Singapore – Singapore’s Pomeroy Academy and The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), UK, announced the launch of a new scholarship aimed at supporting Southeast Asia’s next sustainability leaders on March 11, 2020.

Open to Southeast Asia professionals looking to enrol at Cambridge University's prestigious Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE) Master's degree, the Pomeroy Academy Scholarship for Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment will support one student per year from the Southeast Asia region who can demonstrate their interest in, and commitment to, the design and development of sustainable built environments.

The scholarship was created by award-winning architect, academic, and IDBE (cohort 10) alumnus Professor Jason Pomeroy, founding principal of Singapore-based designers and thought leaders of sustainable built environments, Pomeroy Studio and sustainability researchers and educators, Pomeroy Academy. Professor Pomeroy attributes much of his success in forwarding the green agenda in Asia to the collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to creating sustainable built environment projects which is at the heart of the IDBE programme.

Supported by expert tutors and practitioners from academia and industry, the IDBE post-graduate programmes offers an interdisciplinary approach to learning for built environment professionals, structured around emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges within the built environment, covering sustainability and resilience, health and well-being, energy, efficiency, conservation, heritage, stakeholder engagement, politics and regulation.

“In the wake of population increases, climate change, globalisation and unpresented technological advancements in Asia and across the world, sustainability in the built environment has never been more crucial,” said Professor Pomeroy.

“As an alumnus, the IDBE course at CISL is close to my heart, having helped me to hone the interdisciplinary skills necessary to push the boundaries of the sustainability agenda in Singapore and the wider region. It is now my privilege to support others in receiving the support and guidance they need to make a difference at policy level to achieve the common need for more sustainable, low energy, low water designs to enhance the lives of communities across the Southeast Asia region.”

Commenting, IDBE Course Director, Dr. Kayla Friedman, said: “Southeast Asia is expected to grow rapidly in the next 30 years while simultaneously being prone to a number of increasing climate risks. The region needs more built environment professionals with the knowledge and networks to drive change and ensure resilient future-proofed built environments.”