Geosphere: Geographies of Tomorrow by Geosphere

GE SPHERE G E O G R A P H I E S

O F

T O M O R R O W

AY 2016/2017

6 Feature: Towards a More Human Geography of the Future By Associate Professor Tim Bunnell 10 The 2016 U.S. Elections and Uncertain Geographies of the Future By Assistant Professor Jamie Gillen 15 Climate Change Exists By Lin Xiao’En 18 Finding a Home for Refugees on the Move By Madeleine Lim 22 Deconstructing Identities: Complexities of the “old-new” divide in Singapore’s Indian community By Madeleine Lim 26 Exploring Singapore’s Southern Islands By Leong Kah Heng 2

Editorial Board Editors Woon Xin Hui Leong Kah Heng Publications Standing Committee

31 Safe and Sound?: Securityscapes in Smart Nation Singapore By Gladys Ng 36 Water Security in Singapore By Choo Ian Kang

36 Student Exchange Programme By various authors

45 The Power of GIS By Associate Professor

Feng Chen-Chieh, Chiam Da Jian & Ng Jing Wen

48 Geographical Society Feature By Chiam Da Jian, Tee Jia Xin & Vernice Kang Jia Xuan

54 Geographersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wishlist By Woon Xin Hui

A/P Elaine Ho Dr Woon Chih Yuan Ng Jing Wen Creative Director Chiam Da Jian Designers Vernice Kang Jia Xuan Tee Jia Xin

Contact Department of Geography AS2, #03-01, 1 Arts Link, Kent Ridge Campus Singapore 117570 Printed by Drummond Printing Pte Ltd. MCI (P) 118/03/2017. For queries, please contact geosphere2017@gmail.com. 3

FOREWORD “Geographies of Tomorrow” Tomorrow”offers offersgeographical geographicalanalyses analysesofofcontemporary contemporary issues “Geographies of issues that to shape shape our ourfuture futureworld. world.Going Goingone onestep stepfurther, further, however,through through that are set to however, the offered by by the the contributors contributorsininthis thisissue issueofof Geosphere, editorial the insights insights offered Geosphere, mymy editorial team hopeshopes to inspire you toyou consider your role in role shaping tomorrow. This is the team to inspire to consider your in shaping tomorrow. Thispotential is of Geography: has an ability to transform empathynurture for the potential of itGeography: it has an abilityperspectives, to transformnurture perspectives, situations for far situations removed, far andremoved, see our roles shaping the in world of tomorrow. empathy and in see our roles shaping the world of tomorrow. In this issue, Associate Professor Bunnell makes an intriguing argument for making thethis geographies of the Professor future moreBunnell humanmakes (not relating to the human/physical In issue, Associate an intriguing argument for making dichotomy but rather a critique of focusing on statistics) and our role as the geographies of the future more humannarrowly (not relating to the human/physical geographers it. My apersonal topic, climate change, is discussed article dichotomy butinrather critique pet of focusing narrowly on statistics) and in ouranrole thatgeographers highlights theinuneven distribution the crisis, but ends withisadiscussed sanguine in note as it. My personal petoftopic, climate change, anon how we, individuals, incredible power difference in the face of article thatashighlights theretain uneven distribution of to themake crisis,a but ends with a sanguine what on seems us. Another article that speaks to the note howlike we,overwhelming as individuals,forces retainagainst incredible power to make a difference in global divide to a Singaporean student’s reflections of doing the faceNorth-South of what seems likepertains overwhelming forces against us. Another article that volunteer with refugees duringdivide her student exchange in the United Kingdom. speaks to work the global North-South pertains to a Singaporean student’s We all live in this world, have a responsibility to others, and I personally believein reflections of doing volunteer work with refugees during her student exchange - the first step to ensuring our contributions are of value to others is to make sure we the United Kingdom. We all live in this world, have a responsibility to others, and have thorough, informed perspectives on issues we seek to transform. - I personally believe - the first step to ensuring our contributions are of value to others make sure we with havechanging thorough, on issuesit we While is wetoare concerned theinformed world forperspectives the better, however, is seek to transform. the seemingly mundane and little things that prevent us from being swallowed by ‘big’ ideas. It is with this in mind that one of our editors pens an article on her While we are concerned with changing the world for the better, however, it is the exploration of Singapore’s Southern Islands and the hidden gems found within. seemingly mundane and little things that prevent us from being swallowed by Also in this issue are updates on the exciting calendar of events by the NUS ‘big’ ideas. It is with this in mind that one of our editors pens an article on her Geographical Society, and articles by three undergraduates who are keen to share exploration of Singapore’s Southern Islands and the hidden gems found within. their student exchange experiences in Sheffield, Florida, and Beijing. Finally, we Also in this issue are updates on the exciting calendar of events by the NUS have curated a Geographer’s Wishlist for all of us in the Geography community! Geographical Society, and articles by three undergraduates who are keen to share their student exchange experiences in Sheffield, and possible Beijing. Finally, In closing, “Geographies of Tomorrow” would notFlorida, have been without we the have curated a Geographer’s Wishlist for all of us in the Geography invaluable guidance of our publication’s standing committee Associate community! Professor Elaine Ho, Assistant Professor Woon Chih Yuan, and Society President Ng Jing In closing, “Geographies of Tomorrow” not have withoutand the Wen; my amazing team Leong Kah Hengwould and Chiam Dabeen Jian; possible and the writers invaluable our publication’s Associate contributorsguidance who haveofwritten or helped usstanding in variouscommittee ways. Thank you allProfessor so much Elaine Ho, Assistant Professor Woon Chih Yuan, and Society President Ng Jing for making Geosphere 2017: Geographies of Tomorrow possible! Wen; my amazing team Leong Kah Heng and Chiam Da Jian; and the writers and contributors who have written or helped us in various ways. Thank you all so much for making Geosphere 2017: Geographies of Tomorrow possible! Woon Xin Hui Editor-in-Chief

Woon Xin Hui Editor-in-Chief 4 4

TOWARDS A A TOWARDS MORE HUMAN HUMAN MORE GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY OF THE FUTURE 6 6

Dr. Tim Bunnell • Associate Professor Geographies of tomorrow need to become more human! Until quite recently, the future has received much more attention from physical geographers than from the human side of our discipline. This is not to suggest that physical geography colleagues and students are only or even primarily interested in geographies of tomorrow – but when physical geographers examine historical data and evidence, this often seems to be with a view to modelling, predicting, or projecting into the future. In contrast, human geographers, especially those of a more cultural bent (like myself), have largely limited themselves to understanding the world of today. There is cause for optimism in light of recent shifts in the subdiscipline. A broad assessment reveals that, over the past decade, human geographers have increasingly taken interest in “the future” as a topic and object of study. Yet, human geography’s growing interest in futurity has predominantly manifested in work on three main topics: terrorism, trans-species epidemics and anthropogenic climate change. In each case, the overwhelming focus has been the discursive and ideological effects of futures, presented as uncertain and threatening. As such, the mere fact that more attention has been given to the future in human geography, has not necessarily led to much more human-centred approaches.

