Learning about manuscripts in the United Kingdom and exploring planetary health in Singapore

Students examining a mediaeval manuscript with Bodleian Library’s Keeper of Special Collections, Dr Christopher Fletcher.

During the term break, 18 Yale-NUS College students participated in Learning Across Boundaries (LABs) both locally and abroad to engage in experiential learning. Experiential learning complements curricular work and provides an opportunity for students to explore themes of the curriculum in a broader context.

In May 2022, the ‘Manuscripts, the Printing Press, and the Preservation of Knowledge’ LAB brought 12 students to the United Kingdom to explore Oxford, Cambridge, and London, where they examined mediaeval manuscripts and learned about the cities’ history, content, and preservation. The LAB was led by Dean of Educational Resources and Technology (ERT) Ronald Milne and Assistant Professor of English Katherine Hindley who specialises in Mediaeval Literature at National Technological University (NTU).

For Vietnamese student Linh Nguyen (Class of 2025), who aspires to be a museum curator, this LAB allowed her to understand “how people for centuries have preserved and passed on documents.” The LAB was filled with a range of activities from seminars with renowned professors and experts on manuscript preservations to exploring historical libraries, including the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the British Library in London, and the Wren Library at Trinity College Cambridge. A memorable activity was learning to hand-press print with a professional hand-press printer at the Bodleian Library in Oxford University, according to Linh.

Students participating in a hand-press printing workshop with professional hand-press printer, Richard Lawrence.  

Professional hand-press printer, Richard Lawrence teaching Linh Nguyen (Class of 2025) the intricacies of hand-press printing. Images provided by Assistant Professor Katherine Hindley.

Linh said that through hand-press printing, she has learned to appreciate the rich history and culture behind each document, which she used to take for granted before the trip. She added, “The meticulous printing process prompts me to be more careful with how I handle and read books.”

Yale-NUS Students explore Clementi Road Railway. Image provided by Matt Aslett.

At another LAB project, ‘Visualising Planetary Health in Singapore’, six students learnt how planetary health can be communicated through documentary photography and photojournalistic methods, and explored how Singapore can be a sustainable, safe, and just urban centre. This week-long experience was led by former Instructor of Humanities (Photojournalism) Tom White and other experts in the field, including award-winning British Malaysian photographer Ian Teh, and Duke University Professor Brian McAdoo.

Singaporean student Zi Yang Lim (Class of 2024) raved about his experience exploring his native country in a new light. “The people on the LAB are amazing; though we are different in terms of our skill sets, knowledge and perspective on planetary health, and the stories we try to tell, the LAB brought a diverse group together and helped us form a more comprehensive view of planetary health,” said Zi Yang.

Yale-NUS students explore Singapore, including Zi Yang on the top left. Image provided by Raphael Chang (Class of 2020).

Zi Yang joined the LAB wanting to learn a specific skill – photography. “It’s a method of communication and a key part of telling a story or narrative visually besides the written word,” he explained. Throughout the trip, he practised photography around Singapore, at destinations like nature reserves, forests, the wet markets, and more, before heading back to campus and editing images with the guidance of mentors.

Photos from Zi Yang’s portfolio featuring ComCrop Singapore – a commercial urban rooftop farm (left) and the Ground-Up Initiative: a community focused on regenerative agriculture in Singapore (right). Images provided by Zi Yang Lim.

By practising photography daily, he learnt that “a lot of the process is tying pieces together to form a coherent narrative.” He had many takeaways from the experience, specifically “a deeper appreciation of others’ work and insight. Their dedication and fortitude (even in sticky situations) are very inspiring!”

These LAB experiences not only furthered individual student’s academic interests and ambitions, but also further strengthened the bonds of the Yale-NUS community between students and faculty.