Reposted with permission from Science News, 22 April 2005 TOKYO--A government advisory committee has suggested that Japan's publicly supported universities and labs set targets for hiring more women and that the government monitor their progress and publicize the results. The idea is to encourage--and perhaps even embarrass--authorities into lifting Japan from last place among industrialized nati...
Have you ever dreamed of pursuing a career in industry but never knew how best to prepare for it? Do you want to know more about a particular job or career track within industry? Are you a university scientist who, having invested a few years in academic R&D, wonders whether it would be feasible to create a niche for yourself in industrial research? Whatever the reason for your curiosity, if you ...
The National University of Singapore (NUS) recently concluded a deal with Singapore-based life science upstart Asia Pacific Genomics (AP Genomics), giving the company exclusive rights to exploit its proprietary type-specific dengue fever diagnostic primers. The DNA-based multiplex diagnostic test will enable rapid diagnosis and confirmation of dengue, as well as identify the specific serotype of ...
Singapore's burgeoning biomedical sciences industry stood firm against last year's global economic slowdown and remains on track toward achieving its growth target for the coming years. So said the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), both of which are sponsors of Next Wave Singapore, at a recent industry briefing. The manufacturin...
Singapore aims to become a global focal point for research and manufacturing activities in the biomedical sciences. It actively promotes biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and health care services businesses in the biomedical sciences industry that engage in knowledge-intensive activities such as discovery research, product development, clinical research, high-tech manufacturing, an...
BACK TO THE FEATURE INDEX With this week's issue of Science's Next Wave, we are proudly inaugurating a home page especially dedicated to Singapore's scientific community. As the editor of Science, I am pleased by nothing more than this opportunity to collaborate with the citizens of one of the world's most dynamic islands. Our partners, members of Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB), are...
This is a continuation of last week's article, Environmental Science and Engineering in Singapore. This week, in Part II of the article, we highlight current R&D on the treatment of ship ballast water at the Environment Technology Institute (ETI) and air pollution studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and ETI. Singapore's port is one of the busiest in the world, and with 180,000 s...
It's only 500 meters from Venkataraman Balaji's three-bedroom cottage to his office?to say he lives at work is not an exaggeration. Work and home are on a lush, palm-dotted campus that sprawls over 1480 hectares, with more than a dozen two-story buildings housing offices and laboratories. Still, sometimes even half a kilometer can seem like a long way when you have a lot to do. And Balaji has a l...
I am a complacent sort of person, one who takes things as they come. Before I graduated in the early '90s with a master's degree in biological sciences, I had wanted to proceed to do a Ph.D., which was regarded as the noblest thing to do. But the job market outside academia was offering so much more in terms of financial rewards that I couldn't resist the urge to give it a try. Most of my peers o...
BACK TO THE FEATURE INDEX As with many aspects of living and doing business in Japan, there is no substitute for personal connections. For those just getting started in the field, these may take some time to develop, but word of mouth tends to spread quickly, and a reputation for delivering quality stuff will soon earn you a regular stream of work as a freelancer (sometimes regardless of whether ...
TOKYO--Japan's Ministry of Education is taking its grant-selection process out of the hands of bureaucrats and turning it over to researchers. The new approach, to go into effect next year, will rely on scientists who have agreed to serve as part-time program officers, as well as on a larger pool of referees. The aim is to improve the quality of the reviews by making the process "more transparent...
Have you ever tossed away an innovative idea just because you thought you couldn't afford to carry it through? Don't let it happen again. The next time you experience a burst of creativity, don't zap it! Give your bright ideas a chance to shine! Take The Enterprise Challenge! Launched in 1999, The Enterprise Challenge (TEC) is a pioneering approach by the Singapore government to "instill in the P...
BACK TO THE FEATURE INDEX Recognizing the importance of this emerging technology, Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is pursuing fuel cell research aggressively. It has set its sights on establishing Singapore as a regional center for fuel cell technology through this multidisciplinary strategic research program. The attractiveness of the fuel cell lies in its potential for wide a...
BACK TO THE FEATURE INDEX Although the broadcast industry in Singapore is as old (or as young) as the country itself, it was only recently that the Singapore Broadcast Authority opened up the industry, thus putting an end to Mediacorp TV's monopoly on terrestrial broadcasting. With the liberalization of the industry, and new players coming in with more and diverse ideas, the broadcast landscape h...
BACK TO THE FEATURE INDEX At the age of 37, Singaporean Dr. Swee Yong Peng is breaking new ground in medical practice with his double qualification in Western and Chinese medicine. For his patients, this combination of knowledge can only spell good news, but it has required much sacrifice from Yong Peng. He holds an MBBS degree from the National University of Singapore and is believed to be the f...
I love science. So, moving out of the mainstream of scientific endeavor was not an easy decision for me. My ambition had always been to become an "established" scientist and to be the one who outshines the rest. But after getting my master's degree in science in 1992, I struggled for several years in research laboratories, looking for that elusive discovery that would represent my breakthrough fi...
So you've finally got your long awaited PhD degree. Congratulations! But what are you going to do next? This is often an overwhelming question for freshly minted doctorates. After so many years of tedious laboratory work, your next step seems more crucial than ever. It could determine the direction in which your career heads! Frankly, fresh doctorates in Singapore today have many more choices tha...
