John Donaldson

Your favourite/ most memorable project

1) Students collaborated with the Food Bank, a local VWO, extending that organization’s hunger-reduction efforts by adapting the Food Bank’s systems and technology in service of migrant workers.

2) Much of the food aid to low-income from volunteer groups is not very nutritious. A group designed an innovative ‘bento box’ system to keep food fresh, allowing groups to distribute perishable vegetables and fruit. They consulted with material experts at NTU and even measured rental housing hallways and motorcycle rattraps to ensure their design was practical.

Publications or published articles related to SMU-X projects

Not sure if it was before SMU-X was started, but public policy taskforce focused on normal tech students. That report was published with AMP.  Definitely within the spirit of SMU-X, though I don’t remember if the class was SMU-X. The class was in 2016.

Donaldson, John. 2021. “Dreams Realised, Dreams Deferred: Understanding and Addressing the Racial Gap in Educational Achievement in Singapore.” Karyawan (AMP Singapore) 16 (3): 9–12.

What you envision for your area(s) of interest and research etc

I have worked with Lien Centre and other partners to meet unmet social needs here in Singapore, focusing on single parents, migrant workers, people with disabilities and the food insecure.

If you might have a favourite book/ quote/ movie/ musical/movie character /special talent.. please do share your favourite(s)! And let us know why it is your favourite!

I can sing all three verses of the PRC patriotic song, East is Red. Most people only know the first verse.