Scientific collaboration key to solving global challenges like climate change: DPM Heng

[SINGAPORE] A strong spirit of collaboration will not only see the world through the Covid-19 pandemic, but will also be crucial in solving other global challenges like climate change, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday (Jan 17).

Addressing young scientists at a virtual summit, he cited how thousands of scientists had contributed to the climate field after American scientist Eunice Foote discovered the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide in 1856 and made a conjecture on how it could influence global temperatures.

He said: "Today, with this body of knowledge, we are able to robustly model the effects of climate change. In other related fields, scientists have made clean energy sources more viable - from solar to wind, and increasingly, hydrogen."

"New discoveries and innovations have enabled sustainable human development at a reduced cost to the environment," added DPM Heng in a pre-recorded opening address at the 2022 Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS), which is held virtually this year.

The annual summit, which runs from Monday until Friday and is hosted by the National Research Foundation (NRF), will feature 21 eminent scientists and Nobel laureates and engage over 800 young researchers from 40 countries.

The summit, which marks its 10th anniversary this year, was also attended by former president and GYSS patron Tony Tan Keng Yam. He had decided to organise a forum for global young scientists to gather in Singapore after his visit to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in 2010 when he was NRF chairman. The Lindau meetings, established in 1951, bring together Nobel laureates and young scientists for a science conference.

Tan also received a special anniversary publication that showcased the summit's 10-year history and achievements - such as having hosted nearly 4,000 participants from 50 countries.

In his opening speech, Heng, who is NRF's current chairman, said that the path from research discovery to implementation at scale is often a multi-year, if not, a multi-decade journey.

He added: "This requires not just working in global partnerships, but also deep commitment and sustained investment."

Citing the example of Newater and Singapore's journey towards water sustainability, Heng said the country had initially explored the idea of water recycling in the 1970s, but it was only until much later that the technology became commercially viable, thanks to scientific discoveries in various parts of the world.

To create Newater, used water is purified using advanced membrane technologies and UV disinfection, so that it becomes safe for drinking.

Today, membrane technologies are widely used for water reclamation in many cities including Singapore, with there being 5 Newater plants in the city-state to date.

"Having benefited from global scientific advancements, Singapore will continue contributing our tech expertise and operational knowledge to strengthen water sustainability in cities in the region and beyond," said Heng.

He added that Covid-19 breakthroughs, such as having safe and effective vaccines, and antiviral drugs to treat the disease, were only possible because scientists worked together across institutions and borders, and in partnership with the private sector, government agencies and international organisations like the World Health Organization.

The summit will feature 20 plenary lectures and 6 panel discussions which will be broadcast live on the NRF YouTube channel. Topics include next-generation power grids, ethics and governance in artificial intelligence, preparing for the next pandemic, the convergence of neuroscience and computer science, and whether scientific research has fundamentally changed. THE STRAITS TIMES