SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design

Sometimes, a change in plans can lead somewhere unexpected.

When the pandemic disrupted Julia Becker’s plans to study overseas, she chose Engineering Product Development at SUTD instead.

At SUTD, she explored 3D printing through her coursework and picked up the bass after joining a freshman band camp. When the second-hand bass she bought needed a refresh, she hand-painted a new pickguard. That experiment eventually grew into ThreeStools, her custom guitar pickguard business.

This Singaporean's cute cat guitar pickguards have found fans worldwide – even metalheads love them She started by painting the pickguard of an old bass guitar she bought on Carousell. Today, Julia Becker’s business ThreeStools has gone viral, attracted customers around the world and built up a two-month waitlist for custom orders.

What does it mean to truly learn when AI can help us build before we fully understand?

It is a question SUTD student Anieyrudh explores in this thoughtful reflection on learning with AI.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in how we create, experiment and solve problems, learning may no longer follow a neat path from theory to practice. Sometimes, we build, test, question and learn along the way.

His reflection raises important questions for students and educators alike. How do we know when learning has happened? What does it mean to understand something when AI is part of the thinking process? And what skills matter when the problems we face are increasingly complex and interdisciplinary?

These are questions that will only become more relevant as AI continues to shape how we learn, create and solve problems.

I Can Build With AI. But Did I Learn This? When people ask me what it means to learn with AI, the easy answer is to tell them about intentionality, discernment and ownership. It’s deceptively simple.

What if future wireless networks could go beyond transmitting data to understanding and fulfilling communication goals?

Join us for an FCP Seminar by Professor Yansha Deng from King’s College London as she explores Goal-oriented Multi-Agent Semantic Networking in the 6G Era.

The seminar will look at how 6G communications can move beyond traditional bit-oriented transmission towards semantic and goal-oriented communication, with applications spanning mobile robotics, digital twins, image and video, and the metaverse. Professor Deng will also introduce GoAgentNet, a multi-agent semantic networking architecture designed to enable applications and networks to work together towards shared goals.

📅 1 Sep 2026
🕚 11am to 12pm
📍 Future Communications Connectivity Lab (FCCLab 2.301), Building 2 Level 3, SUTD

📝 Register:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=drd2NJDpck-5UGJImDFiPblHH2F6Zd5Eg5rdLQFaPqdUNk85OEE3UTNFTEg5TDM1OUY2QU1BRENKRi4u

How does climate change shape mental health, resilience and community well-being in the Global South?

Join us for the next Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities Seminar Series, where Dr John Aruta, Associate Professor of Psychology at De La Salle University, Philippines, will explore the intersections of climate justice, mental health and resilience through research and community-engaged work in the Philippines.

The session will look at how environmental inequalities shape psychological experiences, and how culturally grounded, interdisciplinary and participatory approaches can strengthen community capacity, support adaptation and foster collective action towards more equitable and climate-resilient societies.

🗓️ 1 Sep 2026
🕐 1PM to 2PM
📍 SUTD, Think Tank 21, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Think Tank (Building 2, Level 3 – 2.310)

🔗 Learn more and register:
https://www.sutd.edu.sg/events-listing/climate-justice-and-mental-health-in-the-global-south-perspectives-and-experiences-in-the-philippines/

On 3 Aug 2026, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand visited St Andrew’s Cathedral, where SUTD’s Associate Professor Yeo Kang Shua had the privilege of guiding Her Royal Highness through the historic landmark.

During the visit, Prof Yeo shared insights into the Cathedral’s history, architecture and conservation, and how these elements come together to tell the story of one of Singapore’s most significant historic buildings.

📹 Watch more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxBaJ57it0A

📸 credits: Royal News Thailand

𝐒𝐔𝐓𝐃 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲

How can Design·AI help teams navigate change and turn complex challenges into opportunities?

We recently welcomed participants from CPG Corporation for SUTD Academy’s 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯·𝘈𝘐 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 programme.

Through the programme, participants explored how Design·AI can support strategic thinking, accelerate innovation and uncover practical opportunities across the built environment.

Thank you to the CPG team for bringing your curiosity, thoughtful perspectives and collaborative spirit to the session.

Interested in building future-ready capabilities within your team?

Learn more about the programme:
https://www.sutd.edu.sg/academy-course/strategic-doing-future-of-work-through-design-ai-innovation/programme-outline/

What role can architecture and AI play in shaping a more resilient future?

From regenerating historic towns and reimagining coastal ecologies to designing for care, coexistence and climate resilience, projects by SUTD Master of Architecture students explore how architecture, AI and emerging technologies can help address some of today's most pressing challenges.

Japanese port town regenerated with AI among projects from Singapore University of Technology and Design A proposal using artificial intelligence to reinterpret the historic Japanese port town of Tomonoura is among projects from the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

You're at the bus stop.

The display says three minutes.

Somehow, it feels much longer.

Understanding how people experience waiting is just as important as understanding how they travel. Those insights help shape bus services that are more responsive to commuters' evolving needs.

“𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦.”
— Samuel Chng, Research Assistant Professor and Head of the Urban Psychology Lab, Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities

Why your wait for a bus in Singapore feels so long even when it is on time Is your bus actually late, or does it just feel late? We tracked over one million bus arrivals to find out.