GEOSPHERE 2012/2013
Because academic life is more than just your readings !
Inside this issue: Feature Content: Fundamentally Geographical How to reply to your friends when they ask what are you doing with a Geography major?
Feature People:
Feature Networks: Transport - insights to a passion We invite Nicholas from YJC to share his passions.
Come be part of Geosphere!
Publishing with Quality & Passion
Field Studies & Geogsoc!
Winner of the Geogphotochallenge - Photograph by Jasmine Ku MCI (P) 192/01/2013
FOREWORD It is now over 6 months since I plunged back into the world of NUS Geography after a 12-year hiatus. It’s great to be back! The Singapore of today is a very different place to the one I remember from the late 1990s. There seems to be ‘more’ of everything; more people, more cars, more MRT lines, more shopping malls, more gleaming office blocks, more tourist destinations…but also more park areas, more environmental awareness, more cultural events, more media outlets, more interesting local politics! To the newcomer (or more accurately in this instance, the returnee!) the pace of change is palpable and makes Singapore an exciting place to live and work. The Department has also changed dramatically, not least in the fact that there are now some 50% more faculty members than there were when I left in 2000. After a recent burst of recruitment activity, we are now a community of 35 academic staff, ably supported by 10 administrative and technical staff. Geography at NUS has become firmly established on the global map of research excellence, with widely recognized expertise in the areas of tropical environmental change, social and cultural geographies, and political and economic geography, among others. Some things remain the same, however. The Department is as friendly and collegial as ever, and as welcoming to new staff members and visitors. It is, as it has long been, a fantastic place to study and research Geography in all its varied forms. Another important constant is the continued energy and enthusiasm of the NUS Geographical Society. This 2013 edition of Geosphere is a testament to that. A Department’s strength and vitality is, ultimately perhaps, best judged by the quality of its students. On the evidence of the pages that follow, we are in safe hands on that front.
Head of Geography Neil M. Coe 2
Well Geog-gers, It seems that the Mayan 2012 prophecy didn’t quite end the world (and geography). We were frankly quite worried that there wouldn’t be trees left to print this magazine. This issue brings about much changes. The vision for this article was to present a visual and intellectual feast. A showcase of splendiferous photography and ideas from our department. This could not have happened without the extremely talented team and fantastic writers we have this year. 2012 was also delightful as we warmly welcome Neil Coe as our new Head of Department. Riding the wave of this change, this issue of Geosphere seizes the opportunity to “talk back” in our Feature article as we contend controversial discussions about all things in Geography. It would seem blase, for a discipline that highlights so much on the importance of networks, to not reach beyond our departmental boundaries as well! In Geonetwork, we have particularly have A’level student, Nicholas Lim, and a recent graduate Shaun Teo, to share how geography has come to influence their work and passion. The Geographical Society has a slew of exciting activities lined up in Geopop, a section for POPular activities for the undergraduate POPulation. We would like to hear more about how you think about the magazine! Do email any comments or feedback at geogsoc.publications@gmail.com. If you have passion in journalistic writing or magazine publications, we would love to have you on board! Do send us a sample of your work (it’s okay if you don’t!), and your contacts to the email above. We look forward to recruiting committed and passionate members who have a strong interest in learning more about publication!
Claudia Wong Editor-in-Chief 3
Claudia Wong Editor-in-Chief claudiawong@nus.edu.sg
THE
Claudia is a somewhat weary Masters student currently hoping that her thesis can write itself. She writes to keep herself entertained, as well as to keep herself out of the library. During whatever free time she can spare, she enjoys listening to music of all kinds, looking at beautiful things (and people) and butchering the piano. Intellectually driven, introspective and insightful, the number of “in’s” does not indicate that she lives in her head. Outgoing and outspoken, she is radical with ideas and often challenges set boundaries. With a conviction that social research is important in today’s global context, she is involved in many areas of studies within the social sciences that include statistics and critical theory at NUS.
Team 4
Aloysius Michael Chua Content Editor aloy88@gmail.com
Aloysius is an undergraduate who (after 4 years) is ready to get on stage and rock and roll. Armed with a wicked sense of humour, he likes to amuse and be amused in return. This jester is also a dreamer who often gets lost in his thoughts. When he’s not too busy being occupied with dreaming, he loves to rock out on his drumset and the occasional football game. He believes that soul-filled writing is a gift to both writer and reader and he tries to fill his soul and that of others with good writing. Never one to shy away from conversation, he thrives on meaningful interaction with people.
Joseph Daniels Content Editor joe.a.daniels@gmail.com Joseph Daniels is never in the same place for more than four months, living a simple life out of a single suitcase. In his free time, he investigates the architectural form of cities, explores local real estate markets, and feeds a mild obsession with all things small and sustainable—particularly cars and houses. With a fervently inquisitive mind, the mundane things such as tied shoes are often forgotten. He is introverted and intense, carrying with him a constant radical skepticism to the status quo and its forms of thought. He is a fourth year undergraduate honors student in the Joint Degree Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and NUS. He is currently working on his honors thesis; a study of the financial spaces of Singapore’s local banks. His research interests are in the social science of finance, geographies of finance and money, economic geography, and the geographies of knowledge at UNC and NUS. 5
Foo Fang Yu Publicity Editor fangyufoo@gmail.com Fang Yu is currently a year two undergraduate who is proud to be a Geography Major. Her main belief is enjoying what she does so that she can treat work as play. An avid reader and piano player, she also likes saving up in order to travel. She enjoys moments of solitude, but never shies away from interacting and learning from people as and when she can. Fang Yu also believes in sincere writings which will convey a sense of warmth to readers. Lastly, she always likes to describe herself as being insanely spunky.
Kayley Ng Publicity Editor qiulin.ng@gmail.com Kayley bakes a mean red velvet cake, or so her friends say. In her free time, besides honing her culinary skills, she enjoys braving the equatorial heat in Singapore, discovering the innovative forms of land use and stopping by Forty Hands in Yong Siak Street for a nice cuppa. Young and restless, Geography never fails to fascinate her as a subject which connects everything on Earth from past to present and natural to human processes. In school, Kayley alternates between being a Geography student and a passionate badminton amateur. 6
Kelman is a budding photographer that is learning the ropes and exploring the various genres of photography, hoping to get every photo opportunity that he can. When he is not snapping away he enjoys an arduous game of squash or frisbee with friends. Challenging himself, Kelman is adventurous and has a spontaneous streak in him. He greatly looks forward to his time in the Geography Department of NUS.
