Yale NUS College

Scienmag reported on the research led by Associate Professor of Science (Computer Science) Robby Tan which used computer vision and deep learning to help resolve the problem of low-level vision in videos caused by rain and night-time conditions, as well as improve the accuracy of 3D human pose estimation in videos.

International Educator carried an article about global citizenship and how colleges around the world are developing “global citizens” prepared for engagement in an increasingly interconnected world, especially against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic which has changed the landscape of international education and mobility. On the meaning of global citizenship, Associate Dean of Students Dr Cory Owen said that it refers to “understanding our place within the world around us”. She added that true global citizenship takes time, commitment, and a willingness to re-examine our own cultural lens as we learn.

Inquirer, Philstar and other online media outlets reported that Yale-NUS alumna Joan Ongchoco (Class of 2017) has been named the first Filipino recipient of the William James Prize by the Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SPP). A PhD candidate at Yale University, Joan received the prize during the 47th annual meeting of the SPP for her work ‘Figments of imagination: Scaffolded attention creates non-sensory object and event representations’.

Business Insider carried an article on how having a ‘growth mindset’ can help people improve problem-solving skills, based on research from Yale-NUS College. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe explained that people with growth mindsets see interest or a spark of curiosity as something that can be developed.

Mediacorp Channel 8 Chinese news bulletin 《狮城有约》’Hello Singapore’ interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan (from 20:45 to 31:18) on her research on educational inequality and the Singaporean primary school enrolment process.

CNA published a commentary by Yale-NUS Visiting Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) John Driffill on the G7’s groundbreaking agreement on a minimum effective corporate tax. The article examined how this could fund important infrastructure and social services needed for a post-COVID recovery.

The Straits Times reported on research conducted by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan and Lecturer at the Yale Department of Sociology Dr Mira Debs on educational inequality and the Singaporean primary school enrolment process. The researchers suggested that a simplified choice structure with a more limited set of choices can better support parents, especially those with the most limited resources.

CNA published a commentary by Dr Navin Rajagobal, Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Global Affairs) and Director, Academic Affairs, about the US’ exit from Afghanistan. He noted that the rushed nature of the US exit amid a questionable peace process has emboldened the Taliban and other extremist groups, and engendered more suffering for the Afghan people. While leaving Afghanistan is inevitable, it need not be hurried or chaotic, nor should it be an abandonment of the people of Afghanistan.

South China Morning Post carried a report on soaring commodity prices and the potential impact of a commodities supercycle – a long-term trend of high commodity prices – which could sting Chinese manufacturers and affect China’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Yale-NUS Visiting Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) David Jacks noted that while all commodities prices are poised to rise further this year, this probably does not constitute the beginning of another supercycle.

TODAY carried an in-depth feature on the topic of racism, noting that activists, community organisers and academics agree that conversations on race need to move forward productively in the age of social media where tensions are inflamed easily. Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Sociology and Public Policy) Anju Mary Paul was quoted on her comments delivered at a webinar organised by Academia.sg, where she said that the CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others) model serves as a neat and a simple model which helps people go about their daily lives, but “as Singapore society becomes increasingly complex, this model is showing some strain.”

The Times of India carried a commentary written by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee on the aftermath of India’s deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the impact of COVID-19 on India’s place in the Quad grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia and India in managing China’s influence on Indo-Pacific hinged on what India’s post-pandemic economy and military could deliver to countries looking to secure their own interests in the face of China’s rise.

Scienmag reported on a recent paper published by Dr Vinod Kumar Saranathan, which described the discovery of the single gyroid – a complex, three-dimensional crystal – within feathers of the blue-winged leafbird. The findings showed that this species is able to directly synthesise single gyroid photonic crystals that have highly desirable optical and electronic properties, which make them ideal for use in photovoltaic cells to generate solar energy, as well as for other industrial applications like catalysis in fuel cells and fibre optics.

The Straits Times reported on the speech delivered by Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh at Yale-NUS College’s Graduation Ceremony held on 17 May 2021. Mr Singh listed four factors which he told the students would determine their success after graduation: fate and luck; a liberal arts education; personal relationships; and their attitude and adaptability.

MediaCorp 8world reported on the eight winners of the National Youth Entrepreneurship Awards (NYEA) 2021, which were given by the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) and focused on Singapore’s start-up ecosystem. Johann Wah (Class of 2022) won the silver prize in the ‘University and Open Category’, for his start-up Man’s Best Friend LLP, a sustainable apparel company.

Lianhe Zaobao reported on research conducted by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu, which found that while many people have heard of rumours relating to COVID-19, they themselves would not spread these rumours. However, anxiety could cause some people to make irrational decisions and share such rumours even when they did not believe them.

Nature carried a research paper published by a team of researchers, including Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Keng Shian-Leng and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe. It examined whether compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures is motivated by wanting to save lives or the economy, and discussed the implications of these motivations on the fight against the pandemic.

The Straits Times reported that Yale-NUS College was recertified as a Gold recipient in the National Parks Board’s Landscape Excellence Assessment Framework (LEAF) certification, with special mention for promoting community well-being and engagement. The report carried a quote by Dennis Aw, Director of Infrastructure, Safety and Security, who shared that the long-term aim of the rooftop community garden is to increase production through high-tech farming to ensure self-sufficiency.

Times Higher Education (THE) published a commentary by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe on how a growth mindset of interest may prove crucial for students in helping them build connections between seemingly disparate fields and ideas, and develop effective, interdisciplinary solutions that may change the world.

CNA carried a commentary co-written by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan on the powerful role peers can play to reduce school bullying. The commentary cited two recent studies involving primary school children and university students in Singapore, which found that a combination of strong parental and peer support, and empathy training, might be the way forward to effectively combat school bullying across educational settings.

The Straits Times carried a commentary on the decreasing attention spans of the average human, and the TL;DR – too long; didn’t read – phenomenon. While many experts attribute this to the Internet and the rise of mobile technology, Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu shared that the idea of previewing dense content through the help of a brief summary has always been around.

CNA carried a commentary by Yale-NUS Postdoctoral Fellow of Social Sciences (Comparative Politics and Environmental Studies) Yew Wei Lit, which analysed the benefits of cooperation between the United States (US) and China to battle global warming. Dr Yew noted that a mutual agreement between the two countries is necessary to meet the targets set in the Paris agreement and limit global warming.

Rewire, the journalism website of Twin Cities PBS, carried an article about emergency powers in relation to police brutality. In the interview, Yale-NUS Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Politics) Nomi Lazar explained that constitutions can divide political powers on the one hand, and provide immunity against powers on the other. But in an emergency, the day-to-day checks and balances that come with a constitution can slow down responses and even cause further disaster.

ScienMag reported on a study on tarantulas’ ubiquity conducted by an international team of researchers including former Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Science (Life Sciences) William Piel and former Postdoctoral Fellow Dong-Qiang Cheng. The study concluded that tarantulas first appeared in the Americas about 120 million years ago during the Cretaceous period, and their eventual entry into Asia suggested that they are good dispersers which are able to exploit ecological niches while displaying signs of niche conservation.

South China Morning Post carried a commentary on experts’ analysis about the diverging interests of China and the United States (US), and the pressure on member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to align themselves with either country’s position. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee opined that changes in alignments would depend on China’s behaviour in the region and that Southeast Asian countries currently maintaining a neutral ground were not guaranteed to pick the US if compelled.

International Educator magazine carried an article about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on international students and how institutions are supporting their well-being. In an interview, Associate Dean of Students Dr Cory Owen shared how students could be supported during this stressful situation. Yale-NUS’ wellness initiative, P.S We Care, which provides one-on-one confidential peer counselling on campus, was cited as one such support initiative.

South China Morning Post reported on the job losses in Singapore’s foreign workforce in 2020. According to the report, economists noted that foreign talent is still needed when the economy picks up. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) Deng Liuchun commented that foreign talent could also bring in cross-border connections, business know-how, scientific insights and cultural diversity, “which all contribute to Singapore as a global city”.

The Straits Times (ST) reported on the virtual Yale-NUS Global Affairs Lecture, ‘Addressing Inequality’, which took place on 30 March. The panel comprised former World Bank chief economist and Yale University Professor Pinelopi Goldberg; Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government International Political Economy Professor Dani Rodrik; and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Dean Danny Quah who was the moderator for the session. The experts concluded that while policies such as flexible work arrangements are helpful to reduce gender inequality, what is critical in the long run is sustained economic growth and investments in education. These in turn create good jobs for the middle class and reduce inequality for all, not just women.

BBC Radio 4 aired an episode regarding the Russo-Japan war in 1904 and 1905. Professor of Humanities (History) Naoko Shimazu was a guest speaker on the show, where she shared insights on the topic, such as how Meiji nationalism in Japan during the period influenced the Russo-Japan war.

Yahoo News carried an article on the impact of individual sustainable choices on the environment and interviewed Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Michael Maniates. Explaining the consumption and production chain, Prof Maniates said that “often, our ability to make a difference as individual consumers is limited because the real choices that might make a difference aren’t for sale”. However, he added that individuals can still make a difference through collaborative action, citing the example of citizen movements to ban single-use plastic in some parts of the world.

Financial Times carried a feature on climate activist Greta Thunberg and discussed “The Greta Effect”, which has become a subject of study and debate by activists, academics and executives. The article cited a paper by Yale-NUS alumna Anandita Sabherwal (Class of 2019), lead author of the paper, “The Greta Thunberg Effect”. Anandita, who is now a doctoral student at the London School of Economics had her paper published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. Her research showed that the effect that Thunberg has on her audience is one of the things that is unique about her, and that Thunberg has the ability to change people’s mindsets.

The Straits Times reported on research conducted by Yale-NUS alumna Joanna Chue (Class of 2019) and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan. The paper identified five aspects of mental resilience and demonstrated that students who had a higher degree of resilience were less susceptible to emotional burnout and psychological distress over time. Asst Prof Cheung said that the five factors of resilience uncovered by the study could be trained from a young age, and parents are key role models in how their children respond to difficult situations.

CNA interviewed Yale-NUS Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Sociology and Public Policy) Anju Paul for an article which analysed the potential implications of changing dynamics due to COVID-19 creating short-term bottlenecks in availability of foreign domestic workers. Assoc Prof Paul noted that unabated reliance on foreign domestic workers could lead to higher wages, in turn resulting in lower demand for these workers. She cautioned against a step back to a time when women would feel compelled to leave the labour force in order to shoulder their domestic caregiving responsibilities, and instead advocated “difficult but necessary conversations within the family and also within the nation” about how to divide up the load of care more equitably.

CNA’s podcast series, The Climate Conversations, interviewed Yale-NUS alumni Aidan Mock (Class of 2020) and Neo Xiaoyun (Class of 2019) about their essays in the book, Eating Chilli Crab In The Anthropocene, edited by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson. The pair spoke about the links between climate crisis and culture, specifically on the aspects highlighted in their essays – sustainable food habits and consumption, and actions addressing fossil fuels and carbon footprint. They also shared about how individuals and larger groups such as institutions and communities can tackle climate change, and discussed their views about the developments in the recent Singapore Green Plan 2023. The podcast mentioned that Aidan and Xiaoyun majored in environmental studies at Yale-NUS.

The Straits Times (ST) carried a commentary by Yale-NUS Governing Board members, Professor Richard C Levin and Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, who expressed their optimism that both Yale-NUS College and the National University of Singapore (NUS) College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) could thrive together and co-exist to promote liberal arts education in Singapore. As co-founders of Yale-NUS College, they noted that NUS’ investment in Yale-NUS has demonstrated how a liberal arts education could nurture creative, intellectually agile and engaged graduates who are well prepared for career success, societal contribution and global citizenship. They added that Yale-NUS, which provides an intense experience to an intimate cohort of 250 students a year, remained popular with applicants and more than 90 per cent of its graduates found jobs within six months. Yale-NUS’ success has inspired other schools in Asia to adopt the liberal arts model, such as Duke Kunshan University in China and Ashoka University in India.

In Episode 4 of CNA‘s four-part documentary on climate change, Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Marvin Montefrio and alumna Neo Xiaoyun (Class of 2019) were interviewed on their views about how food can impact climate change. Xiaoyun, who authored an essay in Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson’s book Eating Chili Crab in the Anthropocene, was featured from 3:40 to 6:48. Using the example of crab, she explained how food can contribute to carbon emission and the sustainability problem as its demand for this food has outpaces its ability to reproduce itself. She said that food choices can help to reduce carbon footprint, through eating more sustainably. Asst Prof Montefrio explained how different types of food contributed to climate change, such as through greenhouse gas emission, high energy utilisation, deforestation and land degradation. (Watch from 17.30 to 19.40)

HuffPost carried an article about the recent shootings of Asian American women at a spa in Atlanta. The article contained comments from Assistant Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Robin Zheng, author of the paper ‘Why Yellow Fever Isn’t Flattering: A Case Against Racial Fetishes’, who noted that “the hypersexualization and association of Asian women with sex work dates back to the 19th-century immigration laws and the provision of sexual services to soldiers during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War”.

BBC News reported on the decline in rankings for India’s democracy in reports by various think tanks. Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee noted that the rankings were useful for research and identifying broad trends, but were “unhelpful if one wants to minutely parse differences in scores from one year to the next, or between countries with very similar scores”. He added that this was an instance of academic discourse and concepts operating at a considerable distance from lived experience.

