They are packing their bags! Twelve students—from undergrads to PhDs in GES, CAP, Landscape Architecture and Anthropology —are heading to Singapore for a four-credit deep dive into one of the world's most fascinating urban landscapes. This isn’t your average classroom experience; it’s a full-on exploration of how historic processes, urban planning, and green sustainability shape modern cities. Using Singapore as a living case study, the group will peel back the layers of the city's ‘green’ reputation to see what really makes a modern metropolis tick, from its colonial roots to its high-tech future.
Led by GES faculty, Bryan Wee and Brian Page, the trip is built around ‘roving seminars’ that swap desks for sneakers. Students will spend their mornings walking, observing, and discussing the city's evolution, and reconvene in the evenings to share a meal and deconstruct what they have seen and experienced in the context of course readings. As a Singapore citizen, Bryan Wee wants “to help the students deconstruct this city and nation that is often portrayed as a modern-day utopia." A huge part of the curriculum is Singapore’s food culture. By diving into the legendary hawker centers, the group will see how Singapore’s eating has modernized alongside its skyline. For Wee, bringing CU Denver students to Singapore is not just about teaching a course, it is akin to inviting people to his home and sharing a part of himself.
Here’s a peek of the trip from 2024!