Lee Min Lin Layout Designer leeminlin8@gmail.com
Kelman Chiang Chief Layout Editor kelman.chiang@gmail.com
Min Lin is a year 1 undergraduate who is relatively tired of people asking her what she can do with a major in Geography degree. As she loves talking to and meeting new people, she entertains them most of the time. However, it does sometimes get on her nerves when they ask if it’s only rocks that geographers’ study. So when she is not busy throwing rocks at these ignorant people, Min Lin enjoys spending time in church with her family and friends, playing the guitar and engaging in sports.
An explorer at heart, Grace loves Geography and finds it not only meaningful, but the most enjoyable couse of study. She has recently developed a new found craze for pistachio ice cream; and a good day for her would consist of cycling, browsing through design books, and wandering around discovering the city. She spends much of her time in Angsana College involved in publicity efforts and looks forward to spending more time reading & filming in the semesters ahead.
Grace Ann Chua Layout Designer graceannchua@gmail.com 7
CONTENTs Geo-Content
Ideas and Insights from our student community
»10
»12
Feature Article: Fundamentally Geographical
»20
Bukit Brown, Naturally?
»26
Alliances between Commercial Airlines Beneficial or Sinister?
»34
Nature - Society Relations: Rivers in Northen Thai History and Implications for Flood Management in Thailand Today
»38
Bringing people and places together
GEO-NETWORK 101 with Neil Coe
40«
An NUS Geography Education Taking You There, & Beyond.
48«
Urban Imaginations & Reflections Across Europe
50«
Transport: Insights to a Passion
56«
62« Geoographical Society, Events and all things popular
GEO-POP
»64
Geography Photo Challenge
»66
Seminar Series
»72
The Geographical Society
Photo by Lee Yann Rong yannrong_21@hotmail.com
Fundamentally
GE OG R A Feature article:
When (under) graduates speak back, speak out loud and speak honestly.
Do you feel that you have to justify why you are in the social sciences to your family members? We hardly see students from the physical sciences and medical faculties re-affirming their choices because it is taken for granted that they are already legitimate. We sometimes also victimize our positions, perhaps leading others to think that being in the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is not one of choice but of obligation. Coming from the arts stream back from junior college, where else can we possibly go since science, engineering and medicine require specific sets of skills? However, if you think about it, these are the only careers that require such specialised training – the rest of the world relies on skills that draw upon the diversity of perspectives. 12
P HI C A L For instance, human geography’s immediate difficulty is precisely that it lies beyond the tangible, the measurable and the calculable. Unlike the sciences where subjects do not respond to the scientist, the human subject can respond or even perform our theories. Physical geographers too, have increasingly started to expand their scope of study to include environment-human interactions to tackle complex problems like global warming. One cannot measure success based on quantitative statistics, the number of reports, or the kinds of “discoveries”. We often research the un-quantifiable, the unmeasurable and even when we do try to undertake scientific research; there are usually gaps and large margins of error. Today, with social
Written by Claudia Wong Joeseph Daniels Layout by Kelman Chiang
issues coming into the foreground, there is no need to assert ourselves any longer. There are those who have paved the way and helped legitimized social science education with their successes, and they attributing their successes to their education. Even within the social sciences, do you feel that you have to defend your choice of Geography? Questions like, “Geography— oh, you know what the capital of Azerbaijan is, right?” serve as mundane daily reminders of the misperceptions the general public has about the discipline. People later ask, what is the point of studying geography since the world has mostly been explored/discovered already? There is an increased need for us to assert our place (the biggest irony for geographers) and the value of a geography education. But what can we geographers say about what is Geography today? 13
NUS President Tan Chor Chuan came to the Geography Department and asked whether Geography is so diverse and whether everyone is studying something different. And if so, what holds geography together?
First, one is struck by sheer diversity of activities. From studying the flows of water on the surface of the earth to the flows of money in the economy, or from the body as a political site to migratory patterns of religious pilgrims, geographers seem to be studying a wide array of subject matters. Many of these have no apparent link to the common notions of geography. Geographers do not claim any hold over a particular subject, and it is often hard to distinguish the intellectual boundaries of geographers.
So, to what do geographers lay claim? In a word—space.
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If we were to render all cause-effect in a linear fashion, then we would necessarily miss important linkages. Geography is about making disparate links and seeing holistically, the cause-effect of the “big picture”. Even if such a project is an arduous and some might argue, impossible one, we cannot succumb to the perfectionist fallacy of not even trying. There are important discoveries being made every day on the multiple causes and effects in our world. It’s inherent in space.
Geography (or space for that matter) has been conceived of as an entity, a bounded container. Perhaps geography is more than being a thing, or being a “someone” – a label. Like most social science disciplines, we develop different perspectives and how we see is hence shaped by the fundamental disciplinary assumptions. From those assumptions we then ask different questions and the answers feedback into how we perceive something. Hence, geography is a method of understanding the world. Doing contemporary Geography is about being modest, rejecting grand theory and over-generalisations because of its sensitivity to the uniqueness of places and localities. Perhaps in this arrogant climate of academia, geography can inject of humility to what can easily be conflated in the ivory tower. 15
Unlike other disciplines what we study is not what holds us together. Rather it is how we study; how we approach the world around us that keeps seemingly disparate groups of geographers together. There is only one other discipline that shares this trait, and that is history. Geographers then attempt to understand how space (and time) is created and recreated by humans and nature (or human/nature). In doing so, we attempt to see how politics, culture, and the economy are inherently influenced by space, or how the relations between places become important in the constitution of those places.
By holding space and place at the centre of our focus we are complementary to other disciplines, while at times offering direct challenges to orthodox (aspatial) theories proposed by economists, culturalists, and political scientists. The work that physical geographers do attunes us to the dynamicism of human actions and repercussions on our physical environment. It is precisely these varied perspectives are the traits that hold us together.
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Geographers then, are the constant skeptics. Geography remains real, grounded and unabashedly so. Perhaps our message to President Tan is a straightforward one – Geography is not so much a thing, in fact no discipline IS. However, through the study of geography, we become sensitive to the difference of others, and learn from those differences to cultivate a sense of empathy, and respect for diversity. Geography is what we do and what we are!
Geography is what we do!
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We scoured the nooks and crannies of campus and gotten our undergraduates to pour their hearts on what geography means to them, and why they studied it. Their heartfelt responses are below, see if you agree (or disagree). We’ll like to hear from you! Do email geogsoc. publications@gmail.com if you have burning insights to share with us!
u o y o ? d y h p a Why r g o e g y d u t s o t t wan
To better understand how we are shaped by the physical world, to understand how we are shaping ours, and to understand how this intertwining relationship affects all of us. Sparks my inner geek.
Adam Ang, Year 1
Cliff Chew, Research Assistant
The question is not why, but why not? Geography allows me to understand and broaden my understandings with nature.
Lye Han Rui, Year 3 18
Why do yo u think ge
ography m atters?
