The Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2024 showcased SCELSE’s leadership and expertise in water research, with significant contributions from its researchers and a prestigious award win. SCELSE is proud to showcase its impact at the conference with the following:

Best poster award
SCELSE senior research fellow, Dr Cheng Dan was one of the winners for the Best Poster Awards at SIWW 2024! Her poster, guided by SCELSE PI and deputy centre director Prof Stefan Wuertz, focused on the “Effect of monochloramine on microbial communities in bulk water under continuous & intermittent supply conditions in a pilot-scale system”. This research is crucial in understanding how different water supply methods impact microbial quality, a key factor in ensuring safe drinking water amid increasing water scarcity.

Dr Cheng said: “I am very honoured to have received this award at SIWW. I am grateful to Prof Stefan Wuertz and the SCELSE team for their support. SCELSE has been a great learning hub and creates opportunities to collaborate with international researchers and actively share our findings. Together, we can tackle global warming with R&D and practical solutions.”

Advancing Water Research
SCELSE researchers also made waves at SIWW 2024 with their groundbreaking work:

– Poster Highlights:
Dr Cheng Dan and Sheila Corimayo (exchange PhD student in SCELSE) explored the impact of monochloramine on microbial communities in water systems.
A/Prof Janelle Thompson and Dr Wei Jie Ng presented the evolution of campus wastewater surveillance from pandemic to endemic phases.

– Key Presentation:
Dr Desmond Chua shared his vital research on using wastewater surveillance (WWS) to track COVID-19 variants. His findings on Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 provide essential data for public health strategies.

SCELSE PI A/Prof Janelle Thompson said: “SIWW 2024 has been a vital platform for advancing innovative water solutions. It was inspiring to see the global water community unite to tackle sustainability and public health challenges. Our SCELSE research in wastewater surveillance and microbial studies highlights the crucial role of scientific collaboration in these initiatives. We are proud to contribute to a future where water research enhances lives and protects the environment.”

Demonstrations & engagement
SCELSE deputy research director Prof Sanjay Swarup and NUS PhD student Sourav Mukhopadhyay also demonstrated a mesocosm setup – an experimental tool used in ecological and environmental research- illustrating SCELSE’s innovative methods for studying water quality, microbial communities and ecological responses to various treatments or conditions.

SCELSE was also proud to host Prof Gertjan Medema, the recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize (LKYWP) 2024, at SCELSE in NTU during the course of the event. Renowned for his pioneering work in wastewater-based epidemiology for virus detection, Prof. Medema engaged with SCELSE’s Environmental Engineering experts to discuss our latest breakthroughs and discoveries in water research.

Prof Stefan Wuertz, SCELSE’s deputy centre director, concludes: “SCELSE’s engagement with Prof Medema, and our recognition and participation at SIWW 2024 exemplify our commitment to leading-edge research and collaboration. Our achievements underscore SCELSE’s importance in water research, driving forward solutions that enhance public health and environmental sustainability.”

The event was held from 18-22 Jun at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.