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

In each episode, IPS Deputy Director Ong Soh Chin 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 launches Nov 2, with new episodes every fortnight.

On Diversity is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS&rsquo; Managing Diversities research programme.
In each episode, IPS Deputy Director Ong Soh Chin 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 launches Nov 2, with new episodes every fortnight.

"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.

IPS On Diversity

IPS On Diversity Podcast Trailer

In 2019, the word “they” was announced as the world of the year, a pronoun referring to a single person whose gender identity is non-binary. As the political movements driven by identity politics continue to clash against traditional values in the West, the conversations surrounding neo-pronouns and the fluidity of gender identity has grown louder in Singapore as well.

In the ninth and final episode of Season 4, the episode delves into the evolving landscape of gender identity and pronouns. Our host, Liang Kaixin, is joined by Dr Michelle Ho, Assistant Professor of Feminist and Queer Cultural Studies of the National University of Singapore, Chloe Ang, a Master’s student, and Muddarius Husayn, an advocate and artist. They explore the complexities of the pronoun movement and the challenges for acceptance and inclusivity in Singapore's diverse society.

Chloe and Muddarius shared on their individual exploration of non-binary and queer identities. Chloe shares their journey navigating life as a non-binary individual in a cisgender relationship, highlighting the fluidity and personal nature of gender identity. Muddarius, assigned male at birth and identifying as queer and gender-fluid, discusses the struggle of fitting into societal norms and the importance of self-identification.

Dr Ho gave her academic perspective; she noted a generational gap in understanding gender identity and the significance of pronouns. She emphasises the need for respect and understanding in addressing non-binary individuals, suggesting practices like introducing oneself with preferred pronouns to foster inclusivity.

Find out more about pronoun movement and identity politics in Singapore:
RICE Media (21 October 2021): Pronouns & Neopronouns Decoded — Beyond Labels and Performativity
Asia One (29 June 2022): They/them? Here's how gender-neutral pronouns work
Time (1 May 2023): How Gen Z Changed Its Views On Gender

About our guests:

Dr Michelle Ho, Assistant Professor, Department of Communications and News Media, National University of Singapore 

Michelle H. S. Ho (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Feminist and Queer Cultural Studies in the Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her research interests lie at the intersections of gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity, affect and emotion, and media and popular cultures in contemporary (East) Asia. Her latest monograph, which explores trans/gender issues in late capitalist Tokyo, Japan through an ethnographic study of josō (male-to-female crossdressing) and dansō (female-to-male crossdressing) cafe-and-bars, is forthcoming with Duke University Press. More information can be found at: michellehsho.com.

Chloe Ang, Master’s Student, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Yale-NUS College  

Chloe Ang (they/them) is a student at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Yale-NUS College, pursuing their love for public policy and philosophy. In their spare time, they love creative writing, collecting Hello Kitty merchandise and watching drag queens talk for hours.

Muddarius Husayn, Advocate / Artist 

Someone who believes in a world that can be better if we communicate effectively.

More from On Diversity
Season 4 Episode 8: Speaking English and the Mother Tongue with Dr Teo Kay Key, Research Fellow at IPS, and Kishan Singh, Science Educator
Season 4 Episode 7: Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM Field with Sieren Lim, Associate Professor at NTU, and Ainul Md Razib, Founder AinLovesCode
Season 4 Episode 6: Youth and Climate Anxiety with Melissa Low, Research Fellow at NUS and Darren Quek, Principal of Forest School Singapore
Season 4 Episode 5: Youth and Caregiving with Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Jason Leow
Season 4 Episode 4: Home Alone and Adulting with Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Klinsen Soh
Season 4 Episode 3: Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting with Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and He Ruiming, Founder of The Woke Salaryman
Season 4 Episode 2: Destigmatising HIV and AIDS with Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor of NUS and Terry Lim, Associate Director of Action for AIDS
Season 4 Episode 1: The Dual Challenges of Poverty and Single Motherhood with Carrie Tan, MP, Founder of Daughters of Tomorrow and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE

