{"id":61,"date":"2020-06-24T04:56:39","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T04:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fass.nus.edu.sg\/ssr\/news\/"},"modified":"2020-06-24T05:07:35","modified_gmt":"2020-06-24T05:07:35","slug":"news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fass.nus.edu.sg\/ssr\/news\/","title":{"rendered":"News"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

News<\/h2>\r\n

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New Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities at NUS to advance interdisciplinary research on complex societal challenges<\/a><\/h3>
05 March 2026 <\/div>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7293\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]\"\" Present at the launch of the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities at NUS today were (from left) CSSH Deputy Director Assoc Prof Dandan Qiao from NUS School of Computing; CSSH Co-Director Prof Atreyi Kankanhalli from NUS School of Computing; Prof Tulika Mitra, Dean of NUS School of Computing; Prof Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology); Prof Lionel Wee, Dean of NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; CSSH Co-Director Prof Peter Millican from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Assoc Prof Miguel Escobar Varela from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n

A new research centre at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is bringing together data science, AI and computational methods with deep insights from social sciences and humanities to better understand complex social phenomena and develop solutions to pressing societal challenges. By combining technological innovation with human insight, the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH) aims to generate research that improves lives, strengthens institutions, preserves cultural knowledge, and shapes more inclusive and resilient societies in Singapore and beyond.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n

Officially launched today, CSSH is the first in Singapore to systematically bring together computational social science and the humanities within a single centre to bridge research, policy and real-world applications.<\/p>\r\n

The Centre draws on expertise across disciplines including computing, new media, linguistics, geography, public policy and healthcare, amongst others. This interdisciplinary foundation enables CSSH to examine how digital technologies intersect with social systems, such as assessing the societal implications of AI-enabled platforms, using digital tools to help preserve Singapore's cultural heritage, and strengthening digital literacy in vulnerable communities.<\/p>\r\n

NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology) Professor Liu Bin said, \"Rapid advances in digital technologies and AI are transforming our world. But technological breakthroughs are only as valuable as the difference they make to peoples' lives. CSSH reflects NUS' commitment to ensuring that innovation translates to tangible improvements in how we live, work and build stronger communities. By integrating computational methods with social science and humanities, the Centre will help translate research insights into policies and practices that deliver real-world impact.\"<\/p>\r\n

She added that the Centre complements Singapore's broader push for innovative, responsible harnessing of technology and AI which emphasises that progress should be not only technically advanced, but trusted, inclusive and grounded in real social needs.<\/p>\r\n

Driving real-world impact through interdisciplinary innovation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

CSSH is led by Co-Directors Professor Atreyi Kankanhalli from the\u00a0NUS School of Computing<\/a>\u00a0and Professor Peter Millican from the\u00a0NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>. The Centre supports both seed funding for emerging ideas and larger projects, all designed to generate real-world impact.<\/p>\r\n

Prof Kankanhalli said, \"What distinguishes CSSH is our ability to study human behaviour, institutions and societies at a scale and depth that was not previously possible. By combining computational methods with rich domain expertise in the social sciences and humanities, we can uncover patterns, test ideas, and generate evidence that directly informs policy and practice. Our goal is not just to analyse social problems, but to help shape systems that work better for people.\"<\/p>\r\n

Since beginning operations in the second half of 2024, CSSH has embarked on more than 50 interdisciplinary projects involving 105 researchers from across NUS and their external collaborators. The projects demonstrate the breadth of its work - from AI-enabled analysis of social media impacts to digital preservation of historical archives.<\/p>\r\n

Amongst the major research projects currently being undertaken by CSSH is one titled \"Computational Social Simulations for Aiding Policy Design\", led by Prof Kankanhalli. In this five-year project, researchers from NUS and three other local universities are collaborating to develop an AI-driven social simulation platform for policymakers to help test and refine policy interventions before they are rolled out.<\/p>\r\n