Ethics of possibility Moving beyond sub-disciplinary labels and scholarly partitioning, then, what exactly might “more human” geographies of the future mean? And why is it important to consider possibilities for human-centred scholarly examination of futurity? Indian anthropologist Arjun Appadurai offers a way in which we can deliberate answers to these questions, through his strident call for greater attention to be paid to the ways in which humans engage futurity. According to Appadurai, the future has become dominated by statistical and mathematical analyses, as part of what he terms an ‘ethics of probability’. Both within and beyond the academy, human content and capability have become obscured by an ‘avalanche of numbers’,

arising from expert calculation in the realms of science and technology, security and geopolitics, health and insurance. Appadurai champions a countervailing ethics of possibility – an ethics associated with “ways of thinking, feeling and acting that increase the horizons of hope, that expand the field of the imagination…and that widen the field of informed, creative, and critical citizenship”. This dichotomy that Appadurai draws between the ethics of probability and possibility, however, might be overstated. There is also a danger that it is mapped onto a simplistic struggle between “good” and “evil”. Some of the regimes of probabilistic calculation that Appadurai examines are certainly morally troubling, especially those oriented to profiteering from disasters; yet, scientists – including geographers – who are concerned with modelling natural oscillations and quantifying anthropogenic transformations, for instance, can clearly contribute to progressive planning and social preparedness. Nonetheless, I broadly agree with Appadurai that there is a need for research on futurity beyond realms of political economic calculation and technoscientific probability. As geographers, especially, we are among the scholars equipped to examine how the future is engaged as part of people’s everyday lives and cultural imaginaries. Our discipline can go a long way in contributing to the study of futurity, and unpacking the geographies of tomorrow.

1 See www.urbanaspirationsasia.com

Elsewhere and elsewhen My own ongoing efforts to contribute to (more) human geographies of tomorrow have included a project on urban aspirations1. A transdisciplinary collaboration, this project has brought together colleagues from anthropology and sociology, as well as fellow human geographers Associate Professor Elaine Ho and Dr. Jamie Gillen. The three of us have primarily been concerned with foregrounding the constitutive role of space in imaginings and negotiation of the future

process of becoming. A second spatiotemporal imagining is more normative, and concerns places as models or exemplars - in this case, a particular elsewhere makes known possibilities for remaking “here” in progressive ways. Third, possible pathways are not merely metaphorical. Think, for example, of efforts made by would-be migrants to reach a certain (temporal as well as spatial) destination. Elaine, Jamie and I are in the process of developing such ideas in and across the empirical contexts of our field sites: in China, Vietnam and Indonesia respectively.

in the present. Spatial differentiation can be as much as matter of imagining “elsewhen” as elsewhere. We can think about this in three key ways in relation to futurity: the first has to do with imaginings of particular places as the future. A common trope here is the hypermodern, high-tech urban landscape depicted in terms of what everywhere will (eventually) become, or is already in the

I wish to wrap up with two sets of personal reflections on the way forward. First, I see human-centred approaches to the future as a corrective to existing emphases, rather substitutive. Scientific work on climate change that Appadurai would cast in terms of an ethics of probability of course remains profoundly important; however, perhaps more could be done to put such work in conversation with more human-centred appreciation of how ordinary individuals and communities prospect futures. Second, consideration of the future does not mean turning away from geographies of the present or even of yesterday. At the outset, I noted how physical geography colleagues (among other scientists) often make use of past trends to predict and project into the future - in our own distinctive ways, ordinary individuals are able to mine yesterdays for resources with which to (re)make geographies of tomorrow.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Associate Professor Tim Bunnell is an urban geographer interested in the politics of urban development in Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the constitutive connections between Southeast Asian cities and the rest of the world. The main focus of his research subsequently shifted to an examination of the historical linkages between Southeast Asia and the port city of Liverpool through the lives of Malay men who arrived there as seafarers in the middle decades of the twentieth century. This research yielded the book, From World City to the World in One City: Liverpool through Malay Lives, which was published by Wiley-Blackwell in 2016.

THE 2016 U.S. ELECTIONS & UNCERTAIN GEOGRAPHIES OF THE FUTURE Dr. Jamie Gillen • Assistant Professor Many people around the world were caught off-guard when Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States on 8-9 November 2016. Count me among the shocked: I was wrong because I miscalculated how the particular geographies of the United States would combine with the incongruities of the electoral college system to work in Trump’s favour and launch him into the presidency. In this article I will speak to the ways in which geography has shaped the US elections, with a focus on the stark differences between rural and urban voting patterns. I will end my comments with a few words on Asia’s unsettled future geographies in light of the upcoming Trump presidency.

In Singapore the rhetoric of the kampong spirit conjures up images of old Singaporean villages, where neighbours possessed immense generosity of spirit towards one another, and strong social cohesion among communities. Speaking as an American, however, in the United States our idealised version of this rural kampong is instead a quiet, two-lane road leading through vast amounts of farmland. In our imagination residents would not have to lock their doors and would be friendly to strangers, they would trust their political representatives to make sound decisions on their behalf (because they would likely know them and their families), they would work hard with humility, and they would respect their neighbours. Whether this kind of society was ever a reality is an open question, but it has traditionally had a geographical locus in the central (known as the Midwest) and southern United States, areas with low populations and a historical reliance on agricultural industries. In the New York Times’ map of the US state election results, however, these very regions are submerged in a sea of red, reflecting overwhelming support for Trump. If you buy the idea that those who voted for Trump did so out of subscription to his negative rhetoric and aggressive policy platform, then it appears that the warm attitudes imagined to arise out of America’s heartland region are almost certainly dead. Instead, the map evinces a clear distinction between the voting patterns of the United States’ coastal areas versus its hinterlands. The coasts are highly urbanised with relatively young, mobile, and ethnically diverse populations, high levels of formal education, and high incomes, while the

hinterland states are relatively unpopulated, older, ethnically homogenous, and poorer than their coastal counterparts. Drawing from broad geographical correlations, then, it appears that the poorer you are, the more you are a white male, the less formal education you have attained, and the older you are then it is more likely that you live in one of the states that voted in Trump. The blue and red states that divide Clinton and Trump also broadly separate the rural and urban. However, the city and the countryside are not simply explanatory variables for the Trump presidential outcome but are considered foundational and competing elements of American identity that will likely continue into the future. Those in rural America often believe that their vote for Trump represents a reconnection to America’s self-sufficient and Anglo-Saxon Christian roots that used to be hermetically sealed from the rest of the world1. They also believe in Trump because he embodies the American dream of extreme financial wealth and vast property ownership that is unburdened by the government’s demands to redistribute it to people and institutions who do not “deserve” it. Conversely, people in the coastal areas voted for Clinton because they feel their values of tolerance, multiculturalism, redistribution, engagement, and openness are reflected in her. I want to stress that these are generalisations on both sides but they do hold merit when we examine the US state electoral map. Ultimately, however, it is prudent to recognise that this map so central to the elections reflects but one geography. The

1 A balanced presentation of this view is outlined in Why Rural America Voted for Trump, published 5 January 2017 in The New York Times.

