Nanyang Alumni Awards 2021

Congratulations to Prof Miao Chunyan (PhD, Class of 2003) on her conferment in the Nanyang Achievement Award category.

In recognition of her extraordinary record of impactful contributions to research and human talent development, Nanyang Technological University is proud to present Prof Miao Chunyan with the Nanyang Alumni Achievement Award.

Prof Miao is President’s Chair Professor & Chair of the School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE) at NTU. She is a Fellow of the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), the Institution of Engineers Singapore and the Academy of Engineering Singapore.

She was a recipient of the prestigious National Research Foundation Investigatorship Award in 2018. She was listed in the SCS’s inaugural “Singapore 100 Women in Tech” and named “Professional of the Year” in 2020.

She is a pioneer in human-centered AI which has had a significant impact in the areas of health, ageing and education.

In 2012 she initiated and has since served as the Founding Director of the Joint NTU-UBC Research Centre of Excellence in Active Living for the Elderly (LILY). To quote Dr Amy Khor, SMS MOH: “The LILY Research Centre is Singapore’s first centre focusing on AI empowered solutions to population aging challenges. LILY’s award-winning AI wellness games for chronic diseases and ageing-in-place platforms have been well received by over 10,000 senior citizens”.

Prof Miao has published over 300 research papers and received over 20 Best Paper and AI research awards. She is also a gifted teacher and revered mentor. Her work on AI for Education has been used by MOE’s future schools.

She led the establishment and serves as the Founding Director of the Alibaba-NTU Singapore Joint Research Institute (JRI), Alibaba’s first and largest JRI outside China. This JRI was highlighted by PM Lee Hsien Loong as an example of how Singapore built a global reputation in AI research. She is also the Founding Director of the NTU-WeBank Joint Research Centre.

To strengthen the Singapore AI talent base, Dr Miao initiated the Alibaba NTU Talent Programme with support from EDB. This effort will help to realise Singapore’s smart nation vision.

Prof Miao has been a council member of SCS since 2008. She serves on many national committees and has received many accolades for her contributions to the community.

Under her leadership, SCSE has contributed significantly to NTU’s high rankings in AI and Computer Science among the Best Global Universities, according to US News and World Report, QS and the Times.

Congratulations to Dr Pan Zhengxiang (CS, Class of 2014)on his conferment in the Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award category.

For his accomplishments as an innovator and for his contributions to society, Nanyang Technological University is proud to present Dr Pan Zhengxiang with the Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Dr Pan is an innovator and youth leader with a warm heart in making a difference to our society. His stint in community leadership through innovation is recognized with numerous honours, notably with his conferment of the Public Service Medal (PBM) presented by President Mdm Halimah Yacob, the Honouree Award in JCI’s Top Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (Scientific/Technological Development), the Singapore’s IT Youth Leader Award, six consecutive years of Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) Most Outstanding Grassroots Leader Award and recently, the 15 Years Community Long Service Award awarded by Minister Chan Chun Sing. He is serving as Chief Digital Officer of the Woodlands Digital Office, and is also a member of the Woodlands CCC and CCMC.

The relentless innovator developed his first innovation, the PeaClean fan filter, when he was only 13. The experience propelled him to pilot further creative innovations to make a difference. During his National Service, Dr Pan was recognised as an “A-Star soldier” for strengthening teams and leading over 30 innovations to enhance national security. This includes his multi-award-winning Innovative Pass Verification System (iPVS), worth $800,000, which won the prestigious MINDEF Outstanding Work Improvement Team Award.

In his undergraduate years, he was the only Singaporean that was appointed Senior Vice President in Harvard Model United Nations at prestigious Specialized Agency. He was invited and conferred the Certificate for Prof Clayton Christensen’s Disruptive Strategy program at Harvard Business School Online. In 2010, he was invited to Microsoft Research Asia’s prestigious Star of Tomorrow programme, where he achieved the Microsoft Excellence Award and met with Mr Bill Gates.

Dr Pan continued to fly the flag of NTU high on the global stage during his PhD. He was Invited to showcase innovation to President Dr Tony Tan, Nobel Laureates, Turing Award Winners when he was among Top 8 at the Global Young Scientists Summit. Dr Pan also clinched multiple prestigious academic awards. He also represented the Joint NTU-UBC Research Centre of Excellence in Active Living for the Elderly (LILY) at the World Congress on Active Aging.

Dr Pan is an innovator with impactful solutions to address the needs of the community-at-large, especially the needy who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Pan passionately strives to make a difference for both the elderly and young. In 2016, he served as a Pioneer Generation Ambassador. More recently, he received praise from President Halimah Yacob for leading primary school students to the SPD Charity Show to befriend their physically challenged peers.

His youth leadership and impactful innovations have touched the lives of many and raised the flag of our NTU over the years.