News
Khaw Boon Wan: Tolerance and Mutual Respect are the Only Way to Achieve World Peace
IN BRIEF | 10 min read
- The Lianhe Zaobao report about the launch of the National University of Singapore's Buddhist Studies Group and the opening of the NUS-Temenggong "The Many Faces of Buddha" Exhibition at the Temenggong Artists-in-Residence on 3 August 2024.
Click through image below to read this piece.
This story first appeared in Lianhe Zaobao and NUSNews on 4 August 2024.
Six Compelling Works Selected for S$50,000 NUS Singapore History Prize Shortlist
IN BRIEF | 10 min read
- The NUS Singapore History Prize is awarded every three years, and the author of the winning publication will receive a cash award of S$50,000.
NUS History has announced six compelling works that have been shortlisted for the 2024 NUS Singapore History Prize - the first-ever prize devoted entirely to Singaporean history.
Among the many important works submitted that offer fresh understandings of Singaporean history, the following books were chosen by a five-member Nominating Committee, as best meeting the qualities that the Prize strives to encourage:
The Shortlist:
- Wesley Leon Aroozoo, The Punkhawala and the Prostitute (Singapore: Epigram Books, 2021).
- Timothy P. Barnard, ed., Singaporean Creatures: Histories of Humans and Other Animals in the Garden City (Singapore: NUS Press, 2024).
- Kevin Blackburn, The Comfort Women of Singapore in History and Memory (Singapore: NUS Press, 2022).
- Khir Johari, The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels through the Archipelago (Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2021).
- Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan Tiong Hee, Koh Keng We, Tan Teng Phee, and Juria Toramae, Theatres of Memory: Industrial Heritage of 20th Century Singapore (Singapore: Pagesetters Services, 2021).
- Lynn Wong Yuqing & Lee Kok Leong, Reviving Qixi: Singapore's Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival (Singapore: Renforest Publishing, 2022).
Please refer to the Annex for brief synopses of the six shortlisted books.
Mooted by Mr Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute, and administered by the NUS Department of History, the NUS Singapore History Prize aims to stimulate an engagement with Singapore's history broadly understood (this may include pre-1819 history) and works dealing with Singapore's place in the world. Another purpose is to make the complexities and nuances of Singapore's history more accessible to non-academic audiences and to cast a wide net for consideration of works that deal with Singaporean history. At the same time, the Prize hopes to generate a greater understanding among Singaporean citizens of their own unique history.
The Prize is an open global competition. Created in 2014 in support of the national SG50 programme to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Singapore's independence, the NUS Singapore History Prize is awarded to an outstanding publication that has made a lasting impact on our understanding of the history of Singapore.
The 2024 Prize was open to works in English (written or translated) published between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2024. Non-fiction and fiction works were eligible for the Prize. Other creative works that have clear historical themes could also be submitted. Book-length works that were either authored or co-authored, and addressed any time period, theme, or field of Singaporean history, or include a substantial aspect of Singaporean history as part of a wider story were eligible.
The Prize is awarded every three years, and the author of the winning publication will receive a cash award of S$50,000. The inaugural Prize was awarded in 2018 to Professor John Miksic, whose work Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800 provides detailed archaeological evidence that Singapore's story began more than 700 years ago. In 2021, the Prize was awarded to Hidayah Amin for her book Leluhur: Singapore's Kampong Gelam which presents the history of Kampong Gelam in the context of changes to Singapore's economic, political, and social history over the last 200 years.
A distinguished Jury Panel chaired by Mr Mahbubani and consisting of Emeritus Professor John Miksic of the NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies; Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of the Singapore University of Social Sciences; Professor Peter A. Coclanis, Director, Global Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and economist Dr Lam San Ling will select and announce a winner towards the end of October 2024.
