Singapore

This module first gives an introduction of microelectronic devices applicable to IoT systems and applications deployed in our day-to-day modern gadgets/equipment, e.g., smartphones, wearable electronics and driverless cars. The devices include sensors for sensing various types of physical parameters (temperature, speed, position, etc.), storage devices, etc. The working principles of these devices will be described pertaining to an application. Specifications, usability and, key features of these devices will also be analysed so that students will learn how to utilize these devices in a wide range of IoT related applications such as health care, transportation, etc.

Microwave amplifiers, oscillators, mixer and detectors, and electronic switches are basic components of microwave systems. The performance of these components is critical to system performance. This module therefore teaches the design of these components to satisfy performance specifications. Topics covered: Amplifiers: theory, LNA and multistage design; Oscillator theory: nonlinear negative resistance, startup, stability, power generation; Gunn and IMPATT diode oscillators; Design of planar passive components and their application; PIN diode switch and phase shifter analysis and design; Mixers and detectors: theory, mixer and detector diodes, diode detectors and mixers.

This module covers the fundamental principles of modern electrical energy systems; including three-phase analysis, electric generations, electric loads, and power electronic converters. The module is designed specifically to help students develop a broad systems perspective and an understanding of the principal elements of electrical energy systems. The expectation is that students completing the module will be able to handle adequately the electrical aspects of a range of applications. This will serve as the foundation of higher-level topics in power engineering. Furthermore, students will be prepared to work effectively with electrical engineers on the joint solution of complex problems.

This is a first course that introduces fundamental digital logic, digital circuits, and programmable devices. The course also provides an overview of computer systems. This course provides students with an understanding of the building blocks of modern digital systems and methods of designing, simulating and realizing such systems. The emphasis of this module is on understanding the fundamentals of digital design across different levels of abstraction using hardware description languages.

This module introduces students to international trade. The topics covered include the following: why countries trade and what determines the trade patterns; the effects of trade on overall welfare within a country; the effects of trade on factor prices and income distribution; the role of firms in international trade, multinational production, and outsourcing. We will also cover policy issues: tariffs, quotas, subsidies, and the World Trade Organization.

Behavioral economics stresses the need to incorporate psychological considerations into economics. Topics include: (1) decision making under risk (loss aversion, probability weighting); (2) decision making across time (self-control, timing preference), (3) other-regarding preference (altruism, reciprocity); (4) Strategic thinking (step thinking, theory of mind). Evidence from financial market, saving behavior, labor market and other areas will be used to show how behavioral economics can be fruitfully applied to yield important insights into behavior under different settings. Overall, this course aims to help you develop skills on (1) how to incorporate psychology could help explain economic behavior, (2) how to apply behavioral economics to various economic and business settings.

The module is aimed at equipping the students with detailed knowledge about various aspects of the ASEAN as a regional bloc. The module will enable the students to understand the highlights of some of the major ASEAN economies together with several thematic issues they face and the possible ways to address them. The module will also sensitize the students with the most recent regional developments such as the RCEP, TPP, AIIB, OBOR (BRI), BRICS New Development Bank, and their impact on ASEAN countries. Finally, the module will take the students through the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the measures undertaken by them to avoid similar occurrences resulting in their less reliance on IMF. The 2008 global financial crisis will also be taught in the class together with the measures taken by Obama administration towards addressing the crisis; and the class will also examine the recent revoking of some of those measures by the current US administration reflecting how little one has learnt the lesson from the 2008 global financial crisis.

Conservation and the loss of biodiversity and natural ecosystems are currently regarded as one of the most pressing problems facing mankind. The course will highlight the impact of habitat loss on biodiversity and the basis for formulation of effective conservation management strategies. The course will also introduce students to the theory of current conservation biology as illustrated by applications in tropical areas, species conservation issues, ecological challenges, role of zoological gardens, legal challenges etc. Conservation of tropical biota, management of local and regional environmental problems, appreciation and consideration of the socio-economic issues will also be treated. Conservation priorities and developmental needs at the national level will also be discussed, with emphasis on Singapore and SE Asia. The course will have guest lecturers from overseas as well as managers and conservation-players from the local environment. It will also involve a special round-table discussion on specific conservation issues.

The course will cover topics on (i) the patterns of inheritance, (ii) the molecular structure and replication of genetic material, (iii) the molecular properties of genes, and (iv) genetic analysis of individuals and populations. This will include an in-depth understanding of mendelian patterns of inheritance and variations that could occur due to multiple alleles, lethal genes, chromosomal variations, linkage, gene interaction and other genetic phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the understanding of the underlying molecular and biochemical basis of inheritance. Quantitative and population genetics will also be discussed with the emphasis of understanding the processes and forces in nature that promote genetic change.

During this module students will gain appreciation for life’s diversity, the processes that generate such diversity, and the evidence for evolution. They will understand basic concepts such as descent with modification, homology, species classification, genetic drift, natural selection and sexual selection. They will understand that mutations and genetic variation appear at random in populations, and that few mutations ever get fixed in populations. They will also understand how genomes evolve, how novel traits originate and how scientists reconstruct the history of life.