Dr Noorman Abdullah (Arts & Social Sciences ’02, MSocSci ’05) is a Senior Lecturer and the Assistant Dean (External Relations & Student Life) within the Department of Sociology & Anthropology and the Department of Malay Studies at the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS). His research interests include religion and society; race relations; decolonial pedagogies; and sensory studies.
Dr Noorman spoke to The AlumNUS about his work and passions.
Academic Interests
“Sociology and anthropology provided me with a toolkit to understand the world we live in. That curiosity in trying to engage critically and compassionately with issues pushed me into research and teaching.”
Senses & Society
“I’ve been involved in Senses and Society, a thematic group of the International Sociological Association, for over 10 years. We bring together like-minded academics to discuss how our understanding of society is shaped by and through our senses. For instance, how do sight, sound and smell influence our perception of the world, our identities and our interactions?”
Joy in the Work
“Research is, of course, very illuminating and I find a lot of meaning in it. But being able to translate that research into teaching — and seeing my students grapple with and engage ideas — is incredibly gratifying.”
Adapting to Change
“The world is now more uncertain and volatile; the University has undertaken significant curricular changes as a result, as well as increased its emphasis on student wellness and other issues. But at the same time, our core values have remained, including our desire to shape students who are compassionate and critical thinkers.”
Alumni Connections
“As an FASS alumnus, I find the work we do in alumni relations both gratifying and meaningful. FASS is admittedly a large and diverse faculty…harnessing and engaging a cohesive network between recent alumni and those who are well-established in their respective fields is important.”
Outside the Classroom
“I am curious about the world that we live in, and love to travel and explore new experiences. In some ways, it’s tied very closely to my discipline and research; when I do fieldwork overseas, it gives me a lens for understanding different cultures and contexts.”