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The Singapore Research Nexus (SRN) is a unique academic resource covering the wide range of research on Singapore produced by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). It can be found at http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/srn/. SRN is involved in assisting the FASS Research Division with event organization and research. In addition, SRN is currently engaged in […]
What was the Silk Road of the Sea? Throughout its history, Singapore has been regarded as an important port and trading hub, and is today one of the most significant economic centres of Southeast Asia. 29 January 1819 is sometimes considered as the starting point of Singapore’s history, as that was when Stamford Raffles arrived […]
This Lunar New Year, be sure to have ready a repertoire of compliments and auspicious wishes. Assoc. Prof. Lee Cher Leng (Dept. of Chinese Studies) suggests that these could come in handy as conversational topics when visiting friends and relatives only during the Lunar New Year season. With the right set of compliments and wishes, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]