$5m for observatory to break new ground in earth sciences

Kezia Toh Straits Times 29 Feb 12;

THE Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), an earth sciences research body at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), has big plans for a $5 million endowment it has just received.

Its proposed ideas for researching and teaching of earth sciences were picked for support by the AXA Research Fund, the philanthropic arm of insurance company AXA.

EOS director Kerry Sieh said the money will fund research into five natural hazards particularly troublesome to South-east Asia.

These are tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, rising sea levels and climate change.

For example, studies will be done on earthquake-generating faults, active volcanoes and the nature of rising sea levels.

Professor Sieh, a geologist by training, also wants to take the teaching of earth sciences further: 'I want to develop a new way of teaching earth science that uses examples from South-east Asia rather than something that is California- or European-centric.'

In fact, he wants the teaching of the subject done so well that a Singaporean brand name will be established, the same way the Singapore method of teaching mathematics is now recognised abroad.

He added that one important thrust in the EOS' plans is connecting with policymakers, businesses and educators, and giving them information on natural hazards so that they may better plan ahead, make decisions or teach more effectively.

Data on the amount of volcanic ash in the atmosphere, for example, would be relevant to aviation.

The EOS will also collaborate with other NTU institutes, he said. These include the Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management, the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, the Nanyang Business School and the National Institute of Education.

The endowment from AXA, announced yesterday, also makes Prof Sieh the AXA-Nanyang Chair in Natural Hazards.

This is the first such AXA position in Asia. AXA funds 12 other chairs in countries such as Britain, Italy and Spain.

Prof Sieh will head a team of 20, which includes National Research Foundation research fellow Emma Mary Hill and volcano specialist Fidel Costa.

Mr Godefroy Beauvallet, who heads the AXA Research Fund, said of the fund's choice of the EOS: 'We look at the partners who have the potential to do great research and focus on capacity-building - helping them develop bigger teams, acquire new equipment and liaise with new partners - that is the way we do great research.'

Set up in 2008, the AXA Research Fund has received 3,000 research proposals, but has chosen to back fewer than 300.