On behalf of the jury, Mr Mahbubani thanked the members of the Nominating Committee for reviewing the twenty-six books that publishers submitted and nominating the six for the Prize. Members of the Nominating Committee are drawn from academia, the civil service and the arts. The Committee is chaired by Associate Professor Joey Long, Head of the NUS Department of History, and comprises Foo Hai Fellow in Buddhist Studies and Associate Professor Jack Meng-Tat Chia of the NUS Department of History; Senior Curator Dr Seng Yu Jin of the National Gallery Singapore; playwright Ms Jean Tay; and educator Dr Angeline Yeo.
Mr Mahbubani said, "In 2025, Singapore will turn 60. By any global standard, Singapore has enjoyed exceptional peace and prosperity. Hence, there is growing global interest in this exceptional story of Singapore. Many want to know the deeper historical roots of this remarkable Singapore story. The Singapore History Prize clearly serves both domestic and global interests by encouraging greater research into Singapore's history. The twenty-six works submitted for the 2024 round indicate that the History Prize is achieving its objective. The Nominating Committee has done an excellent job of shortlisting six works. Singaporeans can begin enjoying the fruits of the Singapore History Prize by reading and studying the six shortlisted works.
For more information about the NUS Singapore History Prize, please visit: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/hist/nus-singapore-history-prize/.
This story first appeared in NUSNews on 5 August 2024.
Plastic Waste and Women’s Household Practices in Asia and Australia
Plastic waste has been one of the most persistent and troubling contributors to climate change. Due to its widespread use and inability to biodegrade, plastic waste poses serious environmental threats, often ending up in oceans, rivers, or other ecosystems. This harms organisms living within those ecosystems, whether through entanglement, habitat disruption, or ingestion. Finding ways to curb plastic pollution has been challenging and addressing the issue will require a multi-faceted approach. Researchers have taken various approaches to studying plastic pollution, one such angle being how human behaviour contributes to plastic waste accumulation. The research project ‘Plastic Waste and Women’s Household Practices in Asia and Australia’, led by Raffles Professor of Social Sciences Brenda S.A. Yeoh FBA (NUS Geography & NUS Asia Research Institute) and Associate Professor Natalie Pang (NUS Libraries & NUS Communications and New Media), explores how women, in various roles, are influencing the management of household waste. The women involved include homemakers, career professionals, migrant domestic workers, and others. The project is hosted by the NUS Asia Research Institute and funded by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 grant from 2022 to 2025. Research is conducted in three developed countries in the Asia-Pacific region–Singapore, Japan, and Australia. The research subjects, ranging from women aged 21 to 70 and above, are interviewed on their social practices towards household plastic waste, how plastics have influenced their lives, and how social media has influenced their plastic waste practices. By relying on social, historical, and digital mediums, ‘Plastic Waste and Women’s Household Practices in Asia and Australia’ aims to provide the empirical context for studying how gendered labour within households influences the consumption and disposal of plastic waste. While keeping in mind that women worldwide have predominantly assumed responsibility for household care, the project seeks to shed light on how gender, along with other factors such as social class, occupation, and nationality, inform how plastic waste is managed in the household.
Curating Buddhism, Fostering Diplomacy: The 'Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda' Exhibition in Singapore
In their article ‘Curating Buddhism, Fostering Diplomacy: The 'Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda' Exhibition in Singapore’ (The Review of Faith & International Affairs, 2023), Assistant Professor Jack Chia (NUS History) and Mr Darryl Lim (Assistant Curator for Southeast Asia, Asian Civilisations Museum) provide an in-depth analysis of the 2014 exhibition, ‘Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda’. Having featured artifacts from China’s Famen Temple and the Tang Court, the exhibition is examined through the lens of cultural and Buddhist diplomacy, which offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between religion, cultural exchange, and international relations. The authors begin by asserting the historical significance of the Famen Temple, an important Buddhist site in China known for housing a relic of the Buddha. In 1987, the temple’s significance was amplified by the discovery of numerous artifacts during an excavation, which were then showcased at the ‘Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda’ exhibition.
