Society, survival and the sea
March 14, 2023
Do the oceans and our society interconnect? To Year 2 College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) student LIEW Chet Ming, who majors in Chemistry and minors in History and Bioinformatics, the answer is a resounding yes!
Observing that Singapore's survival and success have been inextricably linked to the seas, Chet Ming says, “This course (HS2906 - Saltwater: Society and the Sea) stood out for me as it is both refreshing and novel - placing the sea at the centre of discussion covers my joint interests in science and history and has enabled me to explore the interdisciplinary themes of sea and society.”
In a recent visit to Changi Beach, Chet Ming enjoyed “sightseeing” and observing the coastal areas near the beach. The fieldtrip also sparked reflections on the evolution of biodiversity and how threats such as pollution, marine biodiversity loss and sea-level rise impact our society directly.
He adds, “The course integrates the humanities with biological science to showcase how the sea is tightly knit with our lifestyles.”
From this course, he also gained interesting insights into the socio-political, historical and biological issues revolving around the sea - from the intertwining of maritime and human history to Singapore’s development as a modern maritime nation.
Find out more on the course here https://chs.nus.edu.sg/programmes/common-curriculum/interdisciplinary-module-i-ii/
To fulfil the Core Curriculum requirements, CHS students must read two interdisciplinary courses offered under the Interdisciplinary Pillars.