Using large language models (LLMs), the platform will model diverse public personas to enable policymakers to conduct swift preliminary testing of policy ideas. The simulations will complement traditional research methods by reducing the frequency of costly, time-consuming large-scale surveys and field studies during early policy development, while retaining real-world validation and community engagement at critical decision points. CSSH Deputy Director Associate Professor Dandan Qiao from the NUS School of Computing is also contributing her expertise to the project.<\/p>\r\n

Another project titled \"The Jawi AI Project\", led by NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Associate Professor Miguel Escobar Varela, harnesses AI to enable large-scale transliteration and analysis of Jawi texts. Early Malay-language newspapers in Singapore, published between 1870 and 1970 were written in Jawi, a script few can read today.<\/p>\r\n

In collaboration with the National Library Board (NLB), the team comprising local and foreign experts is transforming thousands of archived pages into searchable Malay text, significantly expanding the range of materials available at NLB's digitised archives. Assoc Prof Escobar Varela, who is also Deputy Director at CSSH, noted that the project could significantly expand research into Malay-language journalism and public debate in the region, broadening how Singapore's history is understood and taught.<\/p>\r\n

Prof Millican highlighted that a core mission of CSSH is to break down the walls between disciplines. By connecting humanities and social science researchers with computing and data science experts, the Centre fosters collaborations that neither field could achieve alone. \"Many of today's biggest challenges demand both deep specialist insight and serious technical firepower\", he explained, \"whether they involve untangling complex social issues, tackling health crises, anticipating future problems, or building the tools to address these. CSSH provides a natural home for such interdisciplinary conversations.\"<\/p>\r\n

He added that the Centre looks forward to developing more projects addressing societal challenges to which computational insights can make the greatest difference. Focus areas include AI and emerging technologies, sustainability and environmental policy, population trends and demographic change, public health and social care, and the preservation and understanding of history and cultural heritage.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n

\r\n

This story\u00a0first appeared in <\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 4 March 2026.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>

New Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities at NUS to advance interdisciplinary research on complex societal challenges<\/a><\/h3>
05 March 2026 <\/div>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7293\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]\"\" Present at the launch of the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities at NUS today were (from left) CSSH Deputy Director Assoc Prof Dandan Qiao from NUS School of Computing; CSSH Co-Director Prof Atreyi Kankanhalli from NUS School of Computing; Prof Tulika Mitra, Dean of NUS School of Computing; Prof Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology); Prof Lionel Wee, Dean of NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; CSSH Co-Director Prof Peter Millican from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Assoc Prof Miguel Escobar Varela from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.<\/strong>[\/caption]\r\n

A new research centre at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is bringing together data science, AI and computational methods with deep insights from social sciences and humanities to better understand complex social phenomena and develop solutions to pressing societal challenges. By combining technological innovation with human insight, the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH) aims to generate research that improves lives, strengthens institutions, preserves cultural knowledge, and shapes more inclusive and resilient societies in Singapore and beyond.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n

Officially launched today, CSSH is the first in Singapore to systematically bring together computational social science and the humanities within a single centre to bridge research, policy and real-world applications.<\/p>\r\n

The Centre draws on expertise across disciplines including computing, new media, linguistics, geography, public policy and healthcare, amongst others. This interdisciplinary foundation enables CSSH to examine how digital technologies intersect with social systems, such as assessing the societal implications of AI-enabled platforms, using digital tools to help preserve Singapore's cultural heritage, and strengthening digital literacy in vulnerable communities.<\/p>\r\n

NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology) Professor Liu Bin said, \"Rapid advances in digital technologies and AI are transforming our world. But technological breakthroughs are only as valuable as the difference they make to peoples' lives. CSSH reflects NUS' commitment to ensuring that innovation translates to tangible improvements in how we live, work and build stronger communities. By integrating computational methods with social science and humanities, the Centre will help translate research insights into policies and practices that deliver real-world impact.\"<\/p>\r\n

She added that the Centre complements Singapore's broader push for innovative, responsible harnessing of technology and AI which emphasises that progress should be not only technically advanced, but trusted, inclusive and grounded in real social needs.<\/p>\r\n

Driving real-world impact through interdisciplinary innovation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

