NUS Communications and New Media

🎓 𝐃𝐫 Heidi A Campbell, currently a 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 from Texas A&M University, gave a talk about her latest book: 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦 (2025). Her book weaves together insights from philosophy of technology, media and cultural studies, and digital religion to explore how emerging technologies in popular media are discussed using spiritual myths, metaphors, and representations of God. ✨ Some key takeaways: 🎥 𝐒𝐜𝐢-𝐟𝐢 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨-𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬. Science fiction often links technology with spiritual themes. When we take a closer look at such films, we can find recurring tropes which express our hopes and fears about where technology might lead us. Dr Campbell identified three main themes, each illustrated by a film: 1️⃣ Humans embrace technology to enhance our capabilities, granting us the ability surpasses our biological limitations and obtain God-like traits. Film: 𝐸𝑥 𝑀𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑎 (2014) 2️⃣ Human relationships with technology create social practices and belief systems that manifest religious qualities. Film: 𝐻𝑒𝑟 (2013) 3️⃣ Technology itself evolves to become God or a God-like entity. Film: 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (2014) 🙏🌎 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈. Then again, where do these tropes in sci-fi films come from? According to Dr Campbell, narratives in which technology aspires to become God-like often align with Judeo-Christian values, while those which present technology as already divine reflect more Panentheistic views rooted in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. 📘 You can find her book here: https://lnkd.in/gJap7M6R 🧡💙 A huge thank you to Dr Heidi A Campbell for sharing her work and insights with us! Couldn’t join us this time? Do follow us for news on upcoming research talks! #CNM #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

🎉 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 #CNM 𝐏𝐡𝐃 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐨 𝐙𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐮𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐠! 🎉 🏆✨ We are thrilled to share that Kaiyao and Yuheng have clinched a win at the 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐈 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! The inaugural competition, organised by the United Nations (UN) and United Nations University (UNU), challenged young innovators to use AI to tackle various environmental challenges in the areas of: 1️⃣ 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 2️⃣ 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 3️⃣ 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 4️⃣ 𝐀𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 💪🏻 It was a tough competition, with only 12 international finalists selected to pitch their ideas in Macau. Their pitch was out of 130 submissions from 47 different countries. In the end, Kaiyao and Yuheng’s project was chosen as the overall winner in the category “𝐀𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.” 💻 Their project, “𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚: 𝐀𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧,” is an AI-powered system designed to support global deliberations on climate change. It is supervised by 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 Weiyu Zhang. 🧡 💙 This is a proud moment for Kaiyao, Yuheng, and all of us at the Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore. NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

🔎 Discover what it’s like to be part of National University of Singapore's Master of Arts in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship (ACE) coursework programme offered by the Department of Communications and New Media (#CNM)! 📚 Our ACE students come from diverse creative cultural industries. Hear from them as they share their experiences of studying at NUS and how the programme is designed to cater to the needs of creative professionals and meet the strong demands of Singapore’s and Asia’s ever changing cultural creative industry sector. 🔗 Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/g24TH2SQ 📌 Our intake occurs annually in August, with the application period running from 1 September to 30 November of the preceding year. Find out how you can apply here: https://lnkd.in/ekWr4g6m #NUS #NUSMasters #NUSFASS #NUSLife NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE) NUS Master's Programmes

🌏 On 8th Oct, the Department of Communications and New Media (CNM) had the pleasure of hosting 20 journalists from across Asia who are part of this year’s Asia Journalism Fellowship (AJF).   💡 AJF brings together seasoned journalists from across the region to learn, collaborate, and build lasting professional and personal connections. It is hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, in partnership with Temasek Foundation.   📚As part of their in-residence programme in Singapore, AJF Fellows attended a seminar organised by our faculty: Assistant Professor Dr Subhayan Mukerjee, Assistant Professor Dr Ozan kuru, Associate Professor Dr Natalie Pang, and Associate Professor Dr Carol Soon.    The seminar showcased some of the department’s current research on: 1️⃣ How audience metrics influence news production 2️⃣ The challenges of reporting scientific findings 3️⃣ How memes and popular culture unite youths in political movements 4️⃣ The role of media, misinformation, and AI in elections.   🙌 We were heartened by the Fellows’ enthusiasm and the rich exchange of ideas during the Q&A sessions. 🧡💙 #CNM is proud to be part of #AJF2025's mission to strengthen journalism and foster meaningful dialogue across Asia. We hope the Fellows continue to gain valuable insights and experiences during their remaining time in Singapore.   Easmin Akter Ailin Tang Chahaya O Simanjuntak Mohammad Reza Maulana Zhanna Shayakhmetova Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali Adiyasuren Rentsendorj Yan Naing Aung Sajana Baral Wahid Ali Ralph Lawrence Llemit Theodore Ortiz Mohd Taufiq Zalizan Yasiharan Rajagopal Anh Thu Mai #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

🎉 Exciting news — 𝐃𝐫 Kokil Jaidka has been promoted to 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞 at National University of Singapore! 📚 Dr Jaidka published her first book when she was 13 years old and she has since authored 100+ research papers. This year (2025), she is indexed on the Stanford/Elsevier World's top 2% Most Cited Scientists. She is also among the top 1% of researchers worldwide in the subfields of Artificial Intelligence and Communication and New Media. 🔬 A former data scientist at Adobe with several patents, she currently develops computational models of persuasive language and designs social media platforms for constructive conversations. Her work has been recognised with the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 in 2025, and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 in 2021. 🎓 At NUS, she leads the Data Communication specialisation in the Masters of Communication Programme and teaches digital analytics, social media, and computational media literacy. Outside of campus, she is Co-Chair of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) Ethics Committee, serves on editorial boards of leading journals, and has co-chaired flagship conferences such as 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (IC2S2) and 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐛 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 (ICWSM). 🥳 This promotion is a well-deserved recognition of her contributions to research, teaching, and service. Here’s to many more milestones for Dr Jaidka in #CNM! #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

