Search Modules > UTC2402/UTS2402

Synopsis

TopHow ‘green’ is Singapore and how should we preserve biodiversity on this island?

This GEM explores the rise of the conservation ethic in Singapore. It traces the scientific, social and economic conditions that gave rise to the global environmental movement, and to its various expressions in Singapore.

Students will engage with stakeholders (scientists, officials, civil society) to understand the conflicts and collaborations between advocates of development and conservation. They will initiate their own conversations and give feedback.

The class will make field trips to evaluate state-civil society partnerships, learn about the history between environmental CSOs and the Government, and debate choices and dilemmas for the future.

Learning Outcomes

Top

By the end of the module, students should be able to

Discuss the evolution of Civil Society in Singapore — structure of Singapore governance, role of civil society in shaping Singapore’s political landscape.
Explain Civil Society from different perspectives — government, people. (What happens in a country with NO civil society.)
Outline — Various governmental agencies in SG, and their interactions with Civil Society
Establish conditions that lead to the problem of the commons, apply the concept to a variety of real world scenarios, and suggest solutions.
Interpret environmental law and public/case studies and discuss the role of Environmental CSOs in shaping public perspective and awareness.
Achieve basic eco-literacy on environmental issues relevant to Singapore (esp. biodiversity, water resources, and conservation/development)
Appraise news articles of environmental news happening in Singapore and around the region, and to understand how it affects the nation
Communicate and compose feedback to various agencies and decision makers.
Debate by taking positions of stakeholders (scientists, researchers, civil society, members of the public, and policy makers) in scenarios concerning space use in Singapore.
Identify the economic, social and political contexts of ‘development vs. conservation’ debates

Prerequisites

TopThere is no pre-requisite for the module.

Teaching Modes

TopSmall group lectures, combined lectures, tutorials (group discussion, team projects, case studies), IVLE.

There are weekly seminars, up to four guest speakers, and field visits spread out over the semester

There is no textbook for this seminar. Aside from the reading list, students are expected to be actively engaged in following environmental news and debates pertaining to Singapore and the region (both green and brown issues) through resources such as ‘WildSingapore News’ (http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg).

Students will also be organized in by Week 2 to smaller groups (of 3 to 4 students) for group projects and assignments. These include researching the interests and perspectives of various stakeholders (conservationists and civil society [e.g., Nature Society of Singapore], government [LTA, URA etc etc. ], scientists and academics. This will enable them to go deeper into the positions, values and metrics held by each stakeholder.

Individual assignments are also given out through the course of the semester (see Assessment).

Schedule

TopEnvironment and Civil Society in Singapore

UTC2402/UTS2402

CAPT AY 2018/19 Semester 1

Wk 1

Introduction

14/15 Aug

Wk 2

Introduction to Civil Society
Readings:
Koh and Soon 2015
George Yeo 1991

21/22 Aug

Wk 3

Civil Society Organizations in Singapore
Readings:
ST - Wild about nature
ST – Activists breathe life into civic society
ST - When activists cross a line
ST - More debate within civil society good for Singapore

28/29 Aug

Wk 4

Global governance and the tragedy of the commons
Readings:
Hardin 1968
Today – NGOs Take up fight against haze

Combined session 1: Mr. Laurence Lien, Lien Foundation

4/5 Sep

6 Sep

Wk 5

Local governance and agencies in Singapore
Readings:
Tan 1997 (further reading: Lye 2008)
ST - Who you gonna call
Reading Quiz 1 (Week 5)

Combined Session 2: Marine Trash

Field Trip 2: International Coastal Cleanup

11/12 Sep

13 Sep

15 Sep

Wk 6

Environmental History of Singapore and State of Singapore's Environment (1)
Reading:
Corlett 1992

18/19 Sep

TERM BREAK

Wk 7

Environmental History of Singapore, and State of Singapore's Environment (2)
Readings:
ST – 480 new species discovered in Singapore
ST – Sustainability still key, with challenges ahead

Combined Session 3: Mr. Tony O Dempsey, Nature Society Singapore

2/3 Oct

4 Oct

Wk 8

Conservation battles in Singapore
Readings:
Wee and Hale 2008
ST – Anatomy of a U-turn

9/10 Oct

Wk 9

The Law and public opinion (1)
Readings:
Tan and Tan 2013

Combined session 4: Mr Louis Ng, MP Nee Soon GRC

16/17 Oct

18 Oct

Wk 10

The Law and public opinion (2)
Readings:
TODAY – Company MD charged with illegally importing rosewood
ST – Judge throws out case of illegal import of rosewood

23/24 Oct

Wk 11

Feedback and active citizenship

30/31 Oct

Wk 12

Social media, interactions and advocacy
Read: Low and Lim 2012
Reading Quiz 2 (Week 12)

6/7 Nov

Wk 13

Module Roundup

13/14 Nov

Grp 1 = Tue, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
Grp 2 = Tue, 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
Grp 3 = Wed, 10 am to 12 nn; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
Grp 4 = Wed, 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
Combined Sessions = Thurs, 6 pm to 8 pm, Utown Auditorium 3

Field trips

Top

The module includes two fieldtrips.
The date for Field Trip 1 is fixed and compulsory.

Do not read this module if you are unable to go on the following field trips.

Field Trip 1. Week 4: International Coastal Cleanup (15 September 2018) (0700h to 1200h)
Field Trip 2. Week 3 to 9. You are to attend a nature walk/talk /activity offered by any environmental group in Singapore. There is a group report due after the conclusion of field trip 2.

Assessment

TopThere is no final examination for this module. Students are expected to submit individual and group assignments throughout the semester that will contribute towards their final score for the module.

Assessment	Weightage (%)
Group Assignments Field trip 2 report -- 20% Reading Quiz 1 -- 10%	30
Individual Assignments News Roundup (individual grades, but present in group) -- 20% Reading Quiz 2 -- 10% Written assignment (feedback for News outlets, media) -- 15% Final reflection -- 15% Attendence and meaningful class participation -- 10%	70

Preclusions

TopThis module is currently open only to students of the College of Alice & Peter Tan, University Town

Workload

Top2-1-0-4-3

Workload Components : A-B-C-D-E
A: no. of lecture hours per week
B: no. of tutorial hours per week
C: no. of lab hours per week
D: no. of hours for projects, assignments, fieldwork etc per week
E: no. of hours for preparatory work by a student per week