Celebrating 70 Years of Civil Engineering Excellence: Shaping the Future of the Built Environment
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) celebrated its 70th Anniversary Symposium on October 10, 2025, recognizing seven decades of contributions to Singapore’s development and the global engineering sector. The event was organized in partnership with the Professional Engineers Board (PEB) and The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES).
Event Highlights
Held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, the symposium attracted participants from various sectors, including government, industry, and education, along with students from primary, secondary, and pre-university levels.
Program Overview
The program included three main components: the symposium, an exhibition, and a student fair. These elements were designed to promote collaboration and the exchange of ideas among academia, government, and industry representatives. Discussions focused on innovative solutions and strategies to support mentorship for young professionals in the built environment.
Guest-of-Honour Remarks
Ms. Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, served as the Guest-of-Honour and spoke on the vital role of civil and environmental engineers in tackling modern challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity. She emphasized that professionals in the built environment significantly impact living standards and environmental sustainability.
Importance of Collaboration
Professor Teo Kie Leong, Dean of the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, noted the importance of collaborative support from CEE’s partners, highlighting how these partnerships have nurtured talent and spurred innovation, thus contributing to Singapore’s built environment.
Commitment to Education and Research
Professor Richard Liew, Head of CEE, reaffirmed the department’s dedication to education, research, and community engagement, pointing out that Singapore functions as a practical laboratory for engineering advancements aimed at a sustainable future.
Key Discussions
The symposium included presentations from various key agencies within Singapore’s built environment sector, addressing current challenges and proposing strategies for resilience and sustainability. Noteworthy discussions revolved around innovations such as sustainability technologies and intelligent infrastructure solutions that are essential for confronting emerging engineering challenges.
Exhibition of Innovations
An exhibition showcased advanced technologies, including green cement, autonomous underwater vehicles for coastal infrastructure inspections, and innovative methods for resource recycling in construction. These developments aim to mitigate environmental impacts and improve the safety and resilience of Singapore’s infrastructure.
Engaging the Next Generation
Furthermore, the student fair attracted nearly 300 participants from diverse educational institutions, offering hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations to engage students with engineering principles and their real-world applications. The initiatives aimed to inspire the next generation of engineers to explore how technological solutions can address pressing challenges, such as desalination and coastal protection.
Source: National University of Singapore News.
