Thought Leadership

Some of the world’s leaders, and leading thinkers from NUS and overseas, regularly gather and add to the rich diversity of thoughts and ideas on our campuses, in Singapore and across the globe.
Here’s what they had to share.

To tackle Kpods and vaping, young people need facts, not fear

To tackle Kpods and vaping, young people need facts, not fear

Speaker: Elyssa Liu 26 August 2025

From 1 September, the government classified etomidate – an anaesthetic found in Kpods – as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Dealers may face jail terms and even caning, while users will be placed under supervision and rehabilitation, with repeat offenders potentially facing imprisonment. History shows that when demand remains, supply finds a way to adapt. Elyssa Liu, Team Leader for Legal Frameworks and Governance at the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, notes that unless demand is curbed, new substances will continue to surface and take the place of etomidate in vapes.

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Learning from COVID-19 to build a resilient future

Learning from COVID-19 to build a resilient future

Speaker: Professor Richard Horton | 23 July 2020

After the Pandemic — The Rebirth of Big Government? State Capacity, Trust and Privacy in the Post-COVID-19 Era

After the Pandemic — The Rebirth of Big Government? State Capacity, Trust and Privacy in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Speaker: Speakers: Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Mr John Micklewait, and Ms Rana Foroohar, | 22 July 2020

Across the Board: Sustainability still key, even as COVID-19 hogs headlines

Across the Board: Sustainability still key, even as COVID-19 hogs headlines

Speaker: Speaker: Mr Loh Chin Hua | 16 July 2020

IPS-Nathan Lectures by Professor Chan Heng Chee — Lecture III: "Singapore in a Time of Flux: Optimism from the Jaws of Gloom"

IPS-Nathan Lectures by Professor Chan Heng Chee — Lecture III: "Singapore in a Time of Flux: Optimism from the Jaws of Gloom"

Speaker: Speaker: Professor Chan Heng Chee | 15 July 2020

Commentary: How the Workers’ Party won big this General Election

Commentary: How the Workers’ Party won big this General Election

Speaker: Speaker: Dr Gillian Koh | 14 July 2020

Commentary: Artificial intelligence and automation would benefit Singapore

Commentary: Artificial intelligence and automation would benefit Singapore

Speaker: Speaker: Associate Professor Kenneth Huang | 14 July 2020

Pioneering the ‘quantum internet’ in space

Pioneering the ‘quantum internet’ in space

Speaker: Speaker: Professor Artur Ekert and Associate Professor Alexander Ling | 13 July 2020

Across the board: The University in a post-Covid-19 world

Across the board: The University in a post-Covid-19 world

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Tan Eng Chye | 1 July 2020

IPS-Nathan Lecture II: The US-China rivalry - An inevitable war or avoidable war?

IPS-Nathan Lecture II: The US-China rivalry - An inevitable war or avoidable war?

Speaker: Speaker: Ambassador Chan Heng Chee | 1 July 2020

Designing the built environment around people

Designing the built environment around people

Speaker: Speaker: Professor Lam Khee Poh | 1 July 2020