A love of education runs through Professor Tan Eng Chye’s veins. The Yale University alumnus was a pioneer planner of the National University of Singapore’s present academic system, helping to launch various initiatives such as the Special Programme in Science, University Scholars Programme, University Town College Programme and Technology-Enhanced Education.

In 2022, NUS launched the Research Centre on Sustainable Urban Farming (SUrF), which seeks to develop science- and technology-based indoor urban farming solutions for Singapore. Prof Tan confirmed the university's commitment to providing S$10 million to fund the new centre, which is expected to open a state-of-the-art research facility in 2023.

Prof Tan has also been a visiting professor at American institutions such as Rutgers University in New Jersey, the University of Washington at Seattle and the University of Maryland, as well as the Universities of Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The father of four has published more than 20 articles in international journals and conference proceedings, and co-written three books on mathematics. He was president of the Singapore Mathematical Society from 2001 to 2005, and also headed the Southeast Asian Mathematical Society from 2004 to 2005.

Prof Tan is a member of the Singapore’s Future Economy Council, the body responsible for driving the growth and transformation of the country’s economy for the future. He also sits on the boards of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National Research Foundation, and is the chair of Universitas 21, a global network of 27 research-intensive universities. In 2022, he was conferred the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), the highest French order of merit, for his contributions to education and research.