NEW HORIZONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES JANUARY 2020 • ISSUE 04

Sustainability solutions for the future

News • NTU establishes Community Development Fund at SSS • Exposing the truth about lying to children • Bicentennial Conference in NTU - SG200: Heritage, Identity, Progress

People • Welcoming our scholars back as new faculty members SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

CONTENTS AUGUST 2019 I ISSUE 03 1 Chair’s Message

NEWS

2 Welcoming new faculty and recognising Sustainability8 solutions excellence for the future 2 NTU establishes Jek Yeun Thong Community Development Fund at SSS 2 Assoc Prof Md Saidul Islam elected Chair of Sociology for CSA EAUI Summer School 2019 2 Assoc Prof Laura Wu conferred 2019 National 5 Day Awards’ Commendation Medal 3 Assoc Prof Andy Ho picks up top awards at APHC and SHBC 2019 Professor Liu Hong 3 Exposing the truth about lying to children Chair Professor of 4 SSS Convocation 2019: Life should not be CHAIR’S MESSAGE Public Policy and Global Affairs perceived as a zero sum game Chair, School of Social Sciences 4 NTU Sociology launches Community Fund Nanyang Technological University 5 EAUI Summer School 2019: East Asian Singapore Bicentennial Regional Integration in a Populist and Conference in NTU Nationalist Age 7 6 Singapore Economic Review Conference FEATURE Dear Colleagues, Students, Alumni and Friends, NTU have been renamed to recognise the pioneers 2019 who have contributed to education in Singapore. 6 EGC pens networking group agreement with Welcome to the fourth issue of NEW HORIZONS. Nankai University 8 Sustainability solutions for the 7 Singapore Bicentennial Conference in NTU— future The College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences— Our feature article looks at sustainability solutions which our School is part of—has been renamed the SG200: Heritage, Identity, Progress RESEARCH GRANTS PEOPLE from the perspective of the social sciences. While the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Building. A stone’s hard sciences are key to advancing technologies for throw away from the building, the road in front of Assoc Prof WELCOMING OUR SCHOLARS 14 MOE Academic Research Grant Andy Ho at BACK AS NEW FACULTY Awards sustainability solutions, the social sciences also play the Chinese Heritage Centre, has been renamed the 3 APHC 2019 MEMBERS 14 External Grants an important role in influencing individual behaviours ‘Tan Lark Sye Walk’. This is to mark the contributions and policy outcomes. (And in line with NTU's of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan and its then PUBLICATIONS 12 When inquisitiveness leads to a sustainability development goals, we have reduced President, Mr Tan Lark Sye who was also the founding path less travelled 15 Books our printed version of the newsletter by half, and will father of Nanyang University. 13 Unravelling the black box of 15 Book Chapters be moving towards a digital version in our collective 16 Journal Articles China’s foreign policy efforts to protect the environment.) In the spirit of philanthropy that the late Mr Tan Lark Sye had together with community leaders in We closed the final months of 2019 with a few exciting Singapore’s pre-independence period, we are proud events. Some of our faculty members received to announce that NTU has established the Juek Yeun SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE EDITORIAL TEAM recognition for their outstanding contributions to Thong Community Development Fund at School of education at School and NTU. We also recognise Social Sciences (SSS). The late Mr Jek was one of the exceptional members of our management and the pioneering political leaders who helped to build Chair Prof Liu Hong Advisor Dr Tan Joo Ean support staff, who are the backbone of our School's Singapore into a harmonious and multi-cultural Assoc Prof Laura Wu Ms Lissa Johari Associate Chair, Academic Editor operations. We welcomed two new faculty members society it is today. In honour of his contributions Associate Chair, Faculty Assoc Prof Ringo Ho Member Ms Janice Goh Associate Chair, Research Assoc Prof Wan Ching Catherine Contributors Ms Elizabeth Tay who are part of the College of Humanities, Arts, and and legacy, the Fund will be used to support Associate Chair, Graduate Education Assoc Prof Kamaludeen Ms Tay Xin Yi Social Sciences (HASS) International PhD Scholarship undergraduate research and internships relating to Mohamed Nasir (HIPS) programme—they are featured in this issue’s community engagement. Associate Chair, Students Dr Tan Joo Ean Contact Us School of Social Sciences People. Head, Economics Prof Euston Quah Nanyang Technological University We hope that 2020 will be a fruitful and prosperous Acting Head, Psychology Prof Annabel Chen 48 Nanyang Avenue Singapore 639818 Together with the Nanyang Centre of Public year for everyone, including us at NTU and SSS. Head, Public Policy and Global Affairs Assoc Prof Wang Jue Administration (NCPA) and Chinese Heritage Head, Sociology Assoc Prof Teo You Yenn www.sss.ntu.edu.sg Centre, the School hosted a Singapore Bicentennial Thank you, as always, for your continued support, and ntusocialsciences ntu_sss Conference in NTU—SG200: Heritage, Identity, I hope you will enjoy this issue of NEW HORIZONS! Progress. Coincidentally, a building and a road in

