NUS Environmental Research Institute - NERI

You are cordially invited to the NERI Seminar Series on Beyond the Oil Age: Catalytic Transformation of Sustainable Chemical Feedstocks by Professor Karen Wilson. This event is organised by NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI).

Date: 4 September 2026, Friday

Time: 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. (Registration starts at 9.30 a.m.)

Location: National University of Singapore (NUS), NUS Engineering E4, #04-05 (E-cube 1-3), 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583

To register, please proceed to register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd__1eEHvhSm5oK-VPOQaB7CKCOnh6kTkhGc6L9bnebAT-jMQ/viewform or scan the QR code in the poster below.

We look forward to your participation.

NERI was delighted to host a seminar on the afternoon of 14 August 2026, featuring Prof. Harvey Winters from Fairleigh Dickinson University, USA. A highly respected expert in membrane fouling, particularly in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination, Prof. Winters shared his deep expertise with the audience. The session was chaired by Prof. Tang Chuyang, Director of NERI.

Prof. Winters presented his work titled “Use of Brine-Staging in Seawater RO to Achieve Lowest SEC and Control Membrane Biofouling”, conducted jointly with Mr. Eli Oklejas from FEDCO, USA.

The seminar offered valuable insights into an innovative approach to seawater reverse osmosis, addressing two of the field’s most pressing challenges: energy consumption and membrane biofouling. Prof. Winters explained how brine-staging, when combined with bi-turbo technology, can enable higher recovery rates while keeping each stage below critical recovery and concentration polarization thresholds. This approach helps to reduce biofilm formation and improve overall energy efficiency.

This promising advancement points to a more efficient and sustainable pathway for SWRO operations.

NERI extends its sincere appreciation to Prof. Winters for his insightful presentation, and to all attendees for contributing to an engaging and fruitful discussion.

We are proud to congratulate Professor Ong Say Leong on being conferred The Public Service Star (Bar), 2026, in recognition of his contributions as Chairperson, PUB Operational Audit Panel.

This prestigious national honour reflects Professor Ong's outstanding public service, leadership, and enduring dedication to Singapore.

At NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), we are especially honoured by Professor Ong's longstanding association with the institute, including his dedicated service as our Deputy Director prior to his retirement. His work has left a lasting impact on NERI and the wider academic and professional community.

Now serving as Emeritus Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Professor Ong continues to inspire through his exemplary service and distinguished career.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Ong on this well-deserved recognition.

You are cordially invited to the NERI Seminar Series on Use of Brine-Staging in Seawater RO to Achieve Lowest SEC and Control Membrane Biofouling by Professor Harvey Winters. This event is organised by NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI).

Date: 14 August 2026, Friday
Time: 3.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. (Registration starts at 2.30 p.m.)
Location: National University of Singapore (NUS), Level 5 Seminar Room, T-Lab Building, 5A Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117411

To register, please proceed to register at https://forms.gle/aZ1iC1LxakMMhrKS9 or scan the QR code in the poster below.

We look forward to your participation.

You are cordially invited to the NERI Seminar Series on Making LLMs Useful for Water Treatment: From Knowledge to Process Decisions by Associate Professor Boyan Xu. This event is organised by NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI).

Date: 21 August 2026, Friday

Time: 3.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. (Registration starts at 2.30 p.m.)

Location: National University of Singapore (NUS), Level 5 Seminar Room, T-Lab Building, 5A Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117411

To register, please proceed to register at this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbhc58b0QEvsw26cMYiRpKWFOGoucX1BuhWlNqpvdZ7vnt1Q/viewform or scan the QR code in the poster below.

We look forward to your participation.

On the afternoon of 22 July 2026, NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI) hosted a Welcome High-Tea to warmly introduce its new Director, Prof Tang Chuyang. The gathering brought together faculty, researchers, staff, and students for an afternoon of introductions, lively conversation, and fellowship.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for the NERI community to formally welcome Prof Tang and hear his thoughts on the institute’s future direction. In his remarks, Prof Tang shared his vision for NERI and his hopes of further strengthening the institute’s research excellence, collaborations, and engagement in the years ahead.

The afternoon concluded on a warm and cheerful note with tea and networking, as members of the NERI community connected in a relaxed and collegial setting. The occasion marked a meaningful beginning to Prof Tang’s leadership, and NERI looks forward with enthusiasm to the new chapter ahead.

NERI was delighted to co-organise the seminar, “Soil as an Asset: Carbon-Negative Biochar for Climate Resilience and Voluntary Carbon Markets” with NUS Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering on 29 July 2026.

We were honoured to welcome Professor Yong S*k Ok from Korea University, a globally recognised environmental scientist and leading voice in sustainability, climate science, and ESG. During the seminar, Professor Ok shared thought-provoking insights on the growing role of biochar as a carbon-negative technology with the potential to enhance soil resilience, support carbon sequestration, and contribute to credible voluntary carbon markets.

His presentation explored recent advances in monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), dynamic life cycle assessment (dLCA), and large-scale implementation, showing how strong scientific evidence can support effective and trustworthy carbon removal strategies. A key takeaway from the session was the powerful idea that soil should be seen not just as a resource, but as a strategic environmental asset in the global response to climate change.

The seminar prompted rich discussion on how research, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration can accelerate sustainable solutions at the nexus of climate action, soil health, carbon markets, and policy.

We would like to thank Professor Yong S*k Ok for the inspiring seminar, and to Professor Wang Chi-Hwa for chairing the session. We also thank all participants for contributing to an engaging and timely exchange of ideas.

You are cordially invited to the Seminar on Soil as an Asset: Carbon-Negative Biochar for Climate Resilience and Voluntary Carbon markets by Professor Yong S*k Ok. This event is jointly organized by Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE), College of Design and Engineering and NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI).

Date: 29 July 2026, Wednesday
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: National University of Singapore, E3-06-08

We look forward to your participation. Thank you.

We are pleased to share a new research outcome from NERI and NUS Chemistry research team (Dr Lin Xuanhao and Professor Sam Li Fong Yau).
The team developed a highly selective and sensitive MIP-QCM sensor for detecting zinc ions in water, and demonstrated how tuning the cross-linker/monomer ratio plays a critical role in optimising sensor selectivity and sensitivity.

The optimised sensor achieved 99.8% selectivity against competing metal ions, a linear detection range from 50 ppb to 2 ppm, and a lower limit of quantification of 38.1 ppb, meeting regulatory thresholds. The findings provide useful insights for the design of MIP-based sensors and highlight their potential as low-cost, rapid, and user-friendly tools for water quality monitoring, with promising commercial potential.

Please refer to the article for more details https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2026/an/d5an01106j

Tuning MIP-QCM selectivity for zinc ions via cross-linker/monomer ratio A highly selective and sensitive molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was developed for detecting zinc ions, Z

We are pleased to share the publication by NERI and NUS Civil and Environmental Engineering research team – Dr. Gengren Hao, Assoc. Prof. Ghim Ping Ong, and Dr. Meibo He.

Published in Transportation Research Record, the paper, “Asphalt Emissions During Pavement Construction: A Comprehensive Review of Analytical Metrics, Methods, and Influencing Factors”, synthesises current knowledge on how asphalt emissions are measured, the factors that influence them, and the strengths and limitations of existing analytical methods.

By bringing together findings across occupational health, carcinogenic risk, and environmental impact, this review provides an important foundation for improving the assessment of asphalt emissions and supporting safer pavement construction practices. It also helps identify gaps in current approaches, guiding future research and better-informed risk management.

For more details, please refer to the article https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03611981251350653