Electoral College system covertly privileges state power over other geographical scales of analysis, like the county, region, city, or town. Despite close calls in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, because the electoral college system â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bundlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; a stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular votes into a group that is then awarded entirely to one candidate, Trump won the presidency. So while we may view the map as very red in the Midwest and southern United States, the reality is that there are deep divisions among Republican and Democratic voters within many of these states. The geographies of the US election can therefore be analysed along a number of different geographical scales, making the process of electing a president almost as contentious as its outcome. While there is sound reason for the statist framing of the

elections, we must guard against erasing other geographies that are implicated in the US elections. I have been living in Singapore since July 2011, and have spent a significant part of my adult life in Southeast Asia. The people I speak to in this region ask me a lot of questions about the United States, because they understand that what happens in my home country resonates globally. To me, the reverse does not hold true for many Trump supporters in the United States. My impression is that they see no reason to care about much of the rest of the world or what people overseas think of the United States. Optimistically, we could say that Trump and his followers are like teenagers who do not realise their own strength and will grow and

mature as theyhowever, settle intothere theiris“bodies”; more darkly, a potent more darkly, however, is States a potent mixture brewing in thethere United that mixture brewing United States that seems to includeinathe disinterested attitude towardtoAsia’s intricacies, a “know-it-all” seems include a disinterested attitude sensibility, and even intense aggression. toward Asia’s intricacies, a “know-it-all” My research the intense Vietnam-American sensibility, andoneven aggression. warresearch shows what can happen when the My on the Vietnam-American US shows government feelshappen threatened bythe the war what can when spread of a political ideology they US government feels threatened by find the disagreeable. Trump’s aggressive spread of a political ideology they attitude find toward those people, and disagreeable. Trump’s institutions, aggressive attitude governments who do institutions, not share hisand beliefs toward those people, has also allowed himnot to drape the beliefs Transgovernments who do share his 2 Pacific in to front of countries has alsoPartnership allowed him drape the Trans2 like Singapore, Malaysia, and Pacific Partnership in front Brunei, of countries Vietnam, before abruptly away like Singapore, Malaysia, pulling Brunei,itand as the political winds changed at home. Vietnam, before abruptly pulling it away If his over the at past as thepronouncements political winds changed home. months are any indication, Ifeighteen his pronouncements over the past I am relativelymonths confident Trump regime eighteen arethat anythe indication, I am

relatively confident thattowards the Trump will unlikely be gentle Asiaregime in the will unlikely be gentle towards Asia in the future. future. Singapore will likely see little change in its relationship to the States in its Singapore will likely seeUnited little change over the nexttofew asStates Trumpover and the relationship theyears United his advisors learn more about theadvisors next few years as Trump and his multifaceted links between our two links learn more about the multifaceted countries.our Fortwo other countriesFor in Southeast between countries. other Asia, however, this security less countries in Southeast Asia, ishowever, predictable, even out-of-reach. this security isperhaps less predictable, perhaps Whatever the case,Whatever I think it isthe safe to even out-of-reach. case, the to geographies power in Iassume think it that is safe assume thatofthe Asia will shift,ofperhaps as a geographies power indramatically, Asia will shift, result of the Trump presidency. Given perhaps dramatically, as a result of thethe shock of the US Elections, however, Trump presidency. Given the shock ofthethe ways in whichhowever, this shift the will ways occurinappear US Elections, which impossible ascertain withimpossible absolute this shift willtooccur appear certainty – perhaps occurring even in to ascertain with absolute certainty – ways Trump himselfeven cannot foresee. perhaps occurring in ways Trump himself cannot foresee.

2 The TheTrans-Pacific Trans-Pacific Partnership Partnership is is aa Free Free Trade Trade Agreement Agreement between between 12 12 countries, countries, including including 2 Singaporeand andthe theUnited United States. States.ItIt would would have have been been the the world’s world’s largest largest trade trade agreement. agreement. However However Singapore Donald Trump Trump has has signed signed to to withdraw withdrawthe the United United States States from from this this agreement Donald agreement on on his his first firstday day in in office. This decision has been conceived to be a form of protectionism. office. This decision has been conceived to be a form of protectionism.

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OU UTT TT H H EE A AU U TT H HO OR R AABBO AssistantProfessor Professor Jamie Jamie Gillen’s Gillen’s research research interests interests span span cultural, cultural, urban, urban, and and social social Assistant geographiesininVietnam Vietnam and and Southeast Southeast Asia. Asia. The The themes themes he he addresses addresses are are entrepreneurialism entrepreneurialism geographies andtourism. tourism.He Heisis also also interested interested in in the the politics politics of of the the Communist Communist Party Party of of Vietnam Vietnam and and and has has publishedon onthe thevalue value of of culture culture to to the the Party. Party. Related Related to to this, this, his his work work is is broadly broadly situated situated in published in the the field of state-society relations in contemporary Vietnam. field of state-society relations in contemporary Vietnam.

CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGE EXISTS EXISTS Lin Xiao’En Xiao’En •• Geography GeographyMajor, Major,Year Year22 Lin Climate Climate change change isisaaphenomenon phenomenon widely widelyacknowledged acknowledged as asaapressing pressingglobal globalproblem problemtoday. today.Yet, Yet,simply simplybecause becauseit isit ‘global’, does thisthis mean its its impacts areare uniform across is ‘global’, does mean impacts uniform across the the world? world?Are Aredifferent different places placesand andcommunities communities affected affected equally? equally? Given Giventhe the bearing bearingthat that climate climate change change has has on on our our future, future, this article will explore some some of the uneven geographies geographiesimplicated implicatedininclimate climatechange. change.

The The relationship relationship between between climate climate change change and and humans humans Warming Warmingisisaanatural naturalpart partofofthe theEarth’s Earth’scycle; cycle;however, however, climate climate change change pointedly pointedlyrefers refers to to the the long-term, long-term, anthropogenic change anthropogenic (i.e. (i.e. human-caused human-caused and unnatural) unnatural) change inin the the average averagetemperature temperature of of the the planet planet due due to to increasing emissions emissions of of greenhouse greenhouse gases gases that that trap trap heat heat in in the the atmosphere. atmosphere. Processes Processes associated associatedwith withhuman human development, development, such such as as cement cement production production and and the the burning burning of fossil fuels, are aremajor major sources sources of of carbon carbon dioxide, dioxide,aagreenhouse greenhousegas. gas. InIn this of the the Global Global North North this regard, regard, the the industrial industrial revolution revolution of (consisting (consisting of of countries countries such such as as United United States States and and those those in in Europe) Europe) enabled enabled these these parts parts of of the the world world to to develop develop rapidly rapidly ––but but at at the the same same time, time, made made them them major major carbon carbon emitters. emitters. Over Over time, time, the the emissions emissions of of the the developed developed countries countries have have

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accumulated to to far far outweigh outweigh those those of of their their accumulated less developed developed counterparts, even with with the less counterparts, even the latter’s rapidly rapidly growing growing population population and and latter’s development today. today. development Yet, aa discrepancy Yet, discrepancy arises arises––many manynews news reports and and scientific scientific journals journals signal signal that that reports other parts parts of of the the world world are are the the ones ones other bearing the the brunt brunt of of the the impacts impacts of of climate climate bearing change. Small Small and and low-lying island change. low-lying island nations throughout throughoutthe theSouth SouthPacific Pacificface face nations the possibility possibility of of total total inundation inundation from from the the sea sea level level rise rise that that is is associated associated with the with melting ice caps. Tropical melting ice caps. Tropical countries countries that that are dependent dependent on on agriculture, agriculture, such such as as are India, have have experienced experienced more India, more frequent frequent and and lengthier droughts which lengthier droughts which affectaffect their their food food supply. Even within a national context, supply. Even within a national context, impoverished areas areas experience experience far impoverished far more more severe consequences consequences of of climate climate change change severe since they they lack lack funds funds for for emergency emergency since provisioning to cope with provisioning to cope with disasters disasters like like floods and and famine. famine. In In the the most most extreme extreme floods cases, climate refugees flee flee to to foreign foreign cases, climate refugees countries for survival. This is not say that that countries for survival. This is not totosay developed nations do not face changes developed nations do not face changes extreme temperatures temperatures and and warmer warmer –– extreme oceans have have impacts the ecosystems ecosystems oceans impacts on on the and societies in Europe and the US too. and societies in Europe and the US too. Nonetheless, the above examples Nonetheless, the above examples signal signal the unequal unequal impacts impacts of of climate climate change change the and that that climate climate change change is is connected connected to to and societies everywhere in the world. societies everywhere in the world.

