As a young and multicultural country, Singapore’s national identity has always been hard to define. With the world becoming more globalised, more Singaporeans are migrating overseas and more foreigners are moving to Singapore, our Singaporean identity is increasingly fluid and ever evolving. So is being Singaporean simply a matter of citizenship? Or is it about possessing uniquely Singaporean traits or values? If so, what exactly are these traits and values?

On the eighth episode of the second season, host and Associate Director at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Liang Kaixin chats with Dr Mathew Mathews, Principal Research Fellow of IPS and Head of IPS Social Lab, as well as Oon Shu An, a Singaporean actress and host, to discuss about our national identity and multiculturalism.

Find out more about what makes us Singaporean:
The Straits Times (23 Nov 2021): Six views on identities and diversity
The Straits Times (24 Sep 2021): S’porean identify strongly with both national and racial identities: IPS study
CNA (23 Sep 2021): Singaporeans most proud of healthcare system, cleanliness; low scores for press freedom, treatment of migrant workers: Study
TODAY (2 Apr 2021): Understanding the ire and intricacies of immigration in Singapore
CNA (19 May 2019):Commentary: Singlish is not English. That’s not a bad thing
Oon Shu An’s video (22 Jun 2016): “Here, I Am…”

About our guests:

Dr Mathew Mathews

Principal Research Fellow of Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and Head of IPS Social Lab

Dr Mathew is a Principal Research Fellow at IPS and is the Head of the IPS Social Lab. He has been involved in over 50 research projects examining social policy issues including race, religion, immigrant relations, family and poverty. Dr Mathew has taught courses on social policy and has published in a range of academic and media outlets.

He currently sits on the boards of OnePeople.sg and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). He is a Research Advisor to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and serves on the VWOs-Charities Capability Fund Panel and the Families for Life Council. 

Oon Shu An

Actress and Host

Oon Shu An is an actor who has been spreading her natural warmth and energy across theatre, TV, film and the internet. She’s know for her roles like the ill-fated Song Dynasty courtesan Jing Fei in Netflix Original Marco Polo, Lawyer Stephanie Szeto in Code of Law, and she is currently hosting the newest season of Renovaid.

She is an Associate Artist with Checkpoint Theatre. Her sell-out one woman show, the cross-media production '#UnicornMoment' with them was nominated for Best Original Script at the Life! Theatre Awards. She has also had Best Actress nominations for her roles in Pangdemonium’s Chinglish and Esplanade’s Mergers and Accusations.

On Diversity is a podcast inspired by the Institute of Policy Studies Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, we chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making, and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.

More from On Diversity
Season 2 Episode 7: Homelessness, with Harry Tan, IPS Research Fellow, and June Chua, Co-founder of T Project
Season 2 Episode 6: The Young vs The Old, with Kanwaljit Soin, Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon, and Teo Kay Key, IPS Research Fellow
Season 2 Episode 5: The New Civil Society, with Carol Soon, IPS Senior Research Fellow and Head of Society and Culture, and Woo Qiyun, Environmentalist and creator of The Weird and Wild
Season 2 Episode 4: Diversity in Elite Schools, with Gillian Koh, IPS Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow, and Paul Jerusalem, master’s student at NUS
Season 2 Episode 3: The Plight of Buskers, with Yeo Ying Hao, Co-chairman of Buskers Assocation, and Louis Ng, Nee Soon GRC MP 