Geography matters cause space matters. It gives one lens to see things in a unique perspective that many would not consider otherwise. And geography has impacted me in more ways than one, shaping much of how I look at things.
Leong Mun Kidd, Year 2
People make geography important – everyone encountered on this journey of discovering the world.
Alvin Tan, Year 4
What is
Because it ROCKS.
Tan Choon Hang, Year 3
It is an all encompassing discipline that looks to tackle issues around the world at every level of development. It’s findings can be applied to a huge range of industries, policies and practices.
geography?
Matthew Saunders, Year 3
Geography is the best of both worlds, converging both science and social science, considering both the physical environment and humans at large.
Leong Mun Kidd, Year 2
Geography is also about connections- how Indonesian forest fires can impact Singapore, how Starbucks can be found in China, and how my lecturers come from different parts of the world.
Loo Wen Bin, Year 2
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‘What is so great about Bukit Brown?’ These so-called civic-minded people are just opportunist, are interested parties or trying to gain mileage out of the whole episode. Some of them even do not know Bukit Brown at all until recently. Some of the younger ones do not even know that their great great grandrelatives were there until now. Talking about History, Bidadari also has its own, yet why didn’t these people come up to protect it. There will be no progress if we dwell on the past. Sorry lah. The dead will have to make way for the living. Forum post in response to Yahoo! News article on LTA’s plans for Bukit Brown
B
ukit rown, aturally?
N
Written by Aloysius Chua Photos and Layout by Kelman Chiang
Plans
for construction of a new 8-lane highway through Bukit Brown Cemetery were announced in March 2012, with the exhumation of 4000 graves to be completed by the first quarter of 2013. In response, a plurality of voices emerged from both the government and civic actors. Most notably, the Nature Society of Singapore and the Singapore Heritage Society voiced their disappointment with this decision and the process through which it was formulated. Scurrying to act against the imminent demise of the cemetery, civil groups organized tours to educate both Singaporeans and tourists alike of Singapore’s heritage and the pitfalls of erasing such a landscape, and destroying fragments of our social and historical memory. We are already familiar with the state’s reach in reshaping Singapore due to the acquisition of land after independence. For years, the demolition of historic sites and landmarks were legitimised as necessary for economic progress. Sometimes, the goals of ‘progress’ conflict with efforts to save heritage spaces. Some of these conflicts can be vehement, and protests in both mainstream and social media ring loud and clear. Yet, what proportion of Singaporeans do they REALLY represent? 21
If you were to take a stroll through the cemetery, you will witness the rather slipshod attempts by these civil society groups in marking out prominent graves (right). The lack of local volunteer tour guides and the predominantly tourist crowd visiting the cemetery seems to suggest a lack of sufficient local involvement or interest. Are these efforts of resistance doomed without extensive popular support and action? Do we only care when it is convenient to do so? The key question is: What if the public no longer views ‘heritage’ as valuable? If so, is the issue at hand is really preservation at all.
22
The Old National Library, Kallang Theatre and the National Stadium were important buildings and signifiers of Singapore’s heritage. Yet their demise did not incite the level of civil action from activist societies that we have witnessed in response to Bukit Brown’s imminent fate. With increased use of social media, civic action has become increasingly mobile. Social media has led to increase in mobilisation since it is easier and faster than ever to disseminate counter-hegemonic discourses via social media channels. However, is the difference in the above cases merely due to the adoption of technology? If it is not, does it mean these monuments were of any less value and meaning to Singaporeans? Or have we come to an age of frustration at the developmental state’s hubris, which has brought civil engagement and politicization to the fore? We strongly feel that the real issue with Bukit Brown goes beyond the surface of a romanticized appreciation that accompanies heritage and ecological conservation. As the forum post suggests, the issue here is that minority voices are becoming subsumed under the banner of a main spokesperson. This essentialises the agenda of the debate at hand and allows radical politicization of social issues.
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Perhaps, what we really yearn for is what we cannot have in reality. The resistance of Bukit Brown is a yearning for a space of resistance against what has long been an autocratic state. Singaporeans long to be heard, and Bukit Brown is simply a place, hijacked for this purpose. We hang on not to the place, but to the fantasy that the state might give us the rights to the city, and stop treating this area of 723.2km² as its playground. We are like children, long told what is good for us and long been held by the hand. We are told what we can ‘play’ with and what we can’t. This playground is not what we want, but what the authorities believe would be ‘fun’ for us – perhaps, Singaporeans are not finding this fun anymore.
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The point being made here is not a dismissal of the ecological and heritage value of Bukit Brown. These have individual merits that should stand on their own. On our visit to the cemetery, we paid homage to a number of graves that were prominent in their own right. The direct descendants of Confucius were amongst some of the graves that have been slated to be exhumed to make way for the new road. Yet the anger at the road works goes beyond these cultural and historical merits. Instead, the politicization of Bukit Brown and the mass mobilization of sentimentalities around this cause should be and can be viewed as growing discontent and a refusal of citizens to submit to the whims of the developmental state. This is increasingly being channelled into social movements that indirectly allow for the airing of grievances against the state machinery. Bukit Brown and other future clashes with the state serve as flashpoints through which civic mobilization of a newly emerging Singaporean public no longer content with toeing their government’s line can be realized.
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Alliances between Commercial Airlines-
Beneficial Sinister? OR
Written by Woon Wei Seng Photos and Layout by Kelman Chiang
Now,
this may sound like the perfect essay title for a Transport Geography module. Really, who cares which airline allies with which? Most friends that I speak to are not aware that commercial airlines form alliances with one another, and they certainly do not bother to learn about it. After all, you care more about that piece of luggage with all of your gifts yet to arrive in the baggage check area. But as a traveler, you should be concerned about airline alliances, even if you fly only once a year for your annual holiday. These alliances affect your life in more ways than one—where you can go, how you travel, how much you pay, and even whether you have a job or not. Briefly, such alliances range from simple joint ventures (such as that between Qantas Airways of Australia and Emirates Airlines of Dubai, inked recently to collaborate on flights between the Asia-Pacific, Dubai and Europe) to complex multi-airline alliances that span the whole world (such as 28-member Star Alliance, of which Singapore Airlines belongs to) and are usually formed for the economic benefit of the airlines (i.e. expanded passenger markets, reduced overlapping flights and hence reduced costs). 26
As a passenger, these alliances are supposed to benefit you too. Partnerships between airlines are often formed to ensure as widespread a geographic reach as possible, to allow for seamless travel. You can now reach more places even if the airline you made bookings with does not fly there directly, because the airline will make all arrangements for you to allow you to get to where you want. I love these alliances, because I have personally benefited from them. I wanted to visit my relatives in faraway Toronto in 2011, but unfortunately I must stopover at least once, and there is no direct Singapore-Toronto service offered by any single airline. Without these alliances, I would have to make two separate bookings, nightmarish to book and disastrous to my travel plans should anything happen (such as a snowstorm leading to flight cancellations). With these alliances, it made my life much easier, all in one booking (through what is known as a codeshare agreement). I flew on All Nippon Airways (ANA) to Tokyo Narita airport, had a long but lovely stopover shopping and exploring, before taking an Air Canada flight to Toronto. I didn’t have to worry about luggage transfers, nor did I have to check-in again. The cooperation of the two airlines under Star Alliance meant a fuss-free journey and the insurance that should anything happen either airline will be there to offer assistance. These alliances hence provided me with options to go places that would normally have been prohibitively difficult to get to. Though, interactions with airlines outside of an alliance can be quite a struggle. 27
That’s not all. Frequent Flyer Programmes (FFPs) are ostensibly named for the frequent flyers, aiming to encourage passengers to fly regularly with a particular airline or alliance: when you fly with them, you accumulate miles, which can then be used for future purchases, for instance redeeming a free flight. But you don’t need to fly frequently to benefit: in fact, my family members redeemed a free flight to Bali on Singapore Airlines just by flying once from Singapore to New York and back with United Airlines. What happens here is that flying two-way between Singapore and the United States earned enough miles to redeem one free return ticket within Southeast Asia. As both airlines are under Star Alliance, you can earn and redeem miles interchangeably on different airlines within the alliance. So I am a member of United Airlines’ FFP, fly with Air Canada yet still earn miles in my FFP, and then redeem it by booking a free flight with Singapore Airlines.