Our reactions With With such such widespread widespreadimpacts, impacts, international leaders, non-governmental non-governmental international leaders, organisations stakeholders have organisations and and other other stakeholders have held discussions the need to held discussions on theonneed to mitigate mitigate climate change. Many believe that climate change. Many believe that developed developed Western Westernnations nationsshould should reduce reduce their emissions for for two two primary primary reasons: their emissions reasons: first, shoulder responsibility responsibility for for their their first, to to shoulder proportion of carbon emissions; second, proportion of carbon emissions; second, their strong economic economic status status allows allows them them to to their strong slow slow down down industrialisation industrialisation for for economic economic purposes. purposes. In In reality, reality, developed developed nations nations and and commercial companies claim they commercial companies claim they “take “take responsibility” by paying responsibility” by paying the the poorer poorer nations nations to in the the hope hope of of sequestering sequestering to plant plant trees trees in carbon. carbon. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, such such projects projects are are often ineffective and may even often ineffective and may even result result in in the the loss of resources for the poor. For instance, loss of resources for the poor. For instance, aa Norwegian Norwegianenergy energycompany companypaid paidthe Ugandan government to plant treestrees rather the Ugandan government to plant than reduce their own emissions. The rather than reduce their own emissions. project provided merely 43 jobs Uganda The project provided merely 43 in jobs in but led tobut theled eviction hundreds of Uganda to the of eviction of hundreds families from their land, and sequestered a of families from their land, and sequestered minute amount of carbon in return. a minute amount of carbon in return. Ideally, Ideally, all all countries countries would would directly directly cut cut their their emissions to a viable yet impactful level. emissions to a viable yet impactful level. The The recent recent 2016 2016 Paris Paris Agreement Agreement aims aims to to 1 create that create aa net net zero-carbon zero-carbon economy economy1 that will will keep keep the the global global temperature temperature rise rise to to less less

than 2°C. With more than 190 countries

1 A state of net-zero carbon emissions wherein a measured amount of carbon released is offset by an equivalent amount balanced by afforestation negative 1 A state of net-zero carbon emissions wherein a measuredoramount of emissions carbon released is technology offset by an equivalent amount balanced by afforestation or negative emissions technology

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(the collective source of over 95% of global greenhouse gas emissions) signing the treaty, this agreement is unprecedented in its scale and commitment. Notably, the Paris climate talks emphasised the need for rich countries to help poorer ones by providing them with the finances to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy. (Editor’s note: Caveat emptor, many declared targets fall short of what is necessary to substantially make a change for the climate, and like most international agreements there is no binding mechanism – but as this article suggests, it was significant as a show of global willingness. Do read up on the outcome of the Paris talks or its debates to draw your own conclusions, there’s plenty of material online!) Additionally, some countries work on improving their resilience against climate change. For instance, the Norwegian government invests heavily in creating emergency electricity power sources, and continually engages in research to improve the sensitivity and scope of warning systems for extreme weather events. In Singapore, we strive to increase our resilience to climate change by researching on ways to protect coastal areas, and by developing a heat index and advisories for the public to better plan daily activities. The reactions depicted above are from global, national, and local perspectives – what about the actions that an individual can take? It is equally important that we do our part such as by using energy-efficient

appliances, taking public transport, using less air-conditioning, and switching off electrical appliances when they are not in use.

Changing the world One might wonder if individuals can truly make an impact on issues happening on a global scale. I agree that a single person’s effort alone is insufficient; however, collective actions and mindset shifts can make a statement for our planet. Companies and governments ultimately pander to consumers and citizens - us! Every action we take for the environment has the potential to make an enormous impact. (Editor’s note: it can be something as simple as reducing your meat or beef intake! Our deceptively trivial, everyday protein fixes contribute a large proportion – nearly 20% of greenhouse gases through food production and farming processes. You don’t have to cut out meat entirely – just a reduction of intake will suffice. Additionally, methane absorbs 21 times as much heat as carbon dioxide and cows genuinely fart a lot – so if you can rethink your protein option, the environment would really appreciate it!) Adjusting our mindsets and taking collective action can change the world. Striving for a more balanced human-nature relationship, increasing our resilience when confronted with changes and uncertainty, and recognising that every effort counts, are small steps that can lead us towards a better future.

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FINDING A HOME FOR REFUGEES ON THE MOVE

Madeleine Lim • Geography Major, Year 4 It is 5 p.m. on a Wednesday evening. A year ago, at this time, I would have been on the London tube making my way to Clapham Junction for Homework Club where I would guide children from refugee1 backgrounds in their English homework, play UNO with them or fry pancakes for them. I found out about Homework Club through Katherine Low Settlement, a British charity dedicated to alleviating poverty and isolation. I had not met a refugee prior to volunteering at Homework Club, much less interacted with people from such a background. This became my motivation to join the Students’ Action for Refugees when I went for a student exchange program at King’s College London. I finally had the opportunity to be more than an armchair critic – beyond studying about refugees through Geography modules, this volunteering stint meant I could actually get to know them. Although joining an interest group dedicated to refugees made me guilty of reinforcing the ‘refugee’ identity of that community, disassociating such individuals from the ‘refugee’ label would only make the fate of their community invisible to public 1 If an applicant’s asylum claim is approved, he/she receives refugee status and is entitled at least the same rights and basic help as any other foreigner who is a legal resident in the receiving state, including freedom of thought, of movement, and freedom from torture and degrading treatment. 19

debate and policy improvements. Forced displacement hit a record high in 2015, with over 65 million people displaced internationally by political unrest and persecution. This figure is equivalent to the entire British or French population. Logically, rich countries in the Global North have better economic resources to accommodate the refugees. Political leaders in these countries recognise the need to accommodate the refugees somewhere to prevent global social instability; however, their efforts continue to be stifled by the absence of political will and divided public sentiments. Consequently, such countries have made a pact with poorer countries to resettle the refugees in the latter’s territories in exchange for development aid. Nine out of ten refugees are hosted in the global South, predominantly in Turkey, Pakistan, and Lebanon. Half of these are children, and a majority of them come from Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia, three war-torn countries. War in Syria has continued unabated for the last six years prompting more Syrians to leave their homes, exacerbating the refugee situation. United Nations organisations that work with millions of refugees in the Middle East are overwhelmed and they are running out of money in the face of the ever-growing refugee crisis. Camp conditions have thus become harsher than before. Syrians in exile in Turkey have given up hope and started looking for alternatives in the Global North. Despite the Global North

being unwelcoming of refugees, the refugees remain undeterred, exemplifying their desperation in the face of turmoil at home. In 2015, more than 360,000 Syrians sought asylum in the EU. With EU member countries struggling to cope with the influx, the EU struck a refugee deal with Turkey in March 2016. All “irregular migrants2” crossing from Turkey into Greece will be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum, or if their claims are rejected. For each Syrian returned to Turkey, a Syrian migrant will be resettled in the EU. Priority will be given to those who have not tried to enter the EU illegally and the number is capped at 72,000. Turkey, in return, receives aid and political concessions. Such a policy places a premium on a migrant’s stasis which runs counter to basic human survival instincts and ambitions for better lives. It even adds a tinge of irony to the term “migrant”. Similarly, Australia sends asylum seekers3 who arrive at Australian shores to detention facilities on the Pacific Island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Since the refugees are not allowed to remain in those nations indefinitely, the Australian government has since struck a deal with Cambodia to accept any of the refugees who voluntarily resettle in the country. In exchange for accepting the refugees, Cambodia received $40 million in development aid and additional financial support of $15.5 million to cover refugee resettlement costs. The refugee crisis seems set to deepen as