The article posits that by showcasing Buddhist artifacts the exhibition served as a platform for strengthening ties between China and Singapore, both of which have significant Buddhist and ethnic Chinese populations. The authors underscore the use of religious and cultural elements in enhancing international relations and mutual understanding and highlights the ability of museums to aid international diplomacy. In particular, Asst. Prof Chia and Mr Lim suggest that the exhibition demonstrates how museums can act as mediums for cultural exchange and understanding and transcend their traditional roles as keepers of historical artifacts.
However, the use of religious artifacts in state diplomacy is not without its complexities. Although the exhibition primarily highlighted cultural aspects of the Tang Dynasty, its subtle engagement in Buddhist diplomacy raises questions about the relationship between artifacts, museums, religion, and the state in cultural diplomacy.Considering this, the authors conclude by emphasizing the need for further research to understand the multifaceted relationship between cultural artifacts, religious heritage, and diplomatic efforts. Asst. Prof Chia and Mr Lim successfully illustrate how cultural and religious elements can be instrumental in fostering international relations and advocate for a deeper exploration of this dynamic field.
Read the article here.
Making Her-story: How this History Graduate Turned Barriers into Bridges
IN BRIEF | 10 min read
- Rachel Quek (NUS History and College of Alice and Peter Tan '24) held on to the belief that her formative undergraduate years were a time for her to explore who she wanted to, and could, be. Armed with this conviction, she used the challenges that came her way as opportunities to grow and build up her resilience for life after graduation.
"Even at times where I felt that my circumstances and environment were working against me, I knew and trusted that the Student Accessibility Unit was advocating for me and working for my best interest."
These were the fond words Rachel Quek had for the Office of Student Affairs' (OSA) Student Accessibility Unit (SAU) when reflecting on her four years as an undergraduate at NUS.
Born with spina bifida and in a wheelchair since she was in primary school, Rachel was used to getting around in her wheelchair long before she first stepped foot into NUS.
Although a seasoned wheelchair user, navigating the hilly terrain of Kent Ridge campus and the decision to live on campus independently had challenged Rachel to step out of her comfort zone.
"I feel very thankful for the professors in NUS' College of Alice and Peter Tan, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Department of History who were very aware of my needs as a wheelchair user yet did not 'baby' me because of it. They were respectful and conscious of the fact that I was a young adult who needed to find my own way around," she said.
Rachel held on to the belief that her formative undergraduate years were a time for her to explore who she wanted to, and could, be. Armed with this conviction, she used the challenges that came her way as opportunities to grow and build up her resilience for life after graduation.
Thriving within a community of careThe three years she spent as a resident of the College of Alice and Peter Tan (CAPT) were special to Rachel. She enjoyed being able to connect with so many people from different disciplines and who had diverse approaches to undergraduate life.
Rachel had applied to live at CAPT because she was told of a past student with similar needs as hers who was very well taken care of there, and also because of the residential college's many disabled-friendly features, such as barrier-free and inclusive toilets on every floor.
Staying in a suite with five other girls and learning to care for one another really enriched Rachel's undergraduate years.
"The connections I made at CAPT formed the nexus of the friendships I forged at NUS. My experience of student life and hobbies centred around CAPT," said Rachel, who was involved in student interest groups such as Jam City and Guitarpella, and was Vice Project Director of CAPT's 10th anniversary celebration, CAPT10, in 2022.
The college organised and offered plenty of activities for its residents to bond, learn together or sometimes even to unwind. Rachel recalls how simple social gatherings to enjoy mooncakes or 'tang yuan' together were a good way to take a break and gather at the pantry to relax.
While living on campus independently had proven to be one of the best decisions she made, Rachel realises that the decision was probably harder on her parents than it was for her. She said, "Their support and willingness to let go and let me be independent gave me a lot of confidence. They've always believed in me, and believed that I would figure things out for myself."
Punching above her weightIn fact, it was precisely her parents' encouragement for Rachel to always 'follow her star', which led her to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in History at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
Being inclined towards subjects in humanities, Rachel pursued pure humanities at A-Levels. It was then that her interest in history grew-she would spend a lot of time reading books, watching videos and listening to podcasts on historical topics.