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Too good to be true? Unfortunately, all is not so positive. There are also more sinister accusations that downplay the touted benefits of these alliances, which the traveler should be wary about when booking flights and choosing which airline to fly with. Accusations of collusion have surfaced, as prices are increased and choices reduced due to restricted competition within airline alliances. For instance, thanks to codeshare agreements, just one airline within the alliance can serve a particular route, and all other airlines within the alliance need not serve this route and just funnel traffic to the airline that does. This means cost savings in airline operations, but often also less choices and usually higher costs for the traveler.
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The existence of alliances also limits which airlines you can fly with, and you are also tied down to certain airlines if you are tied to using a particular airline’s FFP. As a member of United Airlines’ FFP, I often am restricted to choosing to fly with Star Alliance airlines so that I can continue to accumulate miles in my account and to keep this mileage account active because miles expire every 18 months if there is no activity in the account (differs with airline). So I may have to forfeit the discounted fares offered by a rival airline so that I fly with a Star Alliance airline to earn my miles, plus you have to make sure to fly once every now and then to prevent mileage expiry. Even if you do not have a FFP, these alliances can still affect how you travel. If an airline is not in an alliance, woe betide any passenger flying with them: should any disruptions occur to the travel itinerary, the airline in an alliance can easily funnel its passengers to its partner airlines, but the airline without an alliance, or without partner airlines in particular regions, will scramble to help its stranded passengers as other airlines are less willing to help a rival airline / alliance. 30
These alliances do not just affect your travel. Jobs and economies might also be at stake when alliances form and break up, as previous arrangements get torn up in the name of cost savings. Referring back to the Qantas-Emirates alliance, there are economic ramifications for Singapore as Qantas stops routing its Kangaroo flights between Australia and Europe through Singapore, instead routing them through Dubai, Emirates’ base. Flights between Australia and Europe through Singapore will be axed, and Qantas’ base in Singapore will shrink. As one of Changi Airport’s biggest customers, Qantas’ alliance with Emirates will cause job losses for airport and airline staff in Singapore (though it certainly creates jobs in Dubai) as the passenger numbers may dip and downsizing by the airport and airline occurs. Given the significant contribution of Changi Airport to Singapore’s economy, this alliance certainly poses no small threat to our economic growth.
Nevertheless, as an educated and vigilant traveler, it always pays to shop around. You can and should sign up for FFPs if you fly often enough (at least once a year should be a safe bet), because if you do fly with particular airlines within the alliance, the miles you can earn on your FFP are no laughing matter and can reap benefits in future. Take advantage of alliances to fly places where you couldn’t fly before, and they may offer more choices than you thought possible.
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So where is the geography in all this? (After all, you’re reading Geosphere, not Airliner World magazine!) The obvious keyword would be ‘networks’ – that spaghetti of routes on different airlines all around the world, with passengers (and cargo) flowing through these aerial pipelines. But once again we consider the dark side of aviation, from a geopolitical perspective: the protectionism and government intervention to champion the ‘national’ airline, as we witness in the Indian government’s insistence that beleaguered national carrier, Air India, becomes a member of Star Alliance before other Indian airlines are allowed to join an alliance; a proposition which the Star Alliance is apprehensive about. This again affects how you travel, since there are no Indian airlines in any alliance, and you probably have to make more connections just to get to your destination in India. Even in the United States, where its government is generally considered an advocate of free markets, the state protects its national carriers from foreign competition under the auspices of “national security.” This means once you land in the United States you must transfer to an American carrier.
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Thus, while airlines can be thought of as one of the fundamental technologies that allow the process of globalization to continue, they should also be understood (geographically) as embedded in a complex web of political, economic, and social relations which act to transform our lives on a daily basis. So the next time you fly, you might just think about the price you paid for that ticket not as some natural entity, but rather as a very crude construction of a whole host of economic and non-economic factors that shape the space of air travel today.
This article was written with the advice of editor-in-chief Claudia Wong & NUS geography alumnus Kelvin Teo (2009 Masters Candidate) who did his dissertation on low-cost carriers in Singapore. Thanks as well to content editor Joe Daniels for proofreading and providing suggestions to improve this piece.
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Nature-Society Relations
Rivers in Northern Thai History and
Implications for Flood Management in Thailand today Written and Photos by Serene Ng Layout by Kelman Chiang
Go
to any city in northern Thailand today and you will notice at least one thing they all have in common – the presence of a river. Life in northern Thailand is often, directly or indirectly, associated with rivers. They ensure survival by providing water for sustenance and irrigation. As key modes of transport for trade and communication, rivers are also of strategic importance. They are strongly associated with the spirit realm, and are perceived to be the ‘Mother of Life’ – a belief reflected in the Thai word for river, Mae 34
Naam (‘mother water’). The riverine spirits are appeased annually with major festivals. For example, during Loy Krathong, decorated lanterns are floated down rivers as atonement for past misdeeds; and Songkran, during which bowls of river water are thrown at Buddhist icons and people, representing spiritual renewal. In light of their material and symbolic importance, Northern Thai settlements have always been close to rivers. While the spatial proximity to rivers has its benefits, it also increases the susceptibility of populations to flood hazards and the morphological changes of dynamic river systems.