2 People who move outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries. 3 A person who seeks safety from persecution or serious harm in a country other than his or her own, and who has formally applied for and is awaiting a decision on their asylum claim under relevant international and national instruments. 20

the effects on host countries in the Global North continue to unfold. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), dominated by countries from the Global North, regularly debate on the best ways to manage the refugee crises. But it is the poor countries, not wealthy countries, who look after the vast majority of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refugees. Just as conflicts and tyrannies are difficult to deal with, refugee policy remains a tricky issue in domestic politics. Often, it is about perceived interests, gains and losses that are organised around the territorial nation-state and norms of sovereignty. Refugees bring international humanitarian concerns into the domestic arena of the nation-state, challenging assumptions of what counts as beneficial to the national interest. Thinking back, it must have been a difficult journey for the refugee children at Homework Club. They were simultaneously escaping unrest, seeking asylum, and creating a new home for themselves in the UK. Watching them complete their English homework made me realise they are like us, trying to fit into society and move up the social ladder. They also need a support network to achieve their aspirations and gain social confidence. Recognizing our shared human need to belong to a place helps us to stop seeing refugee situations as â&#x20AC;&#x153;crisesâ&#x20AC;? to be fixed and outsourced. Changing our perspective towards refugees can be the first step towards finding solutions to ease human suffering.

DECONSTRUCTING IDENTITIES: COMPLEXITIES OF THE ”OLDNEW” DIVIDE IN SINGAPORE’S INDIAN COMMUNITY

Madeleine Lim • Geography Major, Year 4 The Indian community in Singapore has never been as homogenous as the label attached to this ethnic group might suggest. From the outset, the early immigrants who landed in Singapore were stratified along socioeconomic, language, religious and caste lines, just as in India. Yet in order to conform to the CMIO (Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others) administrative racial categories created for post-independence nation-building efforts, many early Indian settlers were encouraged to subsume their sub-ethnic identities under an overarching Singaporean identity. However, Singapore’s liberal immigration policies from the 1990s have had unexpected consequences that resulted in a new divide within the community, itself suffused with complexities. During my internship at the National

Population and Talent Division (NPTD) in June 2016, I was tasked to write a research report on the South Asian community in Singapore. I discovered that in the 1990s, Singapore set up a task force to attract Indian talents; since then, a new cadre of global Indians have moved to Singapore. Primarily differentiated by their mobility and transnational citizenship, this new group of immigrants are also distinct from existing generations of Indians in Singapore in a number of other ways. For instance, most of the “new” Indian immigrants, are Hindi-speaking – the official language of India being Hindi – whereas 75% of the local Indian community, or “old” Indian immigrants, speaks Tamil. These new Indian immigrants also exhibit different consumption patterns, and a unique cultural ethos from the localborn Indians. One consequence of these differences has been to perpetuate a “Self-

Other” consciousness within the community, permeating the relationship between localborn or assimilated Indian immigrants and foreign-born “new” Indians. Firstly, even within the new Indian immigrants there exists internal differentiation just like their “old” counterparts. For instance, a large number of “new” Indians, especially the professional elites from the information technology sectors, are identified as “middle class”. But there also exists a highly affluent group of “new Indians” that typically occupy jobs in the financial, banking and investment sectors; they are perceived as an even more privileged socio-economic group than the middle class migrants. The social integration problems the two groups face also differ, accordingly middle-class migrants are perceived as competitors for jobs, housing, places in schools and transportation whereas the more affluent arrivals are resented for their high incomes and luxurious lifestyles. More salient, however, is an increasingly perceptible social divide between the “new” and “old” Indian immigrants. The former has ruffled some feathers for ghettoising in condominiums along East Coast, and the condominium Mandarin Gardens has been dubbed “Mumbai Gardens” by users of local online forums. The large number of South Asian expatriates working at Changi Business Park has also earned it a colloquial nickname, “Chennai Business Park”. Some “old” Indian immigrants have raised concerns about the reassertion of caste hierarchies, and a lack of awareness towards local culture and norms. This clustering of “new” Indians unfortunately then reinforces their isolation from local Indians and other Singaporeans, further diminishing opportunities for interaction and mutual understanding. Further, their integration into the wider society

seems to have met with friction as well. A study by Yahya and Kaur in 2011 has reported that many foreign-born “new” Indians, particularly the highly geographically mobile expatriates, tend to only socialise among themselves as they are usually senior executives living in elite circles. Many of the new expatriates feel that the effort required to make local friends is not worthwhile because of their short stay in Singapore, thus inclining them to befriend fellow expatriates whom they are more likely to meet in overseas locations. While being cautious not to overgeneralise the attitudes adopted by the “new” Indians, uncovering reasons such as these can allow us to inch closer towards understanding the psychology behind their behaviour, a crucial first step to engaging this demographic. This inflow of Indian professionals is at the same time matched by an influx of low-cost manual labourers who also constitute the “new” Indians. Hailing from South Asia – not just India but also Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – these immigrants, who primarily work in the “3D” (“dirty, dangerous and demeaning”) industries, were not within the research scope of the work I did at NPTD but, together with the aforementioned professionals, they collectively reconfigure the demographic and social profile of the local Indian community. The January 2013 Population White Paper makes clear the view of policymakers towards encouraging immigration to “balance the shrinking and ageing of our citizen population”, and “build a stronger and more sustainable Singaporean core”. The project for integration then calls for greater care in addressing the complex

tensions that have arisen between localand foreign-born Indians. Additionally, we can recognise that hegemonic ideas surrounding social integration at the national scale operate within a logic that privileges citizenship rights, entitlements and obligations above other identities. This has resulted in a politics of exclusion that is reflected spatially in the physical and moral containment of South Asian male migrant workers, as well as the self-barricading of Indian “foreign talents” in new migrant enclaves. These physical boundaries lead to social disengagement from the “locals”, and if unaddressed, only serve to further complicate the problem. Geographers can contribute towards fostering more inclusive spatial strategies for social integration. For instance, creating conducive spaces for everyday face-to-face interaction in school, at the workplace and beyond will serve as visual and experiential reminders that new citizens are just like us: they are also trying their best to build a home for themselves and their families. This kindles human empathy, and helps both local- and foreign-born Singaporeans to relate with each other and create shared experiences to foster integration. Alternatively, geographers can unpack the discourses surrounding the boundaries of what defines – or better, unites – the Indian community in Singapore, both “old” and “new”. Ultimately, identities are conjectural and socially constructed rather than self-evident. Existing differences can be deconstructed and reconstructed so that new bonds between members of the community, and between people and place, can be nurtured.

