NTU's Earth Observatory of Singapore promises to take earth science in the region to new heights and to create safer communities throughout the region.

Volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and the effects of climate change – how we understand and plan for these natural processes will have great repercussions for the future of Southeast Asia. So it was with a palpable sense of excitement that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore announced in March the setting up of a Research Centre of Excellence in earth science at NTU, to be known as the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS).

The EOS represents a first for the region and will put NTU at the forefront of earth science, with discoveries and projects that will enable Southeast Asian communities to better address and mitigate the risks of natural disasters. The centre has been awarded initial funding of $150 million from the National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Education, and will focus its research on three aspects of earth dynamics: volcanic processes, tectonic processes and climate change processes.

A continuing commitment
At a media conference at NTU, NTU President Dr Su Guaning noted the university's continuing commitment to the study of geological phenomena and its effects: "Since the 1990s, NTU has been involved in earthquake engineering, with Prof Pan Tso-Chien [Dean of the College of Engineering] in the thick of it…. This new venture is essentially Singapore's contribution to human beings coexisting with nature in Asia, and Southeast Asia particularly. It will help us to know what nature is going to do, and to plan better for its developments."
 
The EOS will begin by focusing on projects in Sumatra, Java, the South China Sea and Myanmar. Noting the long-term nature of the centre's geological and volcanic studies, Dr Su explained that "the timescale tends to be in the decades, if not centuries, but there are events that are coming that will be sooner than we think".

The EOS will be headed by founding director Prof Kerry Sieh, who is leaving the California Institute of Technology to join NTU. A leading figure in the field with over 30 years of work in earth science, Prof Sieh brings scientific rigour and unparalleled experience to his new role. For him, the EOS fills an urgent need for information about the potential hazards facing the region: "There's so much that is unknown about these long-term but very large events that we need an entity in Southeast Asia that can tell us how serious they are." 

International standards
Other senior positions at the EOS will be filled by the internationally renowned scientists Prof Paul Tapponnier of Institut de Physique du Globe of Paris, who will head the earthquake science group, and Prof Chris Newhall of the University of Washington, who will head the volcanology group. All have studied extensively the geological and volcanic phenomena of the region. An international Science Advisory Board will also work to ensure that the EOS' research is relevant and adheres to the highest standards.

One key part of the EOS' work will be to characterise and forecast natural processes in ways that will be useful to governments and businesses, in order to create safer and more sustainable communities. "There is often a disconnect between what we know scientifically and what we can actually do politically, economically and socially," explained Prof Sieh. "There are two issues here: we need enough funds and the right infrastructure to study what can happen, and once we know this, we need to know what to do about it, like use the lead-time we have to change our engineering and urban planning practices. The EOS will try to influence long-term issues in this way."

Cross-disciplinary interactions
The new offices of the EOS will be located at the North Spine, an excellent location for interactions with other schools and entities at NTU such as the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, the School of Computer Engineering, the School of Art, Design & Media, the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the National Institute of Education.

Students at NTU can look forward to the rewards of an exciting new field of study – NTU will be creating a Division of Earth Science to involve undergraduates in research and to encompass graduate-level educational tasks. Says Prof Sieh of the undergraduate body at NTU: "When I see the students here, I think what a rich store of potential we have – if we can inspire them, and if they can learn about all the exciting things happening in the region. We want to create an intellectual environment where the best minds can make brilliant discoveries."



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