Keen to explore a different pedagogic approach to history at the university level, Rachel signed up for history courses in her first year and punned, "the rest was history!"
As fate would have it, several of her history professors at FASS were also professors at CAPT, including Dr Daniel Jew whose field of research - particularly on Ancient Greece and Rome - fascinated her. It was no surprise then that she jumped at the opportunity to join Dr Jew to research on the connections between historic Sparta and Singapore as part of the NUS Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme (UROP).
"I was initially assigned to look through newspaper articles for material that would be relevant and of interest to him for the research. But as I dug deeper, I chanced upon some interesting dynamics of gendered narratives and what Singapore under the British Empire was like."
These discoveries not only became the topic for her final essay under the UROP, but also formed the basis of what the final research paper she was working on with Dr Jew would be. Because of this, Dr Jew has asked that Rachel be named as lead author for publication in a book chapter within Brill's Companion to the Spartan Tradition (in press), for the hard work she had put in.
In expressing his admiration for Rachel's commitment to her work, Dr Jew said, "It is very remarkable to have an undergraduate who is a full co-author for academic work at the lecturer's level. Rachel is so far the only student I've had in 10 years who has contributed to research at this level, before even doing a Masters in History."
Taking the training wheels offWhile her years at NUS were filled with ups and downs, Rachel credits the SAU as well as the rest of the team under OSA for supporting her and many other students with disabilities.
Some older buildings and lecture rooms may not be retrofitted with accessibility features, and moving around the campus could also be challenging during peak hours when the internal shuttle buses are crowded.
"These occurrences taught me be more emotionally resilient, take things in my stride and problem-solve on my feet," Rachel said.
OSA was also quick to help shift her classes to more disabled-friendly ones, and the University Campus Infrastructure team also arranged for vans to ferry her and other students who had similar transport needs from their halls and residences to class.
"I am nothing but grateful to everyone who's helped look out for me and supported me in my journey to be more independent," she reflected. "When I was younger, turning to someone else as an authority figure would have been my first response every time I faced a challenge. The experience at NUS has taught me to look beyond and rise above my circumstances in my own ways."
While the job hunt was daunting especially since she was aware that recruiters may have had preconceived notions about her disability, she faced this challenge head on, with characteristic grit and determination.
Along with pursuing a career in heritage and history, Rachel hopes to one day complete a Masters in History.
"The more I face adversity, the more I want to push back against it and think, 'There has to be a way to do it'," she said.
This story first appeared in NUSNews on 18 July 2024, as part of a series covering Commencement 2024, and celebrating the achievements of NUS graduates from the Class of 2024.
Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery Fellow in Buddhist Studies
Associate Professor Jack Meng-Tat Chia has been appointed as the inaugural Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery Fellow in Buddhist Studies, effective July 1, 2024. This prestigious appointment recognizes his significant contributions to the field of Buddhist studies and religious history.
A/Prof Chia is a distinguished historian of religion at the National University of Singapore, specializing in Buddhism and Chinese popular religion. His research focuses on Buddhism in maritime Southeast Asia, with broader interests encompassing migration, diasporas, transnationalism, pilgrimage, and religious diplomacy.
A/Prof Chia's scholarly work has garnered international recognition. His first book, Monks in Motion: Buddhism and Modernity Across the South China Sea (Oxford University Press, 2020), was awarded the prestigious 2021 EuroSEAS Humanities Book Prize. This work offers a comprehensive exploration of the interconnected history of Buddhist communities in China and Southeast Asia during the twentieth century.
Throughout his career, A/Prof Chia has made significant contributions to academic research, with publications in leading journals such as Critical Asian Studies, History of Religions, and the Journal of Chinese Religions. He has been awarded the 2020 Social Science and Humanities Research Fellowship by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) for his project "Diplomatic Dharma: Buddhist Diplomacy in Modern Asia, 1950s–Present," as part of SSRC's efforts to nurture promising local social science and humanities researchers.
