Singapore, January 2026 — Cheow Yi Qi, a Registered Dietitian and Research Associate at the Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), IMU University, recently participated in the prestigious Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2026, held in Singapore. Organised by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore, the annual summit brings together outstanding early-career researchers with Nobel Laureates and other world-renowned scientists to exchange ideas, build networks, and explore frontier scientific challenges.

Yi Qi,  who is also an IMU alumna, graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Dietetics and Nutrition and a Master of Science in Medical and Health Sciences from IMU University. Her participation reflects IMU’s continued commitment to nurturing globally engaged researchers and strengthening its research ecosystem through international exposure.

The 2026 summit convened 409 young scientists from 57 countries, alongside 21 distinguished laureates, including recipients of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Millennium Technology Prize, and other globally recognised honours. The programme featured plenary lectures, interactive panel discussions, fireside chats, and experiential learning activities designed to foster scientific excellence, leadership, and collaboration.

Key discussions explored frontier scientific topics such as artificial intelligence–driven protein design, the biology of ageing and longevity, advances in supercomputing and quantum technologies, and the responsible and ethical use of generative artificial intelligence in research. Beyond technical content, the summit also addressed broader themes including scientific integrity, gender equity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), mentorship, and the evolving role of scientists in society.

As part of the experiential learning component, the summit offered several themed site-visit tracks. Ms Cheow joined the visit to the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), where participants gained valuable insights into how Singapore strengthens its research ecosystem through long-term investment and sustainable research planning.

During this visit, a session on science entrepreneurship set the tone for a group-based pitching challenge. Participants were divided into small interdisciplinary teams and tasked with developing innovative solutions under two challenge tracks: health and medical technologies, and agriculture and food technologies.

Yi Qi was part of a team within the agriculture and food technologies track, which focused on addressing food wastage. A highlight was the pitching session, during which her team secured top recognition for conceptualising and presenting KELP65, a food technology product with strong sustainability potential.

A defining feature of GYSS 2026 was the opportunity for close interaction with young researchers from around the world, fostering meaningful exchanges of ideas, perspectives, and research experiences across disciplines and cultures.

Equally impactful were the panel huddle and fireside chats with Nobel Laureates, who candidly shared their scientific journeys, challenges, failures, and lessons learned. For instance, during one fireside chat, when asked how one discovers a unique niche, Prof Aaron Ciechanover advised, “You should always be with good people, because good people have good questions, and good people attract good people.” He elaborated that this virtuous cycle is fundamental to groundbreaking work.

Key takeaways included the importance of perseverance in the face of setbacks, the value of curiosity-driven research over trend-chasing, and the critical role of mentorship and supportive research environments in shaping meaningful scientific careers.

Reflecting on the experience, Yi Qi expressed sincere appreciation to IRDI for nominating her for the summit and to NRF Singapore for organising the event, describing GYSS 2026 as the most inspiring scientific event she has attended to date. The experience reinforced the importance of curiosity-driven research, perseverance in the face of uncertainty, and the value of collaborative and supportive research environments.

Participation in GYSS 2026 aligns with IMU University’s commitment to research excellence, global engagement and talent development, and underscores the university’s role in preparing researchers to contribute meaningfully to impactful, ethical, and globally relevant science.