Telcos need to reinvent themselves

The old model is broken. Telcos need to reinvent themselves

Speaker: Speaker: Asst Prof Tiffany Tsai | 24 June 2026

The triangular geopolitics of critical minerals

The triangular geopolitics of critical minerals

Speaker: Speakers: Associate Professor Gu Qingyang | 23 June 2026

The Singaporean workers who feel AI has nothing to do with them

The Singaporean workers who feel AI has nothing to do with them

Speaker: Speakers: Prof Irene Y.H. Ng, Mr Tan Zhi Han, Ms V Deepa and Mr Aaron Lim | 15 June 2026

AI companions are coming. Privacy rules are not ready

AI companions are coming. Privacy rules are not ready

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Simon Chesterman | 9 June 2026

We need to close the gap between Singapore's mental health goals and reality

We need to close the gap between Singapore's mental health goals and reality

Speaker: Speaker: Asst Prof Rayner Tan | 8 June 2026

Are we in an affordability crisis?

Are we in an affordability crisis?

Speaker: Speakers: Mr Liang Zixuan and Mr Mukund Kishore | 4 June 2026

What PayNow’s alias removal really signals

What PayNow’s alias removal really signals

Speaker: Speaker: Asst Prof Daniel Rabetti | 29 May 2026

When a deepfake image becomes real harm

When a deepfake image becomes real harm

Speaker: Speaker: Ben Chester Cheong | 28 May 2026

AP x Swatch Royal Pop collection - When a launch brings crowds and chaos, it is a marketing disaster

AP x Swatch Royal Pop collection - When a launch brings crowds and chaos, it is a marketing disaster

Speaker: Speaker: Dr Samer Elhajjar | 27 May 2026

Study finds over half of 8-year-olds in Singapore have used AI; most popular tool is ChatGPT

Study finds over half of 8-year-olds in Singapore have used AI; most popular tool is ChatGPT

Speaker: Speaker: Professor Jean Yeung | 25 May 2026