"It's amazing how this project has unknowingly reunited our family in powerful ways": The HappyUrns initiative

“It’s amazing how this project has unknowingly reunited our family in powerful ways”: The HappyUrns initiative

“What is something that brought you joy today?” That’s the question one is encouraged to contemplate as one explores the website of HappyUrns, an initiative to help different groups of Singaporeans engage meaningfully with death and end-of-life topics with their loved ones. With team members Amanda Swee and Adya Sadanand, we have a thoughtful conversation about their three projects – “Residents’ Urns”, the “Celebration Kit”; and the “Life in a Year Book” – and for each project you’ll hear powerful stories and reflections of their design experiences and interpersonal interactions. This episode is a great complement to an earlier episode with representatives of “Both Sides, Now”, who work to normalise end-of-life conversations through artistic projects and public engagement. 

COVID-19's effect on children's outdoor play and associations with family income (with Dr. Jonathan Huang)

COVID-19’s effect on children’s outdoor play and associations with family income (with Dr. Jonathan Huang)

Using two child cohorts, Dr. Jonathan Huang and his team at the Singapore Institute for Clinical Studies at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research sought to understand – in a journal article – the lifestyle changes experienced by Singaporean children after the country’s circuit-breaker as well as the potential long-term outcomes. In our conversation, we learn more about the research findings and methodology, future directions, and the potential practice and policy implications.