The 38th
Science Research Congress

Programme for 25th April 2026

Welcome Address

Professor Meng-Chwan Tan

Assistant Dean, Science, NUS Faculty of Science

Associate Professor, NUS Department of Physics

Panel Discussion

Assistant Professor Ho Wen Wei

Assistant Professor, NUS Department Physics

Assistant Professor Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew

Assistant Professor, NUS Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Dr Lee Wee Siang Vincent (moderator)

NUS College of Design and Engineering

VIP Presentations

Aishwariya Nagappan and Gu Hao Gen, Raffles Institution

Nguyen Duc Khoi Nguyen , Nanyang Junior College

Faith Chong Rui En, Hwa Chong Institution 

Concurrent Sessions

The Science Research Programme (SRP) was established in 1988 and is a longstanding collaboration between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Gifted Education Branch of the Ministry of Education (MOE). Over the years, SRP has provided Junior College (JC) and Integrated Programme (IP) students with invaluable opportunities to deepen their scientific knowledge, hone their research skills, and strengthen their ability to communicate their findings. Many SRP alumni have since gone on to make meaningful contributions to research and innovation, in Singapore and beyond.

SRP remains one of the premier research attachment programmes for JC and IP students, made possible by MOE’s steadfast support and the dedication of our SRP mentors, who guide talented students through authentic research experiences.

Over the past nine months, our mentors have introduced students to diverse research topics and practices, helping them build knowledge and capabilities within the STEM community. Despite demanding academic commitments, our aspiring researchers have approached their projects with enthusiasm and perseverance, growing in confidence as they navigated the challenges of research. This vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment, in turn, contributes to a stronger and more inclusive culture of learning in STEM.

The 38th Science Research Congress Proceedings showcase the exceptional work of 121 JC2 and Year 6 IP students from 13 esteemed institutions: Anderson Serangoon Junior College, Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Dunman High School, Eunoia Junior College, Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Junior College, National Junior College, Raffles Institution, River Valley High School, St Joseph’s Institution, Temasek Junior College, and Victoria Junior College.

This year’s projects span a wide spectrum, from sustainability and smart infrastructure applications (e.g., AI-driven route optimisation for waste removal, recycled/self-healing concrete, biofuels, and wastewater treatment) to frontier deep-tech and biomedical research (e.g., nano-/microfabrication and advanced materials, robotics and digital twins, cryptography and AI in medicine, and space systems such as GNSS timing and resilient spacecraft design).

I extend my sincere appreciation to our mentors and research assistants, and to the Ministry of Education, for your unwavering support in shaping the next generation of scientists. To all SRP participants: may this experience ignite your passion for discovery and inspire you to push the boundaries of knowledge. I wish you every success in your future endeavours.

Sun Yeneng

Xu Foundation Dean and Professor

Dean, Faculty of Science

National University of Singapore

"AI is a tool for scientific discovery. It doesn't replace the human scientist, but it can accelerate the process of discovery by orders of magnitude. The human insight about what questions to ask remains crucial."  - Demis Hassabis, 024 Nobel Prize Winner (Chemistry)

The convergence of artificial intelligence, technology, and human creativity has reached an unprecedented inflection point in scientific research. What makes this moment particularly exciting is how AI and advanced technologies are democratising research capabilities whilst simultaneously demanding deeper human insight and creativity to address complex problems through research in drug discovery, climate modelling, among others. While computational power can process vast datasets in minutes, the most profound discoveries still require human intuition, ethical reasoning, and creative problem-solving. This is reflected within Singapore's research institutions and in interdisciplinary projects under the auspices of the Science Research Programme (SRP) that combine technical proficiency with critical thinking skills.

Nearing its fourth decade, the Mentorship Attachment in the SRP has given students opportunities to acquire and to apply knowledge and skills essential for scientific inquiry, to leverage technology and more recently, AI to enhance research and innovation in science and engineering. Every student researcher embarking on this journey stands at the threshold of an exciting era in scientific history, equipped with powerful tools for advanced research. This is demonstrated in projects completed by SRPians involving

• automated CT analysis of thoracic biomarkers in lung cancer

• 3D cross-modal learning for drug–target interaction prediction and large-scale drug discovery;

• optimising bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) for mRNA-based immunogene therapy;

• the study of tree canopy structural differences between forests and managed landscapes; and

• EPS matrix profiling on microplastics in Singapore freshwater and marine systems.

The achievements of SRPians celebrated at the Science Research Congress are a tribute to their mentors who availed themselves, their laboratories and networks to develop in their mentees the wonder, ethical reasoning, and creative synthesis that is critical to research.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the mentors who have guided SRPians through the 38th Science Research Programme. Your expertise, patience, and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the innovative projects presented at this Congress. Your generous commitment to the learning process, recognising that the journey of inquiry, the development of research thinking, and the cultivation of scientific curiosity matter as much as the final outcomes, has been transformative. Through your patient guidance and willingness to share not just knowledge but also the iterative nature of discovery, you have equipped our SRPians with essential skills and cultivated in them the learning dispositions and confidence for their future research endeavours.

We also congratulate all SRPians on successfully completing their research projects. Your commitment to exploring topics that genuinely interest and inspire you has resulted in work that reflects both scientific rigour and personal passion. This achievement marks the beginning of your journey as researchers. We hope you will continue to embrace science and technology, master the algorithms, and contribute meaningfully to advancing knowledge in your chosen fields. More importantly, remember that the greatest breakthroughs emerge from the uniquely human ability to ask the right questions, see patterns where others see chaos, and imagine possibilities that transcend current limitations. I wish you continued success in all your future endeavours.

Diane Goh

Director, Gifted Education Branch

Ministry of Education