Our History
1905-1949
1905
The National University of Singapore was founded with the establishment of the King Edward VII Medical College.
Over the years, the University changed its name several times according to the political realities: Raffles College (1928-1949); University of Malaya (1949-1961); University of Singapore (1962-1980) and National University of Singapore (1980-present) which was a merger of Nanyang University and the University of Singapore.
1928-1929
The Faculty of Arts was established under Raffles College and Geography has the distinction of being among the three initial subjects to be offered.
The first faculty member of the newly formed department was H. Amon (d. 1944) a Reader, who began teaching in 1929. Under Raffles College, the Geography “Department” followed the British academic terms: Trinity, Michelmas and Hilary. Students from both Singapore and Peninsular Malaya were taught mainly by three British lecturers before World War II: H. Amon, T. W. Morray and E.G.H. Dobby. The syllabus for Geography at this time reflected colonial underpinnings and hence there was a strong regional emphasis on the British Isles, Europe, Africa, Australia, the Americas and Asia. In addition to regional Geography, there were several courses in systematic geography based on Physical Geography (geomorphology, climatology, oceanography) Human Geography (economic, political) and ‘Practical’ Geography (map reading).
1936
The Geography Society was formed.
1945
Dr Ernest George Henry Dobby was the first lecturer in the Department with a PhD.
The foundation of the Department owes a great debt to Ernest George Henry Dobby who joined the Department in 1939 with a BA and obtained his PhD from London University in 1945.
1949
E.G.H. Dobby was the first Professor of Geography in the
newly-formed University of Malaya.
Dobby was the first lecturer to have a PhD, who became Head of Department in 1946 and first Professor of Geography in 1947. After the Second World War, Dobby helped to institutionalize the Department in the University. He was instrumental in bringing in a whole host of young faculty members in the early 50s who later became well known geographers: Donald Fryer (1950-1952); James Blaut (1952-1953); B.W. Hodder (1952-1956) and Paul Wheatley (1952-1959). Dobby also established the Department as a major contributor to the regional geography of Southeast Asia. His book Southeast Asia first published in 1950 by the University of London Press ran into 11 editions and was translated into seven languages. Dobby also established a field study pedagogical system where field trips in Singapore and Malaya were part of the Department’s teaching forte. In fact, many of these field trips to Malaya provided important academic articles.
1950-1999
1953
The Department's Journal, The Malayan Journal of Tropical Geography, was established.
Under his leadership, Dobby established the Department’s journal, The Malayan Journal of Tropical Geography (MJTG) which was first published in October 1953 with Paul Wheatley as its first editor.
1957
The Geographical Society Gold Medal (for Honours students) was initiated.
1958
Mr Robert Ho was the first local Head of the Department.
The Department's Journal was renamed the Journal of Tropical Geography.
1966
The first geographer to be Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr Ooi Jin Bee.
1979
The first time that the Department had 2 first class Honours students: Ang Siew Hong and Chia Eng Hock.
1980
The Department's Journal was renamed the Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography.
1990
The Department's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Lab was set up.
1993
The first female Head was appointed: Dr Teo Siew Eng.
1997
The SPH Geography Challenge (a Geographical quiz for Secondary Schools) was initiated.
2000-Present
2000
A/P Victor R Savage was elected President of the Commonwealth Geographical Bureau.
Prof Lily Kong became the first female Dean of the Faculty.
2001
The Field Studies Module was initiated.
The six-week long fieldwork provides students first-hand experience in data collection and onsite observation in field sites in the region.
2004
Prof Lily Kong was the first Vice-Provost appointed from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
2006
Prof Lily Kong was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) during the 41st National Day.
The University of Loughborough conferred an Honorary Doctor of Science on Professor Lily Kong in recognition of her contributions to Human Geography and for professional achievement and public service in Singapore.
2007
Prof Lily Kong became the first woman Vice-President, University and Global Relations.
A/P Wong Poh Poh was the only Singaporean on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President Al Gore.
2008
Prof Lily Kong was appointed as Director, Asia Research Institute (ARI) NUS.
2009
Prof Lily Kong was awarded the Association of American Geographers Robert Stoddard Award for Distinguished (Geography of Religion and Belief Systems) in March at the AAG.
2010
A/P Victor Savage was awarded the Long Service Medal during the 45th National Day.
2011
Prof Lily Kong, Acting Executive Vice-President (Academic Affairs) Yale-NUS College.
2012
Prof Henry Yeung was appointed as Deputy Director, Global Asia Institute, NUS.
2014
A/P Victor Savage was appointed as Director, Office of Alumni Relations.
2015
Prof Henry Yeung appointed as Director, JY Pillar Comparative Asia Research Centre, NUS.
Launch of Global Production Networks Centre, NUS.
Prof. Lily Kong appointed Provost, Singapore Management University.
2016
Prof Jonathan Rigg appointed as Director, Asia Research Institute, NUS.
2017
Prof Brenda Yeoh appointed as Vice-Provost (Graduate Education), NUS.
Prof Henry Yeung awarded the Murchison Award by the Royal Geographical Society – Institute of British Geographers.
A/P TC Chang was appointed Deputy Director, Global Relations Office.
2018
Prof Henry Yeung received the Distinguished Scholarship Honours for 2018 from the American Association of Geographers’ (AAG).
Prof Henry Yeung received the University Research Recognition Award, NUS.
Prof Henry Yeung appointed Distinguished Professor of the National University of Singapore.
Ms Wong Lai Wa was awarded the Long Service Medal during the 53rd National Day.
2019
Prof Lily Kong appointed 5th President, Singapore Management University.
Prof Brenda Yeoh appointed as Acting Director of Asia Research Institute (ARI).
Prof Tim Bunnell appointed as Director of Asia Research Institute (ARI).
2020
Prof David Taylor appointed as Provost’s Chair.
2021
Prof Brenda Yeoh elected to the Fellowship of the British Academy.
2023
Associate Professor Shirlena Huang is awarded the first Emeritus Professorship in the department.
Prof Elaine Ho appointed as Provost’s Chair.
Prof David Taylor’s Provost’s Chair position is extended for another term.