Singapore Studies - The Physical Environments of Singapore

This is an introductory course designed to provide a broad overview of the physical environments found in Singapore. The emphasis will be on the physical processes by which these environments form, evolve and interact dynamically in the Earth Systems as part of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and anthrosphere. This course is presented in 4 parts: (i) Singapore and the Earth Systems, (ii) Singapore’s coastal and marine environments, (iii) Singapore’s terrestrial environments and (iv) the future for Singapore. Since Earth Systems Science is interdisciplinary by nature, we will use multi-scientific disciplines, especially geology, chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. Emphasis will be placed on examining the various environments in the field: to do this the class will be split into two groups. When one group is in the field with a lecturer, the other will be doing personal studies in the lab with a TA.