CSSH is led by Co-Directors Professor Atreyi Kankanhalli from the\u00a0NUS School of Computing<\/a>\u00a0and Professor Peter Millican from the\u00a0NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences<\/a>. The Centre supports both seed funding for emerging ideas and larger projects, all designed to generate real-world impact.<\/p>\r\n

Prof Kankanhalli said, \"What distinguishes CSSH is our ability to study human behaviour, institutions and societies at a scale and depth that was not previously possible. By combining computational methods with rich domain expertise in the social sciences and humanities, we can uncover patterns, test ideas, and generate evidence that directly informs policy and practice. Our goal is not just to analyse social problems, but to help shape systems that work better for people.\"<\/p>\r\n

Since beginning operations in the second half of 2024, CSSH has embarked on more than 50 interdisciplinary projects involving 105 researchers from across NUS and their external collaborators. The projects demonstrate the breadth of its work - from AI-enabled analysis of social media impacts to digital preservation of historical archives.<\/p>\r\n

Amongst the major research projects currently being undertaken by CSSH is one titled \"Computational Social Simulations for Aiding Policy Design\", led by Prof Kankanhalli. In this five-year project, researchers from NUS and three other local universities are collaborating to develop an AI-driven social simulation platform for policymakers to help test and refine policy interventions before they are rolled out.<\/p>\r\n

Using large language models (LLMs), the platform will model diverse public personas to enable policymakers to conduct swift preliminary testing of policy ideas. The simulations will complement traditional research methods by reducing the frequency of costly, time-consuming large-scale surveys and field studies during early policy development, while retaining real-world validation and community engagement at critical decision points. CSSH Deputy Director Associate Professor Dandan Qiao from the NUS School of Computing is also contributing her expertise to the project.<\/p>\r\n

Another project titled \"The Jawi AI Project\", led by NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Associate Professor Miguel Escobar Varela, harnesses AI to enable large-scale transliteration and analysis of Jawi texts. Early Malay-language newspapers in Singapore, published between 1870 and 1970 were written in Jawi, a script few can read today.<\/p>\r\n

In collaboration with the National Library Board (NLB), the team comprising local and foreign experts is transforming thousands of archived pages into searchable Malay text, significantly expanding the range of materials available at NLB's digitised archives. Assoc Prof Escobar Varela, who is also Deputy Director at CSSH, noted that the project could significantly expand research into Malay-language journalism and public debate in the region, broadening how Singapore's history is understood and taught.<\/p>\r\n

Prof Millican highlighted that a core mission of CSSH is to break down the walls between disciplines. By connecting humanities and social science researchers with computing and data science experts, the Centre fosters collaborations that neither field could achieve alone. \"Many of today's biggest challenges demand both deep specialist insight and serious technical firepower\", he explained, \"whether they involve untangling complex social issues, tackling health crises, anticipating future problems, or building the tools to address these. CSSH provides a natural home for such interdisciplinary conversations.\"<\/p>\r\n

He added that the Centre looks forward to developing more projects addressing societal challenges to which computational insights can make the greatest difference. Focus areas include AI and emerging technologies, sustainability and environmental policy, population trends and demographic change, public health and social care, and the preservation and understanding of history and cultural heritage.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n

\r\n

This story\u00a0first appeared in <\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 4 March 2026.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>

Welcome SSR Research Fellow Dr Hendra Goh!<\/a><\/h3>
04 January 2026 <\/div>It is our great pleasure to welcome Dr Hendra Goh to the Social Service Research Centre (SSR) as a Research Fellow.<\/div><\/div>

It takes a \u201ckampung\u201d: Creating a sustainable ecosystem of care for everyone, by everyone<\/a><\/h3>
28 December 2025 <\/div>\r\n\r\n

[caption id=\"attachment_7192\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1920\"]\"\" The recent NUS SSR-TOUCH Conference 2025 aimed to advance conversations and strengthen sectoral capabilities in social service research, evidence-to-practice translation, sustainable collaborations, and impact measurement.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\n

There was a time when neighbours in villages or\u00a0kampungs<\/i>\u00a0kept an eye out for one another, shared food, and revelled in this shared sense of community and care.<\/p>\r\n

