Singaporeans are largely resistant to raising the standards of Foreign Domestic Workers’ (FDWs) work conditions, especially with regards to wage, welfare and living arrangements. Are Singaporeans really lacking in empathy? Assistant Professor of Psychology in NUS, Jia Lile, together with his incoming PhD Student Mike Hou, shares with Channel News Asia the need to shift […]

Many of us complain about Singapore’s sweltering heat, but Assistant Professor Winston Chow (NUS Geography) suggests we stop wondering and focus on how to make our city cooler. Dr Chow is one of three Singaporean-based academics selected by a United Nations committee to contribute to the sixth assessment report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate […]

How should literature be taught in Singapore’s secondary schools? Using texts authored by local writers, or English literary texts hailing from the British tradition, Prof. Philip Holden (Dept. of English Language and Literature) suggests a rethink, but cautions against reconstituting the curriculum in a purely nationalist mould. He proposes some alternatives, one of which is […]

Considering that mangroves only cover 0.5% of Singapore’s land area, do these ecosystems really matter? NUS Geography Associate Professor Daniel Friess shares with The Straits Times insightful findings after three years of research on the mangroves in Singapore. Mangroves offer both environmental and cultural benefit for Singapore, making them invaluable ecosystems worth our attention. The […]

Are your medical savings adequate for your post retirement period? In April 1984, the Singapore government introduced a compulsory Medical Savings Account (MSA) known as Medisave, with the objective of allowing each individual citizen to save a portion of their salary so that they have an adequate healthcare fund which they can use in the […]

Does having an autistic child in the family have an impact on the relationship between their siblings and their parents? World Autism Day has been held annually since 2 April 2008. Organisations supporting those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) around the world celebrate this day by hosting unique fundraising activities. However, autism not only impacts […]

Don’t be fooled by a preschooler’s rudimentary education, especially their bilingual capacity! On 1 April 2013, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) was officially launched in Singapore to promote the accessibility of the early childhood sector and enhance the affordability of pre-school programmes. ECDA raises public awareness and support for children’s development. Aligned with this […]

Was Sir Stamford Raffles the first to discover and acknowledge the significance of Singapore’s strategic location in 1819? Associate Professor Peter Borschberg (Department of History) opines in the Straits Times that Singapore’s ideal location as a financial hub for trade and colonialization was appreciated long before Stamford Raffles’ supposed discovery. Before the 1800s, Singapore’s prominence […]

How do P. Ramlee’s films reflect Malay society during the 1950s and ‘60s? The late P. Ramlee was born on 22 March 1929. An accomplished actor, director, and musician, he is regarded as a legend in Malay cinema. Raised in Penang, P. Ramlee first arrived in Singapore in 1949 upon invitation to join Shaw Studios […]