Press Release 3 January 2013 15 Internationally-Renowned Scientists

Press Release

3 January 2013

15 internationally-renowned scientists in Singapore to inspire and mentor 300 young scientists from around the world

1. The inaugural Global Young Scientists Summit@one-north (GYSS@one- north) will take place in Singapore from 20 to 25 January 2013.

2. Themed “Advancing Science, Creating Technologies for a Better World”, the 5-day event sees international science and technology leaders discussing latest advances in science, future game changers, and solutions to global challenges. Three hundred bright young researchers will come from all over the world to be inspired and mentored by these eminent scientists.

3. The 15 speakers (see annex) at the Summit comprise winners of the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, Millennium Technology Prize and Turing Award. Lecture topics include “Humans in a Dish” by Dr Sydney Brenner, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2002); Anthony Leggett, Nobel Prize in Physics (2003), will answer “Why Can’t Time Run Backwards?; and Ada Yonath, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2009), will discuss how long a person can hope to live in “Life expectancies: wishes and reality”.

4. Some of the GYSS@one-north speakers will also share their knowledge and experience at the International Science Youth Forum (ISYF) (21 – 24 January 2013), a Science Centre Forum/Panel Discussion (24 January 2013) as well as at speaking engagements at universities, research institutions and agencies. They will also meet with local researchers and visit research labs.

5. Participants are post-doctoral fellows and PhD students (academic excellence: top 5-10% of cohort) nominated by top academic and research institutions from around the world with a presence in Singapore and/or strong partnership with local research institutions. Singaporeans comprise 23% of the participants, Asian and Australian participants form 29%, 39% are from the US, Europe and Israel, and corporate lab researchers from Thales, GE Global Research, SAP, Rolls Royce and IBM make up 9%.

6. A significant feature of GYSS@one-north is the Singapore Challenge competition titled “Innovations for Future Cities” where participants present innovative solutions to address challenges faced by global cities. Based on the theme: “Innovations for Future Cities”, participants are encouraged to envision opportunities for sustainable development in cities with dense populations and heavy demands on infrastructure. Seventy-seven proposals have been submitted and ten finalists have been shortlisted to make their presentations to the judging panel on 25 January 2013. Solutions proposed are in areas relevant to Singapore, such as water management, waste reduction/recycling, urban transportation, and power

generation. The young scientist with the most compelling idea will be awarded a cash prize of US$100,000 and a medallion.

7. The Summit will be officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Chairman of the National Research Foundation (Prime Minister’s Office) Singapore, on 20 January 2013, and closed by President Dr Tony Tan on 25 January 2013.

8. Media registration to cover the event is now open. For more information and to register, please contact the media personnel listed below.

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About the National Research Foundation (NRF), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore The National Research Foundation (NRF), set up on 1 January 2006, is a department within the Prime Minister's Office. The NRF helps set the national direction for research and development (R&D) by developing policies, plans and strategies for research, innovation and enterprise. It also funds strategic initiatives and builds up R&D capabilities and capacities by nurturing local and attracting foreign talent. The NRF aims to transform Singapore into a vibrant R&D hub that contributes towards a knowledge-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economy; and make Singapore a talent magnet for excellence in science and innovation. For more information, please visit www.nrf.gov.sg

Media Contacts

Ms Cheryl LOH Head, Corporate Communications National Research Foundation (Prime Minister’s Office) Singapore DID: 6684 2928; Hdph: 65 9880 5507 Email: [email protected]

Ms Nur Auji Syairah YUNOS Executive, Corporate Communications National Research Foundation (Prime Minister’s Office) Singapore DID: 6684 5042 Email: [email protected]

Annex

GYSS@one-north Speakers

 Sydney Brenner, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2002)

 Chen Ning Yang, Nobel Prize in Physics (1957)

 Aaron Ciechanover, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2004)

 Eric Cornell, Nobel Prize in Physics (2001)

 Albert Fert, Nobel Prize in Physics (2007)

 Michael Gratzel, Millennium Technology Prize (2010)

 Robert Grubbs, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2005)

 Ada Yonath, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2009)

 Richard Karp, Turing Award (1985)

 Anthony Leggett, Nobel Prize in Physics (2003)

 Hartmut Michel , Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1988)

 Douglas Osheroff, Nobel Prize in Physics (1996)

 Richard Roberts, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1993)

 Dan Shechtman, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2011)

 Cédric Villani, Fields Medal (2010)

For more information on GYSS@one-north, Singapore Challenge and and profiles of the Speakers, please visit: http://www.gyss-one-north.sg/