Universities are traditionally established to generate and disseminate new knowledge. Yet, as the world changes, so does the purpose of universities.
Facing challenges such as reduced research funding, increased operation costs, new competitors, and the everchanging expectations of students,…
Indians migrated overseas in large numbers from the 1830s onwards following the abolition of slavery in the British empire in 1834 and in the French empire a decade later. They first left home to work in sugar plantations in the British colonies in the Caribbean and southern Indian Ocean, as well…
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints in the body. Some common symptoms include stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joints, particularly of the fingers, knees, ankles, wrists, elbows, hips, and shoulders.
As the disease progresses, patients can experience…
Most cities are growing rapidly and by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population—about 6.5 billion people—are expected to live in urban centres. This rapid growth is particularly acute in developing countries in Africa and Asia.
For many, a move to the city brings greater opportunities for…
When IBM’s “Deep Blue” beat Garry Kasparov in the mid 90’s, it was the first time in history that a computer had defeated the World chess champion. Then in 2016, Google’s DeepMind AlphaGo defeated Lee Sedol, one of the best players of the strategy board game, Go, as well as a host of other Go world…
The management of plastic waste is a big concern. Out of the 6,300 million tonnes of plastic waste generated between 1950 and 2015, only 9% was recycled globally. The global annual generation of plastic is currently around 400 million tonnes, and 86% of this will eventually become waste. In…
Housing affordability has become a main concern in major cities especially those in developing countries. While the yardstick of affordability varies by country, housing affordability is defined as the ability to own a residential property or house that fulfils basic living needs in terms of cost,…
We use solar energy to power our heaters, electronic devices and even vehicles. The idea of using solar energy is hardly new as attempts at developing solar technologies began as early as the late 19th century.
The solar energy industry however is beset with issues concerning its efficiency as a…
Economic voting behaviour, whereby voters reward the incumbent ruling party for delivering economic prosperity, is pervasive across countries. The influence of economic factors on voter behaviour has been extensively studied since the rational choice theory was applied in the 1950s to understand…
Few species evoke as much fascination, amusement and attraction as do bears. Through much of our history, bears have held a special significance—from the comforting presence of a child’s teddy bear to symbols of power, protection and untamed nature in modern societies and countless indigenous…
The global Muslim population totalled 1.6 billion in 2010 and is forecasted to increase dramatically to 2.8 billion in 2050 according to Pew Research Center. In the latter part of this century, Islam is expected to exceed Christianity as the largest religion in the world.
Dengue is a viral disease many of us, particularly in Asia, are familiar with. After all, more than 40% of the world’s population live in endemic areas.
Statistics show that dengue cases have multiplied eight folds within the past 20 years, causing up to 390 million infections per year globally.…
