NUS Forensic Science

🎉 Celebrating 20 Years of NUS Forensic Science! 🧬🕵‍♂

What better way to celebrate than wrapping up another amazing run of the most popular module in NUS, FSC2101 (AY2025/2026)! 🔥💥

A huge thank you to Prof Stella, Prof Eugene, Prof Cuthbert, and Ms Danielle Sng for their passion, dedication, and heart. Managing 400+ students is no small feat, yet you all made every lecture inspiring and every student feel seen. ❤️

From captivating lessons 👨‍🏫 to surprise snacks 🍫 and exclusive merch 😍, your energy made these 13 weeks unforgettable. 🥰

We hope everyone enjoyed the module and walked away with a deeper appreciation of how science and justice intersect ⚖️🔬 Whether it was uncovering crime scene mysteries 🕵‍♂️ or understanding the real world impact of forensic work 🔍, we’re so proud of how far everyone has come! 👏 Congratz to all prize winners as well! 🏆

Last but not least, thank you to our esteemed guest SUPT Lim Wee Beng, Deputy Director at CNB, who is also a former Master in Forensic Science student from Batch 7! 😍

All the best to everyone taking finals! 🥳

Let’s hear from Shi Qian, who handles all things wild, including taking care of horses and using fingerprint brushes from different animals! Always game for a new adventure and a joy to be with!

“The forensic science minor program is truly the best family I could have asked for during my time at NUS. Now that I’ve graduated with the FSC minor, I honestly can’t imagine my university journey without it.

From day one, the professors and teaching staff have been nothing short of supportive. Their dedication, patience, and passion made every lecture and lab session deeply meaningful and inspiring.

I am especially grateful to Prof Stella, who saw my passion and persistence and gave me the opportunity to be part of the minor program. That single chance opened doors to so many unforgettable experiences — from diving into forensic theory and hands-on CSI practicals to moot courts, learning journeys, and even completing my UROPS with FSC. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be developing and analysing fingerprints, let alone learning from incredible experts outside of NUS like Prof Chen from Taiwan Central Police University and Wee Beng from the Central Narcotics Bureau.

A huge thank you to Dr Shawn, who always checked in on my progress, patiently answered my endless questions, and taught me the art of fingerprint dusting. What seemed so simple at first turned out to be one of the most challenging and rewarding skills to master. And to Ms Danielle, who was more than just a TA but also such a relatable and trusted friend, always there to laugh with me through the chaos and countless funny moments in the lab. I truly can’t imagine clocking in all those lab hours without her around or knowing she was just one text away.

Beyond the labs and lectures, this program gave me friendships I’ll treasure for life. Whether it was staying up late prepping for presentations, rushing reports, or simply laughing through the stress, those chaos and clowning moments meant everything to me.

The FSC program is truly one of a kind. It’s not just about gaining knowledge, but also about finding a community that supports and uplifts you every step of the way. To my juniors: take every opportunity this program offers. You’ll gain so much more than skills here; you’ll gain a second family.

Thank you, FSC, for an unforgettable ride.”

We had an exciting weekend with NUS NPCC last week!

On Saturday, 30 August 2025, Khai (Class of 2022 and 2025, MFS Batch 5, FS Minor Batch 14) represented Prof Stella Tan as a judge for the finals at National Police Cadet Corps Campcraft and Crime Scene Investigations Competition 2025 (NPCC CCC CSI) held at Home Team Academy!

The CSI part of the competition saw 20 NPCC units representing their areas competing in the finals after a grueling preliminary round.

“It was my honor to represent Prof Stella Tan, our NUS Forensic Science Programme, and NUS NPCC to be one of the judges for the finals. Thank you Prof Stella for having faith in me–I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity! ❤️

I was impressed by the display of crime scene processing techniques by all the cadets–given that they are still in their formative years in secondary school and have many exciting years ahead to hone their skills and knowledge, they can only blossom further! 🤩

I am also heartened to have met Commandant Polly Ting (Commandant, National Police Cadet Corps), who, along with Guest-of-Honour Mr Timothy Cheng (Principal, Chua Chu Kang Secondary School and Member, 3rd Home Team Corps Council) praised my “sharp” questions to the cadets. She noted that I “posed questions which reminded (her) of being questioned in court by judges. I believe I’m only as good as I’ve been taught and mentored, and so this praise goes to Prof Stella and Prof Eugene for honing my skills throughout the years! 🙏

I would also like to thank Muiz (Class of 2025, FS Minor Batch 19, NUS NPCC President AY2024-2025), who helmed the CSI Competition planning and ex*****on with his team of NPCC volunteers, including some of our own NUS NPCC cadets. I felt welcomed by the NPCC Community and glad I was able to help in any small way. Thank you too to Joan, Jeremy, Ying Xuan, Haritha, Hazel, and Zhen Kai for your hard work and effort!”

Masters of FS students: Let’s hear from your senior 师姐 Li Meng Ting (she says sounds like Lemon, and so everyone calls her Lemon). Lemon is no ordinary lemon - she is our proud graduate from MFS batch 5 (we are at batch 9 now) and see where she has arrived now!

“Three years ago, fresh out of a U.S. military school, I faced a big decision—where to do my master’s? Then I found NUS Forensic Science. One video interview with Prof. Stella, and I was sold. Her energy was contagious, and I knew this was where I needed to be.

