The NUS Singapore History Prize was established to spur interest in and understanding of Singapore’s rich and complex past. It is open to all publications in English (original or translated) that have made a significant contribution to our knowledge of Singapore’s history, whether they are non-fiction or fiction. Nominations are welcomed from all over the world, but must focus on any aspect of Singapore’s history.
The prize comes with a monetary award of S$25,000 and is presented by the Department of History at NUS. The winner is selected by a jury panel of five members comprising of historians, literary figures, and other experts in the field. The prize is awarded every two years and is based on merit. The winner will receive a commissioned trophy and a 12-month subscription to StoryTel. In this year’s pool, more than half of the shortlisted writers were shortlisted for the first time. Two 91-year olds–Suratman Markesan for his Malay work Honing the Pen, Volume 2 and Wang Gungwu for her English novel Home Is Where We Are Going–are the oldest winners of this year’s prize. Both are writing in creative nonfiction.
Hear what some of the prize winners have to say about their experience and what it means for Singapore’s economy. Also, they talk about the impact of Brexit and the future of investing in Asia.
The top four runners-up each received a monetary award of S$10,000, while the audience favourite, the best book for young adults and children, won a coveted trophy and a 12-month subscription to StoryTel. This is the fourth edition of the Singapore Prize, which has been running since 2014 and has attracted more than 350 submissions to date from local authors and overseas publishers.
During his four-day visit to Singapore, Britain’s Prince William was treated to some unique sights and experiences at the country’s airport. He was welcomed by crowds at Changi Airport’s Rain Vortex, the world’s largest indoor waterfall that was illuminated green to mark his arrival. He also stood on an upper floor for a view of the waterfall and was shown a tree planted in his honour in its indoor garden.
He was in the city to launch the 2023 Earthshot Prize, which was launched by his Royal Foundation charity in 2020. The global environmental prize, inspired by President John F Kennedy’s Moonshot initiative to reach the moon by 2030, is aimed at supporting innovative projects that tackle climate change and protect the planet. It has previously been held in London and Boston. The awards ceremony will take place in Singapore this November. The heir to the British throne is set to meet with Singapore leaders, entrepreneurs and business leaders during his trip. He will also pay tribute to former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at his historic Istana palace. The organisers said the ceremony will feature performances by “world-renowned musicians and artists”. They will also highlight Singapore’s role as a hub for people dedicated to solving the planet’s greatest challenges”.