Author: Richard Whitfield
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Macau Matters | Some transport gripes
Hac Sa Beach on Coloane Island was a cheap car park for Macau residents for years until they recently put in parking meters. After less than ... -
Macau Matters | How big data will transform medicine
I always look forward to getting my weekly information “fix” from The Economist, and a few recent stories in have pointed out that data analysis, especially ... -
Macau Matters | The MPhil by Research Degree
The Master of Philosophy by Research degree (the MPhil) is a first research based postgraduate degree that is offered in the English speaking academic tradition, but ... -
Macau Matters | Academic assessment stupidities
Mostly for fun and to “keep my hand in” I teach a few undergraduate courses each year at a local university. I have recently been “asked” ... -
Macau Matters | Amazing Angkor Wat
I am inclined towards calm stoicism rather than extravagant gushery, but when you see Angkor Wat you cannot help but gush about it. It is a ... -
Macau Matters | More Taxi Commentary
Along with many others, I have previously ranted about the problems with Macau taxis. In my view, we clearly need to move towards a Didi/Uber style ... -
Macau Matters | The need for water conservation?
Around 70% of the world’s fresh water is used for irrigation and other food production purposes. Currently, global water demand can be met from the existing ... -
Macau Matters | The Joys of Custom Clothing
I loathe and abhor shopping, especially for clothes, mostly because I never know what to buy. People who know my wife and I also know that ... -
Macau Matters | I sing the bus electric
Wide scale adoption of electrically powered buses is a “no brainer”; the only question is when. Electric buses are significantly quieter and produce virtually no roadside ... -
Macau Matters | Back to Basics for our Public Spaces
Macau has some wonderful old parks and gardens, but in my opinion some of our newer public spaces leave much to be desired. Why do our ... -
Macau Matters | Emergency Button App
Over Summer I spent two months living in the family home with my father in Australia. While there he explained the red emergency button on his ... -
Macau Matters | The importance of lifecycle costing
My last article talked about problems in the construction industry, globally and in Macau, and identified some ways for governments to improve the situation. Now I ... -
Macau Matters | Good Crisis Management
The government performance in managing the recent crisis caused by Typhoon Hato has revealed some major problems of governance in Macau. All the textbooks on managing ... -
Macau Matters | Power Grid Level Batteries
A fundamental characteristic of most mains power grids around the world is that at any time the amount of electricity being generated must balance the amount ... -
Macau Matters | Taipa Ferry Terminal Shemozzle
My hip replacement surgery recovery has proceeded well, and I am very happy with the outcome. I was finally able to travel home to Macau last ... -
Macau Matters | Flawed Career Expectations
For the first time since 2009, I have recently started teaching Project Management courses for university undergraduates. (By the way, I strongly believe that understanding teams ... -
Macau Matters | Cadmium Rice
The June 10 issue of The Economist contains a terrifying article about pollution in China. It makes the point that air, water and land pollution across ... -
Macau Matters | Improving financial literacy
Generally, I am appalled at the low levels of financial literacy of many people. Moreover, levels of financial literacy do not seem to vary too much ... -
Macau Matters | My new left hip – part II
A week ago I talked about some of the technical issues relating to joint replacement surgery. Here I would like to talk about hospital issues. However, ... -
Macau Matters | Theatre Art Life
By now, it is clear that the future of Macau rests on it developing much more extensive and “family friendly” entertainment and relaxation opportunities for tourists ... -
Macau Matters | Improving personal mobility
When I last visited Paris several years ago, the racks of bicycles available for rental scattered around the city were quite noticeable, as were the significant ... -
Macau Matters | Another way of supporting new small and medium enterprises
Rightly so, Macau government policies support the creation of new small and medium enterprises. Successful new businesses can create more jobs and wealth if they have ... -
Macau Matters | The Magic of Wireless Power Transfer
Electricity and electrical power is a crucial technology underpinning nearly all aspects of modern life. The whole planet is strung with copper wires to move electricity ... -
Macau Matters | The right to privacy and charitable good governance
I have helped local charities publish several annual reports. While published annual reports are very common for charities internationally, very few are done in Macau, which ... -
Macau Matters | 3-D Printing – the Future of Manufacturing?
Long ago I completed a PhD wherein I studied metal machining production processes. At that time, 3-D printing was unheard of but now I frequently see ... -
Macau Matters | Fixing Macau’s Broken Taxi System
There is ample evidence that the government managed and regulated system of taxi services in Macau is totally broken. A cursory analysis leads me to believe ... -
Macau Matters | Working Holiday Visas
Around the world about 20 countries have reciprocal arrangements to allow their citizens to get visas for working holidays. In Asia these countries include Korea, Japan, ... -
Macau Matters | University Residential Colleges
Living in a residential college can be a very important experience of university study. While I have never lived in a residential college myself, from many ... -
Macau Matters | Legalizing Mary Jane
I remember going to university parties in the early 1980’s in Australia where many friends illegally smoked pot (Mary Jane) and drank coca-cola but little alcohol. ... -
Macau Matters | Coin Concerns
Everybody in the developed world is very familiar with the problems posed by coins. When you buy stuff with cash you pay mostly with notes and ... -
Macau Matters | Toxic lifestyles
I believe that most people now accept that modern Western diets heavy in protein, sugar and salt combined with sedentary living behaviours are highly toxic, leading ... -
Macau Matters | The New Ka Ho Prison
I note with interest the recent sit-in by a subcontractor complaining about construction and progress payment delays on the project to develop a new prison at ... -
Macau Matters | Electric Taxis
Every so often my wife drags me to Zhuhai to see what is new there. I do not mind because progress in Zhuhai is a good ... -
Macau Matters | Exporting hotel development expertise
In the last decade the number of hotel rooms in Macau has exploded, and this growth will continue for the next several years. Why can’t expertise ... -
Macau Matters | Too much NaCl will kill you
Like too many older people who have always eaten normal Western diets, I now take pills to control my too high blood pressure. If I had ...