The Wall Street Journal carried an article on the analysis of commodity prices and the likelihood of an occurrence of a supercycle in the commodities world. The report carried a comments from Yale-NUS Visiting J Y Pillay Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) David Jacks who said that investors and policy makers should be a little skeptical about characterising the developments of the past six to 12 months as the seeds of a new supercycle.

TODAY reported on Yale-NUS students from The Signpost Project who have been helping tissue-paper peddlers by linking them up with government grants, support, or aid, such as those provided by the Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development. The project group, consisting of Nur Hazeem Abdul Nasser, Frances Pek, Ada Foo, Nikki Yeo, Claire Phua (all from Class of 2022) and Kenisha Alicia (Class of 2023), recently linked up with Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of state investment firm Temasek Holdings which supports ground-up initiatives that address urgent community needs during the pandemic, to put together 100 care packages for the peddlers.

The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao reported on a public lecture by Singapore’s former Foreign Minister George Yeo on 10 March, which was part of Yale-NUS College’s President’s Speaker Series. The reports noted Mr Yeo’s comments on various topics such as the current situation in Myanmar, US-China rivalry, the rise of nationalism, and Singapore’s response to COVID-19, and mentioned that the session was moderated by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang.

South China Morning Post reported on a public lecture by Singapore’s former Foreign Minister George Yeo on 10 March, part of Yale-NUS College’s President’s Speaker Series. The report noted Mr Yeo’s comments that the Tatmadaw (military) is part of the problem in Myanmar but must also be part of the post-coup solution, and that dissolving it would destabilise the country in the same way Western invasions of Iraq and Libya left security vacuums that were filled by Islamic State terrorist group.

Various science news sites like Science Daily, Scienmag and Medical Xpress reported a study by Yale-NUS alumna Joanne Chue (Class of 2019) and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan, which identified resilience factors to mitigate burnout in college students in Singapore. By identifying learnable components of resilience, their paper points to concrete, actionable ways that young adults can learn resilience, resulting in better mental health outcomes.

The Straits Times (ST) carried a feature article to commemorate International Women’s Day. As part of the feature, ST highlighted four men who were supporting women and gender equality in Singapore, including Yale-NUS alumnus Kristian-Marc James Paul (Class of 2019). The article mentioned that during his time in Yale-NUS, Mr Paul helped organise dialogues on gender and was part of The Kingfishers For Consent, a sexual wellness peer educators group at the College.

CNA carried a commentary by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu and alumna Bozy Lu (Class of 2019) who wrote about the bystander effect in relation to the recent case of the death of a foreign domestic worker. To avert future abuse cases, they noted that we need to understand the gap between a person’s intention to help and their actions. Psychology research tells us that a person has to overcome many mental barriers before they act in an emergency.

CNA carried the first episode of a four-part documentary on climate change titled ‘A Wicked Problem’, which featured Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Michael Maniates. Asst Prof Schneider-Mayerson spoke about the importance of collective action, governmental action and mass education in effecting real change. Prof Maniates argued that instead of evicting petrochemical companies from Singapore, which would do little to solve the issue of emissions but impact Singapore economically, Singapore could be smarter in its use of electricity, and faster and bolder in its deployment of solar power. Watch Asst Prof Schneider-Mayerson’s interview from 10:15 to 12:55 and Prof Maniates’ interview from 41:40 to 45:00.

BNN Bloomberg carried a video interview with Yale-NUS Visiting J Y Pillay Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) David Jacks on the rise of commodity prices and recent discussions of a supercycle in the commodities world. Professor Jacks mentioned that most commodities exhibit long-run trends and cyclical behaviour. He sees a rally in metals and mining into 2021.

Local major dailies such as The Straits Times (ST), Lianhe Zaobao, and Berita Harian reported that nine in 10 Yale-NUS graduates found jobs within six months of completing their final examinations, according to the 2020 annual joint graduate employment survey (JAUGES). The reports noted that 147 of the College’s 187 fresh graduates participated in this survey, and all its graduates secured jobs in a variety of fields, including information technology, consulting, financial services, education and the public sector. TODAY mentioned the College’s survey results in its report on the overall JAUGES 2020 findings.

Scientific journal Nature Physics carried a paper on the electronic transport properties of twisted monolayer–bilayer graphene, along with theoretical interpretations of the observed electronic structure. Associate Professor of Science (Physics) Shaffique Adam was one of the co-authors of the paper.

Scientific journal Science Advances carried a research study led by Assistant Professor of Science (Chemistry) Zhuang Bilin that studied the miscibility and dielectric constant of liquid mixtures to determine how well liquids mix together. Asst Prof Zhuang’s research team, which included students Gabriele Ramanauskaite (Class of 2022) and Koa Zhao Yuan (Class of 2023), developed a first-principles theory for polar liquid mixtures using a statistical field approach. The paper also mentioned that the research was a result of the Yale-NUS College Start-Up Grant and the Yale-NUS College Summer Research Programme.

CNA carried a commentary by Yale-NUS Visiting J Y Pillay Professor Chris Howell on the upcoming impeachment battle against former US President Donald Trump. Prof Howell noted that winning the impeachment battle will not resolve the longstanding problems faced by both Democrats and Republicans. Given that there are clearly insufficient votes in the Senate to impeach, and the incoming Biden-Harris Administration seems cool to the idea, it seems likely that Trump will be acquitted, and that acquittal will be taken as a win by Republicans and Trump’s supporters. To inoculate voters against Trumpism, the Democratic Party needs to address the root causes of this economic crisis which cannot be done through the spectacle of impeachment.

Lianhe Zaobao reported on the webinar ‘Reimaging Public Health: Global Leadership Perspectives for a Post-COVID World’, organised by Yale-NUS College on 4 February. The report noted comments at the event from Dean and Professor at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health Teo Yik Ying, who shared that the performance of a country in responding to a public health crisis depends on the leadership of the government and effective communication with the people.

CNA carried a commentary by Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Politics) and Associate Dean of Faculty (Curriculum) Nomi Claire Lazar. The commentary discussed the power of corporate influence on American politics and whether it could be detrimental to the health of a democracy. Assoc Prof Lazar explained we should expect corporations to do their part in protecting democracy. Where public and corporate interests align, as in the case of Facebook and Twitter’s suspension of Donald Trump’s account, it can be good for the nation.

TODAY reported on the ‘Public Health Equity & Vulnerable Communities in Singapore’ panel which was organised as part of Yale-NUS College’s Diversity Week. The report noted that the panelists addressed healthcare needs of marginalised communities, including people facing mental health issues, those with substance abuse challenges, and migrant workers. Panellists also spoke about how healthcare financing and accessibility can be improved, and how red tape can be minimised to make the healthcare system more efficient.

CNA carried a commentary by Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Politics) and Associate Dean of Faculty (Curriculum) Nomi Claire Lazar, which discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has warped our sense of time. She explained that when the rhythm of our daily lives are disrupted, and we lose synch with others in the community, it is important that people find meaning in the things they do to move forward.

Lianhe Zaobao reported on the Zero Waste Testbed Initiative@ South West, a programme by South West Community Development Council, the National University of Singapore, and Sembcorp to encourage youths to develop creative ideas to drive sustainability. Chai Sheng Lin (Class of 2024), member of student organisation I’dECO, said that I’dECO often organises recycling activities on campus, collecting on average 200kg of recyclables a day during each drive. With the new initiative, Sheng Lin believes I’dECO would be able to double the quantity of recyclables collected.

The South China Morning Post carried an article analysing United States President Joe Biden’s inaugural speech and new policies, and their impact on Asia. The article carried quotes from Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee, who noted that “rejoining the [Paris Agreement] accord is an important signal to the world that the US is ready and willing to play a leading role in global governance again instead of actively dismantling some parts of the international order while quietly watching other parts crumble.”

Berita Harian carried an article on Yale-NUS alumnus Ziyad Ahmad Bagharib (Class of 2018) who became a carpenter as he wanted to chase his dream of building his own homestead. The article noted that Ziyad, an anthropology major, used to engage in theatre work, before venturing into carpentry.

CNA carried a commentary by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu and Michelle Tan (Class of 2021) who wrote about how online dating and the formation of romantic relationships are changing in significant ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. They noted that COVID-19 had normalised online dating and encouraged people to forge deeper relationships; these trends encouraged serious relationships, and might lead to marriages in years to come.

The Straits Times reported about the recent raising of the minimum age for smoking to 21, and the responses of different individuals and experts on the topic. The report quoted Yale-NUS Emeritus Professor of Science (Mathematics) Jon Berrick, who said that a minimum-age model may not be effective in curbing tobacco use. Instead, he advocated a “tobacco-free generation” model in which tobacco sale is banned to anyone born from 2000, as this may eliminate tobacco use over time altogether. 

CNA carried a commentary by Yale-NUS Visiting Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) John Driffill on whether big pharmaceutical companies were helping to end the COVID-19 pandemic. These companies played a huge role in rolling out one of the fastest vaccines to be developed in human history, but Prof Driffill noted that there were other important factors in making that impossible task a reality, such as public and private contributions, and market competition.

Forbes carried an article about innovators and their interests, citing a study led by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe, which found that a strong growth mindset of interests predicted higher quality ideas. The article also carried Asst Prof O’Keefe’s quote from an earlier press release, which stated that the research provided a useful direction for organisations whose products and services called for integrated and creative solutions.

Yale-NUS Lecturer of Humanities (Visual Arts) Chen Yanyun was interviewed in The Straits Times after having received the National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award, which is conferred on arts practitioners aged 35 and younger. She is working on her next exhibition, Gently Savage, which responds to her late teacher French philosopher Anne Dufourmantelle’s works on gentleness.

The Straits Times reported on the study by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu, which was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. The study found that people who spent more time checking the news at the peak of the pandemic in Singapore were at a higher risk of feeling depressed, anxious and stressed. However, accurate and timely information from official sources helped to allay those fears.

The Guardian reported on a study, published in Climatic Change, led by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson on how the concern over the climate crisis is affecting people’s decision to have children. 96% of the 600 respondents were very concerned about the wellbeing of their potential future children in a climate-changed world.

ScienceDaily reported on a study by a team of Yale-NUS College researchers, led by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul A. O’Keefe, which found that viewing interests as developable, not fixed, can help people make connections among diverse fields that others might miss, with implications for innovation.

ScienMag reported on a policy research paper published in Climate Policy, co-authored by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) Francis Dennig, which noted that it may be an opportune time to introduce carbon pricing to tackle climate change as economics “build back better” due to the impact of COVID-19 on economies.

The New York Times carried an article on how children view friendship. It carried a comment from Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan who said that with age, children are better able to express the importance of their friends; they develop more peer relationships and begin to play in larger groups, but close friends remain much more important.

Science carried a commentary by Assistant Professor of Science (Computational Biology) Nathan Harmston who discussed the findings by a team of researchers that some pieces of sponge regulatory DNA (enhancers) can regulate gene expression  in zebrafish neurons.

Asia Research News reported on a discovery by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School, Erasmus University Medical Center, Yale-NUS College and Duke University which identified a new biomarker that can better personalise cancer therapy treatments for patients. Assistant Professor of Science (Computational Biology) Nathan Harmston is a member of the research team.

In CNA’s special programme on the US Presidential Election 2020, Vice President (Engagement) and Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Sociology and Political Science) Dr Trisha Craig spoke about the developments of the polling results as they trickled in on Polling Day.

South China Morning Post interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang on China’s President Xi Jinping’s speech marking the 70th anniversary of China’s entry into the Korean war.

The Straits Times carried a commentary about how universities are implementing interdisciplinary curricula across the humanities and sciences to prepare graduates for a changing world. The article mentioned the Yale-NUS Common Curriculum, which allows students to explore the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

CNA Asia Now reported that US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19. CNA interviewed Dr Catherine Sanger, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences (Global Affairs) and Director for Teaching & Learning, on her views on whether Mr Trump will change his messaging about the virus following his diagnosis.

East Asia Forum published a commentary co-written by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Steven Oliver on Singapore People’s Action Party (PAP)’s waning dominance. The authors argued that even if PAP’s dominance is waning, its general vision for Singapore may last well into the future as there are no indications among the electorate for a non-PAP government in the near future.

The BBC reported on a study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, which found that tarantulas have the ability to see in colour and suggested functions for their green and blue colouration. The research, jointly led by Dr Saoirse Foley from Carnegie Mellon University, and Dr Vinod Kumar Saranathan, in collaboration with Dr William Piel, both from the Division of Science at Yale-NUS College.

National Public Radio and various websites reported on the United States’ impending withdrawal from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu noted that her team is studying how many companies, cities and states are incorporating emission-reduction promises into their models of future emissions and warming.

Financial Times reported that a paper published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research noted that people who spent more time receiving COVID-19 pandemic updates were “more likely to display depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms”. The data was from a study by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu and Eddie Tong of the National University of Singapore psychology department.

CNA reported on the National University of Singapore (NUS)’ plans for a new college for humanities and sciences that could improve job prospects for students taking arts or sciences. The report also mentioned that Yale-NUS College, which offers an interdisciplinary approach similar to the proposed new college, tracks a higher overall employment figure than arts or science graduates with an honours degree (from 2:15 – 2:27 in video).