01 NEWS

WELCOMING NEW FACULTY AND RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE ASSOC PROF ANDY for advancing Holistic Care in A warm welcome to our new faculty to the School of Social HO PICKS UP TOP Asia Palliative Care: Preliminary Sciences, and our heartiest congratulations to the faculty and staff Findings from a Randomized AWARDS AT APHC Controlled Trial’, at APHC and for their outstanding contributions to the School! AND SHBC 2019 ‘Family Dignity Intervention (FDI) for advancing Holistic Care Associate Professor Andy Ho in Asia Palliative Care: Results from Psychology picked up top from a Randomized Controlled NEW FACULTY FACULTY PROMOTION AND MANAGEMENT & SUPPORT awards at two major healthcare Trial in Singapore’ at SHBC. TENURE OFFICER (MSO) AWARDS events in 2019. Both his papers were among the Economics top abstracts selected for oral Tang Cheng Keat Promotion to Associate Professor Best Customer Service He came in first in the Best Oral and poster presentations at the with Tenure Ms Constance Yong Presentation Award presented respective events. Public Policy and Global Affairs Assoc Prof Andy Ho Hau Yan at the Asia Pacific Hospice and Dylan Loh (Psychology) Best Leadership Palliative Care Conference (APHC) “Psycho-socio-spiritual care is Ms Christina Teu on 4 August 2019, and bagged utmost important to support Assoc Prof Xu Hong the Gold Award of the Best Poster terminally-ill patients and families FACULTY AWARDS (Psychology) Best Teamwork Award in Allied Health at the as they approach the final stages SSS Undergraduate Education Office Singapore Health and Biomedical of life,” said Associate Professor Nanyang Education Award (School) Assoc Prof Christopher Holman Congress (SHBC) on 10 October Ho. “However, most palliative care Assoc Prof Andy Ho Hau Yan (Public Policy and Global Affairs) 2019. His presentations at both interventions focus predominately Assoc Prof Andy Ho at APHC 2019 events shared his research on the physical aspect of Nanyang Research Award findings of psycho-socio-spiritual care, with pain management powerful existential distress Ministry of Education Academic (Young Investigator) care. He presented the paper, and symptom control taking and suffering of mortality.” His Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 Asst Prof Setoh Pei Pei ‘Family Dignity Intervention (FDI) precedence over the deep and research is supported by the grant.

NTU ESTABLISHES NTU has established the Jek Yeun in propelling the multicultural working with the less fortunate effects lasting into the latter’s Her research areas include JEK YEUN THONG Thong Community Development society the nation has today. He through internships with social Fund at the School of Social was known for his compassion service organisations in the adulthood. The study also showed developmental psychology, infant COMMUNITY Sciences, with a generous for the disadvantaged and non-profit sector. It will support that adults who reported being cognition, and causal reasoning. DEVELOPMENT donation from Madam Huang vulnerable, and the Fund was faculty discussion of social issues lied to more as children were also FUND AT SSS Kek Chee, the widow of the late set up to honour his legacy. The through public seminars by NTU inclined to report lying to their In the study, 379 Singaporean Mr Jek Yeun Thong. Mr Jek was Fund will enable undergraduates faculty as well. The Fund will be parents as adults. young adults were asked whether one of Singapore’s pioneering to conduct field research on launched in February 2020. their parents had lied to them politicians, and was responsible social issues, and to experience The study was done in when they were children, how collaboration with the University much they lie to their parents of Toronto, the University of now, and how well they adjust to ASSOC PROF MD Associate Professor Md Saidul currently the coordinator of the Water and Food Systems Lab California, San Diego, and adulthood. SAIDUL ISLAM Islam was elected as the Chair Environment and Sustainability in Massachusetts Institute of Zhejiang Normal University. It has of the Sociology of Development Research Cluster in SSS and Technology. been featured in many local and “Parenting by lying can seem to ELECTED CHAIR OF Cluster, Canadian Sociological Asian School of the Environment international news outlets around save time especially when the SOCIOLOGY FOR CSA Association (CSA) for 2019-2020. (ASE). He is a former Visiting the region and across the globe in real reasons behind why parents A professor of Sociology, he is Scholar of the Abdul Latif Jameel Europe and in the United States. want children to do something In addition, NTU Psychology's is complicated to explain,” said Asst Prof Setoh Pei Pei (centre) with CNA938 radio hosts Melanie Olivero (left) and Lance Alexander (right) Assistant Professor Setoh Pei Assistant Professor Setoh. Associate Professor Laura Wu, Singapore President. The honours effects of various distortions and Pei, lead author of the paper, has “When parents tell children that ASSOC PROF LAURA been interviewed by local radio ‘honesty is the best policy’, WU CONFERRED Associate Chair (Academic), was are bestowed upon individuals in frictions on firms’ investment A new psychology study led by conferred the Commendation recognition of their contributions and financing behaviour and EXPOSING THE station CNA938 and British public but display dishonesty by NTU has garnered much media 2019 NATIONAL Medal at the National Day to education in Singapore as well their implications to economic TRUTH ABOUT LYING service broadcaster, BBC. lying, such behaviour can send DAY AWARDS’ Awards. She is one of the 77 as their dedicated service to the development and resource TO CHILDREN coverage since it was released. It conflicting messages to their COMMENDATION faculty and staff members who University. Associate Professor allocation. suggested that parents who lie to Assistant Professor Setoh children. Parents’ dishonesty MEDAL have been award the 2019 Wu is a professor of Economics, their children to get them to is the lab director of NTU's may eventually erode trust and National Day Honours by the whose research focuses on the behave may have caused negative Early Cognition Laboratory. promote dishonesty in children.”

02 03 NEWS

SSS CONVOCATION 2019: LIFE SHOULD NOT EAUI SUMMER SCHOOL 2019: EAST ASIAN BE PERCEIVED AS A ZERO SUM GAME REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN A POPULIST AND NATIONALIST AGE