EXPLORING EXPLORING SINGAPORE’S SINGAPORE’S SOUTHERN SOUTHERN ISLANDS ISLANDS 26

Leong Kah Heng • Geography Major, Year 2 St John’s Island historically housed a quarantine station for immigrants with diseases like cholera and leprosy as well as a drug rehabilitation centre. However as mass immigration slowed in the 20th century, there was reduced need for quarantine facilities in Singapore. Eventually the island was transformed into a holiday destination for locals. The island is also a haven for a host of flora and fauna, and is popular for weekend visits. Today, there remains little trace of the island’s past. As my friend and I disembarked at St John’s Island’s jetty, we were wowed by the perfectly blue ombre waters. The first thing you see once you’re on the island is a map engraved on a wooden sign board. It is helpful to take a photo of it! Although the sign board was not detailed, it still proves helpful as an orientation tool. It had left out where Lazarus Island and St John’s Islands are connected, however – thankfully, a quick search of Google Maps fills this 28

information gap. The Sisters’ Island Park Public Gallery is one of the attractions on the map. The gallery turned out to be unexpectedly small; however it is still worth a visit if you are interested in Singapore’s marine biodiversity, ongoing research initiatives, and habitat enhancements. Additionally, it offers air-conditioning which is always a plus after walking around in the heat, and there is a water dispenser in the gallery, possibly the only on the island. After visiting the gallery, we chanced upon the swimming lagoon while trying to find our way to Lazarus Island. The lagoon turned out to be rather small and nondescript. It was also then that Google Maps informed us that we were walking in the opposite direction of Lazarus Island – so do take note if you are heading to Lazarus Island! It is on the left after disembarking at the jetty.

On the way, you will pass by a small mangrove. I spent a good ten minutes looking at what I think are tiny crabs burrowing in and out of the sand. I would have missed them had I not spent time staring at the sand looking for movement. Connecting Lazarus and St John’s Island is a concrete link way. The view there was one of the best I have seen in Singapore. I found that spot offers the best photo opportunities. Do bring a tripod if you would like to take a group picture or be prepared to be resourceful. My “tripod” was a loaf of bread stacked on a box of grapes! I found Lazarus Island to be more enjoyable as it offered the kind of almost unspoilt nature which I had envisioned for this trail. However the trade-off is that there were more mosquitoes there. Personally, I found that if the purpose of your visit is to

take the effort to trek to the other side of Lazarus Island. It is wellworth it! If you wish to wash up after visiting the beach, there are shower facilities in the toilet at St John’s Island. After Lazarus Island, my friend and I planned to visit Kusu Island as our ticket entitled us to ferry trips from Singapore to St John’s Island, to Kusu Island and finally back to Singapore. Unfortunately, despite being about 5 minutes early, the ferry to Kusu Island still left without us as it was already full. As the ferry rides came round only every 2 hours, and the next ferry was also the last ferry of the day, we could not visit Kusu Island. Nonetheless, we learnt that being early for the ferry is a must as it entitles you to a seat and the choice of popular upper deck seats for that Titanic-inspired photo opportunity. Overall, I would recommend these islands for beach lovers, or as an alternative destination for days out with family and friends. Since the islands have poor internet connection (4G was rare and 3G was very slow), this would encourage everyone to focus on each other, making the islands ideal for social bonding. They also make great picnic spots as the tables are shaded by coconut trees and kept cool by the sea breeze. Watch out for ants though!

In summary, here’s a suggested packing list for you:

q Plenty of water q Lunch and snacks – there q q q q

are no shops on the islands at all Swim suit (if the beach is on your itinerary) Sunblock and umbrella – there aren’t many shelters on the island! Insect repellent – the mosquitoes are vicious Card games or other forms of entertainment as the islands do not provide much entertainment but are a great venue for bonding games

Ratings:

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Sister’s Island Marine Park Gallery: ★★★☆☆. It was underwhelmingly small, but its saving grace is the creature comforts it offers. Swimming lagoon: ★★☆☆☆. if you wish to swim there. However I would give it a ★★★★★ if you want a picture of the Marina Bay district. Concrete pathway between Lazarus Island and St John’s Island: ★★★★★. I highly recommend this spot for photographs! Lazarus Island beach: ★★★★☆. The views are breath-taking and the beach offers more privacy. Unfortunately, you’ll have to battle off mosquitoes.

SAFE AND SOUND?: SECURITYSCAPES IN SMART NATION SINGAPORE

Gladys Ng • Geography Major, Year 3 Singapore is renowned worldwide for her greening strategies, financial services and tight controls on many aspects of life. We may soon also earn bragging rights for the most extensive government initiative ever to collect digital data on daily life. As part of Singapore’s push to be a Smart Nation, first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2014, sensors and cameras will be deployed across the island city-state for authorities to collect data on everything, ranging from traffic conditions to the cleanliness of public spaces. This will then be fed into Virtual Singapore, a forthcoming online platform that will update authorities on how the island citystate is functioning in real time, so that the appropriate government agencies can decide on appropriate action. Some of the collected data will be made available to citizens and corporations in an effort to connect different stakeholders to solve complex challenges. The potential benefits are huge. Yet, the deployment of an undetermined number of monitoring mechanisms at the national level looks set to transform our living spaces into landscapes of surveillance and security. Some go further to argue that it reinforces (long) existing surveillance and security landscapes (henceforth securityscapes), thus enhancing the state’s Big-Brother-Is-Watching-You capabilities. Concerns about privacy and security have surfaced, especially since the number and location of surveillance mechanisms are undetermined. Also, it isn’t completely clear how this will affect all of us, as many potential applications can only be known when the system is fully rolled out.

But one thing is clear–Smart Nation Singapore is here to stay. The question then becomes: how do we navigate the potential pitfalls of new technology to prevent cyber-vulnerabilities from undermining our ambitions to become a secure Smart Nation?

Collective Responsibility While the Smart Nation ecosystem allows authorities to integrate and analyse huge amounts of data, it also presents vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks. The complexity and diversity of a digital ecosystem creates more potential attack vectors. It also incentivises would-be attackers to hack into the system and get their hands on the plethora of data hosted and shared. In that respect, the digital ecosystem can be understood as a ‘liminal securityscape’, a term coined by anthropologist Hugh Guterson. In liminal securityscapes, the practices of everyday life remain imbued with a degree of instability and insecurity, despite the presence of overt and covert systems of surveillance. The state has assured the resident population that it will strengthen cybersecuring systems, protect citizens’ and official data, and work with corporates involved in critical sectors to improve their response and recovery plans. But the authorities alone cannot guarantee cybersecurity, which is, and should be, the collective responsibility of the people, and the private and public sectors. Yet, as noted by PM Lee during the launch of the SGSecure initiative in September 2016, there exists a propensity amongst Singaporeans to rely on the state for

cybersecurity. The notion that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility needs to inculcated in our thinking. Much remains to be done in getting corporates and communities to make cybersecurity a priority, respond appropriately to cybersecurity emergencies, and adopt good cyber practices.

Maintaining trust With the huge amount of data collected and shared, coupled with the vulnerabilities associated with a digital ecosystem, how do citizens feel about Singapore’s Smart Nation ambitions? Recent studies show that a large majority had no real issue with the plan. Despite minor concerns over privacy loss, citizens trust the state’s ability to execute the Smart Nation vision and safeguard their data, and they support the building of a Smart Nation. While the state is off to a good start, having already obtained the support of citizens towards its Smart Nation ambitions, it needs to consistently work on maintaining trust and confidence amongst the populace. Plans are in the pipeline to develop Singapore into an “open-source” society, with high levels of transparency, trust and openness, and engage independent security consultants to carry out periodic audits of the Smart Nation digital ecosystem. For the Smart Nation initiative to work, citizens must remain convinced that they will benefit from it, and that their privacy and security will not be compromised.

