I will be moving from, arguably, the best “ancient” university in the world to one that has consistently ranked as the best young university in the world. NTU has close connections with Cambridge already in the areas of green technology research and energy research, and is a world leader in AI. The Earth Observatory of Singapore and the Asian School of the Environment at NTU have developed new courses and areas of research that place them at the forefront of aspects of the subject, from their foundation only ten years ago. From my recent visits I have been immensely impressed by the enthusiasm and vigour of my future colleagues, and of the research landscape in Singapore. I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges of helping shape science, including biology, chemistry, maths and physics as well as Earth and environmental science, at NTU in the coming years.”