As Singapore stands on the brink of becoming a \"super-aged\" society, with one in five citizens set to be over 65 by 2026, bringing back the\u00a0kampung<\/i>\u00a0spirit, where everyone cares for everyone, might be the key to enabling healthy ageing here.<\/p>\r\n

\"This is neither a new formula for success, nor is there anything magical about it. I feel it is simply a resurrection or rejuvenation of our\u00a0kampung<\/i>\u00a0spirit in action, where residents take ownership of their own health and look out for one another, alongside professionals and volunteers,\" said Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, and for Law.<\/p>\r\n

Speaking at the NUS SSR-TOUCH Conference, jointly organised by the NUS Social Service Research Centre (SSR) and TOUCH Community Services, Mr Chua said achieving positive health and well-being outcomes for all requires everyone's effort.<\/p>\r\n

\"Building a healthier Singapore that focuses on ageing well by going upstream, starting young, means all of us must pitch in: government, community organisations, family members, and individuals. We must all work together and play an active part in addressing social-health challenges,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n

Themed \"Sustained Well-Being in Future-Ready Communities\", the conference, held on 11-12 November 2025, brought together about 300 participants from academia, research, practice, and policymaking. The goal was to advance dialogue and strengthen sectoral capabilities in social service research, evidence-to-practice translation, sustainable collaborations, and impact measurement.<\/p>\r\n

Discussions focused on topics such as the use of technology and AI in social service planning and delivery, the importance of disability inclusion in building strong communities, and the challenges and opportunities for healthy longevity.<\/p>\r\n

Strengthening the caregiving circle<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

One key focus of the NUS SSR-TOUCH Conference was supporting caregivers, an essential part of the\u00a0kampung<\/i> ecosystem. Grandparents, in particular, were highlighted as important caregivers in the family structure.<\/p>\r\n

[caption id=\"attachment_7215\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1920\"]\"\" Ms June Sim (pictured standing), Group Head of TOUCH Caregivers Support Group, highlighted the various initiatives TOUCH has rolled out to support caregivers in the community.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\n

\"There's a need for much more research on respite for custodial grandparents and other things that we generally grant parents,\" said Professor Premchand Dommaraju, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Master of Science in Applied Gerontology programme at Nanyang Technological University, who presented on the topic.<\/p>\r\n

He suggested policies such as childcare leave and flexible work arrangements for grandparents, citing Sweden's 2024 Parental Leave Reform as an example; the reform allows parents to transfer up to 45 days of paid parental leave to grandparents and other child caregivers.<\/p>\r\n

Ms June Sim, Group Head of TOUCH Caregivers Support Group, also underscored the need for proper support systems for caregivers. \"Instead of thinking of caregivers as care deliverers, I encourage you to think of caregivers as people with their own needs and aspirations,\" she said. Caregiver helplines, online communities, and raising awareness about caregiver challenges are necessary initiatives to support them, she added.<\/p>\r\n

Designing together for stronger neighbourhoods<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Another important area of discussion at the conference was the need to co-create programmes among stakeholders, as community initiatives cannot be created in silos.<\/p>\r\n

Professor John Eu-Li Wong, Co-Chair of the Health District @ Queenstown (HD@QT) Steering Committee, who spoke on the initiative at the conference, emphasised this point, saying, \"Things don't work if you develop something for somebody else. We must involve the person we're trying to develop for because that's how they own it, and that's how the chances of success are so much higher.\"<\/p>\r\n

HD@QT is a multi-stakeholder initiative spearheaded by NUS, National University Health System (NUHS), and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), bringing together partners from the public, private, and people sectors to develop lasting health and social solutions in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n

Among the projects that have made an impact are Happy Village @ Mei Ling, a community space staffed by a team of healthcare and social workers who work closely with residents to co-develop personalised care plans, and \"Come 4Tea Lah!\", a collaborative space where residents of all ages can come together to co-design community activities.<\/p>\r\n