Congratulations to more than to become the person they admire 600 School of Social Sciences most. A combination of summer (China) and Thammasat news’ and the Yasukuni Shrine the fourth day, which had been graduates who were conferred school programme and an University (Thailand). controversy in his lecture, designated as the international their degree scrolls on 25 July Meanwhile, in her valedictorian international symposium, this arousing passionate discussions symposium. Students then at NTU Convocation 2019. Mr speech, Ms Aisyah Yusoff, urged year’s East Asian University The theme for the 2019 summer among the students. made their presentations on Douglas Foo—Nominated Member her fellow graduates to have the Institute (EAUI) Summer School school was ‘East Asian Regional the final day of the summer of Parliament, and Founder and “humility and compassion” to lower was held in Tokyo, Japan, from Integration in a Populist and The third day was marked for school, based on the questions Chairman of Sakae Holdings—and their voices once in a while and 29 July to 2 August. It was Nationalist Age: Rhetoric, group discussions and also allocated to them by a professor. Ms Penny Low—former Member listen to those whose voices are attended by professors and 30 Emotion and Action’. The first featured a screening of the The EAUI Summer School 2019 of Parliament for Pasir Ris softer than theirs. “Connectedness graduate students from the two days of the programme film, ‘Shusenjo – The Main concluded with a farewell dinner Punggol GRC and founder of Social underpins our existence in society,” five participating universities consisted lectures by professors Battleground of the Comfort for all participating students and Innovation Park—were the guest she asserted, “and life should not – the host university, Waseda from each university on various Women Issue’, which prompted professors. speakers for SSS’ ceremonies. be perceived as a zero sum game, University (Japan), Nanyang research topics centred on the robust discussions from the In his speech, Mr Foo advised contrary to what others tell us.” She Technological University main theme. Among them was students and faculty. Professors Peking University will take over the graduates on the importance graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Singapore), Korea University SSS’ Assistant Professor Kei from the participating universities from Waseda University to host of values and how they should in Sociology, and will be pursuing (South Korea), Peking University Koga who touched on ‘fake presented their research on EAUI Summer School 2020. continuously seek opportunities further studies in anthropology in to learn. Ms Low advised the University of Cambridge. She is also graduates on establishing a firm a Koh Boon Hwee Scholars Award value system, and asserted that recipient. SSS Valedictorian, Ms Aisyah Yusoff, from Sociology they should dream big and aspire

NTU SOCIOLOGY LAUNCHES COMMUNITY FUND AT ALUMNI REUNION

NTU Sociology held their Sociology alumni has meant to body. The Fund is open to all inaugural alumni reunion on 11 them. full-time undergraduates and October 2019 at NTU Alumni postgraduate students enrolled House, Marina Square. They also NTU Sociology is committed in Sociology. took the opportunity to launch to building an environment the Sociology Community Fund. where all of their students, It was a warm and convivial Associate Professor Teo You regardless of background, are affair—a great opportunity Yenn, Head of Sociology, shared able to thrive. The Sociology to meet up with old friends the purpose of the Community Community Fund draws from and make new ones—and Fund. Three Sociology alumni, our Sociology community in was attended by 13 Sociology Pranav Sethaputra (Class of NTU—faculty, alumni, and other faculty members and 46 alumni. 2015), Hemavalli Padmanathan donors. Funds will be used to Professor Kwok Kian Woon, the (Class of 2009) and Lee Kui Bao support students who have first Head of Sociology, was the (Class of 2010) shared a few emergency financial needs, as guest-of-honour for the event. Assoc Prof Teo You Yenn (left) with memories about their time in well as for academic and social Prof Kwok Kian Woon (right) NTU and what being an NTU activities that benefit the student Participants of the EAUI Summer School 2019

04 05 NEWS

SINGAPORE ECONOMIC REVIEW SINGAPORE BICENTENNIAL CONFERENCE IN CONFERENCE 2019 NTU—SG200: HERITAGE, IDENTITY, PROGRESS

the autonomous universities in sessions were conducted over the Singapore—Nanyang Technological three-day conference. About 30 University (NTU), National distinguished professors, which University of Singapore (NUS), included editors and co-editors Singapore Management University of major economic journals were (SMU) and Singapore University invited speakers. of Social Sciences (SUSS). It was attended by over 350 participants The SERC has been organised from 50 countries. since 2005, and is the largest gathering of eminent economists The event commenced with and policy makers in the region. welcome remarks from Albert Co-organisers and partners Education Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung giving his address at the 8th SERC Winsemius Professor Euston of the SERC 2019 included the Quah from NTU, and an address Monetary Authority of Singapore, The eighth biennial Singapore August 2019 at Mandarin Orchard by guest-of-honour, Education Asian Development Bank Institute Economic Review Conference Hotel. It was organised by Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung. More and academic and professional (SERC) was held from 5 to 7 professors representing four of than 70 parallel and five plenary publisher, World Scientific.

Speakers and organisers of the SG200 conference. Prof Liu Hong (fourth from right) with keynote speakers Dr Liu Thai Ker EGC PENS NETWORKING GROUP AGREEMENT (fourth from left), Prof Takeshi Yamashita (third from left), and Mr Zainul Abidin (third from right). WITH NANKAI UNIVERSITY In conjunction with the nation’s approaches to the future. The Ker (Chairman, Morrow Architects the conference, Singapore in commemoration of the 200th two-day conference was divided & Planners; Chairman, Centre International Environment, as part anniversary of Raffles’ arrival in into three main tracks: Empire for Liveable Cities; and Adjunct of the Connectivity panel. Assistant Singapore, the School of Social & Mobilities; Governance, Public Professor, NCPA). Professor Laavanya’s presentation, The NTU Economic Growth The network for this time • Arndt Corden Department • School of Economics, Sciences (SSS), Nanyang Centre for Policy, and Society; and Singapore ‘Active Citizenship: Rethinking Ethnic Centre (EGC) signed the around comprises ten academic of Economics, Australia Nankai University (China) Public Administration (NCPA) and in International Environment. It Three of SSS faculty members Belonging in Singapore’ looked Research Centres Networking institutions in Australia, China, National University Chinese Heritage Centre hosted the opened with a welcome speech presented at the conference. at forms of affective citizenship Group (RCNG) agreement Japan, Korea and Vietnam and (Australia) Under the agreement, faculty ‘SG200: Heritage, Identity, Progress’ from Professor Liu Hong—Tan Lark Associate Professor Wang Jue, head performed by Singaporeans in ways with Nankai University on 8 EGC. The ten institutions are: • University of Economics, Ho members in the research conference. It was held from 18 to Sye Chair Professor in Public Policy of Public Policy and Global Affairs, that challenged state-sponsored August 2019 during the SERC • Graduate School of Chi Minh (Vietnam) centres or universities in the 19 October at the Nanyang Executive and Global Affairs; Chair, SSS; and presented during the Public Policy notions of who is legally a citizen at Mandarin Orchard Hotel Economics, Kobe University • Graduate School of network can visit other member Centre, and attracted more than 100 Director, NCPA. & Society panel of the Governance, of the nation. Meanwhile, Assistant Singapore. The RCNG is a visiting (Japan) International Studies, Korea institutions for one to three participants, and featured speakers Public Policy and Society track. Professor Zhan’s presentation, research programme that aims • Asian Development Bank University (Korea) weeks, subject to the research from Asia, North America, Australia There were three keynote speakers, She shared her research findings ‘Digital Communication and to facilitate research between Institute, Asian Development • Centre for New Structural needs and budgets of the host and Europe as well. Former Senior Minister of State on collaboration networks of Immigrant Integration: Chinese and faculty and research fellows Bank (Japan) Economics, Peking institution. Members of the for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, academics in Singapore in her Indians in Singapore, Vancouver across the network. It was • Asian Growth Research University (China) networking group can also The conference focused on Mr Zainul Abidin (also Board of presentation, ‘Strategies in Global and Los Angeles’ investigated the established by EGC in September Institute (Japan) • Centre for Research of convene at joint workshops and themes of empire/nation, public Trustees Member, NTU; and Adjunct Talent Race: A Study of Academics in effects of digital communication 2013. The agreement will be • School of Economics, Private Economy, Zhejiang conferences on common themes policy/society, and Singapore’s Professor, NCPA); world-renowned Singapore’. through the use of Information effective for three years from the Hiroshima University (Japan) University (China) across the centres. international environments as historian Professor Takeshi Communication Technologies date of signing. they interconnect in terms of Hamashita (Head of Research Assistant Professors Laavanya (ICTs) such as social media and understanding the nation’s past Department, Toyo Bunko in Tokyo, Kathiravelu and Zhan Shaohua, messaging apps, on immigrants’ and present, how they shaped Japan); and “Father of Urban both from Sociology, each socio-economic integration in the the people’s sensitivities and Planning” in Singapore, Dr Liu Thai presented in the third track of host society.