Establishing partnerships

As nations become more interconnected in today’s world, digital geographies are also, increasingly borderless. Most cybercrimes are transnational in nature, and countries ignore the importance of regional and global cooperation in cybersecurity at their peril. This concern has pushed Singapore to channel resources to enhance the cybersecurity resources of its neighbours via initiatives like the S$10 million ASEAN Cyber Capacity Programme. The challenge now lies in whether ASEAN can come together to develop and execute a cohesive cybersecurity strategy, and the steps Singapore should take to actualise it. Launched in October 2016, Singapore’s Cybersecurity Strategy acknowledges the essential role that teamwork–amongst authorities, citizens, corporates and other countries–plays in realising Singapore’s smart city ambitions. The difficulty lies in getting all stakeholders to assume collective responsibility for tighter cybersecurity cooperation.

Conclusion Singapore has made good progress in establishing the infrastructure needed to support a digital ecosystem, and is en route to becoming a Smart Nation. But the wider goal should be to become a secure Smart Nation. Whether that can be achieved rests on how we navigate the potential pitfalls evoked by the omnipresence of surveillance technologies in Singapore’s smart nation ambitions, in the geographies of today and tomorrow.

WATER SECURITY IN SINGAPORE Choo Ian Kang • Raffles Institution

The JC Essay Writing Competition is organised annually to promote Geography beyond the classroom. This year, we aim to encourage Geography students to consider the future of water security in Singapore. All participants were required to submit an essay that answers the following question: How do you think Singapore is threatened by concerns over water security and how can our water security be further improved? “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink”. Coleridge might have coined these words almost 200 years ago in poetic expression, but these same words which pronounced the fate of the Ancient Mariner rings true for many countries and cities in the world today, including Singapore. Due to climate change and accelerated economic growth, the problems of water stress and water insecurity loom over many public administrations around the world – and Singapore is right at the frontlines of this threat. Listed as the sixth most water insecure country in the world, water security is a real existential threat to our entire nation. The peril of water insecurity is on multiple fronts. Firstly, as long as imported water remains one of Singapore’s national taps, Singapore will always arrive at the negotiating table in a disadvantaged position. The reliance Singapore has on Malaysia’s water resource represents a leverage which can be wielded against us in times of crisis. The situation is thus at an unsustainable limbo, forcing Singapore at times to a position of deference. The issue of water is too, on the whole, unhealthy for bilateral relations between Singapore and Malaysia. The issue of water has always been a source of tension, often inducing accusations of politicking and threats from both sides. This creates geopolitical friction between the two countries, hindering the potential of further bilateral cooperation. Secondly, as Singapore undergoes a period of economic restructuring, any fall in water supply has the potential to compound the slowing down of economic growth by reducing the capacity of our economy. While the Government is reorienting our economy to a knowledge economy, manufacturing and construction industries still

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constitute 25% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These industries rely heavily on water usage in their processes: for instance, oil refineries in the petrochemical sector primarily use water for cooling processes. Each refinery uses around 150,000 litres of water per minute, and the oil refineries represent 5% of our entire GDP, generating around 60 billion dollars each year. Maintaining the water supply is thus paramount in maintaining our economic position. While Singapore has looked to technology to increase our supply, innovation and creativity is needed in managing our demand too. A possible solution, which exists elsewhere in the world, would be the development of a water market. The creation of a market would allow for a far more efficient allocation of our water resources, by developing a “currency” of water rights, where each “right” is an entitlement to a certain amount of water for consumption per year. In such a market, each household and entity is given a basic allocation of water rights for basic necessities, while additional quantities will be allocated based on other factors such as size of household. The central idea of such a market would be to bring together willing buyers and sellers wanting to exchange water rights, functioning almost like a stock exchange with an online platform for the sale or lease of water at different specified prices. The benefits of such a potential market are: firstly, harnessing the free market to stimulate voluntary water savings with financial incentives; secondly,

consumption each year. The Government will be able to assess its target for each year and allocate the number of water rights to be released for the year. Lastly, this will also allow for greater accountability amongst households and entities in their water usage. Such a water market has been implemented in Australia, with much success. However, it has to be noted that the demographic of the participants in this scheme – one largely made up of farmers – is very different from that of Singapore. To explore this solution in Singapore, thus, will require greater fine-tuning and consideration of local contextual factors. Intervention into the daily lifestyles of Singaporeans, in terms of water consumption, can also help curb demand. The easiest step would be through the installment of various technologies into households and industries, through attachments to taps, toilet flushes, pipes, etc. For example, Hong Kong has developed a system where 80% of toilet flushes use seawater instead of potable water. Such integration of different technologies into the daily lives of Singaporean households and industries will aggregate to sizable national savings. In conclusion, as Ester Boserup would posit, necessity is the mother to all invention. Singapore has been driven to a point of urgent necessity in terms of water security. While we have made good progress in the past 50 years, the next 40 represents the challenge for us to fully secure our water.

allowing the government to better manage the amount of water it is willing to allow for

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Fieldnotes from Sheffield Lim Jun Yu • Geography Major, Year 3

Going on exchange was something I always wanted to do as I enjoy exploring new places and learning about different cultures in foreign lands. Admittedly, I started my exchange in the United Kingdom (UK) with the intention of travelling, but these five months away from home also allowed me to be introspective and view life from another angle. Choosing the University of Sheffield was an easy decision as I wanted to experience life outside of big European cities. I found the pace of life less hectic than in Singapore, and relished spending the evenings cooking with my suitemates and participating in numerous school activities. I adopted a ‘give it a go’ attitude towards student activities, since I had the opportunity to try out new sports and interest groups on campus; thus, during my time at Sheffield, I learnt table tennis, yoga and even making coffee in the student café! 36

My trusty blue rucksack and Timberlands became my best buddies during my five months of exchange, and I spent most of my long weekends and Easter break travelling throughout the UK and continental Europe. I could go on about the breathtaking nature and architecture, but the most memorable aspect of travelling for me was meeting new people from different corners of the world! Initially, I was extremely nervous about travelling alone; as it turns out, the people I met via Couchsurfing not only went out of the way to show me their cities, they also inspired me to become more open towards engaging in new cultural experiences. My Swedish hosts also prompted me to try out local saunas; my Slovenian buddy brought me exploring Ljubljana on foot; and I experienced freeganism with my Danish friend. My spontaneous trip to Denmark with new friends from the UK and Iceland even led to a giant pillow fight in the middle of the streets! Being on exchange also provided new learning experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed what I learned in class at the University of Sheffield: for instance, the module Geography of Elections seemed dense at first, covering both positivist and social approaches towards understanding politics, but I enjoyed my professorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s analyses of recent developments such as the EU referendum, UK General Elections, and US Presidential Elections. Truly, I gained many insights through this module that helped me better appreciate the electoral systems in different countries, not just the UK! I hope this sense of independence and free-spiritedness will continue to stay with me as I transition back into life at NUS; keeping an open mind for the past five months has changed my outlook about interacting with strangers and trying new things. Geography is no barrier â&#x20AC;&#x201C; stay curious about the world, and friends can be found in any part of the world. Memories will come with each step taken as a nomad roaming across borders.

5 tips for exchange in Europe:

Walk. It is free and a great way to exercise while on exchange! Transportation is not cheap in Europe, and every penny you save from walking to and from your local supermarket can come in handy on days when you really need to use the public transport.

