10/10/2026
Congratulations to Professor Koh Ming Joo from NUS Department of Chemistry who is the first Singaporean among 10 finalists selected for the Falling Walls Physical Sciences category this year.
🧪 Chemical manufacturing is fundamental to the global economy, yet conventional production methods often depend on scarce and costly precious metals and lengthy synthetic processes, generating significant waste and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. As supplies of precious metals are dwindling, developing sustainable alternatives is critical for a more sustainable chemical industry.
🔍 Prof Koh, renowned for his pioneering contributions to sustainable catalysis, has developed innovative, cost-effective and energy-efficient catalyst systems using abundant base metals such as iron and nickel. His research has also uncovered new reagents that enable chemical transformations to proceed more efficiently, reducing the number of synthetic steps and the resources required for chemical production. By replacing precious-metal catalysts with more abundant alternatives, his work addresses both the economic and environmental challenges associated with conventional chemical manufacturing.
🌱 His work could potentially revolutionise the way important chemicals are prepared in areas ranging from agriculture to therapeutics and plastic waste upcycling.
Prof Koh says, “This accolade would not have been possible without the passion, perseverance and hard work of my team.”
🗣️He adds, “As a team, we believe in finding creative and sustainable solutions to address critical problems in chemical synthesis, which would make an impact on our society. I hope this recognition serves as an inspiration for Singapore-based scientists to dream big and shine on the global stage. We’re excited about where this journey could lead us.”
The Falling Walls is an international platform and conference series that recognises the breaking down of walls in scientific research and innovation.
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