Our History

Minister of State for Education and newly elected president of Singapore National Academy of Science Dr Lee Chiaw Meng presenting a set of journals to President Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares, who is also patron of the academy, during a courtesy call at Istana on 02/07/1971

Established in 1967, the Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS) operated as an independent institution to promote and disseminate scientific knowledge and technological advancements in Singapore. SNAS was responsible for the publication of the SNAS journal, as well as the organisation of the SNAS Congress then.  In the early 1970s, four other societies (Institute of Physics, Singapore National Institute of Chemistry, Singapore Mathematical Society and Singapore Institute of Biology) were integrated into SNAS. 

In 1975, it was proposed to Dr Lee Chiaw Meng, who served as the Minister for Education at the time, transform SNAS into a federation of societies. SNAS shall evolve to become a distinguished professional and academic organization, representing scientists in Singapore. Officially founded in 1976, SNAS became an umbrella organisation with the dual objectives of:

  • Promoting the Advancement of Science and Technology in Singapore;

  • Representing the Scientific Opinions of its Members.

When SNAS was reconstituted, its earlier role was then taken over by the Singapore Association for the Advancement of Science (SAAS). 

At formation, there were only six constituent societies :

  • Institute of Physics Singapore (IPS)

  • Science Teachers’ Association of Singapore (STAS)

  • Singapore Association for the Advancement of Science (SAAS)

  • Singapore Institute of Biology (SIBiol)

  • Singapore Mathematical Society (SMS)

  • Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC)

Subsequently, these constituent societies joined:

  • Singapore Institute of Statistics (SIS) - since 1980

  • Singapore Society for Microbiology (SSMB) - since 1983

  • Singapore Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SSBMB) - since 1986

  • College of Clinician Scientists, Academy of Medicine (CCS) - since 2014

  • Materials Research Society Singapore (MRSS) - since 2014

  • Society for Synthetic Biology (Singapore) (SynBioSG) - since 2025

  • Stem Cell Society, Singapore (SCSS) - since 2025

Minister for Science and Technology and President of the Singapore National Academy of Science, Dr Lee Chiaw Meng addressing delegates at the opening of the Southeast Asian and Western Pacific regional meeting of pharmacologists at the Hyatt Hotel on 11/05/1976

The first President of the Academy in 1976 was Dr Lee Chiaw Meng, former Minister for Education and Minister for Science & Technology.  The honorary secretary was Prof Louis Chen.

The second President was Prof Ang Kok Peng (1978-1992), former Member of Parliament for Buona Vista and Head of the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore for a good part of this duration. 

Member Of Parliament For Buona Vista Dr Ang Kok Peng Officiates At Opening Of Petrolite Pacific Pte Ltd At No 2, Tanjong Penjuru Crescent on 12/05/1979

The third President was Prof Leo Tan Wee Hin (1993 to 2013), who held various appointments such as Dean of Science at the National Institute of Education, Professor of Biological Sciences at the Nanyang Technological University, Director of the National Institute of Education, Director of Special Projects at the Faculty of Science in the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Professor of Biological Sciences at NUS during his tenure as President. 

Prof Leo Tan

Prof Leo Tan handing out SNAS Student Awards

The fourth President was Prof Andrew Wee served for two consecutive terms (2013 to 2019). He currently holds appointments of Vice President (University and Global Relations) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Professor of Physics at NUS Faculty of Science, Director of Surface Science Lab at NUS, Senior Faculty Member at the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, and Adjunct Scientist at the Institute of Materials Research & Engineering.  The honorary secretary was A/Prof R Subramaniam. A/Prof Subramaniam was Associate Professor of Science Education at the National Institute of Education in Nanyang Technological University in Singapore until his retirement

Prof Andrew Wee

Prof Andrew Wee handing out SNAS Student Awards

The fifth President was Prof Lim Tit Meng (2019 -2025). Prof Lim is also the Chief Executive of Science Center Singapore and a faculty member at the Life Science Program at NUS. The honorary secretary was Dr Leong Lai Peng. Dr Leong was a food scientist and a senior lecturer at Department of Food Science and Technology at the National University of Singapore (NUS) until her recent retirement

In 1998, SNAS started to appoint Honorary Fellows of the society.  However, it was only in 2011 when local scientists started being appointed as Fellows of the Academy.  More fellows joined the list in 2014 with the intention to increase the number of Fellows by 10 every year, up to 100 living persons.  As of 2022, SNAS has 56 Fellows and 3 Honorary Fellows.

Prof Lim Tit Meng

Prof Lim Tit Meng handing out SNAS Student Awards

Dr Leong Lai Peng handing out SASEAF Fellow Completion Certificate

The sixth President is Prof Tan Choon Hong (2025 -2028). Prof Tan is the President’s Chair Professor of Organic Chemistry at the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering. He was the previous president of Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC). The honorary secretary is Dr Toh Tai Chong (2025 -2028). Dr Toh is a marine biologist and Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore's (NUS) College of Alice & Peter Tan. As of 2025, SNAS has 65 Fellows and 3 Honorary Fellows.

Prof Tan Choon Hong

Dr Toh Tai Chong