A*Star in big push for green research

In first such move, it awards $27.5m to 28 projects by local scientists
Liaw Wy-Cin, Straits Times 29 Aug 09;

THE Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) has jumped on the environmental research bandwagon in a big way.

Yesterday, it awarded $27.5 million to 28 projects by local researchers working in the field.

A*Star wants them to come up with new ideas that put less stress on the environment.

This is the first time Singapore's national body driving science and technology research and development (R&D) is going into sustainable development in such a concerted way.

Previous efforts to push green research had been on a smaller, ad hoc basis, said a spokesman.

This latest effort is part of the national sustainable development R&D push which began three years ago.

It looks at ways to manage environmental deterioration, reduce the depletion of natural resources and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Other large funding programmes for such research come from national agencies such as the National Research Foundation and the Economic Development Board.

The 28 projects will look at how to trap and use carbon dioxide, harness energy and fuel from plant matter such as algae, and develop environmentally friendly materials for the construction, aerospace and automotive industries.

The projects are being funded for three years by A*Star's Science and Engineering Research Council.

Dr Wong Pui Kwan, deputy director for research at A*Star's Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, is managing seven projects on re-using carbon dioxide, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

He said current technologies to do this were very expensive and used a lot of energy.

'We are trying to make this process cheaper and less energy-intensive, by using new materials to capture the carbon dioxide.'

He is hoping to generate enough data by the end of the three years to get companies interested in helping with the development of the products.

National University of Singapore associate professor Jeffrey Obbard is leading seven projects on producing bioenergy and biofuels from biomass such as marine microalgae, the world's fastest-growing plant.

He has identified about 50 strains of microalgae in Singapore, and has shortlisted a few to work on.

Six projects to develop environmentally friendly materials for the building and construction industry come under a joint effort between A*Star and the Building and Construction Authority.

Another eight projects on developing composite and lightweight materials that are energy-efficient, non-toxic and recyclable for, say, the aerospace and automotive industries, are being managed by Dr He Chaobin from A*Star's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering.

wycin@sph.com.sg

Boost for environmental projects

DR WONG PUI KWAN

Deputy director (research) at A*Star's Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences

# Dr Wong will be managing seven projects on capturing and utilising carbon dioxide, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

# A total of $9 million has been awarded for these projects.

# Twenty proposals were received.

# He will work with a staff strength of 21.

# Funding for his projects began in May and will last for three years.

DR JEFFREY OBBARD

NUS associate professor

# Dr Obbard is managing seven projects on producing bioenergy and biofuels from biomass such as marine microalgae, the world's fastest-growing plant.

# A total of $5 million has been awarded to these projects.

# He will work with a staff strength of 17.

# Twenty-nine proposals in this area were submitted.

# Funding for his projects began last month and will last for three years.

A*Star pumps in $27.5m to develop green technologies
Agency wants to make sustainable development research a key focus, with funding directed at four areas
Felda Chay, Business Times 29 Aug 09;

THE push for sustainable development has been given a boost by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) injecting $27.5 million into research in areas such as the production of bio-cement and bio-fuels.

With more countries waking up to the idea of growing in a way that does the least damage to the environment, the agency hopes to go into sustainability in a big way by making it a key research focus.

'This will help develop Singapore into a global centre of knowledge and expertise in the emerging area of sustainable development,' said Charles Zukoski, chairman of A*Star's Science and Engineering Research Council.

Funding has been provided in four areas of sustainable development research - storage and use of carbon dioxide; bio-fuel and bio-energy production; creation of environmentally friendly construction materials; and making non-toxic, energy-efficient materials for the aerospace and automotive industries.

A key aim is to develop technologies that are cost-efficient - an issue that has plagued the green technology industry.

For instance, research into energy-efficient materials for fuel-guzzling industries such as the aerospace and automotive sectors will look to enhance mobility while improving fuel economy.

Projects on sustainable construction materials will look at ways to make cement from cheap organic waste and naturally occurring, non-pathogenic micro-organisms to reduce the reliance on sand and conventional cement.

'The intent of this programme is to develop new and sustainable engineering materials for industries that are strategically important to Singapore,' said He Chaobin, senior scientist at A*Star's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering.

'The materials will be developed with an understanding of industry needs and with one key focus in mind - to minimise the environmental footprint over the lifetime of a given product so there will be less waste produced, less energy consumed and less damage caused.'