06 07 FEATURE

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

“The world has managed to prosper, but the levels of NTU’s School of Social Sciences tackles the question of sustainability through its research and curriculum consumption today are unsustainable, inequitable and inaccessible to majority of humans.”

Research has shown that Nanyang Technological University’s the Global Environmental Politics in SSS, with several research climate change is accelerating (NTU) School of Social Sciences (2018 – 2021)”—funded by Ministry interests such as in nuclear power; – Associate Professor Md Saidul Islam environmental changes at an (SSS) observes, there is more of Education’s Academic Research renewable energy transitions; and alarming rate. According to the emphasis on sustaining economic Fund Tier 1 grant—proposes to science and technology studies. Her World Metrological Organization growth than ecological integrity and evaluate the emerging ‘green’ teaching areas are related to her (WMO), the revealing signs social justice where sustainable movement around food and climate research and includes topics like and impacts of climate change development is concerned. “The change in the global environmental science, technology and democracy; increased during 2015-2019. We are world has managed to prosper, but politics. In two of his books, environmental social movements; facing the real threat of rising sea the levels of consumption today Development, Power and the and politics and cultures of nuclear levels, shrinking ice caps, oceans are unsustainable, inequitable and Environment: Neoliberal Paradox power. heating up and increasing their inaccessible to majority of humans,” in the Age of Vulnerability1 and acidity levels, and extreme weather. he says. Social Justice in the Globalization of Her current research project, “The Addressing the climate change Production: Labor, Gender and the Politics of Green Entrepreneurship: conundrum requires the Associate Professor Md Saidul Environment Nexus2 , he analyses Comparing Decentralized Solar contributions from many disciplines. teaches and specialises in global sustainability challenges and Energy Development in India and It is not a problem only for climate environmental sociology—the offers approaches to a sustainable Bangladesh”, investigates how scientists to solve. There is no study of societal-environmental earth; and investigates the unique venture-capital driven, privatised doubt that technological innovation interactions which emphasizes the conditions, contradictions, and solar energy development controls is deepening our understanding of study of social factors that bring confrontations in labour, gender and and affects democracy, practices current environmental challenges about environmental problems, the environmental relations neoliberal of citizenship and formation of and offering new ways to tackle social impact of these problems and globalisation creates respectively. political subjectivities in India and them. However, the drivers of and efforts to solve them. He is deeply Bangladesh. This project, funded Engineers discussing about the solar photovoltaic cell during a solar power plant training in India (Source: Shutterstock) the solutions to climate change interested in understanding the Renewable energy for all? by NTU’s Start-Up Grant for new and sustainability issues are relationship between development It is undeniable that technological faculty members, examines the fundamentally social, economic and politics and global processes, and advances have helped to evolve politics of renewable technologies political. This means that the social also believes that her research only help to decipher individuals’ people were paying a premium if how environmental and social technologies for renewable energy. of India and Bangladesh as these demonstrates how crucial careful attitudes and perceptions around He shares that he has always the contracts were signed on more sciences play an equally vital role in landscapes are shifting due to global two countries have “intensively However, while more affluent and attentive ethnographic work is climate change and energy use, been interested in individual polluted days, and they clarify that developing sustainability solutions. and local economic activities. He is deployed solar power through social parts of the world can afford to in understanding problems that are but also help people to understand behaviours and how they respond people were willing to pay more to also curious about how marginal convert to clean energy, there are entrepreneurs.” considered to be techno-economic and highlight benefits to adopting to environmental changes. His protect themselves. Examining inequity in communities are shouldering still millions more who are still and not political in nature. greener behaviours. research focuses on how individuals the burden of development and fighting to get basic economic Assistant Professor Haines sustainability solutions respond and make decisions. The cost and impact of Sustainability is usually defined consumption of rich nations. benefits that we have gotten comments: “[T]he energy choices “Understanding this helps policy environmental issues on society as meeting the needs of the These concerns are reflected in from burning fossil fuels. “In the we make have certain values Influencing sustainability present without endangering the some of his research projects and remote, rural areas in part of the embedded in them and come with behaviours makers to come up with low cost, His latest journal article, is a clear interest of Professor ability of future generations to publications, which offer ground- so-called developing world, as particular political implications.” Science can inform us what is but effective, policy interventions,” “Negotiating Housing Deal on a Euston Quah, Albert Winsemius meet theirs, and it encompasses breaking findings on environment many as one billion people still do Through this research she also happening and develop technology says Assistant Professor Yan Jubo, Polluted Day: Consequences and Chair Professor of Economics and 3 three components: economic, and sustainability. not have access to modern forms seeks to find out how women, often to deal with climate change an economics professor from SSS. Possible Explanations” observes Head of Economics in NTU. His environmental, and social. However, of energy,” Assistant Professor part of marginalised communities, problems. However, the social “Environmental economics has how house buyers respond to air areas of teaching and research are Associate Professor Md Saidul For example, his research on “The Monamie Bhadra Haines points out. are being empowered through sciences are critical to shaping much to do with social preference pollution changes in the short run. in environmental economics and Islam, a sociology professor from Rise of the ‘Green’ movement in She is also a sociology professor different energy technologies. She major changes. Social scientists not and behavioural economics.” He and his co-authors discover that cost-benefit analysis. He published