I had one goal: becoming a Hong Kong Police Inspector. This has been my dream job since I was a kid. I told Prof. Stella, and instead of just nodding, she gave me real advice and encouragement. Throughout the programme, I had the privilege of learning from Prof. Stella, Prof. Eugene, Dr. Shawn, Dr. Lim, and Wei Bo. Their expertise, guidance, and genuine care for students created a learning environment filled with opportunities.

Every moment here was an adventure. Group projects, late-night suppers, weekend trips to JB, an entomology lecture in KL. One unforgettable moment was competing in the Forensic Expert Witness Advocacy Cup 2023 with Lerong. We took home the championship, and I realized how amazing it feels to work with such brilliant people. In this programme, everyone around me was an elite, and honestly, they made everything easier and more exciting.

Oh, and the ultimate fan moment? Meeting Dr. Henry Lee, the legend himself. If you know forensic science, you know. That moment alone was worth everything.

And guess what? I did it. I just graduated from the Hong Kong Police College and am now a Police Inspector. Best part? Yutong and Sonia from my batch flew in to celebrate my graduation! Proof that the friendships built here last beyond the classroom.

To my juniors—this programme will challenge you, exhaust you, and shape you in ways you never expected. So enjoy the ride, lean on your friends, and never skip supper (or a good weekend trip!).

Remember when I graduated from NUS, I told Prof that I wished I'd make her proud. I wish I did! Now, I'm doing my favorite thing in my field, and I enjoy it. I will keep pushing. Now, I’m doing what I’ve always dreamed of, and I’m truly grateful for everything this program has given me. I’m so proud to be a graduate of this program and their student.”

https://www.stheadline.com/breaking-news/3441727/警察學院結業會操今舉行-有美國軍校畢業生回流從警我是中國人

https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202503/29/AP67e6a4f7e4b05fb0b33b1e12.html

https://www.hk01.com/社會新聞/60224081/見習督察李夢婷-冀做-安心守護者-留學回港服務自己生長土地

Watch this short video - lots of fun at our NUS forensic toxicology and poisons course this summer.

Let’s hear from our lovely teaching assistant Ms Danielle Sng (she graduated from batch 5 of our master of FS programme):

“Attending ACCOP 2025 was a really interesting and eye-opening experience.

I learned so much about new technologies and developments in forensic psychology, which gave me a fresh perspective on where the field is heading.

I’m especially grateful to have had the chance to be a poster presenter as it was a great opportunity to share my work and get feedback from others in the field.

One of the highlights was definitely meeting and connecting with other experts and professionals at the different tech booths and posters. It was encouraging to hear about their experiences and research, and I left feeling inspired and motivated.

Overall, it was a meaningful experience that deepened my interest in forensic psychology and reminded me of the value of staying engaged with the wider professional community.”

Day 1 of AY2025/2026!

Welcome Batch 9️⃣ of our Master in Forensic Science programme!

Batch 9 was introduced to the dream team: Prof Stella, Prof Eugene, Dr Shawn, Dr Lim, Ms Low Yi Lian, and Ms Danielle Sng! 🤩

Everyone was treated to a delicious buffet lunch outside LT32, then a sneak peak at our buffet of courses they can read, and finally, a tour of the key teaching facilities that we’re sure will feel like home in the next few weeks!

Thank you to the seniors from Batch 1 - 8 who came back and shared nuggets of wisdom and encouraging words with Batch 9 🙏

Let’s hear from one of our best! Darryl, scholar from Police, who can do all things well:

Hi! I’m Darryl, a recently graduated Data Science and Analytics major. Despite not being able to enrol in the Forensic Science minor as I was unable to secure the gateway course until Year 4 Sem 1, I was still able to take 2 modules, FSC2101 and FSC4206. This was made possible by Prof Stella, who allowed me to still take FSC courses after I approached her personally.

FSC2101 Forensic Science – a course that I enjoyed going to a lot. In FSC2101, you are introduced to many aspects of Forensic Science (FS) and given the basics on how each branch of FS works in service of the law. What I really liked about the module is that delivered in lecture style by a foremost expert in the area: Profs presented on their past major cases and how FS came into play and helped with reconstruction, elimination and inclusion. Renowned guest speakers were also brought in to share on their experiences and global perspectives, which I thought was an interesting insight into the ever-evolving world of FS. All in all, a fantastic introduction to FS and a course that I would highly recommend.

FSC4206 Advanced Criminal Litigation: Forensics on Trial – I was interested in taking this course as I wished to get a more in-depth understanding of several branches of FS as well as learn from experts on how to articulate and deliver Forensic findings to a non-expert audience. In this course, we focussed on a different area of FS every few weeks, such as blood pattern analysis and forensic handwriting analysis. For each theme, we learnt core skills for interpreting and presenting such types of evidence. Classes were fast paced and packed full of important information. There wasn’t a dull moment, and I really enjoyed my time in this course, especially the innovative use of VR to recreate crime scenes!

NUS CHS Open House x FOS Homecoming 2025

To all students, parents, friends, and guests,

Thank you all for coming down to our booth and engaging in our fun activities! We hope you were inspired by how science 🧬🔬🧪 can be used in service of the law, and that anyone and everyone can contribute their knowledge and skills to help answer legal questions and serve the cause of justice! ⚖️

Huge, huge, huge thank you to students from Batch 19 of our Minor in Forensic Science programme, for dedicating your time and effort on a Saturday with us! 🙏

We hope to see all of you again, and to students matriculating in the coming Academic Year, see you in class! 📚

P.S. Please tag us in your photos if you took any!