In 2019, the word “they” was announced as the world of the year, a pronoun referring to a single person whose gender identity is non-binary. As the political movements driven by identity politics continue to clash against traditional values in the West, the conversations surrounding neo-pronouns and the fluidity of gender identity has grown louder in Singapore as well.
In the ninth and final episode of Season 4, the episode delves into the evolving landscape of gender identity and pronouns. Our host, Liang Kaixin, is joined by Dr Michelle Ho, Assistant Professor of Feminist and Queer Cultural Studies of the National University of Singapore, Chloe Ang, a Master’s student, and Muddarius Husayn, an advocate and artist. They explore the complexities of the pronoun movement and the challenges for acceptance and inclusivity in Singapore's diverse society.
Chloe and Muddarius shared on their individual exploration of non-binary and queer identities. Chloe shares their journey navigating life as a non-binary individual in a cisgender relationship, highlighting the fluidity and personal nature of gender identity. Muddarius, assigned male at birth and identifying as queer and gender-fluid, discusses the struggle of fitting into societal norms and the importance of self-identification.
Dr Ho gave her academic perspective; she noted a generational gap in understanding gender identity and the significance of pronouns. She emphasises the need for respect and understanding in addressing non-binary individuals, suggesting practices like introducing oneself with preferred pronouns to foster inclusivity.
Find out more about pronoun movement and identity politics in Singapore:
<ul>
<li>RICE Media (21 October 2021): <a href="https://www.ricemedia.co/pronouns-neopronouns-decoded/">Pronouns &amp; Neopronouns Decoded — Beyond Labels and Performativity</a></li>
<li>Asia One (29 June 2022): <a href="https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/theythem-heres-how-gender-neutral-pronouns-work">They/them? Here's how gender-neutral pronouns work</a></li>
<li>Time (1 May 2023): <a href="https://time.com/6275663/generation-z-gender-identity/">How Gen Z Changed Its Views On Gender</a></li>
</ul>
About our guests:
Dr Michelle Ho, Assistant Professor, Department of Communications and News Media, National University of Singapore 
Michelle H. S. Ho (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Feminist and Queer Cultural Studies in the Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her research interests lie at the intersections of gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity, affect and emotion, and media and popular cultures in contemporary (East) Asia. Her latest monograph, which explores trans/gender issues in late capitalist Tokyo, Japan through an ethnographic study of josō (male-to-female crossdressing) and dansō (female-to-male crossdressing) cafe-and-bars, is forthcoming with Duke University Press. More information can be found at: <a href="https://michellehsho.com/">michellehsho.com</a>.
Chloe Ang, Master’s Student, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Yale-NUS College  
Chloe Ang (they/them) is a student at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Yale-NUS College, pursuing their love for public policy and philosophy. In their spare time, they love creative writing, collecting Hello Kitty merchandise and watching drag queens talk for hours.
Muddarius Husayn, Advocate / Artist 
Someone who believes in a world that can be better if we communicate effectively.
More from On Diversity
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e8-speaking-english-and-the-mother-tongue/">Season 4 Episode 8: Speaking English and the Mother Tongue with Dr Teo Kay Key, Research Fellow at IPS, and Kishan Singh, Science Educator</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e7-girl-math-and-the-gender-gap-in-stem-field/">Season 4 Episode 7: Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM Field with Sieren Lim, Associate Professor at NTU, and Ainul Md Razib, Founder AinLovesCode</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e6-sp2024-youth-and-climate-anxiety/">Season 4 Episode 6: Youth and Climate Anxiety with Melissa Low, Research Fellow at NUS and Darren Quek, Principal of Forest School Singapore</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e5-sp2024-youth-youth-and-caregiving/">Season 4 Episode 5: Youth and Caregiving with Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Jason Leow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e4-sp2024-youth-home-alone-and-adulting/">Season 4 Episode 4: Home Alone and Adulting with Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Klinsen Soh</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e3-sp2024-youth-hustle-culture-and-quiet-quitting/">Season 4 Episode 3: Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting with Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and He Ruiming, Founder of The Woke Salaryman</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e2-destigmatising-hiv-and-aids/">Season 4 Episode 2: Destigmatising HIV and AIDS with Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor of NUS and Terry Lim, Associate Director of Action for AIDS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e1-the-dual-challenges-of-poverty-and-single-motherhood/">Season 4 Episode 1: The Dual Challenges of Poverty and Single Motherhood with Carrie Tan, MP, Founder of Daughters of Tomorrow and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE</a></li>
</ul>

IPS On Diversity Podcast S4E9 The Pronoun Movement and Identity Politics among Singapore’s Youth

Is Singapore’s population losing its grip on mother tongue languages as we become more proficient in English? Two surveys by the Institute of Policy Studies on race, religion and language, found that while proficiency in English has risen, all ethnic groups have become less proficient in mother tongue languages.