1 Islam, Md. 2013. Development, Power and the Environment: Neoliberal Paradox in the Age of Vulnerability. Routledge. 2 Saidul Islam and Ismail Hossain. 2015. Social Justice in the Globalization of Production: Labor, Gender and the Environment Nexus. Palgrave Macmillan.

08 09 FEATURE

the first studies on the social cost could and should use such findings sustainability. It also aspires to editors Professor Liu Hong—Chair of smoking, and is known locally to better design policies to help create dialogue among scholars of SSS and professor of Public Policy and internationally for his work on mitigate climate change. from different disciplines to advance and Global Affairs, and Assistant the economics of transboundary sustainable development within and Professor Els Van Dongen from haze pollution. His work has notably Interdisciplinary research beyond NTU. School of Humanities organised six significant relevance for use in for sustainability solutions articles by key scholars from both public policy. In addition to the cutting-edge The research cluster hosts a Singapore and overseas. These research our faculty undertakes, the monthly series of transdisciplinary articles pertain to Asian experiences In a recent contributed article to School also supports and is aligned workshops – “sustainability in tackling sustainability. The editors 4 The Straits Times , Professor Quah with NTU’s five-year strategic plans, saloons” to foster informal argue that most of the world’s and fellow colleague Associate which focuses on five key research conversations about sustainability rapidly developing economies Professor Chia Wai Mun disclosed thrusts. In meeting one of these strategies, ideas and issues. These are located in the Asia-Pacific the amount the haze pollution— research thrusts, Sustainable Earth, conversations help to strengthen region, and the unprecedented caused by the slash-and-burn SSS has identified Environment and the culture of sustainability at NTU speed of industrialisation that agriculture and clearing of land Sustainability as one of its three while promoting cross-disciplinary has characterised development in Indonesia—had cost Singapore research clusters. conversations and collaborations in the region has also led to in 2015. Apart from outlining the for research, and contribute to both an increasing demand tangible costs which ranged from Coordinated by Associate professional development through for resources and a rise in the health costs to productivity costs to Professor Md Saidul Islam and the exchange of pedagogical production of carbon dioxide cost of mitigation and adaption by Assistant Professor Yan Jubo from approaches to sustainability. emissions. Interdisciplinary government agencies and houses, Economics, the Environment and approaches to sustainability from the duo also included intangible Sustainability research cluster In the special issue of Nature regional, historical, institutional, costs of the haze. Such research, aims to create a new paradigm and Culture (Vol. 10, No. 1, 2015) technological, and policy as shown by SSS’ economics that fundamentally changes how with the theme of “Reconsidering perspectives are indispensible for professors, would have direct we think about our existence in Sustainability: Interdisciplinary addressing this globally significant policy implications. Policy makers relation to the environment and Perspectives from Asia,” guest issue. The Arc is a Green Mark Platinum certified building in NTU that has eco-friendly features like energy-saving LED lighting, motion sensors and solar-powered systems (Source: NTU)

NTU—walking the talk in and greenhouse gas emissions square metre academic building the social sciences to assess sustainability solutions intensity by 26% and 37% will be constructed using mass- public behaviour and attitude to At NTU, we believe that respectively. We are also on track engineered timber with material climate change or to exact climate educational institutions play a to reduce our carbon footprint by procured from renewable forests. solutions. decisive role in cultivating and achieving Green Mark Platinum It will be prefabricated before “Environmental empowering our community Certification for all our campus installed on site and is expected “From an economist’s point of to respond to increasingly buildings by 2020—95% of 230 to be completed in 2021. view, it is often times not that economics has challenging times. The University building on campus are already we do not want to engage in much to do with launched several sustainability Green Mark Platinum certified. In conclusion sustainable development, but initiatives and development According to the latest report that people lack the information social preference goals, of which, many are In August 2018, NTU President on climate change released by and self-control,” Assistant aligned with the United Nations Professor launched the United Nations (UN), global Professor Yan states. People are and behavioural Sustainable Development ECHO—the One-NTU initiative warming is harming the earth at often myopic when it comes to Goals. According to the NTU’s that stands for Eco-friendly, an unprecedented rate. The report utilising natural resources and economics.” 2017 Sustainability Report, the Connected, Healthy and One- also revealed that a tipping point do not collaborate enough on University aims to convert the NTU. Under ECHO, the University has already been reached, and climate change issues. Solutions – Assistant Professor Yan Jubo entire campus to zero water aims to reduce waste and some extreme consequences will to such issues are to design consumption, almost zero waste encourage more sustainability be impossible to avoid. Depending “better mechanisms and discover The haze blankets Singapore’s downtown area (Source: Shutterstock) and almost zero net emissions behaviour among the NTU on science and technology more factors that could nudge by 2030. community on campus. alone is not enough to develop people to change their behaviours sustainability solutions for climate to engage in more sustainable 3 Yu Qin, Jing Wu, Jubo Yan. (2019). Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 94, 161-187. In FY17, NTU reduced its energy In addition, a new 40,000 gross change. These answers require development.” 4 Euston Quah and Chia Wai Mun. What the 2015 haze cost Singapore: $1.83 billion, 17 September 2019, The Straits Times

10 11 PEOPLE PEOPLE

WELCOMING OUR SCHOLARS BACK AS UNRAVELLING THE BLACK BOX OF CHINA’S NEW FACULTY MEMBERS FOREIGN POLICY

We would like extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our faculty, Assistant Professor Tang Cheng Keat By Elizabeth Tay from Economics, and Assistant Professor Dylan Loh from Public Policy and Global Affairs. They joined SSS in August and September 2019 respectively. The two assistant professors are recipients of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) International PhD Scholarship, or HIPS. HIPS aims to encourage outstanding Singapore citizens to pursue an academic career in HASS by supporting their doctoral studies overseas.

