3 September 2022 - As part of of a lineup of key events for NUS-ISS' 40th anniversary, the Digital Futurist Challenge was launched to close to 250 students from across Singapore’s Universities, Polytechnics and ITEs.
Themed 'Envisioning Singapore 2060', these diverse mix of youths were rallied to make a difference to the future of Singapore through three imperatives they are passionate in – Green & Sustainability, Health & Well-being and Work & Learning. The Inspire Theatre was abuzz with a palpable energy as Mr Khoong Chan Meng, CEO of NUS-ISS gave the opening address, followed by a briefing to the 59 teams by Mr Brian Ng, Lecturer & Consultant from our Smart Health Leadership Centre on what the designathon entails and workshops to expect in the following months.
A sea of youths and our guest speakers filled the Inspire Theatre at the successful launch of the Digital Futurist Challenge.
The morning ensued as our esteemed guest speakers were ushered alongside the students into breakout rooms for a time of immersive and engaging panel discussions. Setting the gears in motion and inspiring the students for the challenge themes were 20 industry panellists and experts in the field, bringing together a wealth of experience and knowledge.
From L to R at the Inspire Theatre for the Green & Sustainability Challenge Theme: Mr Gerald Tan, idsMED, Mr Shamir Rahim, VersaFleet, Ms Anbarasi Boopal, ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore), Mr Bjorn Low, Edible Garden City, Mr Kavickumar Muruganathan, Microsoft, moderated by Mr Khoong Chan Meng, CEO, NUS-ISS.
Joining in virtually from the clouds, Professor Lam Khee Poh, shared how the new NUS College of Design & Engineering building was designed to be sustainable, climate-responsive with net-zero energy consumption and features a range of green building designs, such as harnessing solar energy, hybrid cooling approach, natural ventilation and lighting.
“If you are sitting in this room you can be part of the change you want to see in the world,” said Mr He Rui Ming, Co-founder of The Woke Salaryman as he spurred the students on.
From L to R at the Cove of Excellence for the Work & Learning Challenge Theme: Professor Bernard Tan, NUS Department of Information Systems and Analytics, Mr Chow Yen-Lu, WholeTree Foundation & Asia Institute of Mentoring, Ms Yan Hong Lee, DBS Bank, Mr Kok Jwee Foo, Workforce Singapore, Mr He Ruiming, The Woke Salaryman, Mr Andy Sim, NCS Group, moderated by Mrs Yum Hui Yuen, Director, Executive Education & Corporate Services, NUS-ISS.
Adds Ms Lee Yan Hong, Managing Director and Head of Group Human Resources, DBS Bank, who gave the analogy of how beyond going down to a bank physically, payment is now at the convenience of our fingertips."Leaders who embrace lifelong learning are the best students".
"Develop a growth mindset for continual improvement, do something you love which marries your strengths and passion, build resilience muscles, meet people and get connected. Do not forget to forgive ourselves and adapt in instances where we might stumble", as she dished out useful tips to the students on how to approach the designathon and excel in everything they do.
The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create it
Resonating with the mantra was Mr Chow Yen-Lu, Executive Chairman, WholeTree Foundation; Co-Founder & Director, Asia Institute of Mentoring who shared 5Cs to guide and nurture these leaders of the future - "Compassion, Courage, Curiosity, Commitment and being Calm".
From L to R at the Beacon Auditorium for the Health & Well-being Challenge Theme: Professor Dean Ho, NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang, National Healthcare Group (NHG), Dr Lai Junxu from Omnimed, A/Professor Lee Cheng, Institute of Mental Health Singapore, Dr Steven Tucker, Tucker Medical moderated by Dr Adam Chee, Smart Health Leadership Centre, NUS-ISS. Absent with apologies, Ms Ngiam Siew Ying, IHiS Integrated Health Information Systems.
Urging the students to adapt to an everchanging world, Dr Steven Tucker, Founder of Tucker Medical Pte Ltd, shared a Greek saying, "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
Depicting how every moment is unique and that everything is changing, he advised the students to set out on a problem statement that is pragmatic when embarking on a project for 2060 and to look back at what led us to where we are. "Think about open source collective intelligence and contemporary futuristic structure obligations and commitments. Play on the strengths of Singapore, identify trends and technology that shape the future where human and machine merges seamlessly".
Recommending a good read, 'Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity', by anthropologist Brian Hare and writer Vanessa Woods, the students were given much food for thought.
The teams have since gone through a series of workshops taking them through the Futures Thinking process, ideating and prototyping solutions that Singapore can leverage on to arrive at their envisioned future with several consultation and mentoring sessions.
Looking forward to the brilliant submissions on Pitch Day on 29 October!
To view the NUS-ISS Digital Futurist Challenge Launch Day Highlights Video, click here.