Dear EOS Community,
What a busy and exciting year for the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS). In early 2018, we kicked off the celebration of our 10thyear as a Research of Excellence at the Nanyang Techonological University (NTU). Marking a decade of geohazard research in Asia, EOS has built a team of outstanding scientists and staff to move the institution forward for years to come.
The celebration began with a much deserved party for our staff and faculty, in early May. People are the key to a successful institution and at EOS, we are no different. Our team of exemplary principal investigators are year-over-year conducting more critical research throughout Asia, which provide vital information to communities in at-risk areas.
Looking back on the past year’s research, we saw an increase in climate publications, including new findings on how sea-level rise could impact Singapore’s mangroves and the increased risk of tsunamis due to sea-level rise.
2019 marks a major change for EOS with the retirement of Professor Kerry Sieh, our founding director and leader. For the past 10 years, Prof Sieh has worked tirelessly to build an outstanding research institute at NTU. He has hired the best scientists from around the world and focused on the critical geohazards in the region to create, what is now, one of the world’s best institutes of its kind.
All of us at EOS are grateful for the inqiry and discovery-based environment Prof Sieh has built. As the NTU search committee looks for a new leader to head up EOS, we know it will take just the right person to build upon what Prof Sieh has created. We will be sure to update you when a new director has been found.
In September, Prof Sieh received an Honorary Membership from the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists. Additional 2018 awards and acknowledgements included Prof Benjamin Horton earning an AGU Fellowship, Li Weiran Alex earning the Best Student Presentation at the EMPG16 Conference, and Isaac Kerlow winning Best Feature Film/Full Length Documentary at the International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival for HAZE, It’s Complicated.
As part of our educational and communications outreach, EOS partnered with the University of Melbourne to create a blog series on climate change. This three-part series received quite a bit of local attention, including from Ho Ching, our Prime Minister’s wife, who shared our blog on the connection between chicken rice and sea-level rise, among others.
EOS also kicked off a new collaboration between Science Centre Singapore (SCS) and the Exploratorium of San Francisco. This two-year partnership will result in the reinvisioning and redesign of our current Earth; Untamed Planet exhibition at SCS. With a broader focus on Earth’s hazards and how we can help protect our planet, the opening of the new exhibition at SCS will take place in the later half of 2020 and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on the progress.
This is just a small slice of the research, outreach, and education from 2018. For more on the 60+ papers published and community engagement, please continue to follow our blog and social posts. As we look forward to a new year and starting a second decade at EOS, we are excited about the changes and opportunities ahead.
Here’s to science!
Sabrina Smith
Director, Community Engagement