WHEN INQUISITIVENESS LEADS TO A PATH LESS TRAVELLED By Tay Xin Yi

“I have never really thought about took things in his stride, not once His interest in pursuing the answers pursuing academia until I really wavering as he continued to pursue to his questions was not a chance went ahead to try it,” quips Assistant his research. “The harassers only encounter but began with an Professor Tang Cheng Keat. His stopped when we threatened to sue inquisitive mind as a teenager. This academic journey in Economics them,” he added. curious nature has spurred him began when he signed himself up to seek answers to his questions to be a research assistant in his With a plethora of research through his research, which he undergraduate years in the National experience, he is no stranger to affirms as “gratifying”. More than University of Singapore (NUS). the realm of Economics and Public just a satisfying pursuit, his research Policy. A testament of how learning sheds light on the unintended For Assistant Professor Tang, is an ever changing state of mind, consequences of certain policies and academia is more than just Assistant Professor Tang obtained adds value to various social issues. Assistant Professor Dylan Loh readings as well. Within his first a rising power on the world its power at an empirical level. paperwork and research. There were his bachelor’s degree in Real Estate recently received his PhD from year in NTU, he knew he wanted stage. He notes that within the Assistant Professor Loh posits Cambridge University at the to pursue academia as a career. Chinese literature, there is not that China’s power stems not just instances where he received “hate” and proceeded to complete a Some of his many research interests environmental policies in China and Politics and International Studies much research done on Chinese from its military (as is commonly and “malicious emails” in response master’s in Real Estate and Urban include transportation economics, India on air and water quality. Department under the HIPS Assistant Professor Loh’s diplomacy, its foreign policy, and assumed) but also its diplomats in to his research findings during his Economics at NUS. He completed environmental economics, urban Assistant Professor Tang also programme and is currently an professors played a big part in this the Chinese Ministry of Foreign their foreign embassies. four years in London. He wrote a his PhD in Economic Geography at and housing economics. He has has experience teaching applied Assistant Professor in NTU’s decision. He looked up to them Affairs itself. In fact, Assistant paper demonstrating that speed the LSE and then his postdoctoral published several articles in peer- research methods and Geographic Public Policy and Global Affairs as role models and imagined Professor Loh calls the Chinese Assistant Professor Loh will be cameras do save lives. However, fellowship in Environmental reviewed journal The Journal of Real Information Systems (GIS) at (PPGA) Department. Assistant himself being in their shoes one Ministry of Foreign Affairs a “black teaching Singapore’s Foreign anti-speed camera campaigners Economics at the University of Estate Finance and Economics, and LSE. In the coming semester, Professor Loh says it was not day, discovering new knowledge box” that has not been openly Policy in Semester 2 of AY were not happy with his findings, Southern California. Having recently completed research on valuing the Assistant Professor Tang will be an easy journey to get to where and imparting it to the next studied, perhaps due to access 2019/2020 and possibly China’s he shared. They harassed him and returned from the latter, he remarks economic costs of congestion, the teaching the course Cost-Benefit he is today. He admits he was generation. His NTU professors issues, language issues, not being Foreign Policy in the near future. his supervisors through emails, that although Singapore has cost of gun violence to the society, Analysis. Rather than just imparting disinterested in his studies when had opened his eyes to his passion able to stay in China for prolonged In his personal life, he is an avid demanding that the working paper changed tremendously, there is still and evaluating the effectiveness of theoretical knowledge, he hopes he was younger. The Singapore for research. It was during his fieldwork, etc. He mentions collector of original early 20th be removed from online. The a sense of familiarity and comfort. speed cameras in improving road to engage his students to think Polytechnic business IT graduate time as a research analyst in that when people discuss about Century satirical posters – he harassers escalated the saga by Born and bred here in Singapore, he safety. Some of his work has been critically and beyond the course did not consider a career in the S. Rajaratnam School of China’s rise, they talk about “China has even visited absurdist artist, sending similar emails to the senior hopes that by bringing his findings covered by the media, including material and their respective majors 1 2 academia until he entered NTU to International Studies (RSIS), that being able to influence Country Glen Baxter’s house and bought management of London School of and research experiences back Financial Times , Forbes , and to assess existing policies with 3 study sociology. "It was something he realised his research interests X or Country Y” but he says this a limited-edition poster from him Economics (LSE) when Assistant home, they can identify and bridge Wall Street Journal . Currently, discernment. Professor Tang and his supervisors the gaps between existing policies he is working on various projects that I liked and felt I was good at," lie in China’s foreign policy and is merely at the conceptual level. in person! As a graphic novel fan, refused to cave in. Despite that, he and the state of social welfare here. examining the impacts of various he says. He was so interested in diplomacy. He highlights the He hopes that with his research, he is also very excited that Netflix the subject, he would read all the importance of understanding he would be able to shed light on recently greenlit a TV series Neil 1 Speed Cameras: vest pests, 11 January 2019, Financial Times required readings, loved them, how China asserts its power China’s foreign policy and map Gaiman’s comic book series, The 2 New York City’s Congestion Fees Should Impact More Than Driving Costs, 25 July 2019, Forbes and go on to read the optional in the public eye, especially as out exactly how China exerts Sandman. 3 Congestion Pricing Could Give Lift to Some Home Values, 1 May 2019, The Wall Street Journal

