BiblioAsia - National Library Singapore

46NewsLee Kong Chian Research FellowshipThree new research fellows awardedThe Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship welcomes threenew research fellows: Sharon Wong Wai Wee (Hong Kong),Tan Teng Phee (Malaysia) and Dr Noel Chia Kok Hwee(Singapore). They were awarded their fellowships by JudyNg, Deputy Director, National Reference and Special Librarieson 12 January.(From left):Ms Angie Ng Gek Tee, witness for Dr Chia; Dr Chia; Dr MahaniAwang, witness for Ms Wong; Ms Wong; Mrs KornphanatTungkeunkunt, witness for Mr Tan, and Mr Tan.Sharon Wong’s research topic is “An Overview of theCultural and Technological Interactions Between the Chineseand Mainland Southeast Asian Ceramics Industries During thePeriod 9 th to 16 th Centuries”.She says of herself:“I chose to continue my study in Singapore for more than fouryears because I believe that Singapore is a hub of SoutheastAsia. While I also realise that Hong Kong is a gateway to thesouth China region, both of these two places have providedme with the best research environments in the regions. Myresearch at the National Library will focus on the cultural andtechnological interaction between the Chinese and SoutheastAsian ceramic industries from the 9th to the 16 th centuries. Oneof my favourite experiences was joining the archaeological digin Phnom Kulen in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I had the experienceof being brought closer to the daily life of Cambodians. Besideswork, I like travelling, watching movies and drama, cycling, andspending my time in bookstores and museums.”Tan Teng Phee’s research topic is “The Assassination ofHenry Gurney and the case of the Tras New Village and theMalayan emergency”.He says of himself:“Born in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia, I had lived in several differentChinese New Villages and these life experiences hadinspired me to explore the history of Chinese New Villages formy doctoral research. I commenced my PhD programme at theAsia Research Centre, Murdoch University, Western Australia,in April 2006. My doctoral thesis attempts to analyse the everydaylives of the Chinese New Villagers behind barbed wire,and how they responded to the British colonial government’scoercive policies. During the course of the Lee Kong Chian ResearchFellowship from January 2010 to July 2010, I will focuson the unique case of the Tras New Village and its links to theassassination of the High Commissioner of Malaya, Henry Gurney,in 1951. This micro-level study aims to analyse how theassassination of the high commissioner both implicated andchanged the New Villagers’ lives and circumstances in Tras,during the Malayan Emergency period.”Dr Noel Chia’s research topic is “A Survey on the Growthof Imagination in Children’s English Literature in Singapore:1965 - 2005.”Dr Chia says of himself:“I am a board-certified educational therapist registered with theAssociation of Educational Therapists, United States, as wellas a board-certified special education professional registeredwith the American Academy of Special Education Professionals.Besides, I am a registered professional counsellor withthe Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. Currently,I am an assistant professor with the Early Childhood & SpecialNeeds Education Academic Group at the National Institute ofEducation/Nanyang Technological University. I spend most ofmy free time reading and writing not only academic papers butalso stories and poems for children. Together with my daughter,Grace, I love creating imaginary tales along the line of fantasyand science fiction. I like humour and enjoy cracking jokes tomake myself look silly! I have always been passionate aboutpromoting Singapore children’s literature in English. Here Iam … on this Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship toresearch on the topic closest to my heart: imagination inchildren’s literature…”The Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship invitesscholars, practitioners and librarians to undertake collectionrelatedresearch and publish on the National Library of Singapore’sdonor and prized collections. The fellowship aims toposition the National Library Board as the first stop for Asiancollection services. It is open to both local and foreign applicants,who should preferably have an established record ofachievement in their chosen field of research and the potentialto excel further. For information on the Lee Kong ChianResearch Fellowship, please contact the Administrator at:Email: LKCRF@nlb.gov.sgTel: 6332 3348Fax: 6333 7990