Thought Leadership

Some of the world’s leaders, and leading thinkers from NUS and overseas, regularly gather and add to the rich diversity of thoughts and ideas on our campuses, in Singapore and across the globe.
Here’s what they had to share.

Why Asian nations should pause when America beckons

Why Asian nations should pause when America beckons

Speaker: Simon Tay 14 Jul 2022

As America steps up its engagements with Asia once again, Associate Professor Simon Tay from NUS’ Faculty of Law, who is also Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, cautions that Asian countries should carefully consider if America’s proposals fit their interests and concerns, or if they seem inconsistent and potentially unreliable. Given factors such as the increasing severity of the US-China conflict, and the current mood of instability in American domestic politics, Associate Professor Tay suggests that Asian countries should guard their interests by finding new ways to foster cooperation regionally and globally, instead of relying solely on America to set the global rules of engagement for all to follow.

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Singapore’s social cohesion faces big test in the age of borderless viral hate speech

Singapore’s social cohesion faces big test in the age of borderless viral hate speech

Speaker: Speaker: Associate Professor Jaclyn L Neo  | 20 December 2025

Coming face to face with war in a wildlife sanctuary

Coming face to face with war in a wildlife sanctuary

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Teo Yik Ying | 17 December 2025

Does it really matter where our food is grown?

Does it really matter where our food is grown?

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Lawrence Loh and Florence Leong | 16 December 2025

Harmless fun? People are using Sora to create problematic videos

Harmless fun? People are using Sora to create problematic videos

Speaker: Speaker: Elvin Xing and Sophy Tio | 11 December 2025

Kopi, kaya and a longer life: Hawker centres hold the key

Kopi, kaya and a longer life: Hawker centres hold the key

Speaker: Speaker: Dr Daniel Mahadzir | 27 November 2025

IPS study: Unity, belonging and pride at the heart of national identity

IPS study: Unity, belonging and pride at the heart of national identity

Speaker: Speaker: Dr Mathew Mathews | 27 November 2025

Singapore's silent crisis: Is grandpa eating well and enough?

Singapore's silent crisis: Is grandpa eating well and enough?

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Teo Yik Ying | 19 November 2025