TODAY carried an article on the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) plan to push for interdisciplinary learning and sought industry opinions. Yale-NUS Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs) Joanne Roberts commented on the similarities between NUS’ proposed changes and the curriculum at Yale-NUS College. She noted that Yale-NUS looks forward to “working closely with NUS, sharing with and learning from them, as they embark on this new approach”.

Yale Daily News carried a feature article about the COVID-19 measures at Yale-NUS and responses from its community members, including senior administrators, faculty, staff, students and alumni. The article recounted the development of various measures as the COVID-19 pandemic situation evolved. The interviewees shared their experiences adjusting to the measures to curb the spread of the pandemic and how the community supported one another through the crisis.

CNA carried an interview with Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu, who discussed how information-seeking amid the pandemic has impacted our psychological health negatively, and how usage of the Singapore government’s official WhatsApp (Gov.sg) channel could alleviate some of this stress and anxiety.  She also shared tips on how people can balance news consumption better during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nature published a research paper by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu, students Jonas Tan, Ng Yi Ming, Wayne Toh, Regina Vanda (all Class of 2021) and Postdoctoral Fellow Nihit Goyal. The study was on the impact of cities on climate change and examined the link between mitigation strategies and emissions reductions.

The Straits Times interviewed Yale-NUS alumna and former national paddler Isabelle Li (Class of 2019). She spoke about her experience preparing for competitions such as the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2010, and how she coped with an injury. The article noted that she enrolled in Yale-NUS College after the 2015 SEA Games.

Lianhe Zaobao carried a feature on Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong, one of this year’s Singapore National Day Awards recipients. Prof Tan, who serves as the Chairman of the National Collections Advisory Panel, received the Public Service Medal for his important contributions to promote awareness of the country’s history and cultural heritage as well as further the development of museums.

The Straits Times reported on the 23 recipients of the Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarships. Ms Sundaram Mohan Shakthi, who has been awarded a Singapore Police Force scholarship, will be studying psychology at Yale-NUS College.

The Washington Examiner carried an op-ed by Dr Paul Gallagher, Assistant Dean of Saga College and Lecturer of Humanities, who wrote about Native American nicknames in sports. He noted that the relationship between the Europeans and the First Nations has been a tangle of admiration, contempt, fear, envy, friendship, and enmity.

The Straits Times reported on how university students had to be more resourceful in searching for internship opportunities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The report featured Adriel Yong (Class of 2023), who created a spreadsheet of about 300 internship listings which was shared locally and overseas to help overcome hiring challenges during COVID-19.

Japan Times carried a book review of Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Anthropology) Gabriele Koch’s new book, Healing Labor: Japanese Sex Work in the Gendered Economy. The review noted that Asst Prof Koch wrote with “an adventurous spirit and scholarly matter-of-factness”.

The Straits Times carried an article co-written by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Anthony D. Medrano, which explained how disruption to shipping activities from the coronavirus pandemic can lead to a potential rise and spread of non-indigenous species.

The Straits Times carried an article on a new book by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Eating Chilli Crab in The Anthropocene, which includes essays by his students who take fresh environmental perspectives from unlikely local subjects.

CNA carried a commentary by Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Sociology and Public Policy) Anju Mary Paul on the rules concerning foreign domestic workers (FDWs) on their rest days as Singapore moves to Phase 2 of the post-circuit breaker reopening.

Money FM 89.3 carried an interview with Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science), Rohan Mukherjee, which discussed the Line of Control along the China/India border after troops from both sides engaged in a deadly clash on 15 June 2020.

CNA carried a commentary co-authored by student Coco Oan (Class of 2022) about the negative impact that COVID-19 has on zero-waste efforts in Singapore, as the circuit breaker measures led to a spike in the use of single-use packaging.

Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung carried an interview with Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu, who spoke about climate change.

In The Economist on the growing tensions between India and China at Ladakh, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee commented on crisis caused by the friction of both sides adjusting to a more capable and more resolved Indian approach to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

CNA carried a commentary by Yale-NUS Postdoctoral Fellow of Social Sciences (Comparative Politics and Environmental Studies) Dr Yew Wei Lit about the recently proposed Hong Kong national security legislation.

Lianhe Zaobao (LHZB) featured student Huang Runchen (Class of 2022), a Global Affairs major, who has been regularly volunteering at a migrant workers’ shelter to provide assistance for foreign domestic workers (FDW) who faced difficulties with their employers.

ScienceDaily published a study on haptic feedback, led by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Christopher Asplund and SUTD’s Assistant Professor Simon Perrault. The findings was published in ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction and can help designers improve the usability of notification features in devices.  

TODAY carried an article on those spreading kindness and compassion during COVID-19. Kimberly Wee (Class of 2023), who is the creative lead of Project Postcard, an initiative that designs and sells postcards online to raise funds for migrant workers, was featured.

Tamil Murasu (TM) carried a feature on alumnus Krishan Sanjay Mahesh (Class of 2020). Krishan, a Ministry of Education (MOE) Teaching Scholarship awardee, was one of the graduates who participated in Yale-NUS College’s recent virtual graduation ceremony on 18 May 2020.

Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Politics) Nomi Lazar was interviewed in Maclean’s on how the coronavirus is affecting people’s sense of time, meaning, and purpose. The article also mentioned Assoc Prof Lazar’s book, Out of Joint: Power, Crisis, and the Rhetoric of Time.

TODAY reported on new book edited by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Eating Chilli Crab In The Anthropocene, which explores different perspectives of our environment using Singaporean life and culture.

CNA carried a broadcast report of Yale-NUS College’s first-ever virtual graduation ceremony. The report highlighted the speech by Minister for Education Mr Ong Ye Kung, noting that he called on those graduating this year to collectively reimagine and create a post-COVID-19 world, even in the face of these challenging circumstances.  

Phys Org carried an article about a study of the evolution of insects’ structural colours. Assistant Professor of Sciences (Evolutionary Photonics and Ornithology) Vinod Kumar Saranathan was one of the researchers in the study.  

The Straits Times (ST) reported that Yale-NUS College will be the first among the local universities to hold a graduation ceremony online after the coronavirus pandemic derailed plans for the 183 graduands’ graduation ceremony.  

International Higher Education carried an article (pages 24 to 26) written by Dean of Students Dave Stanfield and Wellness Manager Natalie Ang, which discusses Singapore’s response to the COVID-19 and its impact on higher education.

BMC Medicine published a research article co-authored by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) Francis Dennig that discussed the 2018-2019 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

CNN Philippines interviewed Lecturer of Humanities (Writing) Lawrence Ypi, on his book, The Experiment of the Tropics, which was announced as a finalist in the Lambda Literary Awards. He also shared how he is coping with the COVID-19 situation, and the things that guide his work.

The Business Times reported on how COVID-19 has improved the environment. Coco Oan (Class of 2022), who founded Project bECOme, an environmental project that aims to reduce single-use waste, spoke about her campaign to encourage businesses to provide disposable cutlery to customers only upon request rather than by default.

Scienmag carried a study by postdoctoral fellows Susanna Liljegren Bergman and Vitaly Mesilov, Xiao Yang (Class of 2021), and Professor of Science (Chemistry) Steven Bernasek, who found that bisulphate species in the exhaust stream are strongly connected to decreasing the effectiveness of exhaust remediation catalysts in diesel engines.  

The Straits Times reported about a campaign – Welcome In My Backyard (Wimby) – to encourage Singaporeans to be more welcoming when migrant workers are relocated to housing estates in a bid to curtail the coronavirus. Ethel Pang (Class of 2022) shared how she engaged families for the cause.

CNA’s Insight interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Steven Oliver on the episode on piracy attacks in Southeast Asia, in which he discussed the developments and contributing factors of piracy attacks in the region.

Scienmag reported on a study published in Biology Letters, which found that the wing cases of the fossil weevils contained preserved photonic ‘diamonds’. Assistant Professor of Science (Life Sciences) Vinod Kumar Saranathan was part of the team of researchers in the study.  

Channel 8 News carried a segment in their Hello Singapore broadcast at 6.30pm, which featured the pro bono online counselling service, ‘We Stand With You’ initiated by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Keng Shian-Ling for frontline healthcare workers in Singapore.  

The Straits Times carried an article about those keeping Singapore united with uplifting acts during COVID-19. Adriel Yong (Class of 2023) was featured for his efforts in creating a public directory of available internships and jobs to help students and fresh graduates find employment during this challenging period.

In an interview with The Straits Times, Coco Oan (Class of 2022) said that people should address concerns on using recycled and reusable containers in ways that least compromise our future needs. She is also the founder of student-run environmental sustainability initiative Project bECOme.

Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong and Professor of Social Sciences (Urban Studies) Chua Beng Huat shared insights into topics like the evolution of Singapore’s hawker scene, the role of language in the nation’s development, and the labour market and life during the 1960s and 1970s.

CGTN carried a broadcast report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted economies in the Southeast Asian region. Visiting Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) Edward John Driffill discussed the World Bank report’s findings of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Thailand.

CGTN featured interviews by Professor of Social Sciences (Urban Studies) Chua Beng Huat and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Jean Liu on the effectiveness of Singapore’s strategy to use contact tracing to combat COVID-19.  

The Straits Times carried a commentary by Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Politics) Nomi Lazar, who discussed social trust in a public health emergency, and explained that without social trust, people anticipate bad behaviour in others and respond defensively, such as stockpiling.

China Press reported about a counselling hotline service for frontline healthcare workers initiated by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Keng Shian Ling. According to Asst Prof Keng, such counselling services are crucial as healthcare workers face psychological burn out while dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Scienmag reported that Yale-NUS researchers found that amyloid plaque formation caused metabolic problems in the brain and physical damage that led to a loss of brain tissue. Their study revealed that lithium, a drug used to treat bipolar disorder, reduced the life-shortening effects of the lost tissue.  

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu and Laboratory Manager (Field Research) Dr Taylor Sloey were featured in ‘Carbon Conundrum’, a CNA documentary which discussed solutions that could help reduce reliance on carbon and tap on nature to overcome this global challenge – climate change.

Facilitate Magazine carried an article about Yale-NUS College’s win in the Facilities Management (FM) category at the 2020 Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Building Performance Awards.

The Straits Times reported that local universities are letting students write off their grades for modules this semester. Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs) Professor Joanne Roberts encouraged students to seek advice from their academic advisers as choosing such an option may impact how a future professional or graduate school views their transcript.

CNA Lifestyle carried an article about the causes and signs of bullying. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan noted that children who bully others might use it as a way to establish dominance and status within a peer group.

Assistant Professor of Science (Evolutionary Photonics and Ornithology) Vinod Kumar Saranathan, who recently conducted a study on iridescence in fossil weevils, was quoted in a Discover Magazine’s article that discussed how animals use iridescence to camouflage themselves from potential predators.

Science Direct reported that a group of alumni, students and faculty have published a research paper in the Journal of Molecular Biology on homeostasis (the replacement of dead cells) in adult organs, and the method of cell-to-cell communication that allows such replacement to take place.

Times Higher Education published a commentary by Yale-NUS Interim Director of the Centre for Teaching & Learning and Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Global Affairs) Dr Catherine Sanger on online teaching amidst the COVID-19 situation. She suggested ideas to promote peer-to-peer learning, design cheat-proof assessment and empower students to use their own voice.

BBC Worklife cited Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe’s research where he found that there are differences between people and their capacity to develop a deep engagement with what they are doing, and suggested that people should move beyond the idea of ‘finding your passions’.

National Geographic carried a feature about how otters are adapting to urban life in Singapore. Senior Lecturer of Science (Life Sciences) Philip Johns is part of a team studying the urban otters and has created an app, Otter Spotters, for locals to report sightings.  

Canadian newspaper The Star carried an op-ed by Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Politics) Nomi Lazar on the COVID-19 outbreak, noting that transparent communication is key to an effective public health response.  

Scienmag and various science publications reported on a study led by an international team of researchers which found that the global loss rate of mangrove forests is now less alarming than previously suggested. Reports noted that Yale-NUS College is one of the contributing institutions for this study.

The New Yorker carried an article about An Ecotopian Lexicon, written by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Brent Ryan Bellamy, an instructor at Trent University.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee wrote about the strategic competition in East Asia between the US and China.

Scienmag reported on a study published in Nature Communications on how tropical reforestation is a powerful tool for locking up large amounts of carbon emissions. Assistant Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Michiel van Breugel was one of the investigators of the study.

ScienceDaily reported on how biologists have new insight on how a butterfly species developed the ability to adjust its wing eyespot size in response to temperature. Associate Professor of Science (Biology) Antónia Monteiro is the senior author for this study published in eLife.  

Postdoctoral Fellow of Humanities (History) Dr Clay Eaton was interviewed on CNA‘s Singapore Tonight Show on the ‘Battle for Singapore’ programme. The programme by Singapore’s National Heritage Board encourages the public to look at different perspectives of Singapore’s history during World War II.

ScienceDaily, Scienmag and Phys.org reported on the research led by Associate Professor of Science (Biology) Antónia Monteiro, which found that both Bicyclus anynana caterpillars and adult butterflies can learn to prefer new odours if they are exposed to them during their development or early in life.  