🎉 Three of our colleagues from NUS Department of Communications and New Media have recently been recognised as among the World's Top 2% most cited scientists in 2025. 👏 Join us in congratulating Associate Professor Cho Hichang, Associate Professor Shaohai Jiang and especially Associate Professor Kokil Jaidka, a new entrant to the list! #CNM #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

📚 What's the relationship between religion and AI? Join us at our next research talk, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 18𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 21𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 by 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 Heidi A Campbell, Visiting Professor from Texas A&M University! There is a historical narrative which often portrays technology as a spiritual force and its development as a religious enterprise. Drawing on her book God & Technology (2025), Professor Campbell highlights four conceptual models which have informed popular cinematographic depictions of Artificial Intelligence. These, she suggests, are rooted in 18th-century philosophical discussions and beliefs about the implicit, religious-like nature of our technologies, which have implications for how we understand the current AI revolution. 🎓 Dr Heidi A Campbell is Visiting Professor, NUS CNM (Digital Religion) and Professor of Communication, an affiliate faculty in Religious Studies, and a Presidential Impact Fellow at Texas A&M University. She is also director of the Network for New Media, Religion and Digital Culture Studies, and a pioneer in the study of Digital Religion. This new subfield of research explores how religious beliefs and practices are performed and understood online and offline within digital culture. 📖 She is author of over 100 articles and 14 books including: When Religion Meets New Media (2010), Digital Creatives and the Rethinking Religious Authority (2021) and The Oxford Handbook on Digital Religion (2024). She has been quoted extensively in news outlets such as the Houston Chronicle, USA Today, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, and on the BBC. 🗓 Date: Thursday, 23 October 2025 ⏰️ Time: 3PM – 4.30PM 📍Location: CNM Meeting Room (AS6-03-33), 11 Computing Drive S117416 🔗 Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/gauUwfUv #CNM #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

🎉 Congratulations to Mr Kai En Tan on receiving the National University of Singapore 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 (FTEA) for AY2024/2025! This marks his fifth time receiving the award. 🏅 The Faculty Teaching Excellence Award is awarded to faculty members who have displayed a high level of commitment to their teaching. Each year, a select few colleagues are recognised for their teaching based on peer reviews, student feedback and exposition of their teaching philosophy. 📚 In AY2024/25, he taught Principles of Visual Communication Design (NM3217), Strategic Communication Design (NM4208) and Multiplatform Advertising Strategies (NM4257). 🥳 Here's to many more years of excellence in #CNM! #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

📚 What's the relationship between religion and AI? Join us at our next research talk, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 18𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 21𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 by 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 Heidi A Campbell, Visiting Professor from Texas A&M University! There is a historical narrative which often portrays technology as a spiritual force and its development as a religious enterprise. Drawing on her book God & Technology (2025), Professor Campbell highlights four conceptual models which have informed popular cinematographic depictions of Artificial Intelligence. These, she suggests, are rooted in 18th-century philosophical discussions and beliefs about the implicit, religious-like nature of our technologies, which have implications for how we understand the current AI revolution. 🎓 Dr Heidi A Campbell is Visiting Professor, NUS CNM (Digital Religion) and Professor of Communication, an affiliate faculty in Religious Studies, and a Presidential Impact Fellow at Texas A&M University. She is also director of the Network for New Media, Religion and Digital Culture Studies, and a pioneer in the study of Digital Religion. This new subfield of research explores how religious beliefs and practices are performed and understood online and offline within digital culture. 📖 She is author of over 100 articles and 14 books including: When Religion Meets New Media (2010), Digital Creatives and the Rethinking Religious Authority (2021) and The Oxford Handbook on Digital Religion (2024). She has been quoted extensively in news outlets such as the Houston Chronicle, USA Today, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, and on the BBC. 🗓 Date: Thursday, 23 October 2025 ⏰️ Time: 3PM – 4.30PM 📍Location: CNM Meeting Room (AS6-03-33), 11 Computing Drive S117416 🔗 Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/gauUwfUv #CNM #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact

💗 Thank you to everyone who joined us last Friday, 17 Sep, at CNM Playroom for 𝐃𝐫 𝐙𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐗𝐢𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐧’𝐬 presentation: “𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚.” Dr Zhang, Professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, shared insights on: 🔹 How the publishing industry is growing and innovating 🔹 The role of new technologies in publishing 🔹 How knowledge is shared in the digital age 🔹 Challenges of teaching digital publishing in Chinese universities and preparing students for careers in publishing houses 🔎 To ground these ideas, he presented the Faxin digital platform as a case study of how a state-owned publisher embraced Big Data and AI to move beyond print and become a leader in digital publishing. 📈 Building on this example, Professor Zhang introduced a three-part model for industry growth. In this model, cultural innovation forms the foundation, economic innovation sits at the core, and technological innovation drives progress. Together, the case study and model highlight how publishers can navigate the shift from traditional print to data-driven, digital-first services. He wrapped up with three recommendations for strengthening China’s digital publishing sector: 1️⃣ Boost application of scientific and technological innovation to accelerate the development of new productivity drivers 2️⃣ Improve data management and utilisation to ensure effective circulation 3️⃣ Enhance digital content quality management to foster a sustainable publishing ecosystem. 🫡 A big thank you to Professor Zhang for sharing such valuable insights into the transformation of digital publishing! 💫 Couldn’t join us this time? Do follow us for news on upcoming research talks! #CNM #NUSExcellence #CNMResearch #NUSResearch #NUSFASS #NUSCHS #NUSLife #NUSImpact