University Awards
Recognising Excellence

Outstanding Educator Award

Innovation, ingenuity, and originality are all highly prized attributes in contemporary society and I aim to cultivate these attributes in my students. By making classes enjoyable and reducing stress, I create a conducive space for learning that students respond to with increased attention and energy. ” Associate Professor Peter Alan Todd
Department of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
 
Tropical Marine Science Institute
 Read Citation

Current Teaching Portfolio

  • Marine biology
  • Ecology of aquatic environments
  • Aquatic ecology research

Teaching Achievements

  • In his 20 years at NUS, Associate Professor Todd has taught first year through to graduate level courses with class sizes ranging from 14 to 423, supervised over 130 undergraduate projects, and successfully graduated 21 PhD students. His previous roles include Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the Faculty of Science, and Vice-Chair of the NUS Teaching Academy. Associate Professor Todd is currently Director of the Bachelor in Environmental Studies programme.
  • Armed with a passion for nurturing Singapore's next generation of marine biologists and ecologists, Associate Professor Todd started the Minor in Aquatic Ecology, an early mover in interdisciplinary learning that now has over 300 alumni, and is now developing a Second Major in Marine and Freshwater Ecology. He has further championed a holistic educational experience by sending students to placements abroad, organising internships, and providing a wide range of research opportunities in marine science.
  • With engagement and empathy as guiding tenets, he champions an open-door policy for consultation and applies three key pedagogical strategies in his teaching: problem-based learning, teaching for creativity, and setting authentic tasks. This has made for courses that require a high degree of imagination and initiative from students, and that have garnered much positive feedback.

Publication Credits

  • Authored and co-authored over 200 papers including many in top journals such as Science of the Total Environment, Ecology, One Earth, Biological Conservation and Journal of Applied Ecology

International Standing

  • Editor-in-Chief of Oceanography and Marine Biology—An Annual Review (since 2022)
  • Editorial board member of Marine Ecology (since 2022)
  • Associate Editor for Oikos (since 2011)
  • Review Editor for Aquatic Biology (since 2007)
  • Presented as invited/keynote speaker at regional and international conferences, including:
    • International Conference on Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation of Marine Ecosystems (2025)
    • King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Coastal Ecology Seminar Series (2023)

Awards and Accolades

  • Member, University Teaching Excellence Committee (AY2023/24 – AY2024/25)
  • Member, Faculty Teaching Excellence Committee (since AY2022/23)
  • Vice Chairperson, NUS Teaching Academy (AY2020/21 – AY2022/23)
  • Fellow, NUS Teaching Academy (AY2014/15 – AY2023/24)
  • NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Honour Roll (AY2024/25 – AY2027/28)
  • NUS Faculty Teaching Excellence Honour Roll (AY2016/17, AY2023/24)

Education

  • PhD (National University of Singapore)
  • BSc (University of North London)
 
 Honour Roll Recipients