Despite the integral role of rivers in Thai society, this environmental perspective has been lacking in Thai histories. The rise and demise of ancient northern Thai cities cannot be understood without examining their relationships with rivers and seasonal floods. It is with this in mind that we investigate the decline of Wiang Kum Kam, an ancient city of the Lanna kingdom. Wiang Kum Kam was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom before the establishment of Chiang Mai – the capital city after 1296 AD. Legend has it that the city was adversely affected by the seasonal flooding of the Ping River. It was later abandoned and subsequently buried by flood sediments. For centuries, the Wiang Kum Kam existed only in legends and oral history until its excavation in the late 1980s
35
Through the careful study of the on-site sediment layers, we proposed that the city was initially able to cope with small persisting floods by erecting a dyke along the banks of the Ping River. Traces of this dyke are still observable today. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal particles and animal bones buried within the dyke suggest that it was erected in ca. 1411 AD. However, a high-magnitude flood event and the dyke’s destruction eventually resulted in the abandonment of Wiang Kum Kam. Excavation of f loodplain sediments in Wiang Kum Kam for the understanding of the f loodplain stratigraphy and past f lood events. Red arrow (centre right) points to animal boned excavated at 2.3m below ground level in the man-made dyke, dated to be from ca. 1411 AD The author hard at work! (below)
Coarse sand deposited by the large f lood event (bottom right), in comparison to the fine deposits of silt and clay (right) by smaller f loods
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal in the coarse sand layer deposited by this large flood provided us with a temporal estimate of its occurrence – between ca. 1600-1617 AD. Furthermore, following the Burmese occupation of Lanna in the late 16th century, the Burmese building style was adopted throughout the kingdom. However, no Burmese influence is observed in the temples of Wiang Kum Kam. There was also no mention of the city in any northern Thai archival material following the late 16th century. Thus, architectural and archival discontinuities support our temporal estimate of the large flood. 36
Thus, the Ping River and the seasonal floods associated with it were key factors in the demise of Wiang Kum Kam. Nature, in this case, surpasses its often-credited role of being merely the ‘backdrop’ against which history unfolds. Instead, it had played an active role in influencing (though, not determining) the history of Wiang Kum Kam. Today, many Thai communities remain close to rivers; major cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai are situated on low-lying floodplains. Based on the phenomenal extent of the destruction caused by the 2011 floods, it is obvious that seasonal floods continue to be an environmental problem in the riverine Thai cities. Thus, it is pertinent to recognize and negotiate the influence of rivers and floods in contemporary urban planning. It is obvious from the study of floods at Wiang Kum Kam that relying on structural methods, such as dykes, alone for flood mitigation is insufficient. At times, these structures may even foster a false sense of security. The expansion of management strategies to include local communities through the incorporation of indigenous knowledge about rivers, and bottom-up evacuation strategies is crucial for the effective negotiation of the human-river relationship in Thailand.
Buddhist temple ruins in the ancient Lanna city, Wiang Kum Kam, located in present-day Chiang Mai
About the Writer Serene Ng is a cultural geographer and history enthusiast who dabbles occasionally in physical geography. She will be doing more research with Dr. Alan D. Ziegler on nature-society relations in the next two years. They will try to understand how environmental myths and legends affect local perceptions of natural hazards, especially f loods, and the receptivity to ‘scientific’ methods of hazard mitigation in Thailand. 37
Photo by Shona Loong glissarine@gmail.com
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Last year, we had the privilege of welcoming Neil Coe into our Department as the Head of Geography. Professor Neil Coe has written extensively on economic geographies. Most of us taking Economy and Space would have used “Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction” which he co-authored! The Geosphere team Fang Yu and Kelman take a dive into some of our Head of Department’s thoughts…
101 with Interview by Foo Fang Yu Photos and Layout by Kelman Chiang
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How much do you
know about Prof Neil Coe? Think he is just a famous geographer writing your economic geography texts? Talking to our new Head of Department, I found out that he can be off beat, dancing to the YMCA song (back when he taught at the University of Manchester), but more importantly he puts light into how valuable geographers are to this world and how we should take pride in doing a subject that we enjoy!
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How has your time been after joining NUS? I know you came back after 12 years, so how do you feel coming back here? It’s been great! I was here from 1998 to 2000 as a lecturer and I then went to the University of Manchester for 12 years. On coming back here I took up the post of Head of Department straight away. But I haven’t been away for twelve years; I’ve been back visiting a few times and I have a lot of friends here. This is a great department and I feel I’ve settled in well. I’m really enjoying it and things seem to be going fine.
What do you enjoy most about coming to NUS and Singapore? I enjoy being in the Department on a daily basis. I like just being in the Geography Department! Why is that? Because it’s so varied! There’s such a range of things that people do; it’s very broad and I like that breadth. The two best things about Singapore are the food and the opportunity to travel! I’ve got two kids and they both like travelling. We’ve been on a few trips and we’ve got lots more planned; we’ve been to Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam is next on our agenda. So those are the two things, the travel and food. 42
Do you like the changes you’ve seen in the university? Yes, for the most part. It’s what makes it exciting at work because it’s always changing. The University is getting stronger and more visible at a global level. The standards are set very high, and being an ambitious university it’s always trying to change, and I like that about NUS, although sometimes it does create extra work for us all!
Why do you choose to be a Geographer and subsequently Economic Geography? Well, my Dad was a geography teacher and I guess I always knew what Geography was about - I was always interested in that sense. At school it was the subject that I enjoyed the most, not the subject I was the best at! I used to get everything right at math and physics and people thought I would be an accountant or some such like! But I found those subjects boring. Geography was a subject that I was really interested in, and that was the reason I studied it at university. When I went to university I guess I was more of a physical geographer, I liked to do stuff such as drawing diagrams of rivers and glaciers! In my first year at Durham University, I shifted towards human geography. I found physical geography to be very scientific and I realised I liked the economic side more. I started to realise that inequality was driven by economic forces; it seemed to be a powerful way of explaining the differences in the world, and I guess I still think that.
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What do you hope for our Geography majors to achieve from their education here? In a pragmatic sense, I hope you can get the job that you want to get. But why I think geography is good is that it is a great, broad degree. It gives you a range of strengths and skills i.e. scientific skills, writing skills, analytical skills, GIS skills and so on. Geography’s strength is its breadth. I like to think that breadth is an advantage in the job market. Yet it goes deeper than that, it definitely does. We also hope that you take some more philosophical views from your degree away with you, for instance in terms of your perspective on environmental issues, sustainable development, equality and fairness, global connections, and so on. So do we think geography is more than a broad skill-set? Yes, absolutely.
It is a way of approaching the world and understanding the world; and I guess at the heart of it is the interactions of people and environment together. We hope that you apply those skills in your future career and in that way make the world better.
