Nabanita Islam
Nationality:
Bangladesh
Faculty and Department:
School of Design and Environment, Architecture
Year of Study:
5
Undergraduate University:
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh
Why did you choose to do a PhD?
Being an academic, PhD was a vital requirement of my career. I have been engaged in active teaching in university for 8 years at my home country. But apart from this, PhD was an opportunity to be a student again, to venture into the world of learning and discovery. I strongly believe that PhD is not meant to solve the problems of the world, rather its a process of training our minds to see the problems of the world in novel and systematic ways.
Why did you choose to do graduate education at NUS? If you received offers from other universities, why did you pick NUS?
I was fortunate to become graduate student twice in NUS. The first time during my masters, NUS was an obvious choice considering its international ranking, the grant of scholarship and the close proximity from my home country. The second time, my destiny brought me to NUS again for my PhD. This time, I was more than happy to return to the institute that I knew so well. Also, Singapore’s climatic condition, cultural atmosphere also played a role in my choice.
How does graduate school compare to your undergraduate experience?
Undergraduate study helps one to view what the world is, whereas graduate study, particularly PhD, helps to build one’s philosophical standpoint of why and how the world needs to viewed. While undergraduate experience is mostly limited within the disciplinary boundary, graduate school opens up a vast horizon of knowledge from multiple disciplines.
Briefly share about your research or thesis (i.e. dissertation topic for Masters by Coursework students).
My research attempts to understand how informal urbanism like street trading engages in sustaining livelihood and producing the city spaces through a complex process of negotiation between their assets and urban environment. Among different strategies adopted by this marginalized sector, location of trade has been chosen as a vital spatial strategy to be analyzed in link with various physical and nonphysical forces of the city. The methodology combines spatial analysis along with ethnographic approach.
What impact do you hope to have with your research?
This research hopes to bring a shift of perception among urban managers in developing cities regarding inclusion of urban space based informal livelihoods within development planning and project some plausible methods of mapping and analyzing this kaleidoscopic phenomenon.
If you have won any academic prize/competition or been invited to speak at an international conference—share what it is, its significance, and how you worked towards achieving it.
In 2009, I received ADB Japan scholarship to pursue my Masters in Environmental Management in NUS. In 2016, I was granted NUS research scholarship for pursuing PhD. In both the cases, a well articulated POI (purpose of interest) and the research proposal (if required) played a crucial role in the selection process, along with the previous publications and work experience.
Share something fun from your graduate journey at NUS.
I am a foodie. Hence, the most fun part of my graduate journey in NUS was to explore the different canteens spread around the campus, selling multinational cuisine.
Briefly share a highlight from your graduate school journey.
One of the highlights of my graduate school journey was to come across beautiful, enlightened souls in the departmental PhD cohort and also within other departments. They were the reason I sustained the harsh moments of PhD. Another highlight would be the amazing resource of NUS. One would fall in love with the central library in NUS, a rich dipository of knowledge, with a tranquil environment to read and think.
Share a challenge you faced in graduate school and how you overcame it.
Since I had my family staying with me, financial issue was my major challenge in the first two and a half years. But I found interesting projects in other departments where graduate students can engage as research assistants and earn some extra money alongside the stipend. Then, in January 2018, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was the moment I realized the benefits that NUS entails to its students through health insurance. It was because of the handsome coverage of the insurance that helped me and my family to tackle the toughest challenge of my life and the associated financial stress. I availed the entire treatment at NUH throughout that year. Also, I must mention the enormous support I received from my supervisors and other staffs of the graduate school.
Share something about campus life at NUS that new students would be interested to hear about.
Campus life in NUS is absolutely vibrant with beautiful places embraced by nature, reasonably affordable eateries with delicious food and ample opportunities of engaging one into various extra-curricular activities like- sports, performing arts, community engagement, personal development etc. There is always something going on to engage your mind and get some relief from the stress of the study.
Do you have any interesting personal stories to share? For example, about your journey to get into graduate school, personal hobbies/interests.
Being a mother of six years old kid then, there was not much time left for me to pursue any other hobby in the left over time. But I was a avid reader once. This is something I picked up again once I embarked on the graduate journey. My favourite spot to read and enjoy coffee is the coffee roaster at FASS 8 building.
What message would you like to give to students interested in graduate studies in NUS?
Its not the destination, but the journey along that makes us who we are. And there can’t be a more nourishing institution than NUS to enrich that journey with a wonderful blend of world class resources, supportive people and wonderful campus. So embark on your graduate journey with the believe that “Life is a box of chocolate. You never know what you are gonna get.” But whatever it is, it’s gonna be sweet for sure.