The eighth episode of the IPS On Diversity Podcast dive into the intricate mix of language, identity, and culture of Singapore. Liang Kaixin hosts the discussion with Dr Teo Kay Key, IPS Research Fellow, and Kishan Singh, a science educator who embarked on formally learning his mother tongue, Hindi, in his mid-20s.

Dr Teo sheds light on the paradox of English proficiency in Singapore, where the mastery of the English language, while opening global doors, seems to have diluted proficiency in official mother tongues such as Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. This decline in linguistic diversity sparks a deeper conversation about the loss of cultural identity and the implications for Singaporeans navigating their multilingual heritage.

Kishan shares his personal journey, highlighting the challenges faced by non-Tamil Indian Singaporeans in connecting with their cultural roots through language. His experience underlines the broader societal and educational dynamics that influence language learning and retention among Singapore's minorities.

In closing, the discussion touches on possible policy recommendations to Singapore’s approach to language education. Dr Teo and Kishan propose innovative approaches to language learning that prioritise interest, relevance, and the removal of the stigma and shame associated with speaking mother tongues and dialects.

Find out more about adulting and housing in Singapore:
CNA (21 August 2022): Bad at Mother Tongue? What some parents are doing to help young ones be more fluent
Straits Times (31 October 2023): Becoming proficient in English has come at a cost for many Singaporeans

About our guests:

Teo Kay Key, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies 

Dr Teo Kay Key is Research Fellow at IPS Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies. She has a PhD in Political Science from the National University of Singapore. Her research interests are in political and social attitudes, public opinion, voting behaviour, and Singapore society. She is interested in examining these topics using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Her current projects examine a myriad of issues in Singapore, including attitudes towards the family, social norms and values, and national identity.

Prior to joining IPS, she worked in the civil service for nearly three years doing strategic planning, training, and policy work.

She also has a Masters in Political Behaviour from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a Bachelors in Social Science from the Singapore Management University

Kishan Singh, Adult learner of Hindi language, Science Educator 

Kishan Singh is a science educator with over 10 years of teaching experience, both in local and international schools. He also completed a secondment at the Ministry of Education concentrating on policy work around international students in our local schools. Since his MA in Science Education, he has an interest in how different groups perceive science, and how informal education, through social media and podcasts, has the potential to engage and involve wider audiences. He also does a podcast with his best friend called T42 available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

More from On Diversity
Season 4 Episode 7: Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM Field with Sieren Lim, Associate Professor at NTU, and Ainul Md Razib, Founder AinLovesCode
Season 4 Episode 6: Youth and Climate Anxiety with Melissa Low, Research Fellow at NUS and Darren Quek, Principal of Forest School Singapore
Season 4 Episode 5: Youth and Caregiving with Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Jason Leow
Season 4 Episode 4: Home Alone and Adulting with Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Klinsen Soh
Season 4 Episode 3: Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting with Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and He Ruiming, Founder of The Woke Salaryman
Season 4 Episode 2: Destigmatising HIV and AIDS with Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor of NUS and Terry Lim, Associate Director of Action for AIDS
Season 4 Episode 1: The Dual Challenges of Poverty and Single Motherhood with Carrie Tan, MP, Founder of Daughters of Tomorrow and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE
Season 3 Episode 9: Being Biracial in Singapore with Shane Pereira, Research Associate at IPS and Dave Parkash, Co-Founder at Fook Kin Restaurant