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What are your visions for our department? Well it is already a very strong department and there is nothing major that needs to change; we’re just looking at a steady growth and development. So it’s not a matter of changing things dramatically; our department is doing well and is highly ranked. The one area that we’re looking at would be the graduate school, we’re trying to steadily grow that and make it a bit stronger. There is no problem with the department that needs fixing; it’s a very strong department within the Faculty and it’s globally recognised, so it’s a matter of continuing to build on that. It’s also a matter of integrating the new staff we have appointed over the last couple of years. Beyond the graduate school, another area is to keep trying to make a wider impact. I came from the UK where there’s a big “impact” agenda at the moment, which is trying to say that academics shouldn’t just talk to other academics and teach students; they should also strive to make a difference in the real world. NUS is a national university, and geography deals with a lot of issues that affect people (climate change, urban planning, sustainability, economic growth etc.).
Therefore a wider aim would be to increase our influence on Singaporean society (and Southeast Asia more widely), in policy terms. It’s a matter of having an influence that goes beyond the University; I think Geography is the kind of subject that allows you to do that.
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Is there anything you wish to say to the students here? Geography, at its best, is an ‘active’ subject. It’s about getting out there, interacting with the world, and trying to make a difference to peoples’ lives.
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What would your typical day in NUS be like? I’m not teaching this year, so most of the time I’ll be handling the admin aspects i.e. meetings, talking to the admin team and colleagues, and generally learning how things work! There’s a real mixture. After twelve years, several things have changed and the University has evolved, so I had to catch up with that.
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An NUS Geography Education -
Taking
& , e r e YOU th Shaun Teo Class of 2012 Event Executive [Marketing]
Munich Automobiles Pte Ltd [BMW ///M.]
Loves Sport and the business of Sport. Education. Urban Planning and Research. Tourism. Community development. Just a non-exhaustive list of what my peers have gone into post-graduation. Doesn’t particularly help debunk the oft-
proliferated “Geographers always become teachers or public sector workers” adage. However, this class of students (commencement class of 2012), characterized by their passion and a single-minded determination to pursue their fancies, has had much success in using their talents to honourable ends in their respective endeavours. The future did not choose them; they chose their own futures. 48
. d n o ey
b
Layout by Kelman Chiang
I must make an interesting case-study then, being one of the only ones from my class to have set foot into the private sector - the luxury industry no less. What do the rich and famous think about a degree in Geography? How would a fundamental knowledge of rocks, landforms, agriculture and urban development equip me to subserve their interest for the finer pleasures in life? Here I insist that the most
deeply-buried secret of geography (be it physical or human) in NUS, within and without the faculty, is that it provides one with the necessary resources to develop his/ her cognitive and intellectual competencies. Geography in NUS does not teach you
to become an expert in a particular set of subject matters. It does not inculcate certain behaviour. Rather, it lays bare parameters, which must be actively configured by the students of the discipline to culminate in unique “ways of seeing”. Being part of a dynamic marketing team for a luxury brand is extremely challenging. The stakes are high and the challenges change every day. My four years of geography education have allowed me to create and master my own set of competencies. I have managed to (re) present myself to others, conceptualizing and executing strategies to increase brand awareness and loyalty, as well as direct sales, and thrive in an environment where excellence is the norm. The networks I traverse and create within which I am embedded bring to life the places and spaces that I once only dared to dream about- very aptly providing me a veritable geographical experience. My peers chose their path, I chose mine. Even though our paths differ, we are all guided by our own passions- the reason why we chose to read geography in the first place. Guided by our education, we moulded our own set of competencies- our expertise, thinking, beliefs and social aptitude. That is the genius of geography in NUS. Public or Private, it doesn’t matter. NUS geography will take you there, and beyond. 49
Urban Imaginations & Reflections across Europe
Written and Photos by Flora Toh Year 3 Geography & Southeast Asian Studies Layout by Kelman Chiang & Lee Min Lin
The urban form is best understood when experienced; and no matter what economics or politics says, cities are about people, and people, about their cities. In the past 12 months, I have had the opportunity to travel and experience an exciting diversity of metropolises across Southeast Asia and Europe. While nowhere near exhaustive, experiencing and exploring these corners of the world has been about the physical – sounds, smells, sights, tastes and textures – as well as, perhaps more memorably, emotions and thoughts. I have attempted to capture these in photos in hopes of representing the urban imaginations of people and their everyday lives.
The Grand Canal VENICE, ITALY
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Hotel Inntel ZAANDAM, NETHERLANDS
Window in the Piazza Navona ROME, ITALY Street Signs
FLORENCE, ITALY
HELSINKI, FINLAND 51
Beach in Monterosso CINQUE TERRE, ITALY
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Park in Amstel District AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS One thing I really appreciated about European cities was the genuine effort taken towards making public spaces accessible and available to a variety of people. The park here was in the residential neighbourhood of Amstel, located in between the tram tracks flanking residences and shops. Greenery here is something that can be reached just by crossing a road, sitting on a bench, and appreciating the bustle of the city.
Hohenzollern Bridge COLOGNE, GERMANY
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Nottingham Goose Fair NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM
Transport: insights to a passion
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Written by Nicholas Lim Layout By Grace Ann Chua & Kelman Chiang
Note from the Editor-in-chief: Geosphere is happy to extend beyond our campus boundaries to find like-minded individuals who share our passion for all things geographical! This year, we are happy to invite 18 year-old Nicholas, from Yishun Junior College to share candidly about his passion for public transport. We hope it brings inspiration to our undergraduates, where real activities of interests can be actualised beyond the classroom borders.
