Bernard Tan

Born in Singapore in 1943, Bernard Tan Tiong Gie was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School, Singapore, the University of Singapore (Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, 1965) and Oxford University (Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science, 1968). He is a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (UK), Fellow of the Institute of Physics (U.K), Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Singapore, and Fellow of Trinity College of Music, London.

Professor Tan joined the then University of Singapore (now the National University of Singapore) in 1968 as a Lecturer in Physics and served first as Vice-Dean and then as Dean of Science at NUS for 12 years from 1985 to 1997. He has also been Head of Physics, Acting Head of Music, and Associate Director of the Centre for Musical Activities and Director of the Office of Student Affairs.

Professor Tan is currently Professor of Physics and Dean of Students at NUS, where he is also Chairman of the Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP) and the Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS).

He sits on the boards of Keppel Corporation, k1 eBiz, the Singapore Symphonia Company and CSA Holdings, and is Chairman of Keppel Credit Union. He is Chairman of the Singapore Arts Festival Steering Committee and the Singapore Youth Awards Science and Technology Advisory Committee. He is President of the Institute of Physics Singapore and Vice-President of the Singapore National Academy of Science.

His current research interests are in microwave solid-state properties and devices, digital musical analysis and synthesis, and directional perception of multiple sound sources. He has published over 85 papers in international peer-reviewed journals. As a composer, U.S. music publisher Neil Kjos has published a number of his choral works, and his Piano Concerto was premiered in January 2002 by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, the Singapore Symphony performed the world premier of his new Violin Concerto with violinist Lynnette Seah as soloist.

Professor Tan has been awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver), the Public Service Medal, the Public Service Star and the Public Service Star (Bar).