Is Singapore’s population losing its grip on mother tongue languages as we become more proficient in English? Two surveys by the Institute of Policy Studies on race, religion and language, found that while proficiency in English has risen, all ethnic groups have become less proficient in mother tongue languages.
The eighth episode of the IPS On Diversity Podcast dive into the intricate mix of language, identity, and culture of Singapore. Liang Kaixin hosts the discussion with Dr Teo Kay Key, IPS Research Fellow, and Kishan Singh, a science educator who embarked on formally learning his mother tongue, Hindi, in his mid-20s.
Dr Teo sheds light on the paradox of English proficiency in Singapore, where the mastery of the English language, while opening global doors, seems to have diluted proficiency in official mother tongues such as Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. This decline in linguistic diversity sparks a deeper conversation about the loss of cultural identity and the implications for Singaporeans navigating their multilingual heritage.
Kishan shares his personal journey, highlighting the challenges faced by non-Tamil Indian Singaporeans in connecting with their cultural roots through language. His experience underlines the broader societal and educational dynamics that influence language learning and retention among Singapore's minorities.
In closing, the discussion touches on possible policy recommendations to Singapore’s approach to language education. Dr Teo and Kishan propose innovative approaches to language learning that prioritise interest, relevance, and the removal of the stigma and shame associated with speaking mother tongues and dialects.
Find out more about adulting and housing in Singapore:
<ul>
<li>CNA (21 August 2022): <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/mother-tongue-parents-help-children-fluent-home-exposure-schools-2889121">Bad at Mother Tongue? What some parents are doing to help young ones be more fluent</a></li>
<li>Straits Times (31 October 2023): <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/becoming-proficient-in-english-has-come-at-a-cost-for-many-singaporeans">Becoming proficient in English has come at a cost for many Singaporeans</a></li>
</ul>
About our guests:
Teo Kay Key, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies 
Dr Teo Kay Key is Research Fellow at IPS Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies. She has a PhD in Political Science from the National University of Singapore. Her research interests are in political and social attitudes, public opinion, voting behaviour, and Singapore society. She is interested in examining these topics using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Her current projects examine a myriad of issues in Singapore, including attitudes towards the family, social norms and values, and national identity.
Prior to joining IPS, she worked in the civil service for nearly three years doing strategic planning, training, and policy work.
She also has a Masters in Political Behaviour from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a Bachelors in Social Science from the Singapore Management University
Kishan Singh, Adult learner of Hindi language, Science Educator 
Kishan Singh is a science educator with over 10 years of teaching experience, both in local and international schools. He also completed a secondment at the Ministry of Education concentrating on policy work around international students in our local schools. Since his MA in Science Education, he has an interest in how different groups perceive science, and how informal education, through social media and podcasts, has the potential to engage and involve wider audiences. He also does a podcast with his best friend called T42 available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
More from On Diversity
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e7-girl-math-and-the-gender-gap-in-stem-field/">Season 4 Episode 7: Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM Field with Sieren Lim, Associate Professor at NTU, and Ainul Md Razib, Founder AinLovesCode</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e6-sp2024-youth-and-climate-anxiety/">Season 4 Episode 6: Youth and Climate Anxiety with Melissa Low, Research Fellow at NUS and Darren Quek, Principal of Forest School Singapore</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e5-sp2024-youth-youth-and-caregiving/">Season 4 Episode 5: Youth and Caregiving with Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Jason Leow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e4-sp2024-youth-home-alone-and-adulting/">Season 4 Episode 4: Home Alone and Adulting with Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Klinsen Soh</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e3-sp2024-youth-hustle-culture-and-quiet-quitting/">Season 4 Episode 3: Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting with Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and He Ruiming, Founder of The Woke Salaryman</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e2-destigmatising-hiv-and-aids/">Season 4 Episode 2: Destigmatising HIV and AIDS with Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor of NUS and Terry Lim, Associate Director of Action for AIDS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e1-the-dual-challenges-of-poverty-and-single-motherhood/">Season 4 Episode 1: The Dual Challenges of Poverty and Single Motherhood with Carrie Tan, MP, Founder of Daughters of Tomorrow and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s3e9-being-biracial-in-singapore/">Season 3 Episode 9: Being Biracial in Singapore with Shane Pereira, Research Associate at IPS and Dave Parkash, Co-Founder at Fook Kin Restaurant</a></li>
</ul>

IPS On Diversity Podcast S4E8 Speaking English and the Mother Tongue

"Girl math," a TikTok trend where young women humorously rationalise their spending in ways that defy conventional math have sparked conversations surrounding gender stereotypes and gaps. In this episode of IPS On Diversity Podcast, we delve into the world of "Girl Math" and the persisting gender gap in STEM fields. Featuring Dr Sierin Lim, Associate Professor of Bioengineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Associate Dean of Global Partnerships at the NTU Graduate College, and Ms Ainul Md Razib, a full stack software engineer and tech career influencer, founder of AinLovesCode, and member of Women Who Code. The discussion unpacks the underlying causes of the gender disparity in STEM careers in Singapore.