A/Prof Chia’s academic journey includes a Ph.D. from Cornell University, where his dissertation won the Lauriston Sharp Prize. He also holds degrees from the National University of Singapore and Harvard University, where he was a Harvard-Yenching Fellow. In 2022, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
A/Prof Chia hopes that this new appointment will enable him to introduce more students at NUS and across Singapore to further research and scholarship in Buddhist studies, potentially fostering new insights into the historical and contemporary roles of Buddhism in Southeast Asia and beyond. "In my previous research, I studied the connected history of Buddhist communities in China and maritime Southeast Asia. I hope more students will be inspired to explore the transregional circulation and local developments of Buddhist traditions, as well as the diversity of Buddhist practices across Asian contexts and beyond," he said.
For more information on A/Prof Chia's research, visit: https://discovery.nus.edu.sg/6833-jack-mengtat-chia
AI and Tech Ideas Take Flight at NUS’ first Bay Area Forum
IN BRIEF | 10 min read
- Organised for the first time in San Francisco's buzzing Bay Area, the two-day NUS Innovation Forum sparked a vibrant exchange of ideas between NUS alumni, students, thought leaders and industry experts.
Navigating the tech industry - whether as an investor, a start-up founder or an employee - can be challenging, especially today.
"We have seen the highs and lows for ourselves in recent years," said NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (Science '85), speaking at the NUS Innovation Forum (NIF). "From the new NUS unicorns being crowned and rising interest in deep-tech investments, to widespread tech layoffs and the funding winter, it is a rapidly evolving operating environment, and we must keep abreast with developments to seize opportunities that each tide and season presents."
NUS alumni, students, thought leaders and industry experts in the San Francisco's Bay Area in the United States shared insights and exchanged opinions at the second edition of NIF, which ran from 13-14 June 2024 and was attended by 200 participants. Coming on the heels of the inaugural edition held in Manila in May 2024, NIF is organised by the Office of Alumni Relations to bring alumni, thought leaders and industry experts together to discuss trending topics in innovation. The two-day NIF San Francisco Bay Area, the first in the US, was organised with support from BLOCK71 Silicon Valley, NUS Overseas Colleges and the Singapore Global Network.
On why NIF was held in the Bay Area, Ms Ovidia Lim-Rajaram (Arts & Social Sciences - Political Science and History '89), Chief Alumni Officer of the University, explained, "Given NUS' long history in the Bay Area - over 20 years - through the NUS Overseas Colleges or NOC programme, to this BLOCK71 start-up launchpad - the Bay Area was a natural choice for our second international forum. Many alumni have settled in the area after graduation, drawn to the area's vibrancy."
AI for Good
The panel discussion on the first day was devoted to novel and impactful use cases of Artificial Intelligence (AI), an increasingly pertinent topic in recent times. While much has been said in recent times about its potential ills, less attention has been given to the positive changes AI can effect when dealing with intractable global issues.
The panel comprised Dr Avinash Balachandran, Vice President of the Human Interactive Driving Division at Toyota Research Institute; Ms Mariane Bekker, Founder of Founders Bay and Women Founders Bay; and Dr Wee Hyong Tok (Computing '99), Partner Director of Products (Cloud and AI) at Microsoft. It was moderated by Mr Arvind Ayyala (Engineering '10), Partner at Geodesic Capital and Chairperson of the NUS Alumni Overseas Chapter San Francisco.
The diverse experiences and insights of the panelists in the tech industry gave the audience a holistic picture of AI's possibilities and potential. For example, one speaker shared how a tech giant was already exploring ways that AI could be leveraged for sustainability efforts, such as conserving endangered species.
Prof Tan also updated the audience about the University's own efforts to harness AI. "At NUS, we are challenging our community to leverage AI to accelerate research, discoveries and translation. Among others, NUS researchers are using AI to accelerate the discovery of drug combinations and personalise healthcare treatment plans; alumni entrepreneurs are employing AI to develop cancer-screening tools; NUS start-ups are using AI-empowered video analytics and facial recognition to improve public and workplace safety."