A passion
for transport has coursed through my blood since I entered primary school. Due to the high cost of car travel in Singapore my family and I used public transport just like any other average Singaporean. My passion for public transport wasn’t realised until 2008, when a friend in secondary school referred me to an online community of transport enthusiasts—SGForums. From then on, I got to know many people with the same passion for buses and trains that had developed in me over the years. For the first time, I was able to share my own experiences and information with my peers. You can probably see us when you are out an about taking photos and videos of buses and trains from time to time, especially when there is something new and meaningful to document, such as a new bus launch. However, in June 2010, when graffiti was spotted on one of the trains, the security of the public transport was questioned and much of our activities had to be undertaken with greater discretion. Sometimes, we were harangued by the police for taking photos and videos, mistaking our innocent documenting of what we saw as incredible events as being imbued with more nefarious intention, going as far as associating us with terrorists. Despite the increasing scrutiny, these annoyances did not deter us from joyriding on buses and trains. It works as a simple stress-reliever. 57
What I really find captivating about public transport is the design and the technology. Beyond Singapore, there are many innovations being explored in cities around the globe. I admire Japanese trains the most, because they have drawn on their advances in technology to design a beautiful and efficient train system. The Japanese train labour culture has also help boost the rail infrastructure. For instance, it is a standard for all trains to have a train driver and a train conductor who drives the train and operates the doors respectively. This specialisation allows the whole rail infrastructure to be more reliable and efficient. The rail industry in Japan is fast-paced due to the fact that new rolling stocks (train sets) are constantly fitted with the current most efficient motors and electric railway traction which draws current from the electric supply. Just recently, Japan Railway announced that Maglev Shinkansen service will open in 2027. It is capable of reaching 550 km/h and links Tokyo and Nagoya. The constant innovation is what drives my enthusiasm for public transport. 58
As our group on SGForums has developed, we started to establish connections with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as well as local public transport operators (PTOs). We often provide constructive feedback regarding the local public transport infrastructure to them. Increasingly we felt that we should start up our own organisation to create a better platform for information sharing and developing constructive feedbacks. We formed our own website, SGTrains, in January 2011. Soon enough, we were invited to a dialogue session with the Minister of Transport a few months later. The many panel discussions that I had experienced gave me many insightful views about the public transport infrastructure and offered me and my peers at SGTrains an opportunity to help shape the way LTA produced an efficient train system for Singapore.
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We officially launched SGTrains when the Circle Line Stage 4 and 5 opened in 8 October 2011 to signify the co-operation between the PTOs and SGTrains. SGTrains currently has 321 forum members and 680 likes on its Facebook page. It has been a privilege for me and my team to be in the position to provide a forum such as SGTrains for all that may be interested. Despite having a hectic schedule in Junior College, I am contented that many of our suggestions have turned into real improvements. Such examples are the improvement of train announcements, increasing the amount of grab-poles in the train as well as procuring a wider range of buses to suit demands of our diverse urban population. However we all should know that creating a desirable public transport system is not something that happens overnight. To meet the demands of the average Singaporean commuter it takes time and space.
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Nicholas Lim, a student at Yishun Junior College, is the Chief Executive Officer of Human Resources of SGTrains. SGTrains has been awarded the Friend of Land Transport award at the prestigious Land Transport Excellence Awards 2012 held biennially.
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Photo by Esther Ho estherhyh@gmail.com
Geography Photo Challenge
In Semester 1, we opened the doors to our budding photographers to send in their best work! The team was FLOORED with the impressive standards. While we picked our favourites (and winners), we felt those deserved to have their spot in the limelight as well. Here are the runner-ups in the Geosphere Photo Challenge! We look forward many more good entries next semester!
1 1 - Jocelyn Ng joceyng@gmail.com 2 - Yann Rong yannrong_21@hotmail.com 3 - Shona glissarine@gmail.com 2 3
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4 5
6 4 - Jocelyn Ng joceyng@gmail.com 5 - Yann Rong yannrong_21@hotmail.com 6 - Annabelle annabelle.chan@nus.edu.sg 7 - Esther estherhyh@gmail.com 8 - Anita anitasin_93@hotmail.com 9 - Jasmine Ku m.jasmineku@gmail.com
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8 9
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"I went for his seminar because I am interested in the notion of spatial justice and how it applies to Asian cities. More questions than answers arised after the seminar." - Faizal, Year 3 Geography Student
S e r i e
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Written by Aloysius Chua Layout by Kelman Chiang
eminar Have
you ever wondered what our department does outside of research and teaching? The Geography faculty often attends and organise numerous seminars and workshops held throughout the year. These provide a forum for sharing of recent research findings and for discussions with colleagues and students. On top of our own seminar series, the department regularly encourages both faculty and students to attend seminars held by other NUS organizations. Let us take a look at some of these (in)famous speakers that have visited us in this academic year!
Dr. Chuthatip Maneepong Visiting Assistant Professor Center for Asian Research Arizona State University Community adaptation in the face of sea level rise - the case study of Bangkuntian, Bangkok, Thailand Dr. Maneepong co-lectured GE3239, Environmental Sustainability when she was a Visiting Lecturer at the department a year ago. Well-versed in both physical and human geography approaches, her published work ranges from climate change to Thai social issues. Dr. Maneepong is an expert in Thailand and has worked for the Thai government in policy development. Her expertise and academic training allows her to act as an important bridge between the academic and policy spheres. She is most interested in development and its impact on Thai Society. During her seminar in April 2012, she presented on the bottom-up approach of communities taken to adapt to rising sea level due to climate change. This is based on her research on Bangkuntian, Bangkok. These adaptation initiatives include the erection of green partitions such as mangroves. As a developing economy, Thailand faces issues with climate change adaptation and mitigation. Dr. Maneepong continues to be instrumental in generating policy relevant research, for the betterment of communities fraught with climate risk. 67
Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) Edward Soja Department of Urban Planning Luskin School of Public Affairs University of California, Los Angeles Seeking Spatial Justice in Asian Cities
Ed Soja with some of our 2012/2013 Honours Class students! Photo Credits: Nadine Koh
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Professor Soja is known for his postmodern political approach to Geography as seen in his published works such as Postmodern Geographies: The Reassertion of Space in Critical Social Theory and Seeking Spatial Justice. He has contributed richly to the discipline in spatial theory. Furthermore, he contributes to the discipline through his work on spatiality and advocates for spatial justice. Yet, spatial justice remains a challenge for planning policies and in recent years, interest and engagement with it has been rising in the social sciences. In January 2013, Professor Soja was invited by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy to speak on spatial justice in Asian cities. Similarly, his seminar raised many more questions rather than answers for those who are interested in the pursuit of spatial justice here in Asia. As interest and research increases in this field, we await more great contributions that Professor Soja will make.
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Assistant Professor Simon Springer Department of Geography University of Otago, New Zealand Illegal evictions? Overwriting possession and orality with law's violence in Cambodia
Dr. Springer, formerly Assistant Professor at the NUS Geography department, has research interest situated broadly within the political, development, urban, economic, and social geography in Southeast Asia. He has published extensively on the issue of violence in Cambodia. In 2012, drawing on the contemporary cases of land dispossession, he presented research findings which concluded that illegal evictions sanctioned by the Cambodian state was operationalized through legal means. This violence is linked to the formalization of property arrangements through the legal system, necessary to implement neoliberal governance. This has contravened previous practices of ownership through oral agreements, replacing them with written agreements. Dr. Springer believes in pushing disciplinary boundaries and his current research focus is based upon Anarchist philosophy. By examining social issues such as violence through Anarchist praxis, he hopes to deliver fresh perspectives to the table. He also believes in the importance of an equal and open teacher-student relationship and his teaching philosophy seeks to flatten the power relations between the two. 70
Dr. Ilan Kelman Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research - OSLO Senior Research Fellow Islands, disaster risk reduction and climate change Dr. Kelman is very much interested in disasters associated with climate change and with the methods of reducing the risks of such occurrences. His research is mostly focused on Islands and their vulnerability due to their isolation and due to the threat of rising sea levels. He argues that there is no such thing as “natural� disasters because all disaster affects humans to one degree or another, depending on wealth and a myriad of other social factors. Most recently, he published Disaster Diplomacy: How Disasters Affect Peace and Conflict, which focuses specifically with political and social dimension of disasters. Through his research, Dr. Kelman is helping communities to understand risk and their options for dealing with it. His work also allows emergency management organizations to evaluate their operating procedures. He runs a website, www.islandvulnerability.org that serves as a platform for public education. 71
WHO ARE WE?