Prof Wong described \"Come 4Tea Lah!\" as \"thriving\", with residents themselves spearheading activities such as \"yum cha\" (tea drinking) sessions with board games, sing-alongs, monthly birthday celebrations for all ages (funded by residents), and the Woofy Club, a 120-strong group of dog-lovers who meet regularly to share tips on obedience training. These initiatives are complemented by other regular activities such as educational talks by NUS and health screenings by NUHS.<\/p>\r\n

\"Our commitment is: not only do we collect the data, we also share it with the residents, and then we co-create the solution. We have them in the planning, and actually have them take a seat at the table in designing the intervention,\" said Prof Wong.<\/p>\r\n

[caption id=\"attachment_7214\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1920\"]\"\" At lunchtime booths, participants learnt about research projects by local and overseas government agencies, non-profit organisations, and academic institutions on various community issues. These included the lived experiences of children in divorced families to the impact of mental health support for youths with anxiety and depression, and a savings-matching programme for low-income families.<\/strong>[\/caption]<\/p>\r\n

When carers get \"sandwiched\"<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Many Singaporean adults today face the pressure of having to care for their elderly parents or family members while raising children of their own. This 'sandwiched generation' phenomenon can be particularly stressful for those with large families or low incomes.<\/p>\r\n

Associate Professor Noor Aisha bte Abdul Rahman from the Department of Malay Studies at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences highlighted that Malay family units tend to be larger, often including three to four children and elderly relatives living in the same household.<\/p>\r\n

As such, Assoc Prof Noor Aisha said that Malay Muslim caregivers - particularly women - shoulder the heavy burden of being \"sandwiched caregivers\", juggling both eldercare and childcare. They often face concurrent challenges, such as health and well-being gaps, social isolation and burnout risk, as well as financial insecurity and employment barriers.<\/p>\r\n

\"Supporting them requires a coordinated effort,\" said Dr Ad Maulod, Principal Research Scientist at the Centre for Ageing Research & Education at Duke-NUS Medical School, who also presented on the topic. He cited raising health and well-being literacy, as well as quality and accessibility of health and social support services, as key to helping these sandwiched caregivers.<\/p>\r\n

To better support our communities, Assoc Prof Noor Aisha stressed that social support systems should be caregiver-centric - programmes should be co-created\u00a0with<\/i>\u00a0caregivers, rather than designed\u00a0for<\/i>\u00a0them - to ensure timely and meaningful support. Such an approach is essential for supporting sandwiched caregivers across all demographic groups in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n

Commenting on the success of the conference, Associate Professor Lee Jungup, SSR Co-Director said that the event has shown that it truly 'takes a kampung' to build a sustainable ecosystem of care - not just for older persons or caregivers, but for every generation in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n

\"By bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and community partners, the NUS SSR-TOUCH Conference has created a shared space to listen, learn and co-create solutions grounded in real lives and real neighbourhoods. As we move towards a super-aged, future-ready society, our hope is that these collaborations will translate into concrete, community-led initiatives that sustain well-being for everyone, by everyone,\" said Assoc Prof Lee.<\/p>\r\n\t

\r\n

This story\u00a0first appeared in <\/em>NUSnews<\/a> on 12 December 2025.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/div>

