Emeritus Professor Kiang Ai Kim is remembered with much affection and respect by generations of students and by his many colleagues and friends and fellow alumni of the National University of Singapore, as an eminent scholar, a kind, humble and approachable teacher, a visionary administrator and an alumnus passionately committed to his Alma Mater.

Professor Kiang graduated from Raffles College with a First Class Diploma of Science in 1938 and obtained his PhD from Cambridge University on a Queen's Fellowship.

The first Singaporean to join the Chemistry Department in Raffles College, Professor Kiang played a key role in re-establishing the department immediately after World War II. In 1960, he made history as the first Singaporean to become Professor and Head of Department. Professor Kiang devoted himself to building up the Chemistry department into one of the best not only in the University, but also in the region. He played a key role in the design and construction of the Science Tower for the Chemistry Department at the Bukit Timah campus and served as the Dean of the Faculty of Science from 1969 to 1971.

He was generous with his time and encouraged and promoted research. Under his caring and supportive tutelage, many of his students went on to graduate and become renowned chemists in Singapore and beyond.

Professor Kiang showed the same abiding passion for service to his Alma Mater, being actively involved with the NUS Society (NUSS), serving as its President for a year and chairing the Building and Fund-raising sub-committee for NUSS' Kent Ridge Guild House.

In recognition of Professor Kiang's unstinting and loyal service and his long-standing and sterling contributions to his Alma Mater over the years, the National University of Singapore is proud to present to one of her most illustrious sons the NUS Distinguished Alumni Service Award.