12 13 RESEARCH GRANTS PUBLICATIONS

RESEARCH GRANTS BOOKS

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (MOE) ACADEMIC RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS Chinese Migrants Write Home: A Dual-Language Anthology of Twentiieth-Century Family Letters, Singapore: World Scientific. MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 1 Gregor Benton, Huimei Zhang, Prof Liu Hong (Public Policy and Global Affairs), eds., 2020. Subject Principal Investigator Project Title Qiaopi (侨批) is the name given in Chinese to letters written home by Chinese migrants to accompany remittances, in the 150 years starting in the 1820s. Qiaopi had numerous functions and dimensions, ranging from economic and social to cultural and Economics Assistant Professor Bao Te Experimental study the Effect of Communication and Settlement political. The Qiaopi Project was officially registered in 2013 under UNESCO's "Memory of the World" programme. As the first System on Financial Stability book of its kind, this anthology collects, translates and analyzes around one hundred letters from Singapore, China, Malaysia, Assistant Professor Leong Kaiwen Thailand, the USA, and Canada. It also examines the letters’ socio-economic and political significances in the contexts of global Economics Do inmates exhibit Loss Aversion? Evidence from Singapore’s migration and modern China history. Reformative Training Centre Psychology Assistant Professor Charles Or Learning to make better confidence judgements: Is such learning An Emerging Asian Model of Governance and Transnational Knowledge, London: Routledge. transferrable to new situations? Psychology Nanyang Assistant Professor Gerrit Maus Perceptual continuity across eye blinks in virtual reality Ting-Yan Wang and Prof Liu Hong (Public Policy and Global Affairs), eds., 2019. Psychology Assistant Professor Lee Kai Chung Albert Smiling in the Face of Setbacks: A Holistic View of Life Can Turn the This timely volume explores the emergence of Asian models of governance, taking into account the shifting global political Experience of Suffering into Meaning in Life economic landscape and the region’s rapid growth in recent decades. As well as theoretical explorations, the book also provides rich empirical evidence on the contextualized lessons accumulated in Asia, offering a nuanced understanding of Asian Psychology Assistant Professor Tan Chin Hong Socioeconomic status and cognitive impairment: the mediating effects governance experience through comparative case studies. of cardiovascular function and brain volume Public Policy and Assistant Professor Azusa Katagiri The Strategic Sequencing of Signals in Crisis Bargaining: Global Affairs Computational Approach to Foreign Relations Documents Exploring Public-Private Partnerships in Singapore, Routledge.

Sociology Associate Professor Sulfikar Amir City Resilience in Expanding Urbans of Southeast Asia Asst Prof Kim Soojin (Public Policy and Global Affairs) and Kai Xiang Kwa. 2019. Sociology Assistant Professor Ye Junjia Migrant-Driven Diversification Through Differential Inclusion in This book looks at what drives effective management of public-private partnerships (PPP). It examines widely cited Singapore Singaporean cases pertaining to successful PPPs as well as those in failure (and subsequently contracted back in the public sector provision) in diverse areas of public service, such as water services, educational services, trade and logistical data services, residential services, acquisition and maintenance of military systems, research and development services, MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 2 infrastructure, and sport services.

Subject Principal Investigator Project Title

Psychology Professor Annabel Chen Assessing causality of the association between exercise and neurocognitive gains BOOK CHAPTERS

Advance Care Planning Claiming Ordinary Space in the Intra-Party Dynamics in the Living with Terrorism: EXTERNAL GRANTS Assoc Prof Andy Ho (Psychology) “Cosmopolitan Grid” People’s Action Party: Party Resilience through Compassion & Geraldine Tan-Ho. In Danan Asst Prof Felicity Chan (Sociology). Structure, Continuity and Assoc Prof Andy Ho (Psychology) Subject Funding Agency / Grant Type Principal Investigator Project Title Gu, Matthew E. Dupre [eds.], In Tridib Banerjee, Anastasia Hegemony & Geraldine Tan-Ho. In Neil Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Loukaitou-Sideris [eds.], The New Asst Prof Walid Jumblatt Abdullah Thompson, Gerry R. Cox [eds.], Psychology National Arts Council (NAC) Associate Professor ARTISAN 2.0: Deconstructing the Integrative efficacy of a multimodal Population Ageing, Springer, Companion to Urban Design, New (Public Policy and Global Affairs). Promoting Resilience: Responding Cham, 2019, DOI: 10.1007/978-3- York: Routledge, 2019. In Lily Zubaidah Rahim, Michael to Adversity, Vulnerability, and Andy Ho Art-based Intervention to strengthen understanding and demystify 319-69892-2. D. Barr [eds.], The Limits of Loss, 2019, UK: Routledge. misconceptions on Arts, Heritage, and Health Euthanasia and Senicide Authoritarian Governance in China’s economic development: Assoc Prof Andy Ho (Psychology) Singapore’s Developmental State, Seeking Respect, Fairness, Ageing Research Institute for Mindful-Compassion Art Therapy for Dementia Care (MCAT-DC)— A perspective on capital & Geraldine Tan-Ho. In Danan Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, and Community: Low Wage Society and Education (ARISE) Empowering Resilience and Holistic Wellbeing for Sustainable Family misallocation Gu, Matthew E. Dupre [eds.], 2019, pp. 151-171. Migrants, Authoritarian Assoc Prof Laura Wu Guiying Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Regimes and the Everyday Strategic Initiatives Funding Caregiving: A Waitlist Randomized Controlled Trial (Economics). In Ligang Song, Population Ageing, Springer, Japan and Southeast Asia in Urban Yixiao Zhou, Luke Hurst [eds.], The Cham, 2019, DOI: 10.1007/978-3- the Indo-Pacific Asst Prof Laavanya Kathiravelu National Arts Council (NAC) Associate Professor Revealing the psychological and behavioural effects of public art using Chinese Economic Transformation: 319-69892-2_1008-1 Asst Prof Kei Koga (Public (Sociology). In Sandra Brunnegger Qiu Lin virtual reality Views from Young Economists, Policy and Global Affairs). In Kyle [ed.], Everyday Justice: Law, Australian National University Springer [ed.], Implementing Ethnography, Injustice, Cambridge Press, 2019, pp. 19-31. the Indo-Pacific: Japan’s region University Press, 2019. building initiatives, Perth: Perth USAsia Centre, 2019, pp. 24-37.

