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Written by: Tham Song Yuan (25A14), Noelle Lee Hsuen (25A14)
Edited by: Zhang Chenrui Eric (24A14)
Photographs by: Lim Ying Kit (24A14), Chong Ming Shan (24A15) and Ng Kai Chi, Abigail (24A15)
At the inaugural HCI Humanities Programme (HP) Symposium, students from different secondary schools, junior colleges and talent programmes within our college came together for a vibrant exchange of ideas.
The theme for this year’s symposium, focusing on the ever-changing nature of our VUCA world, was “We, The Adaptable Citizens”. Guest panellists and students sought to explore how adaptability plays a crucial role in maintaining the sustainability of our environment, culture as well as heritage.
For this year’s panel discussion, we were joined by alumni from the 2011 HP Class — Ms Minerva Lim, Ms Kylie Liu and Mr Shaun Khoo. From AI to shipping to climate policy, the panel reflected on what it means to be adaptable citizens in the Singapore context.
The panel discussed the accelerating pace of AI development and what that means for individuals, corporations and governments. Shawn compared this to the invention of the steam engine and the internet, waves of innovation that disrupted industries and demanded new skills. The only difference is that the wave of AI development is moving at a much more rapid pace. Instead of expecting paradigm shifts once every two decades, one can now expect them once every half a decade. This highlights the need for adaptability beyond passive adjustment, and demands that we constantly improve ourselves through upskilling. It further calls for the development of core skills such as critical thinking and creativity in problem solving.
In the realm of environmental policy and sustainability, the panel discussed the challenges of striving toward climate goals. As Kylie points out, even if Singapore were to achieve net zero emissions, our efforts would move world emissions back by only just 0.11%. Despite how negligible this number might seem, Singapore still aims to do our part for the environment. However, we also have to be cognisant of the trade-offs for stakeholders such as the transition costs that businesses have to bear to go green and the quality-of-life sacrifices on the part of citizens to change their habits. These concerns need to be addressed and accounted for when making decisions regarding climate policy.
Another idea that the panel engaged with is that change never happens without resistance. For certain industries such as shipping, which is very labour intensive and paperwork heavy, they struggle to find technologies that can fully and efficiently digitalise processes. In trying to implement new systems, a complete overhaul of legacy systems and long-standing infrastructure is required in order to create meaningful change. While these barriers seem daunting, it does not mean we should not strive for change, but rather that it necessitates multiperspective consideration of the various tradeoffs and concerns for key stakeholders.
Perhaps the greatest takeaway from this is that the future belongs not to those who simply react to change but those who actively engage with it.
Afterwards, the J2 HP cohort delivered their Capstone presentations in breakout venues, and showcased their research. Their projects aimed to highlight the adaptability of Singapore’s organisations and industries in their efforts to remain sustainable. Covering a diverse range of topics from the expansion of Singapore’s aquaculture and cultured meat industry to examinations of Singapore’s language policies, they offered fresh and valuable insights into issues relevant to Singapore’s long-term development. A key takeaway from their presentations is that constant adaptability is key to Singapore’s progress and success. It involves both reflecting and learning from our past and looking forwards into our future, so as to make continuous improvements in the long run.
The capstone projects aligned with the 11th United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Cities and Communities, aiming to inspire students, as future leaders, to shape an adaptable Singapore and ASEAN region. As such, presentations were followed by vibrant and meaningful group discussions between students, enabling a deeper dive into topics.
As students took their leave from the symposium, spirits were high as they felt energised to embark on their journey towards a brighter, more sustainable future for all. One Sec 4 student from Nanyang Girls’ High School shared that she found the symposium to be “a very meaningful and enjoyable experience.”
To conclude, we would like to share a quote by Charles Darwin, which we believe encapsulates the essence of the symposium:
“It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.”
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