News

Governing Diverse Cities in Europe and Asia

February 26, 2024

As Asian and European nations prepare to commemorate ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Day on March 1st to celebrate the partnership and dialogue between the continents, it is pertinent to reflect on the urban dynamics of Asia and Europe.   Cities in Asia and Europe are undergoing significant shifts in migration patterns, marked by transnational ties and …

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‘Religious associations’ by Kelman Chiang, from SRN’s SG Photobank

Chinese Voluntary Associations in Transition: China’s Rise and the Remaking of Ancestral Communities in Southeast Asia

February 19, 2024

‘Chinese Voluntary Associations in Transition: China’s Rise and the Remaking of Ancestral Communities in Southeast Asia’, a Ministry of Education AcRF Tier 2 grant funded from 2023 to 2026, investigates the transformation of Chinese Voluntary Associations (CVAs), also known as Huaren Shetuan, in contemporary Southeast Asia. CVAs are non-official and non-governmental community groups that originate …

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Strategic races: understanding racial categories in Japanese-occupied Singapore

February 12, 2024

Singapore celebrates Total Defence Day on 15 February each year, as a reminder of the day Singapore surrendered to the Japanese forces. This marked the start of the Japanese occupation of Singapore, then renamed Syonan-to. Shortly afterwards, the Japanese implemented significant social and economic policy changes, including racial policies towards certain ethnic groups (minzoku). Dr …

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Meritocracy and its discontents

February 10, 2024

As a young island nation, Singapore has taken pride in its meritocratic system. It sees this system as responsible for propelling its growth into an economic powerhouse. Basing people’s worth on their achievements and hard work, instead of their background and status, is one of the defining traits of meritocracy, and it continues to have …

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Singapore and Johor: Deep bonds inspire new wellsprings of growth

February 9, 2024

The connection between Singapore and Malaysia extends far beyond being neighbours. From economic interdependence to bilateral relations, to even being part of the same nation at one point, the relationship between the two countries is complex and multi-faceted. Despite past conflicts, Singapore and Malaysia continue to share a mutually beneficial relationship, with up to one …

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Commentary: How can Singapore keep up with the unique needs of prodigies?

February 7, 2024

Singapore’s education system is notorious for its rigour and quality, with Singaporean students consistently performing well in international assessments, such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Yet, there are some who surpass the demanding requirements of the education system – most recently, a …

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SRN is Hiring! Call for Undergraduate/Graduate Student Assistants

February 7, 2024

Call For Applications: Student Assistant at the Singapore Research Nexus (SRN) 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 https://fass.nus.edu.sg/srn/. SRN is part of the FASS Research Division and has been …

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Commentary: How Hustle Culture is Robbing Our Youths of Self-Discovery

February 6, 2024

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life in Singapore, meditative activities like introspection often take a back seat. In ‘Commentary: How Hustle Culture is Robbing Our Youths of Self-Discovery’ (Channel NewsAsia, January 2024), Mr Jonathan Sim (NUS Philosophy) delves into the silent crisis surrounding youths’ inability to engage in self-reflection due to their relentless pursuit …

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Blue Carbon Framework SRN Fishing by Rui Kang

A Blue Carbon Framework for Singapore’s National Climate Change Policy (BlueCarbonSG)

February 5, 2024

Mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes are termed ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems because of their potential to remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and store them in the vegetation and soils, which is effective in tackling climate change. Blue carbon ecosystems can remove and store greenhouse gas emissions at rates several times greater than terrestrial ecosystems such …

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Commentary: After O-Levels, the Choice of Subjects isn’t Always Straightforward

January 31, 2024

At the end of secondary school, students have to make one difficult decision after the other. For those who choose to pursue junior college, they are almost immediately confronted with the stressful task of choosing what subjects to study for the GCE A-Level examinations. This choice is more complex than it initially seems, as one’s …

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