Samson Lim

Samson Lim is a Lecturer in History at Monash University, specializing in Thai and Southeast Asian history, visual culture, and urban studies. He previously served as Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Cluster at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) from 2018–2022. His research explores the history of technology, urban development, and visual culture in Thailand, with a focus on policing, media, and socio-spatial dynamics.

Lim holds a Ph.D. in History (2012) and an M.A. in History (2008), both from Cornell University, alongside an MRP in City and Regional Planning (1996) and a B.A. in Political Science (1994) from UCLA. He also earned a Certificate in Thai Studies from Thammasat University (2005).

His research interests include the history of technology, urban studies, and interdisciplinary urban development projects. Notable projects include 'Slow Procession: A History of the Traffic Jam in Bangkok' (funded by Gerda Henkel Stiftung) and 'Archiving the Underclass' (funded by Singapore's Asian Research Institute). He collaborates on initiatives like 'Dense and Green Cities' (Future Cities Lab) and 'Asians Becoming Architects in Colonial Singapore' (National Heritage Board).

Lim has received the National Day Medal of Honor (2022) for contributions to academia and public service. His work bridges historical scholarship with urban planning, emphasizing sustainable development and socio-spatial integration. He currently mentors PhD students in Thai history, technology, and urban studies.

Key academic contributions include his monograph Siam’s New Detectives: Visualizing Crime and Conspiracy in Modern Thailand (2017) and articles on Bangkok’s urbanization, photography, and legal history. His recent work focuses on innovation districts, socio-spatial segregation, and Thailand’s socio-technical evolution.