Time Poverty among the Young Working Poor: A Pathway from Low Wage to Psychological Well-being through Work-to-Family-Conflict\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>
18 December 2025 <\/div>The implementation of the enhanced Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme at the beginning of 2025 will benefit around half a million Singaporeans through increased payouts and expanded coverage. The income eligibility cap for low-wage workers was raised from S$2,500 to S$3,000 a month, providing greater financial support and fostering continued wage growth. During his Budget 2024 speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that this adjustment ensures that lower-wage workers are continually covered even as their wages increase.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nAddressing the income inequality gap in Singapore has been a contentious topic among socioeconomic classes for some time. While various economic policies have been implemented to uplift lower-wage workers and reduce disparities in wages, some experts argue that inequality extends beyond economic factors to include the amount of time workers have outside of work.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThis raises an important question: Are the wage-poor also more time-poor? In \u2018Time Poverty among the Young Working Poor: A Pathway from Low Wage to Psychological Well-being through Work-to-Family-Conflict\u2019 (<\/span>Journal of Family and Economic Issues<\/span><\/i>, 2024), Professor Irene Y. H. Ng (NUS Social Work), Zhi Han Tan<\/span> (NUS <\/span>Social Service Research Centre), and Assistant Professor Gerard Chung (NUS Social Work) created a measure of work-based time poverty and conceptualised work-based time poverty to include not only the number of hours at work, but also other variables such as low wage, long hours, nonstandard hours, and uncontrollable hours.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe researchers found that non-standard and uncontrollable hours mediate the relationship between low wage and psychological well-being for young people in Singapore. Crucially, while both low and higher wage respondents worked high numbers of hours and were generally time constrained in terms of hours, low-wage workers were additionally time poor due to the poorer quality of their work time. The low-wage young workers in this study took on jobs that involved duties with more nonstandard hours like regular graveyard shifts or unexpected work-hours changes. Such shift work often leaves them too tired to participate in family activities, which in turn imposes psychological stresses. The inability to balance work and family life can lead to reduced self-efficacy and increased self-doubt. Over time, these issues may develop into clinical mental health problems, hindering career advancement and further entrenching them in poverty.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThis situation creates a double whammy for low-wage workers, who not only face financial constraints but also experience significant time poverty. The implications of time poverty extend beyond mere inconvenience, affecting various aspects of their lives, including family dynamics, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAddressing income poverty without tackling time poverty is insufficient, as wage improvement policies can lead to employer workarounds that short-change employees through practices like leave withholding, and time off penalties. Policymakers and employers must collaborate on measures to alleviate workplace time poverty beyond the control of young workers themselves. By tackling these issues alongside wage improvements, low-wage workers can improve their chances of breaking the poverty cycle and achieving greater economic mobility.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nRead the article <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5900\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"2560\"]\"\" Photo: \u2018Bartender cleaning glasses\u2019 by Filbert Kuong, from SRN\u2019s SG Photobank[\/caption]<\/div><\/div>

NUS News article on SSR-TOUCH Conference<\/a><\/h3>
15 December 2025 <\/div>\n\n\t

The recent NUS SSR-TOUCH Conference 2025 aimed to advance conversations and strengthen sectoral capabilities in social service research, evidence-to-practice translation, sustainable collaborations, and impact measurement. NUS News covered the event in their article, titled \"It takes a \"kampung\": Creating a sustainable ecosystem of care for everyone, by everyone\".<\/p>\n

Commenting on the success of the conference, Associate Professor Lee Jungup, SSR Co-Director said that the event has shown that it truly 'takes a kampung' to build a sustainable ecosystem of care - not just for older persons or caregivers, but for every generation in Singapore.<\/p>\n

\"By bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and community partners, the NUS SSR-TOUCH Conference has created a shared space to listen, learn and co-create solutions grounded in real lives and real neighbourhoods. As we move towards a super-aged, future-ready society, our hope is that these collaborations will translate into concrete, community-led initiatives that sustain well-being for everyone, by everyone,\" said Assoc Prof Lee.<\/p>\n

Please click here<\/a> to read the full article.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>

2025 Year in Review<\/a><\/h3>
10 December 2025 <\/div>Dear friends of SSR, we have published our annual year-end report. We are grateful for the continued support of our partners and collaborators. As we celebrate ten years of advancing research and practice in the social services, we look forward to building on these foundations in the coming year.\r\n\r\nPlease click here<\/a> to read the full report.<\/div><\/div>

Welcome SSR Research Fellow Dr Meixi!<\/a><\/h3>
03 December 2025 <\/div>\n\n\t

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr Meixi to the Social Service Research Centre (SSR) as a Research Fellow. Meixi's work explores the intersections of culture, learning, health, and the ethical nature of human development across the lifespan. She specializes in community-based participatory design research that strengthens the collective health and intergenerational resilience of families, and the lands and waters they call home. Grounded in land-based stories, her scholarship bridges studies of place and the politics of learning, schooling inequities, climate education, and trans-Indigenous solidarities to imagine and design more thriving social and ecological futures.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>