As a young and multicultural country, Singapore&rsquo;s national identity has always been hard to define. With the world becoming more globalised, more Singaporeans are migrating overseas and more foreigners are moving to Singapore, our Singaporean identity is increasingly fluid and ever evolving. So is being Singaporean simply a matter of citizenship? Or is it about possessing uniquely Singaporean traits or values? If so, what exactly are these traits and values?
On the eighth episode of the second season, host and Associate Director at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Liang Kaixin chats with Dr Mathew Mathews, Principal Research Fellow of IPS and Head of IPS Social Lab, as well as Oon Shu An, a Singaporean actress and host, to discuss about our national identity and multiculturalism.
Find out more about what makes us Singaporean:
<ul>
<li>The Straits Times (23 Nov 2021): <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/six-views-on-identities-and-diversity">Six views on identities and diversity</a></li>
<li>The Straits Times (24 Sep 2021): <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/sporeans-identify-strongly-with-both-national-and-racial-identities-ips-study">S&rsquo;porean identify strongly with both national and racial identities: IPS study</a></li>
<li>CNA (23 Sep 2021): <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singaporeans-most-proud-healthcare-saf-covid-press-freedom-migrant-workers-2196711">Singaporeans most proud of healthcare system, cleanliness; low scores for press freedom, treatment of migrant workers: Study</a></li>
<li>TODAY (2 Apr 2021): <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/understanding-ire-and-intricacies-immigration-singapore">Understanding the ire and intricacies of immigration in Singapore</a></li>
<li>CNA (19 May 2019): <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singlish-singapore-english-language-code-switch-uneducated-888886">Commentary: Singlish is not English. That&rsquo;s not a bad thing</a></li>
<li>Oon Shu An&rsquo;s video (22 Jun 2016): <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=914923148631123">&ldquo;Here, I Am&hellip;&rdquo;</a></li>
</ul>
About our guests:
Dr Mathew Mathews
Principal Research Fellow of Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and Head of IPS Social Lab
Dr Mathew is a Principal Research Fellow at IPS and is the Head of the IPS Social Lab. He has been involved in over 50 research projects examining social policy issues including race, religion, immigrant relations, family and poverty. Dr Mathew has taught courses on social policy and has published in a range of academic and media outlets.
He currently sits on the boards of OnePeople.sg and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). He is a Research Advisor to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and serves on the VWOs-Charities Capability Fund Panel and the Families for Life Council.&nbsp;
Oon Shu An
Actress and Host
Oon Shu An is an actor who has been spreading her natural warmth and energy across theatre, TV, film and the internet. She&rsquo;s know for her roles like the ill-fated Song Dynasty courtesan Jing Fei in Netflix Original Marco Polo, Lawyer Stephanie Szeto in Code of Law, and she is currently hosting the newest season of Renovaid.
She is an Associate Artist with Checkpoint Theatre. Her sell-out one woman show, the cross-media production '#UnicornMoment' with them was nominated for Best Original Script at the Life! Theatre Awards. She has also had Best Actress nominations for her roles in Pangdemonium&rsquo;s Chinglish and Esplanade&rsquo;s Mergers and Accusations.
On Diversity is a podcast inspired by the Institute of Policy Studies Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, we chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making, and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.
More from On Diversity
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e7-the-homeless-in-singapore/">Season 2 Episode 7: Homelessness, with Harry Tan, IPS Research Fellow, and June Chua, Co-founder of T Project</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e6-the-young-vs-the-old/">Season 2 Episode 6: The Young vs The Old, with Kanwaljit Soin, Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon, and Teo Kay Key, IPS Research Fellow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e5-the-new-civil-society/">Season 2 Episode 5: The New Civil Society, with Carol Soon, IPS Senior Research Fellow and Head of Society and Culture, and Woo Qiyun, Environmentalist and creator of The Weird and Wild</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e4-diversity-in-elite-schools/">Season 2 Episode 4: Diversity in Elite Schools, with Gillian Koh, IPS Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow, and Paul Jerusalem, master&rsquo;s student at NUS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e3-the-plight-of-buskers/">Season 2 Episode 3: The Plight of Buskers, with Yeo Ying Hao, Co-chairman of Buskers Assocation, and Louis Ng, Nee Soon GRC MP </a></li>
</ul>

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme.

In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.

On Diversity features new episodes every week.

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme.
In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.
On Diversity features new episodes every week.

IPS On Diversity Podcast

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society. On Diversity features new episodes every week.

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society. On Diversity features new episodes every week.

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