Singapore An innovative sequencing technology to comprehensively characterise the human genome, advanced micro motor technologies for hard disk drives, and robotic technologies used in surgery - these are some of the winning works of this year's National Science and Technology Awards.
The highest honour of the Awards, the National Science and Technology Medal, was presented to Dr Sydney Brenner, Distinguished Professor of the US Salk Institute of Biological Studies, and Chairman of the A*STAR Biomedical Research Council. Dr Brenner was recognised for his distinguished and strategic contributions to the development of Singapore's scientific capability and culture, particularly in the biomedical sciences sector.
Two National Science Awards (NSA), one National Technology Award (NTA) and four Young Scientists Awards (YSA) were also presented to 15 recipients comprising three groups and four individuals.
One NSA went to the team that pioneered the innovative Paired End diTag sequencing technology that can be used to comprehensively characterize the human genome and transcriptome. The team was led by Dr Ruan Yijun from the Genome Institute of Singapore, and comprised Dr Wei Chia Lin, Dr Patrick Ng and Dr Sung Wing Kin.
The other NSA was awarded to the team that made outstanding contributions in the field of quantum coherence and developed an internationally recognised "Singapore Protocol" for quantum key transmission. Professor Oh Choo Hiap of the Physics Department at the National University of Singapore led the team comprising Professor Berthold-Georg Englert, Assistant Professor Dagomir Kaszlikowski, and Associate Professor Kwek Leong Chuan.
The NTA was awarded to a team of research engineers who had developed spindle motors that were tiny, silent, fast, high in power density and reliable in uncontrolled environments properties critical to miniaturized hard disk drives and mechatronics systems. This team was
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Contact: Ng Koon Ling
ng_koon_ling@a-star.edu.sg
656-826-6338
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
11-Oct-2006