NUS SSR-TOUCH Conference 2025<\/a><\/h3>
12 November 2025 <\/div>Jointly organised by the NUS Social Service Research Centre (SSR) and TOUCH Community Services, the conference was held on 11 and 12 November 2025 at the NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House, and graced by Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development & Ministry of Law. Themed \u201cSustained Well-Being in Future-Ready Communities\u201d, the conference brought together over 300 participants from the social service sector, government ministries, academic institutions and philanthropic organisations to network and deepen their knowledge in social service research and practice. The conference featured over 40 speakers, 2 keynotes, 2 dialogues, 2 panel discussions, 6 breakout sessions, 7 masterclasses, and 10 poster presentations.\r\n\r\nVisit SSR's Facebook page<\/a> to see our photo album on what went down over the two days.<\/div><\/div>

SSR's 10th Anniversary Celebration!<\/a><\/h3>
16 October 2025 <\/div>Happy 10th Anniversary to the NUS Social Service Research Centre!\r\n\r\nAs Singapore\u2019s first centre dedicated to social intervention research, SSR has spent the past decade championing bold social innovations \u2013 bringing together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to build inclusive and resilient communities through evidence-based research and cross-sector collaboration.\r\n\r\nSince 2015, SSR has carried out 26 research projects exploring salient issues affecting low-income families, youth and low-wage workers that has sparked important conversations on topics such as youth mental health and in-work poverty. The Centre has also built a strong reputation as a leader in practice-oriented research consultancy \u2013 strengthening the research capabilities of nearly 1,000 social service practitioners and 9 social service agencies.\r\n\r\nSSR bridges research, policy and practice \u2013 shaping solutions for sustained well-being in future-ready communities. Here\u2019s to the next decade of impact through research, innovation and collaboration!\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/div><\/div>

Celebrating Research Excellence: A\/P Lee Jungup in Global Top 2% Scientists!<\/a><\/h3>
26 September 2025 <\/div>Congratulations to Associate Professor Lee Jungup for being recognised among the World\u2019s Top 2% Scientists<\/strong> which is compiled annually by Professor John P.A. Ioannidis of Stanford University. This prestigious list, available at www.topresearcherslist.com, is based on a composite citation index (c-score) that reflects scientific impact by combining multiple metrics, including total citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, and citation performance across authorship positions.\r\n\r\nCongratulations on her well deserved recognition!<\/div><\/div>

Welcome Visiting PhD Candidate Ms Lihua Pan<\/a><\/h3>
01 September 2025 <\/div>\r\n

We are pleased to welcome Ms Lihua Pan, a visiting PhD candidate at the Social Service Research Centre (SSR), National University of Singapore. She will be with SSR until 30 November 2025.<\/p>\r\n

Lihua Pan is a PhD candidate at the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on childhood adversity, substance use, and psychosocial health promotion among young adults.<\/p>\r\n

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Lihua and supporting her in this exciting chapter of her academic journey.<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>

Educational Visit from Seogwipo\u00a0City Office of Education, Jeju-do, South Korea<\/a><\/h3>
01 August 2025 <\/div>

On 30th<\/sup>\u00a0July 2025, \u00a0Social Service Research Centre (SSR) had the pleasure of hosting a special educational visit by education officers and school programme\u00a0coordinators from the Seogwipo\u00a0City Office of Education <\/span>\uc11c\uadc0\ud3ec\uc2dc\uad50\uc721\uc9c0\uc6d0\uccad<\/span>, Jeju-do, South Korea. As part of the programme, A\/P Lee Jungup delivered an engaging and insightful talk titled \u201cTeens\u2019 Bullying: Bullies, Victims and Bystanders.\u201d In her presentation, A\/P Lee discussed both traditional bullying and cyberbullying in Singapore, highlighting the growing prevalence and its significant impact on youth mental health. Cyberbullying victims showed higher risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The role of bystanders was also explored, highlighting\u00a0how timely intervention and peer support can help mitigate harm, though many hesitate due to fear of retaliation or social consequences. Her talk emphasised the importance of peer support, reporting systems, and accessible help services to combat bullying.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe programme also featured a presentation by ex-school counsellor Mr Leon Chng, who shared valuable insights into how Singapore addresses teen\u2019s bullying. His sharing provided a practical overview of counselling strategies, school-based interventions, and support mechanisms tailored to the local context.<\/span>\r\n

