Shih Choon Fong

2000 - 2008

Professor Shih Choon Fong was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 1997 and three years later, took up the appointment of Vice-Chancellor and President of NUS. Over his eight years as President, he led NUS' transformation into a research-intensive university respected in the global arena.

A graduate of Harvard University, Prof Shih has made significant contributions to the field of nonlinear fracture mechanics and computational methods for fracture analyses. He is listed by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) among the world's most highly cited engineering researchers.

Prof Shih was a key driver for the formation of the International Alliance of Research Universities, and led the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) for four years. In addition, he was the founding chair of the Governing Board of the APRU World Institute, an institute of advanced studies seeking to address scientific, social and economic issues of global importance. He also served on national-level committees such as the Economic Review Committee, which crafted wide-ranging strategies for the re-making of Singapore.

Education

Professional Diploma in Engineering, Singapore Polytechnic
Master's in Applied Science, Harvard University
PhD in Applied Science, Harvard University

Career

1969-71 Mathematical Analyst, American Science & Engineering, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1973-74 Research Fellow, Harvard University
1974-81 Leader of Fracture Research Group, Corporate R&D Laboratory, General Electric, New York
1981-83 Visiting Associate Professor, Brown University
1983-86 Associate Professor, Brown University
1986-97 Professor, Brown University
1996-99 Director, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Singapore
1997-2000 Deputy Vice-Chancellor, National University of Singapore
2000-2008 Vice-Chancellor and President, National University of Singapore

Consultancies Held

Consultant, National Aeronautics Space Administration
Consultant, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Consultant, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Consultant, Battelle Columbus Laboratory
Consultant, Army Materials and Mechanics Laboratory
Consultant, Ontario Hydro, Canada

Offices/Memberships held

Chairman, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)
Chairman, Governing Board, APRU World Institute
Chairman, Governing Board, Singapore-MIT Alliance
Chairman, Board of NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
Chairman, Committee on University Admission System, Singapore
Chairman, Technical Committee on Fracture Mechanics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Board Member, International Alliance of Research Universities
Founding President, Material Research Society, Singapore Member, Economic Review Committee
Board Member, National Research Foundation
Member, Economic Development Board Executive Committee, Singapore
Board Member, Universitas 21
Board Member, ASEAN University Network
Founding Governor, Board of Singapore International Foundation
Governor, Board of Ong Teng Cheong Institute of Labour Studies
Director, Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship
Director, Singapore Millennium Foundation
Appointing Governor, Institute of Policy Studies
Member, MIT Corporation Visiting Committee, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Member ConFRAT, University Committee on Faculty Reappointment and Tenure, Brown University, USA
Ex-officio, Governing Board, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Member, NUS Board of Trustees
Member, Advisory Board, World Institute of Space Environment Research
Member, Committee on Faculty Tenure Reappointment and Tenure, Brown University
Member, A*Star Board
Member, BioMedical Research Council
Member, Science & Engineering Research Council
Member, Economic Review Committee
Honorary Member, International College of Surgeons, USA
Honorary Member, Chinese Heritage Centre Council
Member, Board of Trustees, Majulah Connection

Honours

1978 Best Paper Award, ASME Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology
1986 George Irwin Medal (American Society for Testing and Materials)
1989 Visiting Professor, Tokyo University, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
1998 Swedlow Award (American Society for Testing and Materials)
1999 Fellow of Applied Mechanics Division (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
2001 Honorary Member, National University of Singapore Society (NUSS)
2004 Foreign Associate, National Academy of Engineering (USA)
2005 Highly-Cited Researcher in Engineering, Institute for Scientific Information
2005 Award of "la croix de Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur", the French Republic
2005 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by Loughborough University
2006 Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2007 Honorary Member, Medical Alumni Association, Singapore
2007 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, Waseda University
2007 Inaugural Recipient of the Asia Pacific, Chief Executive Leadership Award, Council for Advancement and Support of Education
2008 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, Brown University
2008 The Ted Belytschko Applied Mechanics Award by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Key Speeches

Reflections on a Never-Ending Adventure
Appreciation Dinner | 8 November 2008

Of Friends, Critics and Lovers
Commencement Dinner 2008 | 18 July 2008

Head, Heart, and Luck: Reflections on Life
Commencement Address 2008 | 7 July 2008

Our Journey: Promise and Perils
University Awards 2008 | 11 April 2008