ScienceDaily reported on the research by Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Stephen Pointing. Prof Pointing and his team discovered a link between two different ecosystems, continental Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, due to airborne microbes that travel from the former to the latter.  

TODAY interviewed Professor of Science (Environmental Studies and Geophysics) Brian McAdoo on the volcano eruptions on Taal in the Philippines and White Island, New Zealand.

TODAY’s article on environmental awareness mentioned that Aidan Mock (Class of 2020), one of the organisers of last year’s SG Climate Rally, said he expects climate issues to become “explicitly political” this year and the focus of youth activism to expand beyond environmental issues.

The Sunday Times’ feature on 10 new titles about the environment, included An Ecotopian Lexicon, a book co-edited by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson. The book gathers 30 loanwords from around the world that could help reshape the language with which people talk about environmental crisis.

Lianhe Zaobao carried an article on Farm to Fork, a programme by the Yale-NUS Urban Farm in which students grew and harvested vegetables on campus under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Marvin Montefrio, and cooked them in a masterclass conducted by Yale-NUS dining partner Sodexo.

CNA carried a commentary by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu who noted that the latest research showed that human efforts to tackle climate change needed to be increased five-fold.

Physics World reported that Journal of Physics A has published a study by Assistant Professor of Science (Mathematical and Computational Science) Michael Gastner and Kota Ishida (Class of 2020). They studied the voter model and used it to investigate social networks.

Assistant Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Michiel van Breugel was listed as a co-author in a study published in Nature. In the study, the authors explored how nitrogen-fixing trees in tropical rainforests could capture carbon from the atmosphere.

8World carried a story on meatless dining at Yale-NUS as part of a news clip marking International Meatless Day on 25 November 2019.

Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Stephen Pointing wrote a blog post in Nature Microbiology Community to explain his paper “Air mass source determines airborne microbial diversity at the ocean–atmosphere interface of the Great Barrier Reef marine ecosystem”.

South China Morning Post wrote about Africans in Singapore who find “a place like home” in various communities. The article featured Yale-NUS Afro Society (YAS) which comprises a mix of international students who are African or Caribbean natives, or have family origins in Africa.

The Straits Times reported on the launch of Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong’s book, The Idea Of Singapore: Smallness Unconstrained. The book is a collection of President Tan’s lectures on Singapore’s evolution over the past 700 years.

CNA‘s current affairs programme ‘Insight’ interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang who spoke about US relations in the Pacific, and discussed US-Taiwan relations in light of the growing tension between the US and China.

Business Standard reported on the lecture by Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong, who spoke at the Singapore Sikh Community Lecture Series, held as part of the larger celebrations for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

ABC Radio National interviewed Bryan W Van Norden, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor at Yale-NUS College about racism and the legacy of Immanuel Kant.

Lianhe Zaobao carried an article on the pilot programme that gives Yale-NUS students the opportunity to apply their final year capstone project to industry challenges via industry internships.

TODAY carried a commentary by Roslyn Teng (Class of 2018) on how she works remotely as part of the digital marketing team at Ampjar, an email marketing platform and advertising community.

The Straits Times reported on the research by Yale-NUS College which identifies treatment of metabolic dysfunction as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. The team of researchers was led by Assistant Professor of Science (Biochemistry) Jan Gruber.

Berita Harian featured Yale-NUS student Ahmad Musthofa Murdifi (Class of 2021), a scholarship recipient of the Muslimin Trust Fund Association (MTFA). Ahmad received S$28,000 to pursue a Double Degree Programme in Law and Literature at Yale-NUS College.

Nature highlighted the research by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu and her colleagues, who discovered that in 18 of the 25 cities investigated, the burden of urban heat fell more heavily on less affluent neighbourhoods than on richer districts.

The Straits Times reported on the start-up founded by Yale-NUS students Johann Wah, Glen Ang, Hwy Kim, Tejas Pal, and Keith Wo (all Class of 2022) and University of Oxford student Mr Nicholas U Jin. The start-up manufactures shorts that are water-, stain-, and odour-resistant.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson was quoted in a BBC article that looked at how couples are rethinking having children because of climate change.

Firstpost carried an article about Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Parashar Kulkarni and his debut novel, Cow and Company. The article discussed Asst Prof Kulkarni’s inspiration for the novel, and how his research was heavily reflected in his fiction.

CNA Digital carried a commentary by Yale-NUS Postdoctoral Fellow Yew Wei Lit who discussed the lead-up to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in light of the recent Hong Kong protest.

China Global Television Network carried an article on the global issue of sand shortage. The article featured comments by Professor of Science (Environmental Studies and Geophysics) Brian McAdoo, who attributed the sand consumption to rapid growth in Asia, which creates high demand for sand to be used in construction.

The Straits Times reported about the first Singapore Climate Rally, where many people turned up to collectively urge the government to take stronger action in mitigating the climate crisis. Yale-NUS student Aidan Mock (Class of 2020) was one of the organisers of the rally.

CNA examined whether biodegradable plastics is a suitable option for Singapore. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Marvin Montefrio was quoted saying that there are merits in the shift towards biodegradable alternatives.

ScienceDaily reported on the discovery of a new quasiparticle named ‘polaronic trion’, found in molybdenum disulphide (MoS2). Associate Professor of Science (Physics) Shaffique Adam was one of the lead authors involved in the research.  

South China Morning Post wrote about how the rising seas are the biggest threat to Singapore in the short term. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Marvin Montefrio commented that Singapore also needs to think about mitigation of climate change as well as adaptation.

The Straits Times featured four youths who are involved in the battle against climate change. Among the four are Yale-NUS alumna Ms Angela Ferguson (Class of 2018) and student Coco Oan (Class of 2022).

Lianhe Zaobao (LHZB) carried a feature on Ms Helena Auerswald (Class of 2019) who will be heading to Yenching Academy of Peking University in China to pursue a Master’s in China Studies.

CNA carried a commentary by Postdoctoral Fellow of Social Sciences (Comparative Politics and Environmental Studies) Dr Yew Wei Lit, who summarised the recent events surrounding the protests in Hong Kong, and discussed how the conflict might be resolved.

The Business Times wrote about how individuals and corporations can mobilise society to engage in collective action to mitigate the effects of climate change. On the issue of reusable alternatives, they interviewed several experts, including Yale-NUS Assistant Professors of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Marvin Montefrio.

CNA carried an article about Japan’s ageing and declining population. Speaking on CNA’s current affairs programme, Insight, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) Xing Xia explained the reasons for this, including Japan’s aversion to immigration, and social stigma about women who work too much or who do not have children.

The Straits Times carried an article on a climate action rally that is planned for 21 September, in line with the global youth movement inspired by teen climate champion Greta Thunberg. Several Yale-NUS students and alumni were involved in the ‘green dot’ rally.

The Straits Times carried a listing of this year’s National Day Awards recipients, which included Dr Ng Li Fang, Head of Laboratories, Division of Science at Yale-NUS College. Dr Ng was awarded the Commendation Medal (Pingat Kepujian).

New Straits Times carried an article about Yeoh Jo-Ann’s new book, Impractical Uses of Cake, which won the Epigram Books Fiction prize last year. Professor of Humanities (Literature) Rajeev Patke was mentioned as one of the prize judges.  

Deccan Chronicle reported on the Urban Resilience Program 2019 that took place from 1 to 19 July in Chennai, India. This was organised by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in collaboration with Yale-NUS College, the University of British Columbia, and Cambridge University.  

Dr Yew Wei Lit, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Social Sciences, was interviewed on ‘The Pulse’, CNA’s weekly podcast hosted by commentaries editor Lin Suling, on the current protests in Hong Kong. Dr Yew’s interview can be heard from 1:53 to 13:00.

The New Yorker carried an article on aphorisms and why these fragments of wisdom have such an enduring form. The article featured Associate Professor of Humanities (Literature) Andrew Hui’s book A Theory of the Aphorism: From Confucius to Twitter, which, it notes, “does something oddly and interestingly different”.

ANCX, the lifestyle arm of the Filipino media corporation ABS-CBN, carried an interview with Lecturer of Humanities (Writing) Lawrence Ypil. The article featured his thoughts on his new book of poetry, The Experiment of the Tropics, on his decision to leave medical school, and on poetry in general.

Swarajaya Magazine featured Assistant Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Malcolm Keating’s new book Language, Meaning, and Use in Indian Philosophy: An Introduction to Mukula’s “Fundamentals of the Communicative Function”, noting that it shines a light on Indian linguistic theories by drawing on the works of Kashmiri scholar Mukula Bhatt.

SH China News and multiple Chinese news outlets (such as Sohu) covered the second iteration of China’s “General Education Conference” held in Shanghai on 28 Jun.

The Financial Times published an article about Singapore’s bicentennial, providing an overview of Singapore’s history and geopolitical significance. Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong noted that Singapore’s commemorations are not “trying to glorify [its] colonial past but to mark a pivotal event in [its] history”.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe was interviewed on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC Radio)’s podcast “Personal Best” about his research about fixed and growth theories of interest. Asst Prof O’Keefe’s interview can be heard from 06:40 to 08:53.

Oxford University Press published an article by Assistant Professor of Science (Evolutionary Photonics and Ornithology) Vinod Kumar Saranathan titled the Evolution of Insect Iridescence: Origins of Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystals in Weevils. It traces the evolution of vivid colours produced by 3D photonic crystals within elytral (wing casing) scales across all weevils.

Phys.org published an article about research led by NUS Professor Dean Ho and Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Christopher Asplund. The study found that a powerful artificial intelligence platform, CURATE.AI, could potentially be used to customise training regimens for individuals to personalise learning and improve cognitive performance.  

Assistant Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Michiel van Breugel and authors from other universities published an article on wood density in wet and dry tropical forests in Nature. This research is part of Asst Prof van Breugel’s research on secondary forests.

The New York Times’ “Smarter Living” newsletter published an article about finding one’s passion, carrying comments by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe who published research in 2018 on how two different ‘implicit theories of interest’ impacted how people approach new potential passions.

CNA carried a commentary by Professor of Social Sciences (Urban Studies) Jane M Jacobs on her thoughts about the blaze that took place at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

The Straits Times carried a commentary by Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong on the importance of Singapore’s hinterland to its economic development as a port city. He reviewed the history of Singapore’s economic development, and warned against neglecting nation-building in an era of globalisation.

The Straits Times reported on the U@live forum on the topic of education as a social leveler. Minister for Education Mr Ong Ye Kung, Yale-NUS College President Professor Tan Tai Yong, OECD Director for Education and Skills Mr Andreas Schleicher, and Ng Qi Siang (Class of 2019) were panellists.

The website of Heart, a commercial radio in the United Kingdom, carried an article about the St David Awards, noting that alumnus Mr Liam Rahman (Class of 2017) won in the ‘international’ category. The article highlighted that he studied at Yale-NUS College and majored in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).

The Straits Times carried an article on art installations that address environmental issues. The article quoted Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, who encouraged cultural influencers like authors and artists to engage environmental issues in their work.

The New Zealand Herald reported on a research led by Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Stephen Pointing which showed that a robotic rover can recover subsurface soil in the most Mars-like desert on Earth. The findings will aid the search for signs of life during future planned missions to Mars.

The Straits Times carried an edited excerpt of the speech that Yale-NUS College President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong gave at the IPS-Nathan Lecture Series. At the lecture, President Tan discussed Singapore’s dual identity, a tension between an inwardly-focused nation-state and an outwardly-facing global cosmopolis.

CNN reported on research led by Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Stephen Pointing, which showed that a robotic rover can recover subsurface soil in the most Mars-like desert on Earth. The study was published in the journal  Frontiers in Microbiology.

The Telegraph, a key newspaper in India, noted that Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong gave a talk titled “A tale of two cities: Singapore and Calcutta” at the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta on 26 February.

Human Resources Online, a news portal for HR practitioners, published the results of the Graduate Employment Survey 2018. The article noted that Yale-NUS College was one of the schools where more than nine in ten fresh graduates were employed within six months of completing their final exams.

The Straits Times carried a commentary by Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong, who wrote that long before Europeans arrived in Singapore, Asians were already making Singapore a hub for trade, money and ideas in the eighth century.

TODAY reported on the conference titled ‘Much More Than Academic Abilities’, organised by the Singapore Management University, which featured speakers Dr Maliki Osman, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs, and Yale-NUS College President Tan Tai Yong, amongst others.

Lianhe Zaobao and The Business Times carried articles on The Future of Our Pasts Festival (TFOOPFest) a month-long event organised by Yale-NUS in support of the Singapore Bicentennial.

TODAY carried a commentary by Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong in which he discussed Singapore’s history in light of the Singapore Bicentennial, and highlighted various projects of The Future of Our Pasts Festival.

The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao reported on the launch of ‘The Future of Our Pasts Festival’. The festival, by Yale-NUS College in support of the Singapore Bicentennial Office, featured an interactive theatrical installation, films, and graphic novels. The launch was officiated by Education Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung.

South China Morning Post carried an article on interracial dating in North America and the fetishisation of Asian women. It quoted Assistant Professor of Humanities Robin Zheng, who described fetishisation as “a person’s exclusive or near-exclusive preference for sexual intimacy with others belonging to a specific racial group”.