Despite equal mathematical abilities among genders in schools, a significant drop-off occurs as women progress in their academic and professional journeys. The episode explores the societal and psychological barriers contributing to this trend, including confidence issues and deeply ingrained stereotypes.

Dr Lim, who champions community developments and initiatives towards empowering women in STEM careers, shares insights from her research on the representation of women in STEM and their career trajectory. She highlighted the impact of supportive environments from family, educational institutions, and workplaces in fostering women's sustained interest and growth in STEM fields.

Ms Ainul, drawing from her personal journey and interactions within the tech community, emphasises the importance of support networks in overcoming the challenge of stereotypes, and the critical role of positive representation in encouraging more women to embark on and thrive in STEM careers.

Find out more about Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM field:
NTU Study (4 March 2022): STEM Gender Gap in Singapore
UNESCO Courier (15 December 2022): Paradox in Singapore: Women steering clear of maths careers
Today (20 September 2023): #trending: 'It's basically free' — women jump on 'girl math' trend to justify spending. Some say it's fun, others warn of potential harm

About our guests:

Sierin Lim, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Nanyang Technological University, Associate Dean of Global Partnerships, NTU Graduate College 

Sierin Lim is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU). Her research group focuses on repurposing nature-derived materials by designing and engineering biological entities for applications in health and the environment. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She received the L’Oreal-UNESCO Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowship in 2013 and was named Singapore 100 Women in Tech Inaugural List in 2020. In addition to her research work, Sierin is championing community developments at NTU and in Singapore, particularly women in STEM initiatives. She founded the Biomedical Engineering Society (Singapore) Student Chapter in 2009, co-founded Women@NTU in 2018 and Society of Women Engineers Singapore in 2021 of which she is the Vice President (Academic). She is leading the Ministry of Education-funded Promotion of Women in Engineering, Research, and Science (POWERS) programme and is currently serving as the Associate Dean of Global Partnerships at the NTU Graduate College.

Ainul Md Razib, Full Stack Software Engineer, Founder, AinLovesCode

Ainul is the founder of Ain Loves Code, an educational social media brand that provides tips and advice on breaking into the tech industry. A software developer with over two years of experience in the IT sector, she actively advocates for better representation and diversity in the IT sector, and has partnered with a variety of organisations to raise awareness of tech learning and career opportunities, such as Google Singapore, Girls Who Code and SkillsFuture Singapore.

Ainul graduated with a Bachelor in Engineering with a specialisation in Information Systems from the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

More from On Diversity
Season 4 Episode 6: Youth and Climate Anxiety with Melissa Low, Research Fellow at NUS and Darren Quek, Principal of Forest School Singapore
Season 4 Episode 5: Youth and Caregiving with Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Jason Leow
Season 4 Episode 4: Home Alone and Adulting with Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Klinsen Soh
Season 4 Episode 3: Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting with Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and He Ruiming, Founder of The Woke Salaryman
Season 4 Episode 2: Destigmatising HIV and AIDS with Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor of NUS and Terry Lim, Associate Director of Action for AIDS
Season 4 Episode 1: The Dual Challenges of Poverty and Single Motherhood with Carrie Tan, MP, Founder of Daughters of Tomorrow and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE
Season 3 Episode 9: Being Biracial in Singapore with Shane Pereira, Research Associate at IPS and Dave Parkash, Co-Founder at Fook Kin Restaurant
Season 3 Episode 8: Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination with Sher-li Torrey, Founder of Mums@Work and Kalpana Vignehsa, Senior Research Fellow at IPS

