News

Preserving Flesh and Spanning Families

April 15, 2024

Tamils celebrate the Tamil New Year, Puthandu, on the 14th of April. As part of the festivities, Tamils gather with their families and partake in a vegetarian feast. Vegetarian foodways play a significant role in Tamil culture and have featured in academic scholarship. However, Asst. Prof. Indira Arumugam (NUS Sociology and Anthropology) directs the focus […]

Ideas Festival – Insights from the Humanities and Social Sciences

April 9, 2024

On 20 March 2024, the inaugural “Ideas Festival – Insights from the Humanities and Social Sciences” was launched.  The festival, organised by Singapore’s Autonomous Universities (AUs) and supported by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), will run until 19 April 2024 and feature 13 events. These events will feature over 50 researchers who will share insights […]

The Importance of Considering Debt and Young Children in Activation: A Survival Analysis of Return to Welfare

April 8, 2024

In April 2020, the Singapore government launched the GoWhere Suite, an all-in-one portal to direct citizens to the resources they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, one of the key websites in the suite, the SupportGoWhere site, has been used extensively, receiving 4.8 million visits as of June 2022. As society progresses, the government’s […]

Ideas Festival 2024: Shining a Spotlight on the Importance of Social Science and Humanities Research on Society

April 4, 2024

Launched on 20 March 2024 with Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing as the Guest of Honour, this festival was organised by the Autonomous Universities (AUs) in Singapore and is supported by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). It features 13 events over a month-long period.

Older Adults Are More Approving of Blunt Honesty Than Younger Adults: A Cross-Cultural Study

April 1, 2024

April Fools’ Day, which customarily falls on the first of April every year, is a day when one might expect to prank or be pranked. In other words, harmless lies are embraced and normalised, albeit for a day, on April Fools’. Lies and deception are not far removed from everyday life as well. On some […]

Childhood trauma can lead to mental health issues among young adults: Study

March 27, 2024

There has been an increased awareness of young people’s mental health due to new pressures in society. such as technological advances, the negative effect of social media on self-esteem, and economic uncertainty. Today’s youth, having to navigate this dynamic landscape, often fall prey to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In ‘Childhood trauma […]

Social science research that produces good solutions will be recognised: Chan Chun Sing

March 26, 2024

Pursuing an academic career can be challenging, due to the pressure of having to churn out research for publication as well as having to juggle teaching commitments. This is exhibited clearly in Singapore, an advanced research and development hub which is home to highly ranked universities. Some researchers have expressed their concerns about working within […]

Making Live through the Gig: The Case of Comfort Taxis in Singapore

March 25, 2024

International Taxi Driver Day is commemorated on 22 March annually, celebrating the life and contributions of taxi drivers everywhere. While many in Singapore choose to use ride-share services nowadays, taxis remain a ubiquitous feature of Singapore, from the blue Comfort Taxis to the more luxurious Limousine Taxis. Between 1970 and 1993, taxi company Comfort aimed […]

How often do you volunteer? Well, volunteering may boost your happiness!

March 21, 2024

Volunteering can be done in myriad ways – helping out at local non-profits, participating in community events, or even championing social causes. Singaporeans are encouraged to volunteer at various times in their lives, from participating in the Values in Action (VIA) programme in schools to contributing to their workplaces’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. In […]

‘Road Crossing’ by Filbert Kuong from SRN’s SG Photobank

In-Work Poverty and Challenges of Getting By Among the Young (Phase 2)

March 18, 2024

In the past several years, concerns over poverty and inequality in Singapore have risen significantly. With rapid technological changes and disruptive innovations, economic insecurities for workers in traditional low-waged jobs and the gig economy have arisen. ‘In-Work Poverty and Challenges of Getting By Among the Young (Phase 2)’ continues the previous effort by Associate Professor […]