CNESS seminar on sustainability framework and application towards Sustainable Healthcare with Prof. Ethan Chong and Prof. Chengcheng Hu on November 20, 2025 (Thursday), at 10.00-11:30 (Hervanta-Festia-FC326 or TEAMS)
Tuni’s research platform on Climate Neutral Energy Systems and Society invites everyone to join its hybrid seminar on “A System Perspective of Sustainability” (Talk 1) & Towards Sustainable Healthcare: Circular Economy & Waste Reduction (Talk 2). In this seminar, guest researchers Prof Ethan Chong and Prof Chengcheng Hu from Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore, will share how the systematic sustainability framework, using a life cycle lens, can address complex real-world challenges by considering environmental, economic, and social impacts. After the presentation, there will be a Q&A and discussion session.
November 20, 2025 (Thursday), at 10.00-11:30 (Hervanta-Festia-FC326 or TEAMS)
Talk 1: A System Perspective of Sustainability
Real-world challenges are often complex. The complexity multiplies when the solutions that we devise have multiple objectives and numerous stakeholders. In designing interventions, we often need to consider their impacts with a larger boundary, including the environmental, economic, and societal impacts, with a longer time horizon. This sharing session introduces the concept of sustainability from a three-pillar and life cycle perspective, and takes a view of its complexity using a simple model. We can start to perceive the impacts of a solution on its external environment and vice versa, as we are designing it.
Prof. Ethan Chong Yih Tng bio: Prof. Ethan Chong works in the areas of sustainable development, design strategy, and systems engineering. As the Head of Sustainability (Education and Research) in the Office of the Provost, he develops SIT’s overall strategy for educational programmes in sustainability, while extending and synergising applied research activities related to sustainability. Dr Chong envisions an industry driven by cutting-edge technologies and a continuous-learning paradigm founded upon the requirements of the future economy. In SIT, he also supports the industry in developing solutions and manpower through training, consultation, and R&D. Besides being an engineer and educator, Prof Chong – a Public Service Medal recipient – is passionate in developing a highly liveable nation through his work, including as a District Councillor in Singapore.
Talk 2: Towards Sustainable Healthcare: Circular Economy & Waste Reduction
Sustainability is a pressing challenge in healthcare, where resource use, waste, and energy demand are significant. This project explores how healthcare institutions can adopt circular economy principles, improve waste management, and leverage energy-efficient technologies to reduce environmental impact while ensuring economic viability and social responsibility. By combining the expertise and policies of both countries, the collaboration aims to develop scalable, sustainable business models that enhance ecological, social, and economic outcomes without compromising the quality of healthcare services.
Prof. Chengcheng Hu bio: Prof. Chengcheng Hu is an Assistant Professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology, specializing in applied sustainability research and education. She has over a decade of experience collaborating with government agencies and industries—including manufacturing, technology, finance, food, and oil & gas—to translate sustainability strategies into action. Previously, she was a Research Scientist at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), focusing on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), decarbonization, waste management, and circular economy strategies, and later served as Principal Consultant and Team Lead at Environmental Resources Management (ERM), where she led initiatives in product sustainability and carbon finance.
Prof. Hu holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), supported by the NRF Clean Energy Scholarship. She has also earned global sustainability certifications from the University of Cambridge, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and holds a GHG Professional Certification on IPCC Guidelines.