Layout by Kelman Chiang
The NUS Geographical Society, more affectionately known as Geog Soc, is dedicated to serving the needs and welfare of geographers in NUS. Geog Soc aims to foster a close relationship amongst the students and faculty members through numerous Geography-related events held throughout the semester. The NUS Geog Soc is proud and honoured to have A/P T.C. Chang as our society advisor. Under his guidance, the society has grown stronger each year, continually reaching out to everyone with a keen interest in Geography. Visit us at: http://nusgeographicalsociety.blogspot.sg 72
Presenting the 47th Geography Society Management Committee:
Our Major Events Geography Challenge Jointly organised by the NUS Department of Geography and the NUS Geographical Society, the NUS Geography Challenge is the biggest nationwide Geography competition for secondary schools in Singapore.
Held annually since 1997, it has been noted for its large-scale engagement with schools and has benefited many generations of students aged 13 – 16 years old. In its 17th year running, GC2013 hopes to continue our quest to ignite passion and inspire secondary students to develop a keen interest for the dynamic discipline of Geography. For more information, visit GC2013’s official website: http://nusgc2013.blogspot.sg/
“The geochallenge was one of the most challenging times in my secondary school days. I distincitvely remembered climbing Little Guilin at Bukit Gombak! It was a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience!” - Jasmine, class of 2005 75
Geography Department Open House & Careers’ Talk
Present at the Careers’ talk this year were(from left) Dr Jamie Gillen, Dr Karen Lai, Dr Neil Coe, Ms Irene Ho (Class of 1997), Mr Sean Bai (Class of 2010), Mr Vincent Kessler (Class of 2005), Ms Cheah Li Min (Class of 2008), Dr Chang and Dr Feng. 76
Every year, the Geog Soc assists the department in organizing the Open House and Careers’ Talk where we invite pre-university students to our department to find out more about what Geography at NUS has to offer. Besides that, a Careers’ Talk is organized exclusively for our Geography majors. Alumni members are invited by the department to share their experiences with existing undergraduates. The talk aims to provide a platform for Geographers to be informed of the career options made available to them.
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An Overseas Field Trip (OFT) is organized annually for our Geography majors to various destinations including that of Hanoi (Dec 2011) and Hong Kong (Dec 2012). Supported by the department as well as a professor who goes along with the OFT group, we hope to explore geography beyond the context of Singapore, learning about Eco ventures in Hanoi as well as visiting places like the Ma Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong.
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OVERSEAS FIELD TRIP
SPORTS DAY We had our annual Sports Day event on 25 January 2013 where teams of Geography majors came together to compete in exciting games of Floorball and Frisbee. It was a great opportunity for the majors to show off their sport prowess as well as bond over sports, clinching interesting prizes like packets of Salonpas, energy drinks and bananas.
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As geographers, we are called to put on our geographical lenses and explore the world out there, beyond what we read. The NUS Geog Soc offers both our fellow course mates and staff exciting outings on a bimonthly basis. Apart from getting to learn more about the geographical landscape of Singapore, we hope to provide an opportunity for bonding between like-minded geographers.
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MAJOR’S OUTINGS
In this AY, we have been to Keppel Bay/ Labrador Boardwalk on a guided mangrove tour by our geography professors Dr. Dan Friess and Dr. Jesse Hastings in October 2012. Our December post-exam outing to Gardens By the Bay was another exciting day out where we explored the two newly opened domes and examined the constructed nature within. The latest outing to the Marina Bay City Gallery in January gave us an insight to Singapore’s urban planning strategies, which added value to our learning.
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In line with Geog Soc’s goal to serve as the bridge between the department and the students, a Major’s Tea session is held every year. Through this, students can provide feedback and raise any queries they have to the department in an informal setting. This also allows students to clear their doubts in an efficient manner and allow the department to be updated with the concerns of the student population.
Major’s tea
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GEOSPHERE
If you don’t already know what the Geosphere is, put this magazine away right now.
The Geosphere is the Geog Soc’s annual publication and a useful instrument of outreach for the department. Interested in knowing more about that new professor who just joined us? Yearning to read something beyond your readings for the semester? Each issue is filled to the brim with intelligent, insightful and fun articles from our talented crew. Distributed throughout the year, it serves to pique interest and create awareness amongst budding geographers about Geography at NUS. Interested in joining the team and reach out to the world with your talented writing and creative direction? Drop us an email at geogsoc.publications@ gmail.com
STUDY SESSIONS AT eARTH LAB
Recognising that studying places on campus are often packed during the weeks close to the examinations, the society has requested for the Earth Lab to be opened exclusively for Geography majors to use in preparation for the upcoming exams from the period of reading week to the end of exams. Do keep a look out for information on this semester’s study sessions coming your way! 83
Freshmen Immersion Camp Freshmen Immersion Camp (FIC) marks the start of a student’s university life; and every year, the FIC team strives towards creating a memorable experience for incoming freshers. It is often through the camp that Geography majors are introduced to their fellow peers and it is a starting point to build a close knitted Geography community. Existing Geographers can also be part of this memorable experience by joining us as facilitators or program masters. For more information on FIC 2013, visit our website at: nusgeogcamp2013.blogspot.sg or email us at: nusgeogcamp2013@gmail.com
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Geog Soc Connecting with
Are you seeking to share your passion for Geography with like-minded people?
The Geog Soc is always here to engage our fellow Geography majors. We welcome you with open arms! If you are interested to know how you can take part, visit us as nusgeographicalsociety.blogspot.sg. Do check out NUS Geographers’ Facebook Page for the latest upcoming events and outings or simply, interact with your fellow NUS Geographers. We are contactable at nusgeographicalsociety@gmail.com or if you wish to know more, check out the notice board located right outside the department at AS2 #03-01. Alternatively, just approach any Geog Soc friends you know and we are more than happy to share with you! If you wish wish to check out more about our profs, staff, or other academic programs, do check out http://fas.edu.sg/geog. 85
A Publication by:
Cover designed by Grace Ann Chua