"Girl math," a TikTok trend where young women humorously rationalise their spending in ways that defy conventional math have sparked conversations surrounding gender stereotypes and gaps. In this episode of IPS On Diversity Podcast, we delve into the world of "Girl Math" and the persisting gender gap in STEM fields. Featuring Dr Sierin Lim, Associate Professor of Bioengineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Associate Dean of Global Partnerships at the NTU Graduate College, and Ms Ainul Md Razib, a full stack software engineer and tech career influencer, founder of AinLovesCode, and member of Women Who Code. The discussion unpacks the underlying causes of the gender disparity in STEM careers in Singapore.
Despite equal mathematical abilities among genders in schools, a significant drop-off occurs as women progress in their academic and professional journeys. The episode explores the societal and psychological barriers contributing to this trend, including confidence issues and deeply ingrained stereotypes.
Dr Lim, who champions community developments and initiatives towards empowering women in STEM careers, shares insights from her research on the representation of women in STEM and their career trajectory. She highlighted the impact of supportive environments from family, educational institutions, and workplaces in fostering women's sustained interest and growth in STEM fields.
Ms Ainul, drawing from her personal journey and interactions within the tech community, emphasises the importance of support networks in overcoming the challenge of stereotypes, and the critical role of positive representation in encouraging more women to embark on and thrive in STEM careers.
Find out more about Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM field:
<ul>
<li>NTU Study (4 March 2022): <a href="https://www.ntu.edu.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/powers/ntu_powers_stemgendergapinsingapore.pdf?sfvrsn=a2f34ed0_3/%20NTU_POWERS_STEMGenderGapInSingapore%20.pdf">STEM Gender Gap in Singapore</a></li>
<li>UNESCO Courier (15 December 2022): <a href="https://courier.unesco.org/en/articles/paradox-singapore-women-steering-clear-maths-careers#:~:text=As%20of%202020%2C%20women%20comprised,from%20Singapore's%20Ministry%20of%20Manpower">Paradox in Singapore: Women steering clear of maths careers</a></li>
<li>Today (20 September 2023): <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/girl-math-trend-fun-harmful-2259236">#trending: 'It's basically free' — women jump on 'girl math' trend to justify spending. Some say it's fun, others warn of potential harm</a></li>
</ul>
About our guests: 
Sierin Lim, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Nanyang Technological University, Associate Dean of Global Partnerships, NTU Graduate College 
Sierin Lim is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU). Her research group focuses on repurposing nature-derived materials by designing and engineering biological entities for applications in health and the environment. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She received the L’Oreal-UNESCO Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowship in 2013 and was named Singapore 100 Women in Tech Inaugural List in 2020. In addition to her research work, Sierin is championing community developments at NTU and in Singapore, particularly women in STEM initiatives. She founded the Biomedical Engineering Society (Singapore) Student Chapter in 2009, co-founded Women@NTU in 2018 and Society of Women Engineers Singapore in 2021 of which she is the Vice President (Academic). She is leading the Ministry of Education-funded Promotion of Women in Engineering, Research, and Science (POWERS) programme and is currently serving as the Associate Dean of Global Partnerships at the NTU Graduate College.
Ainul Md Razib, Full Stack Software Engineer, Founder, AinLovesCode
Ainul is the founder of Ain Loves Code, an educational social media brand that provides tips and advice on breaking into the tech industry. A software developer with over two years of experience in the IT sector, she actively advocates for better representation and diversity in the IT sector, and has partnered with a variety of organisations to raise awareness of tech learning and career opportunities, such as Google Singapore, Girls Who Code and SkillsFuture Singapore.
Ainul graduated with a Bachelor in Engineering with a specialisation in Information Systems from the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
 More from On Diversity
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e6-sp2024-youth-and-climate-anxiety/">Season 4 Episode 6: Youth and Climate Anxiety with Melissa Low, Research Fellow at NUS and Darren Quek, Principal of Forest School Singapore</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e5-sp2024-youth-youth-and-caregiving/">Season 4 Episode 5: Youth and Caregiving with Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Jason Leow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e4-sp2024-youth-home-alone-and-adulting/">Season 4 Episode 4: Home Alone and Adulting with Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Klinsen Soh</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e3-sp2024-youth-hustle-culture-and-quiet-quitting/">Season 4 Episode 3: Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting with Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and He Ruiming, Founder of The Woke Salaryman</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e2-destigmatising-hiv-and-aids/">Season 4 Episode 2: Destigmatising HIV and AIDS with Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor of NUS and Terry Lim, Associate Director of Action for AIDS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s4e1-the-dual-challenges-of-poverty-and-single-motherhood/">Season 4 Episode 1: The Dual Challenges of Poverty and Single Motherhood with Carrie Tan, MP, Founder of Daughters of Tomorrow and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s3e9-being-biracial-in-singapore/">Season 3 Episode 9: Being Biracial in Singapore with Shane Pereira, Research Associate at IPS and Dave Parkash, Co-Founder at Fook Kin Restaurant</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s3e8-pregnancy-and-maternity-discrimination/">Season 3 Episode 8: Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination with Sher-li Torrey, Founder of Mums@Work and Kalpana Vignehsa, Senior Research Fellow at IPS</a></li>
</ul>

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IPS On Diversity

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