Three exceptional scientists from NUS have been honoured in the 2023 Asian Scientist 100 list for their ground-breaking research and achievements. These researchers are: Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology); Professor Hong Wan Jin from the Department of Biochemistry under the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; and Assistant Professor Koh Ming Joo from the Department of Chemistry under the NUS Faculty of Science.
Compiled by the Asian Scientist Magazine, this annual list recognises the efforts and achievements of Asia’s exceptional scientific talents. This year’s honourees should have either received been awarded a national or international prize in 2022, achieved a significant accomplishment such as a scientific discovery, or demonstrated leadership that advances scientific enterprise.
Professor Liu Bin
A multi-hyphenate, Prof Liu’s career is one that is much revered by her peers. As a trailblazing scientist, she has made outstanding achievements and effort in pushing the boundaries of science to make innovative discoveries in the fields of chemical and biomolecular engineering as well as sustainability and alternative energy research.
In 2022, she was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering (US NAE) as an international member for her outstanding work in bringing organic electronic materials into aqueous media, opening new doors for biomedicine, environmental monitoring, sensors and electronic devices. Prof Liu’s election to the US NAE for her revolutionary research earned her a place on this year’s Asian Scientist 100 list.
Prof Liu is an internationally acclaimed researcher and is a recipient of multiple accolades, including the President’s Technology Award (2016) and the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Centenary Prize (2021), and ranks among the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds and the top 1 per cent Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate, with over 450 publications and 30 patents to her name.
Aside from being a prolific researcher, Prof Liu takes on leadership roles such as founding director of the NUS Centre for Hydrogen Innovations, which aims to discover innovative strategies for commercialising hydrogen as a green energy source. Prof Liu also assumed the role of Deputy President (Research and Technology) from 1 April 2023, taking charge of NUS’ research strategies.
