The world was just recovering from the impact of the oil embargo of the 70s and I vividly remember the words of my professor during my 3rd year Mechanical Engineering in 1981 – “ENERGY would be the single biggest driver of the world and would be a major part of your professional and personal lives”. Decades on, I realized the significance of what he had said then, and how that statement had made such a deep impression on me, and perhaps been instrumental in shaping my own career and life. Back in 1982, for our final year design project, my group chose a rather novel topic at the time – Variable Air Volume Air-conditioning System. Considering where I am now in my academic and professional career, I think that was the catalyst to kindle in me a passion for the HVAC domain and the Built Environment industry. Reflecting on my life journey, I believe that it is such passion that drives the yearning and quest for knowledge. I continued to do a PhD in air-conditioning from The University of Adelaide in Australia, and that’s when my advisor introduced me to ASHRAE. I was also privileged to be the first student outside North America to receive the ASHRAE Grant-in-Aid during the 1987-88 academic year. Soon after, I became an ASHRAE Student Member, and the rest is history. It has been a highly rewarding journey, which becomes even more relevant and significant when seen in the context of the Grand Challenges facing humanity today, such as Climate Change, Energy, Health and Well-being, and Environmental Sustainability. I see ASHRAE’s Vision Statement “A Healthy and Sustainable Built Environment for All” as truly noble and all encompassing, as our work impacts every person on this planet.
I am currently a tenured Professor and Programme Director (MSc – Building Performance and Sustainability) in the Department of the Built Environment at the National University of Singapore, where I have been a faculty since 1992. I teach at all levels and conduct research in the areas of thermal comfort, IAQ and energy, and have published widely in these areas in several international journals and conferences.
Over the years in my academic career, I have had the opportunity to collaborate and work with many like-minded people from the academia, industry and various international organizations around the world. ASHRAE continues to be an integral part of my life journey and has played a key role in shaping me both professionally and personally.