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What do housing estates in Singapore tell us about our cultural identity? The urban infrastructure of a city can be constructed of class, cultural and ethnic differences. In the case of Singapore, these differences are stitched together and even layered over by factors such as multi-culturalism, high-density living, and the intervention of various government agencies …
‘Things to a Void: Identity Politics and the Poetics of Communal Spaces’ Read More »
Although wetlands may often be seen as wastelands or empty spaces for development, they are in fact treasures of natural and cultural heritage, and can serve as significant allies in the fight against climate change. Every 2 February, World Wetlands Day seeks to remind us of their importance and raise awareness of the valuable benefits …
In this monthly “Ask NUS Economist” series, Dr Eric Fesselmeyer (Senior Lecturer, NUS Department of Economics) discusses the effectiveness of Singapore’s Green Mark Award initiative in incentivizing property developers to be more environmentally friendly. The certificate is given to properties that are deemed to have achieved a sufficient level of environmental friendliness, and is meant …
In an article for Channel NewsAsia, Dr Leher Singh (Associate Professor, NUS Department of Psychology) discusses the different factors that contribute to an effective bilingual education for children. Dr Singh emphasizes that monolingual parents can still develop bilingual skills in their children by relying on external sources of education. Dr Singh elaborates on several …
Are monolingual parents less able to raise bilingual children? Read More »
In Today, Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser, Assistant Professor Vincent Chua (both from the NUS Department of Sociology), and Dr Gillian Koh (Institute of Policy Studies), elaborate on the findings of their recent study on social capital in Singapore and discuss how this social class divide can potentially be bridged. They found that the personal …
Social Class Division Exists, But Singapore Is Not Divided Read More »
The inaugural Singapore History Prize has been awarded to Professor John Miksic (NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies) for his book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300–1800. Supported by findings such as glass shards and bronze bowls painstakingly gathered from 25 years of archaeological research, Prof Miksic presents a compelling case that the history of Singapore began …
Archaeologist awarded inaugural Singapore History Prize Read More »
How do religious festivities shape cultural perceptions of gender? For a few days every year, between January and February, Little India becomes a site for the most celebrated Hindu festival in Singapore, Thaipusam. The streets are blocked for devotees to parade and chant verses for Lord Murugan. Such celebrations help to preserve Hindu traditions amongst …
Gendered Spaces in the Taipucam Festival, Singapore Read More »
Malayalees are natives from Kerala in South India and the second largest sub-group in Singapore’s Indian community after the Tamils. From Kerala to Singapore: Voices from the Singapore Malayalee Community is a 2017 book by Dr Anitha Devi Pillai (alumna of the NUS Department of English Language and Literature) and Dr Puva Arumugam (PhD Deakin …
From Kerala to Singapore: Voices from the Singapore Malayalee Community Read More »
How should Singapore’s stray cats be treated? On January 2015, 8 Purvis Street officially welcomed Singapore’s first cat museum. Named Lion City Kitty: The Cat Museum, Muses & Mansion, the independent museum is housed in a three-storey conserved shop-house. The museum aims to change the community’s attitude towards cats through raising awareness that cats are …
No Room to Swing a Cat? Animal Treatment and Urban Space in Singapore Read More »
With over 100,000 graves, Bukit Brown is the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China. It opened on 1 January 1922 and was acquired by the government after closing in 1973. In 2011, redevelopment plans for Bukit Brown were announced. Housing and a highway would be built on the land instead. This sparked opposition in cyberspace …