Tech's Next Chapter
On the second day, the discussion focused on opportunities and challenges for tech investments in the Bay Area and Singapore. This panel comprised Ms Aihui Ong (Computing '98), General Partner of Transform Capital; Dr Radha Nagarajan (Engineering '86) Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Marvell's Optical Platforms and NUS Visiting Professor; and Mr Arvind Ayyala. It was moderated by NUS Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost Professor Aaron Thean.
The panel opened with a lively discussion on the differences in the tech ecosystems of the Bay Area and Singapore. One speaker noted that the fear of failure was still prevalent in Singapore's ecosystem and encouraged founders to be more open to the risk of failure. Panellists also advised players in the ecosystem to avoid building products for just Singapore or even Southeast Asia. The key message they had for the audience - go bigger.
Noting that the alumni network was rich with such insights, Prof Tan welcomed the audience to tap into it. "We see the value of a strong alumni network at work: from the ties that are forged across generations, to the willingness of our alumni to make introductions, invest in, and share their knowledge with each other. By paying it forward, the community grows and flourishes."
New Contacts, New Insights
Both days of the forum featured well-attended networking sessions.
All these opportunities for the meeting of minds are critical for powering innovation, said Associate Professor Benjamin Tee, NUS Vice President (Ecosystem Building), who spoke on the NUS Enterprise ecosystem at the forum. "Meaningful collisions and collaborations are the fuels for innovation, and thought leadership forums like these are the engines," he said.
Added Prof Thean, "We are committed to fostering a culture of creativity and critical thinking in the NUS global community where, even after our students graduate, they are empowered to become lifelong changemakers with their ideas."
The NIF concluded with a NUS Alumni & Friends Dinner, during which participants reconnected with old friends and made new meaningful connections, sowing the seeds for future partnerships to come.
This story by the NUS Office of Alumni Relations first appeared in NUSNews on 20 June 2024.
Archiving the Underclasses: Knowledge, Law, and Everyday Agency in Modern Southeast Asia
'Archiving the Underclasses: Knowledge, Law, and Everyday Agency in Modern Southeast Asia' is a research project funded from 2022 to 2025 by the Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 and hosted by the NUS Asia Research Institute (ARI). The project brings together a diverse team of scholars led by Associate Professor Maitrii Victoriano Aung-Thwin (NUS History and NUS ARI) along with Assistant Professor Matthew Reeder (NUS History), Senior Lecturer George Radics (NUS Sociology and Anthropology), Lecturer Ho Chi Tim (SUSS, College of Interdisciplinary and Experiential Learning), Assistant Professor Koh Keng We (NTU History), Lecturer Samson Lim (Monash University History), Assistant Professor Simon Creak (NTU National Institute of Education), and Assistant Professor Elliott Prasse-Freeman (NUS Sociology and Anthropology).
'Archiving the Underclasses' represents a significant contribution to the fields of history, anthropology, and legal studies, focusing on an innovative approach to understanding archival knowledge in modern Southeast Asia. Spanning from the late 18th century to the present, the project examines the roles of marginal figures in the creation and collection of archival data. This approach marks a shift from conventional studies of knowledge production and focuses instead on uplifting underrepresented voices in legal studies.
The project aims to answer several critical questions about the nature of information gathering, the interaction between laypeople and these efforts, and the reliability and transformation of information before it reaches archival and state repositories. These inquiries are not only academically intriguing but also highly relevant to discussions surrounding public policy and historical understanding in the present day.
'Archiving the Underclasses' has a dual aim. Firstly, it seeks to study the production of archive-based knowledge from a grassroots perspective. Relatedly, it thereafter seeks to create a new 'Archive of the Underclasses' in order to amplify the voices of those traditionally on the periphery of history and policy discussions. In so doing, the project is innovative and necessary in its emphasis on marginalised perspectives.
Overall, 'Archiving the Underclasses' is poised to make a significant impact on our understanding of Southeast Asian history and the dynamics of information gathering and archiving. By shedding light on the often-overlooked contributors to historical knowledge, the project promises to offer a more inclusive and nuanced perspective on the region’s past and present.