14 15 PUBLICATIONS

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Accumulation by and without In vino veritas? Indigenous Parenting Stress Undermines Testing the unsolved dispossession: Rural land wine and indigenization in Mother-Child Brain-to-Brain problems hypothesis: use, land expropriation, and Israeli settlements Synchrony: A Hyperscanning The evolutionary life issues- livelihood implications in Nanyang Asst Prof Ian McGonigle Study mitigating function of nature China (Sociology). 2019. Anthropology Today, Nur Atiqah Azhari, W. Q. Leck, G. exposure and Asst Prof Zhan Shaohua (Sociology). 35(4), 7-12. Gabrieli, Andrea Bizzego, P. Rigo, its relationship with 2019. Journal of Agrarian Change, Asst Prof Peipei Setoh (Psychology), human well-being 19(3), 447-464. Japan’s “Free and Open Indo- M. H. Bornstein & Nanyang Asst Prof Jiaqing O, Phil Kavanagh, Martin Brüne Pacific” Strategy: Tokyo’s Gianluca Esposito (Psychology). 2019. & Nanyang Asst Prof Gianluca Esposito A novel mindful-compassion Tactical Hedging and the Scientific Reports, 9(1):11407. (Psychology). 2019. Urban Forestry art therapy (MCAT) for Implications for ASEAN & Urban Greening. DOI: 10.1016/j. reducing burnout and Asst Prof Kei Koga (Public Policy and Perception of Climate ufug.2019.126396 promoting resilience for end- Global Affairs). 2019. Contemporary Change in Shrimp-Farming of-life care professionals: a Southeast Asia, 41, 286-313. Communities in Bangladesh: The impact of interest waitlist RCT protocol A Critical Assessment rate policy on individual Assoc Prof Andy Ho (Psychology), Modelling Multilevel Shaikh Mohammad Kais & Assoc Prof expectations and asset Geraldine Tan-Ho, Thuy Anh Ngo, Interdependencies for Md Saidul Islam (Sociology). 2019. bubbles in experimental Grace Ong, Poh Heng Chong, Dennis Resilience in Complex International Journal of Environmental markets Dignadice & Jordan Potash. 2019. Trials, Organisation Research and Public Health, 16(672), Asst Prof Bao Te (Economics) & Jichuan 20(1):406. Justyna Tasic, Fredy Tantri & Sulfikar 1-12. Zong. 2019. Journal of Economic Amir (Sociology). 2019. Complexity, Dynamics and Control, 107, 103735. Does Regression Exist? DOI: 10.1155/2019/3946356 Polygenic hazard score, Employing Biological amyloid deposition The Effect of Language Markers to Stratify Autism Modelling the impact of a tax and Alzheimer’s on Economic Behavior: Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on sweetened beverages in neurodegeneration Examining the Causal Link Nur Atiqah Azhari, Farouq Azizan & the Philippines: an extended Asst Prof Tan Ching Hong (Psychology), between Future Tense and Nanyang Asst Prof Gianluca Esposito cost-effectiveness analysis Luke W. Bonham, Chun Chieh Fan, et al. Time Preference in the Lab (Psychology). 2019. Neuroscience & Asst Prof Akshar Saxena (Economics), 2019. Brain, 142(2), 460-470. Josie I Chen, Asst Prof He Tai-Sen Biobehavioral Reviews, 103, 31-32. Adam D. Koon, Leizel Lagrada- (Economics) & Assoc Prof Yohanes E. Rombaua, Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Productive aging in India Riyanto (Economics). 2019. European Individual, clinical and Benjamin Johns & Mario Capanzana. Abhijit Viasaria & Assoc Prof Economic Review, 120, 103307. system factors associated 2019. Bulletin of the World Health Premchand Dommaraju (Sociology). with the place of death: Organization, 97(2), 97-107. 2019. Social Science & Medicine, 229, The Mahathir effect in A linked national database 14-21. Malaysia’s 2018 election: the study Parenting by lying in role of credible personalities Woan Shin Tan, Ram Bajpai, Chan Kee childhood is associated with Reciprocal Dynamics of in regime transitions Low, Assoc Prof Andy Ho (Psychology), negative developmental Dignity in End-of-Life Asst Prof Walid Jumblatt Abdullah Heui Yaw Wu & Josip Car. 2019. PLOS outcomes in adulthood Care: A Multiperspective (Public Policy and Global Affairs). 2019. One, 14(4), e12968. Asst Prof Peipei Setoh (Psychology), Systematic Review of Democratization, 26(3), Siqi Zhao, Rachel Santos, Gail D. Qualitative and Mixed 521-536. Innovation-driven industrial Heyman, Kang Lee. 2019. Journal of Methods Research green development: The Experimental Child Psychology. DOI: Ping Ying Choo, Geraldine Tan-Ho, Using maternal rescue of moderating role of regional 10.1016/j.ecp.2019.104680 Oindrila Dutta, Paul Victor Patinadan, pups in a cup to investigate factors Assoc Prof Andy Ho (Psychology). mother-infant interactions in Wei Li, Assoc Prof Wang Jue (Public 2019. The American Journal of mice/rodents Policy and Global Affairs), Rongxiao Hospice & Palliative Care. DOI: Nanyang Asst Prof Gianluca Esposito Chen, et al. 2019. Journal of Cleaner 10.1177/1049909119878860 (Psychology), Anna Truzzi, Sachine Production, 222, 344-354. Yoshida, Ryuko Ohnishi, Era Miyazawa & Kumi Kuroda. 2019. Behavioural Brain Research, 374:112081.

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