Lianhe Zaobao reported that seven Raffles Institution alumni have organised an exhibition focussing on remittance letters sent home by Chinese migrant workers in Singapore in the 20th century.

The Straits Times reported on Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong’s IPS-Nathan lecture, titled ‘Singapore’s Story: A Port City In Search Of Hinterlands’, which occurred at Yale-NUS College on 30 January 2019. The lecture was President Tan’s third in a series which started in September 2018.

Faris Joraimi (Class of 2021) was featured in CNA documentary ‘Becoming Singapore’. He spoke about Singapore’s history from his perspective as a Singaporean Malay. His interview, shot on Yale-NUS campus and other parts of Singapore, appeared at 24:47 to 29:01.

Lianhe Zaobao carried a feature on Yale-NUS part-time language instructor Ms He Ying Shu, who originally hailed from Hunan, China, and moved to Singapore at the age of 15. The article featured her journey of getting to know the country through various local arts and cultural activities.

The South China Morning Post carried an article on Singapore’s bicentennial celebrations. The article quoted Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong, a member of the advisory panel for the bicentennial.

TODAY carried a commentary by alumnus Peter Lewis (Class of 2018) who works at Karana, a Singaporean plant-based food start-up. In the article, Mr Lewis shared his journey from an avid meat-lover to flexitarianism, vegetarianism and eventually veganism.

The Straits Times carried an article on writer Amitav Ghosh, who gave a public lecture at Yale-NUS College on the topic “Can the non-human speak?” as part of its President’s Speaker Series.

The Straits Times published an article on Assistant Professor of Science (Biochemistry) Jan Gruber’s discovery of a combination of pharmaceutical drugs that not only increases healthy lifespan in the microscopic worm Caenorhabditiselegans species but also delays the rate of ageing in them, a finding that could someday mean longer, healthier lives for humans.

CNA carried an commentary written by Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong about Singapore’s upcoming Bicentennial initiative, where he noted that the Bicentennial has to be sensitively framed and shaped to be an inclusive process.

Professor of Social Sciences (Urban Studies) Chua Beng Huat’s book Liberalism Disavowed: Communitarianism and State Capitalism in Singapore was listed on the “Best Books of 2018” list by Foreign Affairs magazine.

In an article on the government’s focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, CNA interviewed alumnus Mr Sean Saito (Class of 2017) on his experience as a fresh graduate at software company SAP and how his liberal arts education at Yale-NUS has benefitted him in his career.

In an article about “yellow fever”, the fetishisation of Asians, Assistant Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Robin Zheng noted how Asian women are viewed as less competent than men in non-sexual areas and are therefore locked out of powerful and high-status careers and leadership roles.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Kim Dong Jung wrote a commentary for Chatham House (published on Medium) arguing against the United States’ current protectionist trade policies against China. He argues the country’s security is best served by pursuing policies that maximises its power, including economic power, relative to other states.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu co-written an article in The European Sting, which highlighted the Urban Environment and Social Inclusion Index (UESI), which is one of the few tools that allow cities to understand whether they are meeting sustainability and inclusion goals.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu was interviewed on BBC regarding her involvement in the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 24), and the current state of environmental efforts by countries following the Paris Climate Summit Treaty of 2015.

The Straits Times carried an article about the President’s Young Talents awards ceremony. The article noted that Lecturer of Humanities (Visual Arts) Ms Yanyun Chen is a finalist and has won the $5,000 People’s Choice Award for her work, The Scars That Write Us, which features keloid scars.

Associate Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Amber Carpenter was featured on ABC News Radio’s podcast programme The Philosopher’s Zone, where she shared about the congruence between Platonic philosophy and Buddhism, particularly with regard to their ideas on moral development and “turning the soul” towards reality.

Berita Harian featured Yale-NUS College student Ahmad Musthofa Murdifi (Class of 2021) who received a scholarship of $1,200 from the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Memorial Scholarship Fund Board (LBKM).  

eLife, a publication with a focus on life and biomedical sciences, carried an interview with Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Sociology and Public Policy) Anju Mary Paul, who is writing a book called Asian Scientists on the Move. The book is based on her research on the migration patterns of Asian bioscientists.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Laura Severin penned a commentary on that refutes the argument that a liberal arts education is limited to those with familial or financial privilege, in response to discussions born out of an earlier piece on the value of liberal arts by Director of Common Curriculum Professor Terry Nardin.

The book Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto by Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor Bryan Van Norden was discussed in a recent article in the New York Review of Books, which was written by Pulitzer-Prize winner Ian Johnson.

The Yale Daily News carried an article on how Yale-NUS intends to strengthen the ongoing ties with Yale University, to which Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong shared that the College is looking at hosting more Yalies and facilitating collaborative research projects across the two schools.

CNA carried a commentary written by Associate Professor of Social Sciences (Sociology and Public Policy) Anju Paul, who argued that Singaporeans should treat foreign domestic workers (FDW) like human beings instead of like robots or commodities.

The Straits Times reported on plans for a memorial to honour the pioneer leaders of Singapore with a committee calling for ideas on how it would look like. Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong has been added to the Founders’ Memorial Committee (FMC).  

Berita published an article by Ilya Katrinnada’s (Class of 2018) research on the Acehnese society where she discusses her experience in Aceh and how the Muslim community there has been stereotyped and looked upon negatively.

The Straits Times reported that the National University of Singapore (NUS) had started a new endowed fund in honour of former NUS president Professor Tan Chorh Chuan. During his tenure as the university’s president, one of the key initiatives he spearheaded was the setting up of Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s first liberal arts college.

TODAY featured an opinion piece by Ng Qi Siang (Class of 2019), who expressed his thoughts about what it means to love Singapore. He noted that loving one’s country means to desire its continual improvement over time and that society should strive to build a more inclusive and prosperous Singapore.

Yale Alumni Magazine carried an article on Yale-NUS’ first cohort of graduates in its Sep/Oct 2018 issue. The graduates shared their experiences as the pioneer cohort of the College, the opportunities provided by the College, and how their Yale-NUS education has helped them in their postgraduate pathways.

Professor of Humanities (History) Naoko Shimazu was a guest speaker on the BBC World Service Radio Programme ‘The Forum’, where she and two other experts in modern Japanese history spoke on the ‘Making of Modern Japan’ to mark the centenary of the Meiji Restoration of 1868.

El Tiempo featured Sebastián Cortés (Class of 2018) who participated in the seventh edition of the Learners’ Voice, a programme of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) that brings together 20 youths from 17 countries.

The Straits Times carried a prominent feature of Stefan Liew Jing Rui (Class of 2020), who is one of the five President’s Scholarship recipients this year. The President’s Scholarship is the most prestigious of all undergraduate awards given out by the Public Service Commission.

The Straits Times reported that 19-year-old Stefan Liew (Class of 2022) will be pursuing liberal arts at Yale-NUS College. Stefan is a recipient of the Singapore Police Force Scholarship, one of the most prestigious scholarships awarded by the Public Service Commission.

Phys.Org reported that Associate Professor of Science (Physics) Shaffique Adam is the lead author of a recent work published in the peer-reviewed academic journal Science that describes a model for electron interaction in Dirac materials, a class of materials that includes graphene and topological insulators, solving a 65-year-old open theoretical problem in the process.

Mount Desert Islander carried a commentary by Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences (Global Affairs) Nancy Gleason on education and changes in the job market in the face of increasing automation. She highlighted that resilience and creativity are two key skills needed to adapt to the way of life.

The Diplomat carried an article co-written by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee that discussed the Joint Statement issued by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thirteen years ago, in which the United States resolved to achieve “full civil nuclear energy cooperation” with India.

The Atlantic carried an article on the research by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul A O’Keefe, which examined the “fixed theory” and “growth theory” about interest and how each theory influences individuals’ learning and development.

Scienmag reported on research by Associate Professor of Science (Biology) Antónia Monteiro to modify both colour and morphology (physical characteristics) of a butterfly’s wing scales. The study was published in the journal Cell Reports.

Assistant Professor of Social Science (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee wrote an article on international relations between Japan and India in The Diplomat. He explained why Japan and India may be best served by their existing alignment instead of pursuing an alliance.

Marie France Asia carried an article written by Kanako Sugawara (Class of 2020), who interviewed her classmate Guadalupe Lazaro (Class of 2020), founder of polymer clay jewellery brand rae-clay.

The New York Times carried an opinion piece by Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor and Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Bryan Van Norden, who argued that the rights to the freedom of speech does not give the ignorant the right to an audience.

The Philosopher’s Eye, a philosophy blog, interviewed Assistant Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Robin Zheng who spoke about her work at Yale-NUS and her article ‘Precarity is a Feminist Issue: Gender and Contingent Labor in the Academy’ published in journal Hypatia.

Newsweek reported that Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul O’Keefe and Stanford psychologists Carol Dweck and Gregory Walton have found that the theory on fixed and growth mindsets could be applied to better understand how people approach their talents and abilities.

Eco-Business.com reported that Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Michael Maniates spoke at a plenary dialogue at a film and photography exhibition about climate change, held in conjunction with the United Nations World Environment Day.

Berita Harian featured Class of 2018 graduand Nur Diyanah Bte Kamarudin, who will be heading to L.E.K. consulting upon graduation.

The Straits Times interviewed Assistant Professor in Social Sciences (Anthropology) Neena Mahadev on the practice of releasing animals on Vesak Day and on other special occasions, known as “fangsheng” among Chinese Buddhists, and “jiwitte dana” (the gift of life) among Theravada Buddhists.

The Straits Times reported on Yale-NUS College’s second graduation ceremony held on 28 May 2018. ST also interviewed some Yale-NUS students who were bridging the gap between liberal arts and sciences.

Inquirer.net, the online platform of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, carried a commentary co-authored by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Marvin Montefrio, on the threat of rapidly expanding oil palm plantations on indigenous lands and food security in Palawan.

The Jakarta Post featured the annual Writers’ Series held by The Jakarta Post Writing Centre. Professor of Humanities (Writing) and Director of the Writing Programme Robin Hemley and Lecturer of Humanities (Writing) Lawrence Ypil were speakers at the event.

The Hindu carried comments by Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong on India’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN).

CNA carried a commentary by Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) and Director of the Common Curriculum, Terry Nardin, who discussed the value of a liberal arts education.

Wired UK carried an article that discussed how the average size of animals might shrink over time. Assistant Professor of Science (Environmental Studies) Jennifer Sheridan commented that the search for the link between animal size and temperature should not stop because as it could impact the balance of ecosystems.

The Straits Times reported on the discovery by scientists from Yale-NUS College and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences of five new species of Southeast Asian frogs from a group of approximately 400 museum specimens which researchers had long thought belonged to only two species.

Phys.org reported that researchers from Yale-NUS College and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences have discovered five new species of Southeast Asian frogs from a group of museum specimens that was believed to only contain two species.  

The Straits Times carried an article on two emerging comic creators based in Singapore, one of whom is Scott Lee Chua (Class of 2020), who is the co-author of the graphic novel The Doorkeeper, which puts a Filipino twist on cosmic time travel.

Rappler reported that a team of students from Yale-NUS College won the Imagining the Future Scenarios competition at the Shell Powering Progress Together 2018, a global forum on technology, powering economies, and energy solutions.

The Straits Times noted that Yale-NUS College was hosting a public panel discussion titled “The Future of Public Health: Leadership Perspectives from East & West” on 19 March 2018.

South China Morning Post interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang on China’s reaction to President Trump’s demand for US$100 billion cut in the Sino-US trade gap.

CNBC reported on the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang on the possible outcomes of this meeting.

Top Universities compiled a list of the top anthropology schools in 2018 by region. It highlighted that in Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) offered anthropology courses under Yale-NUS, and that NUS’ ranking climbed from 25th to 21st over the past year.

The Straits Times (ST) reported that more than nine in 10 graduates from Yale-NUS College’s pioneer cohort secured jobs within six months of their final examinations, and the median starting salaries of $4,083 for graduates with Bachelor of Science with Honours and $3,500 for Bachelor of Arts with Honours degrees.

The Straits Times reported the results of a joint graduate employment survey that polled 11,628 fresh graduates of full-time courses. The Straits Times and TODAY (1) (2) noted that Yale-NUS’ first batch of graduates had an employment rate of 93.3 percent with an overall median pay of $3,500.  

ZDnet carried an article comparing cryptocurrencies blockchain and Ethereum (ETH). A recent study by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Science (Computational Sciences) Aquinas Hobor and other researchers found that ETH has a 0.36 percent fail rate.

The Straits Times supplement ‘Scholars’ Choice’ featured May Tay (Class of 2017), who received the Global Merit Scholarship while at Yale-NUS. May shared that the College gave her the opportunity to fully explore her options as she needed the time and flexibility to discover what she really wanted to do.

The New Paper carried an article on the efforts by Regina Vanda from Yale-NUS (Class of 2021) and Gauri Shukla from United World College Southeast Asia to get food companies to use environmentally friendly oil.

Tech in Asia carried a piece by Valerie Pang (Class of 2017), where she described the things she did that landed her an internship at Google, including doing nine internships, networking extensively, and founding social enterprise SDI Academy. A translated article was also carried in Viet Times.

