Events

Jointly organised by the Department of Architecture, and Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.

CHAIRPERSONS

Prof Jeffrey Hou, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore
Dr Chaewon Ahn, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

As cities face increasingly complex challenges, community engagement has become central to understanding and responding to diverse needs. From civic technology, data storytelling, and co-creation, new methods have emerged to link theory and practice to tap into local knowledge and capacity, transforming the urban environment towards more inclusive and equitable futures. Using emergent technologies and methods for participatory action raises critical questions about the balance between data-driven insights and lived experience; strategies for meaningful engagement; and communication towards action.

This roundtable brings together professionals and researchers who have worked closely with communities in Southeast Asia – Mr Larry Yeong from Participate in Design, Ms Nabilah Said from Kontinentalist, and Dr Ryan Gordon Tans from NUS College. Their work exemplifies advancements in participatory methodologies and practice with each highlighting different aspects of the community engagement process. Our discussion will explore how diverse stakeholders collaborate to collect, use, and influence data to form coalitions and shape the urban future. The panellists will reflect on the challenges and opportunities they have faced in this field, as well as opportunities for future innovation. Together, we hope to chart the trajectories from community engagement to action through the lens of knowledge production and communication.

As the inaugural public event of the Civic Resilience Laboratory (CiRe), a collaboration between the Department of Architecture and Asia Research Institute, this roundtable marks the beginning of broader conversations at NUS concerning participatory engagement, civic technologies, and urban citizenship. Situating Singapore within regional and international debates on urban data and participatory governance, we aim to foster and strengthen the pathways for collaboration between civic actors in ASEAN towards a more inclusive and adaptive urban environment.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Larry Yeung is Executive Director of Participate in Design (P!D), where he champions participatory and community-centric urban planning. Trained in architecture at the National University of Singapore (NUS), he has led citizen co-creation projects in neighbourhood planning, public space design, and community arts. He was named a World Cities Summit Young Leader (2021) and received the NUS-CDE Outstanding Young Alumni Award (2023). Larry currently serves on the CSC-MCCY Engagement Experts Panel and is an adjunct assistant professor at the NUS Department of Architecture.

Nabilah Said is the editor of Kontinentalist and leads its Experiment and Research team. Her stories on land reclamation in Singapore and racial housing quotas have won and been shortlisted for awards at the Society for News Design Awards, SOPA Awards and the New Media Writing Prize. She was previously an arts correspondent at The Straits Times.

Ryan Gordon Tans studies the political economy of coastal development and adaptation in Southeast Asia. His frequent collaborations with Tanahindie Urban Research Institute, in Makassar, Indonesia, have informed academic papers, a Global Experience (GEx) course, and Makassar Biennale 2023. He is a lecturer at National University of Singapore College. 

REGISTRATION

Please register your interest here. Registration will close on 15 October 2025.