Couchsurf! Apart from saving money, you can interact with friendly locals who are keen to learn more about our country and culture. It is a great platform for cultural exchange – I always choose to cook for my hosts as a way of showing my appreciation and introducing them to the smorgasbord of cuisines in Singapore!

Invest in good equipment. Getting a trusty rucksack/backpack and comfortable pair of shoes are essential for exchange students in Europe. You will probably spend plenty of time exploring places on foot and sleeping overnight in airports and on buses. A money belt is a good way to keep your passport, cards, important documents and money.

Budget wisely. A considerable amount of your budget will go into transportation and accommodation. As such, it is worthwhile checking out places in your city which offer cheap groceries and food, as well as websites that feature discounted prices for youth travel and tourist attractions.

Keep an open mind. I do not make extensive plans for my trips – getting lost is part and parcel of exploring a new city; and you will learn to become more flexible about your plans whilst on the go. Travel by yourself, and you can slow down to enjoy the sights and interact with locals. And keep a diary (like I did!) to pen down any thoughts that come to your mind!

Life in the Middle Kingdom: SEP in Peking University, China Gladys Ng â&#x20AC;¢ Geography Major, Year 3

Why China and why Peking University (PKU)? I grew up in a rather traditional Chinese family, and so frequent exposure to many aspects of Chinese culture naturally instilled a keen interest in China and Greater China. Heading to China for the NUS Student Exchange Program (SEP) was a natural choice for me. PKU’s role in shaping China’s socio-historical developments contributed to my decision to head there for my student change. My academic life at PKU I took 9 classes at PKU, and enjoyed every single one of them. History of Chinese and Foreign City Planning dived deep into how cities like Chang’an and Luoyang developed and declined over time, thus allowing me to appreciate China’s historical geography. Urban Road System and Transportation Planning deepened my understanding of China’s transportation networks and the relationships between regional transportation planning and urban development, but what really stood out for me were the opportunities to put theory into practice. Assignments included producing maps of China’s planned railway networks and expressways, the transportation networks in our hometowns, and blueprints of various middlesized Chinese cities and towns. Perhaps the most unique class was Physical Education, which is compulsory and graded for all local students. I enrolled in Aerobics, and the very high Fitness Test standards meant many memorable moments coming together with friends to perfect our workouts for assessments! Highlights of life @ PKU Making friends. My classmates and I would often head off to enjoy mala xiang guo (spicy Chinese cuisine) in the school canteen after surviving three-hour classes or watch movies at the PKU Centennial Hall, and these are the memories I hold dearest. We continue to keep in touch via WeChat, the Chinese mobile-messaging service! Winter running. I was part of PKU Runners’ Association and Elite Running Club, which held training sessions at zero degrees temperature for three nights a week. While I had never tried winter running before, I found it allowed you to acclimatize to the cold much faster. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to keep fit while living in winter weather for a period of time! Life outside PKU Working with the Migrant Children’s Foundation: Community work makes up a huge part of my life, and naturally, I wanted to learn about and contribute to the local social sector during my SEP. I got myself involved with the Migrant Children’s Foundation, as the Special Assistant to the Curriculum and Volunteer Coordinator. This gave me many opportunities to dive into

volunteer management, curriculum and resource development, on top of teaching English at migrant children’s schools twice a week. I learnt a lot about China’s hukou system, the modalities of geographical (im)mobility in China and its resultant impacts. Weekly mountain climbs and hikes: Beijing is surrounded by mountain ranges. I’ve always loved sports and count myself as pretty bold and adventurous, so I made it a point to head to the outskirts once every week, on Sundays, to scale a natural feature. I especially enjoyed mountain climbing during autumn, which I felt was the best time to travel out to the outskirts, reach places of high altitudes, and bask in the autumn foliage. The virulent hues of red, orange, crimson, yellow and green are excellent rewards for the strenuous workouts! Travelling before and after the semester: I headed to Inner Mongolia before term started at PKU, where I rode on horses and camels in grasslands and deserts, under the clearest blue skies I have ever seen. It has always been my dream to experience the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, so I headed over to do so before my return to Singapore. The ice and snow sculptures, as well as the opportunity to engage in various winter activities (think skiing and sliding on ice!), was an excellent conclusion to my five-month stay in China. In closing, China offers many possibilities, opportunities and ‘perks’ – think beautiful landscapes, cultural immersion, cheap and sumptuous food, and new places to explore. Although China is not a typical destination for Geographers going on SEP, I hope this article will persuade you to consider it!

Florida: Baseball, Hurricanes and the Presidential Elections Sheryl Seet â&#x20AC;˘ Geography Major, Year 3 42

I still remember the day I walked through the departure gates and waved goodbye to my family and friends. I thought to myself, ‘Now, I just have to brace myself for a 27 hours flight…’ I spent my SEP at the University of Florida (UF), also known as ‘Gator Nation’ for their school mascot, and the plentiful alligators in Florida. Almost every local student told me to attend a football game as part of the ultimate American college experience, and so despite knowing nothing about the game (I spent most of the game googling the rules), I bought the ticket to my first football match. I met and interacted with locals there, but also people from other states and countries. It got me thinking - the sporting event truly brings people of different cultures together. Not just through attending the game - a non-US citizen like myself was also able to know about American football prior to watching one thanks to popular American media such as How I Met Your Mother and Remember the Titans. We vicariously understand the value of this national sport, how it brings people together and cultivates a sense of belonging among football fans. During my time in UF, we were hit by not one, but two hurricanes within the span of two months. It was eye-opening to see what I was learning in my class on extreme weather conditions come to life. Hurricane Matthew was the worse of the two, wrecking homes and destroying the famed beaches along the Eastern coast. The severity of the hurricane led then-President Obama to declare a state of emergency, and campus and local bus services were suspended for two days as a safety precaution. As a result, most of us who did not own a car were “trapped” on campus. Witnessing the enormous infrastructural and human cost of the hurricanes, I am extremely grateful that Singapore escapes catastrophic natural disasters. One of the highlights during my time there was the US Presidential Elections. Being on the ground allowed me to see first-hand the growing divide between the different racial and social groups in the US, especially as this was one of the more controversial and divided elections in modern US history resonating especially deeply with the minority and working middle-class. Florida was one of the swing-states crucial in determining the outcome of the elections; it has always been a Republican stronghold. In the days leading up to voting day, advertisements from both political parties were constantly broadcasted on the TV and radio. Even YouTube was not spared from the politically biased advertisements released by both political parties. One thing I was surprised by was how voting wasn’t mandatory in the US, unlike in Singapore - the voter turnout this election was a 20-year low of 53.3%, which I found worrying considering the weight of this election’s results on the

rest of the world. Since the United States is a global economic and political powerhouse, it is important to maintain strong, diplomatic relationships to ensure stability on the regional and international scale. It will be interesting to see how world leaders react to the leadership of the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. A single article cannot encompass all my experiences on SEP. I met many interesting individuals from around the world, and some became my closest friends during my time in the US. However short, the US became my second home for a semester. Going on SEP has also changed a part of me: as a result of being forced to step out of my comfort zone arriving in a foreign environment, I became more confident and independent. Taking solo trips and initiating conversation with strangers in lecture halls no longer seem as daunting as before! So for those of you thinking about whether to apply for SEP, hesitate no more - go for it! My advice is: the world is your oyster. Take this opportunity to explore and experience new cultures and places!

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Publications Cell 51st Management Committee