Yale-NUS student Lloyd Koh (Class of 2021), a former Singapore Press Holdings Content Lab writer, wrote a lifestyle piece on Montreal in The Straits Times. He described how art and life in Montreal were inextricably linked, and how the culture was dedicated not to efficiency, but to celebrating creativity.

Lecturer of Social Sciences (Political Science) Benjamin A Schupmann contributed an op-ed to the Oxford University Press’s (OUP) blog on how people respond to the rise of extremist populism. Dr Schupmann recently authored Carl Schmitt’s State and Constitutional Theory: A Critical Analysis, which was published by OUP.

Times Higher Education reported the line-up of leading university speakers for the THE World Academic Summit from 25 – 27 September 2018, noting that it included Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong.

Bright Surf carried a press release announcing that Silvia Lara and Lai Ying Tong (both from the Class of 2018), were part of a team that found two different theoretical models of magnetoresistance to be equivalent. The research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Physical Review B in December 2017.

The Straits Times’ ‘Happenings’ section, which features upcoming events in Singapore, listed a talk by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Urban Studies) Nick Smith, who will be speaking at the East Asian Institute seminar about China’s Urbanisation Programme.

The Straits Times carried an article about the summit co-hosted by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In New Delhi. The article quoted Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong on the warm relations and broad-based engagement between the two countries.

Yale-NUS student Jamie Buitelaar (Class of 2018) was featured in Lianhe Wanbao. For her capstone project, Jamie decided on focus on Teochew opera as she realised that it was slowly declining in Singapore.  

Business Standard, an Indian business newspaper in English, carried an article written by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee outlining the relationship India has with Southeast Asia and the challenges India might face as China moved to assert itself more strongly in Asia and beyond.

The Diplomat, an international current-affairs magazine, published an article by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee and Dr Darren J Lim from Australian National University on the sources and impact of China’s economic leverage over Sri Lanka.

PURE Magazine, published by PUB Singapore, did a cover story on the Yale-NUS College campus. The story featured MediaCorp artiste and NUS alumnus Desmond Tan, who did a photoshoot at Yale-NUS and shared his experience as a student in NUS.

Branding in Asia, a news magazine focusing on the business of marketing and advertising, announced that Yale-NUS College has selected Hakuhodo Singapore as its collaborative partner for the College Admissions Campaign 2018. Hakuhodo previously collaborated with the College in designing the Yale-NUS College mascot, Halcyon the kingfisher.

The Straits Times carried the announcement on the new liberal arts and medicine pathway by Yale-NUS College and Duke-NUS Medical School. The pathway will start in August 2018 and prospective students can apply via the Yale-NUS undergraduate application. The article was also published by TODAY.

Planet Forward, a project of the Center for Innovative Media at the George Washington University, published an interview by Alaine Johnson (Class of 2018) and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Matthew Schneider-Mayerson on how literature, science fiction, and activism can transform the uncertainties of this dangerous era.

The Sunday Times interviewed three of the 20 best architects registered in Singapore under the age of 45. Among them was Ong Ker Shing from Lekker Architects, who cited the Yale-NUS campus landscape as “one of the largest and longest projects” the firm has undertaken to date.

In an article by Pakistan Christian Post on a new book series about Sikh Heritage in Pakistan by Amardeep Singh, Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong commented that the book was “another evocative volume that brings to life the forgotten legacy”.

The Straits Times reported that the National University of Singapore (NUS) has given Professor Tan Chorh Chuan – who served as its president for nearly a decade – the title of university professor, NUS’ highest academic appointment. Prof Tan oversaw the establishment of Yale-NUS College.

The Asian Scientist carried an article by Jolene Lum (Class of 2019) discussing the Singapore education system. She noted that while it produces individuals with excellent technical competency, there may be a gap in developing students’ curiosity.

The Straits Times reported that Yale-NUS President and Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong spoke at the press briefing for the Singapore Bicentennial 2019 about how the event will allow people to understand Singapore’s birth as a nation in 1965, including what shaped it and what challenges earlier generations had to overcome.

Times Higher Education (THE) published an article on the diverse dining options at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The report noted that former NUS President, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, oversaw the establishment of Yale-NUS College.

Quartz News published an article on global leaders who refer to philosophers as the inspiration behind their political outlook. Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities Bryan Van Norden argued that much of China’s President Xi Jinping’s interest in Confucianism is to encourage obedience within China but that may not lead to what he desires.

Asian Scientist carried an article on Postdoctoral Fellow Eunice Tan’s research on beetle colouration. Dr Tan and her colleagues discovered that bright colour patterns of beetles are a form of camouflage. Dr Tan’s study was recently published as an open-access article in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

The South China Morning Post reported that China has started to build its military presence near the Doklam plateau. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Rohan Mukherjee commented that as India was dominant in the region, it was necessary from China’s perspective to send reinforcements to form a balance.

YaleNews reported on Yale-NUS President Tan Tai Yong’s 10-day visit to Yale University in December 2017. He met with numerous Yale faculty and senior administrators, including Yale President Peter Salovey, Provost Benjamin Polak and Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences Tamar Gendler, to strengthen the relationships between Yale-NUS College and Yale.

The Straits Times carried an article about Yale-NUS students Daniel Ng and Cephas Tan (Class of 2018), who in September 2017 launched Youth-In-Form, a platform that links alumni with schools which do not have established or well-structured alumni associations, running talks and sharing sessions for students.

The Straits Times reported that Nicholas Carverhill (Class of 2017) has become the first Yale-NUS College student to be awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to further his postgraduate studies at Oxford University. The 22-year-old from Saskatoon, Canada intends to pursue a master of philosophy degree in development studies at Oxford.

Entomology Today reported on Associate Professor of Science Antónia Monteiro’s new research on butterflies. Her research team discovered sex hormones in insects regulating the size of sexual ornaments. The findings have been published in Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Berita Harian reported that Yale-NUS College and Surbana Jurong will work together to develop a digital plan for “Smart City in a campus”. The College and Surbana Jurong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon.

The Straits Times carried an op-ed by Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities Bryan Van Norden who examined Confucianism in China’s current leadership, specifically the Confucian roots of President Xi Jinping’s world view, and the relevance of understanding Confucian societies in the 21st century.

In a report on the APEC summit, The South China Morning Post quoted Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang saying that the messages by Donald Trump and Xi Jinping reflected the domestic sentiments in their countries, and the continued strategic competitions between China and the United States.

News18.com reported that Delhi’s air quality index (PM2.5) read above 600 on Tuesday. News18.com compared the situation to Beijing and cited an earlier quote by Yale-NUS Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Angel Hsu in The Guardian.

The Straits Times reported that Yale-NUS student Teo Xiaoting (Class of 2018), won the first prize for English poetry at the Golden Point Award, for her collection Diagnostics. The biennial award is a competition for short stories and poetry in Singapore’s four official languages.

Aeon carried an edited excerpt from Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities Bryan Van Norden’s book Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto (2017), published by Columbia University Press. Professor Van Norden argued that mainstream philosophy ignored and disdained the thought traditions of China, India and Africa.

Assistant Professor of Science Robby Tan was interviewed by Lianhe Zaobao on his latest research in computer vision. Prof Tan developed a new deep-learning algorithm which is able to remove rain streaks in videos that are captured.

In a TODAY article on the first joint naval exercise by China and ASEAN, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang said that the naval exercise would likely be the first practical application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.

Youth representatives from Yale-NUS College were among some 300 volunteers who distributed groceries to needy Woodlands residents. The walk was part of the annual Rahmatan lil Alamin (RLA). Berita Harian added that RLA gave a grant of more than $900,000 for more than 50 community, charity, and humanitarian projects.

The Verge carried an article on how the black wings of the rose butterfly have inspired a new type of solar cell that can harvest light twice as efficiently as before. Assistant Professor of Science Vinod Saranathan said that these butterflies were still outperforming current engineering efforts.

Associate Professor of Science (Biology) Antónia Monteiro’s research on butterflies was published in BMC Genomics. Co-authored with Nesibe Özsu, PhD candidate at the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, the study investigated the set of genes associated with the development of eyespot colour patterns.

Business Standard carried a piece by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee which analysed the tensions between India and China in light of the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam along the China-Bhutan border.

The Diplomat carried an analysis of Sri Lanka’s youth radicalisation problem and suggested a number of possible countermeasures. Yale-NUS College was cited as an exemplary example of a transnational educational partnership, and that a liberal arts education model was better suited to counter the narrow ideologies of radicalization than a technically-oriented ‘STEM’ educations.

The Straits Times carried a feature article on schools’ initiatives to build mental resilience and promote a positive school culture. Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Paul A O’Keefe was quoted as saying that parents and teachers are the main influences of children and the kind of mindset which they adopt.

Looking into Singapore’s 60 years of citizenship, The Straits Times carried comments from various thought leaders on whether Singapore was ready for dual citizenship. Yale-NUS President Tan Tai Yong opined that Singapore “may be losing good people” when Singaporeans living abroad are forced to give up their citizenship.

Part of The Straits Times’ feature on 60 years of Singapore citizenship, President Tan Tai Yong gave his comments on the impact of the landmark 1957 citizenship law. President Tan noted that Mr Lim Yew Hock “was prepared to be tough with the communists”.

Part of The Straits Times’ feature on 60 years of Singapore citizenship, President Tan Tai Yong gave his comments on the impact of the landmark 1957 citizenship law. President Tan noted that Mr Lim Yew Hock “was prepared to be tough with the communists”.

In an article examining the China-India border dispute, The South China Morning Post interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Rohan Mukherjee, among other analysts, and noted Asst Prof Mukerjee as saying that despite the disengagement of troops in Doklam, Beijing’s territorial claims and ambitions in the regions were unaltered.

CNBC carried an article which discusses China’s real reasons for enforcing sanctions on North Korea. The article featured comments from Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang, who noted that China will be looking for continued stability in its domestic and international affairs.

The Straits Times (ST) interviewed outgoing President of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Professor Tan Chorh Chuan. ST noted his comments on how NUS was constantly looking for new ways of learning and teaching, despite being Singapore’s oldest university. He oversaw the formation of Singapore’s first liberal arts college, Yale-NUS College.

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Matthew Schneider-Mayerson was featured in an article on a recent art-and-research residency called “Banff Research in Culture: Year 2067.” For his current book project, he hoped to move the needle from happiness as a “positive psychological state” to something more to do with satisfaction and contentment”.

War on the Rocks carried an opinion piece jointly written by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee and Darren J. Lim, a lecturer at the Australian National University. The piece examined the Sino-Indian power rivalry and its implications on smaller countries in the region.

The Straits Times (ST) reported on the study published by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Psychology) Cheung Hoi Shan, which found that social skills play a bigger role than vocabulary in a child’s likability.

Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities Bryan William Van Norden wrote a commentary in The Huffington Post on a recent tussle between two professors who teach about the European middle ages.

The Atlantic carried an article on how a team at Cornell University is using CRISPR to study animal evolution, a development that Associate Professor of Science (Biology) Antónia Monteiro called “the stuff of evolution”. The article also noted that Professor Monteiro’s research interest is also in butterfly patterns.

Project MUSE carried a journal article by Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, which focused on the impact of climate change on Singapore.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee, wrote a commentary on the recently held 2017 (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China. He discussed the 43-page declaration issued by the BRICS countries which included concern about continued terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.

Beijing Bulletin carried a commentary on China’s plans to launch a nationwide carbon-trading system in November to help curb greenhouse gas emissions and quoted comments from Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu. The commentary was also carried in Radio Free Asia.

The South China Morning Post’s article on the Sino-Indian thaw ahead of the BRICS summit carried comments from observers on the situation and noted a comment by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee who noted that the crisis had altered expectations on both sides.

USC News reported on a new research which found that the mode of transport used by people to get to their homes or workplaces could make an important difference to the jobs available to them. The paper was co-authored by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Urban Studies) Shin Eun Jin.

CNBC carried an article on US-China relations and interviewed Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Chin-Hao Huang who shared that China might be seeking to avoid a wave of refugees flooding into China, which could result from a breakdown in Pyongyang’s regime.

National Geographic carried an article on adaptations that insects have which gave them a survival advantage. Associate Professor of Science Antonia Monteiro and Assistant Professor of Science William Piel’s research on moths was highlighted.

The Straits Times carried an article on Changi Airport’s new Video-based Parking Guidance System (VPGS) and Assistant Professor of Science (Computer Science) Robby Tan was quoted saying that more societal problems could be solved as information could be extracted and extrapolated from this new infrastructure.

Berita Minggu featured Class of 2021 student Muhammad Faris bin Joraimi. Faris was amongst 248 students from 45 countries who started their studies at Yale-NUS this year with more than 8,700 students applied for a place in the College, which had more than 820 students from 65 countries.

In an op-ed in The Straits Times, Dean of International & Professional Experience Dr Trisha Craig gave her views on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s recent announcements at the National Day Rally.

In an op-ed on Huffington Post blog, Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities Bryan Van Norden discussed monuments of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and why they were erected.

Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities Bryan Van Norden was interviewed by Brigham Young University’s radio programme – The Matt Townsend Show – about the need for Americans to learn more about Chinese philosophy.

The New Paper featured Benedict Chan (Class of 2021) who is representing Singapore in Squash at the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. The article highlighted how Benedict drew inspiration from his coach Vivian Rhamanan, who will be playing alongside him at the SEA Games 2017.

