A meeting of the best minds in science will take place in Singapore next week, when more than 400 scientists gather here for the Commonwealth Science Conference.
They will discuss issues such as climate change, emerging infectious diseases, energy and carbon storage, as well as medical research during the four-day conference, which starts on Tuesday.
The event, which will be held at the Matrix Building in Biopolis, is organised by Singapore's National Research Foundation (NRF) and the United Kingdom's Royal Society.
Said NRF chief executive Low Teck Seng: "Singapore is honoured by the privilege to host this significant conference that will provide opportunities for cooperation between countries to build scientific capacity across Commonwealth nations.
"This is also a valuable platform to inspire young scientists through their interactions with eminent speakers and their peers."
Notable speakers include Singapore's Professor Chua Nam Hai, deputy chairman of Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, who is spearheading research that could lead to drought-resilient plants, as well as Professor Jacqueline McGlade, the chief scientist of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Britain's Sir Mark Walport, the government chief scientific adviser and chief executive-designate of the UK Research and Innovation, which will oversee more than £6 billion (S$10.8 billion) in research funds and institutional funding each year, will also be speaking.
This year's conference follows the one held in Bangalore, India, in 2014.
Singapore won the honour of hosting the second edition due to its sterling reputation as a research hub, track record of inspiring young scientists and history of shaping Commonwealth policies, the organisers said in a statement.
Professor Anthony Cheetham, the Royal Society's vice-president and treasurer, said: "The global network is key to tackling many of the challenges we face today, from disease and climate change to food security and driving sustainable economic growth.
"I am delighted that the Commonwealth Science Conference 2017 is being held in Singapore, where the commitment to research and innovation is exceptional and the rewards are so clearly seen."
