Still pondering if you should accept that programme offer from NTU College of Science? In this series, we shine a spotlight on the Schools of the College of Science and find out how they present their students with a meaningful and fun learning experience studying Science@NTU! Today, we shall look at the Asian School of the Environment (ASE).
Introducing: ASE
Established in 2015, the ASE is the home for environmental science at NTU. An interdisciplinary school, the ASE integrates earth and environmental life sciences, ecology, engineering and technology, humanities, and the social sciences, in order to address Asia and the world’s key environmental and sustainability challenges.
The School favours a small cohort that encourages aninnovative and interactive learning environment. It provides closer interactions between students and faculty, thus facilitating more effective learning. Students will get the chance to travel for field courses during their course of study at ASE. There are also professional internship opportunities with industrial attachments with local or overseas employers, allowing for the real-world application of skills and concepts taught in classes.
What will students learn at the ASE?
Students will be equipped with valuable skills to tackle the following big issues that the world is facing today:
- Human impact on the environment
- Effects of climate change
- Location and management of natural resources
- Forecast and mitigation of natural hazards
- Sustainability
- Earth processes and functions
- Biodiversity and conservation
School Programmes
The ASE offers the following undergraduate programmes:
- Environmental Earth Systems Science (EESS)
- Environmental Earth Systems Science and Public Policy and Global Affairs (ESPP)
- Environmental Earth Systems Science with Second Major in Data Analytics (ESDA)
- Environmental Earth Systems Science with Second Major in Sustainability (ESSN)
- Environmental Earth Systems Science with Second Major in Entrepreneurship (ESET)
The School also offers a Minor in Environmental Sustainability, which equips students from all major programmes in NTU with the latest scientific information to understand the environmental challenges that will shape our future. This includes the relationships between human society and the natural world, and the availability and management of limited natural resources.
Single and Double Major Programmes: Environmental Earth Systems Science (EESS) and Environmental Earth Systems Science and Public Policy and Global Affairs (ESPP)
Students in both programmes will gain a strong background in quantitative skills such as spatial analysis, core science and modern computing techniques, and critical thinking. Students in the ESPP double major programme will also learn communication skills, and about managing public affairs and international relations, giving them the chance to build complementary leadership, collaborative and problem-solving skills.
Within EESS, students can specialise in Geosciences, Ecology and Ecosystems, or Society and the Earth System.
Second Major Programmes: ESDA, ESSN and ESET
For students who wish to pursue a second major along with their main EESS major programmes, they have the option to choose either data analytics, sustainability, or entrepreneurship.
In the second major in data analytics programme, students will learn to use statistics, algorithms, and data analytics to complement the research aspect of EESS, building a strong background in quantitative research and analysis.
Students who choose the second major in sustainability will learn about the close relationship between our environment, society, and economy. They will be able apply this knowledge to technological innovations and how to communicate with decision-makers, thereby helping to maintain a balance between our technological growth and the health of the world.
Finally, the second major in entrepreneurship equips students with fundamental entrepreneurship competency, broadening their understanding of enterprise and innovation. They will develop the ability to handle uncertainties in the real world and help to drive technological innovation.
Field Courses
As part of their studies, students in the ASE are given the opportunity to go on field courses to apply what they have learnt in the classroom and to see for themselves the environmental issues that they have been studying. They will learn cutting-edge techniques used in scientific research and connect with faculty and fellow students in a collaborative and fun environment.
Every student gets the chance to travel to Bali for a 2-week introductory course at the end of their first year and experience all 3 specialisations. They will climb Mount Batur, an active volcano, and learn about geosciences; visit rice paddies in Ubud and understand the relationship between society and the Earth system; swim amongst coral reefs and shoals of tropical fish to discover the nuances of ecology and ecosystems in action.
Students will also have the opportunity to participate in further advanced field courses depending on the specialisations they have chosen, inplaces such as California, Taiwan or Sri Lanka.
If you are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the environmental issues that our world faces today and want to learn how to develop more effective solutions or mitigate these challenges, then the ASE is the place for you!