The syndicated radio show Top of Mind interviewed Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Bryan Van Norden on the importance of Confucianism to contemporary China.

Online news portal Eco-business.com carried a report where Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor cited Yale-NUS College’s Sustainable Solutions Network (SSN) as an example of community partners playing an important role in sustainability. The SSN is an initiative by a group of Yale-NUS students.

As part of a National Day special, Yale-NUS Class of 2019 student, Tan Jia Hui, who is interning at the Business Times, contributed an opinion piece on Singapore, as well as her hopes and aspirations for the country.

Professor of Science (Environmental Studies and Geophysics) Brian McAdoo commented on the geological record contained within an Indonesian coastal cave. Professor McAdoo noted that the study represents the first time that cave data have been used to measure tsunami recurrence intervals.

The Straits Times published an article on Yale-NUS College’s fifth batch of students. The 129 Singaporeans will be joined by students from 44 other countries, with the largest number coming from the United States, India, China and South Korea.

The US edition of the China Daily interviewed experts on their views on the relevance of studying Chinese philosophy in US schools. The article quoted Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities (Philosophy) Bryan Van Norden who noted that traditional Chinese thoughts have continuing relevance to Chinese culture.

Times Higher Education published a blog post by Dean of International & Professional Experience Dr Trisha Craig on how the College prepared its inaugural cohort of graduates for their post-college pursuits.

Yale-NUS’ Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Visiting Professor of Humanities Bryan Van Norden wrote an article about the need for the United States to understand Chinese philosophy. This article was originally published in The Conversation and reproduced in multiple media outlets.

The Malaysian media outlet republished the earlier The Straits Times article (3 Jul) on curriculum flexibility at Yale-NUS College, which noted that most students have to declare their majors only at the end of their second year.

Graduates from Yale-NUS College as well as the Bachelor of Science (Business Analytics) and Master of Science (Business Analytics) programmes received their degrees at the first ceremony of NUS Commencement 2017 on 6 July 2017. The segment aired on Vasantham on 6 July, 8.30pm.

Graduates from Yale-NUS College as well as the Bachelor of Science (Business Analytics) and Master of Science (Business Analytics) programmes received their degrees at the first ceremony of NUS Commencement 2017 on 6 July 2017. The segment aired on CNA on 6 July, 10.00pm.

The Straits Times reported President of the National University of Singapore, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan’s comments at the 2017 commencement ceremonies that the pioneer batch of Yale-NUS graduates has helped NUS develop “a unique mode of liberal arts education that investigates complex issues from both global and Asian perspective.

Yale Alumni Magazine reported about former Yale president Richard Levin’s speech at Yale-NUS College’s first graduation ceremony which warns of the dangers of anti-globalist populism.

Ms Laurel Fantauzzo, Lecturer of Humanities (Writing) wrote an op-ed in the New York Times about the ground sentiments on Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, a year after he took office.

The Straits Times noted that there is greater flexibility at Yale-NUS compared to other institutions as students are allowed to change their major up till the end of the second instructional week in their graduating year. Mr Chua Yao Hui (Class of 2017), a former economics major, is now a software engineer.

Times Higher Education carried a commentary by Dean of Faculty Professor Joanne Roberts on the importance of mentoring, and understanding the needs of your staff.

Singapore has made a name for itself on the global stage through scientific and technological innovation. But what about the other less tangible qualities, such as creativity and critical thinking? Liberal arts education is essential for innovation, Professor Tan Tai Yong, President-designate of Yale-NUS College, tells GovInsider.

Marie France Asia featured Lesley-Anne Tan (Class of 2020), a full-time student at Yale-NUS, who is proof that age is no indication of success. Since the age of 16, she has co-authored the Danger Dan books with her mother, Monica Lim.

The Straits Times reported that NUS Business School student Mr Nicolaus Fernandez is among the eight students from NUS and Yale-NUS heading to Yale University for the Yale Visiting International Student Programme (Y-VISP). The article was also carried in The New Paper.

The Chronicle of Higher Education carried a feature essay by Professor of Social Sciences Michael Maniates on higher education and environmental sustainability in the post-growth world.

In an article by Asia Pacific Daily, Lecturer of Social Sciences (Political Science) Benjamin A. Schupmann and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee gave comments on US President Donald Trump’s new foreign policies and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The Hill carried comments from Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Science) Angel Hsu, on US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris agreement.

The Straits Times reported that ahead of their graduation, 60 per cent of the pioneer batch from Singapore’s first liberal arts college have secured jobs or offers to pursue graduate studies.

TODAY featured the achievements by the inaugural batch of Yale-NUS graduates. From not having done any programming, Mr Sean Saito went on to set up a coding academy that has taken more than 1,000 students – from preschool to university levels – under its wings in just a year.

TODAY interviewed Professor Pericles Lewis, Yale-NUS College’s outgoing president who noted that having a debate, yet keeping it civil, is a slice of Yale-NUS College that he hopes to take back to the United States, where political discourse has tended in recent times to veer into conflict.

Eco-Business featured an article by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Science) Angel Hsu on climate change being sidelined in favour of trade and national security discussions at a meeting of presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

The Straits Times featured meatless initiatives in Singapore. It mentioned that the meatless initiative at Yale-NUS was spearheaded by the Yale- NUS Association for the Protection of Animals from Cruelty. Starting in March, each of the College’s three dining halls has been serving a fully vegetarian lunch once a week.

SG Now highlighted a recent series of events organised by a group of NUS Law and Yale-NUS students to raise awareness on issues faced by migrant workers. More than 100 migrant workers and 300 student participants and members of the public come together for the week-long event.

The Star noted that Professor Tan Tai Yong has been named the new president of Yale-NUS College.

Gateway House carried an article by Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Political Science) Rohan Mukherjee, on the idea of a strategic grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India.

Campaign Brief Asia reported that Hakuhodo Singapore has created a snazzy new mascot for Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s first liberal arts college.

The Straits Times reported that historian Tan Tai Yong has been named the new president of Yale-NUS College. Professor Tan, 56, who is currently the College’s Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs), will assume office on 1 July.

eFinancialCareers noted comments by a senior Singapore-based portfolio manager who spoke the sidelines of the Singapore Asset Management Conference, organised by students at Yale-NUS College. He said that students who want to working in asset management face a shrinking job market as technology takes over from humans.

Times Higher Education carried a commentary by Charlotte Evans, programme manager (leadership and global citizenship) at the Yale-NUS Centre for International & Professional Experience about East Asia’s growing significance as a hub for international higher education.

The Straits Times’ Scholars Choice featured Yale-NUS Global Leader Scholarship recipient Saza Faradilla, an accomplished student leader and an active community head. She chose to study at Yale-NUS because of its unique start-up culture, where students can help shape policies and rules.

Times Higher Education carried a commentary by Professor Pericles Lewis, founding president of Yale-NUS College, on a turbulent time for the liberal arts.

TODAY reported that Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) & Second Minister for Defence, spoke on the issue of multi-party systems, which was also touched on by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen during a dialogue with Yale-NUS students on 13 Jan.

ABC News’ Beverley O’Connor speaks to Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Chin-Hao Huang about the implications of the US withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Vasantan reported that Ms Mollie Saltskog (Class of 2017) will become the first Swede to receive a prestigious award to study in China. She has been accepted to the second class of Schwarzman Scholars, a highly competitive master’s degree programme at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

The Straits Times reported that Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, gave an address on current global issues to more than 250 students at the Asia Pacific Model United Nations Conference held at Yale-NUS College.

The Straits Times carried a commentary by Professor Pericles Lewis, Founding President of Yale-NUS College who opined that for better social and cultural policymaking, Singapore needs to develop its own research in the social sciences. He also shared some examples of social science research done at the College.

Semiconductor Today reported that a team from Yale-NUS College and other institutions performed both theoretical and experimental work to validate a modified model of Schottky contacts between graphene (Gr) and two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) semiconductors.

El Pais reported that Maria Camila Posse Gaez (Class of 2017) will become the first Latin American graduate of Yale-NUS College.

Yale-NUS College Dean of International & Professional Experience Trisha Craig shares her views on the changing face of study abroad programmes in Times Higher Education.

Assistant Professor Ajay Mathuru’s research on fear response in medaka fish was highlighted in Asian Scientist. The way the medaka fish responds to danger could also give scientists a better understanding of panic disorders and fear in humans.

Yale Daily News reported that Mollie Saltskog from the inaugural class of around 150 students at Yale-NUS College is the first Schwarzman Scholar from Yale-NUS.

The Straits Times noted that as part of its diversity and inclusion programme, Yale-NUS College started an inter-group dialogue programme in 2015 which has students discussing issues such as gender identity, ethnicity and nationality, spirituality and religion.

Assistant Professor of Science Philip Johns discussed with BFM Radio – The Business Station about smooth-coated otters which have returned to Singapore a few years ago after a long absence.

Berita Harian interviewed Izzah Haziqah Harisfadilah (Class of 2019), noting that despite being just 19 years old, Izzah’s determination in her academics and her participation in co-curricular activities are already commendable.

The Evening Edition team spoke with Lecturer of Social Sciences Catherine Sanger and Tee Zhuo (Class of 2018) to dissect the results of the US presidential election 2016.

Asian Scientist reported that researchers at Yale-NUS College have developed a new worm strain as a model to study the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease, particularly in the early stages.

19-year-old Lesley-Anne Tan (Class of 2020) who has accepted a scholarship from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, was featured in TODAY’s article on women in the local literary scene. Lesley-Anne has co-authored 11 books with her mother Monica Lim for young readers.

Yam News reported that a delegation of 99 students and teachers from Yale-NUS College has just completed a 4-day visit to Taiwan. The delegation met with National Taiwan Ocean University, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei Medical University, and other universities for sports exchanges and to promote mutual friendship.

Dean of Faculty, Steven Bernasek, wrote in Times Higher Education on how Science is an often overlooked, but vital part of the liberal arts curriculum.

EurekAlert reported that researchers from Yale-NUS College and National University of Singapore (NUS) developed a novel Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worm strain, which will serve as a tool for the testing of interventions against AD and to help researchers understand the disease better.

Associate Professor of Social Sciences Rene Saran published an article in the Journal of Economic Theory on a more robust theory of individual behaviour in mechanism design by allowing hierarchies of players with varying but bounded “depths of rationality”.

The Kathmandu Post carried an op-ed co-written by Professor of Science (Environmental Studies and Geophysics) Brian McAdoo on eco safe roads, which discussed how a primary driver of the huge rise in landslide fatalities was the increase in poorly constructed roads.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu discussed in Wake Forest Magazine how she uses deliberative principles in her teaching.

Tech in Asia carried a feature article on Payal Lal (Class of 2017), and her various experiences in forming start-ups.

Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs) Professor Tan Tai Yong penned an article on the Sikh community in Singapore for Asia Samachar.

Executive Vice President of Administration, Ms Kristen Lynas, wrote a commentary in Times Higher Education on the unique holistic admissions process at Yale-NUS College.

The Taipei Times reviews Queer Marxism in Two Chinas, a book by Associate Professor Petrus Liu, also a J Y Pillay Fellow and the Head of Studies for Literature.

Professor Philip G Altbach wrote a commentary for Inside Higher Education about the focus on ‘workforce preparation’ in higher education. He uses Singapore as an example of a country adopting workforce preparation programmes, such as SkillsFuture, while also offering broad-based learning in institutions such as Yale-NUS College.

Professor of Humanities (Literature) Rajeev Patke, commented on the arts culture in Singapore in Travel + Leisure.

In a feature for Nature on Singapore’s science research scene, Professor of Science (Chemistry) Steven Bernasek, Dean of Faculty at Yale-NUS College, shared his personal experiences.

In a commentary published by TODAY on Singapore’s ties with the United States of America, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Vivian Balakrishnan highlights the bridges in higher education, including Yale-NUS College.

Yale-NUS College’s campus was featured in SG Asia City Online as one of the winners of the International Architecture Awards of 2016.

Dean of International and Professional Experience Trisha Craig, discussed experiential learning in higher education and the institution’s role in its effectiveness in Times Higher Education.

Jake Goh (Class of 2018), was featured in The Sunday Times for receiving the bond-free Yale-NUS Faculty Scholarship which covered his tuition fees, while financial aid covered his residential expenses. Jake enrolled in Yale-NUS to pursue his passion in mathematics and science, and enjoy a liberal arts university education.

Dr Navin Rajagobal, Director of Academic Affairs and Senior Lecturer in Social Science (International Relations), examined China’s foreign policy and diplomacy vis-à-vis the South China Sea and ASEAN, and discussed various theories on China’s dramatic turnaround from foreign policy success to failure in The Straits Times.

The Straits Times carried a commentary by Yale-NUS’ inaugural Dean of Faculty, Professor Charles Bailyn who reflected on Singapore’s ‘growth mindset’ and the culture of respect for respect, and shared the lessons he learnt in Singapore that he could take back to the United States.

Daniel Soo (Class of 2017) wrote in the Asian Scientist Magazine on Asia’s growing openness to the American-style liberal arts education, of which Yale-NUS is proudly the pioneer of in Singapore.