Group Photo<\/p>\r\n\"\"<\/div><\/div>

Publications by Co-Director A\/P Lee Jungup<\/a><\/h3>
24 July 2025 <\/div>We are pleased to share that SSR\u2019s Co-Director A\/P Lee Jungup have co-authored the following journal articles: \"Typologies of childhood maltreatment and associations with internalizing symptoms among university students in Singapore: A latent class analysis\", \"Hidden pandemic in the field of family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method study of the practice experiences of family services\u2019 social workers in Singapore\" and \"A scoping review of theatre of the oppressed as an empowering prevention strategy against LGBTQ-based aggression.\"\r\n\r\nThe published journal articles are:\r\n
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  1. Lee, J<\/strong>., Munisamy, Y., Tan, A., Yoon, S., Kim, J., & Pon, A. (2025). Typologies of childhood maltreatment and associations with internalizing symptoms among university students in Singapore: A latent class analysis. PLOS ONE. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0320851\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Kuah,\u00a0N., Chuah, X. J., Lee, J.<\/strong>, Yum, S. T., Ong, P. N., Phua, C. Y., & Dhaliwal, S. S. (2025). Hidden pandemic in the field of family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method study of the practice experiences of family services\u2019 social workers in Singapore. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/29949769.2025.2503761<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Puvaneyshwaran, D., Lee, J<\/strong>., & Tan, R. K. J. (2025). A scoping review of theatre of the oppressed as an empowering prevention strategy against LGBTQ-based aggression. Sexuality & Culture. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12119-025-10391-8<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nShe has also published conference articles \"Deconstructing depression stigma: Integrating AI-driven data collection and analysis with causal knowledge graphs\" and \"Empowering social service with AI: Insights from a participatory design study with practitioners\" in the 2025 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.\r\n\r\nThe referred conference articles are:\r\n
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    1. Meng, H., Zhang, R., Wang, G., Yang, Y., Qin, P., Lee, J<\/strong>., & Lee, Y-C. (2025). Deconstructing depression stigma: Integrating AI-driven data collection and analysis with causal knowledge graphs. Proceedings of the 2025 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/3706598.3714255<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
    2. Tan, Y., Soh, K. X., Zhang, R., Lee, J.<\/strong>, Meng, H., Sen, B., & Lee, Y-C. (2025). Empowering social service with AI: Insights from a participatory design study with practitioners. Proceedings of the Extended Abstract of the 202 ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/3706599.37197<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol><\/div><\/div>

      Congrats to A\/P Ong Ee Cheng for Winning FASS Inspiring Mentor Award 2024<\/a><\/h3>
      02 April 2025 <\/div>We are pleased to announce that SSR Co-director Associate Professor Ong Ee Cheng has won the FASS Inspiring Mentor Award 2024! Congratulations on her award!<\/div><\/div>

      A\/P Irene Y.H. Ng\u2019s Promotion to Full Professorship<\/a><\/h3>
      06 February 2025 <\/div>We are pleased to announce that Associate Professor Irene Y.H. Ng, SSR Founding Director, has been promoted to full Professorship, which took effect from 1 January 2025.\r\n\r\nCongratulations on her well-deserved promotion!<\/div><\/div>

      Publications by Co-Director A\/P Lee Jungup<\/a><\/h3>
      22 January 2025 <\/div>We are pleased to share that SSR\u2019s Co-Director A\/P Lee Jungup have co-authored the following journal articles: \"Cyberbullying victimization and mental health symptoms among children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies\", \"Secure base script knowledge and friendship quality as protective factors for bullying and victimization in elementary school\" and \"Young adults, mental health and help-seeking: What difficulties do they face? A Singapore-based study\".\r\n\r\nThe published journal articles are:\r\n