YaleNews reported that over 90 thought leaders in higher education from over 40 liberal arts colleges and universities around the US attended “Globalizing the Liberal Arts”, a symposium and workshop hosted by Yale-NUS College at Yale University. Participants discussed innovation in liberal arts and science education and the future of higher education.

The Straits Times reported that under the Yale Young Global Scholars-Singapore Programme, 144 high school students from 35 countries got a taste of liberal arts curriculum through lectures and small-group discussions with Yale and Yale-NUS faculty and students at the Yale-NUS College campus.

Yale-NUS College’s inaugural Dean of Faculty, Professor of Science Charles Bailyn discussed how his time in Asia had opened his eyes to the high regard in which a liberal arts education was still held internationally in Times Higher Education.

Professor Pericles Lewis, Founding President of Yale-NUS College, was invited to Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Sri Lanka to discuss international higher education partnerships. In this op-ed for DailyFT, he explained Yale-NUS’ model of “liberal education”, which could lend valuable insights on education methods for Sri Lankan universities.

The Straits Times reported that Yale-NUS College has become the second local institution to adopt the Latin honours system, a degree classification used by American universities such as Harvard and Yale which uses nomenclature such as summa cum laude and magna cum laude.

Eco-Business noted that in a report released in December 2015, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Angel Hsu analysed more than 10,000 environmental commitments from the non-state and sub-national actors and found that these could have a significant impact on mitigating climate change.

Dean of International & Professional Experience Trisha Craig discussed in Times Higher Education on how universities can help foster in their students a lifelong commitment to community service.

Anna Evtushenko (Class of 2017) shared why she made the decision to attend college at Yale-NUS in Singapore. Anna wrote the article for Yale Daily News while attending Yale University as a visiting student.

Angela Mei Ferguson (Class of 2018) wrote about global education today being a mindset. The essay won first place (University Category) at the International New York Times Writing Competition 2015, and was published in TODAY Online.

Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Science) Angel Hsu shared with Nature on how data transparency was key to accounting for how local governments and the private sector were contributing to global emissions reduction.

In its cover story on broad-based education on Singapore, EduNation featured Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s first liberal arts college and carried excerpts of the speech by Yale-NUS President Pericles Lewis on liberal arts education.

Can Yale-NUS recreate residential college life in tropical high-rise towers? Yale Alumni Magazine wrote about how the Yale-NUS campus adapted the customs of American liberal arts education to the physical and cultural differences of Singapore.

In Times Higher Education, Dean of Faculty Charles Bailyn discussed the challenges of an academic ‘start-up’ and asked whether a new liberal arts college really does start with a blank canvas.

The Straits Times carried a commentary by National University of Singapore President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan and Yale University President Professor Peter Salovey which discussed how universities can better prepare future generations for a world of digital revolution. Yale-NUS College’s education system addresses this, by re-imagining the liberal arts and science education.

China Daily Asia noted that Professor of Humanities (History) Tan Tai Yong said international exposure was essential in teaching “adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to see things from another person’s or culture’s perspective”, and that the common curriculum in Yale-NUS College was drawn from both Asian and Western “intellectual traditions”.

China Daily Asia interviewed Yale-NUS Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs) Professor Tan Tai Yong about Singapore’s growing reputation of excellence in the area of tertiary education. He shared that the aim of the College is to “create a fresh perspective in education”.

The Straits Times noted that Yale-NUS College offers three new five-year programmes for liberal arts and science students who have set their sights on working in the fields of public health, public policy and the environment have been introduced. Students will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree, and also a master’s degree.

‘Scholars Choice’ in The Straits Times featured Stacey Yuen (Class of 2017), a Philosophy major, who was on the Yale-NUS Global Leader Scholarship. The Global Leader Scholarship was bond-free, covering full tuition and residential fees for the entire four-year programme. Stacey was grateful that the scholarship granted her freedom to choose what to pursue.

The Straits Times reported that Professor of Social Sciences (Environmental Studies) Michael Maniates had taught on six SAS (semester at sea) voyages since 2001.

Yale Daily News carried a commentary by Assistant Professor of Humanities Petrus Liu on the Literature and Humanities class in Yale-NUS. He noted that it was built on the College’s mission to provide an education spanning the East and West, and the course content was a subject of much contention among the college’s inaugural faculty members.

Yale-NUS Dean of International & Professional Experience Trisha Craig, shared with Times Higher Education on how countries like Singapore are turning to broad-based education just as the US turns away from it.

Science Codex noted that a large international team of 65 forest ecologists from 49 institutions across 15 countries, including Yale-NUS College, has embarked on a collaborative research to show that secondary tropical forests which are re-growing after forest clearance or agricultural abandonment can sequester large amounts of carbon.

Phys Org reported that researchers at the National University of Singapore and Yale-NUS College have established the mechanisms for spin motion in molybdenum disulfide, an emerging two-dimensional (2D) material. Their discovery paves the way for the next generation of spintronics and low-power devices.

The Migrant Workers Awareness Week, an initiative launched by Yale-NUS and NUS Law students, seeks to bridge the gap between the local and migrant communities. The Sunday Times reported on this event which brought together close to 400 students and members of the public, and more than 130 foreign workers.

ScienceDaily reported that Angel Hsu, Assistant Professor at Yale-NUS College and Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) and author of the 2016 Environmental Performance Index report shared the findings that both poor and wealthy nations suffer from serious air pollution.

CNA reported on the second Yale-NUS Model United Nations Conference, organised by the Yale-NUS International Relations and Political Association. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan spoke to about 1,000 students during a wide-ranging dialogue at the closing of the conference.

TODAY reported on a lecture held under the auspices of the Tan Chin Tuan Chinese Culture and Civilisation Programme at Yale-NUS College by Professor Bates Gill, Visiting Professor of the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, who explained that China’s geo-strategic position was not particularly advantageous.

Vulcan Post reported on Rosalyn Yi Xin Teng (Class of 2018) and her friend Robin Lim both founded Made Real, a healthy snackbox which you can subscribe every month.

The Straits Times carried a commentary by Senior Lecturer of Social Sciences Nancy Webster Gleason who opined that regardless of the environmental implications, the Paris climate agreement has strengthen multilateralism which is particularly important for small states and those with lower levels of political influence on the international stage.

The Washington Post reported that Assistant Professor of Social Sciences (Economics) Francis Dennig, explained the findings of his paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which showed that a widely accepted theory about climate change will almost certainly have a disproportionate impact on the poor.

Pro Audio Asia featured the arts performance venues and facilities at Yale-NUS College.

The Straits Times reported that the President of Iceland, His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson gave a talk at Yale-NUS College’s Performance Hall as part of the Yale-NUS President’s Speakers Series. During his talk, he addressed the topic of “Clean Energy, Climate, and the Arctic” and took questions from the 300-strong audience.

The Straits Times featured KidsAccomplish, an initiative by Yale-NUS students that leverages on the diversity of the Yale-NUS College community. It aimed to expose upper primary school pupils to the world around them, and let them discuss issues.

The Straits Times reported that President of National University of Singapore Professor Tan Chorh Chuan identified three major “currents” of higher education in Asia, touching on the rise of liberal arts education in Singapore and Yale-NUS College.

Times Higher Education reporter Jack Grove examines the differences between university students in Asia and the West, and touches on Yale-NUS College and the introduction of liberal arts in Asia.

President of Wesleyan University, Professor Michael Roth penned an article for The Atlantic, discussing the rise of the liberal arts in Asia after attending the Inauguration of the Yale-NUS College Campus on 12 October 2015.

Yale Daily News reported that Yale-NUS has taken major steps in its development — hosting an international conference on liberal education and officially inaugurating its new campus.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Yale-NUS College campus on 12 Oct 2015, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Yale must experiment and adapt its model to Asia and the Yale-NUS curriculum needs to adapt to Asia in order to respond to challenges of the region.

In a commentary for The Straits Times, Dean of Faculty Professor Charles Bailyn shared that it is necessary to find ways to educate all citizens, regardless of their future career paths, in the key methods and results of science.

The Straits Times reported that Yale-NUS College is on the lookout for new deans. A Yale-NUS spokesperson said the College was privileged to have the inaugural deans whose verve and vision have helped shape much of the College’s curriculum and culture.

The Straits Times reported that Hyflux Founder and Executive Chairman Ms Olivia Lum spoke at the Yale-NUS President’s Speaker Series, sharing on how Hyflux overcame challenges and grew to become an internationally successful water services company today.

The Straits Times reported that more university students in Singapore are enrolling in programmes that lead straight to master’s qualifications. Yale-NUS College has started offering concurrent degrees in areas such as public health and public policy.

TODAY reported that Yale-NUS College is co-hosting the fifth edition of the American Writers Festival in Singapore, which runs from 14 to 18 September.

Huffington Post’s ‘The Blog’ highlighted how new schools like Yale-NUS could be an example of exciting experiments to rethink the centrality and flexibility of western foundations in a liberal arts education.

The Straits Times reported that students at Yale-NUS College, NUS’ tie-up with the Ivy League institution Yale, will start the July 2015 semester at a 63,000 sqm campus on Dover Road.

The Straits Times reported that the Yale-NUS College campus on Dover Road is part of the new buildings and facilities introduced by NUS mid-2015, ahead of the new school semester.

Dominic Choa (Class of 2018), who is enrolled in the liberal arts programme at Yale-NUS College, shared with The Straits Times which factors are most important to him when considering a potential job, and how he thinks his working life will differ from that in his parents’ generation.

The Straits Times reported that Isabelle Li, a Youth Olympics and SEA Games silver medallist, was the only polytechnic graduate to clinch the Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship this year. She has enrolled at Yale-NUS College and joins the incoming Class of 2019.

Kalya Kee (Class of 2018) represented Singapore in the 2015 SEA Games in the sport of Waterski, despite instructions from her doctor to rest after a training accident. Yahoo covers the story of her grit and determination that eventually won her the Bronze medal.

Berita Harian reported that out of more than 8,500 applicants, 198 exceptional students from around the world will form the Class of 2019 at Yale-NUS College, keeping the College on track with its plans to grow its class size to 250 students over the next few years.

Forbes reported on how Yale-NUS College is a good experiment to see whether an American style liberal arts model can survive abroad. This pioneering partnership between Yale University and the National University of Singapore is a separate liberal arts college within the larger National University of Singapore campus.

Yale Daily News reported that despite facing substantial challenges, Yale-NUS’ new campus was nearing its final stages of construction.

The Straits Times reported that Yale-NUS College students could opt for open housing, also known as gender-neutral housing, when the new school year starts. The option was introduced as a pilot in response to student feedback for more diverse housing options.  

CNA reported that researchers from Yale-NUS College, NUS, and the University of Texas at Austin, USA, have established a theoretical framework to understand the elastic and electronic properties of graphene. The findings were published in Nature Communications in February 2015.

The Straits Times reported that Yale-NUS students from the Committee for Appreciating and Meeting People On Site (CAMPOS) organised an appreciation carnival for construction workers who have been building the permanent Yale-NUS campus.

Yale Daily News reported that the first batch of Yale-NUS students had declared their choice of majors.

Yale Daily News published part two of two articles that examined Yale-NUS’ evolving role in Singapore as a liberal arts college.

Yale Daily News reported that Yale-NUS College announced a new concurrent degree programme with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Yale Daily News published part one of two articles that examined Yale-NUS’ evolving role in Singapore as a liberal arts college.

Associate Professor Antonia Monteiro shared her team’s research on butterfly species that have colourful, concentric circles on the edges of their wings, known as eyespots, with The Sunday Times.

The Daily Beast published a review of Fareed Zakaria’s essay ‘In Defense of a Liberal Education’, in which Zakaria singles out Yale-NUS College as an example of “genuine multicultural education in a college designed for a multicultural world”.

Yahoo reported that 10 years after Professor of Social Sciences Jon Berrick launched a tobacco-free campaign, the Australian state of Tasmania votes on passing a related law.

Tamil Murasu reported that Harini V (Class of 2018) published a compilation of her poems in a book titled Nathimisai nagarum koolankarkal. The book features the works of other Singaporean female Tamil poets as well, and is part of the SG50 celebration.

Barron’s Magazine explored the distinctiveness of a Yale-NUS College education in its latest cover story.

Yale Daily News reported that after four semesters of being in operation, Yale-NUS College’s Common Curriculum will undergo extensive review.

Yale Daily News reported that nineteen Yale-NUS students visited Yale University for a week to compare life at the University to operations at their fledgling college in Singapore.

Dr Navin Rajagobal, Director, Faculty Affairs at Yale-NUS College contributed a commentary to The Straits Times on the attack of Santa Catarina, a Portuguese merchant ship, by the Netherlands in 1603 as a prominent historical incident with lasting global repercussions that took place very near Singapore.

Associate Professor of Humanities Derek Heng and Mr Kwa Chong Guan, Senior Fellow from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at NTU, wrote an article in The Straits Times which discussed the 30-year history of archaeological excavations in Singapore and the dilemma of redevelopment or preservation of historic sites.

Tabla! reported that Professor Tan Tai Yong, Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, will be chairing a panel to finalise the list of 50 individuals who will be featured in the book – 50 Sikhs And Singapore’s Nation-Building.

Yale Daily News reported that under the guidance of a newly ratified constitution, Yale-NUS students will host their first student government elections on February 4 and February 5.